Ms. Kleinman's Classroom (D109)

Arriving back from break, artists will add a string and beads to their leaf ornament.

As we return from break we will revisit class expectations, new groups and offer retakes for our assessment.

As we return from the break, we will revisit classroom's expectations, and reflect on our activities during the break.

Please contact our specialty teachers for any questions!

November 14, 2025

Next week, we will be learning:

Math

We'll continue our unit on measurement by representing numerical data on a line plot next week.

Phonics

Next week, we'll begin Unit 7 where students learn that "y" can act as a vowel, including suffixes such as y, ly, and ty. They'll also continue working on combining open syllables with closed and vowel-consonant-e syllables.

Writing

Students began learning about informational writing this week by crafting a "how to" story on brushing teeth. Ms. Kleinman demonstrated the importance of including details in writing by brushing her teeth exactly as students wrote their stories! Next week, they'll continue writing more detailed how to stories and later begin learning how they can research information to craft their informational writing.

Thematic

Students have planted grass seeds this week! We'll be tracking our plant growth with observational journals next week as well as learning how seeds disperse from parent plants to find light sources and survive.

Language Arts

Explorer Blocks are showing great success in students' phonological skills! Remember, this is a time where students are divided into new second grade classes for 30 minutes in the morning for targeted practice in phonics skills we've seen they need support in. Our Language Arts structure will still include 20 minutes of Lexia each day. Students have been working on Silent Sustained Reading and choosing Good Fit Books.

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Notes from Ms. Kleinman

First trimester conferences begin next week! These conferences are STUDENT-LED, so please make sure your student is present with you! This is a wonderful opportunity for your student to demonstrate to you what they have been learning about throughout the first trimester at school. You will be receiving their report cards during their conference as well.

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Westlake News

Fall Food Drive:

Our Annual Fall Food Drive benefiting Joey’s Food Locker runs now through Wednesday, December 3rd, concluding at our Annual Chili Cook-Off. Food collection bins will be placed in the reception area of each campus. Suggested donations are:

Beans
Rice
Pasta
Broth/stock
Canned Vegetables and Chicken
Cooking Oil
Spices (salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc.)

Thank you for helping us give back to our Natomas community!

K-8 Conferences:

Conference week is NEXT WEEK, November 17th - 21st. CLICK HERE to schedule your conference. The online scheduler is available October 27th - November 17th, so reserve your conference time now. CLICK HERE for instructions on how to use the online scheduler.

Chili Cook-Off:

We are excited for the upcoming, and always popular, Chili Cook-Off on Wednesday, December 3rd from 5:30 – 7:00 PM on our K-8 campus. We invite every family to come sample chili and vote for their favorite! The winning grade level will take the Golden Spoon to display with pride in their classrooms. All of our families can take part in making the Chili Cook-Off a success. See below for details about the event and how to participate

Each grade level, 6th - 12th, decorates one shared booth with several different chilis to sample.
The cost is $5 per person.
Families of four or more are just $20.00.
Each bowl comes with a drink (while supplies last).
Desserts can be purchased for $1.
Kindergarten – 5th Grade: CLICK HERE to sign up to donate desserts, drinks, spoons, and/or napkins.
6th – 12th Grade: CLICK HERE to sign up to supply and/or serve chili, help with booth decorations, or setup/cleanup.

Call for STEM Career Fair Volunteers:

WCHS is planning our 2nd annual STEM career fair! If you are currently working in the STEM field or know anyone who does work in the STEM field and would like to volunteer their time for this event, please CLICK HERE to indicate interest. The tentative event date is Thursday, January 22, 2026 from 5:30 - 7:00PM.

Thanksgiving Break:

Both campuses will be closed for Thanksgiving Break Monday, November 24th through Friday, November 28th. We look forward to welcoming staff and students back on Monday, December 1st. Our BASE program will also be closed during Thanksgiving Break.

Lost and Found:

The Lost & Found at each campus is overflowing with jackets, lunch boxes, water bottles and more! K-8 families: Swing by to check for missing items behind the Admin Building during conference week. WCHS students: Look in the Commons during arrival, lunch, and dismissal. All unclaimed items will be donated over Thanksgiving Break.

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Specialties News

For the Week of 11/17/25:

A new group of kinders will begin art next week. They will be introduced to the procedures and expectations of the art room through modeling, songs, and hands on experiences.

Greetings Explorers! This week we will be be switching cohorts again and welcoming a new group of students back. We will be reviewing class safety & protocols as well as reviewing all the movement concepts we have practiced so far this year.

¡Hola, familias! In Spanish class this week, we’re exploring Thanksgiving. A quick weekly check-in at home, asking your child what they learned and how they contributed, can make a wonderful difference. Celebrate their enthusiasm!

Please contact our specialty teachers for any questions!

November 7, 2025

Next week, we will be learning:

Math

Students have been learning about measurement and will continue this skill next week! Our focus will be on measuring length in feet and inches while representing and solving one- and two-step story problems within 100.

