On Thursday, January 18 from 5:00 - 9:00 pm is our Wester instrument drive. This drive gives opportunities to student who want to take band. Students who are either from Curtsinger, Gunstream or even to play an instrument. During this process, the 5th graders will able to try out different Band or Orchestra instrument. Also, they will be guided by our current Wester 7th/8th grader to know more in depth about their corresponding instrument. This drive really helps all upcoming future Wildcats who want to take Band or Orchestra, a way to select an instrument they could use for their Middle School years. 

After the drive, all 5th graders who chose band will get to chose their top 3 most favorite instrument so that the Wester Band director can chose one of those for them. This also works the same for Orchestra but instead of picking their top 3, they will pick 2 instruments. Dont miss this oppurtunity and make sure you pick your instrument! 

Some people put hours of practice into learning how to play an instrument. Here at WMS, our band and orchestra students spend at least a school year doing this, and that’s not to mention those who play instruments outside of school. Even so, there is one instrument that takes minimal effort and time to learn: the kazoo. 

January 27th is National Kazoo Day, and if you can stand the noise, go for it! The kazoos we see today are usually made of plastic, but they can also be made with metal or wood as well. With a seemingly buzzing or humming noise that will plague your parents and tick off your teachers, the kazoo only requires one simple step to play it. Most people tend to blow into it, but you’re actually supposed to hum instead. 

The celebrations this month haven’t ended with New Years’ Day! Pick up a kazoo this January 27th and have some fun! Play at your own risk.

When you play sports of any kind it can give you many attributes. Sports improve physical health, mental health, academics, social skills, and even confidence.  Especally in this type of society mental health is very important so sport is a great way to spend your time increasing mental stability.

There are a lot of sports out there so that gives you many to chose from to contribute to a better healthier life. Playing sports is better in the long run too, as an adult youwill be able to function better and your bone strength will be alot healthier than others.

There are many types of sports, ones for boys and girls, types for beginners and for experienced players, and for picky players. You can start by learning the fundamentals of the sport of your choosing to lead to a healthy happy life.

The students have gotten back from a long break, but most students don't know why we have winter break and its importance. Some students and teachers like winter break because they get to relax and not worry about work. They're not wrong, but that's not the only thing about winter break.

 Christmas and other holidays happen during winter break, when your family comes over bringing gifts and joy. But not everyone celebrates that holiday and that is okay. Some people had a trip like going skiing or being able to hang out with friends. This allows them to rest and catching up with family. 

People at Wester are not very happy with the new phone rule. Phones have become a problem at lots of schools in the whole world. It also can affect a person’s well-being and health too. Being on your phone too much puts you at risk of getting depressed easier and having different thoughts, so fisd has taken it into control. They have made rules to only allow you on it before and after school, but during the school hours it is to remain powered off in your backpack. If you get caught on it you get a warning, but then other consequences follow if it continually happens.Make sure to follow the rules so this doesn’t happen to you. I think it is a good idea and solution about these new rules because now I get to talk to my friends more and I get to engage a lot in person and just explore and do things now that my phone was holding me back from.