Westwood Intermediate/Middle School
September 9, 2020 Newsletter
See translation information below / Consulte la información de traducción a continuación.
Westwood Families
The start of the school year is here. Many hours of planning have gone into the design of this school year. The staff have been busy putting together the first set of learning units. And, we are working to ensure the safety of students and will be teaching new routines to those students coming to school in the coming days.
Meet and Greet videos have been sent to all students in their email and are posted in Schoology. Please be sure to connect and watch these.
Grade 5 and Grade 7 students attending in the Modified Campus Schedule (Hybrid) model will have their first, full days at school on Thursday, September 10 or Friday, September 11:
- Group A (last names A-L) will come to school September 10
- Group B (last names M-Z) will come to school September 11
- New students in grades 6 and 8 will have a scheduled time to come in for an orientation on Sept. 10 or 11. Counselors have reached out to families to schedule the time.
Grade 6 and Grade 8 students in the Modified Campus Schedule (Hybrid) model will have “live” online sessions to meet with their teacher and connect with their classmates. The live online sessions will be communicated in the videos and links in Schoology for students. The live sessions are scheduled on:
- Grade 6 – Group A (last names A-L) Thursday, Sept. 10:
- Ms. Golanowski at 10 a.m. https://bit.ly/35eka2F
Ms. Olson at 10 a.m. https://bit.ly/35eka2F
Mr. Cox at 10:30 a.m. https://springlakeparkschools.webex.com/meet/dcox
Ms. Allen at 9:30 a.m. https://springlakeparkschools.webex.com/meet/rallen
Ms. Pena-Kennedy at 9 a.m. Schoology conference - Homeroom
Ms. Linden at 9 a.m. Ms. Linden will email link to students and post in Schoology
- Grade 6 – Group B (last names M-Z) Friday, Sept. 11:
- Mr. Sowards at 10 a.m. rb.gy/uuiism
- Ms. Pickens at 10 a.m. rb.gy/uuiism
- Ms. Becklund at 9:30 a.m. https://springlakeparkschools.webex.com/meet/lbeckl
- Ms. Nelson at 10:30 a.m. https://springlakeparkschools.webex.com/meet/knelso
- Ms. Rivera at 9 a.m. Schoology conference - Homeroom
- Ms. Dohmen at 9 a.m. Ms. Dohmen will email link to students and post in Schoology
- Grade 8 – Group A (last names A-L) Thursday, Sept. 10
- Blue Team at 10 a.m. https://springlakeparkschools.webex.com/meet/kpowel
- Green Team at 9:30 a.m. https://springlakeparkschools.webex.com/meet/dmuehe
- Purple Team at 10 a.m. https://springlakeparkschools.webex.com/meet/eweber
- Grade 8 – Group B (last name M-Z) Friday, Sept. 11
- Blue Team at 10 a.m. https://springlakeparkschools.webex.com/meet/kpowel
- Green Team at 9:30 a.m. https://springlakeparkschools.webex.com/meet/dmuehe
- Purple Team at 10 a.m. https://springlakeparkschools.webex.com/meet/eweber
Grade 5-8 students attending in the Extended Flexible Learning (Distance Learning) model, will have online meet and greets and other orientation activities on Sept. 10 and Sept. 11. Please refer to communication from your teacher for more information. If you need assistance, contact your child’s teacher or Tyler Nelson for grades 5 and 6 and Angie Shea for grades 7 and 8. Tyler and Angie will be providing administrative support to our Extended Flexible Learning families. Look for updates from them in the newsletter each week going forward.
