It is with great anticipation and joy that I welcome you to the 2022-23 school year, at Westside Elementary School! Our first day of school is August 23rd! Our teachers and staff are looking forward to a year of learning and partnership and will continue to Be the Change as we work together. There's a lot of excitement ahead of us including technology devices for each student, rich and robust reading curriculum, new content to explore, instructional tools to use, new teachers to meet, new friends to make, and new skills to master...and I look forward to each of you sharing in those exciting times!

As your school principal, I will continue to work diligently with parents, staff, and students to foster an atmosphere that promotes a learning community characterized by child centered instruction and decisions, academic excellence, trust, respect, community involvement, excellent communications, and recognition of both student and staff achievement. I am committed to working in collaboration with you to Be the Change. Working together as a team, will move Westside forward in our mission this new school year to SOAR. This means our community of learners will have a safe, nurturing, disciplined, and challenging environment in which all students can learn at optimum levels and become responsible members of our school community.

School Supplies and Synergy

The list of school supplies for students are enclosed along with important information about class lists and our online student information system Synergy. Please use the enclosed activation code to create your Parentvue account to access student information. Also, while in Synergy please check/provide your up to date contact information. The information in Synergy is what is used to verify custody orders, emergency contact information, and rapid parent/guardian notifications. 

Back to School “Blitz” and Barbecue

The school staff will be conducting our first neighborhood “Blitz”, Monday August 15th in which we will come out into the community between 1:00-3:00pm to give away books, and meet students. Friday, August 19th, we will have our Back to School Barbeque at “The Nest”. We encourage you to please come out for a bite to eat, and meet your child’s classroom teacher between 4:00pm-6:00pm.

Family Engagement

We hope that you will quickly feel at home and become involved in the activities of our school through the PTA and your child’s classroom program. If you are interested in becoming a member of the PTA, please visit our membership table during our “Back to School Barbeque” or call our Community Liaison, Mrs. Ambrose at 853-1632. In addition, if you are interested in volunteering in your child’s classroom, please complete and return a volunteer form and submit a valid driver’s license to be copied. Our children receive the best education when parents and our dedicated teachers work as a team. It's a parent’s enthusiasm, support, and involvement that inspires children to do their best; and a teacher's ability to teach what they need to learn. We are “Better Together”  and we can achieve wonderful things! 

Dear Eagle Families,

Welcome to the Nest! I hope this letter finds you and your family in good health and high spirits. As the new school year approaches, I wanted to take a moment to extend a warm welcome to all of you. I am thrilled to be a part of this incredible community for a fourth year and look forward to continuing to work closely with you to ensure a successful and fulfilling academic journey for your child.

At Westside Elementary, we believe that education is a collaborative effort between the school, parents, and students. As an Assistant Principal, one of my goals is to support our dedicated teachers and staff in creating a safe, nurturing, and inclusive learning environment where every child can thrive. I am committed to fostering a positive school culture that promotes academic excellence, character development, and social-emotional growth.

I understand that the elementary school years are a crucial time in your child's life, and we are here to provide them with the best possible educational experience. Our dedicated team of educators is passionate about inspiring a love for learning and helping each student reach their full potential. We strive to create student-centered engaging and interactive lessons that cater to different learning styles, ensuring that every child feels valued and supported.

Communication is key to a successful partnership between home and school. I encourage you to reach out to me or any member of our staff with any questions, concerns, or suggestions you may have. We are here to listen, collaborate, and work together to provide the best educational experience for your child. Additionally, please stay connected with us through our school website, newsletters, and social media platforms to remain informed about important updates, events, and resources.

I am truly excited to see each and every one of you and to spend time with your children. Together, we will create a strong partnership that will empower your child to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. I am confident that with our collective efforts, we can make the 2023-2024 school year a memorable and successful one.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child's education. I look forward to a wonderful year ahead!

#EaglePRIDE

My name is Poldi Moreno, and I am excited to serve as your assistant principal. I have been in education for 24 years. Before coming to Westside, I began teaching Spanish and was an athletic director in Portsmouth Public Schools. After that I moved to Appomattox County Public Schools and served as an assistant principal and principal. As an educational leader I believe that every decision we make must have a positive impact on students. I also believe that all students can learn and achieve.

I am a lifelong learner and I believe that no one ever stops their learning journey. I earned my B.A degree in Spanish from Longwood College. Later, I completed my master’s degree (M.Ed.) in school administration at Regent University and I earned my doctorate (Ed. D.) in leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University.

I live with my teenage son and our dog Eevee. We are a huge soccer fans and we enjoy watching it as often as we can. We also love to travel and learn about new places.

I am looking forward to an awesome 2023-2024 school year at Westside where I believe we will all learn and achieve together.

#EaglePRIDE #BetterTogether