Phonics

We are in Unit 6 of our Phonics curriculum. Students are learning about the final e, compound words, and the suffix -ive.

Writing

We'll wrap up our opinion writing this week and start working on "how-to" writing prompts as we begin informational writing.

Thematic

Students have started our new plant unit. We learned about a plant's life cycle and started germinating a bean. Students will observe the bean's changes and note what nutrients plants need to survive.

Language Arts

Explorer Blocks are showing great success in students' phonological skills! Remember, this is a time where students are divided into new second grade classes for 30 minutes in the morning for targeted practice in phonics skills we've seen they need support in. Our Language Arts structure will still include 20 minutes of Lexia each day. Students have been working on Silent Sustained Reading and choosing Good Fit Books.

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Notes from Ms. Kleinman

Thank you to everyone for being so understanding while I was out for the last week and a half. Your students showed so much kindness and understanding as we got our schedule back on track.

_________

Our class has been working hard on our Minute Math Challenge, focusing on reaching our weekly goal of 45 minutes on Imagine Math. Due to our class reaching this goal, students from our class can wear pajamas and bring a stuffy to school on Wednesday, November 12th.

Please make sure that your child is following the dress code guidelines below:

1. Clothes must be free of inappropriate wording and images

2. All clothing must fit properly. Pants around the natural waist, tops completely covering the torso area

3. All shirts must have sleeves, no sleeveless shirts.

4. All clothing must be free of rips and tears

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Westlake News

Fall Food Drive:

Our Annual Fall Food Drive benefiting Joey’s Food Locker runs now through Wednesday, December 3rd, concluding at our Annual Chili Cook-Off. Food collection bins will be placed in the reception area of each campus. Suggested donations are:

Beans
Rice
Pasta
Broth/stock
Canned Vegetables and Chicken
Cooking Oil
Spices (salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc.)

Thank you for helping us give back to our Natomas community!

K-12 Spirit Day - Mix & Match Day:

Mix & Match day will be Friday, November 14th. Dress up in wild colors, mismatched shoes, different colored socks or different patterns (for example, stripes with polka dots, colors that clash, etc.) Don’t forget to show your WCS spirit by posting pictures on all social media platforms and using the hashtag #WCSSpiritDay!

K-8 Conferences:

Conference week is November 17th - 21st. CLICK HERE to schedule your conference. The online scheduler is available October 27th - November 17th, so reserve your conference time now. CLICK HERE for instructions on how to use the online scheduler.

Call for STEM Career Fair Volunteers:

WCHS is planning our 2nd annual STEM career fair! If you are currently working in the STEM field or know anyone who does work in the STEM field and would like to volunteer their time for this event, please CLICK HERE to indicate interest. The tentative event date is Thursday, January 22, 2026 from 5:30 - 7:00PM.

Thanksgiving Break:

Both campuses will be closed for Thanksgiving Break Monday, November 24th through Friday, November 28th. We look forward to welcoming staff and students back on Monday, December 1st. Our BASE program will also be closed during Thanksgiving Break.

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Specialties News

For the Week of 11/10/25:

Artists will be writing and illustrating a book about our art room expectations. Making this book will give a sense of ownership to the artists' studio and promote a kind and respectful environment.

This week will will continue our assessments of traveling through space while staying within boundaries.

Hola, familias, this week we will get into the Thanksgiving spirit. We will learn how to express thanks in Spanish—using different ways to show gratitude—and connect these expressions to our daily lives and the things we are thankful for.

Please contact our specialty teachers for any questions!

October 17, 2025

Next week, we will be learning:

Math

Students will be taking their Unit 2 test next week. Our printer is on the fritz so I couldn't send home a study guide, but rest assured that we have bene practicing all week and will continue to review concepts next week before taking the test. If I have the ability, I'll send a study guide home before the test. The next upcoming unit will be on Measurement.

Phonics

Unit 5 will begin next week and students will learn how to read and spell two-syllable words, compound words, and suffixes ful, ment, ness, less, able, en, and ish.

Writing

Students will keep practicing how to structure opinion writing, providing reasons and examples to support their opinion in addition to learning how to begin and end a piece of writing.

Thematic

Students will finish learning about Earth Systems and erosion. This week, students completed an experiment to observe in real time how erosion can cause a cornmeal mountain to break down and carry sediment. Next week, we'll conclude this unit by reconstructing their cornmeal mountains and test how they can prevent erosion!

Language Arts

Explorer Blocks have started! Remember, this is a time where students are divided into new second grade classes for 30 minutes in the morning for targeted practice in phonics skills we've seen they need support in. Our Language Arts structure will still include 20 minutes of Lexia each day. Students have been working on Silent Sustained Reading and choosing Good Fit Books.

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Notes from Ms. Kleinman

Not only are we going on a mini field trip next week to learn about Pedestrian Safety (See below for more information), but we are also going on our very first official field trip to Dave's Pumpkin Patch! This will take place on Wednesday, October 29th. Parent chaperones will be selected on a first come, first serve basis as long as you have clearance from the front office! Look at this week's email for more information.

