Westwood Intermediate/Middle School
Hello Westwood Schools families,
Thank you to everyone who participated in our PTO fundraiser. We had great success and your support makes a difference for our students throughout the year. Be sure to read our PTO section below for more details.
Thank you for sharing your experiences in our latest pulse check. We were very happy to see that 96 percent of those responding were happy with their Westwood experience. Members of our community also shared the following:
- Praise for caring, supportive teachers who understand students' individual needs and help them feel valued and encouraged
- Appreciation for consistent, helpful communication from teachers that keeps families informed and involved in their children's learning
- Gratitude for efforts to reduce iPad use during classroom learning
- Feedback about the school schedule, including staggered start times, the timing of school breaks, and scheduling challenges for families with multiple children. There are many factors that go into scheduling the school day and we’re always looking at what we can do. I will also be sharing suggestions around after school activities with our community education team.
- Input on strengthening classroom management and ensuring consistent consequences for student behavior that disrupts learning. Specific to this topic, we are currently working with our behavior team to put together plans for some of our students who are struggling. In addition, we are in the process of reviewing the data to determine additional classroom supports and responses.
Please know that we share your praise and appreciation with our staff and are considering all your feedback. Thank you for taking the time to participate in these occasional pulse checks.
Have a great week,
Tom Larson
Principal
763-600-5300
Test of district notification system happening November 12
On Thursday, November 12, at 6:30 p.m., Spring Lake Park Schools will test its notification system to ensure families can receive important updates. The system is used for district and school news, school closings or delays and emergency information. Make sure your contact information and communication preferences are up to date.
Depending on your preferences, you may receive an email, text, voicemail and/or push notification through the SLP mobile app.
Save our phone numbers! Calls and texts from the district may show up as “Potential Spam” if the numbers aren’t saved in your contacts. Save these numbers so you can recognize district communications:
- Voicemail (regular and emergency): 763-600-5539
- Text (regular messages): 763-634-6155
- Text (emergency messages): 763-402-7589
If you don’t receive the test message as expected or need to update your contact information, visit our Stay Connected page and look for “Update contact information and communication preferences” for step-by-step directions. Questions? Email communications@district16.org.
Reminder: Parent Learning and Feedback Session on State and District Tests
Join the Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment Advisory Council (CIAAC) on Thursday, November 12 to learn more about state and district reading and math tests. Parents and caregivers can learn how assessments have changed, how schools use results to support student learning, and how tests vary by grade level, including in Spanish immersion programming. There will also be time to ask questions and share feedback.
- Thursday, November 12, 5:30–7 p.m.
- District Services Center
- Register for the session so we can plan for seating, small-group discussions and refreshments.
Panther Pride on Display in W109!
Ganske Panther Time students brought creativity, teamwork, and Panther pride to life with their amazing decorating contest submission! Each balloon represents one of our school pillars, with students contributing sticky notes sharing examples of how they can demonstrate each pillar in their daily lives. A special shout-out to Katherine, Thu, Larissa, and Avery, who worked hard to bring everyone's ideas together into this colorful, mixed-media masterpiece! Be sure to check out their fantastic creation on display in the hallway outside W109!
Meet our 2026-2027 student school board reps
What’s it like to bring the student perspective to the school board? Meet senior Sebastian Pandey and junior Rose Song, who are helping connect student voices with district leadership. Both have attended Spring Lake Park Schools since kindergarten and are passionate about representing their peers, sharing their experiences and making a positive impact on the school community. Get to know Sebastian and Rose, explore their leadership journeys and learn what makes them proud to be Panthers!
Celebrate the season with the "After Hours Big Band" Holiday Concert, Dec. 6
Join us for the third annual holiday performance by "After Hours Big Band" on Sunday, December 6 at 4 p.m.! A beloved Live on 65 tradition, this festive concert features big band classics, holiday favorites and high-energy entertainment to bring a little extra joy and holiday spirit to your season. Buy tickets for the "After Hours Big Band" Holiday Concert
Step into a magical winter adventure with "The Ice Queen!"
Performed by grades 5-6 students, this fun-filled musical takes audiences on an unexpected adventure. When a class field trip to the Winter Carnival Ice Palace takes a surprising turn, students find themselves caught between two feuding kingdoms in a magical world. Can they use their wits to help the rulers settle their differences and find their way home? Full of humor, silly moments and catchy songs, "The Ice Queen" is an entertaining show the whole family will enjoy!
Performance dates:
- Thursday, December 3, at 7 p.m.
- Friday, December 4, at 7 p.m.
