Westowne is wrapping up Bullying Prevention Week. Students have been wearing the day’s theme color and reflecting on the value of the day all week long. Wear red for respect today and tomorrow, wear blue for kindness.
PTA News
Fall Festival
The PTA's largest fall event is just around the corner on Saturday, October 24th from 3:00 - 6:00 PM. This family friendly afternoon is not to be missed. Festivities include:
Games & activities: $5 wrist bands get your kids access to all this fun stuff --new games, Hazel's Henna, Hoop Love hula hoops, a juggler, crafts (masks and paper pumpkins), bubbles, and spray paint murals.
Basket raffle: Raffle tickets are $1 each, 6 for $5, or $10 for 15. Bring a canned good for the Maryland Food Bank for a free raffle ticket. You can also pitch in by putting together items for the basket raffle. Get creative with any theme you can think of--like spaghetti night, favorite games or characters, pet pampering, or arts and crafts--and email us about what you're preparing and to ask questions. These are the awesome baskets that Westowne families have donated so far:
Silent auction: Support the PTA while doing some early holiday gift shopping. Auction items include the following so far:
Teachers' pumpkin decorating contest: Vote on your favorite decorated pumpkin showcasing the artistic talents of our Westowne teachers. The pumpkins will be raffled off to the students who voted for them.
Teacher pie-in-the-face: Help the school raise funds for purchasing technology by buying raffle tickets for the privilege of throwing a pie at one of our beloved teachers. We will be selling raffle tickets at school during lunch the week leading up to the event, as well as at Fall Festival. The willing victim will be announced that day.
Volunteer opportunities: Get to know other Westowne families by volunteering for this awesome event. Sign up on Volunteer Spot and email us with questions. In addition to hands, we also need to borrow:
Boxes for Brennen
Over the weekend, portions of South Carolina were severely flooded. Help support Brennen Elementary School by making care packages for their students. Chose an age, gender, and size, and pack these unused, basic necessities into a shoebox. Westowne parent, Meg Bower, will be shipping the packages to Brennan. Each box will be given to an individual child. Please drop prepared, labeled boxes off in the "well" in front of the bulletin board in the school lobby by Wednesday, October 14th.
Shoebox contents for kids:
Chose a size and gender for your shoebox.
2 pairs socks
2 pairs underwear
2 t-shirts
1 pair pants
1 kid toothbrush/toothpaste
1 comb or brush and hair ties for a girl
1 small game, toy, or book--like playing cards or a coloring book and crayons
A note from your child
Shoebox contents for infants:
Chose size and gender for your shoebox.
2 casual outfits or sleepers
Small pack disposable diapers
Powdered formula
Pacifier or teether
Light blanket
Please tape boxes closed and label them with size and gender. Drop them off by October 14th so they can be mailed to Brennen. Thank you!
Schwan's Cares - Grocery Delivery
Support the 5th Grade Committee while filling holes in your pantry. Schwan's offers over 350 grocery items to choose from that you are probably already purchasing for your families. Choose your delivery date and time, and they deliver it right to your door.
Grocery purchases contribute 20% and gift certificates contribute 40%. Anyone in a delivery area can participate, including both new and existing costumers. Please share the campaign with friends and family and on social media to help make this fundraiser a success. Thank you!
Check out the PTA's 5th Grade Committee Schwan's campaign.
October PTA Meeting
The first PTA meeting this year is next Tuesday, October 13th. We'll meet at 7:00 in the library. Follow the signs on the doors for where to enter the building. We'll share all the exciting events coming up this fall, including Fall Festival, Movie Night, and Holiday Shoppe. If you'd like to plan ahead, take a look at the PTA's calendar.
While you're there, join or renew your membership. $6 for each adult in your household covers the state and county dues, as well as insurance and training, and allows Westowne to have a PTA. You make Westowne great. And we need you as a member.
Boundary Committee
The Southwest Area Boundary Committee had its second meeting last week. Information and the meeting videos may be found online. Initial draft maps were discussed. Use this website or this email address to provide feedback directly to BCPS about the proposed changes.
In order for parents and community members to provide feedback to Westowne's Boundary Committee representatives (community member Chris Burk, parent Kecia Johnson, Ms. Musacchio, and Principal Palmer), we have created a devoted email address: westowneboundary@gmail.com. Please remember these kind folks are working hard for our community.
The next Boundary Committee meeting will be held Wednesday, October 14th at 6:00 at Catonsville High School. Only committee representatives may participate at this meeting, but community members should definitely attend to observe.
