Westport Mission & Vision
Mission: Leverage the strengths of the Westport community to ensure academic growth for ALL!
Vision: Westport will be a venue for academic success!
Westport’s Collective Commitments: Our Team will:
Make decisions which are student-centered and aligned to our WHY!
Be present to model consistent processes and expectations!
Leverage learning opportunities to increase instructional minutes!
Presume positive intent in order to maintain positive mindsets!
Click On
Reminder to pay attention to the clickable links to the right and along the top. As we continue to add sections making the BLOG a one-stop-shop for all Westport information. We still have several sections UNDER CONSTRUCTION…This means the link may be there, but there is nothing to see yet.
Key Spots for the Start of the Month:
Cooperative Learning Corner
Westport Social Committee
Instructional Coaches
Monthly Instructional Highlights
Staff & Student Spotlight
Social Committee
PBIS Lessons located in PBIS (ELEM) - ACTION REQUIRED
Attendance Information
Key Spots for the Start of the Week:
Week at a Glance - WAAG
Must Do/May Do
Nurses Notes - Please review the illness information.
Counselors Notes
Elementary Events Page
AMI Updates
As we prepare for potential inclement weather, we have received a request for clarity about teacher responsibilities on AMI Days. While students in grades K-12 have one more snow day available before an AMI Day is necessary, the following details outline expectations for when an AMI Day is declared.
Connecting with families on days when school is canceled will help ensure that Alternative Method of Instruction (AMI) Days provide a successful learning experience. As a teacher, you play a critical role in communicating with parents and reminding them of the expectations on an AMI Day.
A printed copy of the AMI packet was provided to families in December for students in grades PreK-8.
All AMI resources are also posted at sps.org/AMI.
When an AMI Day is implemented for students, please take the following steps to support parents and students throughout the day:
At 8 a.m., please communicate the learning expectations and assignment for the day via Seesaw/Remind/Canvas (depending on your grade level/content area) with a reminder to return the completed work to school the next day school is in session.
At noon, send an email/Seesaw/Remind/Canvas message to remind students and parents that you are available to answer any questions they may have.
At 3 p.m., send an email/Seesaw/Remind/Canvas message about the assignments that should have been completed and a reminder that if the work is not done and turned in, the student will be counted absent for the day.
*Please Note: As you receive communication from students or families throughout the day, please be available to respond.
Thank you for supporting our families by maintaining consistency and clearly communicating on AMI Days. If you have any questions, please let me know.
School-Wide Celebration
DESE Bottom 5% Release
I again want to say a HUGE AWESOME JOB to the whole Westport Team in the celebration of Westport MS being released from the Bottom 5% measure from DESE. This shows how impactful every move we make can have a positive impact on our students' growth. I am sooo proud to work with this amazing group of teachers and your deep dedication to our students and families.
Candy Gram Success:
Let’s all join in thanking Mrs. Foster for an incredibly successful Candy Gram fundraiser that benefitted the Social Committee! Mrs. Foster sold over 300 candy grams and made over $900 in profit, which was used to purchase Valentine's Day treats for teachers and will also go towards Teacher Appreciation Week gifts.
A huge thank you to Mrs. Foster for her hard work and dedication!
ALSO, stay tuned for spring bunny gram fundraising information 🙂
School-Wide Attendance
Attendance Challenge: Updated dates!
Action Required:
Teachers, please ensure you request a substitute for the dates of your trip (school business). We estimate that only half of the class will attend, and we will combine classes if numbers permit.
If you haven't already, send permission slips home with ALL students. While we won’t know the final list of attendees until the end of the week, having all permission slips returned is essential in case we need them.
MS Teachers: Please send the permission slips home with your 8th-hour students.
You will receive trip group assignments from your AP at the end of the week. Per The Discovery Center guidelines, trip groups must consist of 1 adult for every 5 students.
Westport Cleaning
Disinfectant Procedures - Last week we communicated a need for staff to frequently spray, clean surfaces within their classroom to ensure we are disinfecting surfaces as our community deals with illness. Please continue these practices throughout the illness seasons, so we can continue to protect ourselves and others.
