OCTOBER Newsletter

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• للترجمة إلى اللغة العربية: انقر فوق "ترجمة النشرة الإخبارية" في المربع الأسود على الجانب الأيمن من الرسالة الإخبارية. من قائمة "تحديد اللغة" ، اختر "العربية".
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• 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".

Our students continue to excel both in the classroom and beyond. Our fall sports are getting close to the end of the season, while our school activities are taking off. Many students have has the opportunity to participate in field trips, summits, and community events. We look forward to seeing all of you at parent teacher conferences this month as well as our PTBC sponsored events and meetings. We appreciate your continued support and involvement in your child's education.

Please join us Tuesday, October 8 from 10am-10:30pm at Panda Express at 7804 Overland Dr. in Boise, for the first "Dine Around Nite" of the year sponsored by the PTBC (Parent Teacher Booster Club). West will get 20% of the sales if you use the code 379232 or show the flyer (see below) if you order in person. This is an easy way to support the school.

Also, our next meeting is Thursday, October 3 at 7:00pm in the library. We would love to see some new faces.

AVID is busy doing numerous community service projects which include the AVID Carwash, stocking the West Food Pantry and showing the WICOR strategies in all of their classes.

Hope Squad is a new program offered throughout secondary education in the Boise School District. At West, our group consists of 9 students from all three grade levels. Our mission is to build positivity and connection to our school community as well as be a helping hand to those struggling with thoughts of suicide.

Our students are working diligently to bring activities and meaningful interactions to the school community, but funding is needed. A donation of any amount would make our goal of building community possible. You can follow the link to make a tax deductible donation. Stay tuned for more updates on our events and progress this school year.

Hope Squad Donation Link

Hope Squad participated in Idaho's Youth Fentanyl Summit in September. Click on the link below to see the story.

October 3-PTBC Meeting in the library at 7:00pm. All are welcome.

October 8-Panda Express "Dine Around Night" sponsored by the PTBC 10:00am-10:30pm. West gets 20% of the sales will be donated to West ONLY if you use the code 379232.

October 11-PINK OUT Students are asked to wear pink to support breast cancer awareness. No body/face paint, but dress in as much pink as possible!

October 16-Parent Teacher Conference 4:00pm-7:00pm. (See below for more details) Parent Fentanyl Information Night 7:00pm (See below for more details)

October 17-Parent Teacher Conferences 4:00pm-7:00pm.

October 18-No School

October 24-Halloween Dance 6:00pm-8:00pm (See more information below)

October 25-AVID College Day-Wear your college gear!

Please join us on Wednesday, October 16th at 7:00pm (after Parent Techer Conferences ) in the gym for a Fentanyl Education Event for parents. This is a presentation from the Idaho State Police. Scotty's Hot Dogs will also be here that evening.

Parent Teacher Conference will be held in person this year on Wednesday, October 16th from 4pm-7pm and on Thursday, October 17th from 4pm-7pm.

Parent Teacher Conferences at junior high are very different than at elementary school. Parents can come anytime between 4pm-7pm (conferences end at 7pm) and are completely voluntary. You do not need an appointment to talk with the teachers.

Teachers will be arranged alphabetically in the small gym and the cafeteria for you to go in any order you wish. You may want to talk with all of your child’s teachers or only just a few. It is totally up to you who and how many teachers you meet with on these nights. Each conference should last no more than 5 minutes. If you have something to discuss with your child’s teacher that is more in depth and will require more than 5 minutes, please contact your child’s counselor to set up a different time for all of you to meet.

We do not print 1st quarter report cards since we are on a semester grading system. Quarter grades are just a progress report at this point in the semester. Infinite Campus has the most current and up to date grade for your child as well as your child’s current class schedule and teacher names. Having your child’s schedule (electronically or a paper copy) will help you find all of your child’s teachers.

If you cannot meet in person, you are always welcome to email your child’s teacher(s) for information.

