Brooks Wester Middle School
Week of August 23 - 27
Stay in Touch with Wester Middle School!
Website: https://wester.mansfieldisd.org/
Location: 1520 N. Walnut Creek Mansfield, TX 76063
Phone: 682.314.1800
Twitter: @BrooksWesterMS
Wildcats,
On Monday, we will begin to enforce the district ID protocols. All students were issued the first ID free of charge. If a student loses or forgets their ID, they will need to get a replacement from the office. Replacement ID badges are $5.00 and can be paid in cash/check at the time of issue or the fee will be added to the student account.
Lunches may not be delivered to campus by companies such as Door Dash. Parents who bring their student lunch will need to sign in through Raptor and deliver the lunch to their students in the cafeteria. We are being very cautious about handling student items, especially food. Please know that we do not have seating to accommodate parents to eat lunch with students in the cafeteria.
The building opens at 8:15 and students may go to eat breakfast, which is free for all students, or wait in the gym until the 8:35 bell rings to dismiss them to 1st period. All students should be in class by the 8:45 bell.
For parents who drop off and pickup their student, an officer will not be directing traffic on Walnut Creek by the tennis courts. An additional drive has opened on Debbie Ln. for Asa Low parents. Due to this addition, there should be reduced traffic at the tennis court entrance/exit.
Refillable water bottles are highly encouraged. Last year we had a number of bottle filling stations added to our campus. We still encourage students to bring their refillable water bottles with them.
Students new to the district can enter a request for a Chromebook by CLICKING HERE. Returning students should bring their Chromebooks with them daily. Devices will be issued on campus beginning 8/23.
Administrators and counselors are divided by student last names.
Mrs. Monajami, Assistant Principal: A - La
Mrs. Crockett, Counselor: A - La
Ms. Owens, Assistant Principal: Le - Z
Ms. Haugaard, Counselor: Le - Z
Mark Your Calendars
Meet the Teacher Night Monday, August 30, 5:30 - 7:00pm
Changing Passwords
Do you or your students need help with passwords? Password changes can now be adjusted or updated in ClassLink, both inside and outside of the district. See instructions below:
- Setting Up Recovery Questions: Both students and staff must set up recovery questions before using the Password Reset Feature.
- Changing Your Password Using Recovery Questions: Use this feature when you know your password, but want to change it.
- Using Forgot Password Feature: Use this feature when your password is unknown. Recovery questions must be setup previously and known.
MISD Updates Communicable Diseases Protocols
As Mansfield ISD prepares for the start of the 2021-22 school year, the safety and well-being of students, staff and families will remain a top priority. The district has several protocols in place to ensure buildings are safe and secure and to help mitigate the spread of communicable diseases.
Masks are optional. Students may not wear bandanas as a face covering.
The use of desk barriers will be allowed, if requested by a student.
There will be two cafeteria tables with plastic dividers per lunch for students that wish to eat with a protective barrier.
Students will have access to hand sanitizer and disinfectant to clean their desk.
With guidance from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and local health authorities, MISD has updated its health and safety protocols as it pertains to communicable diseases—including COVID-19.
Among the protocols are pre-screening measures, the regular cleaning and sanitization of common areas, efforts to increase hand washing and sanitizing, the option of wearing a face covering and more. (Please note that Gov. Greg Abbott has issued an executive order stating that public school systems cannot require students or staff to wear a mask.)
View the full list of MISD’s communicable diseases protocols here.
As a reminder to the community, there are free COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites all across Tarrant County.
MISD is continuously monitoring and assessing health information pertaining to communicable diseases. The district will also remain in ongoing conversations with state and local authorities and health experts to assess best practices moving forward.
Please Join PTA!
PTA Meetings
- Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of our meeting months, via Zoom . (Board meetings pm 6 pm and Membership meetings 6:30 pm)
- September 8
- October 13
- November 10
- February 9
- April 13
- May 11
Counselor's Corner
We had an amazing first week back, and now we are even more excited for the year ahead! Something new that we will be doing this year is going to be guidance in your classrooms. We will have our first guidance lesson at the end of the first six weeks! Remember, we are here if you need anything!
Love,
Mrs. Crockett (Last Names A-La)
Ms. Haugaard (Last Names Le-Z)Penny Swap Election Called for Nov. 2
During a called board meeting on Aug. 10, the Mansfield ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to call a Voter Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE), or Penny Swap, for Nov. 2.
With voter approval, the Penny Swap would restructure the MISD tax rate, swapping 13 pennies from the Interest and Sinking (I&S) tax rate to the Maintenance and Operations (M&O) tax rate. Doing this would allow the district to maximize state funding, bringing approximately $24.7 million in additional revenue to the district each year.
The additional revenue generated on the M&O side of the district’s budget would be used to maintain quality instruction, student programs, schools of choice, teacher salaries, and safety and security initiatives.
If passed, the total MISD tax rate would remain at $1.4183, the same total rate it is prior to the Penny Swap election. The total rate of $1.4183 with voter approval is approximately 3 cents less than the overall tax rate of $1.4464 in the 2020-21 school year.
