Westwood Intermediate/Middle School
September 15, 2021 - Newsletter
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Westwood Families,
The start of the school year has been great. Students are settling into routines and staff and students have been sharing useful information about themselves in a variety of ways.
Today and tomorrow, our seventh and eighth graders will have their first Panther Time in their schedules. During this time, teachers provide extra support with learning, students work on assignments or have additional time with elective teachers, we build our community and have all school events. In fifth and sixth grade, we call Panther Time WIN (What I Need) time and each team has daily time for this.
Since the beginning of school, we have had a couple of incidents at Westwood related to a TikTok challenge going around where students spray concentrated Kool-Aid in school bathrooms and take things like soap dispensers, clocks, and other items. You may have seen this covered in the news as it is happening all over. This behavior is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. We have worked with the students and notified the parents of students involved. We appreciate your support at home in talking with your child about respecting the property of others and keeping all the areas of our school safe and clean.
Important dates
Please mark your calendars for some important Westwood events coming up:
- Monday, September 20 – PTO Meeting: We will meet at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom
- Tuesday, September 28 – Curriculum Night: This is an opportunity for parents to learn about the materials and curriculum taught this year, expectations and routines. The event will be online in an Asynchronous and Synchronous format.
- Wednesday, October 6 and Thursday, October 7 – Northwest Evaluation Association Map Growth Testing
- Monday, October 11 – Picture Day
- Information about dates, times and formats for fall conferences will be coming soon.
Reminders
As we near the end of our second week back at school, here are a few quick reminders:
- Free and Reduced Price Meals application: If you haven’t done so already, please review, and if applicable, complete an application for Free and Reduced Price Meals and Education Benefits for this school year. Find an application online or stop in the office to pick up a paper application and get some help. Funding is about more than meals and supports our schools in a variety of ways.
- Health screening: Each day, we ask that you complete a health screening at home before coming to school. Please keep students at home if they are sick or have symptoms. The COVID-19 hub has information about health and safety and is updated each Wednesday with information on cases in Anoka County and in our schools. We want to keep each student learning at school, and we are grateful for your partnership.
Thanks for your support and helping to get this year off to a great start. It has been wonderful to be back in person with our students.
Tom Larson
Principal
Support for students as a new year begins
September can be overwhelming – for students and families – as a new school year routine is established. Specifically as we transition from 20 months of pandemic learning, we want families to be aware of the supports in place for your student at Westwood.
The counseling office is the hub for student support at Westwood. Students may stop in at any time and families may also reach out with questions and concerns.
Our deans for personalized learning are equipped to support and connect students to academic, social and emotional help. Deans are connected to our school psychologist and social workers to help surround students and families when they need help with the specific support they need.
Working together, this team provides a variety of academic supports – academic planning and support, decision-making, study skills and learning styles. They also offer social, emotional and mental health support – conflict resolution, individual and group counseling, help navigating difficult situations, and support in the development of personal and social skills. There are in-school services as well as connections to community resources for a variety of topics.
Students and families are encouraged to reach out to their assigned dean for personalized learning, the main Westwood office (763-600-5300), or administration when they need to connect to someone who can help.
Technology Resources to Help You Right Now
Having trouble remembering your parent passwords? Not sure how to log in to Schoology? Wondering how to fix an iPad that isn't working properly? We’ve gathered links and information in a hub for you on the Technology Tools, Resources and Log Ins page.
Parent Passwords
Our troubleshooting tips on the Technology Tools, Resources and Log ins page include information on parent passwords. Here are a few tips:
- If you don't have a district parent username, please contact techsupport@district16.org
- In many cases, you are using a district created username and password, which means clicking a "forgot my password" links on pages within Campus and Schoology will not work. To change your district password, go to the SLP Password Portal. The link and other information is located under Troubleshooting tips on the Technology Tools, Resources and Log ins page.
- Seesaw is a parent-created account. If you need to change your Seesaw password, you will reset your password through the Seesaw website.
iPad Tips
- If you are having issues with your iPad not working, visit the iPad Support page.
- If you are missing any needed apps, go to Self Service to download the apps. Learn about using Self Service on an iPad: https://youtu.be/2ct5F7WYFEs
Schoology Tips
- If you are logging into Schoology from a computer, use this link. Watch this video to learn more: https://youtu.be/nw5fGcE3V30
- If you are logging into Schoology from the app, make sure to select Log In through your School and type in Spring Lake Park Schools. Watch this video to learn more: https://youtu.be/2uKgxgdQuRU
- Check your parent settings and preferences for the year to receive Schoology updates. Watch this video to learn more: https://youtu.be/sspti8sls4Y
Seesaw Tips:
- To log into Seesaw, click on the Clever app, scan the QR code and click on Seesaw. (The QR code you got from the district will not work on the Seesaw Class app - only the Clever app)
- Students need to be logged in through the Seesaw Class app to see and submit work. The Seesaw Family app is for parents to view completed work and communications.
Find this information and so many more tips and video tutorials about these applications and others on the Technology Tools, Resources and Log Ins page.
Menu Change for Friday
Washington D.C. Field Trip - Parent meeting
8th grade students have the opportunity to attend a four-day, three-night trip to Washington D.C. May 11-14, 2021-2022 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 8th 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 Wednesday, September 22 at 5:30 p.m. in the Panther Den (Media Center). If you prefer to attend virtually, please use Ms. Visser WebEx Link.
After-school Enrichment Classes - deadline approaching fast!
Check out the exciting enrichment offerings available to our students this fall. Register today - the deadline is September 18.
Pantherette Petite Dance Clinic 2021
Westwood Fall Intramurals
Adults - Play Badminton at Westwood this Fall
Yellow Team - First Week of School
The first weeks on Yellow Team have been spent getting to know each other, figuring out how to work with others, and reacquainting ourselves with the routines of a school day. We did this through group relays, problem solving puzzles, and learning and working together on our greatest achievement...the “Cup Song.” Here’s hoping for a great year on Yellow Team. Go Panthers!
The next Westwood PTO Meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 20 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.
- Monday, September 20, 9:30 a.m. – First PTO meeting, via Zoom
- Wednesday, September 22, 5:30 p.m. - Washington D.C. Field Trip, Parent Meeting, WW Den
- Tuesday, September 28 - Curriculum Night, more information to come
- Monday, October 11 - Westwood's Picture Day
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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