For students in our Extended Flexible Learning (Distance Learning) model, there are “live” sessions scheduled in Schoology to meet with their teacher and connect with their classmates on:
- Grade 5:
- Ms. Fritze on Thursday and Friday at 10 a.m. https://springlakeparkschools.webex.com/meet/kfritz
- Ms. Rosales on Thursday and Friday at 10 a.m. https://springlakeparkschools.webex.com/meet/rrosal
- Mr. Fields on Thursday and Friday at 10 a.m. https://springlakeparkschools.webex.com/meet/tfield
- Ms. Fields on Thursday and Friday at 10 a.m. https://springlakeparkschools.webex.com/meet/nfield
- Ms. Hayle on Thursday at 9 a.m. https://springlakeparkschools.webex.com/meet/jhayle
- Grade 6:
- Mr. Dubay on Thursday and Friday at 10 a.m. https://springlakeparkschools.webex.com/meet/jdubay
- Mr. Schneider on Thursday and Friday at 10 a.m. https://springlakeparkschools.webex.com/meet/rschne
- Ms. Danley on Thursday and Friday at 10 a.m. https://springlakeparkschools.webex.com/meet/jdanle
- Ms. Muehe on Thursday and Friday at 10 a.m. https://springlakeparkschools.webex.com/meet/amuehe
- Ms. Wurzinger on Thursday at 10 a.m. https://springlakeparkschools.webex.com/meet/awurzi
- Grade 7: EFL Grade 7 team will be on Friday at 10 a.m. https://springlakeparkschools.webex.com/meet/rbackm
- Grade 8: EFL Grade 8 team will meet on Friday at 10 a.m. https://springlakeparkschools.webex.com/meet/rcrimm
I am sure the kids are set, excited and ready for school. For anyone coming to the school building, please remember face masks are required in school and for riding the buses.
It seems like the first day of school all over again for my oldest child as she graduated from college and now has her first class of kindergarteners. We didn’t have to see her off on the bus, but she did text us with her first day of school outfit. The first day of school is still exciting for me, and I am eager to see the kids – whether it’s online or at Westwood. We are ready for the year to begin.
Tom Larson
Principal
Welcome to the 2020-2021 School Year
Taking and Tracking Attendance
This fall, we will be taking attendance in our different learning models following guidance from Minnesota Department of Education.
Modified Campus Schedules (Hybrid Learning) for Grades 5-6
For students in grades 5-6 who are participating in the modified campus schedules, attendance will be taken in the following ways:
- On "learning at school" days, attendance will be taken based on a student's presence at school
- On "interactive learning at home" days, attendance will be taken based on student attendance in the "live" sessions for the day
- On the "on-demand learning at home" day (Wednesday), attendance will be taken based on students posting completed work for that day as assigned.
Extended Flexible Learning (Distance Learning) for Grades 5-6
For 5-6 students who are participating in full-time extended flexible learning, attendance will be taken and recorded at the end of each day based on student attendance in the "live" sessions for the day.
Modified Campus Schedules (Hybrid Learning) for Grades 7-8
For Grade 7-8 students who are participating in the modified campus schedules, attendance will be taken in the following ways:
- On "learning at school" days, attendance will be taken based on a student's presence at school for each period.
- On "learning at home" days, attendance will be taken based on students posting completed work for each period as assigned
Extended Flexible Learning (Distance Learning) for Grades 7-8
For Grade 7-8 students who are participating in full-time extended flexible learning, attendance will be taken and recorded at the end of each period based on student attendance in the "live" session for the period.
Parents are asked to call the attendance line at 763-600-5309 to report a student absence when a student is too ill to attend school in person, and/or participate in "live" sessions, and/or complete daily work expectations. Parents should also call the attendance line if a student will miss instruction for other reasons, including vacations, appointments, etc.
If students in either learning model are experiencing frequent absences, students and families will have follow-up conversations with school staff to identify and resolve access concerns or other barriers to participating in instruction.
School meals this fall
Students need access to nutritious meals in order to learn well. Spring Lake Park Schools' Nutrition Services Department continues to participate in the USDA Summer Food Service Program which has now been extended through December 31, 2020 for as long as federal funds are available. Through this program, breakfast and lunch is provided at no cost to all enrolled students.
Here is what you need to know about available meal service as school begins:
- Students learning at school will have access to breakfast and lunch at no cost.
- Students learning at home can pick up a daily meal pack that includes one breakfast and lunch at the Spring Lake Park High School, 1100 81st Avenue Northeast; Door #32 (look for the blue tent). Meal pick up is available Monday – Friday, 9-11 a.m. and 1-2:30 p.m.
Families should still complete the application for free and reduced-price meals as soon as possible, even if you don’t believe you’re eligible. It is necessary to apply for this benefit each year, and funding supports families directly and a variety of needs in our schools.
