Westwood Wire
February 8, 2021
Dear Westwood Families,
As we begin February, we are feeling the love for our students, teachers and community. Thank you all for the impact you each have on our campus life. Westwood is a very special place and it is because of each and everyone of you.
During the month of January, teachers worked with their teams to review their students' first semester performance and implemented instructional changes as needed. Our teachers are designing high quality instructional environments and we are proud of the work being done in our classrooms. Teachers have already started reviewing the MOY MAP data to determine specific student needs and will work alongside their team, Instructional Coaches and Assistant Principals to accelerate student instruction as we approach STAAR testing and final exams.
This month we are celebrating Black History Month and are already enjoying stopping to read famous quotes in the hallways. As we build strong and trusting relationships with all members of Westwood to ensure a sense of belonging and acceptance, we are adding dress up days for every Friday in February. The themes can be found below.
Please also take a moment to thank our amazing counselors. This week is National Counselor Appreciation Week and we want to spoil them because of all that they do for us. We are especially grateful for them this month!
Sincerely,
Katie Mottram
Principal
National School counselor Week!
Thank you ladies for all you do to support our students and faculty.
Brooke Scoggins
Beneia Ruttenburg
Beverly Guillory
Black History Month Celebrations
NJHS Induction Ceremony
Teacher Howl Out Award
This award will be given monthly to teachers for showing WOLF characteristics. These include being welcoming, offering opportunities, demonstrating leadership and being future focused. Your recognition and celebration of our teachers and staff is an amazing gift and if you would like to shout out a teacher or staff member who has shown WOLF characteristics towards your student please complete the form below.
Click below to nominate a teacher for the Howl Out Award!
Reminders
- Food deliveries from third parties such as Door Dash, Uber Eats, etc. are NOT accepted on campus. Lunches should only be delivered by a parent or others who are listed on the students emergency card.
- When picking up a student early for an appointment please come into the office to sign them out - we can not release a them even if you call. Early student pick up between 3:20 - 3:40 PM is not permitted.
- The middle lane in the front carpool is not to be used for pick up! Please stay in the pick up lane to the right side (closest to the building)
Important Dates:
- February 16: Early release at 1:30pm
- February 21: No school
- March 14 - 18: Spring Break
Testing Dates:
Science
7th- Unit 6 2/14/22 & 2/15/22
8th- Unit 6 and 7 2/14/22 & 2/15/22
A message from the Counselors:
7th grade Parents:
We are starting the pre-registration process for your students to choose 8th grade classes. Please use the 8th grade pre-registration resources guide to help discuss with your student what classes they want to take next year. The counselors will help students choose classes February 7-11th. Below is the schedule of when we will be in the RLA teacher’s classes. Your student will bring home a copy of the courses they chose for 8th grade after we meet with them for you to sign and return to the counseling office. Parents – if you make any changes to classes on the course card they bring home, please highlight the change, sign and return to the counseling office. Signed course cards need to be returned by Friday, February 18th. If your student is absent on the day we are in their RLA class, we will pull them the following week to help them choose their classes for 8th grade. Students will get a final opportunity to make changes to classes during course verification the last week of March.
Schedule for 7th to 8th grade pre-registration:
February 7th – Ms. Michie
February 8th – Ms. Markos (Travis)
February 9th – Ms. Powers and Ms. Durham
February 10th – Ms. Bennett
February 11th – Ms. Zutavern and Ms. Allison
8th grade parents:
The Richardson High School counselors are working with our 8th graders to finalize their 9th grade classes. They are coming to Westwood on Thursday, March 3rd (date rescheduled from 2/3/22). All 8th graders will get a copy of their 9th grade course card after they meet with their RHS counselor for parents to review and sign/return. Please check out the RHS Pre-registration site for additional information and updates. If you and your student want to review what courses they entered into their PGP, your student can log into their Naviance account to find their plan. Directions on how to log in through class link can here found on the WWJH Counselors PGPs website. 8th graders will get an additional opportunity to make changes to their 9th grade classes the end of March through course verification. The WWJH counselors will also meet in small groups with our 8th graders later this spring to finish their PGPs for 10-12th grade.
Spanish Verification of Credit (VOC) testing at WWJH on February 16th – 8:15am. This test is for 8th grade students who are native Spanish speakers who can speak, read and write in Spanish and are currently not in Spanish 2, 3 or 4. Eligible students and parents received an email from the counselors on January 28th with details about testing.
Message to current 8th grade parents and students:
Hello Future Eagles,
We are so excited to connect with you as you take steps towards creating your future. As you know, you will soon be creating your schedule for your first year of high school. We wanted to make sure that you have some important information that could help in the process.
Did you know that Richardson ISD Advanced Learning Services programs offer more than 100 courses for possible college credit while you are in high school? The State of Texas allows high school students to earn college credits hours while they are simultaneously taking high school courses for gradation credit. As a 9th grader next year, you will be eligible to take your first college courses through history with Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography, Technology with OnRamps Computer Science and math with OnRamps Algebra II.
Learn more about how to participate in college credit courses while you are in high school at https://www.smore.com/hut9r.
Thank you for collaborating with Richardson Advanced Learning Services to create your future!
Track
Track season is officially here! Please attend our parent meeting this Thursday, February 10, at 5:30 P.M. via Zoom. Expectations, practice times, and the meets schedule are some of the items that we are covering. We can not wait to see you all!
-Coach Bristow(boys) & Coach McGee(girls)
Topic: 2022 WWJH Boys/Girls Track Parent Meeting
Time: Feb 10, 2022 05:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://risd-org.zoom.us/j/81874725461?pwd=WmJxUytiU1d3VHQxUm5nQ0xJWDlGZz09
Reminder: All students attending track practices and meets must be cleared in UIL Rank One which includes a current physical by a doctor on the correct form and all online paperwork. Click on the following link for more information. https://richardsonisd.rankonesport.com/New/NewInstructionsPage.aspx
Boys and Girls Basketball
Basketball Season will come to an end this week for both 7th and 8th grade boys and girls. The 7th graders will take on West Junior High on Monday, February 7th and the 8th graders will play on Wednesday night. The boys are home and the girl’s teams will be at West JH. Games times are 6:00pm and 7:00pm for both nights.
The End-of-the-Season Tournament for 7A and 8A will begin Friday night (February 11th) and conclude on Saturday (February 12th). Seedings and locations will not be finalized until Tuesday morning for 7th grade and Thursday morning for 8th grade. The championship locations on Saturday are as follows:
7A Girls – Lake Highlands High School
7A Boys – Richardson High School
8A Girls – Berkner High School
8A Boys – Pearce High School
Game Tickets
RISD Athletic Events:
- Only clear or approved bags may be brought into Richardson ISD junior high and high school gymnasiums, fields and stadiums, per RISD clear bag guidelines.
- Backpacks are not allowed at RISD events (this includes basketball games and track meets).
- Masks are highly encouraged for indoor events
- RISD student conduct at school and district events is governed by the RISD Student Code of Conduct.
- RISD students must have school ID when attending athletic events.
RISD Academic Calendar
RISD Secondary Grade Reporting Calendar
RISD COVID-19 Pandemic Site
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Westwood Junior High Math, Science & Leadership Magnet
Email: kathryn.mottram@risd.org
Website: https://schools.risd.org/WestwoodJH
Location: 7630 Arapaho Road, Dallas, TX, USA
Phone: 469-593-3600
Facebook: facebook.com/WestWoodJH/
Twitter: @WestwoodJH_RISD