Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. 1 Chronicles 28:20 Quick Reference Guide This guide is designed to give families an overview of Westlake. 23300 Bellaire Blvd. Richmond, TX 77406 P 281-341-9910 F 281-341-9915
1 Welcome to Westlake Preparatory Lutheran Academy This is an exciting time for private school education in the West Houston area! Westlake Academy is a private Christian school where your child is more than just a number. We believe that each student is special and unique and most of all, a beloved child of God. Each of our teachers sees their vocation as a true calling, not just a job. They know that every child is a gift from God and that He has entrusted them to provide a faith-based education that promotes spiritual growth and academic excellence. Our teachers integrate the intangibles of faith, morals, ethics and service in the classroom as each student pursues a solid academic foundation that prepares them for today, tomorrow and eternity. The Lutheran Education Association of Houston (LEAH) has a long history of exemplary education in the Houston area with Lutheran High North and Lutheran South Academy. Westlake Academy continues that rich tradition by bringing top quality teachers and academic programs to the Katy/Richmond area. Blessings, Judith L. Gerber Head of School
2 Administration Judith L. Gerber, Head of School Mary Jo Forner, Assistant to Head of School Venessa Homewood, Director of Admissions and Marketing Sue Green, PK3 Rebeca Gibson, PK4 Jessica Mouton, PK4 Emily Clark, Kindergarten Sue Miesner, Kindergarten Betty Christ, First Grade Ashley Wooldridge, Second Grade Lauren Eickemeyer, Third Grade Maria Phetteplace, Fourth Grade Andrew Struckmeyer, Fifth Grade Ashley Sanabria, Sixth Grade Stephanie Dyott, Seventh Grade Florencia Covasanschi, Lower School Spanish Teacher Susana Villarreal, Middle School Spanish Teacher Tera McAdoo, Physical Education Bob Suttie, Music Teacher Cynthia Schreiner, Choir Director Lutheran Education Association Board of Directors Dr. Wayne Kramer, Executive Director, Epiphany Lutheran Pearland Mr. Ben Schoppe, Chairman, Our Savior Lutheran Mr. Michael Hergenrader, Vice Chairman, CrossPoint Seven Lakes Dr. Thomas Leimkuehler, Secretary/Treasurer, Gloria Dei Lutheran Mr. Albert Hoppe, Chapelwood United Methodist Mrs. Anne Kieschnik, Gethsemane Lutheran Rev. Jeff Muchow, Epiphany Lutheran Jersey Village Mr. Kirk Shireman, Gloria Dei Lutheran Mr. Bruce Schaller, St. Mark Lutheran Mr. Kurt Rosenhagen, Gloria Dei Lutheran Mrs. Donna Howard, Director of Operations
3 Lutheran Education Association of Houston The Lutheran Education Association of Houston (LEAH) is an association of Lutheran Church Missouri Synod congregations that operates schools in the greater Houston area. LEAH currently operates three private, Christian schools in the Houston area with a combined enrollment of over 1200 students and more than 200 faculty and staff. Please visit the website of each campus to view more detailed information about each school by selecting the campus picture on our home page. The Association is governed by a single Board of Directors made up of nine members selected from Lutheran Churches in the Houston area. An Executive Director is appointed by the Board of Directors to carry out the mission and vision of the Board of Directors as well as overseeing the operation of each campus. The LEAH office also serves as the central business office for the organization responsible for all financial activity and human resources.
4 General Information Judith L. Gerber, Head of School Mary Jo Forner, Assistant to Head of School Westlake Preparatory Lutheran Academy 23300 Bellaire Blvd. Richmond, TX 77406 Phone 281-341-9910 Fax 281-341-9915 http://www.westlakeprep.org/ https://www.facebook.com/wlprep https://twitter.com/westlake_prep School Commences: 8:20 a.m School Dismisses: 3:10 p.m. PreK3 Dismisses: 3:00 p.m. Lunch 1 - PreK3, Kindergarten, 1 st and 2 nd : 11:00a.m. 11:30 a.m. Lunch 2 - PreK4, 3 rd through 7 th : 11:45 a.m. 12:15 p.m.
