West Middle School e-Bulletin

Monday, 2/2/26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Girls Basketball Tryouts Begin (See Schedule Below)
Tuesday, 2/3/26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Academy Night @ P-CEP (8th grade)
Wednesday, 2/4/26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Collage Concert Field Trip to P-CEP for 8th grade
Wednesday, 2/4/26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Early Middle College Partner Night @ Salem HS
Tuesday, 2/10/26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Online Academies & SLC Application Due
Wednesday, 2/11/26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Count Day! Please be in school
Friday, 2/13/26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No School (Conference Comp Day)
Monday, 2/16/26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No School (Mid-Winter Break)
Thursday, 2/19/26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P-CEP Curriculum Night for Class of 2030

Congratulations to the following students/staff for earning Bulldog of the Week!

Sophia Alhin

Reka Allis

Tyler Anderson

Rowan Beier

Emilia Bodnar

Wyatt Clark

Brinley Colbeck

Claire Dancy

Jake Hawkins

Estelle Lloyd

Emma McAtee

Lindsay Robinson

Erin Sadowski

Mrs. Blanchette

Families have access to their student’s Semester One report card in Parent Connect. We are including this in the newsletter make sure our families have all the information they need to understand their student’s progress during Semester One.

Your student’s Semester One Report Card will show columns for four grades.

Q1 M A - Q1 Academic Grade
Q2 M A - Q2 Academic Grade (this grade is the same as S1 as it is a running grade)
E - Semester 1 Exam Grade (only used in classes with a Final Semester Exam)
S1 M - Semester 1 Academic Grade
Some teachers may also add comments to the grade.

On all student transcripts, however, only Semester Grades are displayed. No Quarter Grades are shown on a student’s official transcripts. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Friendly reminder that the PBIS Raffle has been extended through next Wednesday, 2/4! Enter with your PBIS points for a chance to win a variety of prizes! Each point enters you in the raffle! There is no limit on how many times you enter! Prizes include candy, Nee Dohs!, gift cards, and more! Check them out on the PBIS Rewards App or PBISRewards.com!

Talent Show applications are available to students beginning, Thursday, January 29th, at lunch. Mrs. Hedge passed out applications at lunched this week, but if you missed picking one up, please see her to get one. Completed applications with parent and student signatures are due Friday, February 6th. Tryouts are Wednesday, February 11th, from 3:15 - 5:15 pm.

Dear 7th Grade Families,

We visited all 7th grade classrooms today to talk about the planning process for the 8th grade field trip to Philadelphia and Washington, DC. This experience for students would directly support the Early American History curriculum that is in 8th grade, and provide students with meaningful, real-world learning opportunities.

Before any planning can move forward, school board policy requires support from at least 90% of parents/guardians in the grade level. Please note that indicating support for the trip does not register your student for the trip - it simply gives the school permission to continue the planning process and gather additional details, including cost and logistics.

We ask that all families complete the brief Google Form linked below to indicate their approval or non-approval.

CLICK HERE FOR THE 8TH GRADE 2026 WASHINGTON D.C. PARENT APPROVAL GOOGLE FORM

West Middle School is open to students from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please note that staff supervision is not available outside of these hours. With the recent cold weather, it is especially important that students are dropped off no earlier than 7:45 a.m. and are picked up by 3:30 p.m. to ensure their safety. Thank you for helping us keep our students safe and warm during arrival and dismissal.

In response to questions regarding the attendance letters, these communications are part of an ongoing districtwide initiative to address chronic absenteeism and truancy. In accordance with district guidelines, each building completes a monthly attendance audit, and letters are automatically generated for students who meet specific attendance thresholds: 5, 10, 15, or 20 days absent, as well as cases requiring truancy documentation.

The issuance of an attendance letter does not carry any disciplinary consequence. Rather, the purpose is to maintain communication and to identify opportunities for support. We value the opportunity to work collaboratively with families who may need assistance and to partner together in addressing and resolving attendance-related concerns.

On February 4, 2026, all P-CCS 8th grade students will attend a Collage Concert at P-CEP (Salem Auditorium) This wonderful opportunity will allow our 8th grade students to connect and engage in their school community. We are excited to showcase all the visual and performing arts options available to our students at P-CEP. All 8th grade students will be attending this field trip.

8th grade students will leave WMS at 9:10 am for P-CEP and return in time for 8th grade lunch at 11:04 am

Please only sign below and return this document to the Main Office if you are NOT allowing your child to attend the Collage Concert. Please submit no later than Tuesday, 2/3/26. Please note that students who are not given permission will receive an alternate assignment to complete at school.

