Dear Western Valley Middle School Community,

We understand that the recent social media threats targeting WVMS and other schools within our community have caused concern. Please rest assured that the safety of our students and staff remains our top priority. We are working closely with the District Office and the Phoenix Police Department, and we take these threats with the utmost seriousness. Together, we are ensuring that our campus remains a safe and secure environment for everyone.

Safety is a collaborative effort, and we truly value the partnership we share with our families. To help keep our campus safe, we ask that you actively monitor your child's social media activity, staying alert to any risky behaviors or images that could jeopardize the safety of our school environment. If you encounter any posts or messages indicating potential threats, we urge you to report them immediately to the Phoenix Police Department's Crime Stop at (602) 262-6151.

It's important for both students and parents to understand the role they play in maintaining a safe school environment. As part of our ongoing efforts, we kindly remind you to share the following key points with your children:

Do Not Share or Repost Threats: While it might seem helpful, sharing or reposting threats—even out of concern—can cause unnecessary panic and disrupt investigations. Often, the intention behind these threats is to incite fear and chaos, and circulating these messages only amplifies that effect.

Report to Authorities: If your child encounters a threatening post, the most responsible action is to report it immediately to law enforcement. This allows the proper authorities to investigate quickly and thoroughly.

Stay Informed and Cautious: We encourage families to have open conversations about responsible social media use and the serious consequences of sharing harmful content. It's essential that students understand the potential impact their online activity can have.

Together, we can ensure the safety of our school community. We are incredibly grateful for your support and cooperation during these times. By working as a team we can prevent unnecessary disruptions and maintain a secure, focused learning environment for everyone.

Thank you for your continued partnership and vigilance in helping keep our school safe.

Sincerely,

Dr. Stephanie Nardi

Principal

Western Valley Middle School

Support WVMS and Show Your Wildcat Spirit! 🐾 We're excited to offer you a chance to show your Wildcat pride and help us raise money for much-needed shade canopies on campus! By purchasing Wildcat spirit wear, you’ll be contributing directly to this important cause.

You can order your spirit wear online at this link. The PTO fundraiser closes on September 22, so be sure to place your order soon. Shirts will be delivered to campus and handed out to students in their homerooms.

Thank you for your support, and Go Wildcats!

We are excited to invite you to join us in cheering on our Wildcat Athletes during our upcoming home games on campus! Your support means the world to our students, and we look forward to seeing our stands filled with enthusiastic fans.

To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, please note that students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the entire duration of the game. No students should attend any WVMS home games without an adult. Any students who remain on campus without an adult will be sent home.

This policy is in place to maintain a safe environment for all and to ensure that our home games are a positive experience for our entire community.

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support. Let’s come together to show our Wildcat pride!

Our Middle School Store is now open! We have students scheduled below so that our bus riders can get to their buses on time and still visit the store. These classes are release earlier on the following days. Once the 3:30 bell rings, all students are able to purchase items from the store if they are a walker or getting picked up.

Mondays: grade 8

Tuesdays: grade 7

Wednesdays: grade 6

Thursday: closed

Fridays: Ms. Metz's Class

Parents, please consider volunteering from 3:15 to 4. The link to sign up is below.

Please be sure that your child comes to school with a water bottle to stay hydrated during the day. It is hot and our students get thirsty during the day.

If you have extra water bottles that you would like to donate to our nurse's office, please send them to our front office. We will gladly accept donations of clean, re-useable water bottles with lids for our students to use.

We’re excited to announce a new initiative to recognize students who go out of their way to be respectful, responsible, and safe at school. Students who receive positive office referrals will be rewarded with a dress-down pass and automatically entered into a drawing at the end of each quarter for a $25 gift certificate to our School Store.

We’re also happy to share that the School Store will be opening soon! Stay tuned for more details as we prepare to launch.

Thank you for your continued support in encouraging positive behavior at Western Valley Middle School.

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.