Westwood Intermediate/Middle School

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For anyone who missed the update this morning regarding social media threats to schools, please take a moment to read the brief update we sent. There are no new developments to share with you. There continue to be no confirmed threats to Westwood or any of our Spring Lake Park Schools. We are monitoring this diligently and in partnership with law enforcement.

Our staff is excited to focus on learning and continuing to build our Westwood community together. Here are a few important updates for this week:

• Curriculum overviews were posted online today. Staff have uploaded their curriculum overviews for the school year. The overviews include information on what students will be learning throughout the year, expectations, how parents and student receive feedback on learning, and team schedules.
• Join a live curriculum Q&A WebEx session tomorrow. Tomorrow, Thursday, there are open WebEx times for parents to ask questions and connect with the teachers on the curriculum overviews. The information and summary links are located here for your convenience.
• Tomorrow is picture day. Tomorrow, Thursday, is picture day for Westwood. Pre-order today on mylifetouch.com using your Student ID or Picture Day ID: EVTSNF8MW
• Our first lockdown drill is Friday. Each year, we are required to conduct several safety and security drills. This is practice for staff and students to respond to a variety of scenarios. Find more information in today’s newsletter about these drills and other updates for the year. Our first lockdown drill with students is Friday, September 20 at 9 a.m. If you do not want your child to participate, please let the office know before Friday so we can make accommodations.
• Join us for Family Serve Night this Friday. We look forward to seeing families at the Westwood Family Serve Night this Friday, September. 20, 6-8 p.m. Families can work together for our community on a variety of projects like: making tie blankets, creating placemats for meals on wheels, making pet toys for local animal shelters, creating cards for 1st responders, military, and children’s hospitals, and creating kindness kits.
• First pulse check is Thursday, September 26. We will be doing occasional pulse check this year to check in on your current experience with Westwood. You can expect texts/emails from Possip, our pulse check partner. Each round, there will be a couple of quick questions. We’ll be kicking off pulse checks on Thursday, September 26.
• MAP testing is next week:
• Tuesday, September 24 - MAP Reading
• Thursday, September 26 - MAP Math

I hope to see you at Family Serve Night on Friday. Thanks for helping to make a difference.

Have a wonderful week,

Tom Larson

Principal

This school year, Spring Lake Park Schools will offer events to help equip caregivers to support their children around social-emotional-behavioral and mental health well-being. We hope you can join us.

We ask that families RSVP for each event so we can prep for the discussion and have enough snacks/beverages for the group. Childcare will be available.

Events:

• (Spanish speaking event) Balancing Acts: Navigating the Spectrum of Relationships presented by Esperanza United - October 23, 6-7 p.m. in the Den at Westwood Intermediate and Middle School. This presentation examines the spectrum of relationships, highlighting the importance of recognizing teen dating violence, the five types of abuse, and empowering young people to foster healthy connections and seek help. RSVP for this event.
• Healthy Relationships presented by Noah Shepard with Alexandra House - February 25, 6-7 p.m. in the Den at Westwood Intermediate and Middle School. Learn tips and tools for healthy relationships including red/green flags, boundaries, and consent. RSVP for this event.

If you have questions, contact Social Worker Abbey Pierce.

• Thursday, September 19
• Curriculum Preview and Presentation
• Picture Day
• Friday, September 20 - PTO Family Kindness Night, 6-8 p.m., Westwood cafeteria
• Saturday, September 21 - PTO Feed My Starving Children event. See PTO section for details.
• Tuesday, September 24 - MAP Reading, grades 5-8
• Thursday, September 26 - MAP Math, grades 5-8
• September 23-27 -
• Homecoming Week and Panther Foundation Sweepstakes
• Kindness Spirit Week
• Monday - Chalk the sidewalk
• Tuesday - Compliment someone
• Wednesday - Classroom Choice
• Thursday - Do something kind at home
• Friday - Hold the door open for someone
• Friday, September 27 - Homecoming Football Game, Panther Stadium, 7 p.m.
• Monday, September 30 - PTO Meeting at 6 p.m., Westwood Den
• Wednesday, October 2 - Live on 65: After Hours Big Band – Buy tickets

• October 3-4 - No school

• Monday, October 7 -

• High school winter athletics registration opens
• Grupo de Padres Hispanohablantes de SLP reunion, 5 p.m., Woodcrest Spanish Immersion School

In DAPE this week, students are working on various movement forms and are using scooters and trikes for different types of movement. Students are moving on scooters in a variety of ways and working on team-building activities.

