Wildcats News
West Middle School
Principal - Scott Cole / Assistant Principal - Rachelle Wiersma / Dean of Students - Zach Davis
March 2020
Upcoming Events
3/2 Band-Orchestra Fundraiser Kick-off
3/6 W.I.N.G.S. @ Briar Cliff 9:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M.
3/8 Change your CLOCK before going to bed - Spring 1 hour Forward
3/10 SPED to NAIA Basketball Clinic @ Longlines 9:00 A.M.-12:30 P.M.
3/19 5th-12th grades Band Concert with Dr. Gausman @ WHS 6:00 P.M.
3/20 Jazz Festival @ Morningside College
3/23 End of 3rd Quarter
3/24 Track practice starts @ WMS after school / free bus available at 4:30 to drop at feeder schools
3/24 Elementary Orchestra Concert @ WMS 6:00 P.M.
3/26 Quota Club Honor's Luncheon @ Marina Inn 12:00 P.M.
3/27 PBIS Incentive @ WMS 1:45-2:45 P.M.
3/27 Band-Orchestra Fundraiser Ends
3/27 WMS Jazz Choir performs at Musketeers' game @ Tyson Events Center 7:00 P.M.
Note from the Principal...
March will be a busy month here at WMS. Several activities are underway with more starting soon. Please check the enclosed calendar for any and all updates for upcoming events.
You will find information within the newsletter about our school climate survey. Please take time to fill out the survey. Your opinion is valued, and we look forward to looking at the data the survey provides.
Our building has two goals this year in Literacy and Math. We are looking for overall growth of 10% in proficiency throughout the year on district assessments over these goals. We have taken our mid-year assessment in both Math and Literacy. I’m pleased to report that we have gained 3.78% in Literacy and 13.73% in Math. We are showing improvement and are on track to meet both goals by years end.
Please notice the IB (International Baccalaureate) information within the newsletter as well. These are things we will be working on with students in the coming months.
The weather this time of year is rather unpredictable. We will be outside when possible in the mornings and at lunch time. Students should dress accordingly.
Scott Cole 279-6813
IB Update
During the month of March, West Middle teachers and students will be discussing three new traits of the IB Learner Profile: Open-Minded, Caring and Risk Taker. Please join our staff in talking about these characteristics of great learners with your children.
Open-Minded
An open-minded student knows that all people are different. They listen to the points of view of others and consider many possibilities before making a decision. They celebrate the differences that make all people unique.
How can parents help to develop this Open-Minded trait at home?
·Encourage your child to try new things – new foods, new games and new activities.
- Encourage your child to really listen to others when they speak.
- Introduce appropriate books about many different cultures into your home.
- When you observe your child being Open-Minded, reinforce this positive behavior.
Caring
Students who are caring want people around them to be happy and are sensitive to their needs. They think about the world and work to take care of their community and the environment. They remember to treat others how they themselves would like to be treated.
How can parents help to develop students who are Caring at home?
* Model the caring behavior you would like to see in your child all the time. Using kind words,
helping people without being asked, being an active listener all show your child that you
care about people. Even a simple thing, like holding a door for someone, shows your child
that you are aware of others around you and want to help them.
- Think about how your family can get involved with community organizations.
- Make the effort to reduce, reuse or recycle in your home, as it will show your child how to care for the environment and future generations.
Risk-Taker
Students who are risk-takers have the courage to try new things. They try to solve problems in many different ways. They have the bravery to tell people what they think is right.
How can parents develop students who are risk-takers at home?
- Your child might want to set some short-term goals. Consider activities that make him/her nervous. What are realistic goals for the week? Your child might set a goal to:
- offer an opinion in class
- sit next to someone new at lunch
- order something different from the menu
- try an activity they haven’t tried before
8th grade Highlights - Math...
Math has been busy since 2020 started. On February 3, many teachers discussed what it means to be a palindrome day. The day before, on February 2, it was Groundhog Day, Super Bowl Sunday and a palindrome day...02022020. The day, month, then year is the same forward and backwards!!! These days only happen every 900 to 1,000 years. Math has also been busy with scatter plots, two-way tables, and interpreting data. Algebra is working with slope intercept form, point-slope form and standard form.
NWIBA Jazz Competition Winner
Yearbooks on Sale Now
Help make the year unforgettable by purchasing a 2019-2020 West Middle Yearbook during the month of March!
Buy online with credit card, debit card or PayPal at yearbookforever.com or bring $20 to Mrs. Michaelson in the library. Order now, so you won’t miss out when the yearbook is distributed the last week of school.
WASH YOUR HANDS!
Immunizations Needed Before 7th Grade
Dear 6th Grade Parents,
The Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa Immunization Law require that all students entering 7th grade have both a Meningococcal vaccine and a Tdap (Tetunus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis/whooping cough) booster before school starts this fall.
