WEST WILDCAT NEWS

Due to weather conditions, Cherry Creek Schools will be closed Friday, November 8th.

All classes, school activities, and before & after school daycare programs will be closed November 8th.

For more information about the closure, visit www.cherrycreekschools.org/weather.

For our first West Wildcat Newsletter of November, we have a few celebrations and announcements but also want to highlight some safety and security details first for WMS:

• Students should not arrive on campus prior to 8:00 a.m., when supervision begins for Homework Help. If not attending Homework Help, students should not arrive on campus before 8:30 a.m.
• Students must be picked up from campus by 4:45pm (Monday-Thursday) and 4:00 on Fridays
• As the weather begins to shift, please make sure students are dressed for the weather. If the windchill is above 20 degrees, students will be going outside for lunch recess.

Congrats to 7th boys basketball on finishing up their season 3-1. Sixth grade boys’ basketball is starting off their season with the largest group of participants we’ve had in a few years. They also started off strong, winning their first game.

Start looking for deals on holiday gifts for children newborn to 18 years old. WMS NJHS students are collecting new items for our annual toy drive. Please bring an unwrapped item to the east car loop the week of December 2nd. Thanks in advance for your support!

If you purchased your West Middle School directory print edition, those should have been delivered home through your student. If you got the electronic version (or both) you can access the directory online by logging into your MembershipToolKit account. Please reach out if you are having difficulties accessing the directory.

If your child will be absent, please call the WMS Attendance Line to report the absence:

• For students with last names A-L, call 720-554-5110
• For students with last names M-Z, call 720-554-5111

Please note, if a student is marked as tardy or unexcused absent, automated phone calls will be sent at 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM daily to notify families.

• If you believe there has been an error in your child’s attendance, or if you need assistance, please contact the WMS Attendance Clerk at 720-554-5109.

Thank you for your cooperation Wildcats!

We hope this message finds you well. We wanted to inform you that the report cards for your student were initially sent out on October 25th; however, due to a system glitch, the links did not function as intended.

We have resolved the issue, and the report cards were successfully resent to you yesterday, November 6th. Please note that the link to view your child's report card will expire on November 13, 2024. Be sure to download or save a copy before that date.

If you encounter any issues or have questions regarding the report cards, please don't hesitate to reach out to cwheeler@cherrycreekschools.org.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support!

Seven years ago, West Middle School began a partnership with Hero’s Puppy For Life.org to raise money for veterans suffering from PTSD. We use the money raised to purchase service dogs, one year of veterinary care, and service-dog training for the veterans and their animals. This year our goal is to raise $3500.

There are several ways you can support this goal.

1. Attend dine-out nights at Parry’s Pizza. Dates will be advertised in the coming weeks.
2. Attend any boy’s basketball HOME game and purchase concessions outside the main entrance to the gym.

In the month of November, Cherry Creek Feeder schools will be collecting donations to support school resource pantries throughout CCSD. Please see the flyer below for more details.

To ensure a successful and convenient Donation Drive, WMS will host a drive-through drop-off day during morning student drop-off and afternoon pick-up. This will take place on November 19th, again during morning drop off and afternoon pick up. Simply bring your supplies with you and drop them off with the admin at your students grade-level door. We’ll take care of bringing your donations inside! Please see this link to see what items we are accepting.

It is that time of year again to nominate incredible individuals for the 2024-2025 Golden Heart Awards!

This prestigious award is for any individual who has "opened their heart" to touch the life of a Cherry Creek School District student with special needs. This includes, but is not limited to, bus drivers, teachers, cafeteria workers, paraprofessionals, specials teachers (media, art, P.E., music), those in support positions, students, and community employers.

Attached is a letter detailing this award and a link to submit nominations. It is also available via the following link: 2024-2025 Golden Heart Nominations

Nominations are open now and will close on December 13th at 4 PM. We cannot accept late entries.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

The Food and Nutrition Services Department has moved to a new software program (MySchoolBucks) for all operations. All meals (breakfast and lunch) remain free for all students this year. Families are encouraged to complete a meal application to take advantage of other benefits offered to them and to support Title I funding in CCSD.

Go to https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/getmain?requestAction=home to make an account for your child. It's going to ask you to pick the school and ask for either your child’s student ID or their birthday. Once the account is created you will be able to add money to their account. Linq is deactivated for the district, any money that was left over from last year would have been transferred to their new account.

