Wildcat news

Dear Western Valley Middle School Community,

What a fantastic week we've had at Western Valley Middle School! Here are some highlights and important updates:

• Celebrating Service: On December 11, we recognized Mrs. Eastburn for her incredible 20 years of dedication and service as a school board member.
• Shop with a Cop: On December 12, our student participants enjoyed a memorable experience shopping with local officers as part of this district-wide event.
• Student Dance: Our students had their first dance of the 2024-2025 school year on Friday, and it was a wonderful success filled with fun and great energy!

Looking Ahead:

• We’re excited for our upcoming Holiday Spirit Week, brought to you by our Student Leadership team. Details will be shared soon—get ready to show your holiday cheer!
• Report cards will be sent home this week, providing important updates on your student’s progress.
• Winter Break runs through January 5, 2024. Classes for the second semester will resume on January 6, 2024.

We wish you and your families a joyful and restful winter break. We look forward to seeing everyone back, ready for an amazing second semester!

Respectfully,

Dr. Stephanie Nardi

Principal, Western Valley Middle School

We are excited to share that our students will be learning about the risks of vaping through a grant from notMYkid. As part of our commitment to meeting the needs of our students, we are implementing the CATCH My Breath Youth E-Cigarette Prevention Program.

CATCH My Breath is a research-based program designed to prevent e-cigarette use among students in grades 5-12. Each grade level will participate in four lessons led by notMYkid presenters during their regular science classes. The schedule is as follows:

• 6th Grade: Week of November 18
• 7th Grade: Week of February 3
• 8th Grade: Week of February 10

For more information about this program, please visit www.catchmybreath.org.

Student ID replacement is $5.00. Students will also be charged $1.00 for any extra lanyards and 50 cents for plastic ID pouches. Thank you.

FESD Policy:

Electronic devices including, but not limited to, cell phones, handheld devices, media players, watches, earbuds, or other similar gadgets are not allowed to be used or displayed during the school day, from the beginning to the end, unless a staff member specifically instructs or permits their use for educational purposes. It is important that these devices do not disrupt the learning

environment, compromise safety, or affect the well-being of others. Please note that the school district cannot be held responsible for any loss, damage, or theft of such devices, and students bringing such devices to school or a school event do so at their own risk.

To maintain a focused and respectful learning environment at Western Valley Middle School, we have a clear policy regarding cell phones and wearable tech:

• All cell phones must be turned off and kept in backpacks throughout the school day. This includes lunch, recess, and passing periods.
• If a cell phone is seen out during the school day, it will be confiscated. The phone can be picked up by a parent or guardian (not the student) in the office after school or before school the following day. This policy will apply to each offense.
• Wearable technology, such as smartwatches, will be subject to the same policy if they become a distraction.