The Tdap requirement has been put in place since the 2013/14 school year and requires the booster dose of Tetunus, Diphtheria and acellular Pertussis containing vaccine for students entering 7th grade, regardless of the interval since the last Tetunus/Diphtheria containing vaccine. Pertussis (whooping cough) is a very contagious disease that causes violent coughing fits that make it hard to breathe.
Meningococcal disease is a life threatening illness that is caused by bacteria that infects the brain, blood and spinal cord. It easily spreads in crowded settings. The vaccine will be required prior to both the 7th and 12th grades.
All students entering 7th grade must have proof of having both the Meningococcal and the Tdap vaccines before school starts in August, unless the student has a Certificate of Immunization Exemption.
You may get these shots at your doctor or possibly at the Siouxland District Health Department. Their phone number is 712-279-6119.
There will be NO grace/extension period for the implementation of this requirement. 6th grade please complete this requirement now and turn the record into the school.
8 Strategies for a Healthy Spring
2) Eat a Healthy Diet (try filling 1/2 your plate with fruits and vegetables and 1/2 with whole grains)
3) Rethink your Drink (substitute water for sugary drinks)
4) Get Enough Sleep
5) Be Sun Safe (the sun feels so good after a long winter that we tend to forget about using sunscreen regularly)
6) Brush your Teeth at least 2 times a day
7) Get Regular Checkups and Screenings
8) Learn your Family Health History (knowing where you may be at risk can go a long way in keeping you alert to changes in your body)
*adapted from www.cdc.gov
Free Tutoring @ WMS
Free Tutoring at West Middle
Room 332 / Mrs. Moerman
7:00-7:35 A.M. Mon.-Fri.
1:45-2:30 P.M. Monday
2:45-3:30 P.M. Tues.-Fri.
More Tutoring Available
Media Center / Assorted Teachers
2:45-4:15 P.M. Tuesday-Thursday
All students are welcome. A free activities bus will be available for students to ride to the feeder elementary closest to their home at 4:30 P.M.
Hy-Vee Receipts
$CHOOL BUCK$ PROGRAM RULES 2019-2020
All receipts must be from the Sioux City or South Sioux City Hy-Vee’s or the Hy-Vee Mainstreet Store.
Receipts must be dated August 1, 2019 – April 26, 2020.
Please Note: No fuel, postal, money order, Western Union, lottery, Quest, Mid American or gift card receipts will be accepted. If any of these receipts are found in any of the bundles the entire bundle amount might not be counted and will not go towards our school total. Please pay for these items separate from your grocery order. Pharmacy receipts DO count so save those. Please ask the whole family to save their receipts...grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, we'll take them all! The PBIS team at West Middle thanks you.
Box Tops for Education
Box Tops for Education has gone online! The app is super easy. Download the app. Then answer a few, short questions. Make sure to select West Middle School. You can use our zip code, 51103, to find the school. Then, when you go to the store and see the box top picture on the top of an item you bought, upload the receipt in the app by taking a picture. If you use Ibotta, Shopkicks, Checkout 51, or similar apps, the process is the same.
Ask any friends, neighbors, or coworkers you have to do this for West Middle School if they do not have any kids at home. The app is free. People buy items all the time that have Box Tops on them. Let's capture some of this money to give back to West Middle.
Box Tops for Education (continued)
The West Middle PBIS team is the receiver of the money. This team uses the money to fund monthly breakfasts for the PBIS students of the month and their families. The money is also used for weekly drawings of prizes for WEST cards. Students earn WEST cards a variety of ways. The money is also used for supplies for different games that are played at the PBIS assemblies. In other words, the more money raised through Box Tops and Hy-Vee receipts the more we can do for our students. Thanks for doing this for your children. Thanks for spreading the word to your friends, coworkers, and extended families. We truly appreciate your help.
Westside Connection 2020 Softball Season...Girls Ages 7-14
* In-person registration can be completed at any of Westside Connection's Softball Skills Clinics.
* Cost: $70 through March 27
* Any players registered after the deadline of March 27 will be charged a $5 late fee and placed on a waitlist. The waitlist does not guarantee a spot on a team.
* Westside Connection will provide each player with a jersey that will be turned in at the end of the season. Each player will need to supply their own black softball pants, greeen socks, softball glove, and molded rubber cleats.
* Players will be divided into four league divisions: 8U, 10U, 12U, and 14U. The player's age on December 31, 2019 determines the player's division.
Upcoming Events:
* Softball Skills Clinics - Westside Connection will be conducting skills clinics at West Middle on the following dates: March 1, March 8, March 15, March 22, March 29, April 5, April 19, & April 26. The pitcher and catcher clinic will start at 1:30 P.M., and the general skills clinic will run from 2-4:00 P.M. Players need to bring a glove, athletic shoes, and a water bottle.
