Westwood Intermediate/Middle School

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The Panthers for a Purpose Week of Giving is here! There are a few more spirit days to go. The online auction is open and there are still a few options to dine to donate. This is the Panther Foundation’s largest fundraising event of the year and the money raised directly benefits our schools and students. I hope you find some way to get involved this week.

Reminder that family information sessions will be held online for the 6th to 7th grade transition (February 27) and the 7th to 8th grade transition (February 28). See details in the newsletter today. Students will be registering for classes in the coming weeks. Information on classes will be provided during the information sessions and on the registration hub where you will find the course guide.

We have our monthly pulse check tomorrow from Possip. Thanks for sharing your experiences. We review every single comment. We share praise comments with staff, and any questions and concerns help us in our next actions at school.

Thursday, February 22 is office hours from 3:30 – 5 p.m. All staff are available in the building for parents to drop in, schedule a time, or meet online. Staff will also be reaching out to parents they need to connect with on specific student learning.

Have a great rest of the week.

Tom Larson

Principal

• iPad Update REQUIRED for State Testing: According to Apple and our state testing platforms, all iPads must be updated to the latest version of iPadOS (17.3.1) in order to fix some known bugs on iPads with our state testing apps. Please ensure that your student’s iPads are updated by going to Settings>General>Software Update. If you require any assistance, please contact Technology Services by emailing techsupport@district16.org or call 763-600-5555.
• Update your SLP App: The Spring Lake Park Schools mobile app has been updated to the latest version. With a newly enhanced home screen, intuitive user experience and a fresh take on news feeds, you'll be able to find everything you want, all in one place. To see this newest version of the app, please make sure your app is updated. Don't have the SLP mobile app? Learn more and find directions on how to download our free app.

Our next Possip pulse check is coming your way Thursday, February 22. Once again this month, you will receive a text message and email with a few simple questions asking for feedback on your experience with school. Watch for the messages from Possip and make sure to reply to the brief survey and help keep us updated on your experience. Your responses remain confidential if you choose and you can choose to reply in your preferred language. Thank you!

• February 21-23 - Access Testing, grades 5-6
• Thursday, February 22 - Office Hours, 3:30-5 p.m.
• Monday, February 26 - PTO meeting, 10 a.m.
• Monday, February 26 - Grupo de Padres Hispanohablantes de SLP reunión, Woodcrest Spanish Immersion, 5-6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, February 27 - 6th to 7th grade transition online session, 10 a.m. or 6 p.m. | WebEx
• Wednesday, February 28 - 7th to 8th grade transition online session, 10 a.m. or 6 p.m. | WebEx
• Thursday, February 29 - Westwood Spring Musical - "Oliver Jr.," SLPHS Fine Arts Center, 7 p.m.
• Friday, March 1 - Westwood Spring Musical - "Oliver Jr.," SLPHS Fine Arts Center, 7 p.m.
• Saturday, March 2 - Westwood Spring Musical - "Oliver Jr.," SLPHS Fine Arts Center, 2 p.m.
• Thursday, March 7 - End of Tri 2
• March 8-18 - Spring Break

Registration for the 2024-2025 school year closed last Friday. While this initial registration window is closed, we still have a few checkpoints before next year:

• Week of March 18: A confirmation of course choices for 2024-2025 is sent to homes. Students and families can check the choices and make adjustments as needed.
• May: School visits and tours. 8th graders will have the chance to visit the high school and interact with high school mentors to learn more about the transition to 9th grade.
• August: Students receive their final schedules. This usually happens the week before school begins at a Meet and Greet event at the high school.

It was great welcoming students and families to the Explore your Options event earlier this month. For grade 8-11 families who have additional questions or want to talk more with high school counselors about career, college and life topics that are on your mind, please join us at the next Let's Talk: Career, College and Life event next Wednesday, February 28. Warm up with a cup of coffee and learn more about the opportunities your student has at SLPHS.

Events take place at 7:30 a.m. at Spring Lake Park High School or 11:45 a.m. on WebEx.

• Wednesday, February 28
• Wednesday, April 24

All sessions are general and open discussion is welcomed and encouraged. You bring the questions; we bring the coffee. Please fill out this form to let us know you'll be joining us.

Center-based students proudly showing off the bulletin board they helped create for Black History Month: "We Are Brave Like Ruby"!

Lillian Maatman, Spring Lake Park Lighthouse student and Westwood Band student, auditioned for and was selected to be part of Minnesota Band Director’s Association state-wide 6th – 8th grade Honor Band!

This is a BIG accomplishment, as those students selected from across the state spent many hours preparing a recorded audition last fall. In addition to playing with Westwood’s Band program, Lillian also takes private lessons with Hunter Nicholson. Lillian will rehearse with guest conductor Mickey Smith, Jr. and perform with the state-wide honor band on the weekend of April 13 and 14, 2024 at Edina High School.

Our are 7th Grade Students "Cupid's Crew". Created Valentine's Day cards for Bel Rae Senior Living to give back to our older generations and show we care!

Students in Ms. Rodriguez and Ms. Davé's classes learned about the Lunar New Year. We welcomed the Lunar New Year by learning about the significance of the dragon in the Year of the Dragon. Students received money envelopes and practiced Chinese calligraphy to decorate our classrooms with.

The PTO is a free group open to all staff and guardians of 5-8th grade students at Westwood. The goal of our PTO is to increase family involvement and enhance student learning and experiences at Westwood. We focus on family enrichment, staff/student support, and community engagement. We have monthly meetings during the school year and there are a wide variety of volunteer opportunities. We use the BAND app for sign ups and communications.

Westwood's librarian, Allison Jeziorski, will be at our PTO meeting NEXT MONDAY to discuss ways students can access books on their iPads and how to search for books available in the library. We hope to see you in the Den at 10 a.m. Monday, February 26!

Email Westwood's PTO or join our group on BAND.

The Panther Community is celebrating SLP Schools and raising money for the Panther Foundation all week long. Here are some exciting ways to still get involved:

• Silent Auction opens for bidding today, Wednesday, February 21 at 3 p.m.
• Still time to enjoy Dine to Donate at Tipsy Steer and Crisp & Green.
• Dress in spirit wear the last two days this week, Thursday is white out and Friday is Panther Spirit Day.
• Donate to this year's Fund-A-Dream and support the Panther Pantry and Weekend Food Pack program. Learn more here.

• Learning . . . to Do
• Teacher's Union requests SLPTU Teacher of the Year nominations
• From letter sounds to chapter books, caterpillar to butterfly
• Grades 7-12: Register for spring athletics
• Culinary Arts fosters passion, skills and possibilities
• See calendars for 2024-2025 and 2025-2026
• EMT certification leads to fire station internship

Order pre-filled eggs to be hidden in your yard by the Pantherette Dance Team after dark on Saturday, March 30. All proceeds go to support the Pantherettes. Orders are due by March 22. See details.

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