Western Sky Middle School
Home of the Wildcats
Week of October 12, 2020
Dear Wildcat Families,
We hope everyone had a fun and relaxing fall break! We are very excited to announce that Western Sky Middle School has received the 2020 A+ School of Excellence Award from the Arizona Education Foundation. We are incredibly proud of our students, staff, and community that helped us earn this distinguished award. We look forward to seeing our Wildcats next week!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Garrett and Mrs. Shannon
Digital Learning Academy
Reading Module Book and Student Agenda Pick Up!
Reading Module Book and Student Agenda Pick Up
Please plan to come by our front office during the following times to pick up your child's reading module book, as well as their Student Agenda. Families with multiple children may pick up all at one time.
6th Grade
Monday, October 12th from 9:30am - 10:30am
7th Grade
Tuesday, October 13th from 9:30am - 10:30am
8th Grade
Wednesday, October 14 from 9:30am - 10:30am
6th, 7th and 8th Grade - Final Pick Up
Wednesday, October 14 from 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Free Takeout Meals for DLA
Our award-winning Food Services Department is eager to help your family access convenient and healthy meals at no cost to you. I invite you to connect with your nearest school and take advantage of the free meals available to all children age 18 and under until December 31.
RSVP for Free Takeout Meals Beginning October 1, students in our Digital Learning Academy (DLA) and any non-LESD child age 18 and under may use this link to reserve meals for pick up on Fridays. Children do not need to be present.
Place your order by 10:00 AM on Mondays to reserve a week’s worth of food for every child who will not be attending one of our schools in-person. Free takeout meals will be available after 10:00 AM on Fridays. Leave room in your refrigerator because each child will receive a gallon of milk with their weekly order. Menus are available online.
Thank you for choosing Litchfield Elementary School District!
Sincerely, Chef Ronald L. Beck II, B.S., S.N.S.
Director of Food Services
Fully funded by the USDA. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
For All Our Wildcat Families
Attendance Information
All students are expected to attend Homeroom daily. Whether students are on campus or are at home, they need to be present so that teachers can take attendance and share important information. Please remember to call the Attendance Line 623-535-6303 by 9am when your child will be coming to school late or will be absent. The Attendance Line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for you to leave a message with information about your student's absence or tardy.
We greatly appreciate your time and support with this safety matter.
School Hours
8:20 am - 8:45 am: Students Report to Homeroom
8:50 am: Homeroom Starts
3:50 am: Student Dismissal
Supervision Hours
Principal Garrett and Skylar reminding our Wildcat Families what times they should be on campus!
What to Bring to School
(Mask or Face Shield)
Water Bottle
(Drinking fountains will not be used)
Lunch
(If you are not purchasing your lunch at school)
Small Backpack with Labeled School Supplies
(Students will not be using lockers and are unable to share supplies)
Personal Items Dropped Off
Please ensure your student has everything they need for the day. We are limiting exposure for all students and staff and ask that items are not dropped off for students during the day. If there is an unforeseen situation or emergency, please contact our front office.
Lunch Times
6 Gold Team
11:14 am - 11:45 am
Students eat lunch and then have recess
6 Blue Team
11:17 am - 11:48 am
Students have recess and then eat lunch
8 Gold Team
11:49 am - 12:20 pm
Students eat lunch and then have recess
8 Blue Team
11:52 am - 12:23 pm
Students have recess and then eat lunch
7 Gold Team
12:24 pm - 12:55 pm
Students eat lunch and then have recess
7 Blue Team
12:27 pm - 12:58 pm
Students have recess and then eat lunch
Specials Times
Specials classes will be held in the classroom and/or outdoors depending on the class and lesson for the day.
8 Gold Team
9:25 am - 10:19 am
7 Blue Team
10:28 am - 11:22 am
7 Gold Team
11:30 am - 12:24 pm
8 Blue Team
12:56 pm - 1:50 pm
6 Gold Team
1:56 pm - 2:50 pm
6 Blue Team
2:56 pm - 3:50 pm
Arrival and Dismissal
Families are asked to remain in their cars during arrival and dismissal.
