West Week in Review
October 18, 2019
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:
Picture Retake Day October 22
Early Dismissal/Professional Development October 23 at 11:35am
PAYS Survey (grades 6 & 8) October 25
Run, Hide, Fight Drill October 25
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, Nov 20 5:30-8:30 PM
Monday, Nov 25 1:00-3:00 PM
Tuesday, Nov 26 1:00-3:00 PM
Wednesday, Jan 29 5:30-8:30 PM
Upcoming Meeting Hosted at West
New Information
Security Drills
Our next security drill is scheduled for October 25. On this date, we will practice our combined "run, hide, fight" procedures. These procedures would be utilized in the unlikely event that there was an intruder in the school. Previously, we practiced the “run” and "hide" procedures separately. In collaboration with LARGO Consulting Services, our security consultants, we have been advised to teach and practice barricading/blockading the classroom doors. Teachers will review procedures with their class in a calm and age-appropriate fashion prior to the drill. As we do not want to frighten the students, we make students aware a drill is taking place. We want to communicate our safety procedures to staff and students and have them practice the drill together. We will then gather feedback to make sure we have the most effective procedures in place as we continue to work with Homeland Security, The Pennsylvania State Police, local police departments, emergency service organizations, and the Berks County Intermediate Unit that assisted in the development of the county-wide all hazards plan. Please contact me with any questions you may have.
Preston’s Little Lending Library – Thank You!
Thanks for your donations of new or gently used children’s books. The books will be used to restock the little lending library at Ironstone Park, with any additional donations being used to build classroom libraries at Pine Forge Elementary School.
Foundation for Boyertown Education Thank You!
On behalf of the Foundation for Boyertown Education, thank you for your donations and participation in the annual golf outing and the “Amazing Raise” day this week. Your donations allow the Foundation to assist our students in ways that would not otherwise be possible. Thanks again for your generosity!
Winter Sports Meetings
On Thursday, October 17, the winter sports coaches held an informational meeting for all prospective team members during period 10. At the meeting, coaches gave out the letter for the parents/guardians about when winter sports start, where to download the physical forms and what forms need to be returned to school. If your child misses the meeting, he/she should see Mr. Bieber in room 94 to pick up the documents. The documents are also available on our website. The sports offered in the winter season are listed below:
Boys Basketball – 7th, 8th Grades Girls Basketball – 7th, 8th Grades
Wrestling – 7th, 8th Grades Competitive Spirit (Cheering) – 7th, 8th Grades
Winter Sports Registration Packets
Registration packets for all winter sports at BASH, MS East, & MS West are now available on the following website: https://www.boyertownasd.org/Page/1284
**PLEASE NOTE, CHEERLEADERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE FALL MUST COMPLETE THE PARENT RECERTIFICATION PAPERWORK! WINTER CHEER IS CONSIDERED A SEPARATE SEASON**
Due Date for all forms:
- Senior High (grades 9-12) - Nov. 1, 2019
- Middle School (grades 7-8) - Nov. 6, 2019
Forms can be submitted in the following ways:
•In person to the Athletic office at Boyertown Senior High between the hours of 8am – 2pm.
•Via email to : Karen Girton – kgirton@boyertownasd.org
•Fax – 610-473-5444 (please call to confirm receipt)
•Mail: Boyertown Athletic Office 120 N. Monroe St. Boyertown, PA 19512
If you have any questions, please give the athletic office a call at 610-369-7452.
Reminders
PAYS Survey (Friday, October 25) – Opt out requests due by October 18
Our school is taking part in the voluntary 2019 Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) sponsored by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. The survey will ask very direct questions about the behaviors of students in the 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grades, including questions about school climate, violence, depression, bullying, and substance abuse. The information we receive will assist us and our community partners in working to prevent adolescent drug use and other problem behaviors. Participation is voluntary. If you do not want your student to participate in the survey, please return the bottom portion of the attached letter to the main office. The due date for return is Friday, October 18. The bottom portion is returned only if you do not want your student to participate. Email or call the West office with questions.
Temporary Changes in the West Counseling Office
For the next few weeks, Mrs. Turnbull will be helping to fill a counseling need at one of our elementary schools. From October 7 through November 4, Mrs. Turnbull's eighth grade students will be supported by our other West counselors. Families on the 8th grade Freedom team will be served by Mrs. Jones (ljones@boyertownasd.org) and our Liberty team will be served by Mrs. Tyler (ttyler@boyertownasd.org). Sixth and seventh grade counselor assignments remain unchanged.
Homework Help
Homework Help will again be available after school until 3:50pm. Students who are falling behind in their work may be recommended or students may voluntarily sign up to participate. Homework Help is monitored by a West teacher. The October dates are as follows:
10/21 10/22
10/28 10/29 10/30
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
Student IDs and Pictures
Students received their picture packets this week. If you are unhappy with the portrait or your student was absent on picture day, our retake day is Tuesday, October 22.
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 past due for any students participating in a fall sport or select music group. 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.
Fall Sports
The fall sports schedules are listed on the Athletic page on the district’s website along with directions to away games. The link is https://www.boyertownasd.org/Page/1285. Please note that sports schedules are subject to change during the season and the most up-to-date schedules can be found for senior high at www.boyertownathletics.com; MS East at www.boyertowneastathletics.com; and MS West at www.boyertownwestathletics.com.
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.
Dec. 4-5 Grade 8 Keystone Algebra I Exam (Only students in Advanced Geometry) 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 (Transportation Starts September 17)
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