Second graders have a wonderful opportunity to learn about Pedestrian Safety later this month! JIBE hosts a walking field trip where students learn the importance of crosswalk safety with an in-class lesson followed by a short walk around Westlake to put their skills in action. Since we will be off-campus, though close by, permission slips are being sent home in Friday Folders today. Please sign and return by October 17th, 2025 so your student can participate!

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Westlake News

Walktober is Here:

Throughout the month of October we encourage all students to walk to school at least three blocks or join our Walking School Bus and have their JIBE trip card scanned. Be sure to walk and have your card scanned as many times as you can between October 20th - 31st for a chance to win. Classes with at least 60% participation will win a party-in-a-box for their entire class. Let’s get moving! CLICK HERE for the information flyer. Don’t have a card yet? No problem, CLICK HERE to register today.

Middle School After School Live Athletics - Volunteer Coaching Opportunities:

We are excited to be relaunching our Middle School ASLive Athletics program, which is open to all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. We are looking for VOLUNTEER COACHES to make this possible. Teams will meet twice a week throughout the season for practices and games. Practices and games last from 3:15 – 4:15 PM every day except Wednesdays. CLICK HERE to complete the Volunteer Coach interest form to let us know if you are interested in finding out more about coaching flag football, basketball, or volleyball!

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Specialties News

For the Week of 10/20/25:

Next week artists will be learning about the element of space in their artwork. They will draw a pumpkin patch or field crop of their choice with a horizon line and a vanishig point.

No update yet.

Hola, familias. This week we will revisit and review our classroom's expectations to maximize the instruction time. We will also reinforce our routine of Spanish alphabet, greetings, and vocabulary used in context.

Please contact our specialty teachers for any questions!

October 3, 2025

After October Break, we will be learning:

Math

Students will continue working on Unit 2 - adding and subtracting within 100.

Phonics

We'll continue Unit 4 which focuses on suffixes, forming plurals, and forming present and past tense.

Writing

Students will keep practicing how to structure opinion writing, providing reasons and examples to support their opinion in addition to learning how to begin and end a piece of writing.

Thematic

Students completed two experiments this week to learn about weathering and erosion! When we return, students will dive into more hands-on experiments to see erosion in action.

Language Arts

We'll begin Explorer Blocks after we return! This is where students will be divided into new second grade classes for 30 minutes in the morning for targeted practice in phonics skills we've seen they need support in. Our Language Arts structure will still include 20 minutes of Lexia each day. Students have been working on Silent Sustained Reading and choosing Good Fit Books.

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Notes from Ms. Kleinman

Second graders have a wonderful opportunity to learn about Pedestrian Safety later this month! JIBE hosts a walking field trip where students learn the importance of crosswalk safety with an in-class lesson followed by a short walk around Westlake to put their skills in action. Since we will be off-campus, though close by, permission slips are being sent home in Friday Folders today. Please sign and return by October 17th, 2025 so your student can participate!

Thank you to families who have offered to volunteer in class! I will start planning some times for volunteers to come in after October Break. I hope everyone has a restful October Break!

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Westlake News

Middle School After School Live Athletics - Volunteer Coaching Opportunities:

We are excited to be relaunching our Middle School ASLive Athletics program, which is open to all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. We are looking for VOLUNTEER COACHES to make this possible. Teams will meet twice a week throughout the season for practices and games. Practices and games last from 3:15 – 4:15 PM every day except Wednesdays. CLICK HERE to complete the Volunteer Coach interest form to let us know if you are interested in finding out more about coaching flag football, basketball, or volleyball!

Middle School Dance:

Our student leadership team is preparing for our next Middle School dance on Friday, October 17th from 4:00 - 5:00 PM in our K-8 Gym! The music, food, and photo opportunities will be so much fun! We are in need of families to volunteer to support this event. Please CLICK HERE to sign up if you are able to help set up, chaperone, clean up or donate food/drinks. Thanks for your support!

International Walk to School Day:

Please join us on Friday, October 17th for the biggest Walking School Bus of the year! We will depart Burberry Community Park near Northborough Drive and Club Center Drive at 7:50 AM on a walk to school where we will join an epic dance party with a DJ. You don’t want to miss this celebration!

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Specialties News

For the Week of 10/13/25:

Upon returning from fall break, artists will be adding color value to their gemstome drawings. And, they will get to add a GLOW of color using chalk pastel!

No update yet.

Hola, familias. This week we will wrap up the Hispanic Heritage Month with some culturally relevant videos to learn about the contribution of of Hispanic people to our country and culture. We will learn the language together the culture.

Please contact our specialty teachers for any questions!

September 19, 2025

Next week, we will be learning:

Math

Next week, students are continuing Unit 2! They will add and subtract within 100 using strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and the relationship between addition and subtraction. They'll use what they know to solve story problems later on in the unit. A Unit 2 Family Support Packet was sent home in Friday Folders. Since Unit 1 is complete, student practice workbooks have been sent home. Any blank pages are great resources for homework or extra practice!