The Yearbook Club is hard at work making sure this year's memories are captured in the most special way! From classroom moments to sporting events, performances, and everything in between, we are dedicated to documenting every milestone and memory.

Don't miss out on getting your copy of this year’s yearbook! Order your yearbook by pressing the button bellow so that you and your student can relive all the unforgettable moments from the year.

Thank you for supporting the Yearbook Club – we can’t wait to share the finished product with you!

We offer homework help at the following times:

1. Before School: 8:00am to 8:40am, Mondays - Fridays
2. After School: 3:50pm-4:40pm, Mondays - Thursdays; no after school activities on Fridays

• Expectations for Homework Help/Study Hall

• Use the restroom and fill your water before entering.

• Stay in the Commons.

• Bring a charged device.

• Sign in. Find a seat. 1 person per table.

• Keep your phones put away and off.

• Work on school work quietly until dismissal.

At the end of Homework Help/Study Hall… Push in your chair and take all your belongings.

Monday 11/11:

Drama Club after school in room D127.

Yearbook Club after school in room A212.

Math League after school in room B104.

Soccer Club after school with Mr. Clark, Mr. Temple, & Mr. Yemi - meet on the track.

6th & 8th Boys Basketball practice in the gyms.

Drama Rehearsal in the cafeteria or in room D127.

V.O.I.C.E.S. of Color Meeting in the Design Hub at 6:00pm.

Tuesday 11/12:

Jazz Band after school in room D126.

Minecraft Club after school in room D111.

Wildcat Orchestra Club after school in room D125.

Spelling Bee Club after school in room A101.

Drama Rehearsal in the cafeteria or in room D127.

6th Boys Basketball Games @ Campus from 4:30pm-7:00pm.

8th Boys Basketball Games @ WMS from 4:30pm-7:00pm.

Wednesday 11/13:

Robotics Club after school in D111.

Marvel Cinematic Club after school in Counseling.

6th & 8th Boys Basketball practice in the gyms.

Drama Late Rehearsal in South Gym/Cafeteria from 3:45pm-8:00pm.

Accountability/PTCO Meeting in the Design Hub at 6:00pm.

Thursday 11/14:

Brain Bowl after school in room B205.

STEMblazers in room D110.

6th Boys Basketball Games @ WMS from 4:30pm-7:00pm.

8th Boys Basketball Games @ Laredo from 4:30pm-7:00pm.

Drama Rehearsal in the cafeteria or in room D127.

Friday 11/15:

No after school activities (except Drama) or late buses.

Drama Late Rehearsal in South Gym/Cafeteria from 3:45pm-8:00pm.

Saturday 11/16:

Drama Rehearsal from 9:00am-2:00pm.

Monday 11/18:

Drama Late Rehearsal in South Gym/Cafeteria from 3:45pm-8:00pm.

Yearbook Club after school in room A212.

NJHS after school in the Design Hub.

Math League after school in room B104.

Soccer Club after school with Mr. Clark, Mr. Temple, & Mr. Yemi - meet on the track.

7th & 8th Girls Basketball begins the gyms.

Tuesday 11/19:

Donation Drive drive-through drop-off before and after school!

Jazz Band after school in room D126.

Just Do It - Young Business Leaders after school in room B102.

Minecraft Club after school in room D111.

Wildcat Orchestra Club after school in room D125.

Spelling Bee Club after school in room A101.

Student Council after school in room C108.

7th & 8th Girls Basketball practice in the gyms.

Wednesday 11/20:

SAGA Club after school in room A214.

Robotics Club after school in D111.

Marvel Cinematic Universe Club in Counseling.

7th & 8th Girls Basketball practice in the gyms.

Drama Late Rehearsal in South Gym/Cafeteria from 3:45pm-8:00pm.

Thursday 11/21:

Brain Bowl after school in room B205.

STEMblazers in room D110.

7th & 8th Girls Basketball practice in the gyms.

Fall Play in the South Gym from 6:30pm-8:00pm.

Friday 11/22:

No after school activities or late buses.

Fall Play in the South Gym from 6:30pm-8:00pm.

Please see our athletics schedule below!

