West Side Story 2.0
October 27, 2025
Halloween, Quarter's End, and a Day Off!
This week is a big one! Not only does it end with Halloween (hope you have a fun and safe time), but it also marks the end of Quarter 1.
This means that next week, teachers will be finalizing and posting those first quarter grades.
A Note on Grades
Keep in mind that these are like mid-term grades. While they're important for showing progress, only the semester grade is what officially goes on the student's transcript. It's a great time to check in and see how things are going!
No School on Monday!
Just a reminder: there is no school next Monday, November 3rd as it is a teacher work day. Enjoy the long weekend!
Congratulations to our State Bound Cross Country Runners!
Landree Quint, Reese Quint, and Corbin Deichman will be competing in the State Cross Country Meet at the University of Minnesota on Saturday, November 1st. Good luck to our Scarlet runners!
Join Us for Fall Conference Night
Mark your calendars! Our Fall Conference Night is scheduled for Thursday, November 6th, from 5:45 PM to 7:45 PM.
While you can always check your student's progress in their classes using Infinite Campus, conference night offers a dedicated time to meet one-on-one with their teachers. This is a great opportunity to discuss how your student is performing in each specific class and ask any questions you may have.
Please use this link https://ptcfast.com/schools/Mankato_West_High_School to schedule conference times with your student’s teachers by Tuesday, November 4. You will find your student’s teachers by viewing your student’s schedule on your parent portal in Infinite Campus. If you need assistance with PTCFast please access this video for support.
Explore Your Future: Course Registration is Coming Soon!
Course registration for the 2026-2027 school year will kick off in February! Between now and then, we'll be highlighting various Career Pathways and elective classes to help students explore their interests and plan their schedules.
Feature Pathway: Health Science
Are you a student interested in a medical or health-related career? Our Health Science pathway offers a comprehensive sequence of courses to prepare you for this exciting field!
Recommended Exploration Courses:
Intro to Health Occupations
PLTW Biomedical Science:
To deepen your experience, consider taking:
PLTW Human Body Systems
PLTW Medical Interventions
Medical Terminology (College Credit through South Central College)
Human Development (College Credit through Minnesota State University, Mankato)
Real-World Engagement and Certifications:
For hands-on application, students can enroll in Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) courses. We also offer internship opportunities with partners like Mayo Clinic and other local medical providers.
Affiliated Academic Courses:
These courses also support the pathway: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, and Anatomy and Physiology.
Get Involved:
Students interested in the health sciences are strongly encouraged to join HOSA - Future Health Professionals to gain leadership skills, compete, and network!
Explore Your Creativity: The Arts
For students with a passion for art and design, our Visual Arts department offers many ways to explore and develop your talents, including:
Studio Arts
Ceramics
Drawing
Painting
Photography
Graphic Arts
AP Art History
AP Studio Arts
Talented artists can also compete in the MSHSL Visual Arts competition.
Keep an eye on this newsletter for more highlights as we approach registration!
Upcoming Career Event
Nov 5 - Construction Trades
Joe Holtmeier, owner of Holtmeier Construction, will be speaking with the Geometry in Action class.
Nov 7 - Neurology
Adam Steiner, MSU Professor of Psychology & Behavioral Neurology, will be meeting with students who saved Neurology related fields in Xello.
Nov 11 - River Hills Pet Care Hospital
9:15 - 10:15 am
River Hills Pet Care Hospital
Students who saved veterinarian or vet tech in Xello were invited. The first 10 students to respond to the calendar invite will be attending the event. This site has a 10 person maximum.
Knowledge Bowl - A Message from Mr. Miller
There is a required meeting for anyone who has been a Knowledge Bowl member or for anyone interested in Knowledge Bowl on Wednesday, Oct. 29th in room 100 @ 8:20 AM, and/or during Scarlet Time on Wednesday, Oct. 29th in room 100.
Construction Updates
This week we will see the walls begin to go up on the addition in the front of the building. The footings will go in for the athletic addition as well. The construction teams are making good progress on our additions!
Exterior walls in the academic addition
Foundation walls for the athletic addition
Mechanical work
Winter Weather
Snow season is just around the corner! In preparation, here is an important resource that is available on the ISD77 website for your review:
Weather Related Information - includes details on where to find out about weather related closings and late starts. Please note the MAPS Notification Line: 507-387-6046.
Student Support Updates
Click here for important information from our Student Support Staff.
Food Resources
Our social workers support families not only get the immediate food they need but also receive guidance to secure longer-term, sustainable support, addressing one of the most fundamental needs.
Upcoming Events
October 27
Band Concert 7:30pm Auditorium
October 29
Lock Down Drill 2:35pm
October 31
Happy Halloween
Last Day of First Quarter
November 3
No School - Teacher Work Day
November 6
Conferences 5:45pm - 7:45pm
November 11
Veteran's Day
Career Event - River Hills Mall Pet Hospital 9:15am
November 12
Early Out Day