5 Table of Contents Meet the Teacher/First Day of School.6 Arrival/Drop-Off Procedure/Tardy Policy 7 Dismissal/Pick-Up Procedures.8 Before and After Care.10 Communication.. 11 Uniforms/Dress Code.12 Parent Teacher League (PTL) 14 Chapel...17 Lunch Program 18 Physical Education/Athletics/Field Day..19 Extracurricular 21 Possible Additional Expenses...23 Cell Phones....24 Referral Credit..25
6 Meet the Teacher Night/First Day of School Meet the Teacher Night Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. and you will have the option to visit your classroom first to drop off school supplies and meet your teacher or visit the different stations in the front office entry to purchase lunches, Spirit Shirts, etc. first. You may want to gauge the lines and make your decision that night. First Day of School On the first day of school, Before Care will NOT be available. Doors open at 8:05 a.m. and you may walk in with your student or use the drop-off car line. After you have dropped off your student, please join us outside the gymnasium for Coffee and Kleenex to mingle with other parents in your student s class while enjoying coffee and a pastry. Reminder; the first day of school is an early dismissal day and will end at 11:30 a.m., After Care will NOT be available. During the first week of school, parents are welcome to walk their students in every morning. After the first week of school, all students in Kindergarten through 7 th grade are encouraged to use the drop-off car line to minimize traffic in the halls.
7 Arrival/Drop-Off Procedure/Tardy Policy Doors Open: 8:05 a.m. Tardy Bell: 8:20 a.m. Announcements: 8:25 a.m. The doors to the academic wing will be closed and locked at 8:20 a.m. Teachers will start their classes at 8:20 a.m. and all parents should be out of the academic wing at this time. Any student arriving after 8:20 a.m. will wait in the Library area until our morning announcements are finished. These students will be supervised by our before school care worker, but no fee will be charged at this time. After the morning announcements, doors to the academic wing will be open for our tardy students to proceed to class on their own or with the before school care worker, no parents at this time please. If a preschool student needs help with his/her backpack, our before school care worker or someone from the front office will walk them to their classroom. This procedure will provide for only one interruption to the class rather than numerous interruptions as tardy students enter the class individually.
8 Dismissal/Pick-Up Procedures 1. Early Childhood students, PreK3 through Kindergarten, get picked up at 3:00 p.m. by parents, grandparents, or regularly scheduled custodian at the gym door. Students from Early Childhood who have older brothers or sisters will be paired with their older sibling(s), and then both/all are picked up by the parent, grandparent, or regularly scheduled custodian on the outside wall of the library under the overhang/regular pick-up area. 2. First through 7 th grade students are dismissed at 3:10 p.m. If a family has an Early Childhood student and an older student, please pull into the pick-up line and your younger child will be waiting with his/her older sibling. 3. Pick Up Line: In order to avoid anyone from being hit from behind while waiting on Bellaire Blvd., pull into the entrance, please stay to the right and pull all the way around to the back of the school. There are cones located all the way in the back next to the parking spots. When you get to that point, please make a U-turn and then stay to the right and pull carefully to the front of the building, stop to pick up your child/children. 4. If you only have an older student and want to walk up to pick-up your child, please wait until the pick- up line is completed and then walk up to get your child. The line usually dies down by 3:20 p.m. Please DO NOT walk up to the car pick-up line and get your child from the outside wall or send a younger sibling along the wall to get their brother or sister. This has become a problem in the past as it is already congested and we want to make sure that no one is hurt or pushed into traffic. Safety is always our first priority. Also, it is important that the homeroom teacher can see their students leave each day and be aware of how and with whom they exit.
9 Dismissal/Pick-Up Procedures (continued) We want this to be a safe procedure for our children and parents driving cars. If there is a need to meet with another parent, please visit along the outside gym wall, while keeping a close eye on your children. It is important that they are not running around the outside of the office or west parking lot as there are still cars exiting. If there is a need to meet with a teacher or set up a meeting with a teacher, please wait until the pick-up line is completed or email your child s teacher and set up a visit at that time.
