Westwood Intermediate/Middle School
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December 14, 2022 - NEWSLETTER
Westwood Families,
Trimester 2 is in the second week already. Just the other day, a student was talking with me about staying up-to-date on assignments. This is a good reminder that as parents/guardians, you can follow along with the learning on Schoology. We’ve included instructions for accessing Schoology in today’s newsletter.
We’re focused on our next steps in learning with a little over a week to go before winter break. Please make sure your plans keep students in school and engaged in learning until the break begins on Friday, Dec. 23. Attendance is critical to student progress.
If your student does need to absent, please call the attendance line, 763-600-5309, to report absences and avoid unexcused absences. Students can accumulate unexcused absences if they miss one course period. Every four tardies counts also counts as an unexcused absence day. Please be sure you are talking with your child about the importance of being in every class and being on time to class.
Spring Lake Park High School counselors hosted the first “Let’s Talk: Career, College and Life” session for families on Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m. These are informal opportunities to connect with high school counselors to help prepare you and your student prepare for the high school experience and beyond. All sessions are open conversations for questions about whatever topics people want to discuss. Sign up for an upcoming session on this registration form.
Next week Westwood will have school spirit days:
- Monday – comfy/cozy day
- Tuesday –
- Grades 7/8 - team color day
- Grades 5/6 - mismatch day
- Wednesday – sweater day
- Thursday – SLP spirit/color day
On Thursday, the day before winter break begins, we will have an intermediate school assembly and a middle school assembly with fun, games, awards, and a rock paper scissors contest. We are looking forward to the celebration.
Have a great week,
Tom Larson
Principal
Parent and guardian access to learning: How to log in to Schoology
As we start Trimester 2, we want to remind families that Spring Lake Park Schools students in grades 3-12 use Schoology for their learning. Parents/guardians can also access these platforms and follow along with what their children are learning in school. Once a parent or guardian logs on, if you're not sure what you're looking at or where to find something, ask your student to give you a tour!
Schoology - grades 3-12
Schoology is our primary learning management system for students grades 3-12. Schoology embeds course content, videos, assignments, quizzes, links and more. Parents/guardians can access Schoology and have total visibility into what their children are learning at school.
- If you are logging into Schoology from a computer, use this link. Watch this video to learn more.
- If you are logging into Schoology from the app, make sure to select Log In through your School and type in Spring Lake Park Schools. Watch this video to learn more.
- Check your parent settings and preferences for the year to receive Schoology updates. Watch this video to learn more.
Find more information on Schoology, parent password instructions, and so many more tips and video tutorials about our technology tools on the Technology Tools, Resources and Log Ins page.
Creating Conditions to Learn
Second graders sit in a circle on the music room floor. There’s excited chatter, the volume rising. Today, they are creating sound effects. The teacher raises her hand with all five fingers extended. Without saying a word, she is asking them to “give her five,” – eyes on speaker, quiet voices, ears listening, hands free, body still. Slowly, the kids’ hands go up in response. The room grows quiet.
“Give me five” is one common strategy Spring Lake Park Schools teachers are using across all grade levels to quietly and calmly gain student attention. It’s one of several strategies for creating a learner centered environment staff have focused on this school year to support student learning and engagement.
“We’ve gathered a set of common strategies to support all aspects of a student’s development and create safe, positive and welcoming learning environments,” says Kaline Sandven Marinello, director of special education and student services. “Kids need these things in order to learn and we want to support teachers in consistently creating these conditions for learning across our schools and grade levels.”
Art Adventure Volunteers Needed!
PTO is hoping to bring back Art Adventure to 5th & 6th grade this year in partnership with the art teacher. Seven to nine volunteers are needed in March. No art knowledge is needed! This year's theme is Family, Friends, and Communities.
- Plan to spend 6-10 hours volunteering with different classes during school hours (8:40 a.m.- 3:15 p.m.). Sign-up for which time you will attend. Band can be used on a browser or download the app on your phone. Use the QR code to access the art adventure group.
- Virtual training from the Minneapolis Institute of Art is called "4th grade and older." Instructions on how to sign up for their training is available in our Band group. If you need any help getting on Band or want to let us know your interest by email, please click here.
Current Virtual Training Dates:
- Wednesday, January 4 - 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
- Thursday, January 5 - 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, January 17 - 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
- Thursday, January 19 - 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, January 31 - 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
- Thursday, February 2 - 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, February 28 - 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
- Thursday, March 2 - 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Volunteers have the opportunity to go for a free tour to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts on January 18 or February 15 at 10 a.m.
Earth's Tectonic Plates
6th grade science students used graham crackers, fruit roll-ups and frosting to model the movement of Earth’s tectonic plates. To better understand why some areas of the world experience more earthquakes, students investigated what happens at divergent, convergent and transform plate boundaries.
Practical Math Skills
On December 9, students participated in a service-learning project! Mrs. Becklund's parents came to school, and her class got crafty! Each student made a hat and scarf to keep, and a hat to be donated. These hats are being donated to multiple places in the SLP community. Along with each hat that was donated, students made homemade cards to go along with the donation. This opportunity allows us to use practical math skills, and also lets us make an impact in our community!
- Thursday, December 15 - Staff office hours, 3-5 p.m.
- Thursday, December 15 – Grade 6 Band Concert - FAC
- Tuesday, December 20 – Grade 7/8 Choir Concert
- Wednesday, December 21 – Grade 5 Choir Concert
- December 23-January 2 – Winter Break, no school
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