Westland Middle School
Weekly Update: October 14 to October 18
WMS Newsletter Accessiblity
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Need To See Resources From Weekly Newsletters?
In an effort to keep our weekly newsletter shorter and more concise, previous weekly messages will be on the Westland MS website (Sunday S'MORES from Mrs. Walker)
Ms. Walker's Phone Message: October 14, 2024
Good evening, Westland Families,
This is Mrs. Walker, principal and here is the weekly update for October 14, 2024.
Thank you to our PTSA reps and 8th-grade team leaders for organizing the cupcake wars. A big thanks to our WMS team leaders for recognizing September’s Students of the Month. Mr. Johnson’s students impressed everyone with their carnival game designs, bringing real-world learning to life. It’s been a fantastic week of learning! I look forward to sharing more academic highlights from all of our programs at Westland.
In response to last week’s communication, I want to say thank you for the adherence to the 'See Something, Say Something' protocol. Safety remains our top priority, as it is essential for teaching and learning to take place. In the newsletter, I’ve included county resources for families, which are also available on the school website.
This week, we are excited to welcome Mr. Ryan Bibeault, our new assistant principal, who will be joining the team, tomorrow, 10/14/24. We look forward to the great contributions he’ll bring to our community!
Additionally, our counseling services team has been hard at work coordinating activities for Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs from 10/18 to 10/22. Stay tuned for a special announcement with more details this week.
Lastly, we’re thrilled to share that news about our upcoming drama production will be announced soon. Please stay tuned for exciting updates!
As a reminder, students do not have school on Friday, October 18th.
In this week's newsletter you will also see the following:
Westland Academic spotlight
WMS Students of the Month
Weekly sports events at BCC
HS County Wide Options offered by MCPS
Upcoming MCPS Events
Weekly Reminders (MCPS)
Weekly Reminders (WMS)
All of our communications, and the most up to date information, will also be shared on the WMS website. That concludes our message for this week. Have a wonderful evening.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Nicole Walker
Principal, WMS
Welcome Mr. Ryan Bibeault, Assistant Principal
WMS Academic Spotlight
Celebrations: WMS Students of the Month!
Grade 8 High School Options
MCPS SSL Opportunity (This week)
B-CC High School Weekly Athletics Schedule
B-CC Cheer & Poms Youth Clinic (This week)
MCPS Social Studies Curriculum Nights
Snack Stash: Donations Needed
Please Join our WMS PTSA
Westland MS Reminders
Communication at Westland MS
Westland strives to make clear community a priority. We will continue to prioritize communication and share about Westland through multiple venues. Please expect the following from us:
- Weekly Sunday night Connect Ed phone call @ 6:00 pm from administration with detailed information on activities and upcoming happenings at Westland.
- Weekly Smore newsletter from administration with detailed information on activities and upcoming events at WMS.
- Staff members may be utiliziing Remind, as our texting communication app.
- All updates and liinks will be found on the Westland Middle School Website.
- Westland Twitter account will be utilized to communicate messages and share news and events with our community. (@EducatorWalker)
We are continuing our work to be more “green” and share as much information as possible with parents electronically. We will notify you with Connect Ed updates when we add or update with new information. But, if you cannot find what you need in this newsletter or on our webpage, please contact the main office and we will be happy to help you!
Counseling Department Information
The Westland Counseling Department is excited for this school year. For more information, please check out the WMS counseling website.
Bus Transportation Information for 2024-2025
MENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY RESOURCES FOR OUR COMMUNITY
Montgomery County Crisis Hotlines:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Dial or Text 988 (for more information click HERE)
Maryland Crisis Hotline - 301-738-2255
Montgomery County Crisis Center - 240-777-4000
Youth Crisis Hotline of Montgomery County - 301-738-9697
Safety and Security Concerns:
Safe Schools Maryland Hotline - 833-MD-B-Safe (833-632-7233)
Safe Schools Maryland Online Report - Click HERE
MCPS Department of Systemwide Emergency Management - 240-740-3066
Cyber Tipline - 1-800-843-5678
MCPS "STRONGER STUDENT" - Student Mental Health and Wellness APP
MCPS Resources and Reminders
Updated Guidance for Student Speech and Expression
Dear MCPS Families and Students,
Thank you for a great start to the school year!
Our community is entering a time that may bring challenging emotions and discussions into our schools and we want to ensure that our entire community—students, families, and staff—has the guidance and strategies to navigate these moments together. With the upcoming national election, the first anniversary of the October 7th attack, and the ongoing conflict, it’s important that we prepare for the range of conversations and emotions these topics may evoke.
For students to be their best in school, their learning environments must remain safe, welcoming, and inclusive. As educators, we strive to model thoughtful and positive expression and encourage students to make respectful, informed choices, especially during challenging times.
The new processes for responding to and communicating when faced with incidents of hate and bias, along with the information campaign addressing these issues, have been shaped by input from our community members. School staff and leaders have received these same resources to ensure we are all operating from the same guidance when managing student speech and expression in our schools.
Thank you for your continued partnership in making our schools a safe and inclusive space for everyone.
Respectfully,
Thomas W. Taylor, Ed.D., M.B.A.
Superintendent
Know the guidance for Student Speech and Expression.
Staff, students, and families must know the rights and guidelines for students to express views on issues important to them.
Guidelines for Students
Español / 中文 / français / Português / 한국어 / tiếng Việt / አማርኛFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
español / 中文 / français / Português / 한국어 / tiếng Việt / አማርኛ
Resources to Reduce and Address Incidents of Hate and Bias
See the steps taken and plans for this school year to reduce and address Hate-Bias
español / 中文 / français / Português / 한국어 / tiếng Việt / አማርኛVisit the new Responding to Incidents of Hate-Bias website.
