Next PTA Meeting - Tomorrow Need help with Skyward Family Access and Canvas? Would you like to learn more about these tools and how you can better support and understand what work your student is being assigned? Come to the November PTA Meeting in the media center at noon tomorrow, Thursday, November 21 to hear our guest speakers Belinda Stutzman and Amanda Padjen present on the ins and outs of Skyward Family Access and Canvas. This is a great opportunity to ask your questions. We hope to see you at the meeting! West Middle School presents "The Unscary Ghost!"
Join us on Thursday, December 5 at 7:00 p.m. and Friday, December 6 at 7:00 p.m. on the main gym stage! The Unscary Ghost is a one-act comedy by Matt Buchanan that takes place in Canterville, OH. The Otis family has just moved into a new house. Little do they know that their house will bring all sorts of guests, trials, and surprises! We hope to see you there! 2019-2020 MAP Testing Dates MAP tests will be administered in December for reading and math and in January for science. The three tests will be given to all 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. Please note your student's testing days. If possible, please refrain from making appointments outside of school when your student is testing. December 2 - 8th Grade MAP Reading December 3 - 8th Grade MAP Math December 9-10 - 7th Grade MAP Math December 10-11 - 6th Grade MAP Math December 12 - 7th Grade MAP Reading December 12-13 - 6th Grade MAP Reading January 7 - 8th Grade MAP Science January 7 - 7th Grade MAP Science January 8 - 6th Grade MAP Science If you have any questions regarding MAP testing, please contact Kelly Riebe, Testing Coordinator, at 763-745-6430 or Amy Kondziolka, School Counselor at 763-745-6494. Student Drop-off If you are dropping your student off in the morning before school, please remember to drop them off on the east side of the building. We have a supervisor to direct students to the cafeteria, or if something has been arranged with a teacher, to the designated room or area. East doors are open from 7:45-9:08 a.m. for morning drop off. If you are dropping-off your student after 9:08 a.m. bring them into the main office on the west side of the building so they can be checked in by the attendance secretary. Please note that late arrivals without parental notification will be considered unexcused. After the end of the school day, if you are picking up your student please pick them up on the east side of the building as the west side is reserved for buses. Facebook and Twitter Did you know West is on Facebook and Twitter? Keep up to date on what's happening at school by following us on Facebook and Twitter! Student Forgotten Items Please remind your students that when they forget an item at home and it is dropped off in the office, it is the students responsibility to check the office in between classes. Upcoming activities -
WMS Anime Club: Are you interested in anime? Join the new Anime club. You will meet with other like-minded students on Thursdays after school in room 220. We will watch sample anime, learn how to draw anime and develop your own anime drawings. The first meeting will take place on Thursday, December 5 with additional meetings December 12; January 2, 16, 23 and 30; February 13; and March 12, 19 and 26. If you have any questions, see Mrs. Kraus in room 220. -
Korean Spirit and Culture Promotion Project (KSCPP): To foster the understanding and appreciation for Korean history and culture, the KSCPP project is offering an essay contest for middle and high school students. The entrants must read Chung Hyo Ye, Tales of filial devotion, loyalty, respect and benevolence from the history and folklore of Korea. This publication is available online at the KSCPP website or Mrs. Jorenby has two copies to loan to interested students. The essay is due on January 12. Information about topics, contest requirements and awards are available at KSCPP 13th National Essay Contest. - West Environmental Club - Attention parents and students, we are excited to offer a new club this year with an environmental focus. An informational meeting for students will be held on Tuesday, November 12 after school in the media center. The club announcement with dates, more information and how to register is available online.
- Math Masters (6th grade only) registration is open! Practice will be on Wednesdays after school starting on November 20. There is an assignment to be completed before the first meeting. For competition dates, the initial assignment, how to register and more visit.
