KSO
Some thoughts for the starting school year
Weekly Recap
This week marks the end of Quarter One. Report cards will be available in MiStar ParentConnect on November 6.
The teachers have worked diligently to create highly engaged activities for our students throughout the quarter. Be sure to view the pictures below!
As we approach October 31st, I want to share our Halloween expectations.
Halloween: Students may dress up. Here are the expectations for Tuesday, October 31st
- No masks
- No blood makeup
- No inflatables
- No wood, paper, or plastic weapons and/or look-a-likes
- Their face must be recognizable
- Students must adhere to the district dress code (nothing offensive) and the Student Code of Conduct.
Red Ribbon Week
Red Ribbon Day: We will recognize Red Ribbon Day on Monday, October 30, 2023. Students and staff will wear red on this day to show unity in being DRUG FREE.
Compassion Project - Yearlong Project
PBIS Monthly Focus
Week 4: Be Responsible on the Bus, Arrival/Dismissal
STUDENT TASK: Demonstrate positive behavior. Polite language. Follow directions.
Points Suggestions: Walking to the bus immediately after dismissal. Appropriate behavior: no yelling, or touching others.
Second Step Tie-in: Keep hands and feet to yourself, no screaming/yelling, and go directly to your destination.
Does your child need a dental checkup? The Mobile Dentist can help!
William D. Ford Career-Technical Center Field Trip
Our 8th-grade students will take a field trip to the William D. Ford Career-Technical Center on Monday, October 23. Our students will explore the extensive offerings available to them while in high school. Click the button below to access their website.
Upcoming Events
Monday, October 23:
- Career Tech Field Trip
- Board of Education meeting @ 7:00 @ the Board Office
Tuesday, October 24:
- MS Vocal Music Fall Concert @ Wayne Memorial @ 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 25:
- Basketball tryouts in the AMS Gym @ 2:45
Thursday, October 26:
- Basketball tryouts in the AMS Gym @ 2:45
Friday, October 27:
- 1/2 Day for students ~ We will run hours 1-3
- Fall Athletics Pictures from 8:00-11:00
- No Friday Detention for Tardies this week
- Teacher Records Day
Upcoming Events:
Winter Competitive Cheer Tryouts ~ November 6
No School ~ Tuesday, November 7
Picture Retakes ~ November 10
Picture Retakes are November 10
Academics, Attendance, & Extra Curriculars
Instructional Highlights
Included below are numerous pictures supporting our Read and Math 180 curriculum, Inquiry-based science instruction, small group instruction, and project-based learning.
Attendance Matters
Regular attendance is crucial for your child's academic success. Please make every effort to ensure your child attends school on time every day and stays throughout the whole day. Consistent attendance throughout the school day allows your child to engage in learning and maximize their educational opportunities fully.
Illness: If your child is not feeling well and cannot attend school, please notify us immediately. Students who are ill should not attend school to prevent the spread of illness to others.
Excused Absences: We understand that there may be instances when your child needs to be absent due to illness, medical appointments, family emergencies, or other legitimate reasons. Please notify the school in advance whenever possible to classify the absence as excused.
Unexcused Absences: Unexcused absences negatively impact your child's education. Absences without valid reasons will be considered unexcused, and appropriate actions may be taken per district policy.
Timely reporting of absences helps us maintain accurate attendance records and ensures that your child's absence is properly documented. Absences must be reported within 24 hours.
There are two convenient methods for reporting your child's absence to facilitate efficient communication and accurate attendance records.
You can notify your child's school through the dedicated attendance line. Please leave a detailed message stating your child's name, grade, and reason for absence.
You can report absences directly through MiStar, our secure online portal for student information. MiStar provides a user-friendly interface that allows you to submit absences.
Thank you for your ongoing support in creating a positive and productive learning environment for all our students.
Xello Career Planning
Mrs. Brooks and Mrs. Lentz were in classes this week working with students on career exploration. They will be in 8th grade Math classrooms the week of October 23rd. They will assist students in completing career exploration activities through Xello. Xello is a career awareness program that allows students to take an assessment that matches their careers based on their likes and interests.
Please ask your child about Xello and what careers they were matched with sometime over the next two weeks.
