Attendance/Athletics/Social Media/Receptionist:

Dawn Salisbury - 785-330-2229 (dawn.salisbury@usd497.org)

Administrative Assistant/Finances:

Patti Taylor - 785-330-4620 (ptaylor@usd497.org)

Registrar/Student Services Secretary:

Scott Forkenbrock - 785-330-1979 (sforkenb@usd497.org)

School Hours: M, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 8:15-2:56

School Hours: Wed - 8:15-1:52

Breakfast: 7:45

Doors Open: 8:05

Website: https://www.usd497.org/west
Location: 2700 Harvard Road, Lawrence, KS, USA
Phone: (785) 832-5500
Facebook: facebook.com/westmswarhawks
Twitter: @westwarhawks

Hello Warhawk Students and Families,

The first full week with all of our Warhawks back in the nest was really great! Students are finding their way to classes, getting used to new routines, and getting involved in activities. On behalf of the staff at West Middle School, we would like to thank all students and families who have helped us begin a productive partnership ensuring that our scholars can achieve their highest potential!

On that note, we recognize that in order to be successful in school, our scholars need support from both the home and school. We know a strong partnership with you will make a great difference in your student’s education. As partners, we share the responsibility for our student’s success and the faculty and staff here at West will do our very best to carry out our responsibilities. Ways to support and increase your child’s academic success from home include:

1. Make attendance a PRIORITY including limiting tardiness and absences. The first hour of the day is a learning experience, and tardies/absences negatively impact this. School starts promptly at 8:15. If for some reason, your student is late or absent, please contact Ms. Salisbury at 785.330.2229 or email: dawn.salisbury@usd497.org

2. Pro tip: review the Parent Portal in PowerSchool regularly to stay informed of student progress and ensure your student completes all homework assignments given by teachers. If you need help with this, please call the school between 8:30 and 2:45, or after 3:00 (to avoid busy times). We are happy to assist!

3. Touch base with your child about their daily school experiences. Inquire about any additional support they might need.

4. Set high expectations. Share your belief and expectation that they succeed in school both right now and in the future.

While it has been a great week, we know that getting back into the routine of a school year can be exhausting, but soon it will be second nature. Hopefully everyone can rest up and enjoy a relaxing weekend!

In order to preserve the learning environment and maximize academic performance and engagement at school, cell phones and any other

personal electronic communication devices not distributed by the school district should be put away and out of sight during the school day.

❖ Students are allowed to use cell phones before school, after school, and during lunch times, provided such use does not cause disruptions,

distractions, or tardiness to class.

❖ District issued iPads or other school devices are provided for all academic work that require technology during class. Therefore, cell phones or

other personal electronic devices should not be out or used during class or passing periods.

❖ If a student has a cell phone or electronic device out during the academic day (other than during lunch), they will be directed to the main office.

❖ If a student refuses to turn in an electronic device when requested by a staff member, an administrator will be called and additional

consequences may be assigned.

❖ Use of district network resources should not be considered private or confidential. The student should have no expectation of privacy when

using the district’s network.

❖ The district will not be responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged devices, nor are administrators responsible for investigating lost/stolen devices.

❖ Do not loan electronic devices to anyone. If a device is confiscated, the owner of the device and the person using it will both be assigned consequences. The device will only be returned to the owner.

1st Offense

❖ Student takes device to the office

❖ Student can pick up device after school

❖ Teachable Moment (Logged in PowerSchool by attendance secretary)

❖ No parent contact

2nd Offense

❖ Student takes device to the office

❖ Student can pick up device after school

❖ Student has a 30 minute office detention with an assigned school service e.g. refill water bottles in classrooms, pick up trash around the school

❖ Teachable Moment (Logged in Powerschool by attendance secretary)

❖ Parent contact by Attendance Secretary

3rd Offense

❖ Student takes device to the office

❖ Parent/Guardian must pick up device after school

❖ Student/Parent revisits plan-of-action

❖ This is now a recurring behavioral issue and should be logged in Powerschool using the Teachable Moment form by an administrator

