The Warrior Word #1

Dear Westview Families,

Today Quarter 1 Progress Reports and iReady information went home with your students, I’d like to take a moment to thank you for a wonderful start to the school year. It has been such a joy to welcome our new 6th graders into the Westview family and to see the familiar faces of our 7th and 8th graders back in the building, ready for a great year ahead!

At Westview Middle, we’ve had a strong focus on academics as we settle into the school routine. Our teachers and staff are dedicated to helping every student succeed, and we’ve already seen some incredible progress in classrooms across the school. With the support of parents like you, we know this will be a year full of growth and achievement.

This newsletter will accompany each release of progress reports and report cards, keeping you informed of important updates and opportunities to help your child thrive at school. We are excited for what’s to come as we continue our journey together this year, and we look forward to working with you to make it a successful one for all of our students!

Thank you for your continued partnership, and we look forward to an amazing rest of the year!

Warm regards,

Dr. Taylor J. Bradley

Principal, Westview Middle School

Attached to, or along with your student's progress report should be a copy of their iReady diagnostic report. iReady is an assessment administered three times a year (beginning, middle, and end of the year) that provides a snapshot of your child's progress towards grade-level proficiency. More information on how to interpret your child's iReady information can be found here.

Westview Middle saw a lot of construction this summer. Our district facilities team worked with a local contractor to replace the HVAC units across the entire building, so every classroom is now serviced by a new air conditioning system for the 24/25 school year.

We also received all new Virco classroom furniture this year. Each classroom was furnished with new teacher desks, a teacher podium, student desks (both sitting and standing options) and student chairs. Our art and science rooms received new tables and some of our special education classrooms received more adaptive seating options.

Finally, Westview was repainted two years ago and our walls were lacking some color. Over the summer "Girls Who Paint Murals" painted some murals on the walls for our students. The school district has also been working on making WVM's colors shine through and is "striping" the hallways you see with the black and yellow stripes. All of this is in addition to the wrapping we put on the main entrance last year to improve the entryway to the building!

We will continue to make climate improvements throughout the building this year and are even investigating putting our very own Goose Creek Goose on the front lawn. More information on that to be coming soon!

This school year, BCSD is participating in an initiative provided by the University of Virginia’s Partnership for Leaders in Education (also known as UVA-PLE) geared at improvements in student success. These schools will work with teachers and administrators to launch significant changes that have been proven nationwide to drive academic growth and improve student performance.

UVA-PLE is a joint initiative between the Darden School of Business and the School of Education and Human Development. It is a multi-year engagement with superintendents, principals, and other leaders that combines world-class executive education and thought partnership grounded in research. The UVA-PLE Core Partnership is the only remaining research-proven effort in the country supporting K-12 educators through leadership development, capacity building, and collective problem-solving. This is UVA-PLE’s 21st cohort; it officially launched this summer and will continue through spring 2026.

Westview Middle School is participating in the current cohort, along with 4 other BCSD middle schools. You can find more information here.

Students from our English classes went to the library and "sampled" different texts, creating a brochure about their findings!

From work, to home, to school, our phones are a key tool to navigate and communicate throughout the day. The custom-built Berkeley County School District app makes it easy to stay up to date with district news and events.

Now, BCSD is making it easier to stay in touch with teachers and class information from that same app. Using the Berkeley County School District app, you can easily switch from district and school information to Rooms, where you can see your student's classes and engage directly with teachers. Rooms can be accessed via the web and from our district app, which is available for free and can be used from both Apple and Android phones.

To access Rooms, you will need to create a login and password.

Three Main Benefits:

1. One app for everything Berkeley County School District

2. Easily see class specific announcements

3. Message teachers directly

For support with rooms, navigate here: https://www.bcsdschools.net/page/rooms-support

Kona Ice is coming to WVM's blacktop Tuesday, September 17th!

WVM's school picture day is September 18th. Retakes will be Wednesday, October 23rd.

Picture Day To-Dos:

• Mark Your Calendar
• Plan Your Outfit
• DO NOT Wear Green
• Plan your hairstyle

Please don't wear green. Jostens uses Green Screen Technology to allow families to select their background, but green clothes disappear into the background.