“Compared to our surrounding districts, we bring in far less revenue per pupil. In some cases, the number is around $1,300 less per student,” said Superintendent Dr. Kimberley Cantu. “With a Penny Swap, we’ll be able to continue making Mansfield ISD a destination district committed to excellence that offers the best programs for students and retains the best educators—with no change to the current total tax rate.”
Residents are encouraged to visit www.MISDpennyswap.org for more information about the impact the Penny Swap would have on the district. The website also provides an explanation of how the Penny Swap works, lists frequently asked questions and provides a place for citizens to submit their own questions.
In addition to the website, MISD officials will hold several informational meetings that will be open to the public. As presentation schedules are finalized, meeting dates and other details will be shared with the MISD community.
Voters who reside within Mansfield ISD will see the VATRE proposition on their Nov. 2 ballot. Early voting will take place Oct. 18-29.
Bus Rider Information
The Mansfield ISD Transportation Department consists of dedicated professionals who are proud to safely transport eligible MISD students.
Before the start of school on Aug. 18, please familiarize yourself with MISD’s bus rider protocols.
MISD makes it easy for you to know which bus your child will ride through its online bus stop finder. (You can also access the link any time on the district’s homepage through the blue “Find My Bus” button.)
The finder helps you determine the school a student is eligible to attend and the available bus stops. It also provides a helpful street map. Simply enter the student's address information and click "go."
Backpacks & Lockers
For the 2021-2022 school year, we will not issue lockers to students. No lockers helps us cut down on tardies and limits congestion in the hallways. Wester will continue to allow students to carry standard-sized backpacks (no wheels) to classes to keep up with their Chromebooks and other supplies (note: backpacks are NOT limited to string-type bags). Students in athletics will be issued an athletic locker to store their athletic clothes and gear.
Dress Code
Please make sure to check out MISD Dress and Grooming Guidelines on page 44 of the MISD Student Handbook.
Student Nutrition Announcement
- FREE MEALS for ALL students will continue for the 2021-22 school year! Every MISD student is eligible for one free breakfast meal and one free lunch meal every school day.
- Click here for important information from MISD Student Nutrition.
- Click here to watch this short video from Student Nutrition.
A la carte and extra meal items will still be available for purchase.
Student Registration: Students New to MISD
Proof of Residence Required
All students are required to provide proof of residency before school starts each August. Proof of residency documents must show the student’s current address and show service dates of no earlier than May 2021 for returning students; or, service dates within the last 30 days for students new to the district. Approved proof of residency documents include: electric bill, gas bill, water bill, or lease agreement (with restrictions). Details are available on the district website at: https://www.mansfieldisd.org/departments/student-services/enrollment-registration/proof-of-residency
Proof of residency may be emailed to wester_por@misdmail.org
Student Registration: Returning Students
All students who attended Mansfield ISD in the 2020-2021 school year are highly encouraged to complete the Returning Student Online Registration and provide proof of residency prior to the start of school in order to streamline the process.
You may access the returning student online registration by logging into Family Access via the following link:
https://skywardsis.mansfieldisd.org/scripts/wsisa.dll/WService=wsEAplus/fwemnu01.w.
*Please be sure to select the RETURNING STUDENT ONLINE REGISTRATION button once logged into Family Access. (NOTE: The NEW STUDENT ONLINE ENROLLMENT is only for students who did not finish the 2020-2021 school year at ANY Mansfield ISD campus.)
For your convenience, we have posted a How To document/video and a FAQ document on the MISD Back to School website. This information can be found via the following link under Returning Student Registration: https://www.mansfieldisd.org/student-central/back-to-school.
Please contact your student’s campus office if you need your family access login/password information, password reset or have questions while completing the online registration for your returning student. You can also email MISDRegistration@misdmail.org with family access or online registration questions.
*Please note that Mansfield ISD requires all students to provide proof of residency each school year. This proof of residency is not part of the online registration. Communication was sent out via email in May with information on submitting your proof of residency via email to a campus specific POR email address. You can also find the campus POR email address via the following link: https://www.mansfieldisd.org/departments/student-services/enrollment-registration/proof-of-residency.
Immunization Information for Incoming 7th Graders
Wester Volleyball Tryouts
Student IDs
All Wester students will be required to wear a school ID while on campus. In order to follow MISD guidelines set forth for all schools, all students will be issued the first ID free of charge. If a student loses or forgets their ID, they will need to get a replacement from the office. Replacement ID badges are $5.00 and can be paid in cash/check at the time of issue or the fee will be added to the student account.
Transition from Pre-AP to Advanced
Click here to view the Pre-AP to Advanced Rebranding Presentation
Beginning in the Fall of 2021, the title of Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP) courses will change. In the 2021-2022 Course Catalog, these courses will be referred to as Advanced. For example, if a class was previously called Pre-AP Geometry, it will now be named Advanced Geometry. The change is in name only; the curriculum and related services will remain the same. The Advanced title more closely aligns course titles with the strong programming MISD already has in place and clearly identifies and defines the courses as advanced in content.
7th Grade Mathematics Only: Grade 7 Advanced Mathematics will continue to be an accelerated course where students will be expected to master both the 7th and 8th grade state standards and curriculums during the student’s 7th grade year and prior to subsequent enrollment into Algebra 1.
Should you or your student have any questions about the new course names or existing services, please contact your campus grade level counselor or the Advanced Academics Department at 817.299.4388.