West Word
A Weekly Update from Perkiomen Valley Middle School West
A Word from Mr. Creeden
Quick Snapshot📸
- Hybrid Group Calendar Updates
- Hybrid Updates/Reminders
- Recognizing Black History Month and Beyond @ West
- After School Homework Help
- Activity Wednesday on 2/24
- PV West Esports Club
- PV West Reading Olympics Team
- Attention 8th Grade Parents: PV High School Scheduling
- PV West Athletic Update
- Purchase Your PV West Yearbook
- Part-time Support Position Available at West
- Counseling Groups @ West
- Creative Health Social/Emotional Resources for Parents
- Change Demographic Information in Synergy
- Attendance Information
- West Home & School Information
- Technology Help
- PV West on Social Media
- West Weeks At-A Glance
- HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!
Hybrid Group Calendar Updates
Hybrid Updates/Reminders
Hybrid Groupings This Coming Week
Group 1 (A-K)
Monday (2/22) - D Day
Tuesday (2/23) - E Day
Wednesday (2/24) - F Day
Group 2 (L - Z)
Thursday (2/25) - A Day
Friday (2/26) - B Day
Cell Phones
In recent class meetings with West assistant principal, Mrs. Capriotti, students were reminded to keep cell phones off and away during school hours unless instructed by teachers to bring them to class for learning purposes. If you want to contact your child during the school day please contact the West main office at 484-977-7210 and we will be sure your child gets the message asap.
Instructional Model Change Requests
Recognizing Black History Month and Beyond @ West
In family and consumer science class students researched black chefs (historical through current). One of the requirements was to understand the style or type of foods in which they specialized in. To learn more about black chefs who changed the food industry please go to https://www.thedailymeal.com/important-black-chefs
In efforts to support our district mission statement to “cultivate an inclusive community of learners", we look forward to finding ways to represent and acknowledge all ethnicities and celebrate our diversity in an ongoing manner throughout the year. If you have ideas or suggestions on how we can better do this at West please email me at rcreeden@pvsd.org.
After School Homework Help
After school homework help will take place on Tuesday and Thursday of next week from 2:30 - 3:45 in the West library. Please encourage your children to attend as after school homework help time will be a great opportunity to not only get help, but also get organized, and get caught up.
Activity Wednesday on 2/24
We will be practicing and playing in-person. We hope this will be a time for students to play, connect with others, and have lots of fun. Any West student may participate and there is no need to sign-up. Any students participating can report to the cafeteria at 2:30 on Wednesday. Students not attending school in-person on an activity Wednesday may be dropped off by a parent/guardian at the main entrance and report to the cafeteria. We will continue to be extremely diligent at following all health and safety protocols.
PV West Esports Club
The Middle School Esports League aims to harness middle school students’ passion for video games through organized competition in a safe and secure format. MSEL is an integral part of teaching important skills that students will be able to take with them into high school, college, and beyond.
If students are interested in participating in the Esports Club this Spring please email Mrs. Yeager at kyeager@pvsd.org
PV West Reading Olympics Team
Do you love to read? Consider joining the Perkiomen Valley Middle School West Reading Olympics Team! Each year the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit provides a list of books for middle school students to read. During the spring, there is a competition to celebrate the students' reading success; this year competition is going to take place as a virtual competition against other Montgomery County Schools. The team meets each Tuesday via Zoom at 3:30 to discuss the books.
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Lesh at dlesh@pvsd.org or Mrs. Stauffer at rstauffer@pvsd.org.
Attention 8th Grade Parents: PV High School Scheduling
Unfortunately we had to delay our Program Planning Assembly until Monday. However, the program has been prerecorded if you or your student would like to view it this weekend. Here is a link to all of the information on presentations coming up in the next several weeks: https://sites.google.com/a/pvsd.org/perkiomen-valley-middle-school-east/departments/counseling/8th-grade-program-planning
Students will be able to view their core course recommendations in synergy by 2/22. They will be able to start picking electives as of 2/25. They will be instructed during the first period this week how to pick their electives and counselors will virtually meet with each student individually to review their courses in the upcoming weeks. Videos of how to pick courses are also on the link above.
8th Grade Parent Orientation will start in the form of a Webinar on Thursday, February 25 at 6:30pm. Zoom links are incorporated in this document. There will be a 30 minute informational session followed by the opportunity for parents to access zoom links put out by each subject area, North Montco Vo-Tech School, MCCC, and each Counselor will also have their own zoom link available between 7:00 and 8:00pm. Please be aware that you may have to wait to get in zoom rooms so teachers can speak to parents privately. FAQs are posted here about program planning for each subject area.
