 This has been quite a year! Thank you to all the parents and staff that have been involved with the PSO during this pandemic year. We know it's been a challenge for everyone. We hope the 2021-2022 school year will bring some new enthusiasm and an opportunity to build community again at Westgate! Please look out for information about our first PSO meeting in the fall. Please feel free to email westgatechair@gmail.com with any questions or join the Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/westgateelementarypso) to connect with families in the meantime.
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Join Zoom Meeting at 6:30pm on Wednesday February 17, 2021:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81073098520?pwd=UVpBZ1VLRC8yOWMwZXUwcmJyMVlJUT09 Meeting ID: 810 7309 8520 Passcode: 038461 One tap mobile +12532158782,,81073098520#,,,,*038461# US (Tacoma) +13462487799,,81073098520#,,,,*038461# US (Houston)  Did you know one of the things the PSO funds is new library books every year?! In the past the PSO has supported buying books with more diversity to ensure books represent our community, new graphic novels to encourage a love of reading, and new e-book resources. Your participation will make the Read-a-thon a success! Log on to the Get Movin' website (the same site we've used the last couple years for the Fun Run) at www.getmovinfundhub.com and register your student using the school code 5d360a2bccc9b. This is where your student can log their minutes read. And, you can easily share your student's fundraising page via email, text, or on Facebook. Help get their classroom on the Leaderboard! With your help, we'll reach our goal of raising $7000! Here's where we stand now: 
The Black Lives Matter in Edmonds School District Planning Committee is doing lunchtime read-alouds on Facebook every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in February. This video features Westgate teacher, Mrs Chang!
Black Lives Matter Year of Purpose
In addition to the read-alouds, there's a student art show, and another planning meeting coming up on 2/102021. You can find all the details here: https://www.edmonds.wednet.edu/departments/DEO/black_lives_matter___district_equity/b_l_m_month_of_action
 Read the February Newsletters:
Vol 6 Issue 1 Vol 6 Issue 2 There's important info about the Read-a-thon, the Challenge to get more parents to attend PSO meetings and win a prize for their student's teacher, spirit wear, and other ways to support the PSO.  Here's the latest newsletter! Here's a snippet:
"Challenge from our PSO to Westgate parents. We are looking to have more parents at our General Meetings. These meetings take place on the third Wednesday of each month from 6:30pm til approx 7:30pm. The best part is it's on zoom so you don't even have to leave the comfort of your own home. You can even be in your PJs. The link for the zoom is sent out the Wednesday of the meeting both here in the newsletter and from Michele in the office through email. February's meeting is Wednesday Feb. 17th. Mark your calendars!! Our challenge to you is the classroom that gets the most parents to attend the next meeting and stay for most of the meeting, not only will that teacher will get a gift card to use for their class however they see fit but the families in that classroom will receive a surprise in their materials at next material distribution day. Can you help your classroom win?"  This month we had a guest speaker, Sally Guzmán, the Family and Community Engagement Coordinator for the Edmonds School District's Diversity, Equity and Outreach Department. She shared about some of the ways they are supporting families, including distributing Chromebooks, Comcast Internet Essentials, hotspots, lunch delivery, connecting families to community resources to deal with financial, housing, health and mental health challenges, and the "hub" for students experiencing homelessness. If you have questions or need support, you can contact 425-431-1454 or familysupport@edmonds.wednet.edu Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM.
Edmonds School District adopts a Black Lives Matter Month of Action in February. There were trainings for educators this week and there will be some district-wide events that anyone can attend including lunchtime read-a-louds. If you’re interested in getting involved in the BLM Month of Action Planning Committee, or planning committees for future awareness/education events including for LGBTQIA folks, Asian Pacific Islanders, Native American Heritage, Latinx communities, and Disability Rights, you can email Sally at GuzmanReyesS@edmonds.wednet.edu. Other highlights:
Full (draft) meeting minutes are available here. Next meeting will be February 17, 2021 from 6:30-7:30pm. PSO meetings are open to all parents and staff and we welcome you to come, participate, ask questions, or listen quietly! The PSO has the items pictured below on hand for sale, first come first served. Prices include tax. If you are interested, please email westgatefundraisingchair@gmail.com.   At the January PSO meeting, on 1/20/2021 at 6:30pm, I'm excited to share that we'll have Sally Guzmán, the Family and Community Engagement Coordinator for the Edmonds School District, joining us to share about supports for families and the District's engagement, outreach and equity efforts. Please join us!
