West Middle School e-Bulletin

We finished our week of professional development, classroom set-up, and preparations and are looking forward to welcoming students to school on Tuesday, September 3rd!

No amount of unfinished construction can damper our excitement to welcome students back to school on Tuesday. Students bring energy and excitement, and our building comes to life when they return to school.

• First Day of School - 1/2 day . . . . . . . Tuesday, September 3 (8:15 am - 11:30 am)
• First Full Day of School . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday, September 4 (8:15 am – 3:09 pm)
• Open House (Curriculum Night) . . . . Thursday, September 12 (6:00-7:35 pm Parents only)

At the outset of every school year the district changes the network/Google passwords of our incoming 6th graders to improve the security of their network and Google accounts All current 6th graders' network/Google passwords will be changed overnight.

When it is needed, staff at their school will assist your student in learning their new password, however families may also log into Parent Connection to view their student's new password. This can be done by logging into Parent Connection, clicking on your student, and scrolling down to the Network Information section where both their username and password are listed. As a reminder, knowing these credentials can also facilitate families in the monitoring of their student's district Google account.

In addition to viewing and sharing the new password with your student, please consider reminding them of the need to safeguard their password and not share it with anyone else.

If you have any questions, please email your school’s technology support team.

Chromebook distribution will begin next week. Students are expected to have a device at school each day and the school is unable to provide a loaner if students forget or families choose not to participate in the Chromebook program. (Students can bring their own devices.)

If you still want to register to reserve a Chromebook for your student, please follow the directions listed here. The Chromebook Take Home Participation Agreement (online in Mistar Parent Connection) and all payments (RevTrak) must be completed by Thursday September 5th. Families who complete the form and/or payment(s) AFTER September 5th will have to wait until the make-up day to obtain a Chromebook.

The distribution schedule will be as follows:

6th Grade - Friday, 9/6

7th/8th Grade - Monday, 9/9 & Tuesday, 9/10

Any Chromebook questions can be directed to west.technology@pccsk12.com

All of us have temporarily relocated to the collaboration space (Room D99). This is just for a short time until the construction in the main office is complete. We want students and families to know where we are and to be able to find us.

All students will be receiving a green lanyard with their school ID during first period on Wednesday, September 4th. Students will need to use their IDs to swipe for lunch if they are getting a school lunch or breakfast. Please help us out by double checking that your student has their lanyard with them each day when they come to school. Thank you

Here is LINK to a communication that was sent to all students who are enrolled in a zero-hour class in middle school.

The front (north) drop-off loop is the only area designed for the drop-off and pick-up of students by private vehicles. There is no drop-off or pick-up by personal vehicles allowed on the south side of the building (bus loop) for safety reasons.

The drop-off system works most efficiently if drivers pull ahead as far as they can in the loop before dropping off their child along the curb. There is a natural tendency to drop off by the flag pole [close to the entrance]; however, this limits the area along the curb for cars to drop off. This can cause the vehicles to back up towards Ann Arbor Trail and increase the time required to drop off students and the congestion in the lot.

Please remember to pull as far forward toward the drop-off sign (the green balloons) before letting students out on the right side of the car only.

Please do not turn left when leaving the lot after drop-off or pick-up, as this considerably slows the flow of traffic.

At dismissal time, it is recommended that parents utilize the entire curb area while waiting to pick up their child. We encourage people to pull forward to fill the spaces that open up as parents pull away after picking up their child. Please do not wait in one spot leaving spaces along the curb in front of you. Thank you for your cooperation.

Please look for an email from Durham Transportation (or check MiStar after August 23rd) for the most up-to-date transportation information. Any questions regarding transportation, please feel free to visit the Durham website for complete details, contact information, and services.

Also, you are welcome to load the app "BusZone" to follow your student's bus. You can follow the instructions linked below to download and set up the BusZone app on your smartphone.

IMPORTANT- PLEASE NOTE: The District Access Code for P-CCS is 4097PCCS. You need to enter your student's ROUTE NUMBER, not their bus number, when setting up your account. Your student's ID Number, Route Number, and Bus information can be found in the MiStar Parent Portal on the TRANSPORTATION tab.

BusZone Flyer (English)

BusZone Flyer (Español)

For more information, please view the BusZone User Guide.

You can call the transportation department at 734.416.3032 or 734.416.3033 if you have any questions or concerns.

Thanks to the Michigan Schools Meal Program, the Nutrition Services Department can serve all our students one breakfast and one lunch at no cost to you for the 2024-25 school year! You can check out this FLYER for more information about it.

We are asking all students to wear their student ID when accessing the food service lines at West Middle School. Students will need to swipe their ID to receive their breakfast or lunch. Students will be given a lanyard and their student ID on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 - the first full day of school. They MUST be wearing this to get in line for food. Please help them stay organized and be sure they bring it to school each day.

