Westview Wildcat Weekly

Wildcat Family Newsletter - Friday, September 1, 2023

Big picture

School Shirt Orders

Our annual spirit t-shirt fundraiser is officially ON!

Wildcats, this is the opportunity to show your support and spirit by purchasing a Westview T-shirt! They are only $13 and $15.

Note: T-shirt sizes are adult sizes, 50/50 preshrunk cotton/polyester

To purchase a shirt, please visit our webstore link.


Big picture

Westview MS PTO

We love for our parents to be involved with and contribute to our school, and we have an AMAZING PTO who continually supports the students and staff here at Westview Middle School!


If you are not already a member, please use the following Westview PTO Membership Form to sign-up. You can also find more information about our PTO on the Westview Middle School PTO page.

No School for Students Next Monday, 9/4, & Tuesday, 9/5

As a friendly reminder, students do not have school next Monday, September 4th and Tuesday, September 5th. Monday is Labor Day, and all staff will be engaged in Professional Learning on Tuesday.

Meet the Teacher - September 6th

We are hosting our Meet the Teacher Night next Wednesday, September 6th! This is a great opportunity to meet your student's teachers, receive information about classes, hear about what students are learning, and ask questions you might have. We hope to see you there!


Please see the information below:


When: Wednesday, September 6th
Time:
5:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.: Mr. Jaramillo will give an introduction and overview of the format in the cafeteria.
5:45 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.: Parents will meet their student's teachers.

First Progress Report

The last day of the 9-weeks is Friday, October 20th. Our first Progress Report snapshot is this Friday, September 1st. This first Progress Report will not impact UIL eligibility.


The 2nd Progress Report snapshot date is Friday, September 22nd. Please note that on Friday, September 29th, the 9/22 snapshot Progress Reports will be used to determine UIL eligibility. Students who need academic support should attend tutorials regularly to ensure they are passing all classes and remain eligible.


Students who are failing a class on the Progress Report of the 9/22 snapshot will lose eligibility to participate in UIL events and will have to wait until the report card snapshot on 10/25 to determine if they regain eligibility. Students will not be re-eligible to participate until 10/27.

Tutorials

Teachers will offer after school tutorials Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays after school for students who need additional academic assistance.


Late buses will start running this week and will depart at 5:15 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays only. Teachers will keep a log of any students who stay for late tutorials. There will not be a late bus on Wednesdays or Fridays.

Athletics

Football, volleyball, and cross country are under way, and we cannot wait to see our students participate in these events! Football held scrimmages this week and are looking good! We also held cheer tryouts this week and had a very strong turnout!


Our first volleyball games take place next Thursday, September 7th at Westview MS versus Park Crest MS! Come support our volleyball girls, and see the flyer below for entry information.


The first 7th grade football game is here at Westview MS against Park Crest MS on Monday, September 11th. 8th grade plays at Park Crest on Tuesday, September 12th.


Cross country has an event on September 13th at the Pfield.

Big picture

Staff Wildcat Spirit Award

Congratulations to our first 23-24 Wildcat Spirit Award winner - Ms. Bustamante!!! Staff complete a form to recognize staff for their hard work or ways they have impacted/contributed to our campus, and a staff member is selected each week as the Wildcat Spirit Award recipient.


The following was shared about Ms. Bustamante:

  • “Ms. Bustamante has been a really great support for all or the INCA teachers (and others as well). She is never too busy to answer a question or give resources that she has that we might be able to use. As a new member of INCA and WMS I appreciate how open and welcoming she has been.”
  • “If it wasn't for her thoughtfulness, helpfulness and patience, I'm not sure where I would be. She is an amazing teacher, and I'm so lucky to be mentored by her.”
  • “Ms. Bustamante is amazing. I am really grateful to her for her incredible support and guidance. Really appreciate her leadership in all our PLC meetings. Thank you, Ms. Bustamante for everything!!”
  • “Ms. Bustamante has been crucial in sharing materials, routines, and expertise for this new school year at Westview. She has been supportive of new teachers to the campus and has also helped steer us to the correct people to contact in case we need help with specifics that she does not have an answer to during our meetings. Her assistance is greatly appreciated and she has made this new school year transition better than expected.”

Thank you for all you do for Westview Middle School and for being amazing, Ms. Bustamante!

Morning Parking/Drop Off

Parents, please help remind your student that when they are dropped off they are to wait in front of the school until we open doors at 8:50 a.m. Students should not walk to Walgreens or leave the campus for their safety.


We also kindly ask that parents not park in the staff parking lot in the morning as this can make it difficult for staff to find a parking space. Thank you for your assistance with this process.

Student IDs

Student IDs have been printed and issued to students across all grade levels. Per district policy, all secondary students are required to wear campus-issued student ID badges around their neck at all times during the entire school day. ID(s) must be worn and not kept in a backpack/purse/wallet.

Note: The first student I.D. badge is free, and the additional issuances of an I.D. badge will cost the student $5.00. Lost or defaced badges must be replaced at the cost of the student.

Students can pay for a new ID with cash, a check, or electronically using this link.


Overall, our students are doing a good job of wearing their IDs! We reminded students about the importance of wearing student IDs during last week's grade level assemblies. The back of the ID has a QR to make anonymous reports as well as information for crisis support. We will continue to remind students that if they see something that needs to be reported, they should tell an adult or anonymously make a report immediately to support campus safety.

Chromebooks

All students should bring their Chromebooks daily. We currently have a greater demand than supply available, so we are working through a process for teachers to check out Chromebooks that students can use for instruction and/or testing.


If your student has a broken Chromebook, please have your student bring that to the school and turn it in to a teacher so that we can have it repaired and returned as quickly as possible.


