April 10th, 2026
Principal ~ Aspen Burkett
We are incredibly proud to share some exciting news; West Middle School has been named a recipient of the 2025 John Irwin School of Excellence Award. This prestigious recognition honors schools that demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and sustained excellence over time. It is a tremendous honor for our school community and a reflection of the daily hard work of our students, the unwavering commitment of our staff, and the continued support of our families and community partners.
This award is truly a celebration of our entire West community. It reflects the culture of high expectations, strong teaching and learning, and the shared belief that every student can achieve at high levels. We see this recognition not only as a moment of pride, but as a strong launch point into next year as we continue our commitment to academic excellence and an exceptional school experience for every Wildcat.
A very special shout-out goes to our Assistant Principal, Mark Wackwitz, as this marks the third time he has been part of a school community receiving this distinguished honor. His leadership, consistency, and commitment to student success continue to make a lasting impact on our building.
As we have now completed the majority of our CMAS testing, with make-ups and 8th grade science still ahead, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude. I am deeply thankful for the way our staff created such a supportive, calm, and encouraging testing environment for students. Thank you as well to our incredible parent volunteers who showed up and supported our CMAS health/ movement activities and brought positive energy throughout the week. Most importantly, I want to recognize our students for their willingness to engage in hard things like testing as part of their learning journey and preparation to be high school and college ready.
We are excited for what lies ahead as we continue to grow, improve, and prepare our students for success in high school and beyond.
Why does every student deserve a school counselor?
School counselors play a vital role in helping students feel supported, confident, and ready to learn. They work with students across three key areas: academics, social-emotional development, and college and career readiness. On the academic side, counselors help students stay organized, set goals, and build skills like time management and problem-solving. Socially and emotionally, they support students in managing stress, building friendships, and navigating conflict during what can be a challenging time. They also begin introducing college and career awareness, helping students explore their interests and strengths and connect them to in class learning.
In a middle school especially, this support can make a huge difference. These are years where students are figuring out who they are, gaining independence, and facing new academic and social pressures. Having a school counselor means students have a trusted adult to check in with, advocate for them, and help them stay on track before small challenges become bigger ones.
Every student deserves access to a school counselor because every student deserves to feel seen, heard, and supported. School counselors help create a safe, inclusive environment where all students have the tools, skills, and encouragement they need to grow, succeed, and feel a sense of belonging at school.
Feel free to contact your grade level counselor if you have any questions, concerns, or want to connect.
6th Grade: Emily Carter ecarter3@cherrycreekschools.org
7th Grade: Ali Holstein aholstein@cherrycreekschools.org
8th Grade: Justin Cantrell jcantrell4@cherrycreekschools.org
📣 Wildcat Community Update
Please join us for our last general PTCO meeting of the school year! 🐾
🗓 Tuesday, April 28
⏰ 9:00-10:00 AM
📍 West Middle School
We will be:
• Voting in our 2026–2027 PTCO Board
• Hearing important updates from Principal Burkett
We’d love to see you there! 💙
Support our Wildcats while enjoying a night at the ballpark! ⚾🐾
West Middle School is participating in the Colorado Rockies School Fundraising Weekend, and every ticket purchased helps support our school community.
🎟 How it works
• Buy discounted tickets through our school link
• Enter promo code: WESTMIDDLE at checkout
• Bring your family & friends to the game!
📅 Eligible Games
🆚 San Francisco Giants
• Friday, May 29 – 6:40 PM
• Saturday, May 30 – 7:10 PM
🎟 Get your tickets here:
🔗 https://www.mlb.com/rockies/tickets/specials/school-fundraiser
Grab your seats, invite friends, and help us hit a home run for West! ⚾🐾
Want more Book Fair?
No problem! Keep the party going online. All book purchases over $35 ship free and every purchase benefits our school! https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/westmiddleschool12 #ScholasticBookFairs
Share the Fair!
Your contribution benefits our school’s Share the Fair fund that enables more students to take home books from the Scholastic Book Fair.
eWallet: The easy way for students to pay
Go cash-free with eWallet, the digital payment option that lets families and friends add money so kids can shop the Book Fair independently. The easiest way for kids to pay is with an eWallet. Create one for your child so they can shop cash free and independently! Visit our school homepage to get started: https://scholastic.com/bf/westmiddleschool12
📚 Yearbooks for Sale ! 📚
Starting March 23rd, Yearbooks will be able to be bought online with MySchoolBucks, so please make sure you have your account! You are also welcome to still send your student with $40 cash to our Bookkeeper!
Not sure if you’ve already ordered a yearbook?
Email our yearbook sponsor, Caroline Rose Wheeler, to double-check!
Transportation is required by CDE Regulations to account for all students on the bus and unauthorized passengers are not permitted. However, the Transportation Department recognizes that circumstances may arise, e.g. a family emergency, parents out of town, etc., when a student needs to ride home with another student on a one-time only basis. The student must get off at the assigned stop of the student they are riding with (no exceptions).
Make sure to fill out and turn in the linked Permission Slip to the Campus Admins office no later than 9:00 AM on the requested ride date. Forms can be printed and handed to the Campus Admins Assistant. Hard copies of the form can be picked up from the Campus Admins office if they are needed but must be picked up prior to the day they need to ride a different bus. No emails will be accepted. If there is an emergency, please call the Campus Admins office at 720-554-5155.
