~ View full 2023-24 District Calendar here ~

September 16, 2023

Greetings, West Sylvan Families!

Go Wolfpack!

Jill Hunt, Principal
Ben Keller, Assistant Principal

Greetings West Sylvan 6th grade families,

We are excited to be able to begin providing you with some information regarding this year’s 6th Grade week at Outdoor School. This well established tradition is often the highlight of a student’s year and really helps our classroom communities to come together in unity. All of the 6th grade Block and Science teachers will be attending camp with various students and are excited for this opportunity. Here are some important dates and things to be aware of. 

This week, Block students were given ODS (Outdoor School) forms. Block teachers went over the forms with their students and highlighted important information and places where their grown ups will need to. Please complete these forms and return them to your student’s Block teacher by September 15. 

In Math classes, current 7th grade students who attended ODS last year will come to briefly answer questions students might have about the ODS experience. 

On Wednesday, September 13, representatives from each of the camp sites that we will be attending were here to talk to students and answer any questions about what students can expect at Outdoor School. 

Thursday, September 14, there is an optional, virtual family information meeting at 6:30 PM. Interested adults wishing to attending can use this information:

To join the video meeting, click this link: https://meet.google.com/pxu-ztxa-gpj

Otherwise, to join by phone, dial +1 470-273-8883 and enter this PIN: 707 924 989#
To view more phone numbers, click this link: https://tel.meet/pxu-ztxa-gpj?hs=5

Friday, September 15, forms are due back to WSMS. These forms help make sure our campsites are prepared to receive our students and meet their various needs. Additionally, no student can attend camp unless these forms are completed. 

Sunday, September 17, there will be in-person and virtual Open Houses that are specific to your student’s site. Please refer to the materials sent home to find directions on how to attend. 

I feel confident that your questions and concerns will be addressed through the handouts that come home or through one of the many ways that have been provided for you to get information. You can always find even more information on the ODS website, https://www.mesdoutdoorschool.org

~ Student schedules are now available for viewing
in ParentVUE and/or StudentVUE ~

Please keep the following things in mind when reviewing your schedule:

• All schedule conflicts or changes need to be communicated using the linked Google form below.  Your responses will be reviewed by the Administration team and Counselors.
  DO NOT EMAIL OR PHONE FOR COURSE CHANGES. You will be directed to the Google form. 

  • COURSE CONFLICT COMMUNICATION FORM
    In the form you will be able to inquire or request:

    • Other conflicts
    • Missing or unneeded services IEP, ELL, AVID
    • Extra PE
    • Band, Dance, Choir 
    • Math and World Language placements
       

• We now offer Choir.  Please review the following link to meet our new Choir teacher, Kaya Hellman.  Choir Introduction Video

• Due to staffing changes, we were not able to offer some electives that were forecast for, notably 'Yearbook', 'Speech and Debate,' and availability to some Tech classes. 

• You may have been placed in an elective that you did not choose based on CORE CLASS requirements and class sizes.  We CANNOT change these electives at this time, but you may complete the form request and Counselors may reach out to you AFTER school has started, if a class becomes available.

• 6th Graders are required to take two quarters of a PE course - 1 standard PE and 1 Exercise Class. Complete the form if you would like to take more PE this year.

• Advanced Math, Arabic, and Mandarin classes will be held at Lincoln High School. If you forecast for these classes, they should already be in your schedule.  Administration will reach out to you to communicate about how the daily schedule works.

If you are not able to log in to the ParentVUE and/or StudentVUE applications, please refer to the information on the PPS website at this link and then contact the West Sylvan Main Office at westsylvanoffice@pps.net. 

Thank you and welcome to the 2023-2024 school year!
Dr. Jill Hunt and Mr. Ben Keller

As our WSMS families prepare for the new school year,
please review our list of suggested supplies from our Educator team.
Some items are grade or subject specific.

Families who need assistance with supplies can contact
their Scholar's School Counselor, by grade level:

6th Grade: Rebecca Cohen rcohen@pps.net
7th Grade: Ricky Almeida ralmeida@pps.net
8th Grade: Kandice Abney kaabney@pps.net

Help your Scholar prepare for the start of school by practicing using a padlock so that opening their locker will be easier and more familiar.

 Quick Reference:

Today was disappointing – for us but, most importantly, for our students and families. The Portland Association of Teachers offered no counter proposals – and yet declared impasse.

Today, we offered compromises that would both reward our educators and further our students’ success. We were able to raise our compensation offer substantially. We are not there yet, but we are committed to the hard work of finding common ground.

Today, we started the state-led mediation process with one priority: our children’s success. We offered compromises that would keep that vision at the heart of our work – and maintained our position on proposals that would negatively impact students.

On behalf of the Board of Education and district leaders at PPS, our best wishes for a positive and joyful start to your school year!

Forecasting for next year 2023-24 has been extended through to MAY 12th.  Please carefully review all resources below before forecasting in StudentVue.  Thank you!

General Resource Links:

• Information about MYP (Middle Years Program) - Programming and course requirements
• Example Daily Class Schedules 
• AVID Information - Fill out this FORM if you are interested or want more information about AVID.
• Talented and Gifted information 
• Virtual Tour

Forecasting Process for Electives:

       STEP 1.  Resources and elective descriptions to review before completing forecasting: 

• Uprising 5th Graders review the following information:

  • General 6th Grade 

  • Spanish Immersion 6th Grade

• Current 6th Graders review the following information:

  • General 7th Grade

  • Spanish Immersion 7th Grade

• Current 7th Graders review the following information:

  • General 8th Grade

  • Spanish Immersion 8th Grade

• WATCH - "How to Forecast" Video

• 6th Grade Elective Video Descriptions   - (Please be aware that we do not have a current video, and this video may not represent all of our updated course options.  Please refer to the electives list for the most current elective choices.)

       STEP 2. Understand how many electives to choose:

6th graders will choose:

• 1 PE experience 

• 2 Priority Electives

• 2 Alternative Electives

7th graders will choose:

• 1 PE experience 

• 1 World Language experience

• 2 Priority Electives

• 2 Alternative Electives

8th graders will choose:

• 1 PE experience 
• 1 World Language experience*
• 1 Priority Elective
• 2 Alternative Electives

• *(8th grade students who would like full year band or dance as an elective may opt out of the second half of their world language course, but will not be able to receive HS credit for W.L.  W.L. will be taken during the first semester.)
• STEP 3: Choosing Electives in StudentVue 

1. Watch Forecasting Video to see HOW to enter electives in StudentVue

2. Log into Student Vue.

3. Use the Course Request Tab on the left menu of choices to open elective options.

4. Make primary elective selections.

5. Make alternate elective choices.

6. Lock your selections.

• If you have completed your forecasting and have made a mistake, please complete the following form and we will reach out to you to make adjustments, if necessary. 
• I MADE A MISTAKE!!! link
• OUT of District/New Student Surveys   (Open next week - March 14-18)              

• Non-Feeder School 6th Grade Survey

• Non-Feeder School 7th Grade Survey

• Non-Feeder School 8th Grade Survey 

• Questions and Support 
• If you have specific questions about this process, or need technical support, please contact:
•  

• West Sylvan Main Office westsylvanoffice@pps.net

  • 503-916-5690

• Ben Keller  bkeller@pps.net

• Kandice Abney-8th Grade Counselor: kaabney@pps.net

• Rebecca Cohen-6th Grade Counselor: rcohen@pps.net

• Ricky Almeida-7th Grade Counselor: ralmeida@pps.net