The basketball season is here, and we’re thrilled to have your 6th and 8th boys, and your 7th and 8th grade girls on our team representing West! Here are a couple of important reminders:

1. Please ensure that your athletics form is filled out. You can pick one up at the Dean's office or find it online under the athletics tab. Once completed, please email it to cwheeler@cherrycreekschools.org.

2. Don’t forget to log into West Middle School Revtrak to pay the basketball fee for your grade.

Thank you, and let's have an amazing season!

Students on the WMS Track Team were issued Track Jerseys to wear for Track Meets. Now that the season is over, those should have been returned to the Track Coach as they are the property of the school. If your student has not returned their Jersey, a fee of $35 has been assigned in PowerSchool. If the Jersey has been lost, please log in to PowerSchool to pay that fine. Jerseys can be returned to Coach Nahorniak, and once she has accounted for them, the Bookkeeper will be notified to remove the fee.

Track Team also has a participation fee of $60. If your student was on the Track Team and that fee was not yet paid, please log on to PowerSchool to pay that fee. All Athletic Fees go to the District to offset the cost of Coaches, Officials, Transportation, and other costs associated with supporting Athletics at WMS.

West Middle School offers a variety of opportunities for students to engage in athletics, after school activities and clubs. We encourage all students to pursue their interests and passions through extracurricular activities. The more involved a student is within their school, the better they will achieve and feel connected.

Please be sure to talk with your student about staying after school and communicating with you about which club/activity and days your student plans on staying after to participate. After school activities run from 3:45 to 4:40 Monday – Thursday. Late buses are available for students who are already assigned to a bus, and depart at 4:45 PM. Those who do not take a bus and participate in an after school activity are expected to be picked up no later than 5:00 PM.

Students are encouraged to participate in clubs and activities that interest them. Research has shown that students who complement their academics with extracurricular experiences often enjoy school more and connect with their peers and teachers through more positive interactions. In addition, clubs and activities provide opportunities for students to express their creativity in a variety of ways. Students should listen to the announcements and check the building rotators for sign-up information, start dates, and times.

If you are willing or able, please donate the following items to Ms. Migliaccio or Ms. Genzer:

• Cereal Boxes
• Small cleaned out yogurt or condiment containers

Thank you Wildcats!

Colorado Jr. Thescon is coming to the Convention Center Downtown on December 12.

• A one-day event filled with engaging theatre activities and opportunities to showcase talents.

• Registration due to Mrs. Brickley October 31.

• Open to any interested student, even if you are not in drama or the play this semester.

• More info at bit.ly/wmsdrama or see Mrs. Brickley

Through the Looking Glass - November 21 and 22

Go Through the Looking Glass with Alice in this adaptation of Lewis Carroll's classic Wonderland tale.

Tickets are available online or at the door.

$8.00 (WMS students are free with ID and must be accompanied by an adult)

6:30pm - November 21st and 22nd

FREE student show after school Thursday, November 21. Students can stay after school to see the play and support their friends and then take the late bus home!

Wildcat Unified Theatre - December 18

Join West Students as they let creativity rule and put the Spotlight on Ability in our first Unified Theatre performance. This student-written, student-led performance highlights brings students of varying abilities together to present Dreams of Gratitude: A Bedtime Adventure on December 18 at 6:30pm. Free Admission.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Jennifer Brickley

jbrickley@cherrycreekschools.org

bit.ly/wmsdrama for show and class info

Hello Families of West MS!

Where are my resources? Below is a quick reference on where you and your child can find information about grades, assignments, test scores, supplemental links and videos from teachers and attendance information:

Start Here: Navigate to www.my.cherrycreekschools.org to access your parent and student portal

Check Grades, Attendance, Tardies and Missing Assignments

Bonus Tip:

*Click on the teacher’s name to email them directly!

*Click on the grade to access the gradebook!

Individual class pages where you can find supplemental videos, links, assignments and the Week-At-A-Glance

Bonus Tip: *If your child submits an assignment, they must email the teacher to let them know (Schoology does not send an automatic notification!)

Each student has their own email address where teachers will send important messages

Bonus Tip: *Have your child check their inbox and clear out old emails! Many students have never looked to see if a teacher has emailed them!

