November Newsletter

West Liberty Middle School

Principal Andrew Genz

Secretary: Annie Gerstbrein

Secretary: Angie Gingerich

Email: agenz@wl.k12.ia.us
Website: www.wl.k12.ia.us
Location: 203 E 7th St, West Liberty, IA 52776
Phone: (319) 627 - 2118
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WestLibCSD

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Below is a quick rundown of important dates this month:

Wednesday, November 4th - Picture Retake Day

Wednesday, November 25th - Friday, November 27th - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break

Every Monday: 3:05 - 4:00 - WLMS Library Open for Homework Help

Next month:

Friday, December 18th - Early Release

Monday, December 21st - Friday, January 1st - NO SCHOOL - Holiday Break

A friendly reminder that picture retakes will be the morning of Wednesday, November 4th. This is for students who may have missed the first picture day or optional for students who would like to have retakes.

As a reminder, we ask that families refrain from sending homemade or home-cooked food items for students to share with classmates. If your student would like to bring a treat or snack to share, please make sure it is prepackaged and store-bought. We also ask that the student or parent check with the school nurse prior to bringing in any food to share. This helps us safely accommodate food allergies and dietary needs within our school.

The West Liberty Middle School Library is promoting reading with BINGO! Students can stop by the middle school library to pick up a Comet bingo card and challenge themselves to read a variety of genres. Complete five in a row and students earn a prize, or students can go for a blackout to win an even bigger reward. Both students and staff are invited to join the fun, HAPPY READING!

With the first quarter behind us, students have a fresh start as we begin the second quarter! This is a great opportunity for students to reflect on their progress, set new academic goals, and establish positive habits for the weeks ahead. We encourage families to review first-quarter grades with their students and continue monitoring academic progress through Infinite Campus. Let's make it a great second quarter!

As the weather gets colder and students spend more time indoors, it's important to find ways to stay physically active. According to the CDC, children and teenagers ages 6–17 should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Regular exercise helps improve concentration, strengthen muscles and bones, reduce stress, and support better sleep.

Quick Tip: Physical activity doesn't have to mean organized sports! Walking, dancing, riding a bike, or simply playing outside are great ways to stay active. Even small amounts of movement throughout the day can make a difference!

West Liberty Middle School uses a 2-Week Academic Eligibility Policy for students participating in extracurricular activities. The goal of this policy is to encourage students to stay on top of their academics while still providing an opportunity to improve their grades before becoming ineligible.

A few key points for families:

• Students failing two or more classes will first enter a one-week probationary period and may still participate in competitions.
• If a student is still failing two or more classes the following week, they will be ineligible for competitions for that week.
• Eligibility is determined weekly, and once a student is deemed ineligible, that status does not change during the week, even if grades improve.
• Students are encouraged to communicate with their teachers and take advantage of academic support opportunities during their probationary week.

For additional details, examples of how eligibility is determined, and a Spanish version of the policy, please review the full West Liberty 2-Week Academic Policy attached to this newsletter.

This year, the WLMS Student Engagement team will continue its focus on building meaningful connections outside the classroom. The goal is simple: create fun opportunities for students to socialize, try new activities, and strengthen our school community. The Student Engagement Team has developed a growing list of ideas to help students connect with their peers. These activities will change throughout the year based on weather.

To help organize and stay up-to-date, here is a calendar of engagement activities offered at the middle school in the month of September:

NOVEMBER ACTIVITY CALENDAR - English - CLICK HERE

NOVEMBER ACTIVITY CALENDAR - Spanish - CLICK HERE

Highlighted Activties:

FREE BINGO - On Mondays, when Middle School Girl's Basketball team are home, We will be hosting free BINGO for students to enjoy. After Bingo, students are encouraged to attend the girl's basketball event in the gym for Free!

Athletic Events

In addition to the middle school activities, we also included the middle and high school home events on the calendar. Students can get into all athletic activities for FREE. Thank you West Liberty Booster Club for providing this opportunity for our students.

Registration is open for local youth sports! Getting kids involved helps build confidence, friendships, and healthy habits that last a lifetime. The link below can provide information on upcoming sports and activities. Please reach out to West Liberty Parks and Recreation with any questions.

https://wlparksandrec.recdesk.com/Community/Program

Our Student Handbook is an important resource that outlines expectations, policies, and procedures for the school year. It includes information on attendance, behavior, grading, extracurricular activities, and much more. Reviewing the handbook with your student is a great way to ensure they understand what it means to be a positive and responsible member of our school community.

The handbook is available through the links below and can also be requested through the main office. We encourage every family to take time to read through it together and reach out with any questions. By working together, we can create a safe, respectful, and productive learning environment for all students.

English Version - CLICK HERE

Spanish Version - CLICK HERE

The West Liberty Booster Club is sponsoring FREE student admission to all HOME events! This includes both middle school and high school events throughout the fall season. We appreciate the Booster Club providing this opportunity for our students to come out, support their classmates, and cheer on the Comets!

West Liberty Middle School offers fall sports for all 7th and 8th grade students at no cost. Athletics are a great opportunity for students to get involved, stay active, and build connections with their classmates and coaches. Families should download the Bound app (pictured to the right) to sign up and stay up to date on schedules and information.

Every school day matters! Consistent attendance helps students stay on top of their learning, build strong connections with classmates, and develop positive habits that set them up for success both in and out of the classroom. Each lesson builds on the one before, and missing even a single day can make it harder for students to keep up with new material.

We understand that sometimes absences are unavoidable due to illness or emergencies. If your student is unable to come to school, it is VERY IMPORTANT TO CALL OR EMAIL THE OFFICE as soon as possible. Here are the methods to report an absence:

Office Phone: (319) 627-2118

Absence Email: msabsence@wl.k12.ia.us

Emailing is a new way to report a student absence. You may email at anytime. The office may contact you to confirm absence on a case-by-case basis.

Reporting absences helps us keep accurate records, ensures your child’s safety, and allows teachers to provide any missed work in a timely way. Together, by making attendance a priority, we can support your child’s learning and growth.

The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority. In order to maintain a secure environment, all visitors are required to check in at the office with school personnel and receive a visitor badge before entering any part of the building during the school day (7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.). This process helps us know who is in the building at all times and ensures a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.

If you would like to meet with a teacher or administrator, we kindly ask that you email ahead of time to set up an appointment. This allows us to make sure the person you wish to see is available and prepared to meet with you. We truly appreciate your cooperation and support in keeping our school a safe place for learning.

Did you know that both parents and students have access to Infinite Campus? This online portal is a great tool for staying connected and informed. Through Infinite Campus, you can view class schedules, check grades, monitor attendance, and see important updates throughout the school year.

If you need help getting set up with an account or logging in, please don’t hesitate to contact the main office, we’re happy to assist. There is also Infinite Campus information in both Spanish and English attached below. Regularly checking grades and attendance on Infinite Campus is one of the easiest ways to stay up to date on your student’s progress and provide support at home when needed.

This school year, West Liberty Middle School will be moving to quarter grading periods. This change will provide families with formal grades more frequently throughout the year and create additional opportunities to monitor student progress. Families are encouraged to continue checking Infinite Campus regularly to stay up to date on grades and assignments.

End of Quarter Dates:

• Quarter 1 - 46 days (October 28)

• Quarter 2 - 46 Days (January 20)

• Quarter 3 - 46 Days (April 7th) - On Conferences Day

• Quarter 4 - 39 Days (June 3rd)