High-Quality Curriculum
Civic Engagement conversations occur through Social Studies classes, where teachers are provided lessons, guidance, and ongoing professional development. A letter sent from principals and social studies staff provides notification of this work.
Attend the Social Studies Curriculum nights to learn more about how Social Studies is taught!
Social Studies Curriculum Night Webinars
The Social Studies team is hosting a series of Curriculum Night webinars for families to learn more about how social studies is taught in MCPS and how its curricula in kindergarten through 11th grade incorporate the history of various ethnic and cultural groups. The webinars will be held from 6:30–7:30 p.m. on the following dates:
- Thursday, Sept. 12–Black and African American History
- Thursday, Sept. 26–Asian History
- Thursday, Oct. 10–Hispanic History
- Thursday, Oct. 24–Arab History
- Thursday, Nov. 7–Indigenous History of the United States
- Thursday, Dec. 5–LGBTQ+ History (Middle and High School Only)
- Thursday, Dec. 12–Jewish History
To attend, families must register at the above links and a link to attend the webinar will be sent to them.
MCPS Operating Status Updates for 2024-2025
The safety of our MCPS community is critical, and being able to communicate with students, staff, and families during severe weather or other emergencies is of the utmost importance.
Use this link to find all the ways you can connect with MCPS to receive emergency operational information from the school system. The current operating status options for the school district appear on the MCPS website and on individual school websites.
In the event of a change in operational status, this link will provide more information about the MCPS Operating Status options.
Cafeteria News & Secondary School Meals Information
Starting on the first day of school, full breakfasts will cost $1.30, full lunches will cost $2.80, and various ala carte items will be available ranging from $1 to $2.
When students go through the meal line, they will enter their student ID numbers to access their lunch accounts. Funds can be added to student lunch accounts using MySchoolBucks or payments can be made directly to our cafeteria using cash or a check. We will share a link to the monthly menu and specific ala carte offerings during the third week of August, 2023.
No student will be denied a meal if funds are not available on their account. In the event that a lunch account has insufficient funds, the student will still receive the meal and the price will be recorded as a credit which can be repaid at a later date.
It is important to complete the Free and Reduced Meals (FARMS) form if you have previously, or believe you will qualify for free or reduced meals. If your family qualifies for any level of FARMS support, all meals are free. Apply online at www.MySchoolApps.com
Parent Vue
ParentVUE and StudentVUE is a valuable resource for educators, parents and students. It creates a bridge of communication to relay important information such as homework, tests, upcoming events and grades. It is important for students and parents to check regularly to keep track of assignments and grades. However, grades may take longer to post depending on the assignment. Please be patient with teachers as some assignments may take as long as two weeks to grade.
If you need assistance with setting up your account, please email us. Information is also available on the MCPS website.
Parent/Guardian ParentVUE Support Guide (Annual Verification Instructions on page 24!)
Immunizations
The Maryland Department of Health released updated school vaccine requirements for the 2024-2025 school year.
Families of incoming kindergarten students, new students, and 7th and 8th graders may need additional vaccines to start the school year.
Not sure if your student is up to date? Contact your child’s health care provider or access their immunization records online. Students 18 years old and younger eligible for the Vaccines for Children program may obtain free vaccines through the county’s Immunization Program.
Address Change?
If you are moving over the summer please let our counseling office secretary know at Sara_A_Belott@mcpsmd.org.
Westland Middle School Information
Main Office (240.740.5850)
Principal- Mrs. Nicole Walker , Nicole_Walker@mcpsmd.org
Assistant Principal- Mrs. Lauretta Beckett, Lauretta_D_Beckett@mcpsmd.org
Assistant Principal- Mr. Ryan Bibeault, Ryan_P_Bibeault@mcpsmd.org
Administrative Secretary- Ms. Terri Howells, Mary_T_Howells@mcpsmd.org
Financial Specialist- Ms. Suzanne Marcou, Suzanne_W_Marcou@mcpsmd.org
Counseling/Registrar Office (240.740.5860)
Counseling Chairperson/6th grade counselor- Ms. Caryn Fischer, Caryn_Fischer@mcpsmd.org
6th Grade Counselor- Ms. Sarah Cohen, Sarah_A_Cohen@mcpsmd.org
7th Grade Counselor- Ms. Laura Williams, Laura_K_Williams@mcpsmd.org
8th Grade Counselor- Ms. Lauren Geissel, Lauren_Geissel@mcpsmd.org
Counseling Office Secretary- Ms. (Sara) Sally Belott, Sara_A_Belott@mcpsmd.org
School Staff Directory
CALENDAR- Upcoming Events
OCTOBER
- Friday, October 18- No School for Students, Professional Day for Teachers
NOVEMBER
- Friday, November 1 - Marking period 1 end
- Monday, November 4 - No School for students (End of MP1 Grading)
- Tuesday, November 5 - No School for students or Staff (Election Day)
- Wednesday, November 13 - Report Card Distribution
- Monday, November 25 - Early Release for Students
- Tuesday, November 26 - Early Release for Students
- Wednesday, November 27 - School Closed (for Staff and Students)
- Thursday and Friday, November 28-29 - Holiday (School Closed for Staff and Students)
DECEMBER
- Monday, December 23-Wednesday, January 1 - Winter Break
Westland Middle School
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/westlandms/
Location: 5511 Massachusetts Avenue, Bethesda, MD, USA
Twitter /X: @EducatorWalker