Words from West

Grand Blanc West Middle School is committed to empowering students to grow academically, socially, and emotionally while preparing them to be positive citizens in the community! #WestWill

Ask Your Student About Their M-STEP and NWEA Results!

• Check the envelope! On Monday, October 26, all students received an envelope during WIN time containing a West newsletter, their test scores, and a letter to families. Ask your student to share these results with you!

• Set goals for growth! On October 26, students set individual Math and ELA goals to prepare for the Winter NWEA assessments on December 9–10. Each goal is personalized to support your student's skills.

• Celebrate success! Students who meet BOTH their Math and ELA goals in December will be invited to an NWEA celebration party after Winter Break!

• Partner with us! Families can support student growth by encouraging regular reading at home and providing opportunities for extra math practice.

Together, we can help every student reach their goals, build confidence, and continue to grow academically. Thank you for partnering with West!

Every Family MUST complete the EDUCATION BENEFITS FORM for the 2026-2027 school year.

• MEAL MAGIC FAMILY PORTAL INFORMATION & HELP -https://grandblanc.familyportal.cloud/

Please take action now

For assistance, please contact our Food Service Department at (810) 591-6674 or (810) 591-6928.

APPLE AWARDS - Nominate a teacher or staff member for going above and beyond!

The link to nominate a GBCS staff member for exceptional service will be open through November 6, 2026.

• https://forms.gle/u2dyVmVXB6jvPboq5

As we head into November, I want to thank our students, staff, and families for making West such a special place to learn and grow! We had a fantastic Halloween Dance, and we even surprised students with a special DJ during lunch on Monday, October 26! These moments of fun and connection help make our school community stronger.

As we move further into the fall, here are a few reminders and ways you can support your student at home:

• Parent-Teacher Conferences: Please remember to attend your scheduled conference and take advantage of this opportunity to connect with your child's teachers about their progress, celebrate successes, and identify areas for continued growth.

• Healthy Routines Matter: As the school year gets busier, help your student establish a consistent bedtime and a designated time for homework each evening. Adequate sleep, predictable routines, and time to complete assignments can make a big difference in student success.

• Choices and Behavior: Please continue to remind your student that what they say and do matters. Our words and actions impact others, and we expect all students to treat one another with kindness, respect, and responsibility.

• Perfect Attendance: Our fall perfect attendance window ends on November 5! Encourage your student to finish strong and take pride in being present, on time, and ready to learn each day.

• Title I Eligibility: Students who are eligible for Title I academic support will receive a letter via email soon. This letter is to inform you that your student may qualify for additional academic support based on factors such as assessment scores, classroom grades, and other academic data. Please watch your email for this notification. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us.

At West, we believe there are so many reasons to celebrate kids! Whether it's academic achievement, personal growth, positive behavior, improved attendance, or showing kindness to others, we want students to know that their efforts matter. There are many opportunities throughout the year to recognize students who are working hard and making positive choices. If your child earns a reward, that is great news and if they don't, there will be more opportunities in the future. Regardless, keep encouraging home habits that will carry over to school!

When you make good choices, good things happen! Let's continue working together to help every student feel supported, make positive decisions, and find success.

Be your best,

Diana K. Balbaugh
Principal, West Middle School

Parent-Teacher Conference scheduling is officially open!

We look forward to connecting with you to discuss your child's progress, celebrate their successes, and work together to develop plans that will help them continue to grow and be successful here at WMS.

Parent-Teacher Conference Schedule:

• Tuesday, October 27: 4:00-7:00 PM (In Person)
• Food Truck Available
• Thursday, October 29: 12:30-3:30 PM (Virtual)
• Thursday, October 29: 4:00-7:00 PM (In Person)
• Bubble Bee Tea Drink Truck Available

If you still need to sign up - the schedule window has closed. Please reach out to your student's teachers.

We look forward to seeing you and working together to make this a successful school year for all students!

We are excited to share an important update about our school community! As part of the district’s strategic plan and upcoming construction at Perry Center, Bobcat Innovation will be relocating to West Middle School this summer and will begin operating in our building starting the 2027–2028 school year.

Bobcat Innovation serves students in grades 3–8 and will continue to operate as a fully functioning program within West Middle School—a “school within a school.” The program will retain its name, unique identity, and innovative teaching practices. Mr. Hamilton will remain the principal, the Bobcat Innovation PTO will continue to be active, and students will continue to have separate transportation.

As we prepare to welcome Bobcat Innovation, I want our West Middle School families to know that we will be good hosts, thoughtful partners, and collaborators throughout this transition. We look forward to working alongside Mr. Hamilton and the Bobcat Innovation staff to build relationships, learn from one another, and create a welcoming environment for all students.

This transition also presents an exciting opportunity for our West Middle School students to serve as positive role models for our younger elementary students. We will continue to emphasize what it means to be a Bobcat at #WestWill: showing kindness, demonstrating responsibility, respecting others, and helping everyone feel that they belong. Our students have an opportunity to lead by example and help make our shared school community a great place to learn and grow.

