WEST WILDCAT NEWS
September 24, 2021
A MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL GARCIA
Tomorrow, September 25, already marks the end of our 21-22 track season--wow did that fly by! Congratulations to all of our WMS student-athletes and coaches on a successful season! Next up is Girls' Basketball for 7th and 8th graders. The first meeting for 7th and 8th grade Girls' Basketball is Monday, September 27, right after school in the gym.
This past week and throughout the next two weeks, our Mental Health and Counseling team will be providing Signs of Suicide presentations for each of our grade levels. As a parent, you did/will receive information about these presentations from your student's science teacher, as this is the class in which the presentation will take place. We started with eighth grade on 9/20, seventh grade will be the week of September 27, and sixth grade will be the week of October 4. Feel free to reach out to our WMS Counselors and Mental Health team at 720-554-5156 with any questions.
Also in the past week, we held our first round of Parent/Teacher conferences virtually on September 23. If you did not have a chance to sign up for these conferences, please make certain that you mark you calendar now for November 10, 4:00-8:00 p.m. or November 12, 8:00-a.m. - 4:00 p.m., so you can sign up for conferences on one of these two dates. Conferences on 11/10, will be conducted in-person at WMS, and conferences on 11/12 will be a mix of in-person and virtual offerings. Our staff looks forward to meeting with you to discuss your student's progress.
I would like to close by sharing my hope for this year with you. While we have returned to in-person learning, it feels different because we are different from the experiences we have brought with us. What hasn't changed, though, is the need for us--the school and the community--to work together to provide our students with the best learning experience possible. So, it is my hope that we will support one another throughout the year to ensure that our students continue to learn, grow, and enjoy their middle school years. We are in this together and we are better together!
Thank you and please take care.
WMS PTCO
Calling All Volunteers!
The PTCO needs your help! Following are open volunteer positions with their descriptions:
PTCO Executive Board Positions (Urgent Need)
· Two Co-Presidents Elect – these are both shadow positions this academic year moving to Co-Presidents in 2022-2023. Please email or call one of us for a description of duties and time commitment.
· Fundraising Co-Chair – Shares in accounting for and overseeing fund collection to support the PTCO.
PTCO General Board Committees
· 6th and 7th Grade Class Parties (these can’t happen without volunteers - One Chair and up to three positions each grade level): Oversees and works with Student Council and a Faculty representative, as well as all three grade level committees to help plan and facilitate all class parties for each grade. Works within the provided budget, assists with planning party themes, and coordinates parent and teacher volunteers.
Other committees
· Wildcat Challenge 2022: Plans and implements the fundraiser, involving volunteer coordination, organization of promotional materials, and coordination with teachers, faculty, and students.
· Cherry Creek High School Liaison
· Slating Chair and Shadow: Works to achieve a well-balanced slate of officers, representatives, and standing committee chairpersons from each feeder school.
If any of these positions sound interesting, please let us know and we can talk about responsibilities and time commitment for the position.
Thank you very much for your willingness to volunteer!
Best,
Tim Thein
303-478-5475
Christina Nathanson
847-650-3724
Wildcat Challenge
The West PTCO wants to thank all families for their support with the Wildcat Challenge! It was a huge success! We raised $72,664 (96.9% of our goal) with 97.8% of Access classes participating. The support was amazing! We want to thank all parent volunteers who came out to help support the day and interact with the students. The students had a great day outside running on the Ninja Nation Obstacle course and other events. Also, thank you to the teachers and administrators that helped set up for prize day and volunteered for the dunk tank - especially those that were in the morning!! We could not have done this without everyone's support. Thank you so much!!
WMS Spirit Wear:
For everyone that ordered spirit wear during check-in, those items will be delivered next week to your student in their Access class. Thank you for your support of WMS!
Upcoming PTCO Dates:
11/16/2021 9:30am General PTCO Meeting
1/18/2022 9:30am General PTCO Meeting
4/26/2022 9:30am General PTCO Meeting (featuring Cherry Creek High School Principal, Ryan Silva)
Please visit our website for more information: https://westmiddleschoolptco.com
WMS DEANS
DEANS' TALKS WITH STUDENTS
On September 16, 2021, our WMS Deans spoke with students in each grade level to reiterate and further explain behavioral expectations. Please see below for the information that was shared:
TikTok Bathroom Challenge - We addressed the district consequences for participating in the "Devious Licks" TikTok challenge. Students that participate in vandalism or destruction of school property are subject to suspension, restitution, potential referral to law enforcement or expulsion.
