Westwood Junior High

Yesterday all the Westwood Faculty and Staff returned to campus to finalize preparations for your child, our wolf pups.

We are looking forward to seeing you at Schedule Pick-Up tomorrow, Wednesday August 7th - 8th grade - 3:30pm-4:30pm & 7th grade - 4:30-6pm. Thank you PTA for partnering with us to make this a fun and memorable event.

If you are unable to attend, your student's schedule will be viewable this weekend in FOCUS. As teacher hiring was based on student course selections, we will not be making elective changes. As you review your student's schedule with them, if there is a missing class period or core content class please let the counselors know.

Classes will begin on Tuesday August 13th and students will enter through the cafeteria doors beginning at 7:45am where they will remain until they are released at 8:10am to head directly to their class. Once the cafeteria doors are closed at 8:20am, students will enter through the front door.

Tuesday and Wednesday, we will have additional personnel in the hallway assisting students to their classrooms. We understand that navigating a new building and/or new classrooms can feel daunting and we are all here to help students find their way.

All Westwood students will begin their day on Tuesday and Wednesday in Wolf Camp, which takes place with their advisory teacher, listed on the schedule. Please see the bell schedule below. Students in 7th grade will receive their chromebook during Wolf Camp on Wednesday when chromebook training and expectations will take place.

All students in 7th-12th grade in RISD will be using Schoology as the learning management system. Since Westwood was a pioneer campus last year, our teachers are well prepared to utilize this system to support your student’s learning. As Schoology is new for 7th graders, we will be working with students during Wolf Camp to get them logged in and navigating the site.

Please pay for your student's chromebook insurance now (link below) as accidents do happen. Paying for insurance now could potentially save you the price of a chromebook replacement later. The link is user friendly and allows for online payments. The deadline to purchase insurance is September 3rd.

Please take time to review the cell phone and smartwatch guidelines, located below, with your student. The goal of these guidelines is to increase instructional time and decrease distraction. We ask that you partner with us in order to ensure your students' success.

Students in athletics will be assigned a locker in the locker room. Additionally, band and orchestra students will drop off their instruments in the respective rooms before heading to class in the morning. Once students have experienced a full rotation of the block schedule, if there are concerns about carrying too many materials between classes, our teachers along with Ms. Guillory, Mrs. Kennedy, Ms. Compton, Mrs. Shields, Mr. Williams and myself are ready to help!

During advisory, students will complete the required student orientation and training. Students will also learn how to log on to FOCUS to check grades and attendance. During the week of August 19th, students will participate in Safety Week when a drill will be explained and practiced each day during advisory.

This week's Wire is full of useful information for the upcoming return to campus. The faculty and staff at Westwood are ready to connect with your students. Thank you for taking the time to review this edition of the 24-25 Westwood Wire, campus newsletter. We hope that you find it accessible and relevant. Please continue to view our newsletters in your email inbox, Westwood Twitter & Facebook pages, school website and PTA platforms every three weeks.

If you have any questions please reach out and ask. We are excited to begin the 2024-2025 school year!

Sincerely,

Katie Mottram

Westwood Principal

• 8/7: Schedule Pick up
• 8/13: First day of school
• 8/27: Fall Picture day
• 9/2: Labor Day Student/Staff Holiday
• 9/11: Open House & PTA Meeting 6 - 7:30 PM
• 9/11 - 9/13: Beginning of Year MAP Testing
• 9/25: Title 1 Parent Meeting 5 - 6 PM
• 10/11: Student Holiday/Staff Professional Learning
• 10/14: Fair Day Student/Staff Holiday

• 10/16: Family Growth Camp 6 -7:30 PM
• 10/25 – RHS Homecoming, early release @ 2 pm for parade and game
• 11/8 – Road to RHS (8th grade parents at WWJH @ 6 pm)
• 11/7 – MST Ed Talks
• 12/17-20 – Fall Exam Week

Whether you’re new to RISD, or returning for another year of school, take advantage of convenient online enrollment using a PowerSchool registration account.

Join the WWJH PTA and show your support for our students! We welcome and encourage parents, grandparents, neighbors, extended family, friends and members of the community to join the WWJH PTA! Support your school and your child by joining WWJH PTA!

Order your Spirit Wear from PTA now to get it at the beginning of the school year!

RISD provides students and parents or guardians the opportunity to purchase insurance for Chromebooks owned by the school district and assigned to a student for use at school and home.

The RISD Device Repair and Replacement Program is available for $20 per device. For families who qualify for the national school lunch and child nutrition program, the cost is $10. For those experiencing financial hardships, please contact your campus administrator for payment options. Parents and guardians can use existing Focus account email address to log in to SchoolPay accounts to acquire the insurance. Click here for more information about SchoolPay.

All students should join the repair and replacement program because it offers substantial savings to even routine repairs. Please download or view the .pdf below for a list of costs for repairs and parts, which can get very expensive as compared to the cost of the premium.

The deadline to enroll in the Device Repair and Replacement Program is Tuesday, Sept. 3.

To promote an optimal learning and social atmosphere within Richardson ISD, students are required to refrain from using their cell phone, smartwatch, and wireless headphones and ear buds throughout the school day. Each student will have their cell phone out of sight for the duration of the school day.

