September 12th, 2025

New information will always appear above the blue line, while

reminders and helpful links can be found below it.

Cherry Creek High School and CCSD information is at

the bottom of this newsletter, past the reminders!

What an incredible week at West! A huge shout-out to our PTCO and to all of our parent volunteers for organizing a truly magnificent Wildcat Challenge Day of Celebration, your energy, teamwork, and generosity brought our community together in the very best way. Funds raised through this campaign will support classrooms and students all year long, directly fueling resources, experiences, and opportunities.

We also appreciate your thoughtful feedback on our updated communication layout. We’ll keep refining to make it even easier to find what you need. It’s been wonderful to see our community come together to ensure a strong year filled with joy, engagement, and learning. Wishing you a joyful, restful weekend! Go Wildcats!

-Aspen Burkett, Principal

Important WMS information for upcoming events:

• The WMS Spring Panorama SEL Screener will be conducted the week of September 15th through September 19th during Advisory periods. All parents/guardians should have received an email on 9/9/25. Please read through this Parent Panorama Communication if you would like to learn more.
• On September 22nd, WMS will be conducting our Fall Lockdown Drill. Linked here is a community letter regarding the lockdown drill and some information about our Standard Response Protocol.
• If you have any questions about either of these events, the Panorama Screener or Lockdown Drill, reach out to Mark Wackwitz at mwackwitz@cherrycreekschools.org.

What joyful activities are coming up soon?

This is the Cherry Creek School District 75th Anniversary! We’re challenging students, staff, and families to come up with a 7.5 second video answering the question, “What do you think CCSD will be like in 75 years!” If you have a video you want to share…submit it via email to rlangberg@cherrycreekschools.org. The final video will be shared on the 75th day of school!

How do I engage with the school?

West families and Staff…You’re invited (and encouraged) to participate in our community meetings!

Save the dates for Accountability Team* Meetings

• September 22, 5:00 -6:00pm
• November 18,11:30-12:30 pm
• January 15, 11:30-12:30pm
• April 13, 5:00 -6:00pm

Save the dates for Voices of Color** Meetings

• September 22, 6:00 -7:00pm
• November 18,1:30-2:30 pm
• January 15, 1:30-2:30pm
• April 13, 7:00 -8:00pm

If you’re unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts, don’t worry! We’ll share agendas, notes, and key takeaways in our community communications after each meeting so information is transparent and available for everyone. We look forward to partnering with you! Email me at aburkett@cherrycreekschools.org with questions, comments, feedback, and preferred snacks.

*Accountability Team: Help plan and evaluate instructional programs and quality improvement processes at West. Responsibilities include discussing the advancement of the Unified Improvement Plan, making recommendations about spending priorities, implementing the district’s parent engagement policy, and increasing parent’s’ engagement with teachers.

**Voices of Color: Our goal is to foster an inclusive and safe environment to support the success of students of color.

What learning is happening right now?

Did you know you can see what your student has learned so far, and what’s coming next week? IT’s all online in Schoology. Here’s how!

• Go to my.cherrycreekschools.org
• Click on Schoology
• Look for your name on the top right corner, and select your child from the dropdowns
• Click on “Courses” from the top menu bar
• Select the course you want to explore
• Look for the Week at a Glance
• Don’t worry about deleting your student’s work…you only have view access!

Annnd, if you want to get notified about your student’s progress, you can do that, too!

• Go to my.cherrycreekschools.org
• Click on PowerSchool/Parent
• Click on email notification
• Select what information you want to receive and press submit.

You can always find the Activities and Athletics schedules on the website as well! 😀

Homework Help before & after school in the commons.

Drama Rehearsal after school in the Cafeteria.

Yearbook Club after school in A212.

Homework Help before & after school in the commons.

Drama Rehearsal after school in the Cafeteria.

Homework Help before & after school in the commons.

SAGA after school in room A214.

Drama Rehearsal after school in the Cafeteria.

Spelling Bee after school in A101.

Picture Makeup Day.

Homework Help before & after school in the commons.

STEMBlazers after school in D110.

Drama Rehearsal after school in the Cafeteria.

No School - In Service Day for Teachers.

CCHS Football at 7:00pm at CCHS - Middle School students must be accompanied by an adult.

• Please review Stadium Guidelines in the CCHS Section of this Newsletter.

District Track Meet @ Stutler Bowl - please talk to your students coach for more details or email enahorniak@cherrycreekschools.org

Homework Help before & after school in the commons.

7th & 8th Grade Boys Basketball begins after school in the gym - athletic form must be completed.

Yearbook Club after school in A212.

Math League after school in A107.

Drama Rehearsal after school in the Cafeteria.

Homework Help before & after school in the commons.

7th & 8th Grade Boys Basketball practice.

