Message from Mr. Carlson Greetings West Students and Families,
We are getting closer to starting school on Monday, September 14! This week we had the excitement of teachers being back in the building for workshop week to collaborate and plan for the start of the year. This upcoming week we will have a Virtual Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 10. A link to that presentation will be sent on Thursday. We hope everyone is enjoying this final stretch of summer and we cannot wait to see on September 14!
Did You Know? Advisory Outreach Next Week Next week, your child's advisory teacher will reach out to you to schedule a brief 5-15 minute phone or Zoom meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to provide a meet and greet opportunity before school begins. We hope you and your students will join the teacher in a discussion about what school will be like for the coming year.
Curriculum Night Update Also next week, you will receive a link to our virtual Curriculum Night presentation. The presentation will include video messages and from principals and teachers. Text descriptions related to the coursework will be included. Click as many times as you like on the sections that interests you, skip the rest! This virtual activity is a replacement for our traditional Curriculum Night hosted in September. Not seeing what you are looking for within the site? Contact the Student Services Team or a teacher with your questions.
1st Day of School A/B/Wayzata Distance Choice September 14 is the first day of school for all middle school students. Please note, parents and other visitors are not permitted in the school building.
Hybrid School Supply List Generally speaking, the school supply list posted on the website is the best guide for getting ready this school year. However, since students will be using backpacks not lockers, we want them to be comfortable by traveling light. Here are the everyday essentials:
Most textbooks are digital
What Will School Look Like
8th Grade Second Semester Encores Eighth grade parents may notice that their students are missing and encore choice for semester two. Because of time constraints and Distance Choice options we will hold off scheduling semester two encores until a later date.
Lockers We will not be issuing lockers at this time because we are trying to minimize the amount of time students spend in the hallway and locker areas. Students should bring their personal belongings in a backpack to class. We will not be using the Phy Ed locker rooms.
Schedules All students in the Hybrid model will be participating in Phy Ed twice a week on the days they are physically at school. All music classes will be offered virtually on the days they are not physically at school. Teachers will communicate with Distance Choice students through Skyward or Canvas when their Phy Ed and Music class will meet. Key Dates
Technology Help Requests In alignment with health and safety best practices, the District Technology Department has put in place an appointment system to better serve technology needs. This system is to be used by both staff and students. The first step to making an appointment is to create a helpdesk ticket. Please take note of the Helpdesk ticket number; you will need it when making an appointment. After creating a helpdesk ticket, please schedule an appointment with Lynn Tombers.
Cell Phone Update Please note we have updated our cell phone rules and guidelines. Cell phones must be put away and use is not allowed from 9:10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The goal of this policy shift is to support students in keeping focused on learning. The new cell phone expectations will be taught to students. If you need to reach your child at school, please call the main office and we can call the student down to call you from the office.
Reminders Safety Updates Please be sure to visit our Wayzata Learns webpage for up-to-date information.
Girls' Tennis Registration is now open for 7th and 8th Grade Girls' Tennis. The season will start once school begins. Students scheduled to be in school on the A day will have practices and matches on those days. Students who are scheduled to be in school on B day, will have practices and matches on those days. Registration is now open on EPay.
Hennepin County Library offering e-cards! You can now apply for a Hennepin County Library e-card to get access to all of the great online resources our Hennepin County Libraries have to offer (ebooks, audiobooks, databases, etc.)! Applications are quick and easy for those who do not have a current library card. Anyone who needs help with an existing library card can go to the Ask Us page. With a library card, students can access online tutoring from 1:00-11:00 p.m. Families who have used this tutoring in the past have found it very helpful.
Be BOLD Be West! Looking for some help with establishing positive expectations for Distance Learning at home? This modified BOLD Matrix highlights the language from our school-wide expectations that apply to Distance Learning. Feel free to bookmark or print and post in your student's workspace at home to provide reminders about Being BOLD!
Videos for eBook Resources We have two videos available:
Also, if you or your student does not have a library card number for Hennepin County Library, they are taking phone applications from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. They will mail physical cards to people but will also give the card number over the phone so that people can start accessing online content right away.
PTA News Please visit the PTA page to get meeting dates, minutes, and sign up to be a volunteer, sign up for the directory and more.
Volunteer Needs
Around the District Stay Home When Ill and Be Prepared to Quarantine It is important to be prepared as we begin the new school year in the midst of a pandemic. Our new reality will require students, families and staff to check daily for symptoms and stay home if you are ill. If you or someone in your family is ill, please reference the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Decision Tree document to learn what your next steps should be. Report any student absences into Skyward Family Access, specifying if the absence is COVID-19 related. Our school nurses will follow up with any COVID-19 related cases. If you are tested for COVID-19, even if you feel well, it is important that you remain home and away from others until you receive the results. Everyone must be prepared to stay home and quarantine for up to two weeks if you become ill with or are exposed to COVID-19. We know being quarantined for two weeks will be extremely challenging, but it is absolutely necessary to stop the spread of the virus. Learn how you can prepare for a possible quarantine. Our nurses will be working closely with MDH to notify students and staff as soon as possible if you have been exposed to COVID-19 at school. Always answer your phone if MDH is calling. If you have questions, please contact the licensed nurse at your school. More detail and helpful information can also be found on our Wayzata Learns webpage. We are busy preparing our buildings and staff for the start of the new school year, with a big focus on preventing the spread of COVID-19 within our staff and student body. All of our buildings have optimal ventilation and enhanced cleaning and sanitation procedures are in place. Our school principals have established new guidelines for everything from entering the building to eating lunch. We need you to understand and follow them so that we can all stay safe and prevent the spread of the virus.
Community Ed New Online Classes We welcome you to our online classrooms! Our online classes ensure that you are able to gain valuable information, stay on track with your fitness routine, learn new skills, and connect with others during the next month. Our buildings may be closed, but lifelong learning never stops. We are offering a variety of online classes for adult and youth. You can find all the online options on our registration site. Financial assistance is available or call 763-745-5200 for more information.
Calendar School Events District Events School Board Meetings |