Westwood Intermediate/Middle School
October 26, 2022 - Newsletter
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October 26, 2022 - NEWSLETTER
Westwood Families,
Welcome back from the fall break. We were able to connect with many families last week for conferences. Thank you for the conversations and for engaging in your child’s learning. There is another opportunity for conferences tomorrow, Thursday. Conferences on Thursday are virtual - over WebEx. You can sign up for a time using this link.
In grades 7 and 8, in our STEM and EPIC Game Design classes, students are learning about digital citizenship this week. Students are thinking about their digital footprint, making responsible choices when communicating online, and how to respond to a digital drama when it happens. It’s great to see the students engage in developing these important life skills.
The high school fall play opens this Friday – Peter and the Starcatcher. Check out more information in the newsletter today. It sounds like a great production for all ages and our high school theater crew is talented!
Enjoy this last full week of October!
Tom Larson
Principal
Final reminder: Review and sign Student attendance and behavior agreement
If you haven't done so already, please take a few minutes to complete your review of student behavior and attendance expectations with your student(s).
- Log in to Campus Parent Portal with your district username and password.
- Select your student in the upper right corner.
- On the main menu click on DOCUMENT.
- Locate the Parent Documents section.
- Click on the 2022-2023 Behavior and Attendance Agreement.
- Review the document with your student.
- Sign and submit.
- Repeat these steps if you have more than one student in the district.
See this video for directions on how to find and sign the agreement. If you have any questions, please reach out to your school's front office.
Upcoming 7th Grade Parent Meeting for Washington D.C. trip
Reminder, the parent meeting for the Washington D.C. trip is coming up on November 2 at 5:30 p.m. at Westwood in the Den.
Special bonus - if you sign your child up for the trip within 48 after the parent meeting, you will get $100 off of the trip! You can register your child here. If you have any questions, email Ms. Visser.
About the trip:
- When: 10/15-10/18, 2023
- Where: Washington, D.C. and surrounding sites
- Who: Students who will be in 8th grade during the 2023-2024 school year
- What: Visit numerous museums, monuments, and other historic sites
- How: Fly both ways--leave early morning 10/15 and return at night 10/18
- Why: Fantastic lifetime memories :-)
- Trip ID# 206356
Lifesaving, real-world skills in action
When Rochelle Lavalle, junior at Spring Lake Park High School, noticed a young family member choking on his food, she sprang into action using knowledge from her First Aid/CPR class.
Rochelle describes eating dinner with her family recently when her cousin, who is a toddler, started choking on his food. “I sat there for only a second, debating if I needed to help,” says Rochelle. “Then it was getting worse, so I realized I needed to step in and do something.”
First Aid/CPR teacher, Jennifer Neiss, has been working in the Spring Lake Park Opportunities in Emergency Care (OEC) program for nine years. “We as staff members and adults know from experience that there is such immense value in our OEC classes,” says Jennifer. “For students, sometimes it’s not until they are faced with a real situation outside of school that they realize how important and useful these skills really are. They can be life-changing and lifesaving.”
Industry Roundtable: Strengthening partnerships for students
More than 30 small and large business, non-profit, government and education leaders came together at Spring Lake Park High School on October 13. The conversation focused on how we can continue to strengthen partnerships and provide opportunities that benefit all students, the workforce and our community.
Community and industry partners contribute to all three career pathways offered at Spring Lake Park High School – Business and Entrepreneurship, Health and Human Services and Technology, Engineering and Design. Each pathway represents a need for future jobs. At the high school, students can pick and choose courses across pathways or go deep in one area. Several courses offer college credit opportunities.
Community and industry partners serve as guest instructors, mentors, tour hosts at their workplaces and more. They connect learning to the real world and help students gain applicable skills for their future.
Catch the opening weekend of "Peter and the Starcatcher"
It's almost showtime for "Peter and the Starcatcher!" This fall play is the prequel to the story of Peter Pan, a family-friendly show that's suitable for all ages. We hope you'll come to support and enjoy award-winning Spring Lake Park High School Theater! Performances are October 28-29 and November 4-5 and tickets are available online.
Watch the cast members rehearse the musical number "Swim On."
Adult Pickleball Open Gym
Calling Pickleball lovers! With the weather changing, it's time to continue your Pickleball season indoors. Pickleball open gym at Spring Lake Park High School is a great opportunity for adults to drop in and play with a variety of partners as they rotate in and out to mix with others of similar skill level. All levels are welcome!
Pickleball open gym takes place most Saturdays this fall, October 29-December 17 and this winter, January 29-March 19. Sign up today.
Saturday Movie Classics - Frankenstein - Saturday, October 29, 11 a.m.
Join us at the Spring Lake Park High School Fine Arts Center on Saturday, October 29 to watch a free viewing of Frankenstein (1931) on the big screen. Let us know you are coming!
Pancakes and Panther Store Sale!
All are welcome to the Sunday, October 30 Panther Pop-Up Store Sale and SLP Lions all-you-can-eat breakfast, 8 a.m. - noon at Spring Lake Park High School cafeteria. Bring the family and enjoy pancakes, French toast, sausage, scrambled eggs, juice, coffee and milk. More than 1,200 new items have arrived at the Panther Store. Check out the new gear and start your holiday shopping with a special 15% discount at the breakfast.
Scientific Method Problem Solving
Students in Mr. Rodriguez's class worked on making life boats with only paper cups and pennies. They used the scientific method and built the boats using different variables.
“Los estudiantes trabajaron en botes salvavidas con vasos de papel y peniques.
Usaron el método científico resolviendo la pregunta y usando diferentes variables.”
Transition Words
Ms. Carother's students practiced how to use transition words and placing them in a paragraph.
Ecosystems
Gold Team students took a field trip to William O'Brian State Park on Friday, October 14. The team took two hikes to observe and compare two ecosystems. Students walked and collected observations about prairie and river ecosystems. The team will re-visit the hiking adventure and share their thoughts in upcoming units in science.
Painted Essay
Ms. Fritze’s 5th grade classroom is working on a Painted Essay identifying parts of an explanatory essay. Students color red for the introduction, green for the thesis statement, yellow for point (1), and blue for point (2). This helps students know what each part of the essay is, where it is located, and what is its job. 5th graders love using crayons, colored pencils, and highlighters.
- October 26- 6th grade Fall Play Auditions - Westwood Cafeteria
- October 26 - Picture retake day
- October 27 - Fall conference - WebEx Only, sign up here
- October 28, 29 and November 4, 5 - SLPHS Fall Play - "Peter and the Starcatcher"
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