Westwood Intermediate/Middle School

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Thank you for sharing praise and ideas through Possip last week! We’ve heard from 654 of you this year. We are seeing that 92 percent of those who responded are happy with their Westwood school experience so far this year.

One parent shared - "Westwood is doing a great job of offering many in school and after school activity opportunities such as band, the musical, choir, sports, etc. This provides many opportunities for students to get involved in something they love." We will keep looking for opportunities and appreciate hearing feedback that supports efforts like these.

This month, we also asked parents if they knew how their child was doing in school and 88 percent of parents reported that they did. Many also shared the ways they keep informed which helps us understand how we can be most effective. There was a lot of appreciation for the great communication from teachers, for the help staff are providing students, and ideas to keep parents more informed about progress.

One parent shared this - "Teachers do a great job communicating home and having Schoology set up in an organized manner." We also heard from other that Schoology continues to be frustrating, and we’ll keep working on ways to keep Schoology updated and help parents access information there more easily.

We take all of your feedback and ideas into consideration for our future planning and follow-up. We hope to hear from you again on our next pulse check in November.

This month, our 8th grade Dance and Physical fitness class will have a guest choreographer. She will be working with our students on hip hop and creating their own routines. We’re also getting ready to enjoy the Westwood production of the musical “Funkyland.” The students started their rehearsals yesterday and will be ready for opening night on November, November 30.

Have a wonderful week,

Tom Larson

Principal

Yearbook orders may be placed online at Balfour or scan the QR code. Order forms were also sent home with students. Questions may be directed to Kristine Powell.

Still need your flu shot or the latest COVID booster? Spring Lake Park Schools, in partnership with Cub Pharmacy, is hosting a vaccine clinic Thursday, November 2, 4-8 p.m. at the Spring Lake Park School District Services Center (1415 81st Ave NE, Spring Lake Park, MN 55432). This clinic is open to anyone in our community. No appointment needed.

Share the warmth! Spring Lake Park Schools is hosting a Winter Gear Drive November 1-22. Support our community by donating clean new or used winter coats, snow pants, waterproof mittens/gloves and boots that can last our neighbors through winter. Items can be dropped in the front office of each school.

Attention 5th grade parents! If your child would like to audition for percussion, please have them fill out the percussion audition application by this Friday, November 3. Auditions will be held next week before band registration opens on November 10. Any student hoping to play percussion in band will need to fill out this form and audition.

• Friday, November 3 - SLPHS Fall Play - "Letters to Sala," 7 p.m., FAC
  

• Saturday, November 4 - SLPHS Fall Play - "Letters to Sala," 2 p.m., FAC

• Monday, November 6 - Grupo de Padres Hispanohablantes de SLP reunión, Woodcrest Spanish Immersion, 5-6:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, November 8 - CogAT testing (5th grade only)

• Thursday, November 9 - Fundraiser pick-up, WW Cafeteria, 2:30-5:30 p.m.

• Thursday, November 9 - Native American Parent Advisory Committee event, Woodcrest Spanish Immersion School (in the Piña Room), 5:30-6:30 p.m.

• Friday, November 17 - Westwood Family Fun Night, 6-8 p.m. at Westwood

• Monday, November 20 - Grupo de Padres Hispanohablantes de SLP reunión, Woodcrest Spanish Immersion, 5-6:30 p.m.

• Thursday, November 23-Friday, November 24 – No school, Thanksgiving Break

• Monday, November 27 - PTO Meeting, 6 p.m.

• Thursday, November 30 – End of Tri 1

• Thursday, December 7 – Live on 65: After Hours Big Band, 7 p.m., FAC – purchase tickets

Students in Spanish class are learning about the significance of the marigold in the celebration of Día De Los Muertos, and made some marigolds of their own!

7th graders recently completed "The Outsiders" character body analysis project where they practiced citing textual evidence, character traits, research, and inference skills based off of characters from the book.

As a reminder, the fundraiser pickup will be after school on Thursday, November 9 from 2:30-5:30 p.m.

Thanks to everyone who came to the PTO meeting yesterday. Here are the top 5 takeaways!

1. School board member Tony Easter gave a report about the district focus on the importance of student and staff attendance. The presentation they had at their September meeting is available online.
2. Principal Tom Larson reminded everyone about the upcoming grade 5/6 play and the end of trimester 1 on November 30.
3. The PTO Board is looking for a secretary to join our board this year.
4. All Westwood families are invited to a Family Fun Night at school from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, November 17. There will be an open gym, corn hole, and bingo. We are looking for volunteers to help during the family night. Join the fall family night Band or email us if you are interested.
5. Thanks to everyone who sold items or collected donations during our all-school fundraiser. Together we raised just over $21,000, which will go towards mileage club, book fair, art adventure, literacy initiatives, spring lock-in, fall family night, upgraded basketball hoops/recess fixtures, "Mindful Moment" areas for all school use, 5th grade field trip to Orchestra Hall, speakers, and other unity building activities to celebrate end of trimesters, Congratulations to the 55 students that will be going on a limo ride! Don't forget to pick up items Thursday, November 9 in the cafeteria from 2:30-5:30 p.m. If you can volunteer to help during pick-up, please sign up here.

Kick off your winter celebrations in style with After Hours Big Band and special guest Reed Grimm from American Idol Season 11. The December 7 show, “Dear Santa . . . Define Good,” is worth a little later bedtime for the whole family.

The “Live on 65” performance series is set to welcome After Hours Big Band to the Spring Lake Park High School Fine Arts Center stage Thursday, December 7, 2023 at 7 p.m. You can purchase tickets online now.

After Hours Big Band is not your average jazz band. With ties to Spring Lake Park, this special musical experience promises to be both familiar and fresh. Reed Grimm, who appeared on American Idol Season 11, joins the band for some pre-holiday crooning. Spring Lake Park Schools parent, Michael Pearson, is the band’s founder and director. Michael shares the scoop on “Dear Santa. . . Define Good.” Learn more about the show.

Don’t miss the final weekend of the Spring Lake Park High School fall production “Letters to Sala.” See the show in the Spring Lake Park High School Fine Arts Center on Friday, November 3, 7 p.m. or Saturday, November 4, 2 p.m. Purchase tickets today.

• Preparation for a career in healthcare
• Watch: Introduction for families to competency-based learning
• Practice Makes Proficient
• Winter athletics registration now open
• Getting to Know You

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