Phonics

Next week, we'll begin Unit 3 and focus on the glued sounds ild, ind, old, olt, ost as well as vowel teams for reading ai, ay, ea, ee, ey, oi, and oy. We'll also be practicing story retelling and fluent passage reading. A Unit 3 Family Support Packet was sent home in Friday Folders.

Writing

Next week, we'll jump into Opinion Writing! Students will focus primarily on recognizing the difference between facts versus opinions.

Thematic

Next week, students will begin our Earth Systems unit. We'll be learning about landforms and what geologists study!

Language Arts

Our new Language Arts structure includes 20 minutes of Lexia each day. Students have been working on Silent Sustained Reading and choosing Good Fit Books. We've also been completing "Daily 3" lessons that help students learn grammatical skills.

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Notes from Ms. Kleinman

Thank you to the grandparents who were able to visit us for Grandparents Day! The event was such a success for students to learn about life long ago while they work on comparing what they've learned to their lives today.

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Westlake News

Strategic Plan Family Survey:

Families, help us Shape our Future! Please CLICK HERE to watch a quick video of Dr. Eick discussing the Strategic Plan Family Survey. Then, CLICK HERE to take the 7-10 minute survey. The grade level with the highest family participation will receive a donut party on October 3rd.

Olympic Triathlon:

Westlake families have raised over $18,000 already to support Westlake’s incredible programs. The Olympic Triathlon event is right around the corner on Friday, September 26th.

CLICK HERE to watch our Olympic Triathlon Kickoff video
CLICK HERE for a flyer with all the details
CLICK HERE to set up a family donation page on the Pledgestar website
CLICK HERE to volunteer on Olympic Triathlon Field Event Day!

Lunchtime Reminders:
To help our day run smoothly and ensure all students have a safe and timely lunch, we kindly ask that you do not send food items that require cooking, heating, or preparation by staff. This includes items that need to be microwaved or otherwise heated.

Please send lunches that are ready to eat and do not require staff assistance. We appreciate your support in helping us keep lunchtime efficient and safe for everyone!

K-8 Picture Retake Day:

Our Picture Retake Day is Thursday, October 2nd. See below for who should have their picture taken on October 2nd:

Students who are new to our school since the original picture day
Students that were absent on the original picture day
Students who would like to retake their photo
CLICK HERE to order pictures

Classroom Volunteering 101:

We've launched Classroom Volunteering 101 to give every family the tools and confidence to step into the classroom and make a difference! Our next training sessions are as follows:

In Person: Wednesday, September 17th at 5:00 PM on our K-8 Campus

Online: September 24th at 9:00 AM via video conference - CLICK HERE for the Zoom link

If you aren't able to make it to either, or would prefer to complete this training independently, please CLICK HERE to take our training online whenever it works for you.

Once you've completed Classroom Volunteering 101 either online or in a group, you’ll complete a short form that will let our staff recognize you as a trained classroom volunteer. You can then reach out to your teacher to schedule a time to volunteer in the classroom. When you arrive on campus to volunteer, please check in at the front desk with your photo ID.

CLICK HERE to express interest in volunteering at an upcoming event. We appreciate you and are looking forward to hosting you on campus soon!

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Specialties News

For the Week of 9/22/25:

Second grade artists will finish up their animal and floral paintings. At the end of class we will preview the next project about color, form and value.

Greetings Movers! This week we will continue our throwing & catching unit with practicing throwing at a moving target and catching various implements at various levels (high, medium, and low).

Upcoming Assessments: *Will be assessing ability to move safely within own space and within boundaries the week of September 29

Hola, familia. This week we will continue our routine of exposing the students to the Spanish language. To do so, we do Total Physical response, choral response, songs, dance, and more. We practice the use of the Spanish language in context.

Please contact our specialty teachers for any questions!

September 12, 2025

Next week, we will be learning:

Math

Next week, students are beginning Unit 2! They will add and subtract within 100 using strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and the relationship between addition and subtraction. They'll use what they know to solve story problems later on in the unit.

Phonics

We'll be finishing Unit 2 next week. This will still focus on bonus letters, glued sounds, and r-controlled words.

Writing

Next week, students will begin responding to daily prompts in their Writer's Notebooks to build writing stamina before beginning our first official opinion writing unit the following week.

Thematic

Students are immersed in Life Long Ago. Next week, they will learn how to interview someone and record notes. Grandparents Day is on Wednesday, 9/17 from 9:00 - 9:45am! Please RSVP to let me know if your student's grandparent will be joining us in class. This will help me get a better idea of how I can structure this activity.

Language Arts

Our new Language Arts structure includes 20 minutes of Lexia each day. Students have been working on Silent Sustained Reading and choosing Good Fit Books. We've also been completing "Daily 3" lessons that help students learn grammatical skills.

