Westwood Intermediate/Middle School
February 10, 2021 - Newsletter
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Westwood families,
The chilly weather has not seemed to stop the kids at Westwood. Our kids learning at home are snuggling up while our kids learning at school are bundling up. Students often think they are tougher than the weather. Students coming to school should be prepared for waiting for the buses at their stops and possible outside recess. Guidelines for outdoor recess are listed in the Need to Know section.
Important information for families:
- No school Friday and Monday: There is no school for all students Friday, February 12 or Monday, February 15.
- Conferences: Sign ups went out last week from your child’s teacher or team of teachers. If you are unsure about conferences or did not receive the message, please connect with your child’s teacher to sign up for a time to meet.
- Transition planning days for grades 7-8, February 10-11: For students in grades 7 and 8 in the Modified Campus (hybrid) model, today and tomorrow are designated days to catch up on existing assignments as teachers and staff prepare for their return to the building next week. Students in grades 7 and 8 Extended Flexible Learning are continuing with classes.
- Next week’s Modified Campus (hybrid) schedule: For students in grades 7 and 8 Modified Campus (hybrid) model, on February 16, we return to the schedule we had in the fall. Students in group “A” will be in the building on Mondays and Thursdays. We will see group “A” for your first day back in the building on Thursday, February 18. Students in group “B” will be in the building on Tuesdays and Fridays. We will see group “B” for your first day back in the building on Tuesday, February 16. Wednesdays continue as at-home learning days.
- Requests to change learning model: We will accept any requests to shift to Modified Campus (grades 7-8) or Open Campus (grades 5-6) from Extended Flexible Learning beginning the week of February 22 for trimester 3. We’ll have more information on that next week. Families of students can request a change to Extended Flexible Learning at any point this year.
Please take five minutes to catch up on other important information in this week’s newsletter, including critical information on immunizations and a must read on parent pick up and drop off.
These are the final days of spirit wear as we join with Panthers for a Purpose in raising awareness and support for the Weekend Food Pack program. This week, we’re gearing up for the last challenge before the February 27 virtual giving event. Time to get your groove on….check out the details below.
Sincerely,
Tom Larson
Principal
Winter Weather Reminder
Make sure your child's immunization records are up-to-date by February 15
All students in Spring Lake Park Schools, both in-person and extended flexible learning (distance), must comply with Minnesota Immunization Laws. All immunizations need to be up-to-date by Monday, February 15. The original immunization deadline was February 1, 2021. If your student is not up to date by February 15, they will not be able to come to school. Minnesota School Immunization Laws require ALL students enrolled in school to be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, hepatitis B, meningitis and varicella.
The only exceptions are:
- A student has had the chickenpox virus
- Medical exemption with paperwork from your provider
- Conscientious exemption with notarized exemption form
If you believe your child's records need to be updated with proof of immunizations, please bring or send these to your school nurse or call 763-600-5304 for verification. Learn more about immunizations at SLP and find a downloadable immunization form.
Westwood Pick up and Drop off Procedures
Westwood's Scholastic Book Fair
It’s Scholastic Book Fair time! While we know nothing is better than browsing bookshelves and flipping through books, this year we have to do things a little differently. Check out our Online Fair from Feb 8 to Feb 21. All orders benefit Westwood and books are shipped to your home (free shipping with orders over $25). Also besides shopping the Scholastic store, check out the Virtual Fair for an interactive experience on the same page.
Challenge #3 - It's almost party time, February 15-24
It's time to get dancing, Panthers! With just over two weeks to go until the Panthers for a Purpose virtual giving event, we are challenging families to get their move on between February 15-24. Put on some music and show us your favorite dance moves!
Send us your videos of your family dance party to be entered in the prize drawing and to see your dance moves on the program.
As a reminder, we are in the final days of Challenge #2. There is still time to show us your Panther Pride by wearing school colors or SLP gear and submit your photos by Friday, February 12.
Please send your photos and videos to PantherFoundation@district16.org.
Learn more about the Panthers for a Purpose virtual event, which helps keep the pantry stocked, children fed and ready to learn!
Learning with Border CrosSing
Students in general music and choir courses enjoyed guest performers and clinicians last week. They participated in a Class Notes program with the performing group “Border CrosSing.”
Each year, Classical MPR reaches tens of thousands of students across Minnesota through the Class Notes Concerts program. Designed to engage and inspire students through live musical performance, these concerts help cultivate active listening skills and allow students to experience the joy of classical music. Due to current circumstances, they have adapted the concert content to provide a Virtual Class Notes Concert.
Founded in 2017, Border CrosSing envisions fundamental change in classical music culture, so that every concert, every audience, and the artists on stage truly reflect the cultural reality in which we live. Their work provides opportunities for people from different communities to understand each other in new ways through their multi-lingual Puentes concert series, educational programs in schools, and collaborations with Minnesota’s most important cultural organizations, including The Schubert Club and Minnesota Orchestra.
Grade 7-8 students were able to watch the virtual performance and had members of the group meet with them in their Webex classes on February 2, 3 and 4.
The next Westwood PTO Meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 22 at 6:30 p.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.
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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