January Newsletter
2025
Newsletter Translation
Newsletter Translation
- To translate: click on" translate newsletter "in the black box on the right side of the newsletter. In the" select language menu" choose the language you need.
- "Para traducir al espanol: haga clic en "translate newsletter" que esta en la caja negra al lado derecho del boletin. En el menu de "select language" escoga "Spanish".
- للترجمة إلى اللغة العربية: انقر فوق "ترجمة النشرة الإخبارية" في المربع الأسود على الجانب الأيمن من الرسالة الإخبارية. من قائمة "تحديد اللغة" ، اختر "العربية".
- Kutafsiri kwa Kiswahili: bonyeza "Tafsiri jarida" kwenye sanduku nyeusi upande wa kulia wa jarida. Kutoka kwa menyu ya "Chagua lugha", chagua "Kiswahili".
- Si aad ugu turjunto Af-Soomaaliga: dhagsii "Tarjumida warsidaha" sanduuqa madow ee ku yaal dhinaca midig ee warsidaha. Laga soo bilaabo "Dooro luqadda" menu, dooro "Af-Soomaali".
A Message from Principal Cherry
On behalf of the entire West team, I want to extend a warm welcome back to school for the second semester. I hope you all had a restful and rejuvenating break. We are thrilled to be back and eager to continue building upon the successes of the first semester. This semester promises to be filled with exciting learning opportunities, both inside and outside the classroom. While it is just the beginning of this new semester, we will start focusing on classes for the 2025-2026 school year with registration beginning towards the end of January. This semester we will be focusing on promoting The West Way and celebrating those who make learning and doing the right thing a priority.
We encourage all of our students to come to school prepared to learn, participate actively in class, and embrace any challenges along the way. We value the strong partnership we have with our families. Your support is invaluable in helping our students succeed.
Let's make this an outstanding second semester filled with growth, learning and success for all.
What it Open Around the District
Winter Break (No School Pre K-12): December 23, 2024 – January 3, 2025
January 6, 2025: Staff Professional Development and Building Work Day (Non-Student Day)
January 7, 2025: School Resumes
Additionally, the Boise School District Services Center, located at 8169 W. Victory Road, Boise, Idaho 83709, will be closed for winter break beginning at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, December 20, 2024, and will reopen at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, January 6, 2025.
We wish you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season and a happy New Year. Thank you for being an essential part of our Boise School District community.
Replenish Supplies-Second Semester
As we begin the new semester, please ask your child if they need any more supples. According to our teachers, many students need pencils and a new binder. If you need assistance with supplies, please contact your child's counselor..
West Cell Phone Policy
Thank you for supporting our cell phone policy so that we can provided the best environment for your child to learn while at school. We do need your help in encouraging your child though. Please remind your child that all electronic equipment (cell phones and airpods) needs to be in the student's locker except for before school, break, lunch and after school. During class time and passing periods students should keep these items in their locker. Phones are not allowed in locker rooms or bathrooms.
Once again, if you need to get a message to your child, please call the main office and we will deliver a message to your child.
From the Social Worker
Hello West families, I am in the process of signing students up for social
emotional groups that will start in January. These groups teach personal skills,
empower change, and improve well being.
Healthy Relationships-The curriculum was created through the Women’s and
Children’s Alliance and will run for eight weeks. Our students are always navigating
relationships whether that be with family, friends, or dating. Topics include social
influences on relationships, qualities and characteristics of healthy relationships, and
recognizing unhealthy relationships. Participants will learn skills necessary to advocate
for themselves.
Resiliency-This group is for students who struggle managing emotions and need skills
to reset or pause their thoughts. They will learn how to regulate themselves when they
are in difficult situations at school or at home. This group is beneficial for students that
have anxiety, depression, or anger that can get in the way of their thinking.
General Support-This group is for students that would like to have discussions with
their peers on how to navigate junior high. Topics may include conflict, friendships, and
academic challenges, There is no set curriculum as the content is based on which topic
the participants choose to work on each week.
