October 2019

Students and Staff may dress up for Spirit

Week, Monday Sept. 30 thru Friday Oct. 4

Monday – Pajama Day– Wear your favorite comfy PJ’s.

Tuesday – Hat Day – Wear your favorite hat to school.

Wednesday – Wacky Wednesday – Wear your craziest/ wild outfit.

Thursday – Team Color Day – wear your Team color.

Team 1 - Yellow

Team 2 - Purple

Team 3 - Orange

Team 4 - Green

Team 6 - Hot Pink

Team 7 - Blue

Friday – GB Day – Support our own Bobcats and wear your red and black!

**REMINDER**

Dress Code still applies during Spirit Week!!!

The first Late Start day for this

school year is Wednesday,

October 9, 2019

School begins at 10:25am. Busses

will run 2 hours and 20 minutes later

than normal.

Late Start

Homecoming Football Game

Friday, October 4th

Half-Day for Students

11:29 am Dismissal

Students and Staff will be allowed to Dress Up in

Halloween Costumes on

Thursday, October 31st

Cost will be

$2.00 Students

$5.00 Staff

Proceeds to go towards Phys. Ed Department

and a donation to Carriage Town Ministries

DRESS CODE APPLIES - No Weapons or Masks

What’s inside . . .

Important Dates Page 2

Positivity Project Page 2

Principal’s Letter Page 3

Office/Phone Numbers Page 3

PTO News Page 4

Lunch Applications Page 4

8th Grade Washington DC Trip Page 4

The West Report

News and Updates from Grand Blanc West Middle School

Spirit Week

Homecoming Half-Day

Halloween Dress Up

Important Dates and Events

For WMS

October 2019

October 1 Student Count Day

October 7 Evening Office Hours – 6:00 to 8:00 pm

October 13 Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 pm, Perry Center Boardroom

October 21 East Middle School PTO Meeting,

6:30 pm, East Middle School Library

October 22 School late start – 10:30 am

Picture Retakes

October 24 Halloween Dance 5:00—6:30 PM

October 27 Board of Education Meeting-7:00 PM Perry Center Board Room

October 31 End of the Frist Marking Period

Positivity Project

The Positivity Project empowers America’s

youth to build strong relationships and to

understand, appreciate and exemplify the

character strengths in us all.

“Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of

true education.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

October Character Traits

6 - 12 Being Present and Giving Others

my Attention

13 - 19 Integrity

20-26 Perspective

27-Nov 2 Creativity

Winter Sports 1

Volleyball and Wrestling will begin on

Wednesday, October 23rd

All Student Athletes MUST have a current physical (dated after 4/15/19) on file in

the office in order to participate. More information will be available in the Daily

Student Announcements or on the Athletic Page of our West Middle School Website

at https://www.gbcs.org/Domain/19 .