Drama Rehearsal after school in the Cafeteria.

Student Council after school in C104

Homework Help before & after school in the commons.

7th & 8th Grade Boys Basketball practice.

Spelling Bee after school in A101.

Drama Rehearsal after school in the Cafeteria.

Homework Help before school in the commons.

NO LATE BUSES OR AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.

Parent Teacher Conferences from 4pm-8pm - more information to come, stay tuned.

Homework Help before school in the commons.

Order your student’s photos online now and have them shipped directly to your home.

Order Online: mymiddleschoolpictures.com

Select West Middle School to view packages and place your order.

For questions about school photos, please contact our photographer at customercare@cidmphoto.com.

We have an awesome opportunity for our WMS students! Please see more details below!

Do you want to share your ideas and help make West an even better place?

Fill out this form to nominate yourself for Principal Burkett’s Advisory Council!

This council is all about hearing YOUR voice. Principal Burkett wants to know what you think about West's C.A.R.E. values, your sense of belonging, and what it’s like to be a student here at West. If selected you would be asked to help give feedback and give guidance to our principal on how to support students at West.

It’s your chance to speak up, share ideas, and help shape our school!

We can't wait to hear from YOU!

We look forward to welcoming you to Family/Teacher Conferences on September 25th! Please watch for an email from Blackboard Connect next week with instructions on how to sign up for a conference time slot.

New this year: Our additional 1st semester conference dates are November 6th and 7th. A sign-up link to select conference times will be shared two weeks prior to the event. Additional information will also be provided as the date approaches.

If you have any questions, feel free to email your child's teacher or Ann Flanagan, Campus Administrator, at aflanagan@cherrycreekschools.org

Dear Families,

We want to make you aware of the Colorado Safety Stop law, which applies to students riding bicycles, scooters, and other human-powered vehicles to and from school. Under this law:

• At stop signs, riders may proceed at 10 mph or less if they already have the right of way and after yielding to pedestrians and cross-traffic.

• At red lights, riders may go straight or turn right only after coming to a complete stop and yielding to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.

• Riders may make a left turn on red only onto a one-way street.

Please remind your student to follow these rules carefully and to always stay alert, wear a helmet, and ride safely when traveling to school.

For convenience, bike racks are located at the front of the school for students who ride.

Thank you for helping us keep all of our students safe!

As the Security Supervisor at West Middle School, I want to take a moment to emphasize the importance of maintaining a safe environment for all students during arrival, dismissal, and after hour times.

Please remember that driving over or through designated pedestrian walkways and foot traffic through student transportation areas, including bus zones, poses a significant safety concern. These areas are specifically marked to protect students who are walking or boarding buses, and any unauthorized vehicle movement through these zones can lead to dangerous situations.

We kindly ask for your cooperation in following all posted signs and traffic patterns on campus. By doing so, you help ensure that every student can travel to and from school safely each day.

Thank you for your continued support in keeping our school community safe.

Meeting the needs of all learners is part of the mission in the Cherry Creek School District; therefore, we will be administering the Cognitive Abilities Test™ (CogAT) to all 6th grade students. The test will be group administered in an online format which takes a total of 2 hours to complete; however, the assessment will be administered over multiple days in three separate sessions taking 30 to 45 minutes each. The CogAT will be administered during the week of September 22nd.

The CogAT appraises the development of student reasoning abilities using verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal cognitive tasks. The assessment is divided into three batteries which have been designated to appraise inductive and deductive reasoning abilities and also specific reasoning abilities as compared with same-aged peers. The Verbal battery assesses students’ abilities to use search, retrieve, and compare processes that are essential for verbal reasoning, and this subtest will be offered with directions in seven different languages. The Quantitative battery assesses students’ abilities to reason through patterns and relations using concepts that are essential to quantitative thinking. The Nonverbal battery assesses students’ abilities to reason with novel questions that use spatial and figural content.

Results will indicate children’s areas of strength so that classroom teachers can provide instruction to nurture those individual, relative strengths. The results will be added to an individual student body of evidence. This body of evidence will be used for instructional purposes as well as to identify students who might benefit from gifted services. Later this Fall, students scoring at the 90th percentile or higher on the CogAT will be administered follow up academic achievement assessments in all four core content areas.

In order to obtain the best assessment results, please ensure your child is well rested. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kari Kusek, Campus Administrator at kkusek@cherrycreekschools.org.

To improve how we communicate with you, we’re updating the phone number we use to send text messages. Starting this school year, our outreach (non-emergency) text messages will be sent using a local 10-digit phone number.

Here are the new numbers for text messages:

• Elementary schools will come from 720-208-1843
• All other sites including District, Middle, and High School, will come from 720-208-1844

Please note: Emergency notifications will continue to be sent via your existing short code for now.

