Westland Middle School

Weekly Update: December 16th to December 20th

WMS Newsletter Accessiblity

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Our digital newsletter can be translated into many different languages and the font can be adjusted so our entire community has access to what is happening in the WMS Wildcat Community!

To adjust your view of the newsletter, click on the "accessibility" button. The button is a circle with figure in it. Once you click the accessibility button, the menu to choose the language or different font size will appear.

Need To See Resources From Weekly Newsletters?

In an effort to keep our weekly newsletter shorter and more concise, previous weekly messages will be on the Westland MS website (Sunday S'MORES from Mrs. Walker)

Mrs. Walker's Phone Message: December 16, 2024

Good Evening Westland Families,

This is Mrs. Walker, and here is the Westland Weekly Update for December 16, 2024. This week has been an incredible showcase of our students’ talent and engagement at Westland.

Our winter choral and instrumental concerts were a testament to the amazing musical abilities of our students. A huge thank you to Ms. Destefanis, Ms. Gover, and Ms. Licare for their dedication and hard work in preparing our students for these memorable performances.

In addition, our 8th graders in computer science and tech classes had exciting opportunities to expand their learning. They visited the Spy Museum and gained valuable insights into Google careers during class presentations. Thank you to Ms. Deandreis for coordinating the Google careers event and to Mr. Johnson for organizing the Spy Museum trip. We honored our MYP Students of the Month, recognizing their hard work and dedication. Additionally, our WMS students had the exciting opportunity to hear from Mr. Javan "DJ Van" White about his unique career as a DJ and Career Counselor.

To round out the week, our 6th graders enjoyed a festive time at the PTSA 6th Grade Winterfest! A big shout-out to Ms. Walstein, our PTSA 6th Grade Reps, and our 6th-grade team who organized this event. What a week to celebrate the many aspects of academic learning, creativity, and social connection within our vibrant school community!

In this week's newsletter you will see the following upcoming updates and events:

SGA Spirit Week
Mosaic Writing Contest
Westland Spring Production Announcement
Josten’s Yearbook Information
Upcoming MCPS Events
PTSA Events (8th Grade Bowlero Event) and Membership Information
Weekly Reminders (WMS)
Weekly Reminders (MCPS)

Our SGA is having its first spirit week of the year.As a reminder, please ensure outfits are comfortable, appropriate for cooler weather, and free from distractions to the learning environment. On Thursday ( 12/19) and Friday (12/20), our 7th grade students will be attending the annual Financial Literacy field trip. On Friday, our students will participate in WMS spirit with a pep assembly. We look forward to another great week at Westland.

As a reminder, winter break for students will be from 12/23/24 to 01/01/25. Students return on Thursday, 01/02/25. Our weekly message will not take place on Sunday 12/29/24 and will resume on Sunday, 01/05/25.

We have an update on how weekly messages will be sent to you. Beginning January 2025, our weekly messages will transition from Blackboard to ParentSquare. This week, you will receive messages through both platforms as we prepare for the switch. We hope this transition will make accessing our messages more convenient across computers and other digital devices. All of our communications, and the most up to date information, will also be shared on the WMS website. Additionally, messages with QR codes or zoom information will have links to access the information if you are viewing this message on your smartphones or tablets. That concludes our message for this week. We look forward to a great week because we are #BetterTogetherWMS. Have a wonderful evening!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Nicole Walker

Principal, WMS

Winter Instrumental & Choral Music Concert Highlights

Westland SGA Spirit Week

Westland MS Spring Production Announcement

Westland MS is excited to partner with Adventure Theatre & ATMTC Academy for our spring production. Students look for more information about how to be a part of the production after winter break!

Mosaic Writing Contest

Yearbook Information (for WMS)

Westland PTSA Events & Membership Information

Westland MS Information & Resources

Communication at Westland MS

Westland strives to make clear community a priority. We will continue to prioritize communication and share about Westland through multiple venues. Please expect the following from us:

Weekly Sunday night phone call @ 6:00 pm from administration with detailed information on activities and upcoming happenings at Westland.
Weekly Smore newsletter from administration with detailed information on activities and upcoming events at WMS.
Staff members may be utilizing Remind, as our texting communication app.
All updates and links will be found on the Westland Middle School Website.

We are continuing our work to be more “green” and share as much information as possible with parents electronically. We will notify you with Connect Ed updates when we add or update with new information. But, if you cannot find what you need in this newsletter or on our webpage, please contact the main office and we will be happy to help you!