Here's the zoom link info: PSO Mtg this Wednesday Topic: PSO General Mtg 1/20/2021 Time: Jan 20, 2021 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85305123557?pwd=cDZlbkZReUZsWldQYW81WmcvNi91UT09 Meeting ID: 853 0512 3557 Passcode: 100081 One tap mobile +12532158782,,85305123557#,,,,*100081# US (Tacoma) +16699009128,,85305123557#,,,,*100081# US (San Jose)  Westgate's PSO depends on our community's involvement! Please join us on Wednesday 1/20/2021 at 6:30-7:30pm via zoom to learn about upcoming events including the Read-a-thon and participate in important conversations and decision making! Look forward to seeing you there!
Time: Jan 20, 2021 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85305123557?pwd=cDZlbkZReUZsWldQYW81WmcvNi91UT09 Meeting ID: 853 0512 3557 Passcode: 100081 One tap mobile +12532158782,,85305123557#,,,,*100081# US (Tacoma) +16699009128,,85305123557#,,,,*100081# US (San Jose)  This is a fundraising event for the Westgate PSO! Please sign up to volunteer! Adult volunteers are needed for set up, helping to unload items, clean up. Check out available shifts here: www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4daeac2aa6f5c07-goodwill  Please join us!
Agenda items include holiday giving, family support, teacher appreciation, fundraising updates and looking ahead to the Read-a-Thon in the new year. We welcome questions, feedback and participation from everyone who attends, but there's no expectations! Wednesday, November 18, 2020 6:30pm - 7:30pm zoom link With new guidelines announced today for the next four weeks by Governor Inslee amidst rising COVID numbers this fall, we know the stress of COVID, losses, finances, isolation, remote schooling is worsening for many families. You aren't alone if you're feeling the weight of these concerns! Together, we're going to get through this. As a PSO, we've been trying to be creative this year in finding ways to foster Westgate Cougar spirit and help students feel like part of the community even while we're learning from home - from the Cleanup in September, to the video assemblies, spirit wear, and writing to the Cougar!
We're also trying to identify the biggest concerns that families have through our Family Support Survey and what the PSO might be able to do to address some of these concerns. So far, kids' social relationships, academic progress, and both kids' and parents' mental health are the stressors that have been highlighted in the survey. If you haven't yet filled out the survey, please take a couple minutes now to do so here - your input is deeply appreciated. We'll be talking more about the results and some ideas coming out of the survey at the PSO meeting this coming Wednesday, November 18 from 6:30-7:30.
Westgate staff have also been working hard to make sure classes have needed supplies and engaging kids creatively via zoom while dealing with the same uncertainty we're all facing about COVID and remote learning. Typically, one of the things the PSO organizes is the monthly staff appreciation luncheons; this month, at the PSO meeting, we're hoping to brainstorm ways families, classes, and the PSO can express appreciation for our dedicated Westgate staff. Please join us! Lastly, there are some resources available on our website, including food, financial, mental health resources. If you know of other resources to add, please feel free to link them below. All this feels hard because it is hard! And there is help and support available. Take care of yourselves and each other.  We've got links for the last three newsletters here! Info about the Family Support Survey, Charleston Wrap Fundraiser, Spirit Wear (including masks, golf umbrellas!), and writing to the Westgate Cougar!
November 12, 2020 newsletter November 4, 2020 newsletter October 28, 2020 newsletter  Westgate families, the PSO wants to know how we can support you this year. We put together a quick 4-question survey to assess needs and concerns and we’ve begun the process of identifying school, district, and community resources.
Survey is available in English and Spanish here: https://bit.ly/WestgateFamilySupportSurvey Resources are on the Family Support page. If you know of other resources we could add, please comment below! 
  The Catalog Fundraiser is starting today and will go until Friday, November 20. This year, we're using Charleston Wrap®, which offers gift wrap, kitchen items, personalized gifts, gourmet foods and more. Simply register using our school code: 18502 and the Westgate PSO will receive funds for every purchase.
Funds raised from this campaign will be used to buy a yearbook for each student, support the cost of supplying every student with school supplies, and help provide grants to teachers among other PSO programs. Thank you in advance for helping us reach our goal by sharing our fundraiser with your friends and family!  The next PSO meeting will be held on Wednesday October 21, 2020 from 6:30-7:30pm on zoom. All members of the Westgate community are invited. Agenda items will include the Principal's Update, Fundraising Updates, Family Outreach, and Grant Requests from teachers and staff. There's usually time for questions at the end and we value your presence and involvement!
 Check out the latest few email newsletters: September 30 Newsletter includes Westgate Cleanup Photos - thanks to all who participated; October Issue 1 Newsletter with info about Fred Meyer Reward Program and other fundraising updates; and the October Issue 2 Newsletter with info about school pictures and the yearbook! You can see all the Newsletters by going here: https://www.westgatepso.org/news/category/newsletter.
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