Westwood Intermediate/Middle School

See translation information below / Consulte la información de traducción a continuación.

We had a fantastic first day of school yesterday. Students were happy to see friends, meet their teachers and visit with teachers from last year.

The first few weeks of school we are focusing on getting to know each of our students, and exploring what it means to be a student at Westwood using the respect agreements classes discuss and write. In addition, teachers will be reaching out to each of our families to welcome all of you to this year as well.

As we build relationships and begin a new year of learning, attendance is critical. In this week’s newsletter, find information about the Student Behavior and Attendance Expectations we’re asking you to review and acknowledge in Campus Parent Portal for each of your children. Thank you for helping your student get to school each day on time and ready to learn. It’s great to be underway with a new school year!

You may be seeing local media headlines about police in schools. Each year, the Blaine Police Department provides direct support to Westwood, including traffic assistance during drop off / pick up times and support at school events. While we do not currently have a School Resource Officer in the building, law enforcement continues to be present on a regular basis to build relationships. In addition, whenever we’ve needed their support, the response has been fast and exceptional. We’re grateful for the partnership.

We look forward to a great year of partnerships – with our students, families, and community.

Tom Larson

Principal

Each year, we ask students and families to review student behavior and attendance expectations. After reviewing together, we ask families to acknowledge they have done so. This process helps set the tone for students as they begin the year and clarifies for students how we all expect them to conduct themselves each day at school.

Please take five minutes to log into Campus Parent Portal and review these expectations with your student.

1. Log in to Campus with your district username and password.
2. Select your student in the upper right corner.
3. On the main menu click on DOCUMENT.
4. Locate the Parent Documents section.
5. Click on the 2023-2024 Behavior and Attendance Agreement.
6. Review the document with your student.
7. Sign and submit.
8. Repeat these steps if you have more than one student in the district.

You can also expect to receive a message directly from Campus reminding you to review and sign this document. Please review at your earliest convenience. If you have any questions about these expectations, reach out to your school principal.

If your student must be absent, please call the attendance line at 763-600-5309, or new this year, you can report a student absence through Campus Parent Portal:

1. Log in to Campus Parent Portal
2. On the main menu (on the left), click on MORE
3. Click on ABSENT REQUEST
4. Check the box by your student’s name.
5. Complete the form.
6. Select the Absent Type and Start Date and End Date and the number of days your student will be absent.
7. Enter Comments to inform the school office of any details. This is a required step.
8. Click SUBMIT

If a student is absent and we don't hear from a parent or guardian, we will be reaching out to check in.

• Thursday, September 14 - Native American Parent Advisory Committee event, Woodcrest Spanish Immersion, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• Saturday, September 16 - Start Your Engines - Community Outdoor Event, Spring Lake Park High School, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
• Monday, September 18 - Westwood's PTO Fundraiser kick-off
• Monday, September 18 - Grupo de Padres Hispanohablantes de SLP reunión, Woodcrest Spanish Immersion, 5-6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, September 21 - Picture Day
• Monday, September 25 - PTO meeting
• Tuesday, September 26 - MAP Reading
• Thursday, September 28 - MAP Math
• October 2-6 - Homecoming Week
• Friday, October 6 - Homecoming Football Game, Panther Stadium, 7 p.m.
• Saturday, October 7, 2023 - Live on 65: 7,000 Miles to Broadway (Singer/Guitarist + Pianist + Bassist), Fine Arts Center, 7 p.m.

It's been an amazing start to the 2023-2024 school year! Check out some previews below and view the full first day photo album.

6B have begun to get ready for the school year. They have been creating lockers signs and designing their teams!

The 2023-2024 school year has begun for students at Spring Lake Park Schools. By the look of these faces, it's going to be an INCREDIBLE and #SLPPantherProud year! Seeing new and familiar students and staff back in school buildings always brings such excitement to the first day of school.

The first day photo album captured the energy and excitement, big smiles and a few sweet reunions as a new year of learning got underway. Read more.

Please mark your calendar for the following meeting dates for the 23-24 school year:

• September 25, 2023, 6 p.m.
• October 30, 2023, 10 a.m.
• November 27, 2023, 6 p.m.
• December18, 2023, 10 a.m.
• January 29, 2024, 10 a.m.
• February 26, 2024, 10 a.m.
• March 25, 2024, 6 p.m.
• April 29, 2024, 10 a.m.
• May 20, 2024, 10 a.m.

PTO meetings are free to attend and open to all Westwood guardians and staff. Join us to meet other parents, hear updates from the school board and principal, find out ways to be involved with our school, and learn different volunteer opportunities throughout the year.

To stay in the loop about all your favorite committee and PTO events, join the PTO BAND groups. For more information, click here.

Parent Volunteers are needed for this years picture day at Westwood. A FREE picture package will be given (1 per family) to each parent volunteer. Click here to sign up!

Road trips in the yellow station wagon with the car radio blasting the tunes of the time have become the soundtrack to J. Robert Spencer’s life. His entertaining biographical show, “7,000 Miles to Broadway,” kicks off the new season of the Live on 65 performance series Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 7 p.m. in the Spring Lake Park High School Fine Arts Center.

Thanks to continued generous sponsorship from the Spring Lake Park Lion's Club, tickets are priced for the whole family to attend. Purchase tickets online or day-off at the box office.

We recently caught up with J. Robert Spencer at his home in Oregon to learn more about the show, his background in theater, television, film and voice work and what audiences can expect to experience at “7,000 Miles of Broadway.” Learn more about the show.

• Panther Store Kick-Off Sale! (Now until September 8!)
• 2023-2024 School Handbook
• Openings - Spanish Immersion Preschool class
• Back to School hub
• New this year - online tickets only for athletics
• Fall programs available for all!

To translate this information to another language, please click anywhere on the message to open it in a web browser and at the top of the page, select your language from the dropdown menu.

Para traducir la información a otro idioma, por favor presionen en cualquier lugar del mensaje para abrirlo en un navegador web y en la parte superior de la página seleccione su idioma del menú.