Grilled Cheese & Co. Restaurant Night
Next Thursday, October 15th, Grilled Cheese & Co. is hosting a restaurant event for Westowne PTA. Join friends and classmates for dinner. Dine in or carry out all day long. Just bring your flyer or mention the PTA at the register.
Giant A+ Rewards
Beginning tomorrow through March 17th, Westowne Elementary School (#01581) will have the opportunity to earn cash through Giant's program.
All you have to do is:
• Log on to designate our school online using your Giant card, OR
• Call the A+ Hotline at 1-877-275-2758 for assistance.
Take just a moment to designate Westowne on your account.
School News
Volunteer Opportunity
Anyone who has completed the training and turned in their paperwork is welcome to arrange times with their children's teachers to volunteer. Volunteers are also welcome to lend extra support during the lunch, especially from 11:30-12:30. Come when you can, help open juice boxes, hand out sporks, and encourage owl-standing behavior in the lunch line.
Screen Free Day
Tomorrow, Friday, October 9th, "go screen free" with Westowne. From 4:00 - 7:00 PM, the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park & Museum will stay open late just for Westowne families. The cabin will be open and a special "visitor" may stop by.
Community News How to Close the Reading Gap
Join Decoding Dyslexia Maryland (DD-MD) & Community Partners for a critical discussion on literacy practices, problems, and solutions in Maryland public schools. This free townhall's keynote speaker is News Anchor Deborah Weiner from WBAL11 Baltimore and includes student, parent, and teacher panelists. Please RSVP online.
This Saturday, October 10, 2015 from 2:45 - 6:00 PM in Ellicott City
Academy Heights Community Yard Sale
The annual fall yard sale is this Saturday, October 10th, throughout Academy Heights.
ADHD Awareness
Celebrate Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Awareness in October by educating yourself on the truths, myths, and best practices for ADHD. Check out the ADDitude website.
Westowne in the News
Committee Considers Impact of Redrawing Boundaries for Catonsville and Arbutus Schools
Kamenetz Says State Needs to Help Accelerate School Air Conditioning
PTA News
Fall Festival
The PTA's largest fall event is just around the corner on Saturday, October 24th from 3:00 - 6:00 PM. This family friendly afternoon is not to be missed. Festivities include:
Games & activities: $5 wrist bands get your kids access to all this fun stuff --new games, Hazel's Henna, Hoop Love hula hoops, a juggler, crafts (masks and paper pumpkins), bubbles, and spray paint murals.
Basket raffle: Raffle tickets are $1 each, 6 for $5, or $10 for 15. Bring a canned good for the Maryland Food Bank for a free raffle ticket. You can also pitch in by putting together items for the basket raffle. Get creative with any theme you can think of--like spaghetti night, favorite games or characters, pet pampering, or arts and crafts--and email us about what you're preparing and to ask questions. These are the awesome baskets that Westowne families have donated so far:
- Ravens basket, including T-shirts donated by Albert Bulson
- Fondue basket, donated by Grace Imwold on behalf of Kindergarten
- Caffe di Roma, donated by George Stewart on behalf of 1st & 2nd grade
Silent auction: Support the PTA while doing some early holiday gift shopping. Auction items include the following so far:
- Pizzeria Paradiso ($25 gift certificate)
- Historic Ships of Baltimore (4 tickets to 4 ships)
- Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (2 tickets to Bolero OR Handel's Messiah)
- Catonsville Gourmet ($50 gift certificate)
- Medieval Times (2 tickets)
- Baltimore Orioles signed photo of Steve Pearce
- Starbucks coffee set, courtesy of Felicia Minkey on behalf of the 4th grade
- Westowne Spirit Wear
- The Breadery ($20 gift certificate)
Teachers' pumpkin decorating contest: Vote on your favorite decorated pumpkin showcasing the artistic talents of our Westowne teachers. The pumpkins will be raffled off to the students who voted for them.
Teacher pie-in-the-face: Help the school raise funds for purchasing technology by buying raffle tickets for the privilege of throwing a pie at one of our beloved teachers. We will be selling raffle tickets at school during lunch the week leading up to the event, as well as at Fall Festival. The willing victim will be announced that day.
Volunteer opportunities: Get to know other Westowne families by volunteering for this awesome event. Sign up on Volunteer Spot and email us with questions. In addition to hands, we also need to borrow:
- Canopy tents - bring your canopies to the school to set up
- Corn hole - let us borrow your game boards
Boxes for Brennen
Over the weekend, portions of South Carolina were severely flooded. Help support Brennen Elementary School by making care packages for their students. Chose an age, gender, and size, and pack these unused, basic necessities into a shoebox. Westowne parent, Meg Bower, will be shipping the packages to Brennan. Each box will be given to an individual child. Please drop prepared, labeled boxes off in the "well" in front of the bulletin board in the school lobby by Wednesday, October 14th.
