The following information was sent to families via SchoolMessenger on Wednesday, May 15 with the subject "WJMS Weekly Wednesday Update - 5.15.24". The content has been formatted for the web.
Hello, West Jeff Middle families. This is your Weekly Wednesday Update for May 15, 2024.
Upcoming Dates
May 15: PTA meeting, 6 pm at Los 3 Garcias, 25567 Conifer Rd
May 16: Screen protectors installed on TechforEd Chromebooks, all day in the library
May 17: All School Picnic, during lunches
May 20 - 24: Spirit Week
May 20: Band concert, 6 pm in the gym
May 21: Choir concert, 6 pm in the cafetorium
May 22: Orchestra concert, 6 pm in the gym
May 23: 8th grade Continuation party, 6 - 7:30 pm
May 24: 8th grade Continuation ceremony, 11:55 am
May 24: Last day of school, early release at 1:15 pm
School News
All students should bring their TechforEd Chromebook to school on Thursday, May 16 to have a screen protector installed.
An All School Picnic will be held outside (weather permitting) during lunches on Friday, May 17. Donations of paper plates, chips, and icy pops may be committed to with the WJMS Picnic SignUpGenius.
Student medications in the health room need to be picked up by an adult by 1:15 pm on May 24th. Please call 303-982-3056 and ask for the health room if you have any questions or need to make arrangements.
Mental Health Awareness Week is observed during the second full week in May. Our district has shared a week of strategies to try, along with a website: www.jps.click/mentalhealth-awareness.
Please join us in celebrating the following student achievements:
bookpeople, our school's team in the Jeffco Middle School Battle of the Books, took first place in district competition on Monday, May 13.
The WJMS Track and Field team placed fourth out of 17 teams participating in the Jeffco League Invitational on Monday, May 6 at Jeffco Stadium, with our girls' team placing 2nd overall among girls' teams.
Our athletes earned four league champion titles – 6th grader Ella S. in 800 meters and 400 meters, and 6th grader Amity N. in 200 meters and 100 meters – and had an additional five podium placements by 8th grader Isabella C, 2nd place, 1600 meters and 2nd place, 800 meters; 7th grader Carter M., 3rd place, 1600 meters; 7th grader Joelle C., 2nd place, 800 meters; and 7th grader Teddy K., 3rd place, long jump.
Our athletes all worked hard and had great performances despite the weather conditions. Congratulations on a wonderful 2024 track season!
Current sixth grade students interested in the Technology Student Association for next year may see Mr. Peel or Mr. Wooldridge for more information on the application process.
Staff and students are invited to dance their way to summer with a prom spirit week May 20-24:
Monday: The Sports Ball
Tuesday: Out of this World
Wednesday: Enchanted Forest
Thursday: Island in the Sun
Friday: Blue Carpet Formal
Anyone can participate in the daily themes at the levels they want. Students will receive a passport on Monday to receive a stamp for days they participate. On Friday, completed passports will be turned in and winners will be drawn and announced. There will also be daily door prizes!
The draft minutes from the May School Accountability Committee meeting are available on the school website. The first meeting of the next school year will be Monday, August 26 at 4 pm.
Jeffco students have access to telehealth visits at home through the summer, with physical health sessions available weekdays 8 am - 3 pm and mental health sessions available weekdays 7 am - 7 pm. For more information, please visit Jeffco Public Schools and Hazel Health.
As a reminder, there are many anonymous and safe ways that students and families can report information about safety concerns, like emailing a staff member or using Safe2Tell. If you have any questions, please contact our main office at 303-982-3056.
No Place for Hate
West Jefferson Middle School is now a No Place for Hate designated campus! Our No Place for Hate staff and student coalitions worked diligently to obtain this status in our first year of membership. We established staff and student coalitions, facilitated whole-school A Day Without Hate programming through the Mizel Institute, and many of our students signed the No Place for Hate pledge. We will continue our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and a safe welcoming environment next school year by reaffirming our schoolwide pledge, continuing our staff and student coalitions, establishing a parent coalition, participating in One Book, One School, and more. Please see the attached letter for more information.
PTA News
A limited number of donation opportunities are available for the All School Picnic this Friday, May 17. Please use the WJMS Picnic SignUpGenius to see what is available and sign up.
We are celebrating 8th Grade Continuation next week with the party for eighth grade students on Thursday, May 23 and the ceremony during the school day on Friday, May 24.
Families may send photos of their eighth grade student(s) for a slideshow to be shown at the party. Those photos can be submitted by sending an email to [email protected], using the name of your student as the email subject line. The email should include one baby photo, one childhood photo, one current photo, what high school your student will attend, and a small quote or well wishes. Pictures received by Monday, May 20 will be used in the slideshow.
There are still opportunities to help with the 8th grade Continuation party on Thursday, May 23rd. If you are interested in helping, please confirm the role(s) you would like to help with at the Island in the Sun 8th Grade Continuation Party Planning SignUpGenius.
Are you interested in volunteering at our school with the Watch D.O.G.S.? Reach out to Daniel Tucker for next steps at [email protected].
Connect with PTA: PTA Website and PTA Facebook
Community News
Jeffco Public Schools is hiring! There are available positions in many areas for adults interested in working for Jeffco Public Schools. Learn more about available positions and apply online on the Jeffco Jobs Board at jeffcok12jobs.org.
