Westland Middle School

Weekly Update: November 4 to November 8

WMS Newsletter Accessiblity

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Our digital newsletter can be translated into many different languages and the font can be adjusted so our entire community has access to what is happening in the WMS Wildcat Community!

To adjust your view of the newsletter, click on the "accessibility" button. The button is a circle with figure in it. Once you click the accessibility button, the menu to choose the language or different font size will appear.

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: November 4, 2024

Good Evening Westland Families,

This is Mrs. Walker, and here is the Westland Weekly Update for November 4, 2024.

As we begin the 2nd marking period, it’s a great chance for our middle school students to set new goals and embrace a fresh start. Building on the progress from the first quarter, students can make the most of this opportunity by staying organized and planning ahead. A tip we would like to provide is utilizing our WMS advisory period. STAR time is an excellent resource for reviewing assignments, planning upcoming work, and asking questions. Here’s to an exciting and successful new quarter!

We have a different schedule this week. As a reminder, students do not have school on Monday (11/4) and Tuesday (11/5). Students return to school on Wednesday (11/6).

In this week's newsletter you will also see the following upcoming events:

Westland Learning Highlights
Yearbook Updates
SSL Opportunities (Urban Farm Volunteer Event at Loiederman M.S. & Annual Changemaker Workshop)
MCPS Lecture Series: Impact of Brown vs. Board of Education decision on MCPS
Hearing and Vision Screening
Family STEM day at Montgomery College
Speak Up and Save a Life Video Contest
National C-SPAN Documentary Video Competition Open to Secondary Students
Montgomery College’s Sonya Kovalevsky Day Event for 6th grade students
Speak up Series
Upcoming MCPS Events
Weekly Reminders (WMS)
Weekly Reminders (MCPS)

All of our communications, and the most up to date information, will also be shared on the WMS website. Additionally, messages with QR codes or zoom information will have links to access the information if you are viewing this message on your smartphones or tablets. That concludes our message for this week. We look forward to a great week because we are #BetterTogetherWMS. Have a wonderful evening.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Nicole Walker

Principal, WMS

Westland Learning Spotlight!

Speak Up Series

Speak Up Save a Life -Video Contest

National C-SPAN Documentary Video Competition Open to Secondary Students

Family STEM Day (Montgomery College Event)

STEM Exploration (Sonya Kovalevsky Day)

Bethesda-Chevy Chase HS Weekly Athletics Schedule

SSL Opportunities

Veterans Day Event: Urban Farm and Sustainability Hub

MCPS Webinar: Brown vs. Board of Education

Yearbook News (from Josten's)

Vision and Hearing Screening (Grade 8)

Chromebook Information

Celebrations

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.

Volunteer for Speak Up Series!

Transportation

Bus Transportation Information for 2024-2025

We have provided the bus stop information for the school year. Please click on the link for pick-up times and drop-off times.

Mental Health and Safety Resources

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 / አማርኛ
Frequently 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 / አማርኛ
Visit 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!)

Technology Information and Support for Parents in MCPS

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.