Westview Middle School is fortunate to share a campus with Westview Elementary and Westview Primary, and we love our neighbors! We understand that many of our families have students that attend these schools and drop off all of their students at once, this is not a supported practice. It is important to remember that we do not have staff on duty, or supervising students until 7:30 AM. Students dropped off before 7:30 are unsupervised and unmonitored. Homeroom is between 7:55 and 8:05 with the tardy bell ringing promptly at 8:05. Any student arriving to class after 8:05 is considered tardy.

Please remind your students of the importance of following Westview Middle School Policies. Currently the two biggest issues we have are centered around cell phones and dress code. A link to our full student handbook can be found here

It is the expectation for students that cell phones are be put away during the day. "Put away" refers to a location that is not readily accessible to a student. For instance, the inside of a bookbag as opposed to in their pocket. This helps remove the temptation to "quickly check a notification" or "answer a text". Please also remind students that Smart Watches fall under the mobile device policy and should not be used for messaging/communicating during the school day.

Westview Middle School follows the BCSD Dress Code Policy. Please be mindful of the length of any shorts being worn to school, as well as sunglasses, hats, and hoods in the building. These are the areas where we are seeing the most frequent violations at this time. We appreciate our home/school partnership and your support in reviewing these expectations with your students!

Get your Westview Gear. You can buy shirts, backpacks, mugs, hats and more!

Click the image to go to the Westview Middle Gear Shop!

September 10th - 1st Progress Reports

September 17th - Kona Ice On Campus

September 18th - School Picture Day (See information above)

September 20th - Half Day for Students

October 10th - End of 1st Quarter

At Westview Middle School, we deeply value the important role that parents play in their child’s education. While we know that no one knows your child better than you do, we believe that a strong partnership between home and school creates the best environment for students to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Our "Parent Focus" section is designed to offer suggestions on how we can work together to support student success, always with respect for your expertise as parents.

This reporting period, we’re focusing on practical ways to build a strong home/school partnership. Here are some specific examples of how you can support your child and foster this collaboration:

1. Establish Consistent Routines at Home: Set clear routines for homework, bedtime, and morning preparation. Ensure your child has a designated space to complete their homework and read without distractions. A consistent schedule helps them develop strong organizational habits and mental preparation for each school day.

2. Encourage Punctuality and Attendance: Regular and timely attendance is key to student success. Ensure your child arrives at school on time, prepared to learn. Establishing morning routines that allow for extra time before heading out the door helps avoid the stress of being late. Encourage them to get to class on time after breaks and in-between classes as well, setting the tone for productive learning.

3. Check in on Assignments and Progress: Whether through online platforms or checking in verbally, make it a habit to monitor your child's progress on assignments. Help them break larger projects into smaller tasks, and set mini-deadlines to stay on track. Having conversations about what they're learning reinforces the importance of their efforts at school.

4. Support Reading and Academic Habits at Home: Set aside time each day for reading, whether it's a school assignment or just for pleasure. In addition, supporting math or science practice through fun, everyday activities can also help reinforce key skills. Let your child see you engaged in learning activities, too – whether reading, problem-solving, or pursuing a hobby – so they understand the value of lifelong learning.

5. Communication is Key: Keep an open line of communication with your child’s teachers. If you have concerns or notice changes in your child’s behavior, let the school know. Likewise, attending parent-teacher conferences, and engaging with feedback about their progress helps everyone stay aligned and able to provide the best support.

6. Promote a Positive Attitude Toward Learning: Encourage your child to take responsibility for their learning and promote a growth mindset. Celebrate their successes, but also remind them that making mistakes is part of learning. This will help them build resilience and the confidence to tackle challenges, especially as we head into the final stretch of the school year.

7. Create a Balanced Schedule: As important as academics are, students also need time for rest, hobbies, and family. Make sure your child’s schedule includes time to relax, spend time with family, and pursue interests outside of school to maintain a healthy balance.

By establishing these routines and habits at home, we can work together to help your child develop the tools they need to succeed both in school and in life. We appreciate your partnership as we continue to build a strong foundation for your child's future! Let’s work together to finish the school year strong and make sure every student is set up for success.