We also encourage you to check the Lost and Found for any of your child’s belongings. Any items not claimed after these nights will be donated or discarded.

This would also be a great time to drop off any donations for our food pantry or for our Days for Girls Program.

You may order your yearbook at the following site.

https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1076773/West-Junior-High-School/

Dances are a fun event that all of our students look forward to attending. Here are the expectations about dances at West Junior High so that everyone will have a great experience.

The dance is from 6:00pm-8:00pm in the West small gym

The dances are supervised by West staff and parent volunteers

Students must bring current school ID card (If they need a new card, they need to see Mrs. Leasure in the main office)

Only CURRENTLY ENROLLED West students are allowed

The cost is $5.00 Cash only-we do not take cards

Concessions (pizza, pop and candy) will be sold. Once again Cash Only

Students don't need a "date" to attend

The dance is from 6:00-8:00 (Parents must pick up at 8:00-if parents are late, student may not get to attend the next dance) If walking home, student must leave campus right after dance.

Once a student leaves (or goes outside) they are not allowed back into the dance. They must go home

No outside food or drink allowed

No Bags-If student brings a bag or purse, it needs to be put it in the main office during the dance.

Any type of inappropriate behavior and parents will be called to come and pick up their child

If a student was not in attendance at school the ENTIRE DAY, they may not attend the dance

If a student has in house detention or is suspended on the day of a dance, that student is not allowed to attend the dance.

Since this is the Halloween/Costume Dance, here are the expectations for costumes:

No Masks-We need to be able to identify every student

No weapons-real or fake

Face/Body Paint-Entire face cannot be painted. We need to be able to identify every student

Costumes must be appropriate for the school setting-No offensive costumes

Does your student need a winter coat?

We have some brand new coats that were donated by the Boise Firefighters through a program called Operation Warm. Please reach out to Mrs. Campbell, our social worker and she will meet with your student and get them a coat. Her phone number is 208-854-6849 or email barbie.campbell@boiseschools.org.

Winter Sports:

Girls Basketball begins on October 10.

West Wrestling begins on October 14.

If you have any questions, please contact Mark Miller at mark.miller@boiseschools.org

Congratulations to Football Coach Willie Alderson for being named an Idaho Youth Game Changer from the Idaho Youth Sports Commission. Coach Alderson has dedicated the past 14 years to coaching at Borah and West Junior High in Boise, where he currently serves as the head coach of the West Junior High Football Program. His commitment to the development of our athletes and students is exemplary, making him an outstanding role model and mentor within our community. Coach Alderson's influence transcends the field; he is such a positive role model with kids around the school, encouraging academics, supporting positive behaviors, and celebrating success beyond the field.

Under Coach Alderson's leadership, the West football program has experienced unprecedented success while he positively impacts 100 athletes each season. He is a staunch advocate for fair play, sportsmanship, and discipline, instilling these values in his players. His collaborative efforts with his coaching staff have significantly enhanced our athletes' skills, culminating in multiple championships and undefeated seasons during his tenure.

Moreover, Coach Alderson has integrated valuable strategies from programs such as NFHS Coaching Certification and Positive Coaching Alliance, empowering our youth to become better versions of themselves. Coach Alderson fosters an environment where athletes can thrive through the development of fundamental skills, constructive reflection, and a sense of humor. Coach Alderson’s impact on the lives of young athletes is truly remarkable and we are proud to have him leading our youth.

STUDENT THREAT ASSESSMENT

PARENT/GUARDIAN NOTIFICATION

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Boise Independent School District is committed to creating and maintaining

educational environments in which the emotional and physical safety of students, staff,

parents and others is a priority. Schools cannot ignore any threat of violence. When

threat making behaviors occur schools initiate a process called Threat Assessment.

Each school has a threat assessment team that is multidisciplinary. The team will

include an administrator, school psychologist and school counselor; in certain situations

the team may be expanded to include a social worker, teacher, school nurse and school

resource officer (SRO).

