Words from West
MARCH - 2022
PARENT SURVEY
Each year we survey our parents in the Spring to gain a better understanding of their experience at our school. As we are often reviewing policies/procedures and implementing new ideas, it is important for us to have this feedback to use in our decision-making.
Below is the link to our parent survey.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete this.
In 1980, U.S. president Jimmy Carter declared the week of March 8 National Women’s History Week, urging everyone in the United States to participate. According to Carter, "too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America were as vital as those of the men whose names we know so well."
CALENDAR UPDATES
March 8th - 6:30pm (new time), PTO meeting in WMS Library
March 9th - Late Start, School begins at 10:25am
March 9th - 7pm , Choir Pre-Festival Concert at the High School
March 10th - 3:30pm, Staff VS. 8th Grade Boys Basketball
March 11th - 7pm, 8th grade students depart for Washington DC (HS WEST Campus)
March 13th - Daylight Savings Time (Spring Forward)
March 14th - 7pm, Board of Education Meeting
March 15th - 5:30am, 8th grade students return from Washington DC (HS WEST Campus)
March 25th - Half Day, Dismissal 11:29am
March 28th - April 1st - Spring Break, No School
April 4th - School Resumes
April 6th - Late Start, School begins at 10:25am
April 13th - 8th Grade PSAT Testing
April 20th, 21st, 26th, & 27th - Grades 6-8, MSTEP Testing
Seventh Grade Science Seminar . . . Claim, Evidence, Reasoning and Discussion
SUMMER SCHOOL INFORMATION
- WMS will be reaching out to families of qualifying students
- If you receive an invitation, or are contacted, please ACT FAST
- WMS only has 90 available spots available
WMS SPRING SPORTS
Hello Bobcats!
Our spring athletics season is quickly approaching quickly!!
If you are interested in any of the sports below, please make sure you have a 2021-2022 MHSAA physical form on file with our front office. If you are not sure, please call Ms. Wollcott at 810-591-7309.
Starting on or after March 21:
- Track (6-8 Grade Boys and Girls)
- Boys baseball (7-8 grade)
- Girls softball (7-8 grade)
More details on tryouts will be released soon. No student will be allowed to participate in athletics without a signed and approved MHSAA physical form.
Feel free to reach out with any questions!
Ross Burdette
Assistant Principal and Athletic Director
West Middle School
WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL PTO
Hello Parents and Guardians,
The WMS PTO exists to support and enhance the experience of students and staff at West Middle School. We accomplish this in a variety of ways, all of which require funds!
In light of the fact that we have not been able to fundraise in the past year or more, we are asking all parents to consider donating $20 to the PTO. With just $20 from everyone, we will be able to plan fun events for students, support teachers and staff, and meet needs as they arise. Donations can be dropped off in the form of cash or check (made out to Grand Blanc Community Schools) to the main office marked PTO or you can use the convenient school pay option and just click on the link below.
Thank you for your support of our students and staff. As always, please join us at our monthly meetings announced in the newsletter (the next one is Tuesday, March 8th at 6:30pm), or send an email to let us know how you would like to be involved.
Don Chapin, PTO President
COUNSELING CORNER - SCHEDULING
A few updates from the Counseling Team:
- Course Request Sheets are all in and we will begin the process of scheduling for next school year. We will do our best to honor any special requests however, that information is due to us by the end of April.
Counselors at WMS are available to assist your child with social, emotional, and academic concerns. Counselors are also able to assist families with community resources. If you have any concerns with your child, please do not hesitate to reach out to counselors for assistance. For your convenience, we have listed many resources on our counseling office website found under “Quick Links” on the WMS homepage.
POSITIVITY PROJECT
Ask your student about the following P2 Character traits
- March 7 - 11 - Social Intelligence
- March 14 - 18 - Love of Learning
- March 21 - 25 - Wild Card
- March 28 - April 1 - Humor
ON-LINE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR 2022-2023
The 2022-23 online registration for Grand Blanc Schools is now available. Parents are required to complete the annual online registration through your ParentVUE account prior to picking up schedules in August.
Please visit grandblancschools.org and click on “Online Registration” from the homepage.
Below is a brief summary of login instructions:
If you have a ParentVUE (or are unsure):
· DO NOT create a new account if you may already have an account because the new account will not allow you to view your student’s information.
· If you have a ParentVUE account but do not remember your login, please call (810) 591-4696 and a staff member will be able to provide your username.
· If you know your username but have forgotten your ParentVUE password, you can click the “More Options” button below the login, then click “Forgot Password,” and the system will step you through resetting your password.
If you have never activated a ParentVUE account for any of your children:
· Please call (810) 591-4696 to receive an activation key
· Once you have an activation key, go to the site above and scroll down to follow the instructions to create a new ParentVUE account.
Once you login to ParentVUE:
1. Please verify that you are on the Current/Returning Student tab (do not create a new enrollment unless your student is new to the district).
2. Scroll through each screen to review and update all information on your student(s).
3. Electronically sign required forms.
4. Review all information then click SUBMIT at the bottom.
Please call if you do not have access to a computer or have any questions about registration.
MINDFUL MINUTE
Hello West Middle School Families,
Have you noticed your student using mindful strategies while at home? Ask you son/daughter about the morning mindful minute!
Please reach out if you have questions about our school's initiative!
SEL (Social and Emotional Learning)
As part of our response to the COVID 19 Pandemic, staff at Grand Blanc West Middle School have been working to provide increased levels of support, as well as Social Emotional Learning (SEL) opportunities, for students.
SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions. Our focus this year has been on effectively identifying student needs and making connections.
It is possible your child may be referred to the SEL Team for support through the use of a universal screener known as the SRSS. The SRSS is completed by teachers 2-3 times per school year to help identify students that may benefit from additional social/emotional support within the school setting.
Once a child is referred for possible SEL support, the student’s assigned adult, counselor or school social worker will make contact with your child. This contact will be a general check in to better discern how the student is doing with current school demands–academically, socially, and emotionally. In the event that the SEL team, counselor or social worker feels that there is a need for additional intervention or support, outside of what is already being provided, they will contact you directly and/or provide a group support opportunity for your student. Permission slips are sent home for group participation and we would appreciate your signature-approval, to help us support your student.
If you have questions or have observed needs presenting outside of school, please do not hesitate to reach out to your student’s counselor or social worker.
Thank you!
COVID-19 VACCINATION RECORDS
- If you have chosen to have your student vaccinated against Covid-19 and would like the school to have a record of it, please bring a copy of the student's vaccination card to the Main Office OR scan and email a copy of the card to our office at pwoollco@gbcs.org.
- Please understand that we are NOT requiring this vaccination, but offering you the opportunity to have it documented for school records/potential contact tracing situations.
DISTRICT OF CHOICE
The District of Choice application is now posted on our district website, www.gbcs.org. Anyone who has moved out of the Grand Blanc boundary this school year, incoming siblings of current District of Choice students, and any new incoming out-of-district students must apply for District of Choice.
All applications must be completed and submitted electronically to GRAND BLANC COMMUNITY SCHOOLS by 4:00 p.m., Sunday, July 24, 2022 with previous two years of behavior to be considered complete.
Grand Blanc West Middle School
West Middle School Main Office:
Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 4:00PM
Website: https://www.gbcs.org/Domain/19
Location: 1515 Reid Road, Grand Blanc, MI, USA
Phone: 810-591-7309
Facebook: facebook.com/gbwms
Important Phone Numbers
Athletics/Main Office 591-7309
Counseling Office 591-7335
Counselor (A-K) 591-7338
Counselor (L-Z) 591-7339