Westwood Intermediate/Middle School

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Next Tuesday, Jan. 30, we welcome counselors from the high school into our 8th grade language arts classes to begin the orientation to the high school. Next week, the high school will also host online information sessions for families to provide a similar orientation and overview of courses and the registration process. I hope all of our 8th graders and families will engage in these activities as part of the transition to a successful high school experience.

This week, we are having our next safety and security drills. This is practice for staff and students to respond to a variety of scenarios. Our next lockdown drill with students is Friday at 9:30 a.m. for grades 5 - 8. If you do not want your student to participate in the lockdown drill, please let us know so we can make accommodations.

Thank you for sharing insights through Possip last week! So far this year, we’ve had more than 1,300 responses. We are seeing that 93% of you are happy with Westwood Intermediate and Middle School.

This month we heard members of the school community share examples of praise, appreciation, and feedback or questions.

• Praise for the new K-6 approach to reporting on student learning progress
• Praise for excellent teachers and staff
• Specific comments about classroom management and student behaviors impacting learning
• Feedback on school meals

We read every comment and 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!

Looking ahead, I hope you will mark your calendars for the Panther Foundation Week of Giving February 18 - 24, 2024 with a big party February 24. The Fund-a-Dream project this year is the Weekend Pack Program that provides food to students who need it over the weekend. Learn more on the Panthers for a Purpose event page. More details will be upcoming in our newsletters during the month of February and I am already planning my outfits for the red out, blue out, white out, and Panther Gear days.

Have a great rest of the week and enjoy the warmer winter weather!

Tom Larson

Principal

Westwood's lost and found table in the cafeteria has grown in the past few months. We have a large number of sweatshirts, jackets, hats, lunch boxes, water bottles, etc. that are still waiting to be claimed. Please remind your students to look for their missing items as soon as possible. Items that are not claimed by Friday, January 26 will be donated to our local Salvatioon Army.

• Monday, January 29 -
• PTO Meeting, 10 a.m. in the den
• Wind Ensemble 8th grade band concert, 7 p.m., SLPHS Fine Arts Center
• Tuesday, January 30 -
• 8th grade online family information session: 2024-25 course registration, 6:30 p.m., WebEx
• 7/8 Gr Choir Concert, 7 p.m., SLPHS Fine Arts Center
• Wednesday, January 31 - 8th grade online family information session: 2024-25 course registration, 9 a.m., WebEx
  

February

• Thursday, February 1 - Westwood Welcome Event for 4th grade families, Westwood Intermediate and Middle School, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• February 6-9 - Bookfair, open to staff/students during school hours.
• Wednesday, February 7 - Explore your Options event for grades 8-11, Spring Lake Park High School, 5-7 p.m.
  
• Thursday, February 8 - Live on 65: C. Willi Myles Comedy (Stand-Up Comic), Fine Arts Center, 7 p.m. Purchase tickets
• Friday, February 9 -
• Bookfair, 6-7:30 p.m., Maker Space area on the intermediate side
• Family Fun Night, 6-8 p.m., Westwood Cafeteria and Gym
• February 12-14 - Access Testing, grades 7-8
• Friday, February 16 - High school registration closes for the 2024-2025 school year
• February 15-19 - No school
• Wednesday, February 21 - NAEP testing, grade 8
• February 21-23 - Access Testing, grades 5-6
• Thursday, February 22 - Office Hours, 3:30-5 p.m.
• Monday, February 26 - PTO meeting, 10 a.m.
• Tuesday, February 27 - 6th to 7th grade transition online session, 10 a.m. or 6 p.m. | WebEx
• Wednesday, February 28 - 7th to 8th grade transition online session, 10 a.m. or 6 p.m. | WebEx
• February 29 - March 2 - Spring Musical "Oliver," SLPHS Fine Arts Center, 7 p.m.

High School registration materials for the 2024-2025 school year are available online. Browse the online, interactive catalog, view presentations and more. Students will meet high school counselors and get an introduction to high school on Tuesday, January 30.

See the upcoming events for several opportunities for families to learn more, including online events on January 30 and 31 and an in-person Explore your Options event at the high school on February 7.

The Westwood Community would like to shout out our amazing paraprofessionals. We appreciate all you do for our students and staff. There is not a day that goes by that we do not see your support and efforts to make school a better place for our students. THANK YOU!

Eric Vehe from Wargo Nature Center visited 5B classrooms. He shared information about wolves, as part of their Wildlife Outreach Program. The kids enjoyed learning about wolf adaptations and seeing animal artifacts like skulls and a wolf pelt.

