Wildcats News

December 2nd - Boy's basketball @ WHS at 4:00 and 5:15

December 6th - Girl's wrestling @ Okaboji at 3:30

December 9th - Girl's wrestling @ Tyson Event Center at 4:00

December 10th - Winter Band Concert @ WHS at 7:00

December 12th - 8th grade transition night @ WHS auditorium at 6:00

December 12th - Girl's wrestling @ Le Mars at 4:00

December 19th - 8th grade tours

December 20th - Student of the Month is celebrated at 8:00 in the WMS library

December 20th - Two hour early out

December 23-31 - Winter Break NO SCHOOL

Parents/Guardians, Did You Know?

Parents or guardians can access their student's grades and assignments on Canvas, our online learning management system. Here are two ways you can access your student’s grades.

1. Viewing Grades Together with Your Student:
Parents or guardians can ask their student to log into Canvas on their school-issued computer. Once logged in, they can view the student's grades, assignments, and other relevant academic information together.

2. Accessing Grades Independently:
Parents or guardians can contact the student's school counselor to request a pairing code that allows them to create a parent/guardian account on Canvas. This will enable them to access their student's grades and assignments directly on their own computer without the student needing to be logged in. The counselor typically provides instructions for how to set this up.

This system ensures that parents can stay informed about their child's academic progress and provide support when needed.

Actively checking your student's grades offers several key benefits for both the parent/guardian and the student. Here are some of the main advantages:

1. Early Identification of Issues

• Spotting Problems Early: Regularly monitoring grades allows you to spot academic struggles or missing assignments before they become larger issues. This helps you address concerns early, such as identifying if your child is falling behind, needs tutoring, or is struggling with a particular subject.
• Avoiding Surprises: By staying updated on grades and feedback, you're less likely to be surprised by low marks at the end of the term.

2. Increased Communication with the Student

• Fostering Conversations: Checking grades encourages regular discussions with your child about their academic progress. You can ask them about specific assignments, what they're learning, or if they need help understanding certain topics.
• Providing Encouragement and Support: You can celebrate improvements and accomplishments, which boosts motivation. At the same time, you can offer support when challenges arise.

3. Better Understanding of Academic Progress

• Insight into Strengths and Weaknesses: Monitoring grades gives you a clear view of your child's academic strengths and weaknesses. This insight can help you make informed decisions about how to support their learning, whether that’s extra practice in certain subjects or seeking additional resources.
• Tracking Trends: Over time, checking grades helps you track any patterns (e.g., consistent struggles in a subject or improvement over time), so you can adjust your approach accordingly.

4. Encouraging Accountability and Responsibility

• Building Responsibility: When students know that their grades are regularly being checked, they may feel a greater sense of accountability for their performance and actions. This can encourage them to stay on top of assignments, complete their work on time, and study for tests.
• Promoting Self-Advocacy: Actively checking grades can help students become more comfortable taking ownership of their academic journey. It encourages them to seek help when needed and communicate with teachers if they don’t understand something.

5. Improved Academic Outcomes

• Supporting Academic Success: When parents are involved in checking grades and offering support, students tend to perform better academically. Active involvement can lead to increased motivation, higher grades, and better study habits.
• Setting Realistic Goals: By regularly reviewing grades, you can help your child set realistic academic goals for themselves and celebrate their progress along the way.

6. Stronger Relationship with Teachers

• Better Communication with Teachers: Regularly checking grades can also encourage more frequent communication with teachers. If something is unclear or concerning, parents can reach out to the teacher sooner rather than later, which can result in quicker resolutions and better outcomes for the student.
• Reach out to Teachers: When you have a question, use the Canvas in box feature to communicate with your student’s teachers, or send an email, or a Talking Points message.

7. Supporting Long-Term Success

• Building Habits for Future Success: Actively monitoring grades helps students build good study habits, time management skills, and a sense of responsibility that will serve them well in future academic endeavors and beyond.

In summary, actively checking grades provides an opportunity to stay engaged with your child’s education, create a supportive environment, and ensure that academic challenges are addressed before they become significant obstacles.

West Middle School will be dismissing two hours early on Friday, December 20th. There will be no classes from the 23rd through January 3rd. Classes will resume on Monday, January 6th at normal times. Stay warm. Enjoy some hot chocolate. And enjoy some family time.

Happy December everyone. It seems like this time of year brings opportunities for reflection. In education we look at what we have accomplished and where we want to spend our future efforts. I am proud of the work that our students and staff have completed so far this year. Sometimes people get caught up in comparing and fail to see the beauty of growth. Our students grind every day toward success in academics as well as in how they interact with the world. In a society of instant gratification, learning that lasting true success comes only through continual hard work and perseverance are skills that will take our students far. If given the opportunity please take a moment to thank a staff member that encourages your student to excel, even if it is difficult, because we all know that middle school students need support and accountability.

