The following information was sent to families via SchoolMessenger on Wednesday, September 4 with the subject "Weekly Wednesday Update 9.4.24". The content has been formatted for the web.
Principal’s Note
It has been inspiring to see our students getting involved in building a strong WJMS culture. This week we saw the inaugural issue of West Jeff Whenever, our new digital school newspaper, linked in Advise classes. This is a student-created newspaper supervised by Mr. Fisher and his talented group of journalists. I can’t wait to see the next issue.
Our Advise classes are participating in a Scavenger Hunt with a Twist this week, sponsored by PTA. So far they have been recreating Olympic moments and invasion of the cicadas. The winning class will receive an extra recess.
These events help to remind us how creative and committed our WJMS Colts can be.
Upcoming Dates
September 9: PTA Fundraiser Kickoff, assembly schedule
September 10: Safe2Tell Presentation, assembly schedule
September 12: WJMS PTA School Store at lunches
September 12: PTA general membership meeting, 6 pm at Los 3 Garcias, 25567 Conifer Road
September 13 - 15: School Fundraising Weekend with the Colorado Rockies
September 20: no school, non-student contact day
September 23: School Accountability Committee meeting, 4:15 pm in the library and online
School News
Families, please take the time to review the drop off and pick up information, and make note of the vehicle drop-off and pick up lanes to help make these times of day run smoothly.
Students are in the midst of fall MAP testing. Students took Math MAP testing during their math classes last week, Reading MAP testing during English/Language Arts classes this week (September 4 - 6), and any makeup sessions next week. MAP testing is done three times a year and provides immediate feedback on students' growth. Please remind your student to bring their charged Chromebook with them daily, especially on MAP testing days.
There will be no school on Friday, September 20 for a non-student contact day.
Families were sent an email on Tuesday, August 27th about the Social Skills Improvement System™ Social-Emotional Learning Edition Screening/Progress Monitoring Scales (SSIS SEL). If you want to opt your student(s) out of that screening, please contact Social-Emotional Learning Specialist Melissa Shute by September 20.
Our eighth grade students will be visiting Warren Tech on Wednesday, September 25th. The designated Career and Technical (CTE) education center for Jeffco Public Schools, Warren Tech offers academic, career and technical training and education. More information on the half-day trip and adult chaperone needs will be provided in September.
The minutes from the August School Accountability Committee have been published on the school website. The next meeting will be Monday, September 23 at 4:15 pm in the library and via Google Meet.
Coffee with the Counselors is a time for families to interact with our mental health team and learn about topics which may be impacting their student(s). The first Coffee with the Counselors for the 2024-2025 school year will take place Friday, September 27th from 8:45 - 9:45 am in room 109 on the subject of Meet the WJMS Mental Health Team. We will cover back to school mental health tips. Please complete the Coffee with the Counselors RSVP form if you plan to join us!
Starting this year, all Jeffco families can report same-day or upcoming absences through Campus Parent. The Campus Parent Absence Request Tool is a function within Infinite Campus (IC) that allows families to report same-day or upcoming absences. While families are encouraged to use this new system, the old system is available to continue using if you prefer. Please refer to the Introducing the Campus Parent Absence Request Tool letter for more information.
Adult family and community members may register to become a volunteer using Jeffco Partners in Education (PIE), a new district platform to match volunteers to opportunities at our schools. There is no commitment needed at the time you sign up. As opportunities are identified, you will be notified with information on how to sign up. Please see the letter and tip sheet for more information.
A Roadmap for the Student Experience Update
As mentioned at the back to school meetings, our school will be hosting a series of small group forums for solution-focused discussions and problem solving on a variety of school topics. Meeting dates and times are to be determined; we are currently collecting information for next steps. Please complete the form if you are interested in being part of the small group discussions.
Weekend Food
Families interested in receiving a bag of non-perishable food each Friday afternoon to help over the weekend may complete the form and return to our school’s main office. There are no requirements to qualify for the program. Bags are delivered every Friday throughout the school year, beginning the week after a family enrolls, and the bags are delivered without identifying or singling out recipients.
Gold Crown Basketball
Gold Crown basketball for 6th, 7th and 8th grade girls starts in November. If you are interested in learning more, please provide your contact information by filling out the Little Lady Lobos Basketball Google Form. Here are some important dates:
November 4th/5th: Tryouts 4:00-6:00 @ WJMS
November 4th/5th: Parent Meeting 6:00-6:30 @ WJMS
Games start in January and run through February.
