The Warhawk Weekly
#WestISBest #WarhawksLEADtheWay, Volume 1, Issue 19
West Middle School - The Home of Warhawk Nation
Website: usd497.org/west
Location: 2700 Harvard Road, Lawrence, KS, USA
Phone: (785) 832-5500
Facebook: facebook.com/westmswarhawks
Twitter: @westwarhawks
From the Desk of Dr. Kempf
Hello West Families,
Preparations have started to prepare staff and the school for the return to full in-person learning. We will start full in-person five days a week for current hybrid students on March 29th. We are starting to bring classroom furniture out of storage, preparing classrooms with mitigation resources, and tweaking our schedule so we continue to operate safely. Together, we can ensure a safe school environment by continuing to follow our COVID protocol in the building and out in the community.
Another unique tool the district has developed is the COVID vaccine tracker. You can find it here: https://www.usd497.org/vaccinationdashboard. Currently, the dashboard shows that 71% of West staff has had at least the first round of the vaccine. With these numbers and continued safety precautions, we look forward to in-person learning opportunities for West Middle School students.
Best Regards,
Dr. Kempf
West Middle School is now an AVID Certified School!
Team Novaturia Claims Top Spot at Future City Regionals!
NCEES: The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing professional licensure for engineers and surveyors.
West is proud of all four teams that participated in the regional Future City competition - Hecate, Hestia, Novaturia, and Shackleton all worked incredibly hard to complete all of the pieces required to compete.
Next step:
Preparing for Nationals. These will be held virtually this year but typically it involves a weekend in Washington DC.
#WestISBest #WinnerFutureCityRegionals #OnwardtoNationals #TeamNovaturia
West Participates in Model United Nations
This week West participated in Topeka Model United Nations. Students participated Monday-Friday in different councils depending on grade. Model United Nations is an educational simulation and academic activity in which students can learn about diplomacy, international relations, and the United Nations. We are so proud of all of the hard work of our participants:
7th Grade: Kiernan Gaughan, Arianna Waller, Alex Kim, Drew Harrison, Annah Steele, Ty Douglas, Crosby King
8th Grade: Gillian Sellet, Gilly Falin, Miles Unckless, Anwen Williams, and Cayman Barnes.
Pictured are: Miles Unckless representing Brazil (top) and Gilly Falin representing Kenya (bottom).
The All-School Play, Help Desk by Don Zolidis, will be available this weekend ONLY, beginning Friday at 7:00. The show is free. Find the link at the Junior Players website: wmsjuniorplayers.com
Art Kits Ready for Pick Up - Remote Learners
Get Your Warhawk Gear!
Hello, West Families! COVID-19 may have all of us learning from a distance (whether it's 6 feet or miles apart) but it's still a great day to be a Warhawk! School spirit is one way for us all to feel a little more connected to our school community until we can be together again in person. You can get your West gear at the Warhawk Shop which is now available for browsing online! If you see a design that you like, use the order button to email me with what you'd like to buy. After receiving your order, I will reply with your order total, payment instructions, and arrange a pick up time. Get your Warhawk spirit on (even from home)!
You can browse the Warhawk Shop here: https://sites.google.com/usd497.org/warhawkshop/home
Student Successes
WMS Student Takes Top Prize for Watkins Museum Art Contest!
Aylechia Freeland (8th grade) took first place in the middle school division of the Watkins Museum 15th Amendment at 150: The Art of Voting Student Art Contest. This contest was open to students in the Lawrence and Kansas City area.
Her winning submission is featured in The Art of Voting, an exhibit at the Watkins Museum of History. This exhibit commemorates the 150th anniversary of the 15th Amendment, detailing the ongoing discussions around voter suppression in America. Congratulations to Aylechia!
https://watkinsmuseumexhibit.wixsite.com/student-art-contest
WMS 8th Grader - Model UN Winner - Best Authorship Speech
Community Resources
Mental Illness Educational Programs for Family Members
If you have a family member or close friend who deals with a mental illness, and you would love to have a better understanding of their illness so you can better relate and help them, this is your opportunity to get that education.
“Family to Family” is an educational program with 8 sessions structured to help family members understand and support their ill relative while maintaining their own well-being. The course is taught by a team of trained volunteer family members, Robin Wood, Bev Hyde, and Bill Wood, who know what it’s like to have a loved one with a mental illness in their family.
There is no cost to participate in the NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program. Classes will be held via Zoom on Saturdays from April 3 to April 24. Sessions will be held 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Please contact Bill Wood at 785-840-5889 or bdwood1956@gmail.com by March 25 to register for the class.
Quotable Notables
QOTW - Quote of the Week
"Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela
March 2021 Lunch Menu
WMS Weekly Calendar
All School Play - HELP Desk
The All-School Play, Help Desk by Don Zolidis, will be available this weekend ONLY, beginning Friday at 7:00. The show is free. Find the link at the Junior Players website: wmsjuniorplayers.com