Westbriar Elementary School PTA

Where can I find information about Kindergarten registration? Please visit this link https://westbriares.fcps.edu/student-services/student-registration and be sure to watch the presentation.

How do I register my child for Kindergarten? If your child is 5 years old by September 30, 2023, please contact the school at 703-937-1700 to register your child for Kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year.

What is Kindergarten Orientation?  We will be returning to an in-person kindergarten orientation this Spring! Orientation will take place on Thursday, April 13th at 3pm.  At orientation you will be introduced to our Westbriar community and school-- you will meet the Kindergarten teaching team, Administration, and get to see inside a Kindergarten classroom!  Be on the look out for an email from the school with more details.  

What is Back to School Night? Back to School Night is an opportunity for the parents (no children please) to meet their teacher, see their classroom and meet other parents in their class. It is also an excellent opportunity for parents to learn about upcoming Westbriar activities and programs AND it is a great time to join the PTA and get involved! It is a good idea to attend if possible, as the parents will find out what is in store for their children for the upcoming school year.

What supplies do I need to purchase for my child? Each grade level at Westbriar provides a list of the supplies that are needed— you can find the kindergarten supply list HERE. Note that all supplies on the list are community supplies and will be shared by all of the students in the classroom. DO NOT purchase your child's favorite Hello Kitty folder, as it will be shared with everyone. 

Don ’t like to shop? A complete supply kit for Kindergarten can be purchased from the Westbriar PTA and delivered to your child's classroom.

Go to www.sproutsupplies.com/supplykits and enter school code WES004 to order your kit. 

Refund policy: Cancel your order before Sprout starts delivering kits to schools. Or, after receiving your kit, you can return the entire kit with all of its contents unopened within 30 days of delivery.(Shipping to the warehouse facility is the responsibility of the customer at that point.)

How can I contact other parents of rising kindergartners? The contact information of new students at Westbriar is not officially published until the fall, but information about upcoming playdates will be available towards the end of the current school year.

How can my child meet other kindergartners prior to the start of school? Westbriar PTA usually hosts 2-3 playdates over the summer. Stay tuned for more information.

What are the hours of operation for kindergarten? WES kindergarten involves a full day of learning.  The Westbriar bell schedule is school begins at 9:20 AM and ends at 4:05 PM.

When can I drop my child off in the morning? Students may be dropped off as early as 8:55 AM and will remain in the cafeteria until it is time to be dismissed to the classrooms.

Is the first day of school for other students the same as the first day for kindergartners? WES start day is the same for all Westbriar students.  FCPS will be voting on the calendar for 2023-2024 this month.

I need after school care for my child – who do I contact?  School Age Child Care (SACC) is a Fairfax County Office for Children program for children attending elementary school. The program provides professional care for children of working parents attending kindergarten through sixth grade, and is offered at Westbriar. Please contact the Office for Children at 703-449-8989 to receive information or to enroll. In addition, there are several venues that provide after school child care and will pick up your child at Westbriar, including Enshin Karate, Mt. Kim Martial Arts, Chesterbrook Academy and YMM Art Space. There are Westbriar children in each of these programs, however the PTA does not officially endorse any of these vendors.

How do I find out what class my child is in? Westbriar will mail the class assignments to your home approximately one week prior to the start of school.

How large should I expect my child's class to be? The average size of WES kindergarten classes ranges from 22 to 28 students. Kindergarten classes are always assigned a full-time instructional assistant in addition to the teacher.

On the first day of school, can I walk my child to their classroom? The first day of school is an important milestone!  Traditionally, yes, you may walk your child into school on the first day.  Westbriar’s Administration will provide guidelines for wishing our little ones well on their first day while adhering to any social distance guidelines that may be in effect.

How do I know if my child needs to ride the bus to school? Bus service is provided for children who live more than one mile from school or where walking is hazardous. A bus schedule will be mailed to your home approximately one week prior to the start of school. For more information, please contact FCPS Department of Facilities and Transportation at 703-249-7100. You may also see official FCPS information here.

How can we ensure that my child gets on the right bus? Westbriar takes careful steps to make sure that children ride the correct bus. Westbriar buses will have a sign in the window to the left of the door that says "WES" and the bus number.  If your child gets on the wrong bus, the bus driver will return your child to the school and the parents will be notified. Safety is Westbriar’s top concern.

My child is a walker, is it safe for them to walk alone? Upon dismissal, kindergarten walkers must be released to their parent or designated person at the walker door.  Walkers should always travel to and from school with older children from their neighborhood or with an adult. Crossing guards help walkers at intersections near the school.

What is the procedure for drop-off and pick-up? Westbriar has a designated "Kiss and Ride" area that is used by parents who drop off and/or pick up their children. Kiss and Ride procedures are provided to enrolling families at the start of each school year. For safety reasons, parents are asked not to discharge students on other areas of the school property. Please drive with caution around the school.

Who do I need to notify if my child is absent? You must call the attendance line at 703-937-1717 or email westbriarattendance@fcps.edu. It is also a courtesy to notify your child's teacher via email.

Can I visit my child? Under ordinary circumstances, there would be many opportunities to volunteer in the classroom and be an active part of the Westbriar experience. Westbriar’s Administration will provide guidelines for parent presence in classrooms/around school as we get closer to the start of school and have a better idea as to any social distance guidelines that may be in effect.  You may always sign your child in and out of school in the main office. 

The school day is long – can I send in a snack? Yes, kindergartners have a built-in snack time in their daily classroom schedule. You should pack a healthy peanut-free snack in their backpack every day. You may also include a small bottle of water.

How does lunch money work? Each student is given a PIN at the start of the school year that is linked to their student account. The easiest way to purchase meals is ONLINE using www.myschoolbucks.com, where you can set up a secure prepaid account for your child. Once the account is open, parents may check the account at anytime. Or if you prefer, you may pay by check, made payable to Westbriar Food Services.  Bring the check to school – your student's name and PIN must be written on the memo line. You may also dictate whether or not your child may purchase snacks.