WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL         ANNOUNCEMENTS                       11/4/14

Today is a GOLD Day!

Upcoming events and dates to remember:

Nov. 5 and 6 – 8th Grade Testing ACT APIRE (see below)

Nov. 6 – Middle School Math Curriculum Parent Information Meeting at 5:30-6:15 at 2900 Mulberry.

Nov. 11 – Veterans program

Nov. 26 – 2 hour early dismissal

Nov. 28 – NO SCHOOL

ACT ASPIRE

On Nov. 5^th and 6^th all 8^th graders will be taking the ACT Aspire Test. It is a digital, longitudinal assessment to connect student performance from elementary grades through high school. The students will take 4 tests. English, Math, Reading and Science and they will all be 30 minutes long. On Nov. 5^th last names beginning with A-K will take the test and on Nov. 6^th L-Z will take the test. We will do 2 tests in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. This is another piece of data that will help us schedule your child into high school classes. Please remind your child to have their laptop charged for their testing date. Like all standardized tests, make sure they go to bed at an appropriate time and eat breakfast at school or home the morning of the test.

Thanks – WMS Guidance Office

Math Curriculum Meeting.

In an effort to keep our parents informed, both West and Central Middle School will hold a parent information night on Thursday, November 6th at our district central office at 2900 Mulberry Ave. The meeting will focus primarily on our math curriculum.

As our new math curriculum requires greater focus by teachers and a deeper knowledge by students than our previous curriculum, students will need to display an understanding of these concepts and not just memorize answers. They will have to accurately select the best mathematical concept or equation to solve real-world problems and demonstrate why the method or equation they selected is accurate.

Come and get a feel for what this looks like in the classroom and what strategies and experiences your students are being exposed to during our Math Curriculum Night, this Thursday November 6th at 5:30 at the Muscatine School District Administrative Center.

Stop by the main office for information for the Muscatine Parks and Rec 2014 Girl’s Basketball Clinic featuring the MHS Girl’s Basketball Team. All girls in grades 1^st through 6^th are invited to participate. Cost is $25.00 for residents and $30.00 for non-residents. Deadline to register is November 7^th.

The Muskie Band’s annual nut fundraiser is underway!

The Koeze nuts – cashews, mixed nuts, puddles (turtles), chocolate dipped cherries and blueberries – make great holiday gifts for family and friends, grab bags, and wonderful treats for yourself!

If you’d like to place an order, call 299-0019 or talk to any of the Muscatine High School band students.  The band’s “nut house” is open on Tuesday evenings (6-7:30 pm) and Saturdays (10 am-noon) for walk-in purchases.  The nut house is located at 1700 Park Ave (southwest corner of the Vision Center PC building). Nuts are also available, starting Oct. 14, at O’Donnell Ace Hardware, 1420 Park Ave., during their regular store hours. Our last day is Dec. 20; don’t delay – we’ll have a very limited selection the last two weeks. Order nuts now for Thanksgiving weekend or just to munch on yourself. If you need a gift for a co-worker, boss, pastor,  friend, client, or Aunt Matilda, Koeze nuts make great presents! Funds raised go toward music, instrument purchases and repairs, uniforms, band camp section instructors, marching show-related expenses (props, transportation), honor band registrations, summer music camps, etc. Thank you for your consideration.

For your convenience all athletic and activity events can now be found on the WMS calendar.  This one stop convenient calendar will make it easy for staff, students and parents to access dates and times for all activities. Just click on the “School Calendar” tab at the top right.

The Attendance Office has purple NIKE athletic bags for sale for $30.00. Stop by to take a look.

If you have any questions or if your child will not be at school for any reason, you can e-mail me at krista.hartman@mcsdonline.org or you can call 563-263-0411 anytime after 7:30 a.m.

LUNCH TODAY: Taco Meat & Cheese w/ Tortilla Chips or Breaded Chicken Sandwich

11/5/14: BBQ Pork Rib Sandwich