Grizzly Gazette- 10/24/22
๐๏ธ Red Ribbon Week ๐๏ธ
We had so much fun celebrating West Briar's Spirit Week last week and the fun continued through Friday night's Homecoming Dance. Also last week- our 7th/8th Volleyball Teams were awarded a 1st place Trophy for District 7 (pictured at right)!
It is Red Ribbon Week across the nation and this year's theme is: Celebrate Life- Live Drug Free! Please note that we changed the Wednesday dress-up day because it is our Fall Picture Day. Students should come to school in Dress Code this day as the photo will be used in our Yearbook. There will be a free-dress Picture Day in the Spring.
Please be sure to check out the new Parent Observer role in Canvas that will allow you to view your student's Canvas Courses (article below).
- Oct 24 - 28 - Red Ribbon Week (see flyer below for dress-up days)
- Oct 26- Fall Student Picture Day (Dress Code Required) & Advocacy Bell Schedule
- Oct 28 - Student Verification & Socioeconomic Form Due Date (see both articles below)
- Oct 28- WBMS Glow Fest (see updated flyer below)
- Oct 28- Westside HS Football Feeder Night (flyer below)
- Nov 14- Bush Elem Blood Drive
๐ท Oct 26: Fall Picture Day
Wednesday, October 26th is our Fall Picture Day. All students will take a photo- in dress code- as this will be their yearbook picture. If you want to purchase school photos:
- Go to: https://my.lifetouch.com/mylifetouch/#/
- Enter our Picture Day ID: EVTPBW8D2
*Picture Retakes will be on December 7th and there will be a Spring Picture Day in March.
Step 1: Update/Verify Student's Information
HISD Connect is the web portal to all things student information in Houston ISD. The HISD Connect Parent Portal allows parents to complete forms, update student contact information, and view/track grades and attendance. There is also a a corresponding Power School App (for students and parents). Parents/students can use either the app or the website to view grades and attendance.
Use the links below and videos that follow to maintain your HISD Connect Parent Portal and view student's grades/attendance:
Houston ISD Connect How To Page
- This page includes all the below videos plus more information.
Houston ISD Connect (Power School) Log In Page
Step 2: Socioeconomic Information Form
Each school year, all parents must complete the Socioeconomic Information Form (SIF). This form can be completed online within the HISD Connect instructions above or can be filled out on the hard-copy form sent out from campus. Copies of the form can be found here:
Hard copy forms can also be requested from the West Briar Front Desk or House Secretary.
Why do we have to sign the Socioeconomic Form each school year? Read about it HERE.
Canvas- Parent as Observer
The Parent role in Canvas is now available. Canvas gives parents access to student learning. You can view Canvas in your browser or through the Canvas Parent app using ios or android devices. There are 3 Steps to accessing your student's Canvas Courses:
- Get the Pairing Code from your student's account.
- Discover what you can and cannot see as an observer.
- Download the Parent/Observer app.
Check out the guides and videos for the Canvas Observer/Parent App here.
๐Renaissance BOY Screener
Your student took a Renaissance 360 (Ren 360) Beginning of Year (BOY) Screener and the score letter will go home soon and you'll be able to review your student's scores in Reading and Math. Teachers utilize these Reading scores to provide meaningful instruction and interventions, when needed. Students will take a Middle-of-Year (MOY) assessment and an End-of-Year (EOY)assessment this school year.
HISD encourages students to Read Every Day and more literacy resources can be found here:
Say Something: Anonymous Tip line
Students were presented with the Sandy Hook Promise School Safety Training last week. If your student missed this training, we have posted the below resources to our website and students will be able to view it in the Grizzly Den. This page explains how students or parents can report safety threats to our campus or to individual students and this video will give more information about what the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System is.
- The Say Something website listed above is also linked in the left toolbar of our WBMS homepage. (see image at right)
During this presentation, students learned how to recognize the warning signs of threats to school safety, how we are all responsible for reporting anything we see, and how to make a report using this anonymous reporting link: Say Anything School Safety Anonymous Reporting LINK
- Reports made using this link go directly to WBMS Administrators
Please encourage your student to report safety threats through this system, with a Counselor or Dean, or with any school staff member that they feel safe with.
Grizzlies Power Up- Laptop ID's
Your student should have received their laptop ID tag last week. Please remind your student that this ID tag should not be removed and is a quick way to differentiate laptops from one another.
Other Power Up Reminders:
- Charge your laptop each night & keep charger at home.
- Keep it cased- the hard case is not to be removed.
- No Food & Drink near device- do not eat around your laptop and be mindful of what's on your fingers when typing.
- Laptop Bags- these are allowable.
Need help with digital learning resources for you or your student? Check out:
- Houston ISD Academic Instructional Resources Page (Canvas, Google Workspace, Office 365, etc.)
West Briar