Welcome Back!
Dear West Sylvan Families,
Educators are engaged in Professional Development and planning August 23rd-25th and August 28th. The campus building will be open for families again on Tuesday, August 29th, which is the first day of school for 6th Graders and new to WSMS 7th and 8th Graders only. We look forward to having ALL scholars, grades 6 - 8, together on campus on Wednesday, August 30th, as that will be the first day of school for returning 7th and 8th Graders.
For our returning families, you know that construction has been occurring all summer on half of the roof. We will not be able to welcome community members or our staff into the building until it is cleared for safety, and that will likely be the week of August 23rd.
We’ve outlined some important information below, and we will make every effort to send weekly bulletins once the school year begins, typically every Friday.
Jill Hunt, Principal
Ben Keller, Assistant Principal
SCHOOL SUPPLIES LIST
ELECTIVES
Some elective classes were added after scheduling last year, and we are still recruiting to add interested scholars to these elective classes. Arabic, Choir, and Speech & Communications still have space in our electives. Sign up here if your scholar would like one or more of these electives instead of something chosen last year.
- Exploratory Arabic & Arabic 1/2 (7th/8th Grades)
Class occurs at LHS in the morning, several days a week. Families drop off students at LHS, and a bus returns them to West Sylvan. Sign ups are available here.
Video
- Choir
Choir has returned to WSMS, thanks to several very generous private community donors! We will have three periods of Choir offered, periods 1-3 with Mr. Kaya Hellman. Kaya worked with both Beaumont Middle School and Lincoln High School last school year, and we are very excited to have Kaya joining WSMS to create Choir classes within the school day!
Sign ups are available here, and adding Choir will replace another elective.
- Mandarin 3-4
This would be a class held at LHS in the morning, and students would bus to campus for 2nd period. Mandarin 3-4 is for native speakers who can leap into a higher level of learning. If there are novice Mandarin speakers, LHS may consider offering a Mandarin 1-2 class (High School credit), if 15 or more of our students want to take the course. Sign ups are available here.
ELECTRONICS POLICY
CAFETERIA / MENUS
Students are welcome to bring their own sack lunch and are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle daily to refill throughout the school day in our water fountains. Scholars will have to pay for school lunch, and information about plans and assistance can be found by clicking the Nutrition Services button below. We have three separate lunch times, by grade level (see bell schedules here). Menu information and pricing is available here. This will be updated throughout the year. Families needing to apply for free and reduced lunch assistance can also find details on that website.
2023-24 Menu Prices (PK-8)
Breakfast: $1.60
Lunch: $3.00
Milk: $0.50
TUESDAY, AUGUST 29th ~ JUMP START DAY
The items below describe what will occur on the first days of school for 6th Graders and new to WSMS 7th/8th Graders. These items will be retaught throughout the first weeks of school.
Scholars will tour campus and learn how to find classes.
Scholars will review their schedule and learn about getting help with their schedule.
Educators will explain school systems: electronics rules, restrooms, office passes, Advisory schedule, counselor passes, passing time, school rules, and attendance.
Scholars will get help with lunch systems - learning where to eat lunch, cafeteria systems (hot lunch, table arrangements, garbage, excusal, recess areas, recess equipment, entry and exit routes).
Educators will explain individual classroom procedures.
Scholars will visit their locker assignments and practice opening their lockers.
Scholars will review their student agendas (a planner to add resources).
Scholars will establish peer connections and meet new students.
Scholars will participate in getting acquainted with activities to build a collaborative environment.
Educators will explain counseling supports and introduce the Counselors.
Educators will review bus drop-off and pick up procedures/systems (where to wait before school, parent pick-up/finding bus system, alternate bus riding communication).
7th/8th Graders' first week:
There will be a modified version of the JumpStart items for our returning 7th and 8th Graders from August 30th to September 4th to review important expectations, reissue Chromebooks, assign new lockers, and learn the schedule. More details will be shared closer to the start date.
SOCIAL WORKER SUPPORTS
Families who are in need of help accessing additional services in the community or need assistance with back-to-school items and supplies should contact Moses Weir, mweir@pps.net.
CAMPUS CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION
Construction on our partial roof replacement project will not be completed until Wednesday, August 23rd, and our building will remain closed to the public until the construction leads clear it for public access. Please do not waste a trip coming to campus prior to hearing that it has been cleared for the public.
PORTLAND INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE (PIL) YOUTH SPORTS
** After-school sports are run entirely through PIL and West Sylvan does not have any information regarding tryouts, practices, schedules, etc.
UPCOMING DATES
- Tuesday, AUG 29th: Sixth Grade FIRST DAY of school / Jump Start at 9:15AM
*also Seventh and Eighth Grade students who are new to West Sylvan - Wednesday, AUG 30th: School begins for ALL students (new and returning) at 9:15AM
- Monday, SEPT 4th: NO SCHOOL ~ Labor Day holiday
- Thursday, SEPT 21st: Back to School Night / 5:00PM - 7:00PM
