Westwood Intermediate/Middle School
November 11, 2020 - Newsletter
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Westwood Families
Welcome back to winter! I think the word for this year is toggle – as we move to and from fall and winter and to and from different learning models. Toggling requires flexibility and resilience. These may be the greatest lessons we learn this year.
There’s a lot to track when learning at home – schedules for “live” learning sessions, following when and where to log on and engage. We’re working hard to make all of these things clear and easy to follow and encourage students and families to reach out if you have questions or need help. Parents, please help make sure kids are logging in for their live sessions. This is just like making sure kids get to school as if they were going into the building.
Teachers are working each day with students in small groups, with the whole class, having students work together, and providing feedback on learning. Each day – whether we are in the school building or connecting from a distance – the priority for our staff is to engage students in the learning to prepare them for their next unit and ultimately keep them on track to be successful for their next grade level.
We’re focused on learning and we also continue to track COVID-19 infection rates in Anoka County and in our district and schools. A message was shared with all Spring Lake Park Schools families on Friday about what the district is tracking and how we’re approaching decision-making. We want nothing more than to be learning at school. We also want all students, staff and families to learn safely. We are working with our regional support team to make decisions that balance health, safety and learning. Please continue to watch for updates and reach out if you have questions.
Teachers, families and students who have been doing distance learning this fall are sharing their perspectives on the experience and how it’s changed from the spring. See their story in today’s newsletter along with a special Veteran’s Day video featuring two veterans who work in Spring Lake Park Schools.
This day, Veterans Day, is a day to celebrate and honor our Veterans old and young for their willingness to serve and sacrifice for our nation. Our freedom isn’t guaranteed. It’s protected by the men and women in our Armed Services. To those who secure our way of life and to their families who have helped make their service possible – we thank you.
Tom Larson
Principal
Thank you to our Veterans
We had the opportunity to hear from two of our very own SLP Veterans. Thank you to all Veterans who have served our country.
Experiences from distance learning
There are 1,973 Spring Lake Park Schools students at all grade levels who have been learning in the SLP Extended Flexible Learning (distance learning) model this fall. There are more live interactions, creative ways to engage students and more and more personalized feedback.
COVID-19 dashboard available on the website
Spring Lake Park Schools is working with our regional support team – including public health experts from Anoka County and Minnesota Department of Health – to understand county infection rates and trends, rates within the district zip codes and impacts to our local schools. A dashboard is now available that shows county 14-day numbers, daily county infection rates and key data points from our school district. This dashboard will be updated each Friday going forward. See the dashboard. This will be updated on the 2020-2021 School Year page on the district website.
Westwood Yearbooks
Options for yearbook pictures
Grades 5 and 6: Request change in learning model by Nov. 15
We are nearing a district trimester transition. Families can request a change to your student's current learning model — to or from Modified Campus (hybrid) or Extended Flexible Learning (distance) — for the second trimester (through March 11). Please note that the Modified Campus (hybrid) model may be subject to change should the public health situation deteriorate.
Communicate your request by Sunday, November 15 to our front office by calling the main office number, 763-600-5300, or emailing fball@district16.org.
We'll review requests against current staffing plans and communicate with requesting families the week of November 30 for any transitions to begin at the start of the trimester on December 8. Please be aware that with any transition, your child would likely be learning with a different teacher and group of learners.
Music class with Luke Rivard
Luke brought a collection of instruments from the Volta Region and shared with students how the drums are made, decorated, and played. He is also taught students how the drums are played together to create polyrhythm, a musical phenomenon that is prevalent in Ewe culture.
Students participated by moving with the music and by creating and playing polyrhythmic patterns of their own.
Thanks Mr. Rivard for sharing your knowledge and skill with us!
The next Westwood PTO Meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 16 at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom.
We are looking forward to working with all of our parents and families this year to support the staff and students at Westwood.
Visit the PTO Facebook page: Westwood Intermediate and Middle School PTO
- Click here to receive email notifications about Westwood PTO.
Community Education Youth Take-Home Kits
In case you missed important information from last week's newsletter, check out the topics below and click to learn more.
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Para traducir este boletín de noticias a otro idioma, por favor presionen en cualquier lugar del boletín para abrir el boletín en un navegador web y en la parte superior de la página seleccione su idioma del menú.