Students will walk on the right side of the pathways in orderly lines while physically distancing.
When students arrive on campus, no earlier than 8:20 am, they will go directly to their homeroom teacher's classroom. If they are eating breakfast, they will pick up their breakfast from the cafeteria and go directly to their homeroom teacher's classroom.
Dismissal
Students will be dismissed based on how they will be getting home: walkers, bike riders and skateboarders, car riders, and bus riders.
Safety Procedures Around Campus
- Students will remain in their homeroom cohort throughout the day.
- Hand sanitizer will be used when students enter and exit the classroom and cafeteria.
- Lockers will not be used.
- Students will keep their materials in their backpacks at their desks.
- Materials will not be shared.
- Students will move around campus in single file lines while physically distancing.
- Each classroom is equipped with a bottle of disinfectant spray for staff use, as needed.
- The campus is cleaned every night by our district staff.
- An electrostatic disinfectant sprayer is utilized nightly.
- All staff members have been trained on safety protocols regarding COVID-19.
As a district, we are going above and beyond the guidelines from health authorities, an example of this is the recent decision to bring in a partner nightly to use electrostatic disinfectant sprayers at all campuses and support buildings. This is an extra precaution beyond the day and night cleaning by our hard-working custodians that has also been enhanced substantially. In addition, we will be among the first school districts in the state to be Healthy Verify Certified, which represents an extensive process we are voluntarily pursuing to scrutinize our mitigation plan and further reduce the risk of infections transmitted at our schools and facilities.
Transportation Update
Letters from Transportation were mailed last week to eligible students about the recent changes to our transportation program.
Physical distancing will be observed on our school buses resulting in fewer students on our buses. To accommodate this change, the walking boundary has been increased from a 1.0-mile radius to a 2.0-mile radius. To assist with maintaining physical distancing on our buses, we ask families to transport their students to school when possible.
Details about transportation eligibility, bus stops, and bus times will be available on the Transportation Website. If you need additional information regarding transportation, please call (623) 535-6070.
LESD Plan for Reopening
Steps for Communication
In order to communicate with our families in the most effective manner, please follow the steps below. If you have a question or concern regarding your child’s academic and/or behavior status, as a professional courtesy, please contact the teacher prior to contacting administration to discuss the concern.
Information from Nurse Wendy
Nurse Wendy and Skylar reminding our Wildcats to keep 6 feet between one another!
ADD DLA SECTION AND INCLUDE MEAL STUFF FROM LAST SMORE
Wildcat Clubs and Organizations
Builders Club - Mrs. Grizzell and Mrs. McDaniel
Drama Club - Mrs. Farrignton
NJHS - Mrs. Reyna
Odyssey of the Mind - Mrs. Ackerman and Mrs. Barton
Recycling Rubes - Mr. Jackson
Wildcat PTA
President - Aimee Wickersham wsmsptapresident@gmail.com
Vice President - Vernae Garcia wsmsptavp@gmail.com
Treasurer - Tiffany Calpin wsmsptatreasurer@gmail.com
Secretary - Amy Manke
WILDCAT SPIRIT WEAR ON SALE
Wildcat Spirit Wear is on sale now!
Shirts are $15 cash or check and can be purchased in the front office during
office hours between 8:20am - 4:20pm
Family Resources
October
10/12 - Second Quarter Begins
10/12 - 9:30-10:30am - 6th Grade DLA Module Book and Student Agenda Pick Up
10/13 - 9:30-10:30am - 7th Grade DLA Module Book and Student Agenda Pick Up
10/13 - 6:00pm - Governing Board Meeting
10/14 - 9:30-10:30am - 8th Grade DLA Module Book and Student Agenda Pick Up
10/14 - 4:30-5:30am - ALL DLA Module Book and Student Agenda Pick Up