West Hills STEM Academy News
October 2021
An Update From Principal Melissa Rohr
Happy Fall! We are moving into conference season! Conferences will be held virtually this year to help keep a handle on COVID and the number of people in our buildings. This year conferences are scheduled for November 4th and 5th.
Please take the time to meet with your child's teacher to help plan for their year. Our teachers are excited to work with you and your student to develop a plan for their learning. Our students have been busy getting settled in and creating a positive classroom community. If you have not heard from your teacher already, you should very soon.
As always we look forward to seeing you and if you have any questions please contact your student's teacher or our front office!
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October, November & December Calendar
October 11 - Non-Student Day - No School
October 20 - Unity Day - Wear Orange
October 25 - 28 - ASB Spirit Week - More information to come
October 27 - Trunk or Treat - 5:00pm -6:30pm
October 29 - Non- Student Day - No School
November 4 & 5 - Parent/Student Conferences
November 11 - Veterans Day
November 12 - Picture Retake Day
November 25 & 26 - Thanksgiving Break
December 20-31 - Winter Break
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Character Trait for October - Creativity
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Please Complete Your Family ABCs!
The ABCs are our improved Annual Back-to-school Check-in process or ABCs (formerly known as the Annual Demographic Update). Please take a few moment to complete this important process.
The ABC process must be completed for all students in the district - including both previously enrolled as well as newly registered students.
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State Testing
During the month of October, most students in grades 4–11 (except 10th grade) will take assessments rescheduled from last spring. Students will only spend a short amount of time on each subject test.
The results from these abbreviated assessments provide a picture of students' academic achievement based on previous learning. For example, 4th grade students will be given the 3rd grade assessments (that they would normally have taken in the spring). Knowing your student’s achievement level (1 through 4) will provide an important piece of information as the school year progresses. Teachers will use this information to plan lessons and units to build on student strengths.
Your student’s school will be providing more information, including the dates that your student(s) will be completing the assessments next month.
All Washington students will return to the typical annual assessment schedule by completing the spring administration covering this year’s content in May or June.
You can learn more about these assessments on our website.
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Some important reminders about COVID-19 protocols and communication
- If your student tests positive for COVID-19, please contact your school's principal so we can begin contact tracing for close or potential contacts.
- If your student is identified as a close contact or a potential contact of a confirmed case, you will be notified by the school via "robo call" and email. The email will have details and guidance for your student.
- If your child is quarantined, please reach out to your student's teacher and have your student log-into their teacher(s) Google classroom to access academic material and support.
- Our student's privacy is a priority. Teachers are notified about students in their class who are quarantined, but are not told which student has COVD and/or which student(s) are quarantined as close contacts.
Students who are fully-vaccinated do not have to quarantine*
- If your student is fully-vaccinated and you receive a notification that they need to quarantine as a confirmed close-contact, you will need to provide proof of your child's vaccination to the school before your student can return to school for in-person learning.
We are doing everything we can to protect the health and safety of our students and staff. We want to sincerely thank you for your support and commend our students for their perseverance and adapting and adhering to all of the changes and health and safety measures in our schools.
*Per CDC and Washington State Department of Health guidelines.
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Please Do Not Send Your Child To School If Your Child is Ill
If your child is sick - even with mild symptoms - please keep your child home from school and notify your child’s school that your student is ill.
Chronic illnesses
If your student’s symptoms are related to a chronic condition, contact the school and follow school policies for chronic condition management.
Other serious illnesses
Please contact your health care provider immediately about serious illness, including any fever of 100.4°F or higher.
- Chickenpox
- COVID-19
- Diphtheria
- E. coli diarrhea
- Hepatitis
- Measles
- Mumps
- Pertussis
- Rubella
- Salmonella
- Scabies
- Shigellosis
- Tuberculosis
- another disease as requested
The school will protect your private information as required by law. RCW 70.02, Washington’s Health Care Information Access and Disclosure Act.
When a student gets sick at school
If a student is already in the building and has a fever of 100.4°F or begins to show symptoms of COVID-19, the child’s parent/guardian or emergency contact(s) will be notified immediately. The child will wait in the “Temporary Observation Room” until the student can be picked up and taken home.
Illness and/or quarantine impacts on students
If your child is out for an extended illness or due to quarantine, please contact your child’s teacher or principal for support and answers to your questions
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Medication at School
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Coming soon! Federal Impact Aid forms
In early November, we will be sending home an "Impact Aid" form with students for families to complete and return to school.
Every year the Bremerton School District must apply for Federal Impact Aid funds from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds compensate the District for the loss of local tax dollars from tax exempt federal property in the Silverdale and Bremerton area. The Bremerton School District receives approximately $300,000 in Impact Aid funding each year.
The school district only reports the number of students living with families who live on and/or work on federal property. We do not report information about individual students in the Federal Impact Aid form.
If you have more questions, contact Connie.Long@bremertonschools.org
or Catherine.seevers@bremertonschools.org or call 360-473-1033.
Thank you for your cooperation and support!
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Tech Support for Families
We have updated our Tech Support for Families website for 2021-22 and invite you to check it out!
A link to the tech support webpage is on every school and the District website (look for the graphic like the one on the left), and can be accessed at BremertonSchools.org/TechHelp.
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New! Free online tutoring for grades 3-12!
We are pleased to offer free online tutoring through TutorMe for all Bremerton School District students in grades 3-12. Students can access TutorMe through Clever.
More information is available on the District's Family Technology Support website.
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FREE therapy available to all Bremerton School District students and staff
The mental health of our students is a top priority. That’s why we’re offering a free new service: Gaggle Teletherapy.
If your student is feeling sad, hopeless, angry, or anxious—or having challenges with family, friends, or relationships—therapy could help.
Gaggle Therapy is a free, confidential option to connect weekly with a therapist online and on your student’s schedule. Students can be referred by a teacher, counselor or parent, and students age 13 and older can self-refer.
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PCHS School-Based Health Clinic at Mountain View Middle School
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West Hills STEM Academy
Website: https://www.bremertonschools.org/westhills
Location: 520 South National Avenue, Bremerton, WA, USA
Phone: 360-473-4600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WHSTEMAcademy
Twitter: @WHSTEMAcademy