Words from West

• THURSDAY NIGHT, October 3rd - GB is hosting an assembly for Guardians of Middle School Students:
• Appropriate Technology Use
• 6pm
• East Middle School

October 3 - 6p - Technology and Social Media Usage Assembly at EMS (see above)

October 4 - 11:29a student dismissal - 1/2 Day of School

October 7 - 6:30p Board Meeting at CO

October 8 - 5:30p - First PTO Meeting for WMS in Library

October 9 - NWEA & MSTEP student results sent home (check your mail)

October 21 - 6:30p Board Meeting at CO

October 23 - 5:30-7p 6th grade Halloween Costume Dance

October 24 - 11:29am Dismissal to FALL BREAK

October 28 - School Resumes from FALL BREAK

October 29 - 7p Fall/Halloween Orchestra & Choir Concert

• 2 min Parent Video: https://www.nwea.org/resource-center/resource/what-is-map-growth/
• Students have taken their FALL test, they will test again in the WINTER and SPRING
• Monitor yearly growth
• Advise academic interventions for your child
• Student scores will be MAILED home on Wednesday, October 9th - please check your mailbox and DISCUSS results with your child

This year at both middle schools our students will be analyzing their NWEA Math and ELA scores, creating goals to improve on them, and creating action plans to do so. Students will be doing this in conjunction with their ELA and Math teachers, along with their WIN Time teachers. It is important for our students to understand where they are academically along with their teachers so we can work together in creating an action plan to help all of our students find success in their education. Children learn better—and faster—when teachers have a clear picture of what students know and how they are growing academically. Using the progress monitoring NWEA assessment three times a year we are able to do this. More than 13 million students in the US and in 140 countries worldwide use the NWEA MAP Growth.

• The NWEA MAP Growth is a computer-adaptive test. If your child answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If they answer incorrectly, the next one is easier. This type of assessment challenges top performers without overwhelming students whose skills are below grade level.
• The NWEA MAP Growth uses a RIT scale to accurately measure what students know, regardless of their grade level. It also measures growth over time, allowing you to track your child’s progress throughout the school year and across multiple years.
• Once your child completes a MAP Growth test, they receive a RIT score. Our students will be using this information to track where they are at and make goals for improvement for their next testing.
• RIT scores have the same meaning across grade levels. If a fourth-grade student and an eighth-grade student have the same RIT score in reading, then they are testing at the same level in that subject. This stable scale allows teachers to accurately measure each student’s academic growth throughout the school year and over time.
• You can use your child’s RIT score to help them meet their goals. You can also ask your child’s school about educational resources that will help them in their areas for improvement.

FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH - DO NOW - we need 100% compliance

** Everyone must complete the 2024-2025 online meal application, which is available on the district’s website on the Dining Service page.

MEAL MAGIC FAMILY PORTAL INFORMATION & HELP -https://grandblanc.familyportal.cloud/

Every Family MUST complete the EDUCATION BENEFITS FORM for the 2024-2025 school year.

Please take action now

For assistance, please contact our Food Service Department at (810) 591-6674 or (810) 591-6928.

Family Portal for Free/Reduced Meals

Student attendance in tutoring sessions is essential for reinforcing classroom learning and addressing individual academic needs. Regular tutoring participation allows students to receive targeted support in areas where they may struggle, build confidence in their abilities, and stay on track with grade-level expectations. Moreover, consistent attendance fosters a structured learning routine, ensuring that students gain the skills and strategies needed for long-term academic success.

Details:

• WHO - ALL students are welcome to attend (Sign up in Library)
• WHAT - FREE tutoring provided by WMS teachers
• WHERE - WMS Library
• WHEN - EVERY Week from 3:05pm - 4:10pm
• Monday
• Wednesday
• Thursday

Spanish Lab is a virtual help session hosted by Sra. Weldon a few times each month on Wednesday evenings from 8:00-8:30 pm. Students are welcome to join this Google Meet at any point during the optional 30-minute session for extra support and help with their Spanish class. Please come with specific items, questions and concepts to practice during this time.

Google Classroom Code to Join the Meet: 5pelbz3

Scheduled session dates:
October 2, 2024
October 16, 2024
October 30, 2024
November 13, 2024
December 4, 2024
December 18, 2024
January 15, 2025
January 29, 2025
February 5, 2025
February 19, 2025
March 5, 2025
March 19. 2025
April 16, 2025
April 30, 2025
May 7, 2025
May 21, 2025

Many illnesses do not require exclusion. However, children may be excluded if the illness prevents the child from participating comfortably in school activities or if there is risk of spread of harmful disease to others. These criteria also apply to when staff should be excluded. Criteria include:

• Severely ill – lethargic, difficulty breathing, or rapidly spreading rash
• Fever 101F or greater AND behavior change or other signs of illness
• Staff can use their best judgement if the child does not have a fever of 101F or greater, but still appears significantly ill with symptoms such as glassy eyes and lethargy
• The child should not return until there is no fever for 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications
• Diarrhea – 2 or more loose watery stools
• The child should have no loose stools for 24 hours prior to returning to school unless health care provider determines it’s not infectious.
• Vomiting – vomited 2 or more times
• The child should have no vomiting episodes for 24 hours prior to returning unless health care provider has determined the vomiting is not due to an infectious condition.
• Abdominal pain – abdominal pain that continues for more than 2 hours or intermittent pain associated with fever or other symptoms
• Rash – rash AND a fever or change in behavior
• Respiratory symptoms - Worsening or not improving, and not explained by another cause (e.g., allergies)
• Skin Sore – weeping sores on an exposed area that cannot be covered with a waterproof dressing
• Communicable Diseases – chart for exclusion/return included in guideline
• When NOT to exclude a student from school – examples on Pg 15 of guideline

Resource:

• https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/-/media/Project/Websites/mdhhs/Folder2/Folder88/Folder1/Folder188/Managing_CD_in_Schools_FINAL.pdf?rev=1f118048eb684d32a5254c15e2d4ac85&hash=D7B7218B72177583BBA0A4D90E665354

West Middle School Main Office:

Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 3:30PM

Website: https://www.gbcs.org/Domain
Location: 1515 Reid Road, Grand Blanc, MI, USA
Phone: 810-591-7309
Facebook: facebook.com/gbwms

Athletics/Main Office 591-7309

Counseling Office 591-7335

Counselor (A-K) 591-7338

Counselor (L-Z) 591-7339