Ali Holstein (6th Counselor) aholstein@cherrycreekschools.org

Justin Cantrell (7th Counselor) jcantrell4@cherrycreekschools.org

Emily Carter (8th Counselor) ecarter3@cherrycreekschools.org

As part of our ongoing efforts to promote our core values—Community, Achievement, Respect, and Equity—we’ve been reinforcing the following expectations with students during Dean's talks.

Classroom Expectations: Students should follow teacher or guest teacher directions the first time, stay in their assigned seats, avoid horseplay, and use appropriate language. They should not leave the classroom without SmartPass approval, and personal devices are not allowed between 8:50am and 3:45pm. Being on time means arriving promptly—not leaving backpacks behind.

Bus Behavior: Students must respect bus drivers, keep hands to themselves, sit quietly, and follow assigned seating. Please remind students that violating bus rules can lead to disciplinary action, including suspension from the bus.

Cafeteria Guidelines: Students should only visit the cafeteria in the morning if they plan to eat breakfast. They must stay in the cafeteria until 8:40 AM and leave by 8:47 AM. It’s important to dispose of trash properly and use appropriate language and volume levels. Students must enter their student number for food.

Thank you for your continued support in helping reinforce these expectations at home.

Transportation is required by CDE Regulations to account for all students on the bus and unauthorized passengers are not permitted. However, the Transportation Department recognizes that circumstances may arise, e.g. a family emergency, parents out of town, etc., when a student needs to ride home with another student on a one-time only basis. The student must get off at the assigned stop of the student they are riding with (no exceptions).

Make sure to fill out and turn in the linked Permission Slip to the Dean's office no later than 9:00 AM on the requested ride date. Forms can be printed and handed to the Dean's Assistant. Hard copies of the form can be picked up from the Dean's office if they are needed but must be picked up prior to the day they need to ride a different bus. No emails will be accepted. If there is an emergency, please call the main office at 720-554-5180.

Vaccine Letters:

Vaccine letters will be coming out this week if your child is non-compliant per Colorado State guidelines. Please send in vaccine records or complete the non-medical exemption course as soon as possible and send in your certificate. Just a reminder, Tdap is required at age 11 - and is of particular importance right now with Pertussis (whooping cough) on the rise!

Respiratory Illnesses on the Rise:

We are seeing an increase in Pneumonia, Covid, Flu, and Pertussis. If your child has symptoms of illness, please consider keeping them home. District guidelines require a student to be 24 hours post-fever WITHOUT fever reducing medications before returning to school regardless of what illness a student has.

Gastrointestinal Illnesses on the Rise:

We are seeing an increase in students with diarrhea and/or vomiting. A student needs to be 24 hours with no diarrhea/vomiting before returning to school and again, with no fever-reducing medications.

Let’s celebrate how our students, teachers, and communities are already using our library resources this year!

Our Middle Schools have really stepped up their use of Sora, with 8,778 eBook, audiobook, and magazine checkouts so far in 24-25, compared to 5,920 checkouts at this point last year, an increase of a whopping 48.277%! 🔥 Make sure you or your students stop by the library to check out a book, or go online to find an e-book or audio book through Sora!

• Parent/ Guardians are now able to update Additional Contact info in their https://my.cherrycreekschools.org/ accounts by clicking on the Guardian Tile.

  
  

  Some things to keep in mind:

  • If a Household 1 Parent/Guardian has not completed Parent Forms, they will not have access to the Guardian Update tile.
  • Household 2 will only be able to access this tile if they have a 2nd household setup in PowerSchool. If they need to create a 2nd household, please see the Admissions section on the District Website. On the left menu, they will need to click on the link titled “Change/Update/Verify Address or Household Info."
  • Changes made through the update tile will be visible in PowerSchool within minutes.
  • Occasionally, parents will not see their students listed when logging into the Guardian Update tile. Refreshing the screen will correct this issue.

You can pay your student's fees by visiting the West Middle School Revtrak page or you may send your student with cash to the bookkeeper. Regrettably, we are unable to accept checks.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Please see the below message regarding the new CCSD Volunteer/Partner Process. If you are currently volunteering or plan to volunteer in the future, please complete the online volunteer form. It should only take a few minutes to complete. We want to thank you in advance and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school.