The Westwood choirs are carrying on their tradition of singing the National Anthem at select home SLP high school sporting events! This year, the 5th, 7th, and 8th grade choirs sang the "Star Spangled Banner" at two home SLPHS basketball games. The singers enjoyed building their community together while singing this patriotic piece. The 6th grade choir looks forward to their own performance of the National Anthem on February 26!

Four students will be singing in the MN ACDA State Honor Choir for grades 4-6: Harper Hartwell, Feyisayo Bello, Nora Stephenson, and Natalie Ketz. They will be singing on Saturday, March 23 at Albertville High School. Way to go, Westwood choir students!

6th graders in Mrs. Bowman’s Language Arts class created one pagers to explain themes in the novel Out of the Dust. They also wrote about the symbolism in the novel and found evidence from the text to support their ideas.

It only took one class during junior year through Opportunities in Emergency Care to steer Anas Sumrin’s future direction. Last year, he became an Emergency Medical Technician – a certification he earned at Spring Lake Park High School. Now, as a senior, Anas is interning at the Fridley Fire Department where he takes a primary role in patient care on medical calls. All of his training was made possible through the Opportunities in Emergency Care (OEC) program. Students can take courses to become certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Nursing Assistant, Firefighter and more.

In a visit to the Fridley Fire Department, Anas shares more about what led to this dream internship at the fire department, how it’s going so far and what’s to come in the future.

We all need a laugh, and C. Willi Myles is sure to make that happen at the next Live on 65 performance on Thursday, February 8 at 7 p.m. in the Spring Lake Park High School Fine Arts Center. After surviving his childhood growing up with nine sisters and one brother in Alabama, Willi moved to Minnesota to attend college and play football. With his stories about growing up in the south and acclimating to the cold of Minnesota, Willi tells extremely funny non-offensive stories and jokes and gives a unique spin to life's everyday challenges. Will is referred to as "America's Everyday Comedian.” Don’t miss the laughs. Get your tickets today.

Get ready for the Panthers for a Purpose Week of Giving, the biggest Panther event of the year! It's time to get excited about the online Silent Auction with 300+ packages starting at just $25. Bid on Panther Gear, hand-made items, gift cards, and experiences—all from the comfort of your home. Support the Panther Foundation and SLP Schools. Register now and be ready to bid!

Package Sneak peek:

• Minneapolis Bouldering Project Family membership
• Survival Stanley Stash
• Crisp & Green Catering
• Barbie Basket
• Panther Gear

Students can purchase a variety of books, notebooks, posters, bookmarks, pens, science kits, and more at our annual book fair. Classrooms will visit the fair February 6-9 during the day. Payment can be made by Apple Pay, E-Wallet, credit card or cash. Families are invited to visit Friday, February 9, 6-7:30 p.m. during our Family Fun Night. Volunteers will be needed to help during these times - sign ups coming soon!

Don't miss this chance to hear about the Spring Lake Park High School Pathways Program, get a report from the school board, hear from the principal, meet other parents, and find out how you can be involved at Westwood!

You are invited to get out of the cold and meet other families and friends for a fun night on February 9 from 6-8 p.m. Families can play Bingo in the cafeteria or bring your own game/puzzle from home, have open gym time, or play KanJam or Corn Hole. There will be $1 concession snacks/drinks for sale in the cafeteria. The Book Fair will also be open. This is not a drop off event. students must have a guardian in attendance.

Email Westwood's PTO or join our group on BAND.

• Panthers for a Purpose kicks off fundraising event
• Learn more about the 2024-2025 school year registration and enrollment events
• School closings and alerts reminders

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 Mrs. Powell, kpowel@district16.org.

8th graders are being asked to turn in their baby photos for the yearbook. Please find your student's favorite baby picture and fill out this form to submit the photo. Please make sure to only submit one photo per student. All photos must be received by January 31 to be included in the 2024 yearbook. Questions may be directed to Mrs. Powell, kpowel@district16.org.

Current 7th graders (students who will be in 8th grade next school year) have the amazing opportunity to attend an optional field trip to Washington, D.C. next year.

• When: 10/12 - 10/15, 2024
• Where: Washington, D.C. and surrounding sites
• Who: Students who will be in 8th grade in 2024-2025
• What: Visit numerous museums, monuments, and other historic sites
• How: Fly both ways--leave early morning 10/12 and return at night 10/15
• Why: Fantastic lifetime memories :-)
• Trip ID# 213720

• Cost: $2,172.00 - If you register by January 30 (The price goes up $125 dollars after that).

  The initial deposit is $99 and the rest can be spread out in payments. We realize the price is significant and that is why we plan the trip a year in advance. There is some financial assistance available. Visit the website with more specific information and the registration options.

• If you have any questions, please email Ms. Visser.

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