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Notes from Ms. Kleinman

Hello Families, listed above under Thematic is important information about Grandparents Day coming up next month! Please make sure to review the flyer for information and reach out with any questions! Please remember to RSVP for this event so I can get an approximate head count!

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Westlake News

School Supplies and Field Lesson Donations:

Great news, Explorer families! Westlake Charter School has already reached 26% of our School Supplies donation goal and 12% of our Field Lesson donation goal. Keep up the great work, Explorers! CLICK HERE to make your donation today!

Olympic Triathlon:

We’re aiming for 100% student participation as we come together to support Westlake’s incredible programs. The Olympic Triathlon event is right around the corner on Friday, September 26th. CLICK HERE to watch our Olympic Triathlon Kickoff video.

CLICK HERE to set up a family donation page on the Pledgestar website. You can customize it with your student’s name, a photo, and a donation goal. It is easy to quickly request sponsors via email or text, explaining why Westlake is amazing and how they can help us meet our goal this year.
Prize Levels - Prizes starting on September 9th

🎉 25% Participation – Chips & Drinks for the class!

🍧 50% Participation – Popsicle Party time!

🍩 75% Participation – Donut Party celebration!

🍕 100% Participation – Pizza Party for the win!

$100 Goal Challenge – Prizes & Rewards!
- Every student who raises $100 or more will be celebrated with:

✅ Guaranteed Prize – A special Olympic Triathlon medal

✅ Raffle Entry – For every $100 a student raises they’re entered into a raffle for AMAZING prizes:

Top Prize for K-8: eScooter
Top Prize for HS: 🎧 Apple AirPods 4
Additional prizes: Pair of Disneyland tickets, $25 Gift Cards (Amazon, In-N-Out, Jamba Juice, and more!)

💡 The more students who hit the $100 goal, the bigger the celebration for our school community!

Classroom Volunteering 101:

We've launched Classroom Volunteering 101 to give every family the tools and confidence to step into the classroom and make a difference! Our next training sessions are as follows:

In Person: Wednesday, September 17th at 5:00 PM on our K-8 Campus

Online: September 24th at 9:00 AM via video conference - CLICK HERE for the Zoom link

If you aren't able to make it to either, or would prefer to complete this training independently, please CLICK HERE to take our training online whenever it works for you.

Once you've completed Classroom Volunteering 101 either online or in a group, you’ll complete a short form that will let our staff recognize you as a trained classroom volunteer. You can then reach out to your teacher to schedule a time to volunteer in the classroom. When you arrive on campus to volunteer, please check in at the front desk with your photo ID.

CLICK HERE to express interest in volunteering at an upcoming event. We appreciate you and are looking forward to hosting you on campus soon!

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Specialties News

For the Week of 9/15/25:

Next week 2nd grade artists will chose a simple animal to draw and then add watercolor or marker plants and flowers to the background or top of the anmial's head as a decoration. I look forward to seeing these creatures come to life with floral designs!

No update yet.

Hola, familia. This week we will be talking about the fall colors and the activities we do in our favorite season.

Please contact our specialty teachers for any questions!

September 5, 2025

Next week, we will be learning:

Math

Next week, students will finish making sense of and interpret tape diagrams. We'll also continue to represent and solve compare problems with unknowns in all positions within 100. Students will be taking their Unit 1 test. A practice packet will be sent home in Friday Folders.

Phonics

We'll begin Unit 2 next week! This will focus on bonus letters, glued sounds, and r-controlled words. A family resource packet will be sent home in Friday Folders.

Writing

Students created a fun, silly monster in their Writer's Notebooks and have begun writing sentences to describe their monster. The focus is on creating strong sentences that include as many details as possible so their readers can "make a movie" in their mind.

Thematic

Students have been learning about artifacts from the past. They even learned about their teacher's past! We'll be connecting the past to their lives now by comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences.

Language Arts

Students will begin practicing to build silent reading stamina in the weeks ahead, as well as various word work exercises to build grammatical skills.

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Notes from Ms. Kleinman

Hello Families, listed above under Thematic is important information about Grandparents Day coming up next month! Please make sure to review the flyer for information and reach out with any questions!

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Westlake News

School Supplies and Field Lesson Donations:

Great news, Explorer families! Westlake Charter School has already reached 24% of our School Supplies donation goal and 11% of our Field Lesson donation goal. Keep up the great work, Explorers! CLICK HERE to make your donation today!

After School Live - Fall Explorer Enrichment:

Some of our fall Explorer Enrichment classes have begun and others start soon - most classes still have space, so CLICK HERE to see the catalog of Explorer Enrichment course offerings and information about how to sign up. E-mail amayle@westlakecharter.com with scholarship inquiries.

Classroom Volunteering 101:

We've launched Classroom Volunteering 101 to give every family the tools and confidence to step into the classroom and make a difference! Our next training sessions are as follows:

In Person: Wednesday, September 17th at 5:00 PM on our K-8 Campus

Online: September 24th at 9:00 AM via video conference - CLICK HERE for the Zoom link

If you aren't able to make it to either, or would prefer to complete this training independently, please CLICK HERE to take our training online whenever it works for you.