We recommend saving it in your contacts as “CCSD Alerts” so you always recognize messages from us.

Thank you for staying connected with us — we’re committed to making sure you receive timely and clear communication from Cherry Creek Schools.

Hello Wildcat Community!

As we enter our 6th week of the 2025-2026 school year, we are seeing an uptick in nonpreferred behaviors on our busses. We wanted to take this opportunity to remind students and families that any issues on the bus should be reported to the driver for a timely response. In addition, we wanted to make sure that everyone was aware of the expectations for student behavior while riding the bus. Thank you for your attention to keeping our driver's focused on the road and student safety!

-Ms. Kusek and Ms. Flanagan

Required Student Conduct while riding District School Buses

1. Follow the bus driver or assistant's instructions at all times.
2. Arrive at the bus stop 5 minutes prior to scheduled pick-up time in the morning.
3. Stand a safe distance from the curb or roadway.
4. Respect the driver/assistant and other bus passengers.
5. When crossing street by school bus, always cross 10 feet in front of the bus. Wait for the driver’s signal to cross.
6. Sit quickly and quietly in assigned seat. Remain seated facing forward in your assigned seat while the bus is moving. The aisle is not to be blocked at any time.
7. Middle School and High School students are required to show student RFID bus card to bus driver upon request. Coaches and sponsors are accountable for identification of students on field trips and athletic trips.
8. No eating, drinking or spitting inside the bus.
9. Do not throw anything off the bus or have any part of you outside the bus.
10. Talk in normal tones; loud, rude, vulgar or obscene language is prohibited.
11. Cell phone usage limited to texting, video games, or listening to music (with earbuds).
12. State law and/or District policy prohibits the following items on school buses: Alcohol/drugs/tobacco, Glass items, Legally prohibited substances, Weapons or facsimiles Explosives, Fireworks (including smoke and stink bombs), Animals, insects or reptiles Other dangerous objects
13. All items carried by students (i.e., band instruments, athletic equipment, backpacks, etc.) must be under their control at all times and must be carried in the lap, or properly secured in a vacant seat or under the seat. Instruments cannot occupy needed seating space or be placed in the driver’s compartment, aisle, or in the step well.
14. Skateboards, scooters and roller blades are not allowed on the school bus.
15. Students are permitted to leave the bus only at their designated stops. Any changes require a parent/legal guardian’s written request, approved by a school administrator and by Transportation. Any change involving a student crossing a major thoroughfare will not be approved for any reason.
16. Students are permitted to ride only in their assigned bus. Exceptions (for emergencies only) must be requested in writing by the student’s parent or legal guardian and be approved by a school administrator preferably on the approved "Permission to Ride" form.
17. Keep the bus clean and free of damage.

NOTES:

1. These rules apply to all bus routes, activity trips, and field trips.
2. Infractions of the above rules can result in disciplinary action, which may include suspension of bus privileges.

At Cherry Creek School District, supporting students’ mental and emotional well-being is a top priority. To help middle school students recognize and manage emotional challenges, we implement the Signs of Suicide (SOS) Prevention Program yearly.

The SOS program equips students with tools to:

• Understand that difficult feelings are real and treatable.
• Recognize warning signs in themselves or others.
• Identify negative thought patterns.
• Seek help from trusted adults or encourage peers to do the same.

Through this program, students gain skills to create a supportive environment where reaching out for help is seen as a sign of strength.

Families will receive a letter in the coming weeks with more details about upcoming SOS presentations. In the meantime, please explore the resources below if you or someone you know needs extra support.

1. Hazel Health: Cherry Creek School District has partnered with Hazel Health to provide access to quality mental health care services for all students, at no cost to families. Hazel Health supports schools by providing culturally responsive telehealth care that addresses students’ mental health needs. Hazel connects students with experienced therapists to help them cope and develop skills to manage their mental health. Therapy sessions with Hazel Health are a safe space and are private and confidential. Families can refer their students directly through the Hazel Health website or contact West Middle School’s counseling/mental health team to receive help with the referral. For more information, see Hazel Health’s website: https://www.hazel.co/
2. Colorado Crisis Services: provides confidential help for any mental health, substance use, or emotional crisis, 24/7/365. If you don't know where to turn, call 844-493-TALK (8255), text TALK to 38255, or visit www.ColoradoCrisisServices.org
3. Safe2Tell: Anonymously report anything that concerns or threatens you, your friends, your family, or your community through Safe2Tell. We take your reports any time, any day. MAKE A REPORT.

We’ve been seeing an increase in students visiting the clinic with back pain and headaches, which may be linked to heavy backpacks.