PTA News
In August, we hosted a welcome back breakfast for our staff, a breakfast and middle school Q&A for sixth grade family members, and had a fun PTA table with popsicles at Back-to-School Night. There is more fun to be had! Join us for our next general PTA meeting at 6 pm on Thursday, September 12th at Los 3 Garcias, 25567 Conifer Road.
Join the West Jeff Middle PTA to connect with the West Jeff Middle community, stay up to date on events and fundraisers, and let your voice be heard! This year membership costs $20 for an adult family member, $6.25 for our faculty and staff, and $125 for a business sponsorship. Learn more about PTA with our handout sheet.
The next School Store is coming up on Thursday, September 12 during lunches. Students may pay with cash, card or Google/Apple Pay. Nothing is over $5.
Show your Colt pride at a Colorado Rockies game the weekend of September 13 - 15! You can purchase discounted tickets at rockies.com/SCHOOLFUNDRAISER and look for our school name before you check out. Our school will be given a donation after the first fifty tickets sold. The school with the most tickets sold gets to choose their favorite staff member to be recognized at a game too! Please see the flier for more information.
Area businesses interested in advertising at our school along the fence may work with our PTA to rent a portion of the fence to display a 4' x 8' laminated aluminum composite sign. Please refer to the Fence Sign Sponsors page on the PTA website for more information on this program.
You can support our PTA while you shop with King Soopers Community Rewards! To designate our PTA as a recipient for donations based on your shopping, log into your King Soopers account, click on My Account and navigate down to Community Rewards, then search for West Jeff Middle School PTA. Please see the flier for more information.
Families, please consider joining the West Jeff Middle PTA using our MemberHub store and follow the West Jeff Middle PTA page on Facebook to learn about events, volunteer opportunities, and more going on at our school!
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 and a Center Para Educator in the 2024-2025 school year: Job 29273 - Para Educator - Independence Support 6th Various Subjects and Job 29332- Para Educator - Center 6th, and 7th grade Various subjects. The positions are .875 FTE (7 hours/day) and start 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!
Eudaimonia After-School Programs: Eudaimonia, your community activity center in Indian Hills, is offering day camps during non-student contact days this fall. Camps cost $60/day (25% discount for monthly members) for 8:30 am - 2:35 pm, with aftercare available until 4 PM for an additional $12:
- Friday, September 20: Parkour/Archery/Beach Volleyball
- Thursday, October 17: Aerial/Parkour/Arts & Crafts
- Friday, October 18: Aerial/Parkour/Arts & Crafts
- Friday, November 1: Games - Chase Tag, Dodgeball, Nerf Guns, Hide & Seek
- Friday, December 6: STEM Projects/Cooking/Arts & Crafts/Parkour
Day Camp sign-up details are coming soon. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact us. Feel free to view our fall schedule, fall prices, and sign up today!
Center for the Arts Evergreen Youth Classes: Center for the Arts Evergreen has upcoming fall classes for youth: Wild for Art! and Teen Technique: Drawing Challenge meeting weekly in September and October, and Holiday Gifts Workshop meeting in November and December. CAE offers Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, and Winter Break programs as well!
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:
September 6: Climb Higher! An Introduction to Mountaineering Clinic, 9 am – 1 pm at Always Choose Adventures (300 Swamp Angel Ln, Central City)
September 10: Beyond The Rainbow, concurrent support groups for LGBTQ+ or allies ages 12-20 and for parents and caregivers, 6 - 7:30 pm
September 14: Dungeons & Dragons Hangout, 3 – 5 pm at Evergreen Library (5000 County Hwy 73, Evergreen)
September 26: Support After Suicide Loss group for ages 18+, 5:30 – 7:30 pm at Resilience1220 offices (32003 Ellingwood Trail, Evergreen) or via Zoom
Jefferson County Public Library events: Please follow the links for more information on upcoming programs at the Conifer and Evergreen branches:
Saturday, September 7: Dungeons & Dragons, Evergreen, 2 – 4 pm
Monday, September 9: Maker Workshop: AI Dragon Tote Bags, Evergreen, 5 – 7 pm
Wednesday, September 11: Teen Time - Wood Art, Conifer, 4 – 5 pm
Thursday, September 12: Chess Lessons, Evergreen, 6 – 7:30 pm
Saturday, September 14: Teen Volunteer Hours, Evergreen, 12 – 3 pm (no registration required, teens may drop in and help anytime in that time window)
Saturday, September 28: teen volunteer opportunities for the Raise a Reader Festival at the Colorado Railroad Museum, 9 – 5 pm (volunteer application required)