What is a Threat?

A threat is an expression of intent to do harm or act out violently against someone or

something. Threats may come in many forms, such as verbal, written, drawn, posted on

the internet (social media) or made by gesture.

If your child comes home and reports a perceived threat, please notify the school

administration immediately or call 208-343-COPS.

The Threat Assessment Process

When schools learn of threat making behaviors, administration will activate the Threat

Assessment Process. Once this has been activated, interviews may be held with the

student(s), the threat maker, parents and staff to determine the level of risk and to

develop an appropriate response to the incident. Based on level of threat a Safety

Intervention plan may be developed by the threat assessment team and shared with

parents of the student who made the threats.

To ensure the physical and emotional safety of everyone, it is important for all parties to

engage in the process. The threat assessment process will take place to ensure a safe

and caring learning environment for all.

Should you have further questions about the threat assessment process, please contact the building principal.

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 needs to be in the students 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.

• Students will follow the Boise School District attendance policy (3121). Students will be physically present 90% of the time in classes. We are an in-person school, so if your child cannot attend in person, please contact your child's counselor for options including Boise On-Line School. If your child is absent, please call the attendance line within 48 hours. That number is (208) 854-6454.
• Students will be assigned lunch detention on the 2nd tardy in an individual class.

If you need to pick your child up during the regular school day, a permit-to-leave is required. Please call the attendance line (208) 854-6454 and state your name, your child's name, the time you will be picking up your child, if your child will be returning to school or not and your contact number. Please provide at least 1 hour notice.

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.

Academic research has shown that social media can have a profound and negative impact on student health and well-being. As part of our ongoing commitment to prioritize student well-being, enhance the educational experience, and ensure that our students remain focused on their academic journey, we are implementing new guidelines regarding access to social media on district-provided student devices. As a reminder, students are responsible for using District technology in a considerate, legal and responsible manner, and to abide by the District’s Student Technology Use Policy.

Limitations on District-Provided Devices

Effective immediately, district-provided student devices, such as Chromebooks, will allow access to only two social media platforms: YouTube and LinkedIn. These platforms have been selected because they offer substantial educational content and professional networking opportunities that can aid in students' learning and career development.

Advantages of This Move for Your Student

• Enhance Students' Emotional Well-being. By limiting access to these platforms, students are less exposed to cyberbullying, social comparison, and distractions that can contribute to anxiety and depression. Reducing social media usage during school hours can help students develop better concentration, build stronger social skills, and improve overall mental health, leading to a more positive and productive learning experience.

• Encouraging Digital Well-Being: This initiative supports digital well-being by reducing the time spent on potentially distracting or non-educational social media channels, promoting healthier online habits.

• Enhanced Focus on Education: By limiting access to select social media platforms, we aim to minimize distractions, helping students to concentrate better on their studies and educational activities.

• Promoting Productive Use of Technology: Access to YouTube and LinkedIn on district-provided devices will allow students to explore a vast array of educational videos and professional networking opportunities, fostering a more productive use of technology.

• Creating a Safe Online Environment: By carefully selecting accessible platforms, we can provide a safer online environment that prioritizes educational content and positive interactions.

Parental Controls on Devices

Parents and guardians retain the ability and responsibility of deciding what applications their child is able to access on their child’s device(s), whether or not they are district-provided. Please refer to our helpful parent guide about how to turn on the built-in parental controls on your child's phone, and/or how to set up the GoGuardian Parent App so you can control screen time, block additional websites, and/or turn off the internet on district-provided Chromebooks outside of school hours.

We believe these changes will contribute positively to our students' academic success and overall development. In addition, your individual school may be limiting student use of cell phones during the school day. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact your school.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we strive to create the best possible learning environment for our students.

Sincerely,

Boise School District Administration

The Boise School District offers emergency text messaging for parents/guardians. Learn more and sign-up.

Janet Cherry - Principal

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