West Week in Review
January 3, 2020
Connect with us!
Please check your email weekly for our West Week in Review! Infinite Campus is now open. Also, be sure to follow us on the Boyertown Middle School West Facebook page and our Twitter/Instagram accounts @WhatsUp_West.
Upcoming dates:
January 7 Coffee with the Principal 9am in the library
January 9 Be Awesome Day
January 10 West Spelling Bee
January 10 TSA Dance 7-9 pm
Parents/Guardians of all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students are encouraged to visit West and become familiar with our programs and the teachers of their children.
Parent Conferences
Wednesday, Jan 29 5:30-8:30 PM
New Information
Homework Help
Homework Help continues to be available after school in room 86 until 3:50pm. January's dates are:
Tues. 1/7 Wed. 1/8 Thurs. 1/9
Mon. 1/13 Tues. 1/14 Wed. 1/15 Thurs. 1/16
Wed. 1/22 Thurs. 1/23
Mon. 1/27 Tues. 1/28 Thurs. 1/30
Coffee With the Principal
Our next Coffee With the Principal is scheduled for Tuesday, January 7, at 9am in the West library. Meetings are scheduled four times per year. This opportunity is open to any West guardians who wish to learn more about things going on in the school. We hope you will join us if you are able.
TSA Dance
Our next school dance is scheduled for Friday, January 10, from 7-9pm in the West cafeteria. Admission is $5. Snacks and water will also be for sale for $1 each. Proceeds from the dance will benefit the TSA Club's trip for their state competition. Students must be in attendance at school on the day of the dance in order to attend. if they are absent from school, they will not be admitted to the dance. Likewise, any students on the restricted list will not be admitted to the dance.
West Spelling Bee Buzz
Students are buzzing about the West Spelling Bee to be held on the morning of Friday, January 10. Spellers will be challenged with words like android, crescendo, and mayonnaise during the competition. The top speller will represent west at the 2020 Scripps Regional Spelling Bee.
No School – Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Holiday
There will be no school for students on Monday, January 20 due to the Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Holiday.
End of the First Semester
The first semester will end on Tuesday, January 21. On Wednesday, January 22, all students will report to their S2 classes. On this date, sixth graders will switch from science to social studies or vice-versa. Please let us know if you have questions.
Midpoint of Second Trimester
Tuesday, January 21 also marks the midway point of the second trimester. Please review grades with your child and contact us if you have questions or concerns.
Early Dismissal for Students
Students will be dismissed at 11:35 AM on Wednesday, January 29, due to afternoon staff development. There will no lunches served.
Parent-Guardian/Teacher Conferences (Wednesday, January 29)
Our second parent-guardian/teacher conference night will be held on Wednesday, January 29 from 5:30 to 8:30 PM. We will send home more information with your child soon after the winter break. Fingers crossed - we are hoping to make online sign-ups available in advance! Conferences are a good opportunity to get to know your child’s teachers and find out specifically how they are doing in class.
7th Grade Dental Examinations
In Pennsylvania all students are required to have a dental exam in grades kindergarten or first, third, and seventh. The dental exam can be completed privately or by the school. A private examination completed after September 1, 2018 will be accepted. The dental forms are available at http://www.boyertownasd.org (go to the tab labeled Parents/Community and click on forms). If your child is unable to have a private exam; a school dental exam will be offered on January 29, 2020. Please contact the nurse’s office with any questions at 610-473-3970 or email Mrs. Moser at cmoser@boyertownasd.org.
Staff Positions Available
Reminders
West Road Warriors Running Club
We are in our 10th year!
This club is funded by a grant from the Pottstown Health and Wellness Foundation, and will be run by teachers volunteering their time, knowledge, and energy.
The purpose of the club is to provide information and experience to your child in a positive, fun setting that encourages running and health. We will be participating in an 8-week training program with a goal of completing a 5-k race on March 8th –students may be in the club even if they can’t do the race.