10 Before and After Care Before School Care begins at 6:30 a.m. You may bring your child to the East side door of the Library. During Before Care your child may bring breakfast or a snack, rest, watch cartoons or catch up on homework. After School Care lasts until 6:00 p.m. and the children may be picked up at the East door. During After Care, children may bring a snack from home to eat (parents are welcome to donate snacks if they would like), they may rest, watch cartoons, catch up on homework and sometimes have supervised outside playtime (weather permitting). Before and After Care are billed separately at $6.25/hour and can be paid on RenWeb. Before Care Caregiver: Mrs. Nancy Hoke After Care Caregivers: Mrs. Barbara Anderson and Mrs. Monica Rodriguez. Mrs. Hoke is a grandmother of 6 and has been working as a Westlake Before Care Caregiver for over 2 years. Mrs. Anderson has 3 granddaughters that attend Westlake and has been working as an After Care Caregiver at Westlake for over 2 years. Mrs. Rodriguez is new this year and was previously an After Care Caregiver at Sacred Heart in Sugarland for 6 years.
11 Communication Every teacher will provide a Communication Letter weekly via RenWeb. The letter will provide you with a summary of what was taught the previous week and give you an overview of what your student will be covering throughout the upcoming week. Please review the letter weekly and let the teacher know if you have any questions. You can also expect a Quarterly Newsletter from our Head of School to be sent out via RenWeb giving updates about the school as a whole. Sample Teacher Communication Letter
12 Uniforms/Dress Code Parker School Uniforms 4630 Highway 6 South OUTLET: #27 Sugarland, Texas 77478 Phone: 281-494-6789 Item Color Boys Shorts Khaki Pants Khaki Polo Shirt Red, White, Navy Dress Shirt White Girls Shorts Khaki Pants Khaki Capri Khaki Jumper Plaid Skirts Plaid, Khaki Skorts Plaid, Khaki Blouse White Polo Shirt Red, White, Navy Outerwear Parker Sweater Red Sweatshirt Red Monday, Tuesday and Thursday any combination of the above uniforms are worn. Wednesday Chapel Day, we have special Chapel shirts that go with our school theme. The Chapel shirts are worn with khaki uniform bottoms only.
13 Friday Spirit Days, students may wear Spirit Shirts and jeans, length appropriate jean shorts/skirts, or regular uniforms. Spirit Night: Students may wear their Spirit Shirts to school with jeans, length appropriate jean shorts/skirts, or regular uniforms on the days we have a Spirit Night event. Fieldtrips: all students must wear their red uniform polo, make sure you purchase a red uniform polo for your child(ren). Track and Field Days: which take place in April and May; students must wear a red Spirit Shirt. Make sure you purchase a red Spirit Shirt for your child(ren). All girls grades PreK3 and up, must wear modesty shorts under all skirts, dresses or jumpers. All Middle School and up student s uniform shirts should be tucked in and appropriate belts (brown or black) must be worn with pants/shorts with belt loops. All Girls blouses/spirit Shirts must cover the waistband of their skirt or pants when arms are raised. No visible clothing in colors other than the solid polo colors. Jean skirts and shorts worn on Fridays/Spirit Days/Track and Field Days must be length appropriate (comparable to length of uniform skirts and shorts). Only Parker Uniform sweaters and/or Spirit Hoodies may be worn during school if needed. Shoes must be closed toed and closed heeled. Spirit Shirts Spirit Shirts and Spirit Hoodies are to be purchased through the Parent Teacher League (PTL)
14 Parent Teacher League (PTL) Parents know how important it is to be involved in their children's education; it is a key factor in student success. The Westlake Parent Teacher League (PTL) is a service organization established to develop events and programs with an educational, service (mission) or recreational purpose, maintaining a Christ-centered focus while providing supplemental financial support to Westlake. All parents or guardians of Westlake students comprise the general membership of the PTL in addition to faculty and staff. Here are some ways you can take a more active role in your child's education at Westlake: Volunteer to help with Pizza Fridays Volunteer in the school library or the teacher workroom Serve as a homeroom parent, class reader or computer assistant Help with the Fall Scholastic Book Fair Assist teachers with the Westlake garden boxes Take part in Gala PTL Events and Programs Westlake Wildcat Birthday Book Club - The PTL sponsored Wildcat Birthday Book Club allows parents, grandparents, friends and other relatives to celebrate a student s birthday (or half-birthday) by donating a book in their honor to the school s library. Each participating child is honored on the morning announcements and on a special Birthday Book Club bulletin board in the school s foyer. This year the Wildcat Birthday Book Club is going digital. All donations and book purchases can be made through our new website. https://www.funds4books.com/ This year s focus is on non-fiction. Please browse through the library wish list and select a book for your child or make a donation and we will select one for you. Each student will be the first to check out the book that was donated in their name.