We have an opening at our school for an Independence Support Para Educator in the 2024-2025 school year: Job 27573 - Para Educator - Center 6th and 7th Various. The position is .875 FTE (7 hours/day) and starts at $19.13/hour.
Healthy School Meals for All: Mountain Resource Center invites families to help continue ensuring funding for Healthy School Meals for All, the program that voters approved that has been feeding all our school children at no cost in Colorado, by completing the Meal Benefits Application. No matter when families fill out the application, it can help with future funding!
West Jeff Elementary retirement party: The community is invited to celebrate Mrs. Karen Duquette, who has taught for many years in Jeffco and the last twelve years at West Jeff Elementary. Please join us in celebrating Mrs. Duquette’s retirement on Tuesday, May 21 from 3 - 5 pm at West Jeff Elementary (26501 Barkley Rd, Conifer).
Teen Writing Contest: Jefferson County Public Library invites middle and high school students to enter their 3rd annual Teen Writing Contest. Enter your best 5,000-word or less short story inspired by the quote "When there are many worlds, you can choose the one you walk into each day" (Jacqueline Woodson, Brown Girl Dreaming). Entries will be evaluated by a team of judges after July 31; the top five stories within each age group will be reviewed by local YA authors to determine first- and second-place winners in each age group. The first place middle and high school winner will receive an iPad; second place, an Owl Crate box; and third place, a writing gift basket.
Spring and summer youth activities and camps:
Evergreen Hurricanes Swim Team: summer swim team special May 28 - July 8, approximately six opportunities to participate weekly.
Colorado Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp: one-week camp, 9 am - 3 pm June 3 - 7 at Gateway High School in Aurora, provides a variety of sports opportunities for youth who use a manual or power wheelchair.
Summer Musical Theatre Camp at CenterStage in Evergreen: theatre tech one and two-week sessions in June, and a two-week scenes from Hadestown session June 3 - 14.
Summer Dance Camps: summer session June 3 - 28, classes available for different experience levels and ages at Kinetic Arts Dance Studio in Evergreen
Juniors Beach Volleyball Camp: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays from 9 to 11 am at Flourish Beach in Indian Hills, sessions June 3 - June 28 and July 1 - July 26
Middle School Summer Lifting: weightlifting and agility for middle school athletes Monday and Wednesday mornings, June 10 - July 31 in the Conifer HS weight room.
Horsemanship Summer Camps: four-day camps 9 am - 3 pm Monday - Thursday the weeks of June 10, June 17, July 8, and July 15 in north Evergreen, limited to 20 campers each week.
Inspire Juniors Rec Conifer: mountain biking Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 - 7 pm at parks in or near Conifer, summer season June 13 - August 8.
Little Lobos Girls Basketball Camp: July 30 - August 1 for 3rd - 8th graders at Conifer HS.
Mountain Predators Football and Cheer: practices begin in August; 8-game season at Front Range locations from late August through November. First-year players may register for free using the code MYFNEW at checkout. Early Bird pricing ends April 30.
South Jeffco Coyotes Football and Cheer: practices begin in August; 8-game season at Front Range locations from late August through November.
Evergreen Farmers Market: The Evergreen Farmers Market at El Rancho is returning for its sixth year from 10 am - 2 pm Tuesdays starting May 28 and running through October 1. The market will have about 50 vendors weekly with a bit of everything including local produce, bakery, tamales, coffee, olive oils, and plated food as well as live music.
Resilience1220 events: Resilience1220 is a local non-profit organization that provides free counseling sessions and support groups for young people ages 12-20, and community outreach and events that increase awareness of mental health issues. Some of their upcoming events:
May 15: Sensitive Collective for Highly Sensitive People, 6 - 7 pm, via Zoom
May 23: Suicide Loss Support Group, 5:30 - 7:30 pm at the Resilience1220 office or via Zoom
May 24: Beautify Bailey - Mural Club in partnership with Boys & Girls Club of the High Rockies, 1 - 4 pm, please email [email protected] for info and to RSVP
June 10: Grief and Loss Gathering, 5 - 7 pm at the Resilence1220 office
June 11: Beyond the Rainbow, 6 - 7:30 pm, separate groups for youth and adult caregivers that are LGBTQ+ or allies
June 12: High and Low Challenge Course offered in partnership with Mountain Youth Network, 9am - 1pm at Genesee Challenge Course, 27570 Stapleton Dr, Golden
June 15: Girls on the Fly one-day fly fishing course for girls ages 10 -15 (Resilience1220 helps provide some of the activities programming), Shawnee; also offered on July 20, August 17, September 21
June 23: Walk With Resilience1220 & Mile Hi Church in the Denver Pride Parade, 8:30 am
Jefferson County Public Library events: Please follow the links for more information on upcoming programs at the Conifer and Evergreen branches:
Saturday, May 18: Teen Volunteer Hours, 12:30 – 3:30 pm, Evergreen
Saturday, May 18: Teen Dungeons & Dragons, 2 – 4 pm, Conifer
Saturday, May 25: LEGO® ROOM!!!, 11 am – 3 pm, Conifer
Friday June 7: Teen Pride Drag Dungeons & Dragons, 6 – 8 pm, Evergreen
June 1 - July 31: Library Summer Challenge