What's Happening at Western?
Dear Western Families,
Hard to believe, but we have officially wrapped up our first full month of the school year! As our routines settle in and students build momentum in their classes and extracurriculars, October brings an important focus across the nation: National Bullying Prevention Month. It is a crucial time for schools and communities to raise awareness, build empathy, and unite against bullying and cyberbullying.
Beyond just highlighting the issue, this month serves as a powerful reminder of our year-round commitment to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive culture where every individual feels a true sense of belonging. A safe school environment is essential for learning and growth. When students feel secure, both in person and online, they are empowered to engage fully, take intellectual risks, and reach their full potential.
Creating a positive school climate requires an ongoing effort from all of us, grounded in treating one another with dignity, kindness, and respect. At Western Middle School, our core mission remains centered on ensuring that every single student is Valued, Challenged, Supported, and Empowered. Supporting the whole child means advocating for student well-being and ensuring no student ever feels they have to navigate challenges alone.
As we move into this second month of school, we encourage open conversations at home about kindness, positive digital citizenship, and looking out for one another. Together, we can ensure that our school community remains a place where every child is safe to learn, grow, and thrive.
Hope to see many of you at the PTA Social tonight at the Griff!
Warmly,
Matthew Laskowski
Principal, Western Middle School
#WestsideBestside
Si desea leer esta actualización en español u otro idioma, haga clic en "Traducir" ("Translate") en la parte superior del boletín (al lado de "Share" (Compartir)) y seleccione español o el idioma de su elección. Gracias.
Monday, October 5-Friday, October 9, 2026: Pink/Breast Cancer Fundraising Week
Thursday, October 8, 2026: Board Retreat at Havemeyer Building, 7pm
Monday, October 12, 2026: Columbus Day, Schools Open
Monday, October 12- Friday, October 16, 2026: Mum Sale
Monday, October 12, 2026: 8th grade Orchestra to GHS
Difference Maker
We are proud to announce Mrs. Diana Willie as our October Difference Maker Award recipient!
Mrs. Willie was recognized for her extraordinary dedication, warmth, and compassion toward our students and families. Known for her constant encouragement and love of teaching, she consistently goes above and beyond to support those around her—providing steady guidance, comfort, and care during times of need. Her unwavering heart and positive impact uplift our entire school community, and we are truly grateful for the difference she makes every day.
Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Willie on this well-deserved honor!
Mum Sale
We will be selling mums again this year to support the Sudell Sprint/Kindness Scholarships. Please order your mums here: Mum Order Form. There will be a limit of 10 per customer and colors will be picked the day of pick up, as it will be dependent on availability. We are accepting cash or checks made payable to Western Middle School which can be brought on the day of pickup. Pickup will be outside of the large cafeteria on Wednesday, October 14th 2pm-4pm and Friday, October 16th 8:30am-10:30am.
6th Grade
Today the 6th grade teams had their first Mid-Quarter Awards Ceremonies. Many students were honored for their high-levels of participation, effort, and citizenship. To wrap-up the ceremonies, each team announced its two Students of the Month for the month or September. We are very proud of what the students have achieved so far and look forward to seeing them continue to grow!
- When you drop off an item please be sure their name is on it! It makes it more difficult to track down students when there is no name. Thank you!
All students used Flex Time this week to complete their progress monitoring sheet, which is located in their planners. During this time, students reviewed Aspen and documented their grades for each course, as well as whether they have any missing assignments. They reflected on what is going well for them academically, identified areas for growth, and set small goals for the remainder of the quarter.
Please ask your child to show you their progress monitoring sheet in their planner and have a conversation with them about how Quarter 1 is going so far.