The funding will allow for healthy snacks and training shirt. (There is a minimum attendance requirement in order to get a t-shirt.)
- The program will begin on Tuesday, January 14th and will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays through the months of January and February, ending on March 5th (with the race being on March 8th).
- Please have your son or daughter see Mrs. Gregory for a permission slip today!
Winter Sports
Winter Sports season is in full swing! Please follow this link for information on game schedules and directions to away games. https://www.boyertownasd.org/Page/1169
BASD online Community Bulletin Board
The Community Bulletin Board is a way for parents and guardians to find opportunities for their children throughout our community. For more information on activities for your children or to find out how to post an event on the Community Bulletin Board, click on the following link https://www.boyertownasd.org/Domain/1321
BASH proudly presents MAMMA MIA! (April 2-5) – Tickets Available Online Now!
Come to see the rollicking smash musical, MAMMA MIA!, at BASH on April 2, 3, 4 at 7:00 PM or on April 5 at 2:00 PM. All tickets are being sold online at www.boyertownmusic.com. You will be able to choose your own seats and see what seats are available. Conveniently pay with your credit card safely through PayPal. Purchase your tickets today before they sell out! Please do not send order forms, cash, or checks to Jeff Brunner. Any questions about the website can be directed to Chris Cinquini at ccinquini@boyertownasd.org. The ticket lobby will be open every Wednesday night beginning December 18 from 6 – 8 PM. Cash and checks will be accepted when purchasing in the lobby.
Dance Marathon is coming & we need your help!
The Dance Marathon is an annual event held at West to raise money for the American Cancer Society/Boyertown Relay for Life. Last year we raised over $37,000! This year it will be held on Friday, April 3rd from 2- 9pm. Student Council is looking for some parents that are willing to seek out donations (monetary, prizes, food) from area businesses this event. If you are interested in helping find donations, please email Mrs. Rauenzahn & Mrs. Shelly at westdancemarathon@gmail.com. If you are not able to help with this aspect, but want to get involved, we will have opportunities to donate or to volunteer to help on the day of the Dance Marathon (this will be sent out in the Spring).
Yearbook Sale
The 2019-2020 yearbook sale runs from Nov. 15- Jan. 19. Sale flyers and order envelopes were handed out Thursday, 11/14 in PM homeroom. If your child did not get one, please have him/her ask the homeroom teacher for one. There are also a few extra copies in the library. The flyer is also attached for your convenience.
Missing Forms – Please Help
If you have not returned either the Limerick Evacuation Letter or the Laptop Insurance Form. Please complete and return these forms as soon as possible. Both the Limerick Form and the Laptop Usage Fee Form is required from every student in our building. More information was provided to students the first week of school, including technology usage fee information. Please review the 1:1 Handbook carefully. The laptop participation agreement will need to be signed and returned to school. Documents can also be accessed here: https://www.boyertownasd.org/domain/1411
Meal Accounts - Important Information
Please check your child's lunch account balance at www.ezschoolpay.com. Deposits can be made online or by sending in an envelope with your child. Please be aware that if your child has received free or reduced lunch in the past, that qualification will only carry over until the beginning of October unless you have reapplied for the 2019-20 school year.
Our cafeteria staff serves breakfast from 7:15 to 7:30 AM. It is $1.55 for breakfast. The lunch price this year is $3.05 for a student meal. Students can pay in cash or with debit system. Additionally, money can be put in your child’s account at www.ezschoolpay.com. Call Mrs. Clinton, our Food Services Supervisor, with questions at (610) 369-7542.
Activity Fee
The activity fee is now due for any students participating in a winter sport or who were in a fall sport or select music group and have not yet paid the fee. The annual fee is $100 per student or a $300 cap per family. Activity fee payments can be made at www.ezschoolpay.com or can be mailed to the high school athletic office.
