Words from West
NOVEMBER 2020
A MESSAGE FROM MS. BALBAUGH
November has sure brought us beautiful weather, please take advantage of some FALL FUN opportunities with your family! We are currently planning to wrap up the rest of this month with students attending hours 4-6. Our teachers have shared stories of student engagement, creativity, and hard work during our time in this remote setting. Please continue to encourage your student to show up to class with their camera on, ready to participate and engage in the content.
This month, please spend a few moments reflecting on everything there is to be grateful for at this time. I am so thankful for our dedicated staff, supportive families, and amazing students. May conferences this week be one more opportunity to continue our partnership together!
IMPORTANT DATES FOR NOVEMBER
November 10-12: Remote Parent/Teacher Conferences via Zoom
November 11 -13: Half-days for all students (hours 4-6)
November 23: Board of Education Meeting - 7:00 PM - Perry Center
November 25: Half day for all students (hours 4-6)
November 26-29: Thanksgiving break, no school
November 30: Target date for middle school students to return to the classroom (hybrid schedule)
FALL CONFERENCES
Don’t forget to sign up online for your virtual
Parent/Teacher Conferences - we are asking parents to use a cell phone or personal device to meet with teachers, student Chromebooks will not work.
Tuesday, November 10
Full-Day for Student
Evening Conferences
Wednesday, November 11
1/2 Day for Students
Conferences 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM
Thursday, November 12
1/2 Day for Students
Evening Conferences
Friday, November 13
1/2 Day for Students
This year we will be holding virtual meetings for all conferences. You should have received an email with information from your student's teacher(s) for https://www.myconferencetime.com/gbwms
HALF DAY STUDENT SCHEDULE
November 11, 12, 13 and 25 are half-days.
The remote learning schedule will be as follows:
4th hour : 9:00 - 9:45 a.m.
5th hour : 10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
6th hour : 11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
There will be no question & answer sessions following class. Synchronous learning will be complete by 11:45 a.m.
STUDENTS SCHEDULED TO RETURN TO F2F/HYBRID ON NOVEMBER 30TH - TARGET DATE
Preparing for a return to school:
- Check your emergency contacts in ParentVue. Make sure those contacts are people who are willing and able to pick up your student in a timely manner if they become sick at school or exhibit COVID symptoms.
- Students should have their own set of supplies to avoid having to share. When sharing is necessary, items will be sanitized between uses.
- Drinking fountains are closed, so a water bottle labeled with the student's name is recommended.
- Masks must be worn by all school staff, visitors, and by all students, on buses, inside school buildings, and anywhere on school grounds, including outside when individuals may be within six feet of each other.
- Reusable masks should be labeled with the student's name; if they do not have a mask, a disposable one will be provided.
FISH FOOD DRIVE - NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS
Our 2020 FISH Food Drive has started! WMS will have a collection box outside our school from 7:30am - 7:30pm each weekday (it will be brought in early on Fridays). The food collected will be stored and transported to "FEED THE BUS" on November 21st.
Thank you to Mrs.Kubani's class who will help monitor the box and bring in items, and Mrs. Perdue for coordinating this event.
We are hopeful families will participate during this November 10th - 20th collection time, and we thank you in advance for the community support.
EASTER SEALS FAMILY SUPPORT
Covid19 has caused multiple changes in our lives and therefore, many have an increased need for support. We are all living through community stress and trauma that affects us differently. Easterseals wants to support GB students and families. We are currently located in 3 Grand Blanc buildings, (Grand Blanc High School, West Middle School, and Reid Elementary), and are able to see students in person or via a telehealth option.
At this time Easter Seals is taking referrals from any GB buildings for virtual appointments, visits at the current 3 schools, or their offices. They are very accommodating of work schedules and hours are flexible. There are multiple ways for students, families, and staff to contact Easterseals for support. Students can talk to their teacher or counselor who can then directly refer students, or students/parents can refer themselves. All information is confidential unless you request your Easterseals staff and/or school staff to share.
