Westwood Junior High

As we begin the third week of 24-25, it has been our pleasure to get to know your child. All our Wolves are hard at work and we are looking forward to a wonderful year. You will find your child's first progress report in your email box on Tuesday September 3rd by 4:30pm from your child's Wolf DEN (advisory) teacher.

This week, we began DEN Time, when students attend a different session each day during their advisory period. While some students may be specifically selected by their teacher for additional tutoring, students can select from a variety of topics of interest, support in a specific class and more. Our goal during this time is to foster our culture of student growth and building trusting relationships. A few things to know:

• Students select their following week’s DEN Time during the first 10 mins of advisory every Thursday.

• The selections are viewed and made in RTI Scheduler, located in ClassLink.

• Students must wear an ID badge to participate in DEN Time.

• Required campus, district and state lessons will take place with the students' advisory teacher listed in FOCUS.

Please mark your calendars for Wednesday September 11th at 6pm for the PTA General Meeting, followed by Meet the Teacher from 6:30-7:30pm. A Virtual Meet the Teacher will be sent out a few days before the in person session which will be a come and go event, where you can meet your children's teachers in their classrooms.

Thank you to our amazing PTA, led by the wonderful Mrs. Amy Borne, for the great WWJH spirit wear and for providing drinks and popcorn for our teachers. Additionally, if you have not already, please become a member of our wonderful PTA; the link is below.

If you have any questions, please reach out and ask. We are here to connect with you and your student and value our partnership for your student's learning, growth and success. Please continue to view our newsletters in your email inbox, Westwood Twitter & Facebook pages, school website and PTA platforms on September 17th and every three weeks thereafter.

Sincerely,

Katie Mottram

Westwood Principal

• 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
• 10/4: Fall Dance hosted by WWJH PTA
• 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

Purchase your student pictures at Shop.LegacyStudios.com with onlye code 7224F25.

No orders can be taken in cash at school all orders must be placed online.

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.

Please make sure you are sending your student to school with their ID.

If your student loses their ID they can go to the Library and speak to Mrs. Jones to purchase a new ID or Lanyard.

New lanyard – 1$

New ID and Lanyard – $3

Temporary ID – These can be requested in the morning before school at the band hall entrance.

** every 3rd temporary IDs issued will result in a lunch detention the following week. (Starts over at the end of the 9 weeks)

September 11 - 18, students will be administered the BOY (beginning of the year) NWEA Measure of Academic Progress Growth, or MAP Growth, assessments as part of a comprehensive system. MAP is a nationally normed, standardized achievement test which measures what students know and informs us what they are ready to learn. The test is adaptive and adjusts to the ability and knowledge of the students. The results of the MAP Growth assessments will help teachers to better understand your child’s individual needs and to help them progress in the assessed area.

Students will be informed of their testing locations through the RTI Scheduler and/or their personal email no later than Tuesday September 10. Please remind students to bring their RISD issued Chromebook (fully charged) and their charger to school each day for testing.

• Wednesday, September 11, 2024 - Science MAP
• Thursday, September 12, 2024 - Math MAP
• Friday, September 13, 2024 - Reading MAP
• Monday, September 16, 2024 - MAP Make-Up Testing
• Tuesday, September 17, 2024 - MAP Make-Up Testing

RISD Device Policy and Oath

Students are not permitted to be in possession of any personal devices during testing, and will be asked to store them in a secure location by their test administrator prior to beginning the test. This includes cell phones, apple watches, handheld gaming devices, etc. Please review the RISD Device Policy and Oath with your student.

Dear RISD Parent/Guardian:

Texas Department of State Health Services requires different annual screenings based on the student’s grade level. A list of required screenings by grade level is below. The types of screenings conducted annually include vision, hearing, acanthosis nigricans, and spinal. All screenings will be conducted throughout the school year instead of one mass screening day.

If a student’s screening results indicate the need for further evaluation by a physician or other health provider, then the nurse will send home a referral letter. This screening does not replace your child’s need for regular health care and check-ups.

If you do not wish for your child to participate in the mandated school screening, a physician-signed hearing, vision, acanthosis nigricans and/or spinal evaluation for the student must be submitted to the school nurse before September 2, 2024.

Required Screenings by Grade Level

Pre-K 4’s – hearing and vision

Kindergarten – hearing and vision

1st grade – hearing, vision, and acanthosis nigricans

2nd grade (new to RISD students only) – hearing and vision

3rd – hearing, vision, and acanthosis nigricans

4th (new to RISD students)- hearing and vision

5th - hearing, vision, acanthosis nigricans, and spinal (spinal is girls only)

6th (new to RISD students) – hearing and vision

7th hearing, vision, and acanthosis nigricans, spinal (spinal is girls only)

8th (boys) - spinal

8th-12th (new to RISD students) - hearing and vision

Thank you,

RISD Health Services

Click below to see a list of Immunization Clinics

Parents, please assist us in keeping our students safe and following these procedures when dropping off/picking up students.