* Softball Parent Meeting - April 8 @ West Middle 6:00 P.M.
* Coaches Clinic - April 18 at West Middle 12:30-3:00 P.M.
Travis McDermott - Advisor - westside.softballadvisor@gmail.com 712-251-9673
Laci Fries - Lead Softball Coach - 402-739-0302
Belinda Bocian - Secretary - 712-490-4103
Heather Prevail - Public Relations 307-696-9054
Jeremy Johnson - Fundraising - 402-206-5356
Paula Acero - Safety Officer - 712-204-4724
Westside Connection Youth Sports / P.O. Box 3291 / Sioux City, IA 51102 / www.scwestsideconnection.com
This material is neither endorsed nor sponsored by the Sioux City Community School District.
Climate Survey
District and School Climate Survey: Now Open
Every voice matters in Sioux City Community Schools. That’s why we need to hear from all parents and guardians. Provide feedback using our District and School Climate Survey, which is open February 4 - March 13. The survey is available in English or Spanish.
How to take the survey:
• A link will be sent to parents/guardians by email, text message, and voicemail.
• If you do not receive a link, please contact 712-224-7471 to request a link.
• Paper surveys are available for pick up at your child’s school.
• Take the survey online at your child’s school while at conferences.
The survey asks for feedback on student and academic support, safety and behavior, school leadership, and family involvement. We will use the results to better understand our students’ needs, determine our strengths, and identify opportunities for improvement.
All survey responses are strictly confidential. The District has partnered with an independent research and communications firm, K12 Insight, to administer the survey and compile the results. District employees will not know who participates or see individual responses.
If you have questions, please contact Mandie Mayo, Director of Communications, at mayoa@live.siouxcityschools.com.
La Encuesta del Ambiente Escolar y del Distrito Ahora Abierta
Cada voz importa en las Escuelas de la Comunidad de Sioux City. Es por eso que necesitamos escuchar de todos los padres y guardianes. Proporcione sus comentarios utilizando nuestra Encuesta del Ambiente Escolar y del Distrito, que estará abierta del 4 de febrero – 13 de marzo. La encuesta está disponible en inglés y español.
Como tomar la encuesta:
• Se enviará un enlace a los padres/guardianes por correo electrónico, mensaje de texto y correo de voz
• Si no recibe un enlace, comuníquese al 712-224-7471 para solicitar el enlace.
• Las encuestas en papel están disponibles y las puede recoger en la escuela de su hijo.
• Tome la encuesta en línea en la escuela de su hijo durante las conferencias.
La encuesta solicita comentarios sobre el apoyo académico y estudiantil, la seguridad y el comportamiento, el liderazgo escolar y la participación familiar. Utilizaremos los resultados para comprender mejor las necesidades de nuestros estudiantes, determinar nuestras fortalezas e identificar oportunidades de mejoría.
Todas las respuestas de la encuesta son estrictamente confidenciales. El Distrito se ha asociado con una compañía independiente de investigaciones y comunicaciones, K12 Insight, para administrar la encuesta y recopilar los resultados. Los empleados del distrito no sabrán quién participa ni verán respuestas individuales.
Si tiene alguna pregunta, comuníquese con Mandie Mayo, Directora de Comunicaciones, a mayoa@live.siouxcityschools.com.
2020 Census
2020 Census – Every Person Counts
Census Day is observed on April 1, 2020. Households begin receiving invitations to participate in the Census in mid-March. There are three ways to complete the census – online, by phone, or by mail – and the Census Bureau provides forms in 14 languages. It’s important that every household participate and that every person is counted.
What is the Census? Get the Facts.
How Census Data Is Used
The 2020 Census will determine congressional representation, inform hundreds of billions in federal funding for public programs like schools, and provide data that will impact communities for the next decade. Learn More.
Confidentiality
The answers you provide are used only to produce statistics. You are kept anonymous. The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in any way that could identify you or anyone else in your home.
Under Title 13, the Census Bureau cannot release any identifiable information about you, your home, or your business, even to law enforcement agencies. The law ensures that your private data is protected and that your answers cannot be used against you by any government agency or court. Learn More.
Census Data And The Impact on Public Schools
Public schools in Iowa will be directly impacted by the 2020 census. The 2010 census estimated there were 731,975 children in Iowa ages 0-18. Children ages 0-4 are typically undercounted, and Iowa estimates 4,726 children were not included in the census.
Iowa receives over $8 billion annually from the federal government based on population estimates from the 2010 census, including funds for Special Education Grants, the National School Breakfast & Lunch Programs, Head Start, and many other education programs vital to the success of Iowa’s children. Those 4,726 children who weren’t counted in 2010 are now in grades 6-9, and the state has lost out on millions of dollars in federal funding each year for those children’s education.
We cannot let the census become another barrier to the funding of our student’s educations. The Sioux City Community School District is asking for the help and support of all families in our district to ensure that every child is counted.
