Westwood Intermediate/Middle School
Hello Westwood Schools families,
Our next pulse check is tomorrow – Thursday. We look forward to hearing from you. The pulse check will include a question on communication of student progress from Westwood. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Next Tuesday is Election Day – Whether you are voting early or next week, remember there is a question on the ballot that will decide whether to change how money from the state’s Permanent School Fund is distributed to public schools across the state. If approved, the change would provide additional funding to public school districts, including Spring Lake Park Schools. It would not increase taxes. See below for more information.
Reminder that our PTO fundraiser is in progress, and we are excited to support our students and staff through your generosity. More information is included in today’s newsletter.
Have a great fall weekend,
Tom Larson
Principal
763-600-5300
Schoology: What do I look at? How do I know how my student is doing?
Student learning and reporting continues to be done within the Schoology learning management platform. Parents and guardians can access Schoology and follow along. Our Technology Tools, Resources, and Logins webpage has several helpful resources, to support you and your student when using Schoology.
Within Schoology, there are a few different ways you can view your students' progress; the Grade book view provides individual assignment and assessment data for your student. The Mastery view provides overall progress on the academic competencies for each course.
See the following handouts to find more information about what you'll see in Schoology:
Mid-way through the trimester and leading up to the end of the trimester, is a great time to check in - and even ask your student to show you their courses in Schoology. Throughout the trimester, and school year, teachers will be asking students to engage in some self-reflection. As a parent/guardian, you may also hear from teachers as they assess midpoint progress.
Share Your Voice: Next Pulse Check is Thursday, October 29
Our next pulse check is coming your way tomorrow, Thursday, October 29. You will receive a text message and email with a few simple questions asking for feedback on your experience with school. Watch for the messages from our partner, Possip, and make sure to reply - in your preferred language - to the brief survey. Help keep us updated on your experience. You can choose to share your name - or stay anonymous. Thanks for participating!
Statewide School Funding on the Ballot This Fall; No New Taxes
As a reminder, Minnesota voters will decide this fall whether to change how money from the state’s Permanent School Fund is distributed to public schools. If approved, the change would provide additional funding to public school districts, including Spring Lake Park Schools. It would not increase taxes.
The proposed amendment would change how the annual distribution from the fund is calculated. If the amendment passes, Spring Lake Park Schools is expected to receive about $33 more per student, or approximately $200,000. Leaving the question blank has the same effect as voting No. Learn more about the Permanent School Fund ballot question.
Westwood Yearbook Orders
Yearbooks are available to order now! Families may place an order online using the link below or by scanning the QR code. Order Your Westwood Yearbook Order Here or scan the QR code. Questions may be directed to Kristine Powell at kpowel@district16.org.
From bystanders to helpers: Students build confidence through First Aid
“I used to be hesitant and now I jump right in.”
That’s how Spring Lake Park High School junior Claire describes the impact of taking First Aid as a freshman. Since then, she’s put her skills to use helping others in real-life medical emergency situations.
Through hands-on practice, realistic emergency scenarios and lessons in patient care, grade 9-12 students in Spring Lake Park High School's First Aid course learn how to respond when someone needs help. From performing CPR and treating injuries to communicating with someone who is scared or in pain, students are building the skills to make a difference.
As instructor ElleAnne Matthews reminds her students, the goal goes beyond preparing future healthcare professionals. It’s about giving everyone the confidence to help when it matters most.
"Our goal is to teach them how to care for someone for just five minutes," says ElleAnne. "Many of these students aren't going to go into the medical field, and I just want them to have the life skills where if someone gets injured, they feel comfortable and confident enough that they can actually help."
Read the full story to hear from students about their First Aid experiences and see how they’re learning to turn knowledge into action.
