Westwood Intermediate/Middle School
November 10, 2021 - Newsletter
See translation information below / Consulte la información de traducción a continuación.
Westwood Families,
The great news about the end of daylight savings time, besides the extra hour of sleep, is the morning is light out earlier for our students getting on the bus. This also is a signal that Thanksgiving break is right around the corner and then the end of the first trimester. We have shifted our Panther Time support for seventh and eighth graders for the final weeks of the trimester to help students catch up on work and retake assessments.
The highlight of the week for me has been helping our seventh and eighth grade students find and open their lockers. It was like having 900 kids in a candy store. They were so excited. So far, the locker bay has been running smoothly in the morning, during lunch, and at the end of the day.
Picture retake day is on Tuesday, November 16. Lifetouch will be at the Westwood Den in the morning to complete picture retakes and for any students who were absent on picture day. If you want your child to have a retake, please let them know. Students will be called down to the Den by classroom for retakes.
Tomorrow, November 11, is Veterans Day, a national day of recognition for all military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. There are around 19 million U.S. veterans as of this year, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Thank you to those who have served to protect the freedoms that we all enjoy each day.
Have a great week.
Tom Larson
Principal
Anoka County Vaccination Clinics for Ages 5-11
The Public Health Department of Anoka County is hosting vaccination clinics for children who are 5 through 11 years of age to receive the pediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
Dose #1 Pediatric Pfizer - Hylander Center
- Date: Saturday, November 13, 2021
- Time: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
- Registration Link (use Chrome browser)
Dose #1 Pediatric Pfizer - Fridley High School
- Date: Saturday, November 20, 2021
- Time: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- Registration Link (use Chrome browser)
Dose #1 Pediatric Pfizer - Anoka Technical College
- Date: Saturday, December 4, 2021
- Time: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- Registration Link (use Chrome browser)
Please consider the following information:
- All children receiving a vaccine must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Please wear a face mask. If you and/or your child do not have a mask, one will be provided.
- For more information about the vaccine, please refer to the Fact Sheet.
- If you will be in isolation or quarantine during a scheduled clinic, you will need to wait for another time. Being in isolation or quarantine is a contraindication for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Please plan to stay 15 minutes following vaccination for observation by our clinic staff.
- In order to have vaccine information recorded accurately and to receive information about 2nd dose appointments, please review the information before completing registration.
- The second dose information will be available onsite at the clinic, but please feel free to ask during your appointment. Although recipients of the Pfizer vaccine can get the second dose as early as 3 weeks after the first dose, a 5 week delay is acceptable.
- Registration to these clinics is on a first-come, first-served basis. If there are no appointments available, the clinic is full. Walk-ins are accepted as long as the vaccine is available.
- When registering through PrepMod, the system will ask for insurance information. It is NOT required to upload a photo of the insurance card or share additional insurance information. Those registering can use the drop-down menu to indicate the type of insurance (private, public, etc.) then they can move to the next page. There is no cost to receiving the vaccine, and we will not bill insurance.
- If you need assistance, please call 763-324-4240. Due to the high volume of calls, please leave a detailed voice message, including your return phone number, if you are unable to reach a person when calling. A member of Anoka County staff will call you back.
If there are family members needing COVID-19 vaccines for those 12 and older please visit the MN Department of Health website.
Reminder: Technology Tools, Resources and Log Ins for families:
Potential Nutrislice menu changes
Due to staffing shortages and product availability, school menus may change periodically. Menus on Nutrislice will be updated regularly to reflect any changes. Please check Nutrislice daily for the most updated menu.
Questions? Please contact Jane Sweney, Nutrition Services Program Assistant, 763-600-5041 or jswene@district16.org.
Westwood yearbooks now on sale
Optional Field Trip to Washington D.C. - Parent Meeting
Students in Grade 7 have the opportunity to attend a four-day, three-night trip to Washington D.C. next October 16-19, 2022-2023 school year. This is an optional trip that allows students the chance to see our country’s past, present, and future through monuments, museums, memorials, and historical sites.
Students will be receiving information in their 7th grade social studies class. This provides an overview of the trip, the company we travel with, and the financial information. You can also view the trip information here.
If you and your student are interested, please join us for an informational meeting on Tuesday, November 18 at 5:30 p.m. in the Panther Den (Media Center). If you prefer to attend virtually, please use Ms. Visser WebEx Link. If you sign up within 48 hours of this parent meeting you get $200 dollars off the cost of the trip.
Purchase tickets for “The Alibis” grades 7-8 theater production
Theater season is in full swing! Come support our grades 7-8 theater students in their upcoming fall play production "The Alibis" on November 11-12 at the SLPHS Fine Arts Center. Purchase your tickets online or at the Fine Arts Center for a dollar more on the day of the production.
Performance description:
Comedy in crime in this rouge's gallery of ten-minute plays wrapped in a classic whodunnit. When eccentric billionaire J. Leslie Arlington is murdered, a clueless detective finds the suspects are all reluctant to admit their alibis...because they were all committing other ridiculous crimes at the time. You never know what's coming next when your suspects include disgruntled chefs, teen detectives, and vengeful divas, but one thing's for certain: Every alibi is absolutely absurd.
Performance dates:
- Thursday, November 11, 7 p.m.
- Friday, November 12, 7 p.m.
Marilynn Forsberg recognized by state association
Marilynn Forsberg, Spring Lake Park Schools school board member since 1982, has been recognized by the Minnesota School Board Association (MSBA) for her commitment to school board service and education. MSBA provides training and resources to school board members throughout the state, and Marilynn has achieved the most training "points" of anyone in the state in her nearly 40 years of service.
Marilynn herself is a product of public schools. A long-time resident of Spring Lake Park, she and husband Fred raised four sons in the community. All four sons and two grandchildren graduated from Spring Lake Park Schools. Read more about Marilynn, her service to Spring Lake Park Schools and this recognition in this brief story.
Register now for after school activities!
- First Practice is January 4
- Must have a sports physical on file before you can participate
- Registration deadline is December 23, register here
Cooking Club for Grades 5-8
- Will meet on Tuesdays, November 16, 30 and December 7 and 14
- Register here
Gallery spaces in Art Class
The next Westwood PTO Meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 15 at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom.
We are looking forward to working with all of our parents and families this year to support the staff and students at Westwood.
Visit the PTO Facebook page: Westwood Intermediate and Middle School PTO
- Click here to receive email notifications about Westwood PTO.
Fall Fundraiser updates!
- November 15 - PTO Meeting at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom
- November 16 - Picture Retake Day
- November 24-26 - Thanksgiving Break
- December 2 - Last day of Trimester 1
In case you missed important information from last week's newsletter, check out the topics below and click to learn more.
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