We are excited to share the latest happenings at The Westview School. From upcoming events to special highlights, there’s always something inspiring to explore and celebrate at Westview.

Westview celebrated Founder's Day in October to honor the legacy of school founder, Jane Stewart. Dressed in Westview blue, students and staff filled the campus with school spirit. Our morning assembly featured Upper School students who shared Ms. Jane's inspiring vision and the school's growth from its humble beginnings in 1981 to our thriving community today. It was an impressive display of public speaking skills from our upper classman.

With the new Westview High School on the horizon, we announced a commemorative time capsule to be buried near Jane's Story Spot, filled with mementos representing today's Westview, and to be opened in 2040—the high school graduation year for our current Early Childhood class.

After the assembly, we captured this moment in our annual all-school photo. It was a memorable day celebrating our special little school and a very special lady!

Halloween is a Westview favorite that dates back to school beginnings. It was Ms. Jane's favorite holiday, and we think she'd be delighted with our Trunk-or-Treat hosted by POW (People of Westview) each October. This past Saturday was our 7th Annual Trunk-or-Treat! POW put in much work to make this a truly festive and delightful event for our community. Creative trunks hosted by staff and families, imaginative and festive costumes worn by both kids and adults, and a huge turn-out combined to make this a not-to-miss fall event at Westview. It was the perfect start to the Halloween week!

Do you want to run for a cause in support of The Westview School? Join Ms. Jess and Team Westview at this year's Alex's 5K on Saturday, November 2, 2024. This year's race location will be at Avondale House located at 3737 O’Meara Drive, Houston, TX.

Alex's 5K is a fun, family-friendly race event created as a tribute to the life of Alex Jamrich, who passed away suddenly in 2010 at the age of 17. The annual event not only celebrates Alex's life but also promotes autism awareness and raises funds for research and services in the Houston community. The proceeds from Alex's 5K support autism-related charities which includes The Westview School. We are so thankful for their generosity.

For more information and to register for the event, visit the official Alex's 5K website.

Dr. Bevan Koch, Westview Head of School will be speaking at an upcoming Memorial Villages Community Forum - Autism in the Community. This event hosted by Memorial Villages Police Department is all about raising awareness and understanding about autism in our community.

The event will be held on Wednesday, November 20 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church at 11612 Memorial Drive in Houston. Whether you are a parent, educator, or community member, you are invited to attend this evening of education, discussion, and community support celebrating individuals with autism.

The event will be presented by Ray Schultz, Chief of Police, Memorial Villages Police Department. In addition to Bevan, other speakers will be Nesreen Ibrahim with UT Health Houston and Joshua Webb with Crime Stoppers of Houston.

Are you concerned about the amount of time your child spends on screens? Do you wonder how to help them find a balance between their digital life and real-life interactions? In today’s digital world, achieving that balance can be tricky. Join us on Thursday, November 21 at 9:15 AM in Largent Hall for our next Westview EDU, Balancing Screen Time: Strategies for Healthy Digital Habits.

Westview is excited to welcome Cori Beach, Director of Family Support at Gateway Academy, as she shares practical tips for setting healthy boundaries around technology use for your child. Discover strategies for creating a balanced tech plan tailored to your family’s needs, discover effective ways to reset boundaries around digital use at home, and learn valuable resources for raising kids with autism in this digital age.

Together, we’ll explore how to empower your child to navigate the digital world in a healthy and balanced way. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights that can transform your family’s approach to technology!

This event will be held in person in Largent Hall on The Westview School campus. Zoom attendance will be available by request. All attendees, both virtual and in-person, should register for the event.

We have officially launched the 2024 Westview Fund, and we hope you consider supporting Westview in our fundraising goals this year. As part of Westview's community, you play an important role in shaping the future of our school and our students.

The Westview Fund is just one of three vital parts of our fundraising efforts, alongside Corporate and Family Foundations and our annual Fundraising Luncheon. Together, these initiatives help bridge the 16% gap between tuition and the cost of delivering the exceptional, specialized education we provide to our students. This year, we aim to raise an additional $500,000 to continue offering the high-quality programs that set Westview apart.

Thanks to The Westview Fund, we have been able to maintain high standards and a unique environment, allowing children with autism to thrive. As we look ahead, we remain committed to ensuring that every child at Westview has access to the opportunities they deserve.

Thank you in advance for your ongoing support, your belief in our mission, and your continued partnership in making a difference in the lives of our students. 

Language is a foundational tool for human connection, but how it's acquired and processed can vary greatly. For individuals on the autism spectrum, language development can sometimes follow a distinctive route called Gestalt Language Processing (GLP). One of the key features of GLP is echolalia—repeating phrases or language chunks they've previously heard. This behavior, sometimes misunderstood as meaningless repetition, actually plays a significant role in language learning. Understanding the nuances of GLP and echolalia can open up new ways to support those with unique communication needs.

Throughout the school year, Westview Upper School students participate in a pen pal program facilitated by the Junior League of Houston. This program allows our students to build relationships and practice letter writing with an authentic audience. Throughout the year, Junior League volunteers join our students to connect face-to-face. Junior League volunteers visited the campus this past Wednesday for the first luncheon. Students gathered in Largent Hall and met their pen pals over lunch and crafts. 

"Picture Pals is a unique and special collaboration the Junior League has had with Westview School for over 15 years.  It’s such a joy to receive the letters with pictures from the students each month," said Sofia Tilton, Picture Pals Coordinator. "Writing personal letters is such an important social skill to have.  Adding photographs and pictures brings out the creativity in all of us!"

The Westview School believes that when children with autism are educated in a nurturing and supportive environment, they learn, grow, and develop a strong sense of self and an appreciation for others.