Pick Up / Drop Off Procedures ***
Overall, things have been going very smoothly at the drop off doors. Thank you for following the rules of no passing in the morning and careful passing in the afternoon. We have noticed in the afternoon that cars are stretched out onto Madison Street. In order to help with this situation, we will make a small change to afternoon procedures. Please continue to follow the current process when pulling in with the lead car stopping by the drop off door entrance. However, once the district vans and mini-buses have finished pulling out, a staff member will direct personal vehicles to continue around that loop to allow us to get cars off the road and load more vehicles at a time. Please wait for a staff member’s direction before pulling around the loop by the walker doors and look both ways before pulling into traffic to leave.
Transportation
In order to keep our buses on schedule, transportation is requesting that students arrive at their bus stop five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. We appreciate your help with this matter.
Bus Passes
If your child needs an emergency bus pass, it is important that they bring a note to the office in the morning. We need to contact transportation to make sure there is room on the bus. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
Attendance Procedures
A quick reminder that state law requires written notification of excuse from a parent/guardian within three days of return from absence. Please utilize the electronic options we have provided to make this as easy as possible. We greatly appreciate your cooperation. https://www.boyertownasd.org/Page/5317
Arrival / Dismissal Procedures
Please carefully review the attached map and information regarding morning drop-off procedures. Afternoon pick-up will be in the same location as drop-off. Thank you in advance for following procedures in order to keep all of our students safe! Just a reminder to stay in the line in the mornings and do not attempt to pull around vehicles in front of you.
Parking/Entry
During the School Day Due to the security system we have in place, the only doors available for public access are the front doors. Please use the spaces in front of the building when parking during the school day. When picking up or parking during extracurricular activities, you may park in the lot on the Boyertown Elementary side of the building as long as you will not be there during bus arrival and dismissal times (7-8 AM; 2:15-3:15 PM).
Raptor System - Building Security
The district has implemented the Raptor Identification System in all buildings. We will be requiring that all school visitors/volunteers provide a driver’s license or other government-issued identification card to proceed into the school. School staff will swipe the card to determine if the individual is a registered sex offender. If the system lists any offender information, the principal will intervene and the individual will not be permitted to enter the school outside of the school office area. Individuals who need to drop off or pick up materials in the school office will not be required to use the system. We thank all parents, guardians and visitors in advance for your cooperation as we implement this system.
Calendar 2019-2020
The school calendar for the current school year can be found at https://www.boyertownasd.org/Page/14#calendar9/20190914/month. Please note the dates of district testing which are listed below. Educational trips for students involved in district testing will not be approved during those times. We appreciate your help in making sure all of our students are available for the testing.
April 21 – May 2 Grades 6,7,8 PSSA ELA, PSSA Math, PSSA Science (Grade 8 only) May 12 – 13 Grade 8 Keystone Algebra I Exam (Only students in Algebra I Advanced)
Middle School to the Y
Thanks to a grant from the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation, FREE bus transportation will be provided to 6th, 7th and 8th grade students to the Boyertown YMCA. Programs such as team and individual sports, fitness and wellness classes, and electronic and board games will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All participants must be current Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA Members and registration is required. Also students must be picked up at the Boyertown Y as there is no transportation back to the school. Additionally, the YMCA offers free membership for all 7th grade students. Contact the Y for more information at (610) 369-9622.
Box Tops and Redner’s Save-a-Tape
Box Tops for Education collections will continue at Middle School West this year. Also, get the Box Tops Bonus App for your phone and help us earn even more FREE MONEY for our school! You may send Box Tops into school with your student at any time throughout the year. Reminders of important deadlines will be sent in upcoming newsletters. Thank you for all your help in making this program a success!
Redner’s Save-a-Tape receipts are also being collected and can be turned into the West office.
Boyertown Middle School West
Email: sllandis@boyertownasd.org
Website: http://www.boyertownasd.org
Location: 380 South Madison Street, Boyertown, PA, USA
Phone: 610-369-7471