The 2017/2018 school year has begun at Westwood, and we are off to a great start!!!  The administration, Board of Directors, faculty, parents and grandparent volunteers have worked diligently over the summer and during the first few weeks of school to prepare and make it the best school year yet!

As part of the strategic plan, a major focus over the summer was buildings and grounds improvements.  Thanks to Westwood’s amazing Grandparent’s Club, the upper school building received a major facelift with new floors installed throughout the building’s common areas and upgrades to the faculty bathrooms. It was an awesome gift to the school, and just another reason why we love our Grandparents!  With funding secured through grants, the lower school building also received much needed TLC with a roof replacement.   In addition, a new scoreboard for the softball field, a new football trailer and an outdoor water fountain for the elementary playground were funded by private donors.  These items will be so appreciated by our athletes and students in the years to come.  Last but not least, over 30 parent and Board members attended the back to school PTO Work Day to continue work on the buildings and grounds.  Wildcats were greeted on the first day of school with a fresh and neat campus and facilities. Thank you Grandparents, donors and PTO volunteers!

PTO, led by Cader and Heather Cox, continued working diligently and served as a vital component to the successful start of the school year.  Prior to the first day of school, the group partnered with the Board of Directors to host the annual Faculty “Welcome Back” luncheon. This year’s theme was “Going the Extra Mile”, a concept that perfectly describes the efforts that Westwood faculty and administration make every day.   Each teacher was treated to a Barbecue lunch and given a t-shirt highlighting the Bible verse from Matthew 5:41, “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two”.  After showering the staff with appreciation, the PTO hosted the first ever back to school Snow Cone Social for students.  Heather Cox and her team prepared approximately 150 snow cones to welcome students back the day before school started.  On this day, students had the opportunity to enjoy a sweet treat, visit their classrooms, meet their teachers and organize their desks and lockers.  PTO also prepared a wonderful breakfast for parents on the first day of school.  This annual “Boohoo Yahoo” breakfast was a huge success and an opportunity for parents to relax and enjoy fellowship with one another on the first day of school.

Westwood continues to thrive and the success of the school can be attributed to the enthusiasm of all who donate their time, efforts and resources throughout the year. “Going the Extra Mile” is a Westwood tradition.  Our students are excited, out faculty is ready for a great year and we continue to be blessed with the support and generosity of our families  and friends in the community.  It’s GREAT to be a Westwood Wildcat!