Westland Update for Week of Feb 19

Homework-free Weekend- Saturday, Feb 17 through Monday, Feb 19 is a Westland-designated homework-free weekend. This means that no assignments can be due or assessments given on Tuesday, Feb 20. (An exception would be for reading assignments.) Note: This is our last homework-free weekend/week of the year! Spring break falls too close to the end of MP3.

Presidents' Day Holiday- There is no school for students on Monday, Feb 19 in honor of Presidents' Day.

Spring Enrichment Academies- Ready, set, go and register for spring enrichment academies on Tuesday, Feb 20 at 9:00 AM. (see below)

(Tuesdays beginning March 19th: Coding Club, Newspaper Club, Safe Sitters Babysitting Course, Tennis Thursdays: Chess Club, Debate Club, Tennis)

8th Grade Field Trip to NMAAHC- Our 8th graders will travel to the National Museum of African American History and Culture this week! Ms. Daly and Ms. Bayburtian's students will go on Tuesday. Ms. Yu and Ms. Hylton's students will go on Thursday.

Info Zoom about Spring Soccer- Join Mr. Johnson, athletic coordinator, on Tuesday, Feb 20nd at 6:30 PM. Info below.

Basketball Game- Our girls basketball team hosts Hoover at home on Thursday, Feb 22nd. Enter the Feb 22 Ticket Raffle by the end of STAR on Feb 22 to see if you get a ticket.

Westland's Got Talent Show- Join us Friday night, February 23th at 7 PM. Tickets will be sold online and at the door. $5 students, $10 adults (small bills please)

State of Maryland Climate Survey- On Thursday, February 28th, students will complete an annual school climate survey for the state of Maryland.

Women's History Month- We begin our celebration of Women's History month on Friday, March 1st.

Early Release Day, Friday, March 1- Students will be dismissed at 12:30 on Friday, March 1st. The schedule is 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 4 and 5

• The Heads Up Phones Down PSA Video Contest (Deadline: February 29, 2024) is now open! Students may earn 10 SSL hours for quality video submissions that raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and walking. Interested students may view the contest rules and additional information at this website.

• Montgomery County Public Schools Girls Summit (March 9, 2024, 9AM-1PM) - Session topics include healthy relationships/dating violence, social media use and mental health, identifying symptoms of depression and anxiety, Narcan training, and much more!

• Students may earn 4 SSL hours for attending and learning this important information so that they can help to spread awareness about these topics and participate in Narcan training to support in the case of an emergency.

• To learn more, please click here.

• The Keeping It Safe Student Video Contest (Deadline: March 31, 2024) is now open! Students may earn 5 SSL hours for quality video submissions. Interested students may view the contest rules and additional information at this link.

• The Living Organ Donor Video Contest (Deadline: March 31, 2024) is now open! Students may earn 10 SSL hours for quality video submissions. Interested students may view the contest rules and additional information at this link.

• Student-to-Student Extracurricular Series - 10 SSL hours -- VIRTUAL/REMOTE – MCPS is seeking students interested in developing a video presentation with either a leadership moment or extracurricular skill to inspire, teach, and share with their MCPS peers and the greater MCPS community. Students may earn 10 SSL hours for successful submission of all items identified in the Student-To-Student Extracurricular Series Form.

• Additional February SSL Opportunities
  

Join us for Westland's Colorsplash Fun Run on Saturday, May 11.

• Register before spring break for early bird rates: https://runsignup.com/Race/MD/Bethesda/WestlandMiddleSchoolColorSplash.

• SPONSOR Westland MS Colorsplash 2024 to get your business in front of the community.

• Adult and kid volunteers (SSL hours) will make the event happen. We need you!

Email wmscolorsplash@gmail.com for more info.

* New Events Are Added in Bold Font

FEBRUARY

• Month of February- African American History Month
• S 2/17-M, 2/19- Homework Free Weekend (except reading assignments)
• M, 2/19- No School- Presidents' Day
• Tu, 2/20- Half of 8th Grade to NMAAHC (Daly and Bayburtian)
• Tu, 2/20- Dress Rehearsal for Talent Show
• Tu, 2/20- Soccer Info Zoom at 6:30 PM
• Th, 2/22- Half of 8th Grade to NMAAHC (Hylton and Yu)
• Th, 2/22- Girls Basketball hosts Hoover
• F, 2/23- Westland Talent Show!!!! 7 PM
• W, 2/28- Students complete climate survey for State of Maryland

MARCH

• Women's History Month
• F, 3/1- Early Release Day for Students, Dismissed at 12:30
• Tu, 3/5- Prospective Parent Coffee/Student Shadow- must pre-register
• Th, 3/7 and F, 3/8- 8th Graders take MISA Science Test in AM (new dates)
• Sa, 3/9- MCPS Girls Summit at Northwood HS
• Th, 3/14- Pi Day
• Th, 3/14- 6th Grade Social After School
• Th, 3/21- Bus Evacuation Drills in the AM
• Th, 3/21- Book Wars Competition at Silver Creek MS
• M, 3/25-4/1- Spring Break

APRIL

• Arab American Heritage Month
• Month of the Military Child
• National Autism Acceptance Month

• Tu, 4/9- Last Day of Marking Period 3
• W, 4/10- No School for Students- Grading/Planning for Teachers
• Th, 4/11- MCAP testing in English Language Arts in AM (6th-8th grades) Day 1 of 2
• F, 4/12- MCAP testing in English Language Arts in AM (6th-8th grades) Day 2 of 2
  
• M, 4/15- MCAP testing in Math in AM (6th-8th grades) Day 1 of 2
• Tu, 4/16- MCAP testing in Math in AM (6th-8th grades) Day 2 of 2
• W, 4/17- Student Member of the Board of Education Election (6th-12th graders vote)
• Th, 4/18- Report Cards distributed through Homeroom
• M, 4/22- Earth Day
• M, 4/22- Asynchronous Learning Day- Students at Home
• W, 4/24- Secretaries'/Administrative Professionals' Day

MAY

• Friday 5/3 and Sat 5/4- Spring Musical- Madagascar Jr.
• Sat, 5/11- Colorsplash Fun Run

JUNE

• Tu, 6/11- 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony

AUGUST

• Th, 8/22- New Student Orientation 8:15-12:00
• Th, 8/22- Back to School Night for Parents 6:30-8:30 PM

Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/westlandms/staff/directory/

An IB World School

Email: Alison_L_Serino@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/westlandms/
Location: 5511 Massachusetts Avenue, Bethesda, MD, USA
Twitter: @AlisonSerinoWMS