WMS students have multiple options to get help when needed with academic work. Staff are encouraging students to accept this support and contacting parents to set up help. There are plenty of options at each grade level, if your child is in need of this support, please work with teachers to schedule a time.

Joe Hardin - Head Principal

The following students have shown exemplary conduct at West Middle and demonstrated qualities that fit the West motto: We Are West...Welcoming, Engaged, Safe & Trustworthy. Yay, students! Keep up the good work.

6th Grade: Abygail Boulware, Ryan Ngo, Maitee Abramo, Abel Preciado, Abram Gaskell

7th Grade: Ana Esteban Lorenzo, Ashton Howley, Joey Foland, Devron Augustine, Myroeen Raymond

8th grade: Bentlee Combs, Derrick Steele, Sophia Munoz Cisneros, Jevon Burgin, Abby Vanwinkel

September Staff Member of the Month Congratulations to: Kathryn Fairchild

Kathryn is a person that really cares about her students, what they are learning and is always finding the most engaging lessons to make English class an environment that promotes a high level of learning while giving a variety of methods for students to learn. Her knowledge and expertise in the content is astounding! She is a contributing member of the Academic Building Leadership team and offers great ideas for the continued growth of our school’s academics.

Thanks for making WEST, BEST, Mrs. Fairchild! 😊

There are numerous opportunities for free after-school tutoring for any student wishing to get (or needing) extra help. Please contract your child's advisory teacher to find out which session is the best fit for your child's needs.

Winter is a good time to develop healthy habits. Developing good habits during the cold months makes it easier to stick with them when you are stuck indoors during warmer months, too.

Have fun with healthy meals

Here are some ways to make winter meals more enjoyable:

• Savor seasonal produce. Enjoy all of the fresh fruits and vegetables that are at their best this time of year. Think kale, brussels sprouts, pomegranates, oranges, potatoes and winter squash.
• Try healthy versions of comfort food dishes. These meals are simple to make, easy to freeze and require little clean-up. Try sheet-pan meals with roasted fish or chicken, potatoes and veggies; ground turkey and marinara sauce over zucchini noodles or whole wheat pasta; chicken noodle or vegetable soup; or vegetable-packed chili.
• Prep your meals in advance. Chop your vegetables for the week on Sunday afternoon or during your lunch break if you work from home. Make a double batch of your one-pot meal and freeze the leftovers for another night. Bake a big batch of healthy muffins and freeze them to eat later.

Wake up earlier

Getting up early may be the last thing you want to do on a cold winter morning, but it can give you the time and structure you need to stick to good habits. Here’s why:

• Research shows that getting up and going to bed at the same time each day can help you sleep better.
• Rising early gives you access to more daylight since the sun sets so early during the winter months.
• Waking up 30 to 60 minutes earlier than usual can give you the time to work on a new habit or goal.
• Completing a healthy habit first-thing (like following along with a yoga video or guided meditation) will give you the motivation you need to stick to good habits all day long.

While waking up early may be tough at first, your body will adjust after a few weeks – and you may find yourself waking up without the alarm clock.

Care for your mental health

“When it’s dark and gloomy outside, that plays a role in how you feel,” says Dr. Thaker, M.D., a Piedmont family medicine physician. “Some people experience seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD).”

Eating nutritious foods, staying physically active, getting enough sleep, connecting with loved ones and spending time outdoors can help you get out of a slump. But if your feelings of isolation, depression and anxiety don’t go away after you implement these healthy habits, talk to your primary care provider or a counselor for support.

Recource: https://www.piedmont.org/living-real-change/sticking-to-healthy-habits-during-winter

Dec. 20 - Early Dismissal @ 12:45 P.M.

Dec. 23-Jan. 3 - NO SCHOOL - Winter Break

Jan. 6 - Classes Resume @ 7:40 A.M.

Jan. 15 - End of 2nd Quarter / 1st Semester

Jan. 16 - NO SCHOOL - Teacher workday

Feb. 17 - NO SCHOOL - Professional Development Day for teachers

Mar. 20 - End of 3rd Quarter

Mar. 25 - Conferences @ WMS

Mar. 27 - Conferences @ WMS / NO SCHOOL for students

Mar. 28 - NO SCHOOL - Conference Exchange Day

Apr. 16 - Early Dismissal @ 12:45 P.M.

Apr. 17-21 - NO SCHOOL - Spring Break

May 26 - NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day

May 27 - NHS Graduation

May 28 - WHS Graduation

May 29 - EHS Graduation

May 29 - Last Day of School for students / Early Dismissal @ 12:45 P.M. / End of 4th Quarter / End of 2nd Semester

May 30 - Teacher workday

The District’s new mobile app provides quick and convenient information at your fingertips. Download the mobile app to receive push notifications from the District about closings and cancellations and stay updated on today’s school lunch menu, upcoming events, and school news.

Download the Sioux City Community School District app today from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. (Please note: If you have an older version of the District mobile app, you will need to delete that app before downloading the new app.)