Pioneer Parent News
School Calendar Change
1/2 Day of School March 3 and
Asynchronous Learning from Home March 4
The second vaccine dose for the majority of teachers and staff is on Wednesday, March 3, 2021.
Wednesday, March 3, 2021: ½ Day AM for students as teachers will receive the 2nd vaccination shot in the afternoon.
Middle Schools and High Schools: Middle and high school students will be dismissed at 10:55 am.
Thursday, March 4, 2021: Asynchronous learning day at home for all students. Teachers will provide students the plan for the day.
4th Quarter Parent Selection for Virtual Families:
This Thursday, the Middle Schools will be sending a 4th Quarter Selection Form to only Portage Virtual Families. This form will ask Virtual Families if they would like to switch to Face to Face for the 4th Quarter which starts upon return from Spring Break on Monday, April 5. The deadline for making this change is March 12.
5th Grade Family Night
5th Grade Family Night will be Tuesday, March 2nd at 6:00 PM. This is a virtual event, and the link is posted on the WMS 5th Grade Parent Night Website (linked below)
We have created this website for you to check out before 5th Grade Family Night Tonight. Please take some time to sit down with your 5th grader and watch the short videos that will introduce you to many of the staff here at West and provide you with lots of middle school information. There is also a slide deck with printed information if you would rather just read through that.
If you have questions right after reviewing all that fun information, please type them in the Q & A box. We will do our best to answer those questions and more at the 5th Grade Family Night. We are so excited to help you transition into middle school next school year!!
CLICK HERE FOR ALL THINGS WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL
Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences
March 9 & 11 (3:30-7:15)
Schedule your virtual conferences here!
Choose any teachers with whom you’d like to meet and then select the time block that works best for you. You will be sent a complete listing of all the Zoom links on Monday, March 8. If you don’t already have a Zoom account, it’s free and easy to use.
Here are some tips:
You will receive a confirmation email directly from SignUpGenius for each block you reserve, as well as a reminder two days ahead of time.
You may need to initiate a Zoom account. It is free and easy and can be canceled or deleted after conferences if you wish.
Keep a list of appointments as you make them, then simply click on the coordinating Zoom link a moment before your appointment time. You'll enter the waiting room and the teacher will let you in when it's your time.
We encourage your student to join the conference as well, but it is not required.
This video format allows for 5-minute conferences. With limited time, please consider ahead of time what information is most important to get from each meeting.
Consider giving yourself a cushion between your appointments just in case a schedule gets running behind. Scheduling all of your blocks back to back can end up feeling a bit rushed.
Current 6th and 7th Grade Scheduling Information
2021-2022 School Year
Rising 7th and 8th grade scheduling communication.pdfPTSO Spring Conference Meal Flyer w/Donation/SignupGenius Link
The WMS PTSO is looking for your help to support our staff during the long hours of conference days with some snacks and a meal. You may purchase items on signup genius and deliver them to the West lobby or donate funds through the attached PayPal link.
Thank you so much in advance!
PayPal Link:
https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=N8BMXPJAEL27E
Sign Up Genius Link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4BAFA72EA5FD0-wmsparentteacher
Yearbook Flyer (3).pdfAttendance Robocalls
Attendance Robocalls will begin on Monday, February 22. Calls will go out at 4:00 pm, to parents if their child has one or more unexcused hourly absences. We realize this will be a shift as we have not been doing attendance robocalls. We have decided to start them once again to help support students attending all of their hourly classes. Your continued support is appreciated.
Good Afternoon! This is the Portage West Middle school attendance office. This message is to inform you that your student (First Name, Last Name) was marked absent in one or more of his/her classes today. Please check (First Name, Last Name) attendance record in Skyward to identify the classes or classes marked absent.
Please contact the attendance office at, 323-5800, to excuse the absence. If you have already contacted the school office, please disregard this message. If there are extenuating circumstances contributing to your student's absences, please contact your student’s counselor.
If you would like to hear this message again, please press the star key. Thanks as always for your help and support!
The West Middle School Attendance Line is still out of order. Please call 323-5800.
West Gear for Sale
Items can be picked at school until this Friday (12/18) at 4:00 PM.
We are selling some awesome masks and West T-shirts!
Masks - $7
All T-Shirts - $10
DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO ORDER:
Fill out this FORM, it will then take you to the payment page. You will need to calculate for how many things you ordered from the form when you go to the payment page. The other directions are on the form!
"The Cube" (Vestibule at Main Entrance)
Is open each school day from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM for pick-ups and drop-offs.
Student Chromebook Repairs - Click Here
All Student Chromebook repairs must fill out the Tech Department form including students in the building.
WMS Media Center
Students may check out up to 3 WMS library books by filling out the WMS Library Book Request form found on the WMS Library Media Center homepage or in any ELA Google Classroom. After filling out the form, students will receive an email indicating their books are ready for pickup. After receiving the email, books can be picked up in the main entrance at WMS between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00 pm. If students still have library books checked out from last year, please return those to school as soon as possible. We will accept library books from any PPS school and return them to their correct location. Thank you! Contact Mrs. Shook at kshook@portagesp.org with any questions.