Campus administrators will state expectations clearly and reinforce the importance of maintaining a cell phone, smartwatch, and wireless headphones and ear buds free environment throughout the school year. Administrators will monitor cell phone, smartwatch, and wireless headphones and ear buds violations to inform the need for reinforcement and support. Also, any headphone usage will occur based on the approval and expectations set by individual classroom teachers. RISD’s continued focus will be on the mitigation of educational distractions precipitated by the use of cell phone, smartwatch, and wireless headphones and ear buds during instructional time.

At the Beginning of the School Day:

1. Before entering the school premises, students must power off their cell phones.
2. Before entering the building and while awaiting the opening of school doors, students must place all cell phone, smartwatch, and wireless headphones and ear buds into their backpacks.
3. It is the student’s responsibility to arrive at class punctually with their phone out of sight.

Throughout the School Day:

1. Maintain your cell phone, smartwatch, and wireless headphones and ear buds securely within your backpack for the duration of the school day.
2. Accessing your cell phone, smartwatch, and wireless headphones and ear buds anywhere on campus during the school day is strictly prohibited

Conclusion of the School Day:

1. Once off-campus, students are permitted to utilize their cell phone, smartwatch, and wireless headphones and ear buds

Consequences:

If a student’s cell phone, smartwatch, and wireless headphones and ear buds are visible at all during the day:

1st Offense:

• The phone will be stored in the assistant principal’s office for the day, and the parent or guardian will be notified.
• A warning will be issued to both the student and the parent or guardian about further consequences for failing to comply with the cell phone-free policy.
• Students must complete a behavior contract to confirm their understanding and future adherence to the cell phone, smartwatch, and wireless headphones and ear buds free policy.
• Only the parent or guardian is permitted to pick up the cell phone, smartwatch, and wireless headphones and ear buds; students are not allowed to retrieve their own devices.
• The offense will be recorded in Focus, using the cell phone violation action code

2nd Offense:

• The phone will be stored in the assistant principal’s office for the day, and the parent or guardian will be notified.
• Only the parent or guardian is allowed to pick up the cell phone; students are not permitted to retrieve their own cell phone, smartwatch, and wireless headphones and ear buds.
• The student will be assigned one day of in-school suspension (ISS).
• The offense will be recorded in Focus, using the cell phone violation action code

3rd Offense:

• The phone will be stored in the assistant principal’s office for the day, and the parent or guardian will be notified.
• Only the parent or guardian is allowed to pick up the cell phone, smartwatch, and wireless headphones and ear buds; students are not permitted to retrieve their own devices.
• The student will be assigned 1-3 days of in-school suspension (ISS)
• The offense will be recorded in Focus, using the cell phone violation action code.

4th Offense & Beyond

• The phone will be kept in the assistant principal’s office for the day.
• Only the parent or guardian is allowed to pick up the cell phone; students are not permitted to retrieve their own cell phone, smartwatch, and wireless headphones and ear buds.
• An in-person meeting will be scheduled with the parent or guardian.
• The offense will be recorded in Focus, using the cell phone violation action code.
• The 4th offense and beyond will be considered insubordination for refusing to comply with school rules and guidelines related to cell phone, smartwatch, and wireless headphones and ear buds use. This will be treated as a serious offense according to the RISD Student Code of Conduct, and consequences will be issued accordingly.

The athletic store is open and will remain open until early August to preorder uniforms. The athletic uniforms are mandatory for all students enrolled in boys and girls ATHLETICS. Athletic practices will begin on August 15th or August 16th for football and volleyball. Once again, uniforms are MANDATORY.

Westwood Athletics:

https://nhathletics.com/westwood-athletics/

Physical Education:

For the 2024-2025 school year, Physical Education students will need to purchase the mandatory PE shirt. The shirts are adult sizes.

Westwood PE:

https://nhathletics.com/westwood-pe/

The UIL and the RISD require that student athletes receive a physical examination prior to participation in any sport. This includes current 6th graders who will be participating in athletics next year. These are basic physical exams that meet the requirements set forth by the UIL. If parents wish, they may take their children to their own physician. However, the doctor must complete the UIL physical form. If you did not receive a physical form, one may be picked up at any junior high, high school, or downloaded from the UIL website: http://www.uiltexas.org/athletics/forms and select “Athletic and Marching Band pre-participation physical evaluation form” under the Medical Forms. https://www.uiltexas.org/files/athletics/forms/PrePhysFormRvsd2024.pdf

Parents must also complete the required forms in RankOne before students can participate in Athletics for the 2024-2025 school year. RankOne forma can be found here - https://richardsonisd.rankone.com/New/NewInstructionsPage.aspx

Help to decrease the Summer Slide and join the free public library Summer Reading Programs. Below check out what your city library is doing this summer!

Dallas Public Library - Summer Reading Program -

Richardson Public Library Summer Program –

Students also have access to SORA, the ebook/audio book app on their Chromebooks. There are thousands of books they can read through SORA all summer long!

RISD recognizes the work our teachers perform to support every child, every day. And we believe there is an opportunity EVERY day to show our appreciation for all they do to ensure student success. Click here to learn more about the Thank a Teacher program and how to sign up, and we will connect you with a campus.