School Referral or contact Jdoyle@essmichigan.org directly
180075SEALS (73257)
Eastersealsmichigan.com
Contact us via email or call to chat with an expert!
POSITIVITY PROJECT
Ask your student about the following P2 Character traits:
- November 1-7 - Perspective
- November 8-14 - Bravery
- November 15-21 - Gratitude
- November 22-28 - Gratitude
- November 29 - December 5 - Kindness
MEDICATIONS
TITLE I FAMILIES
If your student is receiving Title I support services at West Middle School, please take a moment to fill out the survey below! Thank you, in advance, for your time!
TITLE I MATH TUTORING - Update
Hello, I am Mrs. Mingo, your math tutor for West Middle School. I am offering tutoring to Title I Eligible students who need additional support in their math class. We will work together to break down key concepts while learning new skills and strategies to build success and confidence in math. Please see the updated schedule below that includes opportunities for ALL GRADE LEVELS to be supported on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
My google class code for tutoring is: ilh7jjy
Meet link for Tutoring sessions:
https://meet.google.com/lookup/byvlmbdmut
Meet the Tutor - VIDEO WELCOME from Mrs. Mingo:
YEARBOOK
ORDER YOUR YEARBOOKS
Click the link below to order a 2020-2021 yearbook for your student! Order your yearbook soon, the cost is only $35 until November 27th. After November 27th Yearbooks will cost $40.
HELP WITH CHROMEBOOK ISSUES
TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
If your student is experiencing an issue with their GBCS Chromebook, we are here to help. Please click on the link below for any chromebook problem. If needed, a GBCS staff member will follow up via text, email, or phone.
ATTENDANCE
Families, please be reminded that during remote instruction, your student is expected to be present every "hour" of each day. Students that do not report for class (during remote or face-to-face instruction) will be marked absent. Additionally, it is important that students are logged into each class with their GBCS student account for attendance verification.
If you know your child will be absent from school,
please let us know.
ATTENDANCE HOTLINE
(810) 591-8387
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
The Michigan Department of Education announced that all students can continue receiving free meals for the entire 2020-2021 School Year! This is great news! See below for details on distribution sites!
However, to continue our funding and services, we still need all families to fill out a Lunch Application using the following website: https://lunchapp.com/
ROTATION SCHEDULE BY HOUR FOR GRADES 6-12
ACADEMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS
- As a reminder, during this remote instruction period, students will be receiving official grades for their classes. This is a change from the Spring on-line format. Class assessments do count! Also, we are asking all students to use their school-issued devices for instruction. Having all students on their chromebook for remote instruction makes two-way interaction and communication easier for the teachers. Additionally, some teaching platforms are programmed and approved for the chromebooks provided by GBCS. Thank you for your understanding. Classroom INTEGRITY needs to remain a priority in order to preserve privacy of the learning environment. Families, please talk to your students about helping us with this. Students should not take pictures or videos of their Google Meet Classrooms. This is important as we try to maintain an environment conducive to learning.
- Our teachers are noticing higher grades, greater work completion, and better relationships are being built with students who have their VIDEOS ON! Teachers need to SEE students to read facial expressions and pick up on non-verbal cues when presenting and assessing curriculum. Please encourage your student to TURN ON their video and LEAVE IT ON for the duration of class.
- In preparations for face-to-face instruction, we are asking all parents or guardians to go through your Parentvue and update your emergency contacts to make sure you have working numbers and at least two people listed who are available during the day to pick up your child if they become sick at school. This will be crucial as we navigate back to face to face instruction to assure an ill student is picked up as soon as possible to limit contact with others.
Grand Blanc West Middle School
West Middle School Main Office:
Monday - Friday 9:00AM - 3:00PM
Main Number: 810-591-7309
Fax Number: 810-591-0182
Website: https://www.gbcs.org/Domain/19
Location: 1515 Reid Road, Grand Blanc, MI, USA
Phone: 810-591-7309
Facebook: facebook.com/gbwms