Artful Minds-The main idea of this group is to utilize art as a form of expression,
especially for things that might be difficult to verbalize. Through the creative process,
hands-on projects promote self-expression, enhance emotional well-being, and offer
new ways of identifying, processing, and coping with big feelings.
If you have questions or would like your child to participate, please email
barbie.campbell@boiseschools.org with the following information: 1. Student’s name 2.
Group name 3. And state your permission for your child to participate in a group.
Thank you,
Mrs. Campbell, LMSW
West Jr. High Social Worker
208-854-6849
Additional Information and Resources:
Assistance League of Idaho Teen Retail Program
Our social worker has teen retail vouchers available for students in need of clothes and shoes. The vouchers can be used at JCPenney in the mall. If your child could benefit from this resource please email Mrs. Campbell and she will send a voucher home with instructions. barbie.campbell@boiseschools.org
Winter Coats
If your child is in need of a winter coat, have them see Mrs. Campbell in the counseling office. She has a nice selection of new coats in several sizes.
Parent Teacher Booster Club (PTBC)
Message From PTBC
Our next meeting is on Thursday, January 9th at 7:00pm in the library. While all parents and guardians are invited to all of our meeting, we will be forming the Freshman Farewell Celebration and Dance Committee and are needing 9th grade parents. This event is to celebrate the end of junior high for these 9th graders and is truly a fun night. The more people to help, the better. Please think about attending this meeting and joining that committee.
January 2025
Important Dates-January
Tuesday, January 7-Students return to school. Boys Basketball begins
Thursday, January 9-PTBC Meeting at 7:00pm in the library. All are welcome.
Monday, January 20-NO SCHOOL-MLK Day
Friday, January 31-College Day-Wear your favorite college gear
Yearbook
You may order your yearbook at the following site.
https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1076773/West-Junior-High-School/
Athletics
Boys basketball starts in January. All interested athletes MUST have all of their paperwork, including physical, turned in before they are allowed to tryout/practice.
If you have any questions, please contact Mark Miller at mark.miller@boiseschools.org
Parent Engagement Opportunities
Parenting Course: The Boise School District is partnering with Family Advocates to provide FREE 10-week parenting courses. These courses will be held at Whitney Elementary and will include dinner, childcare, and additional resources. Space for childcare is limited, so be sure to sign up soon! For more information, please refer to the flyer or complete our interest form. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Sara Nord at sara.nord@boiseschools.org or 208-559-3107. Registration closes on January 10th.
Protecting Your Children in the Digital World: Many parents believe that their child is unlikely to be affected by online dangers, but the reality is that cyberbullying, sextortion, and sexting are threats that can impact any child. The Boise School District is hosting an important event to help parents understand these risks and how to protect their children. A guest speaker from Homeland Security’s Know2Protect program and a panel of experts will share valuable insights on these issues. Join us at South Junior High on January 29th from 5:30-7:30 pm to learn how to keep your child safe online. Free childcare is available until capacity is reached so RSVP soon! Check out the flyer for more details!
Building a Bridge to Better Behaviors: Join us at Whitney Elementary on January 30th from 5:30-7:00 pm for a parent workshop provided by Dr. Michelle Alden. She will share valuable insights and practical tips for parenting children who are wired differently, including those with executive functioning challenges, ADHD, Autism, and/or Dyslexia. Childcare will be provided, but space is limited, so RSVP soon! Please see the flyer for more details.
FREE BREAKFAST
Remember that we offer free breakfast for all students. Students can get free breakfast either before school OR at break in the cafeteria.
Boise School District Partners with Varsity Tutors to Offer Free 24/7 Online Tutoring for Secondary Students
Boise School District is thrilled to announce a new partnership with Varsity Tutors, bringing 24/7 online tutoring and academic resources to secondary students, free of charge through 2030. This innovative partnership ensures students in grades 7-12 have access to a comprehensive suite of academic support tools, empowering them to learn at their own pace and succeed in any subject. Through Varsity Tutors, students can connect with flexible, on-demand support, including live tutoring sessions, essay reviews, enrichment classes, and access to celebrity-led StarCourses. The platform offers a variety of self-study tools, recorded lessons, and group classes designed to cater to every learning style. Key Features Available: Access for Boise Secondary Students (Grades 7-12): All secondary students in Boise School District already have a Varsity Tutors account, accessible via Classlink on “My Apps.” Parents and students are encouraged to explore the Varsity Tutors Academic Support Launchpad for an overview of available resources. For login support, students can follow instructions provided through Classlink (myapps.boiseschools.org). With this partnership, Boise School District is dedicated to providing students with the academic support they need to succeed anytime, anywhere.
