Words from West
November / December - 2022
IMPORTANT CALENDAR DATES
November 21 - 7pm - Board of Education Meeting
November 23, 24, 25 - No school, Thanksgiving Break
November 28 - School Resumes
November 21 - December 2 - FISH Food Drive
December 1 - 7pm - 8th Grade Band Concert at the High School
December 6 - 6pm - PTO Meeting
December 6 - 7pm - 6th and 7th Grade Band Concert
December 12 - 7pm - Board of Education Meeting
December 19 - January 2 - NO SCHOOL Winter Break
January 3 - School Resumes
January 13 - Remote Learning (Half Day)
January 16 - NO SCHOOL (MLK Day)
January 23 - NO SCHOOL (Records Day)
FISH FOOD DRIVE
FISH FOOD DRIVE November 28 - December 2nd
WMS will be collecting non-perishable food and household items for those in need.
Students may drop items off anytime in room 118 (or parent may drop items off in the office with the Team number attached).
Thank you for being a generous supporter of the FISH food drive!
Examples of items:
- • stuffing mix for turkey
- • cranberry sauce
- • canned fruit
- • pancake mix
- • syrup
- • peanut butter
- • jelly
- • pudding
- • jello
- • macaroni and cheese
- • crackers
- • cake/muffin mix
- • Hamburger Helper
- • sugar
- • flour
- • cooking oil
- • canned tuna/chicken
- • canned vegetables
- • pasta
- • spaghetti sauce
- • soup
- • cookies
- • cereal
- • shampoo
- • conditioner
- • bath soap
- • deodorant
- • toothpaste
- • toothbrushes
cleaning supplies
- • dish soap
- • toilet paper
- • paper towels
- • detergent
CAFETERIA NEWS - BEGINNING WITH BREAKFAST
Attention Families…
School Breakfast… We encourage all students to eat a nutritious breakfast which will prepare them for their school day. Research shows that students who eat breakfast:
- *Score better on standardized tests.
- *Improve academic achievement
- *Have fewer health issues
- *Behave better in class
ALL STUDENTS are eligible to participate in the school breakfast program.
If you walk, take a bus or come to school by car, you may still have breakfast at school.
If you receive a free or reduced price lunch you also receive a free or reduced price breakfast.
There is no extra paper work required
- Breakfast is a bargain at $1.75
- Reduced Price Breakfast is $ .30
- Free priced students receive a free breakfast
Breakfast is served in the cafeteria
Breakfast is served from 7:52am-8:05am
LOST AND FOUND
LUNCH RECESS
- Please be sure your child is dressed appropriately for each day's weather
- All students will be going outside for the first part of their 30 minute lunch
ATHLETICS
WMS Bobcats! The Winter I sports season is underway and we are looking forward to Winter II. If you are in grade 7 or 8 and interested in Girls Competitive Cheer or Boys Basketball, tryouts are starting soon. Please see below for tryout specifics and remember every athlete MUST have a current year athletic physical (dated after 4/15/2022) to participate in tryouts.
Competitive Cheer Tryouts (WMS gym):
Wednesday 12/14/22 – 3:30 - 6:30pm with parent meeting following
Thursday 12/15/22 – 3:30 - 6:30pm
Friday 12/16/22 – 3:30 - 5pm
Tuesday 1/3/23 – First Practice 3:30pm – 6:30pm with parent meeting following
Boys Basketball Tryouts (WMS gym):
Wednesday 1/4/23 – 3:10pm – 5:00pm
Thursday 1/5/23 – 3:10pm – 5:00pm
Friday 1/6/23 – 3:10pm – 5:00pm
***REMEMBER: Athletes are required to be present at all tryout dates and MUST have a current year physical on file with our front office to participate.***
BOBCAT VIRTUAL LEARNING
If you would like to request to be placed on the waiting list to join Bobcat Virtual Learning for next semester, please contact our Counseling Office at (810) 591-7335.
The deadline to request a spot on the waiting list is Friday, December 16. Once we have all of the requests, we will work with Bobcat Virtual Learning and our Deputy Superintendent to determine if there is room for your student to move. A request does not guarantee a move.
COUNSELING CORNER
Vaping continues to be a problem across the country with middle/high school students. We wanted to provide some resources to help our families be aware of this concern.
A study released today (October 6, 2022) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 2.55 million U.S. middle and high school students reported current (past 30-day) e-cigarette use in 2022, which includes 14.1% of high school students and 3.3% of middle school students. Nearly 85% of those youth used flavored e-cigarettes and more than half used disposable e-cigarettes.
Here are some helpful resources:
Parents:
Parent Tip Sheet:
https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/documents/SGR_ECig_ParentTipsheet_508.pdf
Students:
Download the quitSTART app or signing up online or texting QUIT to 47848.
Tools for Quitting: https://teen.smokefree.gov/quit-vaping/how-to-quit-vaping
https://teen.smokefree.gov/become-smokefree/tools-for-quitting
Take Action: https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/takeaction.html
ALATEEN
Alateen is a support group to help young people affected by someone else's substance abuse. We are extremely careful to protect each other's anonymity.
