This year we welcome a new GATE teacher for our Gifted and Talented Education program. Thankfully, this is a person already in our Blue Jay family. Ms. Zachau from the 6th grade team will be moving into this roll on August 30th. To make this possible, we are shifting classes to better utilize our assets. This means that there will be only one teacher for each 6th grade subject.

• Ms. DeGuira English
• Mr. Strong Math
• Ms. Cecil Science
• Dr. Gill Social Studies

Students will receive their new schedules on Monday afternoon and begin their new rotation on Tuesday. Ms. Zachau will assist this transition as she waits to begin her new responsibility on the 30th up in room 312.

Are you a LEADER? Do you have ideas & initiative? If so, then we want YOU to consider running for Student Council! This year, our Student Council will include a President (8th grade), VP (7th or 8th grade), Secretary (6th grade), Treasurer (6th or 7th grade), a grade level representative from each grade as well as Nestbuilder representation. Start planning your campaign strategies.

If you plan to run for Student Council, you will need THREE teacher/staff recommendations and write a THREE paragraph essay about:

• WHY you would like to be a part of Student Council.
• What you think YOU bring to the table (what characteristics or traits you have that would benefit the Student Council)
• Ideas you have to improve WEMS culture & climate (how can WE make OUR school BETTER?)!

See Mrs. Johnson for an "Intent to Run" form. Cheris.Johnson@mnps.org

West End offers a wide variety of clubs-everything from Ultimate Frisbee to Dungeons and Dragons. BUT there’s always space for more offerings. Please contact Jeff Middlebrooks at jeffmiddlebrooks@gmail.com for next steps on how to get your club idea going.

Clubs planned for 2023-2024:

Battleball Club

Code Ignite

Drama Club

Dungeons & Dragons

EmbrACE

Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Girls Who Code

Multimedia Club

The FLAG Club

Ultimate Frisbee

West End Art Birdies Club

Interest meetings next week (Parent Permission Forms must be turned in at or before attending.)

Monday (Aug 21): Dungeons & Dragons - Library - 4pm (Mr. Stephens)

Tuesday (Aug 22): West End Art Birdies Club - Room 001- 4pm (Ms. Lake)

Show your leadership skills in supporting all schools in our district.

September is National Attendance Awareness month! All schools are encouraged to submit one selected theme to enter the district competition.

Directions will be given to where to submit your ideas inside the building. Then the winner will be submitted to the district. There will be awards for our building level winner(s).

District winner will receive district recognition, theme will be distributed across

the district, and the student and school will earn a special prize!

Students ages 8-18 are invited to participate in "Show Us YOUR Nashville," a creative contest for young Nashvillians to present ideas about how to improve our city. Students can create a visual representation of their ideas using media from crayons to computer graphics, with a short description. Prize winners will receive up to $1,000. The contest runs through Sept. 22, and finalists will present their ideas at the Artville.org festival on Sept. 30.

The WEMS PTSO are selling banners with your company's logo on it- banners will cost $1000, be 3'x5', and placed on WEMS campus. Advertise your company and support our awesome school!

Our corporate sponsors help fund important PTSO functions, such as teacher appreciation, equipment and uniforms for our sports teams, funding for after-school events and field trips, and classroom wish list items. We want to bridge the gap between our funding and our school needs. An investment in our local school is an investment in your community. Together, let’s invest in West! In addition, we will be holding a silent auction in the spring and would love any donations of gift cards or business services if you are not ready to commit to sponsorship. Please complete the below sponsor form and mail with payment. A check is the preferred method of payment. Please email Melissa Fuller at monamissa@hotmail.com with your graphic that we can print on the banner. See form on this link....

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WztUlOfPdjm6SvqtlXn7U6JsZ3bEsxcu7o49tlyqUdE/edit?usp=sharing

Our PTSO has put together some new swag for this school year. It's been a few years since we have had a fresh look so check it out online. Order from your computer or phone with the option to have it shipped directly to your house.

Let's get ready for our Homecoming later this fall by having as many people as possible swagged out in our new line of West Wear!

Review the online Student-Parent Handbook and submit your responses to requested permissions using our Online Permissions Portal. It is important to submit your permission responses, as some activities/courses require parent/guardian permission before a student can participate.

In years past, the default has been “yes” for students to participate in the district’s School Climate Survey unless their parents opted them out. However, due to new legislation (TN Code § 49-2-211), this year, the default is “no” unless parents opt them in by either submitting permission online at permissions.mnps.org or returning a signed paper permission form.

Please return permission forms (paper or online) for your survey participation rates to ensure we have rich data about our school climate from our students’ perspectives.

8/31 – possible scrimmage (TBD)

9/7 – Wright (5:15pm)

9/13 – @JT Moore (Hillsboro High @5:15pm)

9/21 – HG Hill (5:00pm) HOMECOMING

9/28 – @Bellevue (5:00pm)

10/4 – Rose Park (5:00pm) 8th GRADE NIGHT

10/19 – @Croft (4:45pm)

Interested in back to school music lessons? The Song Spot on Music Row has back to school lesson availability for students interested in voice, piano, guitar, ukulele lessons! Belmont graduate and WEMS previous morning ukulele club instructor Dana is the owner and lead teacher at The Song Spot. At the studio, we offer a free 30-minute trial lesson for the student to make sure they love it! In person and virtual lessons offered to both children and adults! Check out more info on our site: https://www.thesongspot.us/lessons-for-kids-nashville

Email: James.Stephensiii@mnps.org
Website: https://westend.mnps.org/
Location: 3529 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN, USA
Phone: 615-298-8425
Twitter: @westendmiddle