Summer Newsletter

Welcome to West! We are so excited to kick off the 2025-2026 school year and welcome all for our students and families. We hope you had a wonderful summer break and are feeling refreshed and ready for the new year.

While our teachers and staff are preparing for the start of the new year, we want to remind you of our Welcome Day on August 4th where students can come into the school and find out their class schedules, practice opening lockers, pay any fees and get excited for the first day of school on August 12th. The schedule below gives more information about this Welcome Day and we hope to see you all on August 4th.

Here is a list of contact people at West that can hopefully help you with anything you may need.

Administrators:

Janet Cherry, Principal janet.cherry@boiseschools.org

Jon Zwainz, Assistant Principal jonathan.zwainz@boiseschools.org

Counselors:

7th Grade Counselor, Scott Warnock scott.warnock@boiseschools.org

8th Grade Counselor, John Ruprecht john.ruprecht@boiseschools.org

9th Grade Counselor, Claire Sullivan claire.sulivan@boiseschools.org

School Nurse:

Veronika Parr, veronika.parr@boiseschools.org

Athletic Director:

Mark Miller mark.miller@boiseschools.org

Main Office:

Sarah Stevenson (208) 854-6450 (Main Office) sarah.severson@boiseschools.org

Kathy Leasure (208) 854-6454 (Attendance) kathy.leasure@boiseschools.org

Kaleen Goedhart (208) 854-6461 (Registrar) kaleen.goedhart@boiseschools.org

Detective Damien Perez (SRO) dlperez@cityofboise.org

Please continue to check your email or our website for the most accurate and up-to-date information. Once again, have a great summer and we will see you on August 4th for our Welcome Day.

West's Main Office will be open from 8:00am-3:00pm beginning July 28th .

Welcome Day is an opportunity for all students to come into the building, find and practice their locker combination, locate their various classrooms and other important areas like the cafeteria, library and gyms, turn in immunization forms (if needed), purchase optional PE clothing, find out about sports at West, and pay any fees. This is an opportunity for students to get a feel of the school and get excited about the year. It is organized by last name simply so that it is not super crowded at any given time, but if the assigned time does not work for you, you may attend the other time. You do not need to be here for that entire block of time either. There are no formal tours or meetings so feel free to stay as long or as little as you like. While it is not mandatory, we strongly encourage all 7th graders and any new to West students to come, but all are welcome. The schedule is as follows:

9:00am-10:30am (Last names that begin with A-L)

12:30pm-2:00pm (Last names that begin with M-Z)

Unfortunately our nurse will not be at our Welcome Day, but you can bring in your immunization this day and we will get it to her. If you need to drop off medication or want to talk individually with Nurse Parr, please email her to arrange a time.

Students participating in an after school sport will need to purchase an ASB card for $12.00. This is a one time cost for the year (no matter how many sports a student participates in during the school year). It is a minimal fee and the money is well spent on the cost associated with athletics. Any student is welcome to purchase an ASB card as it does offer a discount to students attending high school games. A free ID card will be given to those that are not in need of an ASB card. A $6.00 replacement fee is charged if a student loses their ASB or ID card.

We will also offer a West PE shirt and PE shorts as optional attire for students taking PE. These items will be distributed by the PE teachers during the first week of school. Alternate clothing is allowed for PE, but needs to be appropriate for the class.

July 28-Office Opens (8:00am-3:00pm)

August 4-Welcome Days 9:00-10:30 Last Names A-L and 12:30-2:00 Last Names M-Z

August 12-First Day of School Early Release-12:00

August 19-Back to School Night 6:00pm

August 21-School Picture Day (All students will have their picture taken). All ordering is done online and links will be provided at that time.

Want to play sports at West? What do I need to complete to play sports at West?

Physical:

7th & 8th Grade Physical Form All Incoming 7th graders are required to have a completed physical (Sometime after May 1) with a doctor and the form must be submitted via the online Activate portal for sports and PE. The physical will be good for 7th and 8th grade sports and 7th grade PE. Any 8th grader who did not submit a physical for 7th grade will also need a physical.

9th Grade Physical Form: 9th graders will require a new physical.

Sports Registration Forms:

To register your child for sports, please watch the following Registration Video or use the Parent Instruction Sheet to set up an Activate Account. All athletes and 7th graders need to have this account set up and physical uploaded before the 1st day of school.

