Westview Wildcat Weekly

Wildcat Family Newsletter - Monday, April 22, 2024

STAAR Testing Next Week

Students have completed STAAR assessments for Reading/Language Arts (RLA), Science (8th grade only), and Social Studies (8th grade only).

As a friendly reminder, our STAAR assessments are tied to state accountability, and it is very important that our students attend and give their best effort on this assessment. Students are scheduled to take the Math STAAR next week, starting Tuesday, April 30th, as indicated below.

Math:

Tuesday, April 30th: 8th Grade
Wednesday, May 1st: 6th & 7th Grades
Thursday, May 2nd: Make-up testing for any students who missed their scheduled exam

Below are some very important do's and don'ts students were reminded about for the STAAR tests:

Do's:

It is VERY important for students to bring a fully charged Chromebook and charger! Our supply is limited, so students will need to bring their Chromebook and charger.
Get plenty of rest the night before the test
Eat a healthy breakfast
Bring a healthy snack (nothing that is messy or disruptive) and water
Give your best effort and take your time (all students have until the end of the school day to finish the test)

Don'ts:

Leave laptop and charger at home
Talk during testing or disrupt the testing environment- this could invalidate a student's score and require them to repeat the test over the summer
Not turn in cell phone/electronic devices - all phones and electronics will be collected, and students will sign the agreement form. Using a phone or electronic device during testing could result in an investigation and invalidating a student's score.

Family Night Fundraiser

Westview PTO is hosting a Family Night fundraiser this Wednesday, April 24th from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. All families are welcome to attend to enjoy some food and fun! The funds will go directly to the campus.

WMS Book Fair/Game Night

Westview Middle School is having a book fair the week of Monday, May 6th. We are also hosting our annual Game Night on Tuesday, May 7th from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Students and parents are invited to join us for pizza, fine arts performances, and other fun activities!

6th/7th Grade Award Ceremony

Students have worked hard this year, and we want to recognize our 6th and 7th grade students for their academic achievement as well as strong attendance. Our 6th and 7th grade award ceremony is scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 23rd. Please be on the lookout for additional information soon!

8th Grade Field Trip/Graduation/Dance

We want to send our 8th grade students off in style! Our 8th grade students have a field trip scheduled to Austin's (formerly Austin Park and Pizza) on Tuesday, May 28th! Ms. Holtz, counselor, is our contact representative for this trip. Please reach out to her if you need access to the field trip form and if you need to still pay the $20 field trip fee.

The 8th grade graduation is scheduled on Tuesday, May 28th at 6 p.m. at Connally High School. 8th graders will have a dance immediately after graduation. Please be on the lookout for additional information about these events.

Big Decisions

8th Grade students are completing the Big Decisions, abstinence-plus sexual health education curriculum this week in science class (4/22-4/26). 8th grade parents/guardians received communication about this curriculum along with an opt-out form for those who do not want their student to participate.

WMS Yearbook

It is not too late to order your Westview Middle School Yearbook. You can order using the QR code in the image below or by visiting: jostens.com/YB24LIMITED

Academic Tutorials

Students in need of academic help can stay Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays after school for tutorials. Westview has a late bus that will transport students to their normal bus drop-off location. We have 5 weeks of school remaining, and we ask students/parents to continue monitoring grades through Skyward.

Please also know that Westview is beginning to review which students will need to attend summer school based on grades, attendance, and/or STAAR performance. These parents will be contacted directly and provided more information about our PfISD summer program.

End of Year (EOY) Exams

Students are taking their Renaissance End of Year (EOY) exams in their Reading/Language Arts (RLA) classes this week. Please remind your student to bring a charged laptop/charger for this test, since our supply is limited.

This assessment helps our teachers and administrators review student academic growth since the beginning of the school year. Unlike the STAAR test, this is a national norm-reference exam that compares students reading skills and levels to other students their same age/grade.

Food Deliveries

This is a friendly reminder that students cannot have food delivered to them through food delivery services (i.e., Uber Eats, Door Dash, etc.). Food that is delivered will be kept in the office, and it can be picked up after school in the main office.

Please know that parents/guardians are always welcome to bring food to their student.

Attendance

Student attendance is vital to maximize student learning and participation. Regular attendance is also a requirement as outlined in our handbook and TEA guidelines. Students who are absent should turn in a note to the front office to document the absence.

On the note of attendance, punctuality is also very important. Students are reminded to arrive to class on time during the transition period. Regular tardies are not only cause a disruption to the learning environment, but consequences can be assigned for regularly arriving late. There are a few exceptions, but overall students are able to make it on time to class when they walk directly from their class to the next.

You can continue to monitor your student's attendance in Skyward. If you need any assistance, please contact the front office at (512)594-2200. We appreciate your support with this process!

Student IDs

For student safety, all students are required to bring and wear their IDs daily. If your student has lost their ID, they can purchase a new one in the main office for $5 or pay online.