Questions can be directed to Mrs. Allard at 810-591-7309 or tallard@gbcs.org

Mon. Sept. 30 — Fri. Oct 4 Spirit Week

Wednesday, October 2 Student Count Day

Friday, October 4 Homecoming Football Game

Half-Day for Students

11:29 am Dismissal

Wednesday, October 9 Late Start Day

10:25 AM Start Time

Building Opens at 10:15am

Busses run 2 hours and

20 Minutes later than normal

Friday, October 11 Funapalooza 3:15pm-5:30pm

Monday, October 14 Board of Education Mtg-7:00 PM

Tuesday, October 15 PTO Meeting - 6:30PM library

Thursday, October 18 Picture Retakes

Monday, October 28 Board of Education Mtg-7:00 PM

The West Side View

WELCOME: I hope everyone has experienced a great start to the 2019-2020 school year. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as the Interim Principal, in the absence of Mr. Neall. Before serving as an Assistant Principal at Grand Blanc High School, I was the Assistant Principal & Athletic Director at West Middle School from 2011-2018. This is my ninth year in Grand Blanc Community Schools, and I am proud to be a BOBCAT!! ADVISORY: The staff at West Middle School is dedicated to the success of each student and excited to get to know your child. During the 2019-20 school year, all students will have an advisory period each Tuesday from 8:05-8:45 a.m. Advisory time was designed through Strategy II, Action Plan 3 from the district’s Strategic Plan. During this time, each teacher meets with a small class of students for the purpose of advising them on matters not always covered in academic classes. The Positivity Project lessons will primarily be taught during this time. The role of the teacher/advisor in these classes is to serve as a mentor, and facilitate positive relationships with each child. The intended benefits of advisory period include building positive relationships, social and emotional growth, development of student character, and an increased sense of belonging. Please ask your child about Advisory and the Positivity Project. HOMECOMING: Next week is Homecoming and another year to celebrate Bobcat traditions along with community togetherness! Please encourage your student to participate in the festivities, dress up days, and enthusiasm that come with this annual event! An outline for Spirit Week is included in this newsletter! YELLOW RIBBON CAMPAIGN: Since 1994, the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program has been empowering people of all ages to speak up and support those in need. On Tuesday, October 15th, students will receive a “Yellow Ribbon Card.” This card empowers and encourages students to ask for help and/or help others. Students will receive immediate guidance, in times of crisis, by simply handing any adult their “Yellow Ribbon card.” During this same week, students will be receiving the Positivity Project’s “Being present and giving others my attention” lessons. TEACHER TALK: While we believe that all students can learn at high levels, it is important we recognize students don’t all learn the same way or in the same amount of time. Schools need systems in place that will help teachers meet the needs of all students. Teachers at WMS are constantly collaborating, researching, learning, and engaging in professional development for the success of your student! We are excited about teacher-initiated flexible seating, district technology advancements, collaboration during Professional Learning Community (PLC) time and common planning time, teacher-funded classroom libraries, curriculum coaches, and new curriculum studies. Please take time to ask your student WHAT they are learning, HOW they are learning, and WHY the content is important. A home-school partnership will improve the success of your child now, and throughout the entire academic year! Please take the time to get involved, we are happy to have your family with us at West Middle School, Diana Balbaugh, Interim Principal

Office

ITEMS BROUGHT TO SCHOOL: If your

student has forgotten something for school and

calls you to bring it for him/her, you may drop it

off in the office. It is helpful if your student

knows to come to the office to look for the item.

Deliveries will be made when possible, but

cannot be guaranteed.

LUNCHES AND LUNCH MONEY: Students

are responsible to come and pick up any

lunches dropped off. Lunches will NOT be

delivered to students. Lunch Money dropped

off will be taken directly to the cafeteria by a

staff member and put on the student’s account.

TREATS/SPECIALTY DRINKS/GIFTS/

BALLOONS/FLOWERS:

These items are not allowed during classes

and will NOT be delivered to students at any

time. We thank you for understanding our

commitment to maintaining an uninterrupted

school environment.

Important Phone Numbers

School Picture Re-Takes will be done on

Friday, October 18th from 7:30am-11:30am

If you want your student’s picture retaken please return the entire package on this day. This is also the last

opportunity for any student who has not already had their picture taken for the 2019-2020 school year.

When your child is absent,

please report it by calling the

ATTENDANCE HOTLINE

591-8387

Attendance Desk-591-7313

Athletics/Main Office-591-7309

Counseling Office-591-7335

Counselor (A-K) 591-7338

Counselor (L-Z) 591-7339

Cafetorium-591-8388

Picture Re-Takes

Washington D.C. Trip

Congratulations to our newly elected PTO Officers:

President ~ Don Chapin and Vice-President ~ Angela Heuer

We need more parent volunteers!!

Keep an eye out for sign-up genius links where you can volunteer to help!

“The PTO exists to support and enhance the experience of the students and staff of West Middle School”.

Please join us for our next meeting

Tuesday, October 15th at 6:30pm in the WMS Library.

Time Is Running Out! Free and Reduced Meal Applications

You must complete a new meal application (one per family) each school year. We process each application and mail you a letter letting you know what you qualify for. If you did not send in a new application, complete an application online or you receive a letter from us notifying that your child is eligible for free meals, your child will be charged the full price for meals after October 15, 2019. If you have completed an application but not received a letter home telling you what you qualify for, please call Teresa (810) 591-6675. If your child is currently receiving free/reduced meal from last year’s application, the deadline for completing the new application this school is OCTOBER 15, 2019. Applications can be found in the school office, all kitchens or on the district web site on the food service page.

If you do not currently receive free or reduced meals but feel you may qualify, an application may be completed and turned in any time during the school year. For example, children with a parent or guardian who become unemployed may become eligible for free or reduced meals if the household income drops below the income limit.

News From Food Services - Breakfast/Lunch Applications

PTO News

The annual 8th grade trip to Washington D.C. is

March 6 - March 10, 2020.

There is an optional parent informational meeting scheduled for October 8th

in the EAST middle school gym at 6:00.

Please contact Mr. Bade pbade@gbcs.org with questions.