15 Parent Teacher League (PTL) (continued) School Spirit Nights - Each quarter, a school Spirit Night will be held for the students to enjoy with their families. The first Spirit Night will be held at the Sugar Land Skeeters Baseball Game. Students grades Kindergarten through 7 th will be singing the National Anthem before the start of the game. The remaining three Spirit Nights will be held at local restaurants later in the year. Come join us for an evening of fun! Scholastic Book Fair During this week, join us for fun events, like Donuts with Dad and M&M s with Mom, and take advantage of the opportunity to shop for plenty of great books from Scholastic. The Scholastic Book Fair is organized by the teachers and will be held in October. PTL volunteers will help with getting the book fair set up, customer check out and the various events that occur during this special week! Box Tops, Target Programs and Kroger Rewards Turn in your Box Tops for Education labels in the Box Top collection box at school. The fall deadline for turning in your Box Tops is in October. Westlake is also registered with the Target Take Charge of Education program and the Kroger Card Rewards. These programs donate a portion of proceeds and are a great way for our school to receive additional financial support to fund educational programs for the students. Christmas Decorating - Deck Westlake s Halls with plenty of Christmas cheer! In late November, PTL volunteers will help decorate the school for Christmas and bring the Christmas spirit to our school and students. PTL volunteers will also help un-deck the halls the first week in January. National Lutheran Schools Week - PTL volunteers will help with special events planned by the Westlake teachers.
16 Parent Teacher League (PTL) (continued) Teacher Appreciation Week - Parents can show their appreciation to their child s teacher by helping with the annual Teacher Appreciation Luncheon in April as well as the special treats and activities throughout the week.. WILD School Assemblies - The PTL enjoys sponsoring the Westlake WILD (Wildcats Imagine Learn and Dream) School Assemblies. These programs are aimed at bringing a series of educational and informational assemblies to the students throughout the year. Please visit the Westlake website for a list of assemblies, dates and times. Annual Gala Fundraiser - The Westlake Gala is Westlake PTL's annual fundraiser. The Gala is fully organized and carried out by Westlake volunteers. All proceeds are used to fund specialty items to enhance the educational experience of Westlake students. The money raised from Gala benefits the children at Westlake. Proceeds from past Galas have been used to purchase books and furniture for the Library, purchase and install Smart Boards in every classroom, install new kitchen equipment in the cafeteria, beautify, enhance and expand Westlake's playground area, including adding the Westlake Garden, and purchase ipads, laptops, microscopes, a mobile science lab and S.T.E.M. equipment. Please visit the Westlake website for details on this year s Gala. Moms in Prayer Moms in Prayer is a group of volunteers that meet every Wednesday morning before Chapel at 8:15 a.m. outside of the gymnasium. They pray over the students and faculty at Westlake as well as any other special prayer requests that have been made. Before Chapel, the moms line up and welcome the students as they enter the gymnasium for service. Any and all moms are invited to attend. Just show up! * Specific dates and additional information can be found on our website and will be sent out with your student as the dates approach.
17 Chapel Chapel is held weekly on Wednesdays in our gymnasium 8:30 a.m. 9:00a.m. A local Lutheran Pastor, a Youth Group Director from a local church, or a Representative from the selected offering organization for the quarter will lead Chapel Service. Students may wear their Westlake Chapel t-shirt with khaki uniform bottoms. Parents and family members are welcome to attend Chapel with their student. Chapel Guidelines Your child(ren) may sit with you during Chapel on the East or West side of the bleachers. The middle section of the bleachers is RESERVED for the classes to sit together. Please limit interruptions during Chapel by arriving on time and using the facilities before Chapel begins. Also, no food or drink is allowed in the gym. Use of electronic devices during Chapel is strongly discouraged, especially for Westlake students, in order to encourage full engagement and participation. Chapel Offering Every Quarter a different organization is selected to receive our Chapel Offering. Your student will bring home information about each organization as well as envelopes for you to submit your offering (optional).