We know that changes like this may bring questions, and we will continue to share information as plans develop. Our priority is to make this transition a positive experience for everyone while maintaining the traditions, relationships, and learning experiences that make our school community special.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. I am excited about what we can accomplish together and look forward to welcoming Bobcat Innovation to West Middle School!

Be your best,

Diana K. Balbaugh, Principal

• Students will be assigned lunch based on their fourth hour
• Each student will be required to go outside for a portion of their scheduled lunch time
• Please be sure your child is dressed appropriately for each day's weather

We want to remind all families that outside food deliveries for students are not allowed during the school day. This includes parent drop-offs of fast food as well as third-party delivery services (such as DoorDash or UberEats). If there is a need to deliver food, it must only be for your student specifically.

While we understand the temptation to bring in a special treat, these deliveries cause significant disruption and chaos in our lunchroom, may contain ingredients that students could be allergic to, or may be outside the guidelines of students who are monitored for medical conditions. To ensure a focused and orderly environment for all students, we ask for your cooperation in following this policy.

Please remember:

• Free Meals for All: Nutritious breakfast and lunch are offered daily at no cost to all students.

• Home-Packed Lunches: Students are always welcome to bring a packed lunch from home.

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Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and organized environment for our students!

Registration is currently taking place for the 2027 8th grade Washington DC Trip. This trip will take place March 12 through March 15th. Please see the registration link above.

Registration ENDS SOON

Please see your Social Studies teacher for more information.

• October 26 - 30 - Book Fair in the Library
• October 27 - 4-7p - Parent/Teacher Conferences - In Person (sign up in advance)
• 3p - 7p - Food Truck (image and menu below)
• Book Fair will be OPEN
• October 28 - Picture Retake Day
• October 29 - $2 COSTUME FOR A CAUSE!
• October 29 - 11:29a - 1/2 Day Student Dismissal
• October 29 - 12:30-3:30p - Parent/Teacher Conferences -Virtual (sign up in advance)
• October 29 - 4-7p - Parent/Teacher Conferences - In Person (sign up in advance)
• 4p - 7p - Bubble Bee Tea Drink Truck
• Book Fair will be OPEN
• October 30 - November 3 - NO School - Fall Break
• November 1 - Daylight Savings
• November 4 - School Resumes (first day of MP2)
• November 5 - Perfect Attendance/No Tardy Window ENDS
• November 10, 11, 12 - Music Department Photos at WMS (see your music teacher for details)
• November 11 - Veteran's Day
• November 13 - Wear Blue for Diabetic Awareness
• November 16 - 6:30p - Board of Education Meeting (WMS Presentation)
• November 23 - MLK Essays due - 8th grade! See your ELA teacher for details
• November 25 - November 27 - No School - Thanksgiving Break
• November 30 - School Resumes
• November 30 - 7p - 8th grade band concert at GBHS
• December 4 - Dentists R Us

Winter athletics have begun at West MS! Our volleyball teams and wrestling program are poised for another successful season. Please see our online schedules, as games begin in just a week or two. Remember that all game admission and concession sales at WMS are cash only! Admission for both students and adults for all games is only $5 and punch cards can be purchased thru the WMS Athletics page or at any event, reducing the admission fees even further!

For those students interested in Boys Basketball (7th and 8th grades), Competitive Cheer (7th and 8th grades), or Swim and Dive (6th-8th grades), those sports begin practices after Holiday Break. More information will be coming out for those tryouts soon. Anyone interested in any of these or spring sports (baseball, softball, and track), please be sure the Final Forms account is updated with a current physical form and is showing as completed so there is nothing to delay these students from participating!

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Please see the attached letter from the Grand Blanc Athletic Department regarding the use of Final Forms for all Middle and High School Student Athletes.

We are very excited to announce that the Grand Blanc Community Schools Athletic Department has partnered with FinalForms, an online forms and data management service.

• FinalForms allows you to complete and sign athletic participation forms for your students.
• The most exciting news is that FinalForms saves data from season-to-season and year-to-year, meaning that you will never need to enter the same information twice!
• FinalForms also pre-populates information wherever possible, for each of your students, saving you time.

Please click on the link for directions to set up your account. https://wms.gbcs.org/for-students/wms-athletics

Great news!

We realize that it is very hard for a parent of a music student to get a good picture of them during performances. So, this year, Grand Blanc Community Schools Music Program is working with Ben Fletcher Photography to capture a professional image. In addition to getting a great photograph, Ben Fletcher Photography is donating 10% of all gross sales from these portraits to the Grand Blanc Community Schools Music Program.

Individual student portraits with their instrument will be taken during class on...

• Finkbeiner: Wednesday, November 11th
• Crake: Thursday, November 12th
• Cort: Thursday, November 12th
• Senecal: Friday, November 13th

Please check emails from your student's music teacher for information on what they should wear and order forms.

As you may have noticed, schools across the state are experiencing a shortage of bus drivers. With such a large number of district buses on the road every day, the need for new drivers at GBCS is almost continuous. We are currently hiring and provide free training and licensing. There are full and part-time opportunities available! If you have ever considered becoming a bus driver, we would love to talk to you! Please call 810-591-8965 or stop in to 2500 E Maple Ave, Flint, MI 48507 and talk to Bonnie or Adam at GBCS Transportation or apply online!