Lastly, we are working to acquire more Chromebooks to issue to students in need. Unfortunately, we do not yet have a timeline for when these will be available, but hope we can gain additional Chromebooks as soon as possible.

Student Attendance

Regular school attendance is essential. Absences from class may result in serious disruption of a student’s education. The student and parent should avoid unnecessary absences. Additionally, the parent should provide a doctor's/excused note when the student is absent from school.


Student attendance will be marked daily for all periods, and students must be physically present in the classroom to be marked present. Students who arrive more than 10 minutes late to class will be marked present to the classroom as well.


We will continue to track student tardies. Students who have excessive tardies to class are subject to disciplinary consequences.

Bell Schedule

Please see our bell schedule below.


  • 1st period begins promptly at 8:20 a.m., and the last class ends at 3:35 p.m.
  • Wildcat Hour (advisory) is between 6th and 7th periods, which is our advisory period. During this time, students will engage in Social-Emotional Learning activities, relationship building, conferencing with teachers, and help with classwork/academic support/enrichment/intervention.


Students will have lunch depending on which teacher they have 5th period. We will continue to remind students which lunch they need to attend.

Big picture

Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast: served daily to students from 7:50 a.m. - 8:15 a.m. Students will be released from the cafeteria to 1st period at 8:15 a.m.

Lunch: Students will have lunch depending on which teacher they have 5th period. We will continue to remind students which lunch they need to attend.


Westview Middle School will provide free breakfast and lunch to students for the 2023-2024 school year: (Click the campus below to log-in to Skyward)

Seven campuses in PfISD are now qualified to operate under the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which allows PfISD to provide breakfast and lunch at no-charge to all students, eliminating the need for the free and reduced meal application under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). PfISD is requesting that families complete our District's Socioeconomic Information Form. Your reported income levels found on the form and the form itself will not be sent to TEA. PfISD will only report a student's socioeconomic status to TEA using the information found on the form.


The online form is available online through the Skyward Parent Portal, available by clicking “Log in here” at: pfisd.net/skyward

PfISD Bus Route Finder

If you are still not sure of your student's bus number and pick-up/drop-off location, you can click on this link to find this information. This link is active for the 23-24 school year.

Electronic Devices & Cell Phones

Per PfISD policy, students are permitted to possess personal cell phones for safety purposes; cell phones are only allowed to be used in the classroom for approved instructional purposes. The use of cell phones or any device capable of capturing images is strictly prohibited in locker rooms or restroom areas while at school or at a school-related or school-sponsored event. Additionally, the following procedures are in place regarding inappropriate cell phone usage:


  • 1st time phone is confiscated: Phone is taken up and turned into office. It will require the Parent/guardian to pick up. Emergency contacts are not allowed to pick up the property.
  • 2nd offense and beyond: Phone taken up and thereafter turned into office. Parent/Guardian must pick up with $15.00 return fee. Emergency contacts are not allowed to pick up the property.

The student is never allowed to pick up their phone. Only a parent/guardian will be allowed to pick up the cell phone.


Airpods and headphones fall under electronic devices and should not be used during instruction as these can be distracting and take away from student learning/engagement.

Outside Food Deliveries to Students

As part of enhanced safety at campuses starting last school year, all Pflugerville ISD campuses do not accept deliveries from meal delivery services or restaurants for student lunches. Campuses no longer have drop-off tables for student meals. Parents may still bring outside food for their children if they plan to deliver the meals directly to their child’s designated lunch period. All guests are required to follow existing safety protocols and check in with ID at the front office.

Campus Visitors & Student Pick-Up

As previously noted, campus priority is paramount. All visitor must check-in through the main office and will be required to present a state issued ID or driver's license to receive a visitor's pass through our raptor system.


Visitor's badges must be worn on the shirt and must be visible at all times. Any adult without a badge will be escorted to the main office immediately to check-in.


A parent or authorized adult must come to the office and show identification to sign the student out. A campus representative will ask the student to report to the office. For safety purposes and stability of the learning environment, we cannot allow any unescorted adult to go to the classroom or other area to pick up the student. If the student returns to campus the same day, the parent or authorized adult must sign the student back in through the main office upon the student’s return. Documentation regarding the reason for the absence will also be required.

Important Contacts at WVMS

Assistant Principals

David Hawkins - 6th Grade Assistant Principal

david.hawkins@pfisd.net

(512)594-2215


Sonya Jackson - 7th Grade Assistant Principal

sonya.jackson@pfisd.net

(512)594-2217


Marissa Gamez - 8th Grade Assistant Principal

marissa.gamez@pfisd.net

(512)594-2216

Counselors

Joe Valenzuela

6th Grade, 7th Grade (last names A-M)

jose.valenzuela@pfisd.net

(512)594-2228


Laura Holtz - Lead Counselor

7th Grade (last names N-Z), 8th Grade

laura.holtz@pfisd.net

(512)594-2229

Main Office

Francisca Jimenez

francisca.jimenez@pfisd.net

(512)594-2200

Registrar

Stephanie Hilchey

stephanie.hilchey@pfisd.net

(512)594-2237

Attendance Specialist

Lily Croix-Blust

elizabeth.croixblust@pfisd.net

(512)594-2221

Nurse

Weicheng Fan

weicheng.fan@pfisd.net

(512)594-2235

Save the Date

Labor Day (No School): Monday, September 4th

Staff Development (No School): Tuesday, September 5th

Meet the Teacher: Wednesday, September 6th - 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Student Holiday (No School): Thursday, October 5th

Student Holiday (No School): Friday, October 6th

Student/Staff Holiday (No School): Monday, October 9th

End of 1st-9 Weeks: Wednesday, October 20th