Shoebox contents for kids:
Chose a size and gender for your shoebox.
2 pairs socks
2 pairs underwear
2 t-shirts
1 pair pants
1 kid toothbrush/toothpaste
1 comb or brush and hair ties for a girl
1 small game, toy, or book--like playing cards or a coloring book and crayons
A note from your child
Shoebox contents for infants:
Chose size and gender for your shoebox.
2 casual outfits or sleepers
Small pack disposable diapers
Powdered formula
Pacifier or teether
Light blanket
Please tape boxes closed and label them with size and gender. Drop them off by October 14th so they can be mailed to Brennen. Thank you!
Schwan's Cares - Grocery Delivery
Support the 5th Grade Committee while filling holes in your pantry. Schwan's offers over 350 grocery items to choose from that you are probably already purchasing for your families. Choose your delivery date and time, and they deliver it right to your door.
Grocery purchases contribute 20% and gift certificates contribute 40%. Anyone in a delivery area can participate, including both new and existing costumers. Please share the campaign with friends and family and on social media to help make this fundraiser a success. Thank you!
Check out the PTA's 5th Grade Committee Schwan's campaign.
October PTA Meeting
The first PTA meeting this year is next Tuesday, October 13th. We'll meet at 7:00 in the library. Follow the signs on the doors for where to enter the building. We'll share all the exciting events coming up this fall, including Fall Festival, Movie Night, and Holiday Shoppe. If you'd like to plan ahead, take a look at the PTA's calendar.
While you're there, join or renew your membership. $6 for each adult in your household covers the state and county dues, as well as insurance and training, and allows Westowne to have a PTA. You make Westowne great. And we need you as a member.
Boundary Committee
The Southwest Area Boundary Committee had its second meeting last week. Information and the meeting videos may be found online. Initial draft maps were discussed. Use this website or this email address to provide feedback directly to BCPS about the proposed changes.
In order for parents and community members to provide feedback to Westowne's Boundary Committee representatives (community member Chris Burk, parent Kecia Johnson, Ms. Musacchio, and Principal Palmer), we have created a devoted email address: westowneboundary@gmail.com. Please remember these kind folks are working hard for our community.
The next Boundary Committee meeting will be held Wednesday, October 14th at 6:00 at Catonsville High School. Only committee representatives may participate at this meeting, but community members should definitely attend to observe.
Grilled Cheese & Co. Restaurant Night
Next Thursday, October 15th, Grilled Cheese & Co. is hosting a restaurant event for Westowne PTA. Join friends and classmates for dinner. Dine in or carry out all day long. Just bring your flyer or mention the PTA at the register.
Giant A+ Rewards
Beginning tomorrow through March 17th, Westowne Elementary School (#01581) will have the opportunity to earn cash through Giant's program.
All you have to do is:
• Log on to designate our school online using your Giant card, OR
• Call the A+ Hotline at 1-877-275-2758 for assistance.
Take just a moment to designate Westowne on your account.
School News
Volunteer Opportunity
Anyone who has completed the training and turned in their paperwork is welcome to arrange times with their children's teachers to volunteer. Volunteers are also welcome to lend extra support during the lunch, especially from 11:30-12:30. Come when you can, help open juice boxes, hand out sporks, and encourage owl-standing behavior in the lunch line.
Screen Free Day
Tomorrow, Friday, October 9th, "go screen free" with Westowne. From 4:00 - 7:00 PM, the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park & Museum will stay open late just for Westowne families. The cabin will be open and a special "visitor" may stop by.
Community News How to Close the Reading Gap
Join Decoding Dyslexia Maryland (DD-MD) & Community Partners for a critical discussion on literacy practices, problems, and solutions in Maryland public schools. This free townhall's keynote speaker is News Anchor Deborah Weiner from WBAL11 Baltimore and includes student, parent, and teacher panelists. Please RSVP online.
This Saturday, October 10, 2015 from 2:45 - 6:00 PM in Ellicott City
Academy Heights Community Yard Sale
The annual fall yard sale is this Saturday, October 10th, throughout Academy Heights.
ADHD Awareness
Celebrate Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Awareness in October by educating yourself on the truths, myths, and best practices for ADHD. Check out the ADDitude website.
Westowne in the News
Committee Considers Impact of Redrawing Boundaries for Catonsville and Arbutus Schools
Kamenetz Says State Needs to Help Accelerate School Air Conditioning
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