Masks - We addressed the difference between a mask violation and a non-mask violation. We included the 3-strike rule from the district which is documentation of defiance of mask wearing while at school.
Hat Game - We addressed the safety around taking others hats and chasing each other during recess, in the hallways and in classrooms which can lead to a time out in the deans.
Inappropriate Contact - We addressed the types of inappropriate contact which includes but is not limited to slapping playfully, grabbing others, playfully hitting/wrestling/fighting.
Personal Property - We are asking that students keep track of their personal property including backpacks and cell phones. We have seen an increase of students' personal property being left unsupervised at recess and during after school activities. We let students know they should not go through others' personal property without permission and should do their best to keep their personal property close by or in view.
Caught You Caring - We will be pulling our first Caught You Caring drawing on Sept 24th during student lunches. Prizes will be awarded based on the drawing. Teachers give out Caught You Caring cards for students who exemplify our core values of C.A.R.E. - Citizenship, Achievement, Respect, and Equity.
WMS PICTURE RE-TAKES
West Middle School Picture Retake Day 09/30/21
For your planning purposes, school picture re-takes will be on Thursday, September 30th.
Picture packages this year are being mailed to your home. If you have placed your order by September 10th, you will be receiving your order prior to retake day.
* For students requesting a retake, please have your student bring their picture package for return to the photographer on retake day. If you have any questions regarding retake day, please contact our photographer directly. Email address below.
If your student has been photographed. You can still place a school picture order by going to mymiddleschoolpictures.com and using your students ID number as the online code to view their proof. If your student has not yet been photographed, please wait 3 days after retake day to view and place order.
For customer inquiries, you can email: customercare@cidmphoto.com
WMS COUNSELING CORNER
Hello WMS families! We’re off to a swift start with some programming already taking place and some that is right around the corner! September marks National Suicide Awareness Month and students are receiving presentations in their classrooms to identify strategies for managing stress, how to demonstrate caring for a friend, and warning signs of depression and suicidal thoughts. Here’s a great video created by our own CCSD students about how adults at home can help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V1HSmRGMAc&t=4s
Up next, WMS students will be setting goals that are geared towards their “future self” by using a computer program called Naviance. Additionally, our 8th grade students will be completing a Career Interest Inventory in preparation for our annual tour of our new Cherry Creek Innovation Campus (CCIC) at the end of October. This helps students connect potential career options with high school coursework. Here are a couple of great examples to begin the conversation at home:
Here are a few ways to start the conversation:
- “What are you currently doing that is helping you prepare for your life after high school?”
- “Describe a time when you felt successful?”
- “Who might be able to provide encouragement when you think about options after high school?”
Thanks for a strong start to the school year!
Justin and Rebecca
WMS CLINIC CORNER
Illness at School and Decreasing the Spread: How Can you Help?
Please keep your student/s home from school if they are feeling sick.
If your student has symptoms seen with COVID-19 (regardless of their vaccination status), they should not come to school.
Symptoms of COVID-19 include ANY of the following: Feeling feverish, having chills, temperature of 100.4 F or greater, new or worsening cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, loss of taste and smell, sore throat, runny nose or congestion, muscle aches, headache, fatigue, nausea or vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
We encourage anyone with symptoms to reach out to their healthcare provider and seek out COVID testing.
No-cost COVID testing is available to anyone in the Cherry Creek community who needs a test:
· For current Cherry Creek students and staff: https://www.primarybio.com/l/cherry
· For friends, family and community members: https://www.primarybio.com/l/cdphe
The best way to prevent experiencing severe illness due to the COVID-19 virus or the upcoming seasonal flu (influenza) virus, is to get vaccinated.
COVID-19 vaccines are available throughout the Denver-Metro area: https://www.cherrycreekschools.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=13483
Seasonal Flu vaccines will be available at most sites after October 1st, but many grocery and drug stores have them available all year.
Information on COVID vaccine clinics and flu shot clinics hosted at CCSD schools will be coming out very soon! Be on the lookout for these clinic dates and time!
Below is a link to a general guide for students experiencing symptoms, when they should stay home and when they can return to school.
