April Newsletter

April is always a bit of a whirlwind in junior high. It's that unique time of year where we are looking backward to celebrate how much our students have learned (through state testing and final projects) and looking forward to the future (as we welcome our next class of 7th graders). Between the changing weather and the packed calendar of sports, art and music, the energy in the building is high. Our goal this month is to help our students stay grounded and focused while still enjoying the excitement that spring at West brings.

Dates of Testing:

Wednesday, April 8 ISAT 7th and 8th Graders

Wednesday, April 15 ISAT 7th and 8th graders and PSAT for 9th graders

Wednesday, April 22 ISAT 7th and 8th graders

Wednesday, April 29 ISAT 7th and 8th graders

Steps for Testing Success

1. Charge Up: Chromebooks must be at 100% battery every Wednesday morning.

2. Plug In: Please send wired earbuds/headphones with your student (Bluetooth is not allowed).

3. Power Down: Smartwatches and phones must be turned off and stored in lockers or backpacks during testing.

Note on Appointments: We will be using a Modified Bell Schedule on these days. To avoid interrupting your student's focus, please try to schedule any appointments after 12:30 PM.

Wednesday Testing: A Little Extra "Brain Fuel"

While we provide free breakfast for every student in the cafeteria each morning either before school or at break, we know that a long morning of testing can work up an extra appetite.

For our Wednesday testing sessions, we encourage parents to send a special, non-disruptive snack with their child (think granola bars, fruit snack, or crackers).

The Power of a Post-it: If you want to give them an extra boost, try tucking a quick note of encouragement into their snack bag or lunch box! Sometimes just seeing a familiar "You’ve got this!" can help with testing jitters.

Need some inspiration? Try one of these quick lines:

• "Don't let the test stress you—you're smarter than any bubble sheet!"

• "I'm already proud of your hard work. Just go do your best!"

• "Crush those questions! See you at [Practice/Home] later!"

• "Take a deep breath. You are capable of amazing things."

Every Student Counts: Testing Wednesdays

While being in class every day is the foundation of success, our Testing Wednesdays are particularly important. These days allow us to measure our progress and ensure everyone has the support they need to succeed.

To make things a little more exciting, we are launching Class and School-Wide Attendance Competitions!

Why Your Attendance Matters

• Team Spirit: Your presence helps your class climb the leaderboard. Don't let your team down!

• Testing Momentum: Taking tests alongside your peers in a familiar environment reduces stress and improves focus.

• Rewards: High-attendance classes will be eligible for special recognition and prizes (stay tuned for details!).

The Goal

We know life happens, but we’re asking everyone to make an extra effort to be in their seats on these specific Wednesdays. Let’s show what our school can do when we all show up together.

PSAT

https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-8-9/taking-the-test/what-to-bring-leave/calculator-policy#:~:text=Acceptable%20Calculators,not%20follow%20order%20of%20operations

The Triple Threat Drive sponsored by West Student Council was a huge success! Classes that brought in the most items were treated to ice cream treats during MCT Time. Thank you to all the students who participated in helping our community.

8th grader tennis begins on April 14th.

Please contact Athletic Director Mark Miller mark.miller@boiseschools.org with any questions.

April is a busy month and we need your help. We will have our "You Make the Earth Sweeter" sucker sales on April 20, 21, & 22. If you could drop off regular size bags of suckers to the main office, we would really appreciate it. (Order sheet will be sent soon for parents to purchase candy grams for your child) Also, Our last Dine Around Night will be on Monday, April 20th at Chick-fil-A on Milwaukee from 5:00pm-8:00pm. These are two easy ways to support the school.

Also, look for a Sign up Genius for the Freshman Farewell Celebration on May 7th and for Teacher Appreciation the week of April 27th. We could not have these events without the help of our parents, so thank you in advance for your generous donations.

If you want to make sure you get a yearbook, please order ASAP. If you don't order soon, you cannot be guaranteed a yearbook.

https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1076773/West-Junior-High-School/

As you make summer plans this is a great resource and it's free! Your child must show their student ID to qualify.