18 Lunch Program Students may purchase a tray lunch for $3.75/day from Select Lunch. Larger portion trays are also available for $4.35/day. Students may also bring a lunch from home. Select Lunch menus meet or exceed all USDA guidelines for The Child and Adult Care Food Program. Meals are specifically designed for your children and are age appropriate. No canned vegetables, dyes, or food additives are used. Foods are prepared fresh each day, and delivered with a guarantee of correct serving temperature. With Select Lunch ordering is convenient, simple and secure. Signing up for Select Lunch service is easy, just follow these steps: https://www.selectlunch.com/home/signup 1. Enter your Registration Key (provided by the school)... press "register". 2. Provide some information about yourself (user name, password, email) and press "register". 3. Register each student to finalize their enrollment - be sure and select their classroom. 4. Click "Order Lunches" to begin the ordering process. You may pick and choose which days your student will purchase lunch or bring a lunch. 5. Order by Wednesday at midnight for delivery the following week and later. Pizza Friday There will be no tray option on Fridays. Students may purchase Double Dave s pizza by the slice from the front office or bring their own lunch. Please submit an envelope labeled Pizza Money with your student s first and last name and grade to the Front Office. You may pre-pay weekly, monthly or yearly.
19 Physical Education/Athletics/Field Day Physical Education (PE) Westlake has a Part Time PE teacher on staff that provides Physical Education to all students. Grades 5 th through 7 th will need to purchase a PE Uniform and athletic shoes. Uniforms can be purchased at the Front Office and shoes must be non-marking soles that have not been worn outside. Athletics Westlake offers a variety of walk-on Athletic sports to students 4 th grade and up: Volleyball (girls), Soccer (Co-ed), Basketball (Boys and Girls) and Track (Boys and Girls). Uniforms are purchased and owned by Westlake. Students are required to purchase their own athletic shoes with non-marking soles that have not been worn outside (for indoor sports only). If a student participates in Athletics during the 2015-2016 season, there is a one-time $100 Athletic Fee. After the 2015-2016 season, a $100 Athletic Fee will be charged for each major sport. Parents are also expected to participate in concession and ticket sales during your student s season. Please contact Miss Lauren Eickemeyer, Athletic Director, with additional questions regarding Athletics. As our Athletic Program continues to grow, expect changes yearly.
20 Physical Education/Athletics/Field Day (continued) Field Day Westlake students participate in an annual Field Day. Field Day for grades 1 st through 4th is always the last Friday in April and held at Our Savior Lutheran in Houston. Students participate in a variety of athletic events including; running, jumping, and throwing. Dress code for Field Day is black athletic shorts and red Westlake Spirit Shirt. Transportation is arranged and provided by parents, carpooling is encouraged. There is NO organized transportation provided by Westlake. Field Day for grades 5 th through 7 th is always the first Friday in May at Concordia Lutheran High School in Tomball. Students participate in a variety of athletic and academic events including; running, jumping, throwing, art, math and history. Dress code is Westlake PE Uniform with outdoor athletic shoes. Transportation is arranged and provided by parents, carpooling is encouraged. There is NO organized transportation provided by the school. More information will be sent home with your student as the date approaches
21 Extracurricular Field Trips Every grade takes at least one field trip throughout the year. There is usually a small cost associated (max $20) and parent/grandparent volunteers are invited to attend. Transportation is arranged and provided by parents, carpooling is encouraged. There is NO organized transportation provided by the school. More information will be sent home with your student as field trips approach. National Lutheran Schools Week (NLSW) National Lutheran Schools Week (NLSW) provides the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) preschools, elementary schools and high schools throughout the country and internationally with the public opportunity to proclaim and celebrate God s work among us in Lutheran schools. We thank God for the opportunity to provide excellent academic preparation for the children we serve. We are most grateful for the opportunity to share Jesus amazing love with children and their families. National Lutheran Schools Week gives us an opportunity to proclaim these great blessings within the communities we serve. NLSW occurs in January every year. Your student will bring home more information on daily activities and themes as it approaches. Talent Show The Westlake Talent Show falls annually on the last day of National Lutheran Schools Week in January. Students in grades 1 st through 7 th will be showcasing their talents in a variety of areas such as dancing, singing, comedy skits, magic acts or playing an instrument. The Talent Show will be at the end of the day and dismissal will immediately follow. Tryouts will be held when students come back from Christmas Break. Spring Musical The Spring Musical is brand new to Westlake this year. All students in grades 3 rd through 7 th will take part in this musical. The students will participate in singing, dancing, acting and/or carrying out the duties of stage crew.