Once you've completed Classroom Volunteering 101 either online or in a group, you’ll complete a short form that will let our staff recognize you as a trained classroom volunteer. You can then reach out to your teacher to schedule a time to volunteer in the classroom. When you arrive on campus to volunteer, please check in at the front desk with your photo ID.

CLICK HERE to express interest in volunteering at an upcoming event. We appreciate you and are looking forward to hosting you on campus soon!

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Specialties News

For the Week of 9/8/25:

Next week 2nd grade artists will begin to practice watercolor painting. We will look at the artwork of Helen Dardik who is an illustrator and painter, as well as Carolyn Gavin. We will take inspiration from these artists to draw an animal of our choice and use watercolor techniques over our drawings.

Greetings Movers! I will be gone this week from Tuesday-Friday. My sub will have the students play Goal Ball which they have played with me before. It incorporates the following skills: hand-eye coordination, using hands as a striking implement to hit a small foam ball, blocking skills, and most importantly positive sportsmanship.

Buenos dias, Explorers! This week we will continue with our Morning Slides routine, where we practice days of the week, emotions, and spelling. We will focusing on speaking.

Please contact our specialty teachers for any questions!

August 29, 2025

Next week, we will be learning:

Math

Next week, students will make sense of and interpret tape diagrams. We'll also represent and solve compare problems with unknowns in all positions within 100.

Phonics

We'll officially wrap up Unit 1 next week. Students will continue to learn about CVC words, digraphs, blends, and more!

Writing

This week we have been setting up our Writer's Notebooks with JOT ideas to help students have a list of ideas they can use while they write. Next week, we will begin responding to prompts in our notebooks and work on how we build strong sentences.

Thematic

Students will begin our Life Long Ago unit next week. Within this unit is a very special event we call Grandparents Day. This event will take place on Wednesday, September 17 from 9-9:45am. Students can bring in their grandparents to be interviewed by our class to learn more about what life was like long ago. Flyers have gone home in Friday Folders that detail more information.

Language Arts

Students will begin practicing to build silent reading stamina in the weeks ahead, as well as various word work exercises to build grammatical skills.

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Notes from Ms. Kleinman

Hello Families, listed above under Thematic is important information about Grandparents Day coming up next month! Please make sure to review the flyer for information and reach out with any questions!

Back to School Night slides can be found HERE!

If you were not able to attend Back to School Night, login information for your student's Clever dashboard has been sent home in Friday Folders! Everyone is also getting a Clever badge printout in case your home computer has a camera and you would like to login via QR code.

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Westlake News

Fall Picture Day:

K-8 picture day is NEXT Tuesday, September 2nd. This is a uniform picture day for our K-8 campus. All students will have their picture taken for the yearbook and student IDs, even if they don’t purchase a picture package. CLICK HERE to pre-purchase your pictures online. Group pictures will be taken for Kindergarten through 5th grade classes only.

School Supplies and Field Lesson Donations:

Great news, Explorer families! Westlake Charter School has already reached 20% of our School Supplies donation goal and 8% of our Field Lesson donation goal. Keep up the great work, Explorers! CLICK HERE to make your donation today!

After School Live - Fall Explorer Enrichment:

Some of our fall Explorer Enrichment classes have begun and others start soon - most classes still have space, so CLICK HERE to see the catalog of Explorer Enrichment course offerings and information about how to sign up. E-mail amayle@westlakecharter.com with scholarship inquiries.

Traffic/Parking Reminders: Please be respectful and mindful during our arrival and dismissal process, following traffic rules is an essential part of maintaining a safe environment for children. This includes parking in designated areas, adhering to the instructions of school staff, and obeying traffic laws. Traffic rules help to ensure that students are not in harm’s way when they are entering and exiting vehicles. When drivers obey traffic laws, they are less likely to be in an accident or cause a disruption in the flow of traffic. Additionally, traffic laws help to reduce congestion and provide a safe environment for pedestrians.

Jibe Bike Doctor:

Bike Doc is North Natomas Jibe's free basic bike repair and tune up service. This basic repair service is offered at no cost to our community. Students and families of Westlake Charter School are invited to register to bring in bicycles on September 5th from 3:15 – 6:15 PM. CLICK HERE to book a spot or show up day-of for service first come, first served. (Families can register up to 4 bikes for individual appointments.) Note that not all issues are fixable by Bike Doc in the repair window. These issues can be referred to a bike shop for in-depth service.

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Specialties News

For the Week of 9/2/25:

Second grade artists will continue working on their artist portfolio and learn about new art tools through experience. This time they will trace their bubble letter name and any lines and designs with a sharpie, as well as add color with markers and crayons. I look forward to seeing their talents come together in this art peice that explores personal interests.

Greetings Movers! Next week we will be incorporating stations into our class setup. This will give us an opportunity to practice cooperation in a group setting, we will work on various catching & throwing scenarios, and balancing.