❖ 30 minute detention student(s) will complete a task at the school e.g. refill water bottles in classrooms, pick up trash around the school

❖ Parent contact by Attendance Secretary

4th Offense

❖ Student takes device to the office

❖ Parent/Guardian must pick up device after school

❖ Student/Parent revisits plan-of-action

❖ This is now a recurring behavioral issue and should be logged in Powerschool using the Teachable Moment form by an administrator

❖ 30 minute detention Student(s) will complete a task at the school e.g. refill water bottles in classrooms, pick up trash around the school

❖ Parent contact by Administrator

5th and higher offenses will be dealt with on an individual basis

It is crucial that students arrive to school on time. School begins with 1st period classes. Frequent tardiness results in loss of instruction and has a negative effect on learning.

The following expectations and consequences are in place to address this.

Arriving Late at the Start of Day / 1st Period

*Tardies will start over at semester

❖ Unexcused 1st period tardy consequences are managed by the office.

❖ Unexcused tardies not excused by a parent/guardian the by 8:30 am the following school day will result in the following

consequences:

1st through 3rd Tardy

● Verbal Warning

● No parent contact

4th and 5th Tardy

● Student will have a 30 minute office detention

● Student creates a google document with at least 3 reasons why it is important to be on time.

● Teachable Moment (Logged in PowerSchool by Attendance Secretary)

● Parent contact by Attendance Secretary

6th and 7th Tardy

● PowerSchool Behavior Entry write up and a mandatory parent meeting with student and administrator.

● During the meeting student, parents, and administrator will modify the plan of action that was created by the student, so unexcused

tardies will stop.

● 30 minute detention student(s) will complete a task at the school e.g. refill water bottles in classrooms, pick up trash around the school

>7th Tardy

● This is now a recurring behavioral issue and should be logged in PowerSchool using the Teachable Moment form

● Parent contact revisit plan of action

● 30 minute detention student(s) will complete a task at the school e.g. refill water bottles in classrooms, pick up trash around the school

Arriving Late to Class (2nd through 7th Periods)

*Tardies will start over at semester

1st Tardy

● Verbal Warning

● No parent contact

2nd and 3rd Tardy

● Student will have a 20 minute teacher detention

● Student creates a google document with at least 3 reasons why it is important to be on time.

● Teachable Moment (Logged in Powerschool by classroom teacher)

● Parent Contact by classroom teacher

4th and 5th Tardy

● Student will have a 30 minute office detention

● Student creates a google document with at least 3 reasons why it is important to be on time.

● Teachable Moment (Logged in Powerschool by attendance secretary)

● Parent Contact by Attendance Secretary

6th and 7th Tardy

● PowerSchool Behavior Entry write up and a mandatory parent meeting with student and

administrator.

● During the meeting student, parents, and administrator will modify the plan of action that was

created by the student, so classroom tardies will stop.

● 30 minute detention Student(s) will complete a task at the school e.g. refill water bottles in

classrooms, pick up trash around the school

>7 Tardy

● This is now a recurring behavioral issue and should be logged in PowerSchool using the

Teachable Moment form

● Parent Contact revisit plan of action

● 30 minute detention Student(s) will complete a task at the school e.g. refill water bottles in

classrooms, pick up trash around the school

West Middle School would like to extend a warm invitation to parents/family members interested in the West Parents of Color group. We are also looking for at least two family members to attend district-level Parents of Color meetings throughout the school year to represent West. The Parents of Color Advisory Team (formerly DELTA-District Equity Leadership Team Advisory) serves in an advisory capacity to provide feedback and make recommendations to the Superintendent. This group consists of Parents of Color who serve to engage family and community members of color in working with district leadership on racial equity issues to ensure that students of all races and backgrounds achieve, succeed, and graduate future-ready.