Families will need to complete Activity/Extracurricular Participation form for each activity a student joins during the year. The Activity/Extracurricular Fee needs to be paid once for unlimited extracurricular clubs and activities for the given school year (this excludes athletics). The Activity/Extracurricular fee is on EPay. The form is found in the main office, in Mrs. Jorenby's office in the media center, and from the coaches. Reporting Absences in Skyward Family Access Please report absences in Skyward Family Access when your child is absent, tardy or has an appointment during the school day. Children are considered unexcused without notification from a parent or guardian. When you are submitting the attendance request in Skyward Family Access, you must be logged in as a parent, not a student. You can still call the attendance line (763-745-6455) to report an absence and we recommend calling if it is a last-minute request. The health office must have a current phone number on file in case of an emergency. If your daytime phone numbers have changed, please send new or updated numbers to the health office. Order Your Yearbook The deadline to order a yearbook is January 31. After that time there will be a very limited number available to purchase. The current price of a yearbook is $24. You can order a yearbook on the Belfour website or send cash or check made out to WMS for $24 with your student's name and adviser's name to the main office. If you have questions, contact Jodi Spohnholtz. If financial assistance is needed, contact Peter Binnie or Jim Bollum. Please visit the PTA page to get meeting dates, minutes, and sign up to be a volunteer, sign up for the directory and more. Show your Trojan Pride with Wayzata Spirit Wear! New vendor and home or store delivery! The PTA is offering West students and their families the chance to purchase some great Wayzata Spirit Wear through our online store. A portion of all purchases are donated to our school PTA! 24-7 Active has a downtown Wayzata retail store. You can stop by and try on sizes, order in store or select free in store pickup. Visit their retail store at 848 Lake Street East, Wayzata. We have two ordering sessions. These are target dates for fall and holiday ordering. Also, new this year – our online store will be available for ordering all school year long! Delivery date is approximately three weeks from your order date. Order online and ship to your home or choose free in store pickup. Please note: All orders placed online are custom made to order and are non-returnable. For questions, please contact Robyn Bjella. You may also contact 24-7 Active directly or call 612-991-0952. The PTA sponsors events and programs throughout the year that need volunteers. Fill out our Volunteer Sign Up Form to find programs that best fit your interests and schedule. If school is canceled, will you get the call? With winter on its way, make sure you're familiar with Wayzata Public Schools inclement weather procedures for school cancellations. To ensure you receive messages regarding any weather-related cancellations, check that your phone numbers and email addresses are listed correctly in Skyward Family Access. In the event of inclement weather, please listen to the radio and TV news; watch for updates on Facebook and Twitter; and check the district website. If you have subscribed for SMS messages, be sure to text “YES” to 67587 to confirm your opt-in. Wayzata Education Fund's Thank a Teacher Program We have a lot of amazing teachers and staff here at Wayzata Public Schools. What better way to show them you appreciate them by giving back to our schools? From November 21 to December 17, any donation through Wayzata Education Fund's Thank A Teacher program will come with a certificate of appreciation to that teacher or staff member from the student named in the donation. As a bonus, any donation of $25 or more also comes with a bundlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes-Minnetonka, our generous partner in this program. Say thank you and support a good cause all in one! November 2019 Wayzata Legislative Action Committee (LAC) Meeting Update The Wayzata LAC met Wednesday, November 13. Jim Westrum, executive director of finance and business, presented an update on finances for Wayzata Public Schools. During the 2019 Legislative Session, an additional 2% was added to the general formula for 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. In addition, WPS will also receive an additional $400,000 in one-time safe schools aid. Wayzata Public Schools' LAC is a non-partisan group of citizens that monitors legislative activity as it affects K-12 education and advocates positions on behalf of the district. Youth Enrichment Opportunities Be sure to check out all the Community Ed options below... from chess, to strings, to theatre, and more! We've had so many great Ask Ali questions in our inbox – thanks to all who have submitted! Ali, along with her network of local experts, has been working hard to answer these questions. Responses are posted every Monday on her blog at partnersinpreventionmn.org/askali. Parents, you've got to check out the responses to these questions! There are some interesting ones that have been asked; chances are you might be wondering some of these things. Upcoming Events: Young Scientist Roundtable: New Treatments for Spinal Cord Injuries, December 9 Parenting with Vision: HELP! Technology is Taking Control: Strategies for Leading Young People in Healthy Relationships with Technology - Raising children in this age of technology can be so confusing, and let’s face it – scary! How do we know how much screen time is too much, what kids are exposed to on the internet, and how to set healthy boundaries? One of the top experts in the Twin Cities regarding technology and video gaming, Mathew Meyers, LMFT, from Traverse Counseling & Consulting, will provide information for parents of pre-teens and teens. Thursday, November 21, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Wayzata High School Auditorium. Parenting with Vision is sponsored by the District Liaison Committee and your PTA/PTO. Events are free with no registration required. Thursday, November 21, 2019 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Thursday, December 5, 2019 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Friday, December 6, 2019 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Thursday, December 12, 2019 6:30 PM - 7:15 PM Tuesday, December 17, 2019 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Monday, January 13, 2020 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Thursday, November 21, 2019 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Monday, December 9, 2019 7:00 PM - 8:45 PM Monday, January 13, 2020 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Wednesday, January 15, 2020 7:00 PM - 8:45 PM Monday, December 2, 2019 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM Monday, December 9, 2019 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM 149 Barry Avenue North, Wayzata, MN 55391 | 763-745-6400 |