WEST WEDNESDAY WEEKLY
News & Information for West Middle School
11/01/17
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for 8th grade Health Screening
This Friday, November 3rd is the the 8th grade health screening.  We need 24 parent volunteers to make it run smoothly.  Please click on the Sign Up Genius below to volunteer.  All volunteers should report to the Media Center after first checking in at the Main Office.  If you have any questions, please contact PTA Vice President and Health Screening Chair, Nira Rajan at nira_rajan@yahoo.com.  Thank you!

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080448abad22abff2-8thgrade

Conference Sign-up
Nov. 2nd is the last of 2017/18 Fall Conferences.  When scheduling a conference, pick a time that both you and your student can attend.

From the home page, click on the conference online sign-up in the WMS Happenings box. This page has detailed instructions for you to review. If you have forgotten your usename or password, enter your email address as it appears in Skyward Family Access and click Login/Create Account or Forgot My Password.

Students who have more than one family listed in Skyward must collaborate and find a conference time that is agreeable to both parties. Those parents listed as "First Family" will be responsible for entering the mutually agreed upon date and time into our registration system.

If you do not have internet access, please call 763-745-6400 and the office staff will assist in scheduling your conference.
8th grade Health Screening is this Friday, 11/8
Please make sure that your student is in attendance that day and they wear their glasses/contacts (if they require them). Thank you in advance.
Referendum Fact of the Week
Did You Know?
Did you know that if the school funding requests are not approved the district would face annual budget cuts of $1 million or more, impacting staff and programs districtwide?
  • Elementary class sizes would increase and all elementary schools would become crowded.
  • Schools would face cuts to student support services, such as social workers, guidance counselors, health services and other social/emotional/learning needs.
  • We would be unable to replace aging classroom technology equipment and student devices as needed, impacting our ability to support personalized education and access to real-time educational resources for students.
  • Traffic safety issues would remain at several schools.
  • Updates to elementary and middle school academic spaces would not occur.
 
These are some of the reasons the Wayzata School Board unanimously approved placing three school funding requests on the November 7 ballot. Learn more and remember to vote November 7 www.wayzata.k12.mn.us/referendum
Winter Play Auditions
Thank you to everyone who came to the Theatre Informational meeting on Tuesday, October 31. We are very excited to begin rehearsals for this year's show! Students who were unable to attend can find all information that was discussed during the meeting on the West Theatre page on our district website. Auditions are being held in the Choir Room on  Monday, November 6th and Tuesday, November 7th  immediately after school until  5:20 p.m. . Students are expected to attend only one night of auditions and can sign up outside of Ms. Zbaracki's classroom or Ms. Lutz's classroom. No prior experience is needed to audition! 
Not interested in cast but still want to be involved? Sign up for Crew! No auditions are necessary to join the Crew. Complete job descriptions of the different Crew jobs can be found on the West Theatre page. Click this link  https://goo.gl/forms/ImGp542HKlPjY2O63 to complete the digital Crew application. 

The purpose of this Winter Play is to gain experience with what the West Drama Department has to offer, and of course, to have fun and put on a successful performance! We hope to see you at auditions  next Monday and  Tuesday after school. 

If you have questions, please contact Ms. Zbaracki (Director) at  emilie.zbaracki@wayzata.k12.mn.us or Ms. Lutz (Assistant Director) at  allison.lutz@wayzata.k12.mn.us
The Last Day for the Book Fair is Tomorrow!
The last day for the Book Fair is November 2  in the media center. The book fair will be open before school and during MTSS for students during the day. The fair will also be open on conference nights (October 24th, 26th and November 2nd)  until 9:00 pm. It is a great way to raise funds for the media center - up to 50% of the profits benefit the school. Please stop by or encourage your student to check out all the great books available!  Great for holiday gift buying! 
You can pre-order your copy of the newest "Wimpy Kid" in the Media Center!You can also go online and order books!  They will be delivered to the school and will get to your student!  Order at:   http://www.scholastic.com/bf/waywest

MAP Testing Information
Dear Parents/Guardians:
During the 2015-2016 & 2016-2017 school years, a team of school/district administrators and teachers worked to review our district assessments.  From this review, it was determined that the MAP tests  (Measures of Academic Progress /NWEA) will now be given one time per year.  The new designated time for MAP testing is Winter.  Please see the dates below for MAP testing at West. 
These MAP tests will now be given in three subjects; reading, math and science and will be administered to all sixth, seventh and eighth grade students.  

Please make note of your students testing days.  Also, please refrain from making appointments outside of school when your student is testing, if possible. 

2017 Winter MAP Testing Schedule for West Middle School:

December 5th, 6th and 7th                  8th MAP Reading and Math

December 6th                                      6th MAP Reading 

December 7th                                      7th MAP Reading

December 12th and 13th                     6th MAP Math

December 13th and 14th                     7th MAP Math

January 2018  (dates TBD)                  6th, 7th and 8th Science

If you have any questions regarding MAP testing, please contact Amy Kondziolka, School Counselor at  763-745-6494 or  amy.kondziolka@wayzata.k12.mn.us

Wayzata Spirit-wear is Back!
Need a Holiday Gift Idea for your Middle Schooler?  The PTA will be offering WMS students and families another opportunity to purchase Wayzata spiritwear through our online store with orders being delivered in time for the holidays and gift giving.  Visit www.rambow.com and enter our store code WMSTROJANS to see the great selection of quality, customer merchandise for the whole family.  Orders can be placed between now and November 14.  Please note:  Because all orders are custom, items cannot be returned or exchanged except in the case of a merchandise defect.  If you wish to purchase something as a gift and NOT have it delivered directly to your student via their Advisory, please note that when you place your order.   Orders will be delivered on or around December 12.  For questions, pleases contact Heather Felt at hjfelt@comcast.net.  You may also contact the supplier at support@rambow.com or call toll-free 1-800-4RAMBOW (1800-472-6269).
Legislative Action Committee October 11, 2017 Meeting Summary