Here is a link with information. https://www.valleyregionaltransit.org/fares-passes/youth-ride-free/

April 8-ISAT Test (7th and 8th Graders)

April 10-Central District Health (See Flyer for more information)

April 14-8th grade Tennis Starts

April 15-ISAT Test (7th and 8th Graders) PSAT (9th Graders)

April 20-Dine Around Night-Chick-Fil-A (5:00pm-8:00pm)

April 22-ISAT Test (7th and 8th Graders)

April 29-ISAT Test (7th and 8th Graders)

April 30-Art and Music Show and In-coming 7th Grade Open House (5:00-7:00)

Miss Rohn's 8th-grade ELA classes created butterflies in honor of child Holocaust victims to conclude their Holocaust unit during Quarter 3. Each student was assigned a real child who was either killed or affected by the Holocaust. The child's fate was unknown to them until their butterfly was completed.

To celebrate National Poetry Month, the library is having a poetry contest!

All staff members and students are invited to participate in creating BLACKOUT Poetry!

If you are unfamiliar, Blackout Poetry is when you take an existing text and black out or cover most of the words. The remaining words create an original poem.

Book pages and black markers are on the circulation desk in the library. Prizes will be awarded to our top 3 favorite poems each Friday in April! Make sure to include your name on your poem if you want the opportunity to earn a prize.

The poems will be hung on the bulletin board outside the library for everyone to read.

Boise School District is launching a comprehensive Long-Range Facilities Master Planning process—and we’re inviting our community to be part of it. This important effort will serve as a roadmap for future school facility investments, ensuring our buildings continue to support high-quality learning environments while aligning with current and projected enrollment. As Boise continues to evolve, thoughtful planning today will help ensure our schools are ready for tomorrow.

Community Feedback Event – April 2, 2026

Community members are encouraged to attend a public feedback meeting focused on the District’s Long-Range Facilities Master Planning process:

Location: Timberline High School Cafeteria, 701 E. Boise Ave., Boise, ID
Date: April 2, 2026
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

This is a general invitation to the entire community, including parents, teachers, students, and district patrons.

Your perspective matters. The feedback gathered will directly inform the development of the District’s 10-year Long-Range Facilities Master Plan.

Together, we can shape a plan that reflects our shared values and supports student success for the next generation.

We hope to see you there.

While these sessions are primarily intended for elementary families, secondary parents are welcome to attend. The district will be providing similar opportunities for secondary parents during the 26-27 school year.

Students love to use the flexible seating we have in our main hallway and would love to have more flexible/comfortable seating throughout the school.

If you would like to help contribute to our flexible seating, please scan the QR Code or click on the link to donate.

https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/donor-form?svcid=renxt&formId=54380edf-3073-43b8-b9e2-8e85c9face6a&envid=p-SdsX_pjE80CDMOl1UUUVDA&zone=usa

Thank you

Thursday, March 5th, 2026

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are seeing increased questions about smart or AI-enabled glasses in our schools. Because these devices can take photos, record audio or video, and connect to the internet without anyone knowing, they raise serious concerns related to privacy, safety, and academic integrity.

Moving forward, we will be regulating the use of smart (AI-enabled, Meta, etc.) glasses as allowed under Personal Electronic Device Policy 3241. We’re taking this step for two reasons:

Schools are high-trust spaces

Students and staff should not have to wonder whether they are being recorded during class or in everyday interactions. Recording can quickly lead to bullying, online posting, or other harm.

Privacy concerns are especially serious in restrooms and locker rooms. Students have a reasonable expectation of privacy in these spaces, and secret recording can carry severe school consequences and potential criminal penalties under Idaho law. Any recording—or suspected recording—in these areas would trigger an immediate response and may involve law enforcement.

Smart glasses can also create unfair testing advantages

The College Board explicitly prohibits smart glasses during SAT and AP exams. Students may be required to remove them during testing or test another day with standard glasses. If a student’s only prescription eyewear is smart glasses, this can create avoidable stress and complications.

Our Recommendation
Please do not purchase smart glasses as your student’s only prescription eyewear. If your family chooses to use them, ensure your student has standard glasses available for daily school use and all testing situations. The safest course of action is to simply reserve smart glasses for outside-of-school use.

We appreciate your partnership in keeping our schools safe, respectful, and focused on learning.

Sincerely,
Boise School District Administration

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.

https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Policy/PolicyListing.aspx?S=36030877

Janet Cherry - Principal

Jon Zwainz - Assistant Principal

Website: https://west.boiseschools.org/
Location: 8371 W. Salt Creek Ct., Boise, ID 83709
Phone: 208-854-6450