March 8, 2026

As we look ahead to the coming week at Western Branch Primary, we are excited about the many opportunities for our students to learn, explore, and have fun together. Our Book Fair will be open throughout the week, giving students the chance to discover new books and celebrate the joy of reading. The Book Fair will be open one night for families as well.

We will also host Career Day, where students will learn about different professions and begin thinking about the many possibilities for their future.  It is sure to be a wonderful week full of learning, imagination, and Bruin pride! 

Our PTA is looking for volunteers to help our students when they visit the book fair with their classes.  Please click Volunteer Sign Up to pick the day and time you can help! 

More information about the Book Fair can be found at: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/westernbranchprimaryschool

Peake Parent University 

Parent Cafe- March 17th from 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. @ Lifestyle Center at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center- Register at https://forms.office.com/r/i0aBVuksxS?origin=lprLink

Highlighted Webinar

IXL for Parents- https://zoom.us/clips/share/wiOZJpDKS5-C0kLn1bnF1A

This webinar will teach parents about the IXL learning platform, discuss how your child’s teachers are using it in class, and how you can use it at home to help your child grow.

 As we continue capturing all the special moments of this school year, we need your help! Please remember to send any photos from school events to wbpyearbook26@gmail.com. The more pictures we receive, the better our yearbook will be—helping us showcase the smiles, celebrations, and memories that make Western Branch Primary such a special place. Thank you for helping us preserve this year’s Bruin memories!

A Joyful Surprise is Headed Your Way!

We are participating in a creative fundraiser with Art to Remember that allows you to purchase keepsake products customized with your child’s art. Right now, children are busy creating colorful, fun artwork, and soon you will receive a personalized order form.

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:  Over 50 keepsake products featuring your child’s artwork. Many of the products are less than $20. A percentage of every order goes right back to our school. Safe, secure online ordering at ArtToRemember.com

 VLP Family Resources- click the link to find many resources to support students in literacy. This link provides Ideas like how to help your child with reading and spelling new words, and so much more! VDOE Family Resources- VDOE Family Supports for Reading is another resource developed by the VDOE with a variety of supports for families to use at home. 

Our counselors, Ms. Dawson, Mrs. K-B, and Mrs. Evans, have developed a weekly newsletter for March to inform you about the lessons they will be teaching in their classes this month.  In addition, this week's newsletter has MORE information for families — Nightmares. Click Here

Welcome to Western Branch Primary- View our video about many of our procedures. 

Bruins Wear Badges- Click here for a video about our Bruins and how they wear their badges every day. Our badges are used every day for getting lunch, checking out library books, and much more! Badge Information from CPS

District Calendar. Don’t miss an event or a deadline. A printable version of our district calendar is also available here.

Student Handbook. Review Chesapeake Public Schools' policies for students. 

ParentVUE Information- ParentVUE information and forgotten passwords. 

CPSCHOOLSVA The mobile app for our district. With our app, you can easily access school events, news updates, and even emergency notifications.

Transportation Information. Directions for finding your student’s bus stop are located here. 

How many days has your child been absent from school over the past 4 weeks? Was it just one sick day or two? What about the day they left early for the dentist? Or the days you took off to extend a vacation? It can be hard to keep track.

Missing a day here or there may not seem like a problem. But school absences add up quickly. Missing two days a month—excused or unexcused—can add up to a child being considered chronically absent. The good news is that showing up at school has powerful, positive effects on children.

Chronic absenteeism means missing school—for any reason—excused or unexcused. Chronic absenteeism is defined as  missing 10% (or around 18 days) during a school year.

Set up your ParentVue account to submit absentee notes, check grades, and see up-to-date attendance. ( Report an Absence in ParentVue)

HOURS: Western Branch Primary will begin accepting students at 7:15 a.m. Classes begin at 7:35 a.m. Students are considered tardy when they arrive after 7:35. We dismiss at 2:04. Our office hours are 7:00-3:00 each day.

IMPORTANT DATES:

March 9th- Wear a shirt with a female on it (International Women's Day 3/8)

March 9-13th- Book Fair 

March 12th- Book Fair Night 4:00-7:00 PM

March 13th- Career Day- Dress for the job you want to have! 

March 16th- Pi Day (3/14)- Wear a math related shirt

March 17th- First Grade Performance 6:00 PM at Western Branch Middle School (Due to space we are limited to two guests per student)