Guidelines for families on peanut/nut aware classrooms
Spring Lake Park Schools is continuing to emphasize practices that make our schools safe for all students. This work includes partnering with parents in adopting peanut and nut aware practices. Many students in our schools have severe allergies to tree nuts, peanuts, peanut butter, and/or products which contain nuts. Strict avoidance is the best way to prevent a severe allergic reaction. Accidental ingestion or even touching a tiny trace of a nut may cause a potentially fatal reaction for some students.
In an effort to ensure all students are safe throughout the school day, we are asking parents to partner with us to ensure the safety of our students. We need help in supporting the following guidelines to make our classrooms peanut/nut aware:
- All classrooms will be peanut/nut aware throughout Spring Lake Park Schools
- Please do not send any classroom snacks containing nuts, peanuts, peanut butter, or other nut products for daily snacks
- Students who have nut products in their lunch or snack will be removed from the classroom to eat in an alternate location.
- Please be aware of products that may be produced in a plant that contains peanuts/nuts
- Check out the Snack Safely website to reference what snacks and lunch items are safe to send.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Health Office at 763-600-5304.
First Day of School Signs for the 2020-2021 School Year
We love to see students on the first day of school, so we created first day of school photo signs for each grade that families can print or pull up on their iPad and use in their first day of school photos. Don't forget to tag us and use #SLPPantherProud when you post your photos! Find the signs on the Back to School hub.
Download the MyStop Bus Tracking App
Is your student riding the bus this fall? MyStop is a web-based application which allows parents and students access to live GPS information for morning and afternoon school bus routes. MyStop displays the school bus’s approximate location on a map, as well as the estimated time of arrival (ETA) to a specific student’s bus stop.
To download the MyStop app, go to the iTunes store for iOS devices (iPhones and iPads) or Google Play for Android devices. Look for “Versatrans MyStop and click to download.
10 Tips for Successful Learning at Home
We asked for tips and tricks to help students and families be successful learning at home. Here are our SLP top ten:
- Establish a routine and limit distractions.
- Designate a learning space for students where they can be productive, preferably not where they sleep.
- Make WebEx, Flipgrid and other technology resources easy to access. Write down codes and passwords on a piece of paper and tape it in the student work area.
- Take a break. Build exercise into a break.
- Use a bucket or a box for learning supplies that are needed each day. Put all items back in the bucket at the end of the day so it's easy to find the next day.
- Keep iPads charged.
- Complete school work throughout the week. (Don't put everything off until the weekend.)
- Check in to see how things are going each day -- academically and emotionally.
- Communicate with teachers. We're all in this together. Connect and ask if you have questions or concerns.
- Organize a study group where students can connect and work together.
Register for Grade 5 Student Band
Calling all 5th Graders! We Want You! Registration for 5th grade band is taking place NOW through Friday, Sept. 25. Even though this school year looks a bit different, 5th graders still have the opportunity to learn a band instrument, so sign up now. To learn about this exciting opportunity, visit the website to:
- Learn about Band!
- Learn about the Instruments and which one to play!
- Learn about how/where to get an instrument!
- Register for Band!
Westwood Extended Flexible Learning material pick-up
Students who are working in our Extended Flexible Learning (distance learning) model this fall will need a few materials for their learning. Please plan to come to Westwood to pick up materials during this time:
- Thursday, September 10: 4-6 p.m.
Drive into the Westwood main entrance parent drop off area. Staff will deliver the materials curbside to your car. Materials include:
- Grade 5: Reading Book / Math Book
- Grade 6: Reading Book
- Grade 7: “Outsiders” book
- Visit the PTO Facebook page: Westwood Intermediate and Middle School PTO
- Click here to receive email notifications about Westwood PTO
In case you missed important information from last week's newsletter, check out the topics below and click to learn more.
- One-Page Overviews of What Students and Families can Expect for Learning Experiences Model - Within the Overview of Learning Models and Schedules section
- Make sure your child's immunization records are up-to-date
- View School Supply Lists
- Apply now for Free or Reduced-Priced Meal Benefits for the 2020-2021 School Year
- Make a Plan for Internet Access
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