August 23, 2021
TOPICS: Schedules, ParentVue, Video Tour, AVID, Adviosry, Communicty Project Day
Good Afternoon West Sylvan Families,
We look forward to seeing your scholars on September 1st! Our 6th and 7th graders arrive by 9:15 a.m., and our 8th grade Wolves have a late start at 11:15 that morning.
We need to add one new update from our health guidelines. Today, August 24th, the decision to require masks for all students and staff while OUTDOORS will be mandated when school begins on September 1. This means that previously communicated items about oudoor lunchtime allowing for unmasking, are no longer an option. Wolves will be eating outdoors at lunch, as long as weather permits, and masks will be worn when not eating.
SCHEDULES:
Schedules are now open for you and your scholar to review on ParentVue, as we prepare to start school on September 1st. We have worked hard to place Wolves into their core classes and electives that were shared on surveys, so please know that adjustments to schedules will be limited to errors in scheduling. Please use the following form link, to share errors that may be in your scholar’s schedule. Please DO NOT call the office for schedule changes, unless you are unable to access the following form. Thank you!
Schedule Change Request Form
Possible examples of schedule adjustments might include:
Misplacements in Math? Per PPS direction, all 6th graders are placed in common core math. 7th and 8th grade scholars who need math adjustments should indicate this error on this form.
Misplacements in World Language ? West Sylvan is only able to support Spanish and French this year. For 7th and 8th grade, if you were in Mandarin or Arabic last year, you may have been placed in French or Spanish, to meet our MYP requirement. Also, a good number of 8th grade scholars took Arabic in 7th grade and will be offered an opportunity to take Arabic at Lincoln HS during their first period, with a special schedule. This offer applies to any 8th grade scholar, so please indicate this in your form, to make arrangements. Spaces are still available!
Overlapping classes ? If you have classes that appear to overlap, please let us know. Some overlapping classes are purposeful, such as: Health/Dance, Band/PE-Health, or World Language/PE-Health, depending on your elective requests. Please let us know if you have questions about the timing of overlapping classes.
Missing classes from schedule? Scholars have eight periods in their schedule, including lunch and advisory. If you appear to be missing a period in your day, or your schedule looks incomplete, let us know.
Courses don't reflect plans from Spring? Some scholars have special arrangements made in Spring. If your schedule does not reflect your arrangement, please let us know.
Is your scholar on an IEP? Case managers will be reviewing these schedules and making necessary adjustments including electives and study skills classes.
Other? - Please indicate any other concerns you may have about your scholar’s schedule in this space.
Schedule Change Request Form
TROUBLESHOOTING PARENTVUE:
If you are not able to access ParentVue, please try the following link first, before contacting our main office. ParentVue support. If the resources on this page do not work, please reach out to our office staff, Ms. Crombie, for assistance. kcrombie@pps.net
VIDEO TOUR of WEST SYLVAN
While we did not get a chance to do our usual school tours due to current safety precautions with large group gatherings, please enjoy this short video as an initial chance to see our lovely school and hear the answers to a few questions scholars and parents may have for when we return.
Video Tour and Information Video
AVID virtual info night on Wednesday, August 25th, at 7:00pm
West Sylvan uses AVID teaching strategies school-wide, but also supports grade level AVID courses. AVID participants typically gain additional support for university admissions and maintain a 100% college acceptance rate. The AVID strategies build strong learning habits for scholars over the middle and high school grades. If you would like more information about our AVID program or you would like to see if this elective course might benefit your child, please join the information night this Wednesday. Spaces are still available for each grade level!
It will be virtual and the code is wsmsavid in Google Meet.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1HpRdPI2evqM9ReoD6QE6LY7S9y7uJilFFiDH6WSNP6A/edit?usp=sharing
Advisory Classes
This year you will notice an 8th period in your scholar's day. We are fortunate to be part of a district Middle School Design project, with Advisory as a part of our focus, to support community building and soft skills in learning. Classes will be held each Wednesday in the morning, for half an hour. Each scholar will have an advisory teacher, that is a teacher they have for at least one period in the year.
Project Community Care
This Saturday, August 28 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. please join us to beautify our outdoor areas of campus! All information for volunteers can be found here. We ask that volunteers bring any tools/equipment they may want to use to help in the efforts.
Again, we look forward to a successful start of our year and hope this information is helpful in your planning!
Your Administration team,
Dr. Jill Hunt
Ms. Evening Krauel
Mr. Ben Keller
AVID 