Buenos dias, Explorers! This week we will continue reinforcing our routine, and will introduce the Morning Slides. It's an overview of what we have learned the previous week. We will do hands on activities to talk about what we did over the Summer.

Please contact our specialty teachers for any questions!

August 22, 2025

Next week, we will be learning:

Math

Next week, students will interpret picture graphs and bar graphs, represent data using picture graphs and bar graphs, and solve one-step problems using addition and subtraction within 20.

Phonics

We'll wrap up Unit 1 next week. Students will continue to learn about CVC words, digraphs, blends, and more!

Writing

Before beginning their journal setup, students were asked to write about their favorite part of summer vacation. This was a "cold write" assignment for me to gauge where they are at in their writing with little to no instruction first. You will be able to see this writing at Back to School Night! Next week, we will actually begin Writer's Workshop where students learn how they can set up their journals in class. We'll talk about brainstorming ideas and how we can use our journals to express ideas. In the future, students will be writing in their journals as they respond to prompts while working on handwriting skills if needed.

Thematic

Students have been learning about different types of communities (rural, suburban, and urban). Next week, we will introduce a map of North America and practice how to find and label places on a map. Our first assessment will be given on Friday, August 29th.

Language Arts

Students will begin practicing to build silent reading stamina in the weeks ahead, as well as various word work exercises to build grammatical skills.

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Notes from Ms. Kleinman

Hello families, I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at Back to School Night next week! This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about our classroom, all of our upcoming units this year, and understand important teacher-guardian communications. I hope to see you there!

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Westlake News

K-8 Back to School Night:

Our K-8 Back to School Night is NEXT Wednesday, August 27th. To the best of our ability, we would like to keep this event distraction free by encouraging families to make this a non-student event. This will allow for teachers and families to connect in a distraction-free environment. For families that need supervision, our BASE program will be available to help, however, space is potentially limited. If you know that you will need childcare to attend this event, please CLICK HERE to RSVP for BASE as soon as possible so that we can properly prepare.

Kindergarten through 5th Grade Families: We have two identical sessions, you only need to attend one. Session one is 6:00 - 6:30 PM, session two is 6:40 - 7:10 PM. A video from your child's specialty teacher(s) will be available.
6th-8th Grade Families: We have two identical sessions, you only need to attend one. Session one is 5:00 - 5:40 PM, session two is 6:00 - 6:40 PM. During these sessions, you will meet with your student’s core teachers and specialty teachers. Your students are creating your schedule for the evening.

Fall Picture Day:

K-8 picture day will be on Tuesday, September 2nd. This is a uniform picture day for our K-8 campus. All students will have their picture taken for the yearbook and student IDs, even if they don’t purchase a picture package. CLICK HERE to pre-purchase your pictures online. Group pictures will be taken for Kindergarten through 5th grade classes only.

Free and Reduced Price Meals:

Families, each year it is incredibly important to our school that we are able to account for every student during this form collection process. We are authorized by the Natomas Unified School District and as a part of our partnership, we commit to collecting these forms from every family. Physical copies of the 2025-26 application will be available at Meet the Teacher. Please complete this form for every student in your family and return it to either front office. While meals remain free for all students this school year, this is important data for our Charter authorization.

CLICK HERE to complete the Free and Reduced Price Meals (FRPM) acknowledgement form which will allow us to ensure everyone has received this information. Even if you don’t think you qualify for free or reduced priced meals, please complete the form for our tracking purposes.
CLICK HERE to complete the FRPM application online.

After School Live - Fall Explorer Enrichment:

Our fall Explorer Enrichment starts soon! CLICK HERE to see the catalog of Explorer Enrichment course offerings and information about how to sign up. E-mail amayle@westlakecharter.com with scholarship inquiries.

Learning Lab:

The Learning Lab is open to Middle School Explorers after school on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 3:15 - 3:45 PM. The Learning Lab is staffed by an Instructional Aide to assist Middle School students with their classwork and homework. Families should sign up their Middle School student(s) using School Dismissal Manager.

JIBE Bike Doctor:

Bike Doc is North Natomas Jibe's free basic bike repair and tune up service. This basic repair service is offered at no cost to our community. Students and families of Westlake Charter School are invited to register to bring in bicycles on September 5th from 3:15 – 6:15 PM. CLICK HERE to book a spot or show up day-of for service first come, first served. (Families can register up to 4 bikes for individual appointments.) Note that not all issues are fixable by Bike Doc in the repair window. These issues can be referred to a bike shop for in-depth service.

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Specialties News

For the Week of 8/25/25:

Art (Mrs. Ascheman)

Second grade artists will begin working on their artist portfolios where they will keep their artwork for the year. They will be introduced to pencils and erasers to draw their name in a bubble letter style.

Greetings Movers! Next week we will be continuing group and collaborative play with cooperative ganes to help build a positive learning PE environment.

Buenos dias, explorers! This week we will continue reinforcing our classroom expectations and procedures. We will practice to use the different areas of the classroom with a new color and number coded system. We will work on a collaboration activity, and discover the different ways to have fun while learning.