• Students should only be dropped off/picked up in the front circle lane in the front of the building
• All students should enter/exit a vehicle in lane # 2
• Students should not enter/exit a vehicle in lane #1
• Lane #1 is a passing lane only - please do not stop while in lane #1
• Morning drop off: all students should enter the building through the cafeteria doors
• Dismissal: all car riders exit through east side of the building - students must be picked up through the carpool lane only
• Please do not park on La Cosa drive and block our neighbors from thier homes

• For student and staff safety food deliveries from third parties such as Door Dash, Uber Eats, etc. are NOT accepted on campus. Student lunches should only be delivered by a parent or others who are listed on the students emergency card only.
• Students will not be called out of class to pick up lunch deliveries please ensure that you communicate with your student before school starts if you will be dropping off lunch.

View RISD Attendance Policies HERE

How to monitor attendance:

1. You can ask your child’s campus for an attendance report to review routinely.
2. Students and parents can monitor attendance records in Focus. Please click here to sign into RISD Focus. In addition, parents can sign up to receive notifications from Focus.

How to submit excuse notes:

RISD policy mandates parents submit an excuse note to the school attendance office within three days of returning to school.

Excuse notes, which can be an email, must include:

• Student name
• Student ID number
• A written statement giving the date and reason for the absence
• Parent or guardian signature for handwritten notes only
• Parent phone number

Please send emails to westwoodattendance@g.risd.org

Learn how to upload your attendance excuse for Focus.

Log into your Focus account.

Need to check out your child early?

• You must come to the front office to check them out
• Any person checking out your child must provide a form of ID and be on the students emergency card
• Students will not be released if you cannot provide an ID and are not on listed on the emergency card
• Students will not be dismissed in the last 20 minutes of the school day to avoid interruption of end of day instruction

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.

Please click below to review the RISD Cell Phone Guidelines.

8th Grade Wolves, are you interested in a life changing and life affirming trip to explore London over Spring Break 2025?

Join our trip and enjoy first hand Stonehenge, Oxford, The Tower of London, The London Eye, Westminster Abbey, The Globe Theater, a walking ghost tour, a West End Musical and much more in an action packed five day trip over March 8-14, 2025. We still have space for both students and parents.

Visit our travel website by CLICKING HERE.

View our 2024 Itinerary HERE.

If you have any questions please reach out to Coach Lockett (beverly.lockett@risd.org).

Please review the attached Sprotsmanship Message from the RISD Athletics Department.

Eligibility Requirements for Athletics

All students must have an updated physical and all UIL Rank One paperwork completed prior to participating in any tryouts, practices, or games. All UIL information can be found on Westwood, RHS, and RISD Athletics websites. In order for a student to remain in the Athletics period, all eligibility requirements must be completed by Friday, September 6th. If you have any questions, please contact one of the coaches at Westwood.

Athletics Store: The athletic store will close on August 30th in order to process all orders placed from July-August. Delivery time will be approximately 14 days from the closing date. All items will be delivered to Westwood and distributed to students. Practice uniforms for 7th grade are available and can be picked up from Coach Cervantes or Coach Lockett. If the size requested is unavailable for pick up, it will be delivered with the next order in September. Reminder: All students enrolled in Athletics must wear the approved 7th (blue/black) or 8th (gray/black) Westwood Athletics Uniform.

Click the links below to access the athletics important Links:

• Rank One
• Preparticipation Physical Form
  
• Mandatory Westwood Uniform
  

UIL Academic Eligibility:

Academic Eligibility is determined from the first six week grading period and each nine-week grading period. All student-athletes will be evaluated at the end of the six-weeks on Friday, September 20, 2024. Students may lose eligibility on Friday, September 27, 2024 at the end of the school day. After the 1st six-weeks academic eligibility check, students may only lose academic eligibility at the nine weeks grading report.

Fall Sports Photos will be taken on Tuesday, September 17th from 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM. The teams participating in picture day include Football, Volleyball, Cross Country, Cheer, and Spirit Squad. Most information will be provided to student-athletes prior to the photo date.

VOLLEYBALL
The first round of tryouts for 7th and 8th grade volleyball took place August 19th – August 23rd. Students advancing to the second round of tryouts will continue through August 28th and final teams will be announced on Friday, August 30th. All teams will participate in a preseason scrimmage against Richardson West Junior High on Wednesday, September 4th at Richardson High School. Start time for seventh grade will be 6:00 PM and 8th grade will begin play at 7:15 PM. There is no charge to attend the scrimmages.