ASB Card:

Any student participating in a sport at West will need to purchase an ASB Card for $12. This fee can be paid on the Welcome Day or on-line (more information to follow about on-line payments)

Additional Information about sports at West:
What are the practice days for sports? At West, we only practice on school days (fall sports may need to start a week earlier to accommodate schedules). For junior high sports at West, no weekend practices or games and no practices or games on days when school is not in session.

What times do games begin and end? Games will begin between 3:30 and 4:30 and end by about 6 pm each game night (Baseball games are usually sometime on Saturday as field availability allows). Game schedules will be posted on the West Athletics and the District website once they are finalized by the district.

Do you offer transportation? We offer transportation to and from all away games except for golf, softball, and baseball. Games generally end by 6pm and players will need transportation home from West at that time. Students will need rides home from practice each night.

Is there a cost to participate in Sports at West? There is a nominal cost (currently $12) to participate at West. Borah athletes may have additional fees. This one time cost covers the cost to participate in any and all sports for the year.

Do I need to have experience playing sports? No, At West, we have a strict no cut policy for 7th & 8th grade sports. Ninth grade may allow cuts. All 7th or 8th graders will be placed on a team and get an opportunity to play. We encourage all students to give sports a try. You will meet new friends and classmates and get an opportunity to cheer on our teams.

What else do I need to compete in sports at West? You need to have a positive attitude and practice gear (shorts, t-shirts, shoes, etc.) All equipment and uniforms will be provided.

For Additional updates and information, click on the West Athletics Tab

Physical Exam Requirements

Who needs a physical?

· Every 7th grade student

· Any 8th grade student who did not have a physical exam in 7th grade

· Any 9th grade student participating in athletics

PHYSICALS MUST BE COMPLETED AFTER MAY 1, 2025

This is a requirement of all students participating in PE or athletic programs.

*Submit copies via the Activate portal

Immunizations

Tdap and Meningococcal vaccines are required for all incoming 7th graders prior to August 12th, the first day of school. * Submit copies to the West School Nurse’s Office*

Students without the proper immunization, may not be allowed to attend school. Please contact the school nurse with questions.

Going Home Sick

All students experiencing signs of illness during school should request to see the nurse. The nurse will assess the student's symptoms and determine if the student needs to go home. Students who call or text a parent about illness without seeing the nurse should be directed to the nurse to determine if their symptoms warrant being excused from school. To be granted a medical excuse by the school nurse, symptoms must meet the district's "Guidelines for Keeping Sick Children Home."

Medication

If your child is on a daily medication that needs to be given at school, an authorization form must be filled out and signed by a parent/guardian. All medication must be in the original prescription or over-the-counter bottle with clear, written directions and should be brought to school by the parent/guardian. If you have any questions, please call (208) 854-6468.

Medical Conditions

Please let the nurse know if your child has any health conditions, such as: Severe Allergies, Asthma, Diabetes, ADHD, or Heart Conditions to name a few. It is also important to know if a student takes medications (including medications taken at home) or has any activity or diet restrictions. This will provide complete information should your student ever require 9-1-1 Emergency Services.

If you have any questions, please contact Nurse Veronika Parr at (208) 854-6468 or veronika.parr@boiseschools.org

Hello, I am so glad to be back as the full time social worker at West Jr. High for the 25-26 school year. I am available to meet with students individually or in a group setting to support academic and social emotional learning. Junior high can be a challenge to navigate and by helping students problem-solve it builds their self regulation skills and confidence. Some responses from students who’ve participated in a group include:

-I enjoyed coming to school more

-I made a new friend

-I talked with a trusted adult

-I learned a new skill

Group topics include Healthy Relationships, Resiliency, General Support, and Friendship. To sign your child up to participate in a group or if you have questions, please contact me. My email is barbie.campbell@boiseschools.org or 208-854-6849.

Support for students that are housing displaced

I am the Homeless Liaison for West Jr. High which means I provide additional support and resources for students that qualify. If your family lives in any of the following situations: shelter, in a motel or campground due to the lack of an alternative adequate accommodation, in a car, park, abandoned building, doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship, please contact me to discuss resources. Maintaining school stability is very important and I will partner with you to advocate and provide additional support for your child’s education.