Please take a moment to check in with your student and help them go through their backpack. Together, you can:

• Remove unnecessary items to lighten the load.
• Ensure only essential materials are being carried each day.
• Encourage the use of lockers throughout the day to store extra supplies and books.

😀🎊Please see our PTCO Update below! 🎊😀

• WMS Athletics
• WMS Activities & Clubs
• WMS Attendance
• WMS Parent Resources
• WMS Student Resources
• WMS Campus Admin Office
  
• WMS Counseling

• Main Office (720) 554-5100
• Attendance Line (720) 554-5110 or (720) 554-5111
• Counseling (720) 554-5156
• Campus Admins (720) 554-5155
• Clinic/Nurse (720) 554-5117
• Transportation (720) 554-4664

Dear Parent/Guardian,

We hope this message finds you well. Recently your student completed the Star Assessment and their report will be available in the next few weeks.

Please follow these instructions for how to access these reports.

The Yearbook Club is working to make sure this year's memories are captured in the most special way! From classroom moments to sporting events, performances, and everything in between, we are dedicated to documenting every milestone and memory.

Don't miss out on getting your copy of this year’s yearbook! Order your yearbook by pressing the button below so that you and your student can relive all the unforgettable moments from the year.

Presale ($35) ends December 26th. After this, the price will increase to $40!

Not sure if you’ve already ordered a yearbook?

Email our yearbook sponsor, Caroline Rose Wheeler, to double-check!

Celebrate your 8th grader’s milestone year with a special Baby Ad in the 2025-2026 Yearbook! This is a wonderful way to honor their journey from those first steps to their final year of middle school. Share your favorite baby or childhood photo along with a heartfelt message to let them know how proud you are. Baby Ads are a keepsake they’ll treasure for years to come—don’t miss your chance to be part of this tradition!

Transportation is required by CDE Regulations to account for all students on the bus and unauthorized passengers are not permitted. However, the Transportation Department recognizes that circumstances may arise, e.g. a family emergency, parents out of town, etc., when a student needs to ride home with another student on a one-time only basis. The student must get off at the assigned stop of the student they are riding with (no exceptions).

Make sure to fill out and turn in the linked Permission Slip to the Campus Admins office no later than 9:00 AM on the requested ride date. Forms can be printed and handed to the Campus Admins Assistant. Hard copies of the form can be picked up from the Campus Admins office if they are needed but must be picked up prior to the day they need to ride a different bus. No emails will be accepted. If there is an emergency, please call the Campus Admins office at 720-554-5155.

West Middle School offers HW Help! Please review the available options below, and reach out to your teachers for specific support, as needed. We’ve listed the teachers and room numbers for your convenience. Can’t wait to help you out!

Please note:

• Teachers highlighted in RED are Language Arts teachers
• Teachers highlighted in GREEN are Math teachers
• Teachers highlighted in BLUE are Science teachers
• Teachers highlighted in ORANGE are Social Studies teachers
• Teachers highlighted in YELLOW are elective teachers.
• PURPLE highlighting indicates the teacher specializes in both Language Arts and Math.

Expectations:

• Use the restroom and fill your water before entering.
• Stay in the Commons.
• Bring a charged device.
• Sign in. Find a seat. 1 person per table.
• Keep your phones off.
• Work on school work quietly until dismissal.

At the end of Study Hall…Push in your chair and take all your belongings.

Just a reminder it's Cherry Creek High School's Homecoming Week with the football game Friday at 7:00 pm.

Please see the flyer below for CCSD Stadium Guidelines for students.

Please see the QR code on this flyer to purchase tickets and remember that Middle School Students MUST be accompanied by an adult.

Check the flyer below!

Check the scheduled below!

The Cherry Creek High School Boys Soccer team is looking for Ball Boys at our home games!

This is a great opportunity for you to watch our Varsity players up close as you help manage the game balls throughout the season ON Stutler! Please contact comms@creeksoccer.org if you are interested!

Check the details below!

September 17th, 2025

District Voices of Color (formerly District P.A.S.S.)

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Cherry Creek Innovation Campus (8000 Chambers Rd, Centennial, CO 80112, United States)

September 19th, 2025

K-12 ~ No School ~ All Schools

All Day

September 20th, 2025

Veterans and Military Appreciation Event

All Day

Legacy Stadium (26101 E Arapahoe Rd, Aurora, Co 80016, United States)

September 25th, 2025

Board Candidate Forums

6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Cherokee Trail High School - Auditorium; 25901 E. Arapahoe Road Aurora, CO 80016

Support Cherry Creek Schools Resources Pantries by purchasing a red Fight Hunger Bag at the Holly & Orchard King Soopers now through September 30th! For every bag sold, $1 of the proceeds supports our 20 school-based Resource Pantries, which provide families with free food and toiletries.

Would you like to learn more about the US Education System and Cherry Creek School District?