Additionally, the custodial team will begin disinfecting Westport using a stronger sanitary spray, QT5. They will be applying the solution with a misting gun to all high-contact surfaces, including door handles, seating and tables, restrooms, and any sleeping areas, focus rooms, and serving lines for Nutrition Services. Please note that this spray will not be used on any food or drink items.
Parental Contact
Please REMEMBER!!!!
Any illness or medical concerns MUST come from SCHOOL NURSES. Many parents are upset that students are being marked elective absent when picking up their children because the nurses have not even assessed them for illness.
We are having an increase in the number of parent pick-ups when not medically needed or a miscommunication between nurses and parents. Due to this, we cannot monitor illnesses, speak to parents regarding symptoms, or keep accurate logs.
Before referring students for minor behavior, call/text/email parents to enlist their support and help with improving the behavior.
Please share in your Parent Communications:
Please share out with students frequently and in your Seesaw & Remind App communications.
ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARBOOKS on sale now! 🧡🐯💙
ELE Link to order: https://www.yearbookforever.com/school-store/vpq1M33fyab5BAGwpetMQS90
MS Link to order: https://www.yearbookforever.com/school-store/3m7jr6X9FBdImyTYY0wNx1Rv
Memory Book Ad Purchases:
Own a business, or know someone who owns a business and would like to buy an advertisement in the elementary AND/or middle school school memory book? Please share the information below!
Friday 2/21: Middle School Dance
Spring Parent Involvement Night:
Save the Date! On March 13th, from 4-6pm, we will be hosting our first-ever Art in the Park event! The event will take place around the Westport Track, and our goal is to showcase the incredible artwork created by Westport students, as well as highlight various forms of artistic expression from within our community.
Sign up for an activity at Art in the Park [here].
Additionally, please remember to log your Parent Involvement Night attendance [here].
ITEMS NEEDED: if anyone has a pop-up tent that they are willing to let us use for the evening of the event please let Mrs. Ross or Dr. Mitchell know! Example:
Ozarks Food Harvest FOOD FIGHT FOOD DRIVE:
This event will be sponsored by Coach C and his Young Men Empowerment Club.
GOAL: The goal is to raise awareness about hunger and support our community, while gathering food and funds for Ozarks Food Harvest.
DONATIONS: Donations can be either non-perishable food items or monetary contributions.
DATES: February 28th- March 13
Bins in the commons to collect food items and a bin in the office for monetary donations.
Important: Please track how much your class (MS 1st Hour) has donated HERE, as there will be a PRIZE for the class that brings in the most donations!
To celebrate the end of the drive, Coach C and his group will have a booth at Art in the Park.
Please share this event via SeeSaw and Remind, and encourage your students to participate. Coach C and his group will be sending flyers home with students this week.
Teach Forward - MARCH 14
All SPS-certified staff members will participate in 2 hours of professional learning on Friday, March 14.
Please make note of the location and plan to arrive at your session for an 8 AM or 12:45 PM start. With sessions spread out across the district to accommodate enrollments, plan to bring your own drink(s), snacks, and a charged device.
Please register for your designated Teach Forward session in Kickup and bring your Unit 7/8 Teacher Manual (TRS) to the session.
Teach Forward-March 14, 2025 - Martha Doennig
The Teach Forward catalog is now available. Questions regarding how sessions will run on March 14? Feel free to reach out to the Professional Learning team.
Read to Succeed
Read to Succeed: February Read to Succeed Literacy Tool Kits:
District Curriculum Updates
Elementary Curriculum Updates - Jenny Talburt February Curriculum Updates with your coaches and teachers!
Westport MAP Test Prep
LINK - Follow this link to review grade level specific Test Preparation processes.
Canvas Grade Passback Support
Robin Robertson, Application Trainer, has created Knowledge Base Articles and videos to support teachers with the use of Canvas Grade PassBack.
You can find these resources here: Canvas Grade PassBack Help
Please share with your staff and reach out to Robin with any individual site support needs.
25-26 School Year Planning
Elementary Specials Grams Information:
Specials teachers will be tracking daily progress for each class, using a rating of 3, 2, or 1 based on classroom behavior. The goal is to earn 5 threes within 3 weeks!
You can view your class's progress [here]
FYI: Upcoming Events
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