Westland Update for Week of Dec 31

New Year's Holiday- There is no school for students on Monday, January 1 and Tuesday, January 2. Students return on Wednesday, January 3rd.

Homework-free Holiday Break- The faculty at Westland has designated the winter break as homework free! This means that no assignments can be due or assessments given on Wednesday, Jan 3rd. (The exception is reading assignments.) Enjoy the time with family and friends.

WMS Musicians Share a Note or Two- On Tuesday, Jan 9 Westland musicians will be on the road performing for Somerset and Bethesda. (Our tour will hit Rock Creek Forest and Westbrook next school year!)

Winter MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) Testing in Math and Reading- On Wednesday, Jan 10 and Thursday, Jan 11 we will test ALL 6th graders, new 7th and 8th graders and additional, select 7th and 8th graders.

HS Counselors Visit- BCC HS counselors visit our 8th graders on Thursday, Jan 11 through science classes.

8th Grade Bowling Social- The Bowlero social event occurs on Thursday, Jan 11 at 3:15. Westland activity buses will pick up from Bowlero after departing from the school! Registration is due by January 7th.

Minority Scholars Speaker Series- Our Minority Scholars Program features a local business owner on Friday, Jan 12 during STAR.

Hello Westland MS Families! I wanted to introduce myself to you - my name is Leean Jack and I am the Career Advising Coach at Westland! This is a new position that is part of the Montgomery County Career Advising Program (MoCo CAP) based on the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future to ensure all students are College, Career, and Community ready by the end of 10th Grade. The Blueprint mandates a partnership between local workforce boards and local education institutions to provide these services. All Career Advising Coaches are employees of WorkSource Montgomery.

I will primarily be working with 6th grade students beginning in January 2024, but 7th and 8th graders are certainly welcome to speak with me as well. My intent is to assist students with the process of self-reflection and identifying their main strengths, interests, and values. This will occur as part of students’ daily classroom lessons, in small-group meetings, by individual appointments, and as presentations at school events.

My office is located in room 100G in the front office suite and my MCPS email address is Leeann_M_Jack@mcpsmd.org. For more information about me and MoCo CAP, please check out this Career Advising Coach Flyer. I am very excited to be joining the Westland MS Staff, and look forward to getting to know the wonderful Wildcat community!

* New Events Are Added in Bold Font

JANUARY

• M, 1/1- New Year's Day- no school for students
• T, 1/2- No School for students
• W, 1/3- Students return to school from winter break
• Tu, 1/9- WMS Musicians Play for Somerset ES and Bethesda ES
• W, 1/10- Winter MAP testing for 6th graders and select 7th/8th
• Th, 1/11- Winter MAP testing for 6th graders and selected 7th/8th
• Th, 1/11- BCC HS counselors visit 8th grade classes
  
• Th, 1/11- 3:15 8th Grade Bowling event at Bolero (must pre-register)
• F, 1/12- STAR- Minority Scholars Program hosts speaker series
• Sa, 1/13- Sa, 1/20- MLW Week of Service
• M, 1/15- Martin Luther King Jr Day- No School for Students
• W, 1/17- Mr. Johnson's 3rd period class goes to the Spy Museum
• W, 1/17- Boys Basketball hosts Pyle MS
• W, 1/17- 7 PM Parent Webinar- New Year, New Strategies: Helping Students Plan, Persist, and Achieve Success in 2024
• Th, 1/19- Counselors visit 6th and 7th graders for Course Registration Info
• Sunday, 1/21- PTA hosts 8th Grade Zoom panel featuring 9th Graders
• Tu, 1/23- BCC HS counselors return to answer 8th graders' questions
• Tu, 1/23- 6:30 PM WMS MS Evening Meeting for Parents of 5th graders
• W, 1/24- BCC HS evening meeting for Parents of 8th graders
• Th, 1/25- Girls Basketball hosts Silver Creek MS
• F, 1/26- Final day of MP2
• F, 1/26- Westland Course Requests Due
• M, 1/29- No School for Students- Grading/Planning for teachers
• Tu, 1/30- First day of MP3
  
• W, 1/31- Girls Basketball hosts Tilden
• W, 1/31- BCC HS Course Requests Due

FEBRUARY

• M, 2/5- Report Card Distribution through Homerooms
• Tu, 2/6- Mr. Johnson's Students go to Spy Museum (Prds 1, 5 and half of 3)
• Th, 2/8- Mr. Johnson's Students go to Spy Museum (Prds 6, 7 and half of 3)
• Th, 2/8- Boys Basketball hosts North Bethesda
• Tu, 2/13- 6th Grade Social Event After School
• W, 2/14- Boys Basketball hosts Cabin John
• F, 2/16- Whole School Dance, 6:30-8:30 PM
• M, 2/19- No School- Presidents' Day
• Tu, 2/20- Half of 8th Grade to NMAAHC (Daly and Bayburtian)
• W, 2/21- Ms. Serino's Birthday- does anyone even read this calendar? :)'
• Th, 2/22- Half of 8th Grade to NMAAHC (Hylton and Yu)
• Th, 2/22- Girls Basketball hosts Hoover

JUNE

• Monday, 6/10 or Tuesday, 6/11- 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony

Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/westlandms/staff/directory/

Email: Alison_L_Serino@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/westlandms/
Location: 5511 Massachusetts Avenue, Bethesda, MD, USA
Twitter: @AlisonSerinoWMS