If you have any questions about anything with the transition to high school, please contact Kristin Hildreth khildreth@pvsd.org
PV West Athletic Update
Upcoming PV West Competitions:
Monday February 22nd
Girls Basketball - Home vs. Boyertown MS East (8th grade - 3:30pm, 7th grade - 4:30pm)
Boys Basketball - Away vs. Boyertown MS East (8th grade - 3:30pm, 7th grade - 4:30pm)
Tuesday February 23rd
Girls Basketball - Away vs. Owen J. Roberts MS (8th grade - 3:30pm, 7th grade 4:30pm)
Boys Basketball - Home vs. Owen J. Roberts MS (8th grade - 3:30pm, 7th grade 4:30pm)
MS Wrestling - Away vs. Boyertown MS East @ 3:30pm
Wednesday February 24th
MS Wrestling - Home vs. Owen J. Roberts MS @ 3:30pm
Thursday February 25th
Girls Basketball - Away vs. Pottstown MS (8th grade - 3:30pm, 7th grade - 4:30pm)
Boys Basketball - Home vs. Pottstown MS (8th grade - 3:30pm, 7th grade - 4:30pm)
Please see the link below to the most recent Perkiomen Valley Athletics newsletter for more information.
Purchase Your PV West Yearbook
Part-Time Support Position Available at West
Counseling Groups @ West
The Counseling Center will be offering student counseling groups during the 2nd marking period. All groups will be created based on the information gathered from our student needs survey that will be shared with students. Parents are also encouraged to refer their children to any of the counseling groups listed below by contacting William Montgomery (wmontgomery@pvsd.org)
6th Grade Life Support- (During Advisory on Fridays) A loss group for anyone who is dealing with the death of any loved one in his or her family.
7th Grade Life Support - (During Advisory on Thursdays) A loss group for anyone who is dealing with the death of any loved one in his or her family.
8th Grade Life Support - (During Advisory on Fridays) A loss group for anyone who is dealing with the death of any loved one in his or her family.
SAFE Collective- (Tuesdays at 3:15 on Zoom) An after school club developed to work directly with students to create equity and actionable change within the PVHS community. SAFE Collective provides a judgement free space for students to have open discussions regarding race, gender expression, ability, and shape. From there we are developing actionable solutions and restorative justice practices to create change.
Lunch Bunch Friendship Group - (During lunch on Mondays and Fridays) for all students maintaining friendships while we are socially distancing at school and virtually. This will be an in-person group only.
LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Questioning) A group for students identifying as LGBTQ to create a safe and a judgement free space in school.
Executive Functioning/Study Skills - (During Advisory on Tuesdays) for anyone who wants additional help organizing or studying.
Change Demographic Information in Synergy
Attendance Information
If your child will be absent or missing any class time, please send an email (from the email you have listed in our new SIS system) to:
This will count as your call-out AND parent excuse. Please indicate in your email the date of absence, student’s grade and the reason for the absence. An absence is considered unexcused when the child’s school has not received an email providing an acceptable reason for the absence within a 3-day period.
You may also call our attendance line at: 1 (484) 977-7210, option 1. If you do this, you would still need to submit an email with the above information in order for it to be excused.
Any medical notes should be scanned in. When back to school (in person), any Dr.’s notes should be placed in the Attendance Box, right outside the Guidance Department.
If you have any questions at all, please contact Brenda Continelli at bcontinelli@pvsd.org.
West Home & School Information
Our next Home & School Zoom meeting is March 16th at 7pm. If interested in attending please email PVMSWestHS@gmail.com. All parents are welcome!
Home and School page http://mswest.pvsd.org/home/home-school
Technology Help
Email for Tech help, helpdesk@pvsd.org
Tech Support Zoom Room (Available 7:30 am to 3:30 pm, M-F)
https://zoom.us/j/96825432361?pwd=QTlYS2hzMk9FUmF0ZXhtWmhxalFWZz09
PV West on Social Media
We would love to have you join our social media accounts to stay updated on the latest West news and happenings. Please see below on where to find each of our accounts.
West Weeks At A Glance
February 22, 23 & 24 - Hybrid Group 1 (A-K) on-site
February 22 - 8th Grade Program Planning Assembly during Period 1 (7:56 - 8:48)
February 23 - After School Homework Help in Library at 2:30PM; PVSD Safety & Operations Committee Meeting (Please click the link to join the meeting:
https://pvsd-org.zoom.us/j/92256315451)February 24 - Activity Wednesday in Cafeteria at 2:30PM; PVSD Education Committee Meeting (Join Zoom Meeting
https://pvsd-org.zoom.us/j/5501537168?pwd=L0NKa3diWGVtWEpKbnJoTFdDUitoZz09 passcode: pvsd)
February 25 & 26 - Hybrid Group 2 (L-Z) on-site
February 25 - After School Homework Help in Library at 2:30PM