September Newsletter

It is hard to believe it is already September! What a great start to the year. The students have done a great job of getting back in "school mode" and are ready and eager to learn. We have gone over how we do things at West and explained what The West Way means. The West Way is our core values and how we demonstrate those in the classroom, hallway, cafeteria, outside, bathrooms and even when we are visiting other schools for events. Students will continue to be reminded of The West Way and may even receive a West Way card when they show those core values. Those cards can be used in our West Way store on Fridays.

Kathy Leasure-Attendance. Please call her if your child is going to be absent or if you need to get a Permit to Leave (1 hour notification is appreciated). (208) 854-6454 kathy.leasure@boiseschools.org

Kaleen Goedhart-Registrar. Please contact her if you need to pay fees or have questions about enrollment, etc. (208) 854-6461 kaleen.goedhart@boiseschools.org

While Christy Curtiss is not new, she is the one contact for any general questions. (208) 854-6450 christy.curtiss@boiseschools.org

My name is Jen Carlsen, and I'm so excited to be the new learning coach at West Junior High! This is my 20th year in education, and more than half of those years have been spent teaching 7th grade English right here at West. I feel fortunate to continue to serve the community of West Junior High.

As a Learning Coach, I will support and collaborate on a more individual level with the amazing teachers at West. Our work together will be guided by content standards, learning targets, and student evidence. Teachers will participate in learning cycles, where together we will work through a step by step process to support our students in their learning. Student learning is at the root of all of our work together, and our decisions are guided by what’s best for our students.

I can’t wait to see all the amazing learning in action this year at West!

Please note that the doors do not open for students until 7:00am. In addition, if students are not involved in an after school activity, they need to be off campus immediately after school.

If you child in participating in an after school activity or comes to watch an after school activity, which we encourage, please make sure they have a ride home immediately after the event is over. In addition, we expect all students to follow the rules and support the students in a positive manner.

Only BSD devices will be allowed to be used at school. Every student has been assigned a device and does not need to bring a personal one from home. There are certain programs that can only be placed on BSD devices and not on students' personal devices.

Welcome to the 22-23 school year! West’s counselors wanted to share some tips to help make your child’s year as successful as possible.

Keep informed of your child’s academic progress. One great way to do this is to sign up for the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. You can log in or sign up through West’s website under the Parent Resources tab. You can also email campus@boiseschools.org to request an account. Having a Parent Portal account allows you to track your child’s grades, attendance and missing assignments. Many parents also download the Parent Portal app for their phone to make access even easier.

Talk to your child about what’s happening at school. Some of you might be having amazing conversations every day with your child about how things are going at West. If so, keep it up! However, many parents have noticed that they start missing out on these conversations during the junior high years. If you get one word answers to questions about West, try asking more specific questions, such as: What part of the country or world are you studying in world studies right now? What types of things are you writing about in English class? What’s the most challenging part of your day at West?

Help your child take care of their physical health. School starts early, and getting enough sleep is vital. Put electronics away at night and try to keep a regular bedtime. Double check to make sure your child is bringing a water bottle to school and eating during the day. Meals are served in the cafeteria before school, at break and at lunch. If you think you might qualify for free and reduced meals, look under the Parent Resources tab on West’s website for an application. Adequate sleep, water intake and nutrition can make a huge difference in how your child feels and performs at school.

Silvana Stoll, 7th grade

John Ruprecht, 8th grade

Claire Sullivan, 9th grade

Hello, My name is Barbie Campbell and this is my third year serving the amazing students, families and staff at West Jr. High. I am available to meet with students individually or in a group setting along with providing resource support to parents and guardians. I have access to district and community resources which can help support academic, physical and social emotional needs, please contact me if you have questions or need assistance. I can be reached by calling 208-854-6849, by email at barbie.campbell@boiseschools.org, or by completing this form: Mrs. Campbell's Referral Form.

Housing Insecurity

I am the Homeless Liaison for West Jr. High. If your family lacks a fixed, adequate, and regular nighttime residence which can include being doubled up with family or friends, living in a motel, in transitional housing, or unsheltered in a car or camper, then your child may qualify for additional services through a federal grant called McKinney Vento. Students that qualify are provided equal access to a free appropriate public education and are able to stay enrolled in their school of origin, receive free school meals, and barriers are removed so they may fully participate in their education which includes extracurricular activities. Please contact me if you have any questions or feel your child may qualify.

Social Emotional Group

I am facilitating the Resiliency group again this year. This is for students looking for additional support in a group setting who may struggle with self esteem, anxiety, depression, or school avoidance. The focus of the group is to increase positive coping skills and reduce negative thoughts and behaviors when facing challenges at home, school and with friends. The group meets one class period a week for eight weeks and I would like to start in September. Contact me if you would like to learn more or want to refer your child.

Below are some programs that you might be interested in around the valley.

Households in the Boise School District are encouraged to complete free and reduced price meal applications for the 2022-2023 school year. Due to federal pandemic waivers, Boise School District’s school meal program was permitted to offer free meals to all Boise School District students without a meal application through the end of the 2021-2022 school year. Complete the Free & Reduced Priced Meal Application online.

We will have our 1st meeting of the year on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 3:00 in the library. We would love for you to join us and share your ideas and be involved in the school.

All of our fall athletics are off to a great start. If your child is interested in playing a winter sport, please make sure they listen to daily announcements for tryout times and dates. If you have any questions, please contact our Athletic Director, Mark Miller @ mark.miller@boiseschools.org

Monday, September 5-No School-Labor Day

Tuesday, September 6-PTBC (Parent Teacher Booster Club) Meeting in library at 3:00. All are welcome to attend.

Tuesday, September 13-Gyro Shack "Dine Around Night" (More information to follow)

Thursday, September 29-Picture retake day.

On Tuesday, September 6, 2022 polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. throughout the Boise School District as the 2022 Trustee Election is held. To be able to vote in the election, you must be 18 years of age, have lived in the Boise School District for 30 days and be registered to vote in Ada County. Completed Absentee Ballot request forms must be received by the Boise School District by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 26, 2022. Visit the 2022 Trustee Election website to learn more, including candidate profiles, sample ballot and polling locations.

Do you want to make a positive difference in a student's life? Currently, Boise School District has a number of open positions, including Special Education Paraprofessionals, Just for Kids Childcare Providers,Title I Tutors, IT Systems Analyst, School Support Assistants, Sign Language Interpreter, School Custodians, Grounds Technician/ Equipment Operator, HVAC Technician, Warehouse Delivery Driver and more. Review our current job postings and apply online.

In addition, are our outside contractors have job openings for crossing guards, bus drivers and bus monitors. Learn more....

A reminder to parents that Boise School District provides parents/guardians with the ability to monitor your student’s activity on their District-assigned digital device via the GoGuardian Parent App:

• GoGuardian Parent App - Welcome letter
• GoGuardian Parent App Instructions

Annual Notification Regarding Public Release of Student Directory Information

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.

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