Families are still encouraged to complete the Summer EBT and Education Benefits with the Michigan School Meals Program Application. Families that qualify for Summer EBT and Educational Benefits with the Michigan School Meals Program are eligible for additional benefits, including discounts for pay-to-participate, access to computer WI-FI, and other reduced fees.

More information about Food and Nutrition Services for the 2024-2025 school year is available on the P-CCS Food & Nutrition Services page.

If students are not in class, they cannot learn. Please check out the Middle School Attendance Policy Absences will be categorized as documented, verified, or unverified. It is important that you get documentation for all absences that qualify as documented absences, and report verified absences to the school.

Students may be considered truant under the following circumstances:

• Absence from school and unverified for more than five consecutive days.

• Absence from school for any reason, verified or unverified, for 10 or more days within a 30-day period.

• Absence from school for any reason, verified or unverified, for a total of 30 or more days within a school year.

• WMS recognizes the importance of communication and collaboration, and provides devices for students to be productive in the classroom. To keep the focus on academics and to reduce unnecessary distractions, the school will be enforcing the following:

  • Cell phones and all mobile devices shall be TURNED OFF upon entering the building at 8:00 am until dismissal at 3:09 pm.

  • Cell phones and all mobile devices shall be kept in a student’s locker – not in clothing pockets or in pencil cases.

  • Cell phones, and all mobile devices, are not allowed to be used in locker rooms or restrooms at any time.

  • In rare cases, cell phones may be used in a classroom when directed by the teacher and for academic purposes only.

  • If a student needs to make an emergency call during the day, they should come to the office to place a call.

  • Consequences are progressive and can be found HERE on page 47-48.

We ask that families and students use the main office when communicating messages from home or school.

If your student needs to take any medications during the school day, you will need to bring those to the main office in the original container with a medication form signed by your student’s doctor. Here is a link to the Medication Form if you need it: https://www.pccsk12.com/home/showpublisheddocument/1669/636014067202170000

The 24-25 Yearbook may be purchased online anytime at yearbookforever.com
By purchasing your yearbook online, you are able to engrave the cover with your student’s name and order extra add ons for the yearbook. You may also order a yearbook at Schedule Pick-up using cash or check (made out to PCCS). Yearbooks are available for the discounted price of $30 from August 14 thru October 1, 2024; after that, the cost will go up to $35.

Important Note: When entering your child's information in the "Homeroom Teacher" box, please type your student's FIRST HOUR teacher's name. This is VERY important! If your student takes a class at the high school in the morning, type "Williams" on the spot.

Middle school athletics kick off with cross country practice beginning on September 4th, the first full day of school! Here is LINK to the practice calendar with specific times. Please note that our home meets will be at Northridge this year.

Additional Middle School athletic information is available here. Athletic physicals dated April 15, 2024, or later must be turned in before a student can try out/practice. ATHLETIC PHYSICAL FORM are linked and hard-copies can be found in the the main office.

Cost:

7th & 8th Grade Students: $200 for the first sport. All other seasons free

6th Grade Students: $125 for the first sport, second sport is free

It is preferable that payments are made online. To do so, click this PAY TO PARTICIPATE LINK, select your middle school pay to participate page on the left-hand side, and follow the log-in instructions. If you cannot pay online, a check may be written to “PCCS or Plymouth Canton Community Schools” and turned in to the coach. Payments need to be submitted by the first contest.

Families have an opportunity to participate in West Middle School's Hassle Free Fundraiser during schedule pick-up. This is West's most significant fundraiser; all donations benefit students and student programs. To learn more about the Hassle-Free Fundraiser or other ways you can support West Middle School, please click on this LINK. You can click HERE to donate online to the Hassle-Free Fundraiser through RevTrak.

Attention all West Students and their families!

West Middle School has an E-Commerce Spirit wear store! All you have to do is click THIS LINK and it will take you to our very own website designed to meet all of our West Middle School spirit wear needs. From T-shirts to Jackets, bibs to blankets, and everything in between. Shop at your leisure, pay online via your credit or debit cards, and have your exclusive order shipped directly to your house! All the convenience of Amazon, with West flair! Additionally, you can shop knowing that 10% of your order will be returned directly back to West and invested in your child!

Order Now and start summer with the West Middle School Swag that will have you representing our school in style all summer long!

Link: https://shop.game-one.com/michigan/plymouth/west-middle-school

We are thrilled to announce that the P-CCS Annual Back to School Bash has been rescheduled! Get ready to Fall into Fun with P-CCS! The event will now occur on Thursday, September 26, from 4:30 PM - 7 PM at the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park (P-CEP) bus loop.

We hope you are still able to join us in making this year’s Bash as successful as last year’s! Although it’s later in the season, it’s never too late to celebrate and connect with the community. Last year’s Bash drew hundreds of P-CCS families eager to learn about the district's programs, and we’re excited to recreate that energy this year.