CLICK HERE FOR THE PERMISSION OPT-OUT FORM

CLICK HERE FOR THE PARENT INFORMATION LETTER

CLICK HERE FOR CLASS OF 2030 LETTER

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE 2026 ESSAY APPLICATION GUIDE

CLICK HERE FOR THE PARENT LETTER EMAILED EARLIER THIS WEEK

Girls Basketball Tryout Schedule

Monday, 2/2 - 3:15 - 5:15 pm 7TH GRADERS

Tuesday, 2/3 - 3:15 - 5:15 pm 8TH GRADERS

Wednesday, 2/4 - 3:15 - 5:15 pm 7TH GRADERS
Thursday, 2/5 - 3:15 - 5:15 pm 8TH GRADERS

Friday, 2/6 - 3:15 - 5:15 pm 7TH/8TH GRADE CALLBACKS

CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE FORM TO TRYOUT

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR AFTER-SCHOOL TUTORING ON 2/3

Who is participating?

Last week, we shared that some classrooms will be piloting a new tool called i-Ready. At West Middle School, students enrolled in Math 8 will take the i-Ready test on February 4 and February 5, 2026, during math class. Most students finish this test in 60-90 minutes.

For more about i-Ready, please visit the i-Ready Central Resources | Family Center.

CLICK HERE FOR I-READY FAMILY LETTER

We have recently had some unexpected days off due to the weather. It is important to understand that P-CCS typically closes school when the outside temperature, combined with wind chills reach the -20 range. P-CCS always wants to proceed with the school day as scheduled, but these cold temperatures create a dangerous situation for students and staff who have to be outdoors for more than a few minutes. P-CCS will always err on the side of safety, but we know these closures can create childcare issues for some families. Please know that we take these decisions seriously and will do our best to inform our community in a timely manner.

P-CCS Cold Weather School Closure Guidelines (PDF, via the official P-CCS website)

CLICK HERE FOR COLD WEATHER CLOSURE GUIDELINES

At P-CCS, your student's safety and success is our top priority, that’s why we are creating Student-Centered Learning Experiences. Between now and Feb 13, the district is surveying P-CCS families to understand the current use of digital platforms. Your input is essential, Please share your honest feedback on any platforms you are currently using to keep up-to-date with your students’ school.

Your survey responses, combined with input from teachers and administrators, will help the district create the best way to move forward with digital learning and communication at P-CCS. Click HERE to take a short survey.

Save the date for an important free workshop called Neurodiversity in Action. In partnership with Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, the Psychologists at McCaskill Family Services are offering this event for parents, guardians, teachers, and staff members on Saturday, March 7, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. You can attend either session or both. At the event, you will build your toolbox to support children with ADHD, Dyslexia and/or Autism. Registration will begin in February, so keep an eye out for more information in future school newsletters.

P-CCS Food and Nutrition Services Department is excited to once again offer take-home meals during the month of Ramadan (Feb. 17 - March 19, 2026). This allows for equitable access to nutritious and well-balanced school meals to those students who are fasting during the school day. Please be on the lookout for more information, including how to order, menu details, pickup procedures, etc. in the coming weeks.

The Whole Milk for Health Kids Act allows schools to consider offering whole and 2% milk at lunch in addition to current options. While vendor availability is being assessed, families are invited to share feedback through our Menu Feedback Form: https://forms.gle/XmUtpEpL7eQWkUQw8

Attention Parents or Guardians of 8th Graders! Now is the time to honor your 8th Grader with a special farewell message and picture in the Yearbook. Let them know how proud you are of them or wish them luck in High School next year. Go to www.yearbookforever.com and scroll down to the bottom of the website to “CREATE AN AD” to purchase yours today!

YEARBOOK: Be sure to reserve your copy of the 25-26 West Middle School Yearbook which will be distributed in June. Deadline to purchase is creeping up and will be here before you know it! To order, please visit www.yearbookforever.com

A transformational partnership between orsa credit union (orsa), the credit union you knew as Community Financial, and Plymouth-Canton Community Schools is bringing a long-held vision to life: a community-powered hub designed to expand opportunity, spark curiosity and prepare students for a rapidly changing world. The organizations created a 25-year partnership that includes a $5 million commitment from orsa credit union to support P-CCS students as they prepare for the careers of the future. It also will be a valuable resource for the entire community. Read more about this fantastic new partnership at https://www.pccsk12.com/

The P-CCS Parent Council meets next on Thursday, February 5, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the E.J. McClendon Education Center (454 South Harvey Street) in downtown Plymouth. The Parent Council is a district-wide group open to ALL families and caregivers of the students of the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools district. The Parent Council serves as a liaison between P-CCS families and administration, providing a forum for open communication and advocating for all parents, students, and schools. All meetings are open to the public, and our guests often include School Board Members, District Administrators, Program Specialists, and Community Leaders. This meeting will feature presentations about innovation at P-CCS and the Talented and Gifted program.