Help us make sure the students of our district receive the funding they deserve. Help us make sure all kids are counted!
Census Contact
If you have questions about the U.S. Census Bureau, contact their office directly by calling (301) 763-INFO.
Censo 2020 – Cada Persona Cuenta
El Día del Censo se celebra el 1 de abril, 2020. Los hogares comienzan a recibir invitaciones para participar en el censo a mediados de marzo. Hay tres formas de completar el censo – en línea, por teléfono, o por correo postal – y la Oficina del Censo proporciona formularios en 14 idiomas. Es importante que todos los hogares participen y que cada persona sea contada.
¿Qué es el Censo? Conoce los Hechos.
Como se Usan los Datos del Censo
El Censo 2020 determinará la representación en el Congreso, informará a cientos de miles de millones en fondos federales para programas públicos como escuelas y proporcionara datos que impactarán a las comunidades durante la próxima década. Aprenda Más.
Confidencialidad
Las respuestas que proporciona solo se utilizan para generar estadísticas. Lo mantienen en el anonimato. La Oficina del Censo no tiene permitido divulgar públicamente sus respuestas de ninguna manera que pueda identificarlo a usted u otras personas en su hogar.
Según el Titulo 13, la Oficina del Censo no puede divulgar ninguna información sobre usted, su hogar o su negocio, ni siquiera a las agencias policiales. La ley garantiza que sus datos privados estén protegidos y que sus respuestas no puedan ser utilizadas en su contra por ninguna agencia gubernamental o tribunal. Aprenda Más.
Datos del Censo y el Impacto en las Escuelas Públicas
Las escuelas públicas en Iowa se verán directamente afectadas por el censo 2020. El censo 2010 estimó que había 731,975 niños en Iowa de 0-18 años de edad. Los niños de 0-4 generalmente carecen de representación y Iowa estima que 4,726 niños no fueron incluidos en el censo.
Iowa recibe más de $ 8 mil millones anuales del gobierno federal según las estimaciones de población del censo de 2010, incluidos los fondos para Becas de Educación Especial, los Programas Nacionales de Desayuno y Almuerzo Escolar, Head Start y muchos otros programas educativos vitales para el éxito de los niños de Iowa. Esos 4,726 niños que no fueron contados en 2010 ahora están en los grados 6-9, y el estado ha perdido millones de dólares en fondos federales cada año para la educación de esos niños.
No podemos permitir que el censo se convierta en otra barrera para los fondos de la educación de nuestros estudiantes. El Distrito Escolar de la Comunidad de Sioux City está pidiendo la ayuda y el apoyo de todas las familias en nuestro distrito para asegurar que cada niño sea contado.
Ayúdenos a asegurarnos de que los estudiantes de nuestro distrito reciban los fondos que merecen. ¡Ayúdenos a asegurar que todos los niños sean contados!
Contacto del Censo
Si tiene preguntas sobre la Oficina del Censo de los EE.UU., comuníquese directamente con su oficina llamando al (301) 763-INFO.
Let's Talk
An engaged community makes our District stronger. That is why we have made it easy for you to connect with us whenever it is convenient for you. We encourage you to take advantage of Let’s Talk!, our 24/7 online submission site. Reach out with your ideas, questions, concerns, and praise. To make a submission, please visit http://www.siouxcityschools.org/lets-talk/.
Communication and Preparedness
Student and staff safety is of paramount importance in the Sioux City Community School District. For this reason, the District exercises a host of crisis prevention and planning tactics. Should an emergency occur, the school notifies you through our Blackboard phone system. In an emergency, the system calls every phone number associated with your child in order to reach you. The message will give you details about the emergency and provide directions on when/where to pick up your child if the normal school day is altered. Learn more about school safety.
Focus 2022 Strategic Plan
Non-Discrimination Statement
The Sioux City Community School District offers career and technical programs in the following areas: Business & Marketing, Family & Consumer Science, Health Science, and Industrial Arts, Technology, & PLTW.
The Sioux City Community School District is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. It is an unfair or discriminatory practice for any educational institution to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information (for employment), national origin, religion, age (for employment), disability, socioeconomic status (for programs), marital status (for programs), or veteran status (for employment) in its educational programs and its employment practices.
Inquiries or grievances, including Section 504 grievances and grievances under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, may be directed to Jen Gomez, Director of Student Services & Equity Education at 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA 51101, (712) 279-6075, gomezj2@live.siouxcityschools.com. Please see District Board policies 103 and 504.4 for additional information on available grievance procedures.
West Middle School
Principal: Scott Cole
Website: https://www.siouxcityschools.org/west-middle/
Location: 3301 West 19th Street, Sioux City, IA, USA
Phone: 712-279-6813
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scwestmiddleschool/
Twitter: @wildcatswms