Messages From The Boise School District
Annual Notification Regarding Public Release of Student Directory Information
The Boise School District complies with federal law (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) as it relates to the release of student directory information to the public. To learn more, log on to www.boiseschools.org and navigate to Parents & Patrons > Parent Information > FERPA Form. Or, please call the Clerk of the Board at 208-854-4123 to obtain a copy of the FERPA form.
Inclement Weather Procedures - Keeping Students & Staff Safe
Education is important and every missed day of school represents lost learning opportunities. However, the Boise School District’s primary concern is for the safety of all students, including students riding buses and walking or biking to school. If students cannot safely travel to school or if schools are not able to operate safely because of citywide dangerous weather conditions, school may be canceled. We do our best to make a decision by 5:30 a.m. to ensure timely communication. We will not cancel school on days with normal winter conditions. Light snowfall, cold mornings, or areas of ice are not sufficiently dangerous to force the closure of schools. With proper precautions including appropriate clothing, road deicing, and careful driving, students can travel to and from school safely. The Boise School District covers over 450 square miles of Ada County. We recognize that conditions vary throughout the District, even from street to street, in some cases. Conditions may be extremely dangerous in one area, while perfectly safe everywhere else. If parents believe it is too dangerous for their children to travel to school they have the option to keep their children home. If school is canceled, it will be canceled for the entire District, including Boise Online School. The most frequent dangerous weather conditions facing Boise schools are: SNOW: Snow levels within the City of Boise are typically light or moderate. However, there is always the potential for heavy snowfall to make traveling by vehicle or on foot dangerous. Historically, most snowfall only results in slow traffic and minor accidents throughout the City. Normal snowfalls would not result in school closures. COLD: Frigid temperatures are more serious than snow when making school closure decisions. On bitterly cold days our concern is for students walking to school. Extremely cold weather also impairs our ability to get busses running, which causes delays in pickup routes, delays which are much more dangerous to riders because of the low temperatures. ICE: Ice is our most dangerous winter weather condition. Freezing rain and/or refreezing of melted snow make our roads, streets, and sidewalks extremely treacherous for pedestrians, and vehicles. Icy conditions may force us to close, even if it appears that no other dangerous conditions exist. Representatives from transportation agencies, the weather bureau, the highway district, city and county law enforcement agencies, and school administrators, including the Superintendent, check the roads and monitor information throughout the night and early morning hours. We confer early in the morning to reach a decision.
If school will be closed, we will communicate in a number of ways to spread the word. In addition to notifying local radio and television news stations, we will send text & email messages to parents/guardians & staff, send an emergency alert via the District’s mobile app, post closure information at www.boiseschools.org, on each school’s website, and on our social media channels (X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Threads & Instagram). Parents/guardians can sign up to receive emergency text messages by texting “Y” or “YES” to the number 67587. Non-parents (e.g., other family members, staff, news media, etc.) can also receive emergency text alerts via the Boise School District's mobile app (available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store) or via Remind. For more information, please visit our Inclement Weather Procedures on our Emergency webpage and on our Stay Informed webpage.
Sincerely,
Boise School District Administration
Parents - Sign-Up for Emergency Text Messaging
The Boise School District offers emergency text messaging for parents/guardians. Learn more and sign-up.
West Junior High
Bryce England - Assistant Principal
Email: janet.cherry@boiseschools.org
Website: https://west.boiseschools.org/
Location: 8371 W. Salt Creek Ct., Boise, ID 83709
Phone: 208-854-6450
Twitter: @WestMustangsBSD