Hello West Middle School Families,

WMS students have shown great resilience and we will strive to help them navigate through their academic, social, and emotional needs. We will have extra supports in place this school year. Parents/Guardians, if you have any concerns about your student, please do not hesitate to reach out, we are here to help!

Student Last Names A-K: Mr. Morey, dmorey@gbcs.org, (810) 591-7338

Student Last Names L-Z: Mrs. Douglas, pdouglas@gbcs.org (810) 591-7339

Counseling Office: (810) 591-7335

Hello! My name is Lauren, and I am a Licensed Master Social Worker (LLMSW) and I am a School-Based Behavioral Health Clinician with Easterseals MORC. I provide individual mental health therapy to children and adolescents right here at West Middle School!

I support students with a variety of emotional and behavioral health needs including anxiety, depression, difficulty managing emotions, trauma and stressful life experiences, peer and relationship challenges, self-esteem, and other concerns that may impact their well-being at home and/or at school. My goal is to provide a safe, supportive space where students feel heard, respected, and comfortable being themselves while developing healthy coping skills and building their individual strengths.

My therapeutic approach is trauma-informed, strengths-based, and individualized to each student. I am trained in a variety of evidence-based therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectal Behavioral Therapy (DBT) informed interventions, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). These approaches allow me to tailor therapy to each student's individual needs, whether we are working on managing difficult emotions, changing unhelpful thought patterns, strengthening coping and communication skills, or processing difficult and traumatic experiences.

Interested in School-Based Therapy?

Parents and caregivers who are interested in learning more about services or getting their child connected can complete our online referral at: https://essmireferrals.tfaforms.net/11 or contact your WMS school counselor.

I am so grateful to be part of the West community and look forward to continuing to support our students and families!"

Lauren Pietryga, LLMSW QMHP CMHP
Pronouns: She/Her Pronunciation: Lor-en Puh-tree-guh
Behavioral Health Clinician - School-based

Grand Blanc West Middle School
Direct: (248) 980-0571

FREE After-School Tutoring

Every Wednesday and Thursday (full days of school) there is FREE tutoring in the WMS Library! Sign up and show up!

Spanish Lab will be available to all students in full year Spanish classes who would like extra help, support or practice throughout the year. It is a VIRTUAL help session that students will be able to join through the Spanish Lab Google Meet from home. Mrs. Weldon will host these sessions scheduled Thursday evenings from 8:00-8:30 PM. Students are welcome to drop in at any point during this time and stay for a few minutes or the entire session for extra assistance as needed.

Google Meet Code to join the classroom is: rqil2xqh

November 5, 19
December 3, 10
January 7, 21
February 4, 18
March 4, 18
April 8, 22
May 6, 20

• Direct link for parents to order:

  https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/1064342/Grand-Blanc-Middle-School-West/2026-Yearbook/20250719041937350142/CATALOG_SHOP/?utm_campaign=NE%2B-%2BYBK%2B-%2BStandard%2BBook%2B-%2BSearch%2B-%2BBrand&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google

Be on the Lookout for ZYN: What Parents and Educators Should Know

ZYN and other nicotine pouches are becoming increasingly popular among teens. These small, discreet pouches are placed between the lip and gum, where nicotine is absorbed through the lining of the mouth. Because they do not produce smoke or vapor, they can be easy to use without being noticed.

Although ZYN pouches do not contain tobacco leaf, they do contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance that can lead to dependence—even with relatively small amounts of exposure. Nicotine can affect the developing adolescent brain and may cause feelings of stimulation or relaxation. Pouches are available in a variety of flavors and nicotine strengths, including mint, coffee, citrus, cinnamon, and unflavored options.

What can parents and educators do?

• Learn about nicotine pouches and be aware of products teens may encounter.
• Talk openly with teens about nicotine addiction and the potential health risks.
• Encourage teens who are using nicotine to seek support without fear of judgment.

Help Is Available

Teens who want to quit nicotine do not have to do it alone. Cessation programs and supportive resources are available, and students can also reach out to their GBCS school nurses for confidential guidance and support.

Helpful resources include:

• 1-800-QUIT-NOW: Call 1-800-784-8669 for free quit support, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Michigan Quitlink: Visit the Michigan Quitlink website to explore cessation resources and enrollment options.
• My Life, My Quit: Visit mylifemyquit.org or text “Start My Quit” to 36072 to connect with a quit coach. Please verify current age eligibility and availability for Michigan teens before sharing this resource.
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By staying informed, keeping communication open, and connecting teens with supportive

West Middle School Main Office:

Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 3:00PM

Website: https://www.gbcs.org/Domain/19
Location: 1515 Reid Road, Grand Blanc, MI, USA
Phone: 810-591-7309
Facebook: facebook.com/gbwms

Attendance Hotline 591-8387

Athletics/Main Office 591-7309

Counseling Office 591-7335

Counselor (A-K) 591-7338

Counselor (L-Z) 591-7339