Please contact our specialty teachers for any questions!

August 15, 2025

Welcome to Second Grade! Next week, we will be learning:

Math

Students will begin Unit 1 in math where they will represent and solve story problems within 20 through the context of picture and bar graphs that represent categorical data. Students build toward fluency with addition and subtraction. A support packet will be sent home in Friday Folders.

Phonics

We'll begin a phonics orientation as we jump into Unit 1 next week. Students will learn about CVC words, digraphs, blends, and more! A support packet will be sent home in Friday Folders.

Writing

We will begin Writer's Workshop where students learn how they can set up their journals in class. We'll talk about brainstorming ideas and how we can use our journals to express ideas. In the future, students will be writing in their journals as they respond to prompts while working on handwriting skills if needed.

Thematic

Our first thematic unit of the year is all about maps! Students will learn how to understand and use map skills to describe the locations of people, places, and environments.

Language Arts

Students will begin practicing to build silent reading stamina in the weeks ahead, as well as various word work exercises to build grammatical skills.

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Notes from Ms. Kleinman

Hello Explorer families and welcome to a new school year! We're off to a great start already and I'm looking forward to learning more about each student in the year ahead.

As a reminder, All About Me bags went home at Meet the Teacher or after the first day school if you were not able to attend Meet the Teacher. Please remember to send your student to school with their bag in their backpack. Throughout next week, students will be taking turns to share their bags with their classmates to build community. I'm looking forward to seeing all the things that are important to them! Please make sure they are not coming to school with anything irreplaceable or valuable- they can draw a picture of that item instead.

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Westlake News

K-8 Back to School Night:

Our K-8 Back to School Night is on Wednesday, August 27th. To the best of our ability, we would like to keep this event distraction free by encouraging families to make this a non-student event. This will allow for teachers and families to connect in a distraction-free environment. For families that need supervision, our BASE program will be available to help, however, space is potentially limited. If you know that you will need childcare to attend this event, please CLICK HERE to RSVP for BASE as soon as possible so that we can properly prepare.

Kindergarten through 5th Grade Families: We have two identical sessions, you only need to attend one. Session one is 6:00 - 6:30 PM, session two is 6:40 - 7:10 PM. A video from your child's specialty teacher(s) will be available.
6th-8th Grade Families: We have two identical sessions, you only need to attend one. Session one is 5:00 - 5:40 PM, session two is 6:00 - 6:40 PM. During these sessions, you will meet with your student’s core teachers and specialty teachers. Your students are creating your schedule for the evening.

Fall Picture Day:

K-8 picture day will be on Tuesday, September 2nd. This is a uniform picture day for our K-8 campus. All students will have their picture taken for the yearbook and student IDs, even if they don’t purchase a picture package. CLICK HERE to pre-purchase your pictures online. Group pictures will be taken for Kindergarten through 5th grade classes only.

Free and Reduced Price Meals:

Families, each year it is incredibly important to our school that we are able to account for every student during this form collection process. We are authorized by the Natomas Unified School District and as a part of our partnership, we commit to collecting these forms from every family. Physical copies of the 2025-26 application will be available at Meet the Teacher. Please complete this form for every student in your family and return it to either front office. While meals remain free for all students this school year, this is important data for our Charter authorization.

CLICK HERE to complete the Free and Reduced Price Meals (FRPM) acknowledgement form which will allow us to ensure everyone has received this information. Even if you don’t think you qualify for free or reduced priced meals, please complete the form for our tracking purposes.
CLICK HERE to complete the FRPM application online.

After School Live - Fall Explorer Enrichment:

Our fall Explorer Enrichment starts soon! CLICK HERE to see the catalog of Explorer Enrichment course offerings and information about how to sign up. E-mail amayle@westlakecharter.com with scholarship inquiries.

Learning Lab:

The Learning Lab will open to Middle School Explorers after school on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 3:15 - 3:45 PM beginning Monday, August 18th. The Learning Lab is staffed by an Instructional Aide to assist Middle School students with their classwork and homework. Families should sign up their Middle School student(s) using School Dismissal Manager.

JIBE Bike Doctor:

Bike Doc is North Natomas Jibe's free basic bike repair and tune up service. This basic repair service is offered at no cost to our community. Students and families of Westlake Charter School are invited to register to bring in bicycles on September 5th from 3:15 – 6:15 PM. CLICK HERE to book a spot or show up day-of for service first come, first served. (Families can register up to 4 bikes for individual appointments.) Note that not all issues are fixable by Bike Doc in the repair window. These issues can be referred to a bike shop for in-depth service.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Specialties News

For the Week of 8/18/25:

Art (Mrs. Ascheman)

Welcome Artists! Next week we will be learning about the expectations in the art room and discover a tool we will use to create artwork!

Greetings Movers! Next week we will be getting to know one another, establishing class expectations in the gym, and discovering ways to safely move our bodies in personal space & personal space