Westwood Intermediate/Middle School
Westwood Families,
I had the fortune of welcoming back the Westwood staff on Monday morning. The Den was filled with excitement and staff have been busy preparing for students next week. The first day of school is next Tuesday, September 5. Thank you to our PTO for the continental breakfast on Monday and snacks. We appreciate the support and partnership with the SLP community.
We had a great turn out for the Meet and Greet yesterday. It was fun to see familiar faces of returning students and welcome our fifth graders and new students to Westwood.
Grades 7 and 8 students, if you requested a schedule change please check your schedules prior to Tuesday. Counselors will also reach out if they were able to honor the request. Our counselors for Personalized Learning are:
- Grades 5 and 6 – Marge Zobitz – mzobit@district16.org
- Grades 7 and 8 – last names A – G – Heather Krier – hkrier@district16.org
- Grades 7 and 8 – last names H – O - Angela Lawrence – alawre@district16.org
- Grades 7 and 8 – last names P – Z - Trisha Nguyen – tnguye@district16.org
Students in grades 7 and 8 should come to school with a photo copy of the schedule on their phone or iPad. We will also have printed schedules in the cafeteria.
Cell Phones at Westwood
As we begin the year, we want students and families to be aware of expectations around cell phones at Westwood. Grades 5 and 6 students may not use their cell phones during the school day. If students are bringing cell phones to school, phones should be kept in their backpacks. Grades 7 and 8 students may not use their cell phones in class. They may use them during passing time or lunch.
Any item causing a disruption may be taken away at the teacher’s (or other staff member’s) discretion to be returned at a later time. With repeated offenses, students will be subject to school disciplinary action. Families should be aware that schools are not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged items – no matter how expensive. Students who choose to bring these to school do so at their own risk.
Immunizations
Now is the time to make sure your child is up to date on all recommended immunizations. See our website for more immunization information.
Drop off and pick up procedures
We are asking all families to follow the new drop off and pick up procedures to ensure the safety of our kids and their drivers. There is no pick and or drop off in the staff parking lot. If you need to park to pick up your child, please use the visitor parking, exit your vehicle, and cross the traffic lane with your child.
Drop off procedures:
- Students do not enter the building until 7:20 a.m. for grades 7/8 and 8:25 a.m. for grades 5/6.
- Follow the one way arrows when entering and exiting the Westwood campus.
- Drop off at the curb side only.
- Once you stop at the curb to drop off, your child must exit the vehicle. No waiting.
- Follow the one way arrows to exit the Westwood campus.
Pick up Procedures:
- Dismissal is at 2:30 p.m. for grades 7/8 and 3:15 p.m. for grades 5/6
- Follow the one-way arrows when entering and exiting the Westwood campus.
- There are two pick-up zones.
- Pick up at the curb side only
- When waiting in line, please pull all the way forward.
- Once your child enters the vehicle on the curb side, pull out of the wait line and exit following the one way arrows.
Have a great holiday weekend! We look forward to seeing students next Tuesday for a fantastic first day of school!
Tom Larson
Principal
Nutrition Services: School meal updates for a new year
As we enter a new school year, there are several important things to know about school meals:
- Breakfast and lunch meals: This school year, each student will get one breakfast and one lunch free of charge each day at school.
- Purchase of additional food items: During lunch, students have the option to purchase additional food items (second milk, extra entree, bottled water, etc.) if they have funds in their account. You can add funds to a meal account through Campus Parent Portal, or by sending cash or check with your child or directly to your school. If you do not want your student to purchase additional items, please complete this form and email it to foodservice@district16.org.
- Educational Benefits Application: Although no application is required to receive meals at no cost, filling out the application for Educational Benefits is still important and it is critical families who may be eligible complete an application each year. Many families are pleasantly surprised to learn they qualify for additional benefits.
Transportation reminders for a new year
- Bus Tracking (MyStop app): We use MyStop, which is web-based application available to parents and students that allows them access to live bus GPS information. Using a smartphone, tablet or desktop computer, parents and students can view the current location of buses on routes and the estimated time of arrival at their neighborhood bus stops. Learn more about MyStop.
- Bus Safety: It is very important all students and families understand our bus safety rules:
- Stay out of the “Danger Zone” around the bus
- Follow the driver’s instructions
- Be on time for the bus – five minutes early
- Always sit down and face forward
- Be courteous. No pushing, tripping, swearing or yelling.
- No eating or drinking
- Keep your bus clean. Do not damage the bus.
- Keep your head and arms inside the bus window
- Never throw objects inside or out of the bus
- No animals on the bus
- Plan to ride the bus: For students who ride the bus, please plan for your student to ride the bus on the first day of school to help us work out all our routines and eliminate as much confusion as possible. The transportation department appreciates your patience as we navigate the beginning of a new school year.
- Transportation webpage and contact information: Find all transportation information on the transportation webpage. For any questions regarding transportation, please contact the transportation department at transportation@district16.org or 763-600-5590.
2023-2024 School Handbook
Find our Spring Lake Park Schools School Handbook for 2023-2024 at SpringLakeParkSchools.org/schoolhandbook. The handbook is a guide for families and students on the practical aspects of school – start and end times, procedures for absences, transportation, meals, policies and more. Please review the information and refer to it, as needed, throughout the year and contact your school as you have questions.
Getting ready for the new year!
There's a buzz in the hallways and classrooms across Spring Lake Park Schools. Teachers and staff have returned to our school buildings to get ready to welcome students to a new school year. We are learning together, preparing classrooms, and developing the first learning experiences of the year. Everyone is looking forward to welcoming students next week!
Panther Store Kick-Off Sale!
The Panther Store is having a back-to-school kick-off sale now through September 8 with 20% off Panther Gear at the store and online with code 23Kickoff. Visit the Panther Store website for in-store special hours.