Alateen members learn:
Alcoholism/addiction is a disease
They can detach themselves emotionally from the user’s problems while continuing to love the person
They are not the cause of anyone else’s drinking, drug use, or behavior
They cannot change or control anyone but themselves
They have resources with which to develop their own potential, no matter what happens at home
They can build satisfying and rewarding life experiences for themselves
If your child is affected by someone else’s drinking or substance use - we can support them. Contact Mrs. Douglas at pdouglas@gbcs.org for more information.
CITIZENSHIP RUBRIC
MINDFULNESS UPDATES
Mindfulness Lessons are in full swing at WMS!!
I am currently visiting 2nd and 3rd hours. Each lesson lasts about 20 minutes. Our topics have included what is mindfulness, paying attention to our posture, mindful listening, mindful breathing and emotions. Two mindfulness practices that you could try at home are:
- Listen to the sounds around you for 2 minutes, then notice how you feel
Mindful Breathing –
- Place your hands on your belly or chest, pay attention to your breathing noticing inhales and exhales for 2 minutes, notice how you feel
The Mindful Room is also open. It is a space where students can opt to take a break and regulate their emotions. The mindful room is open 4th, 5th, and 6th hours. When students come to the mindful room they have many choices including problem-solving with me, drawing, or moving. Students also have to opportunity to use mindfulness tools with me.
We also have been practicing the Morning Moment to PAWS at West Middle School. This is a daily announcement that begins at 8:07am. The purpose of the pause is to give students the opportunity to get themselves ready for the school day.
Each day has a different theme - P.A.W.S.:
Monday – Presence – What is present right now?
Tuesday – Attention – Where is your attention?
Wednesday – Willingness – What are you willing to do?
Thursday – Social and Self Awareness – What do you notice about yourself and others?
Friday – Classroom teacher choice
If you have questions about Mindfulness, please contact Jennifer Casper at jcasper@gbcs.org
Thank you for partnering with us by asking your student how they experience mindfulness support during the school day!
WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL - PTO
Hello Parents and Guardians,
The WMS PTO exists to support and enhance the experience of students and staff at West Middle School. We accomplish this in a variety of ways, all of which require funds!
With fundraising being limited the past few years, we are asking all parents to consider donating $20 to the PTO. With just $20 from everyone, we will be able to plan fun events for students, support teachers and staff, and meet needs as they arise. Donations can be dropped off in the form of cash or check (made out to Grand Blanc Community Schools) to the main office marked PTO or you can use the convenient school pay option and just click on the link below.
Thank you for your support of our students and staff. As always, please join us at our monthly meetings announced in the newsletter (the next one is Tuesday, December 6th at 6:00pm), or send an email to let us know how you would like to be involved.
Don Chapin, PTO President
ATTENDANCE AWARENESS
Did you know students are considered chronically absent if they miss 10% of the school year? That is only two days a month! Please let us know if you need assistance getting your child to school; we are happy to partner with you!
#SchoolEveryDay
AFTER SCHOOL SUPPORT - TUTORING
WHERE - Room 225
SPANISH LAB - VIRTUAL SUPPORT
Spanish Lab is now available to all students who would like extra help or practice in any/all levels of Spanish. It is a VIRTUAL help session that students will be able to join through the Spanish Lab Google Meet from home (Classroom Code: QGK3DZD). Mrs. Weldon will host these sessions every Tuesday evening from 7:30-8:00 PM and students are welcome to drop in at any point during this time and stay for a few minutes or the entire session for extra assistance as needed.
REMINDERS
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH - Free Meal Program Has Ended - Please Read Carefully!
** Everyone must complete the 2022-2023 online meal application, which is available on the district’s website on the Dining Service page. Paper applications are no longer available. ALL meal applications must be completed online at the link below:
https://www.gbcs.org/diningservices
If you do not qualify for free or reduced meals, you may begin depositing money into student accounts at any time to prepare for the cost of school lunches next year.
Information on meal prices for the 2022-2023 school year is as follows:
Breakfast Meal Price $1.75
Lunch Meal Price $2.75
Completing an application is the only way to be considered for free or reduced meals for the 2022-2023 school year.
Please take action now.
For assistance, please contact our Food Service Department at (810) 591-6674 or (810) 591-6928.
POSITIVITY PROJECT
During Advisory each Tuesday, students will learn about the Positivity Project.
- The Positivity Project empowers America’s youth to build strong relationships - and to understand, appreciate and exemplify the character strengths in us all.
- Throughout the next few weeks, students will explore and learn about Teamwork, Open Mindedness, Integrity, and Creativity.
Grand Blanc West Middle School
West Middle School Main Office:
Monday - Friday 7:30AM - 4:00PM
Website: https://www.gbcs.org/Domain/19
Location: 1515 Reid Road, Grand Blanc, MI, USA
Phone: 810-591-7309
Facebook: facebook.com/gbwms
Other Important Phone Numbers
ATTENDANCE HOTLINE - 591-8387
Athletics/Main Office 591-7309
Counseling Office 591-7335
Counselor (A-K) 591-7338
Counselor (L-Z) 591-7339