Enjoy the rest of your summer.

Mrs. Campbell, LMSW

The following is a general list of supplies that students typically need at West Junior High. They are not required the first day of school, but students will need to have a writing instrument the first day of school. If you prefer, you may wait until the first week of school to receive a list of supplies from individual teachers.

All Classes

• College ruled paper

• Colored pencils

• Small hand-held pencil sharpener

• Pencils

• Pens: blue, black, red (just one or two)

• Dividers with colored tabs

• Pencil pouch

• 12 inch ruler

• Glue sticks – at least 3

• 3 ring binder (3-inch variety)

• All Grades - highlighters: Green, Yellow and Pink

Specific Classes

Math:

• Math 7 – Basic calculator
• Pre-Algebra & beyond - Preferred calculators are: TI-30XS OR TI-30XIIS;
• Graphing composition book

English:

• 7th Grade – composition notebook
• 8th Grade – any type of notebook
• 9th Grade – spiral notebooks

Reading 7: composition notebook
Speech: spiral notebook
World Studies 7: spiral notebook
Theatre 8th and 9th grade: spiral notebook

Agenda book will be supplied by the school and will be required to be in the student’s binder at all times. Many parents/students report that a “zipper binder” has helped their child keep belongings together and since backpacks are NOT allowed in the classrooms this is a great option.

Parents if you could occasionally ask your students if they need a supply “refill” that will assist with being prepared for learning.

If you are needing any assistance with school supplies, please contact your child’s school counselor.

Our cafeteria is open every morning at 7:00am for breakfast, at breakfast and then again at lunchtime. For a complete list of menu options, please visit the Boise School District Food and Nutrition Website.

Adding funds to your child’s account: https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/getmain?requestAction=home (You will need student ID number and birthdate)

Free and Reduced Lunch Application:

https://foodservice.boiseschools.org/

School bus schedules will be available online this fall for students living in their home school

attendance zone busing boundary. (Information is not online for special program busing, such as special education, gifted, and overflow.)

Follow these steps:

Locate your bus stop at www.boiseschools.org by selecting Transportation, Bus Stop Locator,

and entering your full address. Select the school and select search.

Students are only allowed to ride their assigned bus. If you want your child to ride a different bus, you must provide that request in writing to the main office where it will be signed off and your child will need to give it to the bus driver. Your child will only be allowed to ride if it has been approved by the administration AND there is room on the bus.

Dress Code:

West JH is no longer a uniform school yet we expect our students to dress appropriately for the learning environment and follow the Boise School District Dress Code Policy (3223).

The traffic around school is quite busy from 7:20am until 7:50am. Please make sure to plan accordingly as students will be marked tardy if they are not in class by 7:50am. A few things really help in keeping the traffic flowing. When you pull into the parking lot, please pull forward all the way past the crosswalk. While we would love for everyone to get front door service, this really backs up traffic. Also, once you are in the parking lot, have your child exit the car immediately. If your child needs extra time to say goodbye or gather items, please pull into one of the parking spaces. In addition, if you pick up your child after school, please be mindful of the traffic on Salt Creek and do not double park. Other cars and our buses need to be able to get through on Salt Creek. We also want to be good neighbors so please do not cut through or park in the neighborhood.

Please park only in designated areas. Remember, the roads around the school are public roadways and Idaho State Laws apply. Please no stopping in the roadway to load/unload passengers, no U-turns in the middle of the street and no driving on the sidewalks.

We love seeing our students ride or skate to school. Please note that we have a skateboard/scooter rack in the back of the school (between the music rooms and gym) for students, as well as many bike racks. This is where you will lock up your item for the day. You will need to bring your own lock to use. We can no longer store scooters in the main office.

If you have a child driving please have them park in the furthest N.E. corner of the parking lot. While students do not need to buy a parking pass, the student will need to show Driver's License, Proof of Registration, Proof of Insurance, License Plate Number and description of vehicle to the main office in order to park in the West parking lot.

Students are not allowed to go to their cars during the school day.

• 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.

https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Policy/PolicyListing.aspx?S=36030877

Jon Zwainz - Assistant Principal

Website: https://west.boiseschools.org/
Location: 8371 W. Salt Creek Ct., Boise, ID 83709
Phone: 208-854-6450