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Student Offerings
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Westwood Elementary students have a wide range of program opportunities to participate in before, during, and after the school day. Whether a sport, leadership team, musical group, or art event, there is something for every Westwood Tiger. Find out more about Westwood’s Special Classes.
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Related Arts
Each day, students attend a Related Arts class for 45 minutes. Throughout the week, students attend Music, Art, Library/Technology, and Physical Education twice. A description of each class is below.
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Art
The Art Department at Westwood is an ever expanding program that allows students to explore and enhance their knowledge and skills in a wide variety of art techniques such as illustrating, painting, hand building, graphic design, print making, and more. Students will also get a blast from the past by discovering that specific historic artists, such as Vincent Van Gogh, Georgia O’Keefe, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci, used similar techniques and mediums as artists do today. Technology is also used in these classes as a medium for creating digital artworks and for artist research. Students are encouraged to do their best to create a piece of art while learning techniques, the elements of art, and the principles of art. Everyone is an artist at something.
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Library
Every week students will visit the library as part of our related arts schedule. In library students are not only given the opportunity to checkout books, but they are also given instruction on how to find books that are a good fit for them while being exposed to several different genres. In addition, students engage in collaborative conversations and projects through technology, helping them dive even deeper into reading.
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Music
First through fifth grade students at Westwood Elementary attend music once a week for 45 minutes. Kindergartners attend twice a week for 20 minutes. Our goal at the elementary level is to learn through active musical experiences with singing, moving, and playing instruments all while learning, exploring, and experiencing music in a variety of ways. All students learn to read rhythm patterns and learn how to play a variety of rhythm and orff instruments. Fourth graders learn to play the recorder and continue that experience through fifth grade. Third, fourth, and fifth graders have the opportunity to join the Westwood Chorus. Chorus meets once a week in the mornings before school. Other musical performance opportunities occur in December and May with short grade level performances and the Talent Show.
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Physical Education
Physical Education plays a vital role in a students development and growth. According to recent medical studies, physical well being of a student is directly related to his or her performance, whether in class or in life in general. The goal at Westwood is to provide students with a physical education program that stresses and develops physical fitness, self esteem, cooperation, teamwork, and an active life style in a fun and safe environment.
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Technology
Students will have the opportunity to visit the computer lab to learn about technology, computer proficiency, and 21st Century skills. Mr. Beard will be focusing both on technological readiness (typing, mouse skills, shortcut keys, etc.) and on technological application (coding, website building, research, etc.). We also focus on teaching students responsible digital citizenship, or what it means to be a productive, positive, healthy member of the online world.
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School Sponsored Activities
Students at Westwood are offered a variety of extracurricular activities to participate in. These opportunities broaden their leadership skills, allow them to showcase their talents, and work to help build their character.
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Chorus
Chorus is for fourth and fifth graders who enjoy singing. We have multiple school performances. We also usually perform off campus once or twice during the school year. Students can participate in chorus as well as Dance Team, Safety Patrol and other morning school activities. Friday mornings from 7:45-8:30 AM.
Cost: $5.00 for a chorus t-shirt to be worn at performances.
Sponsor: Ms. Sudarshan
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Dance Team
Dance team is for students in second, third, fourth, and fifth graders. We will have two teams (second and third grade team; fourth and fifth grade team) including, but not limited to, ballet, jazz, pom pom, and musical theater. We will perform at three PBIS rallies, Westwood school events, as well as a Spring Showcase. We will be performing at middle/high school athletic events and other community activities. Students may participate in chorus and other morning school activities as well as Dance Team. Practices will be on the opposite days of chorus practice. Monday Dance Practices from 7:40-8:30 AM (arrival beginning at 7:35 AM).
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Field Day
Each May Westwood hosts an amazing field day event! Students have a fun filled day of traditional field day games like tug-of-war, relay races, three legged races, etc. along with carnival style games, face painting, inflatables, and so much more! Students look forward to this event all year long and it's easy to see why!
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Fun Run
In the Fall, students ask friends and family to donate pledges for the Westwood Fun Run. Students will run, jog, or walk laps during the Fun Run all while raising money for Westwood. Students are rewarded with prizes for raising money and the top runners from each grade receive medals or trophies.
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Green Team
The purpose of the Green Team is to provide students the opportunity to experience hands-on activities to learn how to become environmentally responsible. Students will learn how to conserve, protect, and restore the environment. Green Team is open to third, fourth, and fifth grade students at Westwood Elementary. Students pick up recycling bins in classrooms, work outdoors with flowerbeds, and are given an opportunity to participate in a Spring service learning project. Applications are distributed in the Fall and it is a one-time application process for the entire school year. If you have questions regarding Green Team, please contact Ms. Jones.
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Reward Days
Students with stellar behavior each reward period will have the opportunity to attend the PBIS Reward and Rally Day! Students get to play games, listen to music, and so much more! They have so much fun being rewarded for all their great behavior! Reward and rally days happen every four to six weeks and are always memorable events.
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Roller Skating
Roller skating is offered as an in school field trip through students Physical Education class. Permission slips are sent home prior to the roller skating unit and a field trip fee is required. Students are able to participate in a fun unit in gym class while strengthening their bodies, improving balance and coordination, and learning an exciting way to stay active.
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Safety Patrol
Westwood Elementary has an active Safety Patrol consisting of more than ninety fourth and fifth graders. Students have an opportunity at the beginning of the year and before Winter Break to apply. The application process includes parental approval and a teacher's recommendation. Patrollers are expected to maintain good grades and exhibit positive behavior so they can serve as role models for the school population. Patrollers have prospects twice a year to be selected as an Officer (Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant) for a post. Post assignments include morning car duty, morning/afternoon bus duty, flags, halls, and morning cafeteria or gym. Officers also help with assemblies. Rising third graders may apply for Safety Patrol at the end of their third grade year.
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School Newspaper
The school newspaper is for fourth and fifth graders who are interested in sharing all of the Westwood news with our school family. Students will meet once a week on Tuesday mornings at 7:35 AM to work on articles, photo layouts, comics and feature stories that will make up the monthly edition. There is an application process to join. Contact Ms. McKissack for more information!
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Student Council - Tiger Team
Tiger Team is made up of fourth and fifth grade student leaders who showcase all of the aspects of Westwood's Mission and Vision. Members are chosen based on their behavior, attitudes, and excitement to be involved. Tiger Team works on leadership skills, along with various service projects for Westwood Elementary throughout the year.
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Talent Show
In the spring, students have a chance to show their talents. This is always such an amazing event! Students perform in front of their grade. Afterwards, some students are selected to participate in the "Best of the Best" Talent Show. The students selected for this show perform in front of the entire school. Dates will be announced later this fall!
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Westwood Reads!
Research says that a child that reads at least 20 minutes every night scores 15-20 percentile points higher than a child who does not. The Westwood Reading Challenge encourages your child to read every night for 20 minutes and compete against the other classes in their grade level to earn books for their classroom library. Please refer to your child's grade level reading log that gets turned in weekly.
“A book can’t change the world on its own, but a book can change readers. And readers? They can change the world.” ~The Read-Aloud Family