Weekly Perfect Attendance Plinko Winners
Great job everyone!
Assistant Principal, Mrs. Bukosky, distributing prizes
Building Substitute, Mr. Jenkins, distributing prizes
Mrs. Comerzan's Read 180 Small Group Framework
Mrs. Mehlberg's Skittle Ratios
Mrs. Mehlberg's 3rd hour class has a student apprentice, Mr. Bell, who lead a lesson this week. Mr. Bell had students use Skittles to practice forming ratios and finding equivalent ratios.
Mrs. Calleja's Read 180 Small Group Stations
Throughout the hour and week, students rotate through multiple reading and literacy stations. Here are a few examples.
Mr. Miller's Sculpture Project
Students worked on coil-building sculptures this week. Mr. Miller taught them various techniques for building and customizing their creations!
Mr. Hall's Instructional Learning Groups
Mr. Hall's 8th Grade classes were in their ILG "Instructional Leaning Groups" working on a review Metric Measurement Investigation measuring mass, length, width, volume (both regular and irregular shaped objects), surface area, doing metric conversions (mathematically), and more!
Ms. O'Connor's Euglenas Microscope Observations
In class, the seventh grade looked at Euglenas, a one-celled organism. The students are studying classifications and learning to use a microscope to make observations.
Mrs. Martiny's Drawing and Painting Pumpkin Project
Mrs. Martiny taught the students various drawing and painting techniques to create their own pumpkin. Checkout these great artists!
Jaya' Brown - 7th Grade
Nijier Townsend-Rhodes - 7th Grade
Brayden Milne - 6th Grade
Mrs. Wild's Cheek Cell Investigation
Students participated in a small group investigation lab analyzing cheek cells. Students collected data and drew conclusions based on their collective observations.
Mrs. D'Angelo's Comic Strip Drawings
Athletics & Clubs
Our soccer team competed in the city championships this week, losing to Stevenson Middle School. Great job making it to the finals!
Cross Country participated in their end-of-the-year Jamboree at Hines Park. View the great pictures below. Coach Hall and Coach Woodard were so proud of everyone!
Winter sports tryouts will begin this week! Coach Hall has distributed flyers at school for Boys Basketball tryouts. Please see the Upcoming Events section for dates, times, and locations.
All youth participants must have a physical on file to attend tryouts.
If you have any athletic-related questions, please contact Mr. Sanford.
Athletic Pictures
Fall Athletics Picture Day
Attention Bowlers!
The bowling club will begin on Wednesday, November 1st, at Town-N-Country Lanes from 3:45 PM to 5:00 PM. All students must be picked up at the bowling alley by 5:00 p.m. The cost is $5 per week and includes two games of bowling, a ball, and shoe rental. A $5 administrative fee is charged at the beginning of the season. The bowling club will meet every Wednesday through February 14th. The bowling club will not meet during scheduled school breaks. Eligible bowlers will receive a trophy at the end of the season. Please contact Mr. Mason via email with any questions at masond@wwcsd.net.
Supports & Services
Blessings in a Backpack
Blessings in a Backpack is a non-profit organization that feeds school children in the United States who currently are fed during the week on the federally funded Free and Reduced Meal Program and are at risk of going hungry on the weekends. We are currently feeding students in need of food from Hicks Elementary. This program is funded through donations and grants. It costs $140 to feed a student for the entire year through Blessings in a Backpack. See the link below for more information about donating to this program. Please indicate that you would like your donation to be applied to Wayne-Westland Community Schools so that our program receives the donation.
Learning Lab at Jefferson Barns Community Vitality Center in Norwayne
What, Who, & Where We Are: The Learning Lab is a free tutoring and academic enrichment program for all Wayne-Westland students in grades 5-12. We have been operating since January 2016, and for the past seven years, we have served hundreds of students from our community. The Learning Lab is staffed with certified Wayne-Westland teachers who will be able to assist students with their academic needs. We are located in a classroom in the Jefferson Barns Community Vitality Center at 32150 Dorsey in Westland. Enter through the main doors near the circle drive, and if you are unfamiliar with the area, there will be someone at the reception area to direct you to our location. Click the button below for details and registration.