Please note, if your student has been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently experiencing symptoms this leads to an automatic 10-day isolation per (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nhgGIbakyAJY3XJ2TW44sw7btXXqISBR/view
WMS MATH LEAGUE
2021-2022 WMS MATH LEAGUE MEET DATES & LOCATIONS
Meets will be held on the following dates from 4:00-6:30 p.m. at the following locations:
Monday, September 27 @ Challenge Middle School
Monday, October 11 @ Campus Middle School
Monday, November 1 @ Campus Middle School
Monday, November 15 @ West Middle School
Monday, December 6 @ Smoky Hill High School (District Meet)
WMS LIBRARY CLUB
Does your student love reading and books? We invite them to join The Library Advisory Club! Students will meet with Ms. Knipp, teacher librarian, to help with book choices and possible programs for the library. Snacks provided- we hope to see you in the library after school October 6th.
WMS UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday, September 25:
District Track Meet @ Legacy Stadium, next to Fox Ridge Middle School, 8:00 a.m.
Monday, September 27:
Anime Club Rm. B-101, 3:50-4:40 pm
Math League Rm. A-107 6th grade, Rm. C-209 7th/8th grades, 3:50-4:40 pm
Girls’ Basketball-first practice at West, (7th/ 8th grade ONLY) 3:50-4:40 M-Thur.
Tuesday, September 28:
Spelling Bee Rm. B-107, 3:50-4:40 pm
Brain Bowl Rm. B-205, 3:50-4:40 pm
Soccer Club - first meeting, Gym, 3:50-4:40
Girls Who Code Rm. D-110, 3:50-4:40
Wildcat Orchestra Auditions, Rm. D-125, 3:50-4:40 pm
Wednesday, September 29:
Yearbook Club Rm. D-121, 4:00-4:40 pm
National Junior Honor Society Cafeteria, 3:50-4:40 pm
Wildcat Orchestra Auditions, Rm. D-125, 3:50-4:40 pm
NJHS Induction Ceremony WMS Gym, 6:00-7:00 pm
District P.A.S.S meeting, Eaglecrest, 6:00-7:30 pm
Thursday, September 30:
Student Picture Retake, WMS Commons, 10:30-1:30 pm
Student Council, Rm. C-108, 3:50-4:40 pm
Monday, October 4:
7th Girls’ Basketball @ Prairie Middle School
8th Girls' Basketball vs. Prairie Middle School @ West
Tuesday, October 5:
7th Girls’ Basketball @ Laredo Middle School
8th Girls' Basketball vs. Laredo Middle School @ West
Girls Who Code Rm. D-110, 3:50-4:40
Spelling Bee Rm. B-107, 3:50-4:40
Robotics Team, Rm. D-110, 3:50-4:40 pm
Jazz Band Rm. D-126, 3:50-4:40 pm
Wednesday, October 6:
Yearbook Club Rm. D-121, 4:00-4:40 pm
Robotics Team, Rm. D-110, 3:50-4:40 pm
Library Club, Design Hub, 3:50-4:40 pm
District Accountability Meeting, Instructional Support Facility, 6:30-8:00 pm
6th/7th/8th Choir Concert WMS Gym, 6:30-8:00 pm
Thursday, October 7:
WMS PASS meeting WMS Design Hub, 6:00-7:30 pm
WMS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can my student request a schedule change?
Our course schedule is based on student enrollment choices and space available. Schedule changes are rare. Adjustments are done under specific conditions and generally occur at quarter or semester breaks. There is a process through our counseling office to initiate a conversation for a schedule change. Each request is evaluated on a case by case basis.
Reasons to consider a schedule change include:
∙ The student would benefit from a class in one of our specialized programs.
∙ There is a medical issue that requires a schedule change.
∙ There is a course change initiated by the school to reduce class size or to solve a schedule conflict.
∙ There is a need to adjust academic level.
West Middle School does not grant schedule changes based on:
∙ Requests for a certain teacher
∙ Requests to be with certain students
∙ Requests to have a certain class during a certain period
∙ Requests for an off period or study hall
∙ Requests to excuse a physical education requirement
∙ Requests for class change when a disagreement arises
∙ Grades or performance in class
My student was sick and missed school. What does he/she need to do to get the missed assignments?
When your student has been or will be absent, they should contact their individual teachers for homework assignments. If your student is absent or will be absent for an extended period of time (2 days or more), contact their counselor, who can assist in getting homework from the teachers.
CHERRY CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT HAPPENINGS
CCHS Homecoming Carnival 10/08
Cherry Creek High School is hosting our Homecoming Carnival on Friday, October 8, from 5-7 pm in the Athletic Courtyard. We want to invite all of our feeder students and families to enjoy over 40 booths and activities, including several food trucks brought in for the evening. The homecoming football game will start at 7 pm. See the flyer below for more information.