• Picture Day: Tuesday, August 29, 2023
  

• Make Up Picture Day: October 3, 2023

• No School – Labor Day: Monday, September 4, 2023

• End of First Quarter: Thursday, October 12, 2023

• No School: October 13, 19, 20, 23, 2023

• Parent Teacher Conferences: Wednesday & Thursday, October 18-19, 2023

• Athletics - Schedules and team information
• Clubs
• Clinic and Health Information
  
• Counselors and Student Support Staff - for questions or concerns about your child’s academic success or emotional health
• Food Services, Menus, and Meal Prices
• Parents of West Warhawks (POWW) - West's amazing PTO!
• School Fees and Fee Payments
• Site Council
• Student Handbook
• Warhawks Ci3T
• WMS Mission Statement

Safety Spot with Officer Bishop

I wanted to take a quick minute to introduce myself for our new families and advise that I will be the School Resource Officer (SRO) at West Middle School for the 2023-2024 school year.

What is a School Resource Officer?

A school resource officer (SRO) is a carefully selected, specifically trained, and properly equipped law enforcement officer with sworn authority, trained in school-based law enforcement and crisis response and assigned by an employing law enforcement agency to work collaboratively with one or more schools using community-oriented policing concepts.

What is the role of a School Resource Officer?

The goals of well-founded SRO programs include providing safe learning environments in our nation’s schools, providing valuable resources to school staff members, fostering positive relationships with youth, developing strategies to resolve problems affecting youth and protecting all students, so that they can reach their fullest potentials. The National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) considers it a best practice to use a “triad concept” to define the three main roles of school resource officers: educator (i.e. guest lecturer), informal counselor/mentor, and law enforcement officer.

Food Pantry!

The first project I am working on this year is determining the need for food assistance for WMS families. If you family could use additional groceries sent home once a week with your student, please contact me.

Officer Lindsay Bishop

lbishop@usd497.org

Desk 785-330-4434

If you would need a gift idea for one of your student's teachers or a staff member please think of providing them an item off of their Amazon Wishlist! Please include a note from whom it is from so that they can send a thank you as well!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RYZJAsJ4kOiurE_6khFSeqsE_qRfg5x2ZAJ99r5QG_0/edit?usp=sharing

Chorale Auditions are Thursday, August 24th through Wednesday, August 30th before and after school. All 7th and 8th graders are eligible to audition; they can sign up for an audition time and get an information packet in the choir room any time. What is Chorale?

For any West student interested in the West Spelling Bee the study guides are available in the google classroom using the following code: https://classroom.google.com/c/NjE5MTgyODYyOTMz?cjc=iwevjbj

The Spelling Bee will be in January with the winner of the Bee moving on to the Douglas County Bee.

The Parent Project is an award winning curriculum developed over 30 years, offered to families of high-risk youth. The Parent Project was created to change destructive adolescent behavior and to meet the specific needs of parents raising strong-willed and/or out of control adolescents.

We will host The Parent Project at the Douglas County Community Corrections Building located at: 1006 New Hampshire St. Lawrence, Kansas 66044. The Parent Project is a 10 week in-person program with additional support groups (if desired by the parents).

Classes will be held every Tuesday, from 5:30-7:00p.m. starting on August 29; September 5, 12, 29, 26; October 3, 10, 17, 24; and November 7, 2023.

Attached is the referral form to complete and return to Rick West. We will accept referrals through August 29th, 2023.

If you have additional questions about the program, feel free to contact any of us Juvenile Services Officers here at Douglas County Criminal Justice Services - Youth Programs.

Robin Rooks: rrooks@douglascountyks.org

Jennifer Hylton: jhylton@douglascountyks.org

Kate Holman: kholman@douglascountyks.org

Rick West: rwest@douglascountyks.org

Missy Vongphakdy: mvongphakdy@douglascountyks.org

If you would like to donate plastic caps and/or wire hangers please drop off to Ms. Salisbury in the office. Please organize the lids into like colors. The wire hangers with the cardboard tubes across the bottom nor the ones that are coated with the plastic/rubbery coating WILL NOT work. Just the ordinary wire hangers.

Recycling at it's best!