Westwood Intermediate/Middle School

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This week our sixth graders had their first choir performance at the Fine Arts Center. The students have put in many hours of practice and finally had the opportunity for all 131 students to join together in singing the selections. The winter concert focused on inspirational music from a variety of composers and cultures. We hope it provided each of our audience members a sense of peace and the power of music to bring us joy.

We’re starting to plan for the 2024-2025 school year. At the end of the month, 8th graders will begin to prepare for the transition to high school. High school counselors will be at Westwood on January 30 to begin working with students on their 4-year plan. Course registration opens January 16 and is open through February 16. There are opportunities for families to engage in the process. Check out the calendar of upcoming online and in-person events.

Toward the end of February, we’ll be hosting information sessions for middle school elective registration. There will be options for 6th grade families to learn about the transition to the middle school and the first opportunity to select elective courses. There will also be options for 7th grade families to learn more about opportunities in 8th grade.

Please remember there is no school this upcoming Monday as we observe the federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. School will resume Tuesday, January 16.

Winter has arrived - Stay warm this cold weekend!

Tom Larson

Principal

As a reminder, the Child Development Over Ages event will take place Wednesday, January 24 from 6-7 p.m. in the Den at Westwood Intermediate and Middle School. At this event, you will walk away with a basic understanding of typical child development stages and recognize the signs your child might need additional support and how to get it. If you haven't done so already, please RSVP for this event.

Current 7th graders (students who will be in 8th grade next school year) have the amazing opportunity to attend an optional field trip to Washington, D.C. next year. There will be a parent/guardian information session on January 11 at 5:30 p.m. in the Den at Westwood if you would like more information.

• When: 10/12 - 10/15, 2024
• Where: Washington, D.C. and surrounding sites
• Who: Students who will be in 8th grade in 2024-2025
• What: Visit numerous museums, monuments, and other historic sites
• How: Fly both ways--leave early morning 10/12 and return at night 10/15
• Why: Fantastic lifetime memories :-)
• Trip ID# 213720

World Strides trip information and registration link, click here. If you have any questions, please email Ms. Visser .

We are looking for an amazing cast of talented 7th and 8th graders to perform, build and create a show that will thrill and delight our audiences for the upcoming theater production, Oliver Jr.

Auditions*

When: Tuesday, January 16

Time: 2:30 p.m.

Where: Ms. Geist's choir room - E182

Callbacks: Thursday, January 18 (E182)

* You don’t need to prepare - or any theater experience - to try out for acting or tech, just a desire to perform and learn. Come and be part of this wonderful theatrical experience! Audition forms can be picked up from the main office or from Ms. Geist!

8th graders are being asked to turn in their baby photos for the yearbook. Please find your student's favorite baby picture and fill out this form to submit the photo. Please make sure to only submit one photo per student. All photos must be received by January 31 to be included in the 2024 yearbook. Questions may be directed to Mrs. Powell, kpowel@district16.org.

Orders may be placed online at Balfour or scan the QR code. Order forms were also sent home with students. Questions may be directed to Mrs. Powell, kpowel@district16.org.

• Monday, January 15 - No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Tuesday, January 16 - High school registration opens for the 2024-2025 school year
• Thursday, January 11 – Native American Parent Advisory Committee event, Woodcrest Spanish Immersion School (in the Piña Room), 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• Monday, January 15 – No School
• Thursday, January 18 - In-person Office Hours, 3:30-5 p.m.
• Monday, January 22 - Grupo de Padres Hispanohablantes de SLP reunión, Woodcrest Spanish Immersion, 5-6:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, January 24 -
• Westwood Welcome for 4th grade families (online session) at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. or 6 p.m.
• Caregiver Learning Event: Child Development Over Ages, Westwood Intermediate and Middle School (The Den), 6-7 p.m. RSVP
• Monday, January 29 -
• PTO Meeting, 10 a.m. in the den
• Wind Ensemble 8th grade band concert, 7 p.m., SLPHS Fine Arts Center
• Tuesday, January 30 -
• 8th grade online family information session: 2024-25 course registration, 6:30 p.m., WebEx
• 7/8 Gr Choir Concert, 7 p.m., SLPHS Fine Arts Center
• Wednesday, January 31 - 8th grade online family information session: 2024-25 course registration, 9 a.m., WebEx
  

February

• Thursday, February 1 - Westwood Welcome Event for 4th grade families, Westwood Intermediate and Middle School, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 7 - Explore your Options event for grades 8-11, Spring Lake Park High School, 5-7 p.m.
  
• Thursday, February 8 - Live on 65: C. Willi Myles Comedy (Stand-Up Comic), Fine Arts Center, 7 p.m. Purchase tickets
• Friday, February 9 -
• Bookfair, 6-7:30 p.m., Maker Space area on the intermediate side
• Family Fun Night, 6-8 p.m., Westwood Cafeteria and Gym
• February 14-16 - Access Testing, grades 7-8
• Friday, February 16 - High school registration closes for the 2024-2025 school year
• February 16-19 - No school
• Wednesday, February 21 - NAEP testing, Fr. 8
• February 21-23 - Access Testing, grades 5-6
• Thursday, February 22- Office Hours, 3:30-5 p.m.
• Monday, February 26 - PTO meeting, 10:00 a.m.
• Tuesday, February 27 - 6th to 7th grade transition online session, 10 a.m. or 6 p.m. | WebEx
• Wednesday, February 28 - 7th to 8th grade transition online session, 10 a.m. or 6 p.m. | WebEx
• February 29 - March 2 - Spring Musical "Oliver", SLPHS Fine Arts Center, 7 p.m.

