Westland Update for Week of April 8

Solar Eclipse on Monday- Westland is not organizing any viewing of the eclipse as a school. Seventh period teachers may choose to bring students out for a stretch of time if students have their own eclipse glasses or pinholed paper. Science teachers shared these slides to help students prepare.

End of Marking Period 3- The final day for marking period 3 is Tuesday, April 9.

No School on April 10- There is no school for students on Wednesday, April 10 so teachers can complete grades.

Beginning of Marking Period 4- The first day of marking period 4 is Thursday, April 11. Health students will return to PE and students of Mr. Fier and Mr. Gant's will rotate to health.

State Testing for All Grades- On Thursday, April 11 and Friday, April 12, all students will take the MCAP test in English/Language Arts. Please arrive to school on time with a charged Chromebook and a charged mind. Students also need earphones with wires but we have many extra sets. (See bell schedule below)

Volunteer Opportunity- Westland Grounds Clean Up- A Westland student-run organization, VolunPeers, is sponsoring a grounds clean up on Thursday, April 11 from 3:15-4:25 for students of all abilities. See details below and to sign up. April 11th Service Project Email VolunPeers@gmail.com with questions.

State Testing for All Grades- On Monday, April 15 and Tuesday, April 16, all students will take the MCAP test in math. Please arrive to school on time with a charged Chromebook and a charged mind. (See bells below.)

Evening Zoom Session on Supporting LGBTQ+ Kids- On Tuesday, April 16, parents and caregivers are invited to join Westland staff and students to discuss the best ways to support LGBTQ+ Kids.

Student Member of the Board of Education Election- On Wednesday, April 17, students in grades 6 through 12 will be voting for the SMOB during the school day.

Boys Soccer Game- On Wednesday, April 17, our boys soccer team hosts Silver Creek at home.

Report Cards distributed- We will distribute 3rd marking period report cards through a homeroom on Thursday, April 18.

Gamechangers Conference- The Gamechangers conference for young men occurs on Saturday, April 20th. (info below)

The BCC HS foundation invites 8th grade parents/caregivers to an event at BCC HS on May 1 from 6 pm to 8:30 pm.

There will be a pre-reception in the lobby area with students and teachers from the many different academic supports and learning pathways at tables for parents to visit and gather information. BCC principal, Dr. Shelton Mooney, will also be in the area to meet and greet parents.

Then at 6:30/6:45, we will move into the cafeteria for comments and a Q&A with Dr. Mooney, followed by the parent to parent “Ask Me Anything” panel discussion.

Have you been dying to chaperone a Westland field trip?

What if I told you it was to Dave and Busters?!!?!?

Details will follow but we will need many parents to attend our school-day, 8th grade trip to Dave and Busters on Friday, May 31st. If you can hold that date (and complete the volunteer training) we would love to have you laugh with our kids losing/winning tickets at Deal or No Deal and slashing kiwis and pineapples as Fruit Ninjas.

• C&O Canal and Potomac Riverside Cleanup - April 13, 2024 (9 AM - 12 PM) - Join us as we work together to clean up the Potomac River and its huge watershed area! Some of the many cleanup sites in our region are in your backyard! Students may earn 3 SSL hours for participating. Interested students may view additional details and sign up at the following link.

• Earth Day SSL Opportunity (April 22, 2024, 9:30am - 2:00pm) - Build the first MCPS farm, and earn SSL hours while giving back to the Earth! Students may earn 4.5 SSL hours for participating. Breakfast, lunch, and transportation will be provided. To learn more, please click here

Join us for Westland's Colorsplash Fun Run on Saturday, May 11.

• Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/MD/Bethesda/WestlandMiddleSchoolColorSplash.

• SPONSOR Westland MS Colorsplash 2024 to get your business in front of the community.

• Adult and kid volunteers (SSL hours) will make the event happen. We need you!

Email wmscolorsplash@gmail.com for more info.

* New Events Are Added in Bold Font

APRIL

• Arab American Heritage Month
• Month of the Military Child
• National Autism Acceptance Month

• Tu, 4/9- Last Day of Marking Period 3
• Tu, 4/9- Girls Soccer v. Pyle at home
• W, 4/10- No School for Students- Grading/Planning for Teachers
• Th, 4/11- First Day of Marking Period 4
• Th, 4/11- MCAP testing in English Language Arts in AM (6th-8th grades) Day 1 of 2
• F, 4/12- MCAP testing in English Language Arts in AM (6th-8th grades) Day 2 of 2
  
• M, 4/15- MCAP testing in Math in AM (6th-8th grades) Day 1 of 2
• Tu, 4/16- MCAP testing in Math in AM (6th-8th grades) Day 2 of 2
• Tu, 4/16- Virtual Parent Session on Supporting LGBTQ+ Kids
• W, 4/17- Student Member of the Board of Education Election (6th-12th graders vote)
• W, 4./17- Boys Soccer v. Silver Creek at home
• Th, 4/18- Report Cards distributed through Homeroom
• Sa, 4/20- Gamechangers Conference for Young Men
• M, 4/22- Earth Day
• M, 4/22- Asynchronous Learning Day- Students at Home
• W, 4/24- Secretaries'/Administrative Professionals' Day
• Th, 4/25- Boys Soccer v. Tilden at Home

MAY

• W, 5/1- Girls Soccer v. North Bethesda at Home
• W, 5/1- BCC Foundation Evening Welcome Event for 8th Grade Parents
• Friday 5/3 and Sat 5/4- Spring Musical- Madagascar Jr.
• Week of May 6- Educator Appreciation Week!
• Tu, 5/7- MAP Testing (all grades) in the AM
• Tu, 5/7- Girls Soccer v. Cabin John at Home
• Tu, 5/7- Parent Teacher Association meeting in the evening
• W, 5/8- MAP Testing (all grades) in the AM
• Sat, 5/11- Colorsplash 2K Fun Run, 5-7 PM
• Tu, 5/14- No School- Election Day
• W, 5/15- 8th Grade State Social Studies Testing Day 1 of 2
• Th, 5/16- 8th Grade State Social Studies Testing Day 2 of 2
• Th, 5/16- Final Day for Activity Buses
• F, 5/17- Spanish 3 Field Trip to Gala Hispanic Theater
• M, 5/20-W, 5/22- Outdoor Education for Buxton's Students
• W, 5/22-F, 5/24- Outdoor Education for Sayeh's Students
• M, 5/27- No School- Memorial Day Holiday
• W, 5/29- 5th Graders Visit Westland
• F, 5/31- 8th Grade Celebration Trip during School

JUNE

• Tu, 6/11- 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony at BCC HS 6:30-8:00 PM

AUGUST

• Th, 8/22- New Student Orientation 8:15-12:00
• Th, 8/22- Back to School Night for Parents 6:30-8:30 PM

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