Grizzly Gazette- 02/14/2022
February 13, 2022
Principal's Message
Last week we had a very special visitor at West Briar... Superintendent House! The pictured students served as WBMS Ambassadors* as they greeted him to #GrizzlyNation as he is visiting schools throughout the district. In addition to this special visit, students should have received their Cycle 4 Progress Report on Friday. However, note that most up-to-date grades can be found in Power School. Our basketball teams finished their regular scheduled games this week, with 8th grade boys being so close to becoming District Champs- but all are finishing extremely strong and we are proud of them all! Our Dance Company preformed in a district contest Saturday, and soccer, softball, and baseball have officially started.
With Valentines Day Monday, we're working to spread kindness and love throughout campus! See flyer below for details, but students can wear a red or pink top on Monday.
Calendar Updates
- Feb 14- Valentines Day- wear red/pink tops (see flyer below)
- Feb 17- Random Acts of Kindness (#RAK) Nat'l Day 2022 (see flyer below)
- Feb 18 - WBMS Spirit Skate PTO Fundraiser (flyer below)
- Feb 21- Staff PD Day (no school for students)
- Feb 21- #BLM Spirit Week (details TBA)
- Feb 23- Westside HS Course Selection Visit (8th grade)
- Mar 1- 8th grade NAEP** testing
*Students pictured- 8th graders- Elena Bounds, Maria Campos, Olivia Roy, Syna Nijhawan, Cordel Bonney, Riggs McCay, & 6th grader- Humza Javaid.
**NAEP = West Briar MS was randomly selected to participation in: The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is a congressionally mandated national student achievement test given to 8th grade students. Students will receive a letter explaining what this test is. In the meantime, more information can be found here: NAEP: Nation's Report Card- Parents/Guardians.
Around Campus this past week...
Yearbooks on Sale
The 2021-2022 West Briar MS Yearbook is officially on sale! Use the digital link below to go to Jostens West Briar Yearbook page. Click on "Order my yearbooks." Cost: $30
Middle Schoolers & Social Media
Middle School students and Social Media has created quite a few conflicts at West Briar and even disrupted the safety of our students, staff, and parents most recently. We hope to continue to explain to our students how they are working to create their personal digital footprint in every action they take online. Please encourage this conversation at home, monitor their social media usage (and whether they have accounts you aren't aware of), foster conversations of the positive impact they have the opportunity to make.
Here are some resources to help this conversation:
- WBMS Cyber-Safety Page
- TEDX- What do you want your digital footprints to say about you?
- For example, there are ways to support Mental Health- both online & offline & I'm sure you'll find something on this YouTube Parent Guide that could be helpful.
Let's work together to support #GrizzlyValues!
COVID-19 PCR Testing at West Briar- Every Thursday
Free PCR COVID-19 Testing for West Briar students & staff are being held on campus- every Thursday.
This testing program is completely voluntary and requires the student's parent/guardian to first provide one-time consent by completing a digital consent form available at our school website and here:
One-Time Consent: https://bit.ly/HISDC19Test
Important Notes about this testing:
- If your student is on the registration list, they will be called down to test.
- When called down, students can refuse to be tested if you do not want them to be.
- If a parent would like their student to be removed from the list they must remove their consent altogether.
- Fulgent (Testing Program) contact information to remove consent:
- Phone-346-803-5828, option 1
- Email- backtoschool@fulgentgenetics.com
ATTN: Future Westside HS 8th graders- WEGA Club Information below:
HISD Ready-Set-Go Plan Updates 01/2022
Houston ISD's Plan for Return to In-Person Learning- the Ready-Set-Go COVID-19 Updates document has been updated as of 01/06/2022. Aligning with public health guidelines and to help ensure safety with new variants, HISD has implemented the following updates:
- Masks are still mandatory in all HISD facilities and transportation.
- This includes essential visitors.
- Free PCR Covid-19 Testing on HISD Campuses.
- Vaccination efforts across the district.
- Athletic & UIL Competitions and performance filed trips- Allowed.
- All other field trips- Not Allowed.
- In-person gatherings, meetings, and events- suspended.
- (Athletics games are still allowed.)
Grizzlies Engaging Thoughts (GET)
**Calling all WBMS Student Writers: Any students interested in contributing to the GET column of our newsletter, can email their submission directly to Dr. Mishlan (lea.mishlan@houstonisd.org). Entries submitted by Friday can be used for the following week.
- Topics include: positive messages, encouraging thoughts/stories, student interests, poems, creative writing.
West Briar MS