After welcoming new and current members, the Legislative Action Committee (LAC) received an overview of our district legislators from School Board Member Andrea Cuene. Legislators representing Wayzata Public Schools are listed on the District website. Then, the LAC received an Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD) update from School Board Members Andrea Cuene and Cheryl Polzin. Cheryl Polzin also discussed the Making Sense of School Funding presentation by Tom Melcher. Finally, the LAC heard a presentation by Jim Westrum, Executive Director of Finance and Business for Wayzata Public Schools about the 2018 Session-District Financial Priorities. The LAC ended by asking members to save the date of November 1, 7:45-9:00 a.m. for our first platform drafting meeting.

 

The following West Middle School parents are members of the Legislative Action Committee:

Ann Ciardelli, annciardelli@gmail.com

Ben Johnson, ben.johnson@results.net

 

To learn more, contact one of the members above, visit wayzata.k12.mn.us/LegislativeAction, or email communications@wayzata.k12.mn.us.

WORTH REPEATING...
A Message from the Health Office
Students who become ill during the school day are to check in with the health office before calling parents to go home. If your child calls you from school requesting to come home because they are ill, please tell them to check in with the health office.
Winter Sports
The first winter sports session starts  Monday, November 6 . The two sports offered are wrestling (Grades 6-8) and girls basketball (Grades 7-8). If you have any questions you can contact Micheal Peterson for wrestling and Tom French for girls basketball. Epay is open for payment click here. Boys basketball starts in mid-January. Students interested pick up a form in the office or click here.
iPad Keyboards
Please remind your students that if they remove the keyboard from the case for any reason, to make sure they get the right one back. Each piece has a green sticker with a number on it, and both should match.  If they are not a match, please visit Ms. Tombers at the WMS iPad Hospital (in the Media Center).
Check Out These Clubs Offered at West!
YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT
 
2017-18  Information
 
Youth in Government is an opportunity available to 8th graders through the Rigdedale YMCA and information was shared with all students through the Geography classes.  The model assembly takes place at the Minneapolis Hilton and the State Capitol, January 4-7, 2018. Registration is through the YMCA beginning September and continues until December.   Families are responsible for all financial and transportation needs.  Scholarship funds may be available through the YMCA.  Students attending this event are excused from school (please contact the school in advance) but are responsible for missed work. 
 
For further information about Youth in Government, visit  https://www.ymcamn.org/locations/youth_in_government/programs/model_assembly

Newspaper club
The newspaper club is returning to West on Tuesdays starting on 10/17.  Please see the announcement  here

Glee club
New this year!  West is presenting a Glee club for students interested in singing and dancing.  The song(s) and choreography will be selected by students and the coach.  The club will run for ten weeks on Thursdays and will be finished prior to the Spring musical.  Registration and information is  here.

West's Fitness Club
Come learn the basics of fitness, exercise, nutrition, weight lifting, and athleticism.
Why? Improve your health and fitness, learn about the effects of your food choices, spend time with friends, and improve your athleticism.
Students will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays (no classes on conference nights) in the fitness center or the gym. Information is here.

Activity forms and the fee should be submitted to the main office.  Activity forms are  here.
Group for Students Who Have Been Adopted
Last year we piloted a group for students who have been adopted. Due to the positive response, this year, we plan to offer the group throughout the school year.
 
All adolescents go through a process of looking at questions like, "Who am I?", "Where did I come from?", and "Where am I going?"  For adolescents who have been adopted, this process can be more complex.  In our group, students will find support and encouragement from peers and adults who have experienced adoption and understand it.  The group will be open to all 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.  We will likely begin in November and will hold the group twice monthly.
 
If you are interested in having your student participate, please contact Amy Kondziolka at amy.kondziolka@wayzata.k12.mn.us

Box Tops for Education
Continue collecting Box Tops for Education. Collection boxes can be found in Media Center and the school office Please place the Box Tops in an envelope or baggie and include your child's first name, last name and grade for the 2017-2018 school year on the envelope with the Box Tops. All  participants will receive a prize  and one lucky winner will earn a gift card to a local business. Please have your Box Tops submitted by the morning of  Wednesday, October 18 .
Proud to be part of
Excellence. For each and every student.
Upcoming Events
Nov. 2  Last day for Bookfair

Nov. 2 - Conferences

Nov. 3 - 8th Health Screening

Nov. 6 & 7 - Play Auditions

Nov. 7 - Election Day

Nov. 8 - End of 1st quarter

Nov. 9 & 10 - No School

Nov. 14 - Bookfair Olymics

Nov. 16 - Student Stars

Nov. 16 - PTA meeting

Nov. 16 & 17 - 7th Courage Retreat

Nov. 20 - 8th Health re-screening

Nov. 22 - 24 - No School

Nov. 23 - Thanksgiving

QuickLinks

Lunch Menus

 

School Calendar

 

Health Office & Attendance Line

 

School Board Agendas & Minutes

 

Communicator Newsletter

 

Community Connections Flyers

Volunteer Sign-up
If you would like to volunteer at WMS, please register for volunteering. This needs to be completed every year.
It's Time to Order your Yearbook
Now is a good time to order your 2017-18 yearbook as prices increase as the year goes on.  Click here  to choose your price and package.
Sincerely,

West Middle School

West Middle School
149 Barry Ave North, Wayzata, MN 55391-1012
Phone: 763-745-6400 Fax: 763-745-6491  


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