Counseling Department Information

The Westland Counseling Department is excited for this school year. For more information, please check out the WMS counseling website.

Bus Transportation Information for 2024-2025

We have provided the bus stop information for the school year. Please click on the link for pick-up times and drop-off times.

Mental Health and Safety Resources

Montgomery County Crisis Hotlines:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Dial or Text 988 (for more information click HERE)
Maryland Crisis Hotline - 301-738-2255
Montgomery County Crisis Center - 240-777-4000
Youth Crisis Hotline of Montgomery County - 301-738-9697

Safety and Security Concerns:

Safe Schools Maryland Hotline - 833-MD-B-Safe (833-632-7233)
Safe Schools Maryland Online Report - Click HERE
MCPS Department of Systemwide Emergency Management - 240-740-3066
Cyber Tipline - 1-800-843-5678

MCPS "STRONGER STUDENT" - Student Mental Health and Wellness APP

National Association of School Psychologists:

Supporting Marginalized Students in Stressful Times: Tips for Caregivers

MCPS and Community Resources and Events

Updated Guidance for Student Speech and Expression

Know the guidance for Student Speech and Expression.

Staff, students, and families must know the rights and guidelines for students to express views on issues important to them.

Guidelines for Students
Español / 中文 / français / Português / 한국어 / tiếng Việt / አማርኛ
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
español / 中文 / français / Português / 한국어 / tiếng Việt / አማርኛ

Resources to Reduce and Address Incidents of Hate and Bias

See the steps taken and plans for this school year to reduce and address Hate-Bias
español / 中文 / français / Português / 한국어 / tiếng Việt / አማርኛ
Visit the new Responding to Incidents of Hate-Bias website.

High-Quality Curriculum

Civic Engagement conversations occur through Social Studies classes, where teachers are provided lessons, guidance, and ongoing professional development. A letter sent from principals and social studies staff provides notification of this work.
Attend the Social Studies Curriculum nights to learn more about how Social Studies is taught!

MCPS Operating Status Updates for 2024-2025

The safety of our MCPS community is critical, and being able to communicate with students, staff, and families during severe weather or other emergencies is of the utmost importance.

Use this link to find all the ways you can connect with MCPS to receive emergency operational information from the school system. The current operating status options for the school district appear on the MCPS website and on individual school websites.

In the event of a change in operational status, this link will provide more information about the MCPS Operating Status options.

Cafeteria News & Secondary School Meals Information

Starting on the first day of school, full breakfasts will cost $1.30, full lunches will cost $2.80, and various ala carte items will be available ranging from $1 to $2.

When students go through the meal line, they will enter their student ID numbers to access their lunch accounts. Funds can be added to student lunch accounts using MySchoolBucks or payments can be made directly to our cafeteria using cash or a check. We will share a link to the monthly menu and specific ala carte offerings during the third week of August, 2023.

No student will be denied a meal if funds are not available on their account. In the event that a lunch account has insufficient funds, the student will still receive the meal and the price will be recorded as a credit which can be repaid at a later date.

It is important to complete the Free and Reduced Meals (FARMS) form if you have previously, or believe you will qualify for free or reduced meals. If your family qualifies for any level of FARMS support, all meals are free. Apply online at www.MySchoolApps.com

Parent Vue

ParentVUE and StudentVUE is a valuable resource for educators, parents and students. It creates a bridge of communication to relay important information such as homework, tests, upcoming events and grades. It is important for students and parents to check regularly to keep track of assignments and grades. However, grades may take longer to post depending on the assignment. Please be patient with teachers as some assignments may take as long as two weeks to grade.

If you need assistance with setting up your account, please email us. Information is also available on the MCPS website.

Parent/Guardian ParentVUE Support Guide (Annual Verification Instructions on page 24!)

Technology Information and Support for Parents in MCPS

Immunizations

The Maryland Department of Health released updated school vaccine requirements for the 2024-2025 school year.

Families of incoming kindergarten students, new students, and 7th and 8th graders may need additional vaccines to start the school year.

Not sure if your student is up to date? Contact your child’s health care provider or access their immunization records online. Students 18 years old and younger eligible for the Vaccines for Children program may obtain free vaccines through the county’s Immunization Program.

Address Change?

If you are moving over the summer please let our counseling office secretary, Mrs. Montano Rivas know at Alva_B_MontanoRivas2@mcpsmd.org