Regular season play will begin September 12th against Lake Highlands Middle School. The 7th grade games will be played at Westwood with 7A playing at 5:30 PM, followed by the 7B team at 6:30 PM, and 7C will close out the night at 7:30 PM. The eight grade teams will travel to Lake Highlands Middle School. Game times are set for 8A@ 5:30 PM and 8B @ 6:30 PM. For additional information regarding the complete schedule, see the attachment.

FOOTBALL:

The 7th and 8th grade football teams started practices for the 2024 season on August 19th. Practices will continue for both 7th and 8th grade in the morning until September 3rd. All 7th grade football players will continue to arrive at 6:30 AM and on the practice field by 6:45 AM. If weather permits, the eighth grade will move its practice to the afternoon with an end time of 5:00 PM. The coaches will communicate any changes to the above mentioned plans in advance. The football teams are scheduled to scrimmage Richardson West Junior High on September 9th at Eagle Mustang Stadium at 6:00 PM. The official 2024 season for the Wolves will begin on Tuesday, September 17th as they travel to Pearce High School to take on the Parkhill Raiders. The 8th grade team will play at 5:30 PM followed by 7th grade at 7:00pm.

Cross Country:

Cross Country will host an informational meeting on September 5th during DEN TIME for students interested in participating as a member of the Westwood Wolves Cross Country team. Practices will begin on September 9th for girls cross country members and September 10th for boys. Start time for both will be 6:45 AM. The 2024 season starts on Tuesday, October 1st for 7th and 8th grade girls and October 3th for 7th and 8th grade boys. All meets will take place at Huffhines Park at 4:30pm.

Tickets:

Tickets for all RISD Athletic Events can be purchased at the gate or by visiting the link below:

https://richardsonisd.brushfire.com/

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

Welcome Back and Happy 2024 - 2025 school year! Phew, it feels like summer went fast. We hope you all had an amazing break and were able to enjoy some rest and relaxation. We are excited to be back with our incredible Westwood Junior High students with the anticipation of all the year will hold! As always, we are here to serve you.

Ms. Guillory (Intervention Counselor)

Ms. Kennedy (A-L) &

Mrs. Shields (M-Z)

We’re on Schoology! There is a WWJH Library Group in Schoology which is updated with all the activities we have going on in the library. If you’d like to know more about what’s going on, please join! F4F8-VMN3-92958 All students should be members of the group by September 1st!

By September 1st, all WWJH students should have had their first library visit for orientation and checkout. The library is open before school but students need to get a laminated pass from the library to be able to come to the library in the mornings.

The Database of the Month is SORA which is for reading eBooks and audio books. It’s available on their Chromebooks as well as an app they can download on their phones. Lots of good books!

Amazon Wish List - We host many activities in the library and we don’t have the budget for all of it. If you would like to donate items for our activities, please see the Amazon Wishlist link or if you have any board games that you think would be a great addition, send them our way! The list will be updated throughout the year. See Jennifer Moore if you would like to help with donations. Thank you for your generosity!

Check out the events we have planned for the first 2 months!

The selection of RISD instructional and library materials (including donated books) is guided by district and board policy. Periodically, an instructional or library material may be challenged, and a reconsideration committee is formed to evaluate the challenged material. According to RISD’s EFB(Local) policy, when a committee is formed, parents, teachers, and secondary students (when needed) shall be randomly selected from the Reconsideration Committee pool.

The time commitment for committee representatives usually includes reading/reviewing the challenged material and meeting with the committee to help determine if the material meets RISD’s selection guidelines. Parents, teachers, and secondary students interested in serving on this committee can complete this online form from August 1st until August 31, 2024.

For more information about RISD’s library books and materials, including an online search by title and how parents can opt out of any selected books, please visit the RISD Library Services website.

RISD Library Services offers an updated Select Title Opt-Out option to provide RISD parents with an opportunity to identify specific titles to opt out of library checkout for their child. RISD recognizes that families and students are unique, and different parents may have varying expectations regarding their students’ reading lives and choices.

If you signed up your student(s) for the Opt-Out program in the past, you will need to submit a new form for each child for the 24-25 school year. Parents who would like to opt their student(s) out from access to specific titles can do so by contacting their school Library Information Technology Educator (LITE) or going to https://s.risd.org/seclibraryoptout. Visit https://s.risd.org/RISDoptout for more information or to sign up.

WWJH Library Online Catalog: https://libraries.risd.org:8450/?config=048#section=home

Westwood Junior High PTA needs your help to reach our fundraising goal! Donations will be used to support our students, teachers, and staff with programs like Reflections, Robotics, EdTalks, student dances, quarterly awards, staff appreciation, and more! Please click the link below to donate and share with family, friends, and community partners. Thank you to everyone who has donated so far! Let's go Wolves!

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.