7th and 8th grade choirs hosted their first choir concert of the season! The concert took place at the SLPHS in the main auditorium and the choir sang season pieces along with various choral works such as "Hi! Ho! The Rattlin' Bog" and "Pete, Pete!" The seasonal pieces focused on the idea of drinking the best cup of hot chocolate during a wintery blizzard! Various students narrated the concert and a few singers performed solos for the audience. The choir thanks everyone who attended their performance, and they look forward to their next choir concert on January 30 with the high school choirs!

Congratulations to the Nordic skiers who competed at Elm Creek. The girls placed first in the 6-team race led by Milla Erickson placing first overall and Kylie Nelson in 6th. The boys were 3rd with Phil Kram placing second overall in a tight 3-way finish. Evan Trapp was 7th overall. Congratulations to all the skiers on an excellent race!

Students from the Westwood Math Team finished a very respectable season on January 8 at Chippewa Middle School. Our division contains 4 schools and a total of 20 teams totaling about 130 students overall. After competing in five meets with the other teams (four meets were virtual and January 8 was in person) over the course of the year thusfar, Westwood had teams that finished in 13th place, 10th place, 7th place, and 2nd place overall. The individuals of the team in second place are pictured left to right Olivia Vertalino, Morgan Macomb, Vansh Dhalgara, Teddy Sanks, Archie Sanks, Kellen Salek, and Theo Baskin. Westwood also had three individuals place within the top 10 students in the division overall. These mathletes are pictured left to right Vansh Dhalgara, Owen Sass, and Teddy Sanks. Math league participants this year showed much growth through several individual successes along the way. Congratulations to all of our mathletes on their great efforts and successes this year!

Students in Ms. Golanowski and Olson’s class went deep sea diving for sunken artifacts this week! To learn more about what brought European Explorers to the New World during the Age of Exploration, students completed a “dive” for artifacts and recorded their findings to share with others.

Westwood 6th grade general music and band students had the delightful opportunity to listen to and engage with the wordly ensemble, "Heliopsis." The musicians played the cello and mbira, and they discussed how music making can happen anywhere in the world. Nyattu and Mikey shared about their own cultural backgrounds and what music means to them. The students asked many different questions regarding the mbira, how musicians work together, and how music making can add peace to a busy life. The students look forward to more performances and meaningful music making in the future!

Registration for the 2024-2025 school year is almost here. Over the coming weeks, there will be opportunities for 8th graders and their families to learn more about Spring Lake Park High School, including course offerings, program options, graduation requirements and athletics and activities.

Registration will officially open on Tuesday, January 16. As we prepare for the opening of course registration, please be aware of and mark your calendar for important timelines and events happening over the next few months.

• Tuesday, January 16 – High School registration opens for the 2024-2025 school year. Students register for classes in Infinite Campus. Registration materials, including a registration catalog, interactive course guide and recorded presentations on important topics are available at SpringLakeParkSchools.org/HSregistration.
• Tuesday, January 30 –
• High school and middle school counselors will be working directly with 8th graders to introduce them to the high school and create their first 4-year plan. This will be the first step toward registration for next year.
• Online family information session covering a general overview of registration, 6:30 p.m. | WebEx
• Wednesday, January 31 – Online family information session covering a general overview of registration, 9 a.m. | WebEx
• Thursday, February 7 – Explore your Options event at the high school, 5-7 p.m.
• Friday, February 16 – High school registration closes for the 2023-2024 school year.

Thank you so much to volunteers that helped at our first Trimester Treat Table last Friday including Meghan Hollenbeck, Rachel Folden, Andrea Hansen, Karla Gust, Tara Johnson, Katie Cortes, Susan Grefsheim, Jeanne Kalien, Mieka Tokle, Molly Papillon, Heidi Sass, and Lana Rohrer.

We are in need of two additional Art Adventure Volunteers in January. Westwood PTO is getting ready to present a new collection from the Minneapolis Institute of Art and we need your help! Sessions will run January 22-26 during school hours. Get signed up here .

Join us for our next PTO meeting on January 29 at 10 a.m.

You are invited to get out of the cold and meet other families and friends for a fun night on February 9 from 6-8 p.m. Families can play Bingo in the cafeteria or bring your own game/puzzle from home, have open gym time, or play KanJam or Corn Hole. There will be $1 concession snacks/drinks for sale in the cafeteria. The Book Fair will also be open. This is not a drop off event and students must have a guardian in attendance.

Spring Lake Park Schools is hosting a number of events this winter and spring to help current and incoming families prepare for the next steps in their students’ education. Whether you are looking to enroll a student, preparing for a school transition or registering for classes, we hope students and families can join us to learn more about:

• Kindergarten Kickoff for the Class of 2037
• Get to Know Westwood for current 4th grade families
• Transition to 7th grade for current 6th grade families
• Transition to 8th grade for current 7th grade families
• High school registration for current 8-11 grade students and families
• Enrolling a new student

• Babysitting 101 (ages 10-13): For those interested in learning the current practices of caring for young children and how to manage their babysitting business. Students will learn safety and injury prevention, first aid basics, feeding and caring for infants and how to handle behavior problems.

• Get ready to laugh: Live on 65 Welcomes America’s Everyday Comedian
• School closings and alerts reminders
• Reading your child's report card (K-6)
• 1-page handout
• brief video tour
• Multicultural Community Resource Fair - Jan. 11
• Supporting healthy homes . . . learning

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