22 Extracurricular (continued) Christmas Program The Westlake Christmas Program falls annually in the middle of December. This year s Program will be for grades PreK3 through 2 nd to participate. Choir The Westlake Choir is new to Westlake this year for grades 3 rd through 7 th to participate. Private Schools Interscholastic Association (PSIA) Westlake student s grades 1 st through 8 th participate in PSIA in the Spring. PSIA is a nonprofit education organization serving all privately-schooled students in Texas. PSIA offers academic contests in Math, Science, Language Arts, Speech, Social Studies and Fine Arts. With 19 contest categories covering a wide range of disciplines in 59 academic contests, PSIA provides an exciting opportunity for private school students to engage in academic competition with their peers throughout the state of Texas. PSIA remains the most comprehensive academic extracurricular program in the nation. There will be opportunities for parents to volunteer at this event. * Look for more information on all extracurricular activities and volunteer opportunities to come out throughout the year.
23 Possible Additional Expenses Throughout the year, you may encounter additional expenses (some are optional). Below is a list of items you may wish to budget for: Chapel Offering (optional) $100 Athletic Fee to play sports (4 th grade and up) Athletic shoe cost for sports (4 th grade and up) PE Uniform/Athletic Shoes (5 th through 7 th grade) Spirit Shirts Field Trip Fees (max $20/trip) Purchasing school/class pictures (optional) Book Fair book purchase (optional) National Lutheran Schools Week possible costume/t-shirt Providing a snack for Class Parties (Christmas, Valentines, Easter) Teacher gifts during the Holidays (optional) Teacher appreciation gifts during Teacher Appreciation Week (optional) Birthday Book Club book purchase (optional) Gala Purchases (optional)
24 Cell Phones Students are encouraged to leave cell phones at home. Students are not allowed to use cell phones before or during school hours. If a student must have a cell phone for after school use, the cell phone must be turned off and kept in the student s locker during school. Any phone that is out, is being used, or is ringing during school hours will be confiscated. 1. On the first offense the student will receive a discipline notice and he/she can retrieve the phone from the school office after school is out. 2. Consequent offenses with result in confiscation, a discipline notice and a $10.00 fee. A parent or guardian will need to retrieve the phone from the office. If a student brings a cell phone to school, it is the student s responsibility to keep the item secure. The school will not be responsible for any devices that are damaged, lost or stolen.
25 Referral Credit The number one reason Westlake is selected by new families is our current families. Many of our new students each year come to us because they were referred by our current families. We would like to thank you for your kind words and support by offering you a reward voucher for each student that you refer and ultimately enrolls at Westlake. For each new full-time student referred to us by an existing family, the referring (current) family will receive a $500 reward voucher. The voucher can be applied in one of the following ways: $500 credited to the referring family s tuition account $500 credited to the new family s tuition account $500 donated back to the school Limitations and Restrictions: New Student is defined as one without any other siblings currently or previously attending our school. The new student must indicate the referring family when completing their enrollment application. Only one family can receive a reward voucher for each new student. When multiple new students from a single family are referred each new student qualifies for the program. Reward Vouchers will be issued after the referred student has been enrolled and has attended classes for 3 months. Tuition for the referred student must be current. Rewards will be processed on November 15 th each year. The offer is subject to enrollment restrictions. Final decision regarding acceptance rests with the campus administration. Current faculty and staff do not qualify for the referral program.
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