Team 6C celebrated "International Dot Day" on September 16 by dressing up in dots and doing fun dot activities. Dot Day celebrates the uniqueness and creativity of each and every one of us. Students created their individual, unique dots to display in their classrooms.

Students in Grade 5 Spanish Immersion in the Cotta/Burda classroom have been working on collaboration skills within their math and reading classes. It allows everyone an opportunity to work with those in their desk groups and with other friends within the room. Using the knowledge and skills of each other, successful work has been accomplished.

Our annual fundraising started last Monday! Your student(s) should have brought flyers home. Funds raised support Pep Fests and Community Building, Mileage Club, Art Adventure, Book Fair, Recess Gear, All School Lock-In, 5th Grade Welcome Experience, 8th Grade Celebration, Trimester Treat Tables, Family Nights, and more!

Club Choice Product Sales Annual Fundraiser

• Click here, to register!
• Limo Lunch Ride awarded to students who have sold 25 items or more
• With code WES384
• All checks made payable to Westwood PTO

All orders/donations will be due Monday, September 30.

Tomorrow is the last day to bring in items to class that will be used to create kindness kits. We need new hats, gloves, granola bars, Band-Aids, socks, etc.

Join us for our Family Kindness Night in the Westwood cafeteria on Friday, September 20 from 6-8 p.m,. There will be Culvers for $2 (cash only) available.

Next week is our Kindness Spirit Week! All students are encouraged to do the following acts of kindness:

• Monday - Chalk the sidewalk

• Tuesday - Compliment someone

• Wednesday - Classroom Choice

• Thursday - Do something kind at home

• Friday - Hold the door open for someone

1. Direct Donations by cash or check written to SLP Westwood PTO

• PAYPAL Account @SLPWestwoodPTO
• VENMO @SLPWestwoodPTO

3. Club Choice Annual Fundraiser :

• Limo Lunch Ride awarded to students who have sold 25 items or more
• With code WES384
• Checks: Made payable to Westwood PTO

Today is the last day to sign up for Feed My Starving Children spots before extra spots are returned to the general public. You can still sign up until Saturday and pack with our group, there just may not be spots left in our join codes. Click here to sign-up.

The Opportunities in Emergency Care program at Spring Lake Park High School, part of the school's unique career and college pathways, had two teams place first at the HOSA International Leadership Conference in Houston, Texas. There were more than 12,000 competitors at the event from all over the world.

Four graduates in the Class of 2024 earned the top honors before setting off for their college careers and next steps in health care. Learn more about the competition, the program, and how these students are leaving high school prepared for what comes next. See the full story.

• Messiest Science Experiments Ever! (grades K-6) - October 3 and 4, 9 a.m. – noon - Join us for a thrilling blend of learning and fun where young scientists will dive into fascinating theories while getting delightfully messy.

• Golf Squad on Campus (grades 1-6) - October 16-18, 1-3 p.m. - When school is out during fall break, beat boredom and stay active! This program will bring Golf Professionals to our campus to teach the fundamentals of the game of golf as well as valuable life lessons.

• First LEGO League (Grades 5-8) - The First Lego League class is an innovative and hands-on learning experience that introduces students in grades 5-8 to the exciting world of robotics, engineering, and critical thinking. Starts October 10.

The Panther Pride Sweepstakes starts on Sunday, September 22. The Panther Foundation is posting a new question on the sweepstakes page each day. Each day, families and staff members can submit their entries. The more days you enter the more changes you have to win.

Students who win earn a $500 cash prize for their school and will choose where to direct the funds from several pre-determined projects. The winning student will also win a $50 Panther Store Gift Card. The winners will be randomly drawn on Thursday, September 26. Good luck, Panthers!

Ready to sport some new gear this homecoming season? We've got you covered! Save 15% online September 18-28 with code 24Homecoming

Additionally, the store will be selling special edition shirts for $5. These are adult sizes only and limited quantity while supplies last. Shirts are available online starting today or check out in-store shopping options here.

Spring Lake Park High School presents the fall play “Puffs (for Young Wizards),” a hilarious take on life at a wizard school from the perspective of the lesser-known students. Performances are on October 25, October 26 (both at 7 p.m.), November 1 (7 p.m.), and November 2 (2 p.m.). Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office.

The director, inspired by his love for the Harry Potter series, selected this fast-paced, comedic play to give audiences a unique, laughter-filled theater experience. Wands are optional but be ready to laugh!

• Lights, curtain, action!
• Smiles, Fist bumps, Endless Possibilities
• Digital Well-Being in Early Childhood: How Can We Manage Screen Time and Mental Health?
• Safety and Security at SLP
• Attendance Matters!
• Live on 65 - After Hours Big Band on Oct. 2

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