New Colorado legislation has prompted greater need to screen and document volunteers in our schools. Therefore, beginning January 2022, we must ensure that every volunteer completes a brief application to support activities in CCSD schools. This information will be automatically linked to the Raptor System. The good news is they only need to complete this form once per school year, and it will meet the requirement to volunteer in all CCSD buildings.

To access the form, please click on the following link: https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/NzU0OmVuLVVT

Definitions

• Volunteers are guests who are supporting students, completing tasks, and under the immediate supervision and direction of District licensed personnel.

• Visitors are guests who are solely entering the building to conduct business such as participate in a meeting, eat lunch with their student, or attend a school sponsored activity.

The safety and security of our students and staff remains our top priority. Every person entering our buildings must have a District ID or a badge printed from the Raptor System.

Thank you again for your continued support.

Get your West Spirit Gear!

Store link: WMS Sideline Store

Remember, a portion of all proceeds return back to West Middle School to support our students -- so thank you Wildcat families!

Dear Families,

This email is to serve as an important reminder for students to carry their bus card when riding the bus. Students without a bus card will experience longer wait times on the bus and/or could be denied a ride home from school if they cannot be identified. Please see below for more specific details and information on how to replace your student’s bus card if necessary.

MORNING BUS ROUTES TO SCHOOL

All students will be provided a ride to school in the morning regardless of whether they have their bus card or student ID. If a student does not have their bus card, the student will be directed to the back of the line and the following process will take place:

1. Student will be asked to provide their student ID.
2. Bus driver will check student ID and manually load student in system.
3. If the student cannot be found in the system or the information contradicts the student ID or what the student is saying, the bus driver will call Dispatch.

AFTERNOON BUS ROUTES FROM SCHOOL

*Students must ride the bus home to which they are assigned.

In the afternoon, if a student does not have their bus card, the student will be directed to the back of the line and the following process will take place:

1. Student will be asked to provide their student ID.
2. Bus driver will check student ID and manually load student in system.
3. If the student cannot be found in the system or the information contradicts the student ID or what the student is saying, the bus driver will take the following action appropriate for primary and secondary level students.

• Bus driver will call security/administrator at the school to identify the student.
• If a school staff member is unable to identify student or respond in a timely manner, the student’s ride will be denied, and the student must contact a parent for a ride home.

ALL FOOTBALL GAMES at LEGACY STADIUM AND STUTLER BOWL are $6.00 each and AVAILABLE ONLINE ONLY or with Credit or Debit at the Gate. NO CASH is accepted at the Gate. Middle School students should be accompanied by an adult, when attending CCHS football games. Please use the link below to purchase tickets ahead of time.

Cherry Creek Cross Country team is excited to host our first-ever community 5k on Thanksgiving Day. Proceeds will benefit the Cherry Creek XC team. We are also asking participants to bring a non-perishable food item or unopened personal hygiene to support the Cherry Creek School District's November donation drive. Learn more about specific donation requests here.

Registration is $25 and includes a t-shirt and hot chocolate or coffee after the race. Sign up today!

Registration is open for the TurCreek Trot 5K! This year's event will take place on November 28, 2024 at Village Greens Park, 9501 E Union Ave, Greenwood Village, CO 80111.

We're excited to see participants of all levels on Thanksgiving morning. Well-behaved dogs are welcome to join in the fun, too!

November 11th, 2024 - November 15th, 2024

Veterans Week 2024 - The Cherry Creek School District is proud to honor our nation's heroes with events at every school in the district during Veterans Week 2024. Find an event near you!

Board of Education Meeting

November 11th, 2024

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Liberty Middle School
21500 E. Dry Creek Road

Aurora, CO 80016

Voices of Color (formerly District P.A.S.S.)

November 13th, 2024

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

• Click here for more information about Voices of Color (formerly District P.A.S.S.)

Eaglecrest High School
5100 S. Picadilly St.
Centennial, CO 80015

Special Education Advisory Committee

November 14th, 2024

9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

• Topic: What is my behavior communicating? De-escalation and CPI training

• Click here for the Special Education Advisory Committee Website

Student Achievement Resource Center

14188 E Briarwood Ave

Centennial, CO 80112

District Accountability Committee ~ Community Forum

November 20th, 2024

6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

• Click here for more information about the District Accountability Committee.

Instructional Support Facility

5416 S. Riviera Way

Centennial, CO 80015