Dear Parents and Guardians,

Thank you for trusting our staff with the responsibility of educating your children. Our focus remains on educating the whole child in engaging and safe school environments. You have likely become aware of the continued use of social media to disrupt schools nationwide. FESD takes all threats seriously. We work with the Phoenix Police Department, which works with federal government agencies to investigate school threats. Our students have done a terrific job reporting social media threats against schools to their teachers and administrators. We need you to share the responsibility of reporting any inappropriate posts. When we become aware of a dangerous social media post, we immediately report it to the Phoenix Police. We encourage you to do the same. Please contact the Phoenix Police Department to report any information about school threats. If it is an emergency, call 911; otherwise, use the non-emergency number (602)262-6151.

Speak to your child(ren) about the seriousness of these posts. Instruct your child NOT to forward or comment on threatening posts. This continued sharing of violent posts increases panic and fear for our students and school community. It also contributes to draining police resources as multiple reports are made because the same post continues to be shared. We, the adults in our children's lives, must educate our students about the potential dangers of social media. It is easy for our children to spend excessive time viewing social media.

Please take a few minutes to consider implementing one or more of the following suggestions.

• Frequently monitor your child's use of technology (phones, laptops, tablets, etc.). Look at their devices and review what sites they visit and who they are messaging. Being informed about what they are doing on their devices is necessary to keep your children safe.

• Consider establishing no electronics times in your home during the evenings and weekends.

• Spend time engaging in non-technology activities such as reading, writing, physical activity, games, puzzles, and conversation.

• Model good habits for your children by limiting your use of electronic devices and minimizing your attachment to your devices during family time. Focus on the task you are engaged in and check electronics periodically rather than continually.

• Engage in physical activity, such as walking, walking dogs, bike riding, playing at the local park or green space, or having family games/playtime.

Encourage your children to participate in at least one activity in school, the community, or home. Children should not bring cell phones, tablets, smartwatches, or other electronic devices not issued by the school. If students have them and they are visible, a staff member may confiscate them. A parent or guardian will then be required to pick them up at the school. School staff do not have the time or resources to investigate lost or damaged cell phones or other devices.

Your involvement in your child’s education is crucial. Your active participation in school events enriches your child's learning experience and strengthens our school community. Whether it's a PTO meeting, Coffee with a Principal, or any other school event, your presence is invaluable. School administrators work hard to keep you informed and offer opportunities for you to be involved in school. Take the time to review the information shared with you and make it a point to participate in at least one monthly or quarterly event, as your schedule permits.

In closing, I want to reiterate the importance of strong attendance. We understand there will be days when your child(ren) cannot attend school. If they are sick, keep them home. We know that it is sometimes unavoidable for students to miss school. However, please remember that regular attendance is a key to academic success. It allows students to engage with their peers, fosters critical social connections, and helps them feel a sense of belonging and connection crucial to their self-confidence and, ultimately, to their success.

Respectfully,

Nora Ulloa

Superintendent

We raised almost $340 toward the purchase of a shade tent for WVMS! Spirit shirt orders are scheduled to arrive right after fall break.

We’ve experienced a whirlwind of learning, emotions, and exciting athletic events so far this first quarter at WVMS.

Thank you for your continued partnership and encouragement.

Below is a picture of our "Paws Up" board in our 7th grade hallway. The students and teachers are encouraged to write a "pawsitive message" to anyone on campus to spread kindness, school spirit and positivity.

Beginning Monday, September 30, students will be charged $1.00 for any extra lanyards and 50 cents for plastic ID pouches. Thank you.

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 WVMS Band and Strings students entertained us with a fantastic concern on Thursday. We are thankful for our teacher, Mr. Torrez, for all of his hard work and dedication to his students. Thank you to all of the families who joined us to celebrate these students.

Please share this link with your families https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=XGm5lg5PvUKK37p1V2A0a0CHMkYKqBZFofKcK684oTVUN0c2WFo2UDRESE5URVA0SExSTlBHR0VOWS4u

The Survey closes on September 30.

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.

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.