Our PTSO has put together some new swag for this school year. It's been a few years since we have had a fresh look so check it out online. Order from your computer or phone with the option to have it shipped directly to your house.

 

Let's get ready for our Homecoming later this fall by having as many people as possible swagged out in our new line of West Wear!

We are committed to letting kids learn free from distractions. All students will get a Yondr pouch as they enter the building on Tuesday. Phones are to be locked in these pouches everyday with students holding onto their pouch.

Please review the arrival and dismissal procedures in the PowerPoint below. There are not any significant changes from last year, but please remember that Bowling Entry is for busses only. All car drop offs should occur from the Elmington side of the building.

Thank you

Parents,

 

We want to provide a few reminders regarding morning and afternoon car riders.

 

Car Riders (morning & dismissal):

• Students being transported to/from school via personal motor vehicle will unload/load in the semi-circle drive located off Elmington Drive directly behind the New Gym.

• Students dropped off in the morning should EXIT FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE for student safety. Remember, you are dropping your child off in the right lane and vehicles are moving in the left lane to exit. This occurs for morning car riders only.
• If your child has items to remove/unload from your vehicle, please park in a parking space to avoid backing up traffic behind you.

• Car riders should be picked up and dropped off in the car rider lane. If your child is picked up or dropped off in any other location, please know that students are unsupervised and there is no adult supervision off campus. This also applies to students who are dropped off before 8:40 a.m.

 

The safety of your student(s) is our utmost concern, and we appreciate your understanding these procedures to ensure safety.

Review the online Student-Parent Handbook and submit your responses to requested permissions using our Online Permissions Portal. It is important to submit your permission responses, as some activities/courses require parent/guardian permission before a student can participate.

Student laptops will be assigned and distributed throughout the first week of school for students who have turned in a signed West End technology contract. Technology contracts will be in the first day folders.

Students must have an Opt-in signed from parents in order to receive a computer. This is very important as the MNPS computers have all the applications and programs that student's need for school. Additionally, schools are not responsible for personal devices. Please feel free to complete all the MNPS required forms online. The link is below.

We want everyone to stay hydrated! Refillable water bottles containing water only will be allowed in classes throughout the day. Please refrain from bringing/adding flavor packets or drops. Spills with added flavorings can add additional clean up and can leave residue that attracts bugs.

This year we are updating our outside food/drink policy. All food/drink must be consumed in the cafeteria. This extends to outside food or drink brought in by students in the morning. If your child brings Starbucks, a breakfast sandwich, or even a protein bar, they must report to the cafeteria until they are ready to go to the classroom and focus on learning. In addition, no food or drink will be allowed into the building for late arrivals. If you are arriving late, please eat before you come. Thank you for your understanding as we are trying to increase engagement and reduce distractions as we begin our day.

An updated Tennessee Immunization Certificate with proof of one additional immunization is required when entering 7th grade. Immunizations are available from your child’s doctor. They may also be available through the Metro Public Health Department if your child has TennCare, no insurance or insurance that does not pay for vaccines. Providing the school with the required updated TN Immunization certificate before school begins will ensure a smooth transition to 7th grade when school starts August 8th.

 

MPHD has put our immunization clinic dates/times/locations on their public site: https://teamup.com/ksi7pgrxr7gpvmyc32

There will be an open gym for invited 7th & 8th graders, all incoming 6th graders, and new 7th and 8th grade students who could not attend tryouts at the end of the school year. You must have an up-to-date sports physical to participate in tryouts and open gym!

Open Gym will be on Monday the 7th from 4:00-5:30 pm.

 

The tryout informational meeting will be on the first day of school, August 8th, from 4:00-5:30. After the informational meeting is over, the kiddos will be allowed to practice until 5:30.

 

Tryouts will be WEDNESDAY, the 9th, from 4:00-5:45 pm.

Remember, tryouts will be for all new 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students and for the kiddos who received a paper invite at the end of tryouts last year.

Practice will officially begin Thursday, August 10th from 4:00-5:30 PM.

If you have any questions, please contact me at [email protected]

During the year, we can accept your student into the building as early as 8:40am. However, if you need to drop them off earlier than that, please make sure you arrange this with our Before and Aftercare provider WEXP.

They have plans and options to serve your needs.

West End Extended Program (WEXP) - Home (westendxp.org)

If your student will ride the bus, check our Transportation webpage for bus route information, available starting July 28. Be sure to check the site before the first day of school as route times are subject to change as new students enroll and are added to routes.

We had a wonderful Blue Jay Beginnings and Schedule pick-up this past week. All students will recieve a hardcopy of their schedule as they are directed to the correct rooms to start the day on Tuesday. Some schedules may have changed as we try to balance class sizes as much as possible before the year starts.

Come to Open House to see what your students have been getting prepared for over the first week of school. Have a chance to briefly meet your teachers and see what a day in their lives is like! There will be a short meeting with Principal Stephens in the Auditorium prior to releasing families to tour the school led by their own student who already knows the grounds.

Future Blue Jays,

Are you interested in music? Have you considered the band program at West End? Check out the attached PowerPoint for information on how you can get signed up for the 2023-2024 band program today!

West End Beginning Band Registration 2023-24 (google.com)

West End offers a wide variety of clubs-everything from Ultimate Frisbee to Dungeons and Dragons. BUT there’s always space for more offerings. Don’t see a club that you think your child would love? We invite you to help get it started and we invite anyone in the West End Community to share their talents. Crochet, crafts, croquet, musical instruments, cooking, book club, chess, magic tricks…whatever. Come share your talents with our community. Feeling a little unsure of how to get started?

 

Please contact Jeff Middlebrooks at [email protected] for next steps on how to get your club idea going.

Although we as a staff will be meeting to finalize small adjustments to our rules and expectations in late July, we are confident that the basics of our dress code will remain the same. There will be no Standardized School Attire (SSA) at West End. However, we do ask that students have their bodies covered in an appropriate manner. Below is our dress code policy from 2022-2023 that we expect will remain unchanged for the following year:

 

Dress Code

The purpose of the dress code is to allow students to be able to engage in school feeling comfortable while also maintaining an appropriate level of professionalism. Students are to keep the main portion of their body covered at all times while at school. Since there are many varieties of body types, there is no perfect way to define this explicitly in words. This may be described as from the top of the torso to midthigh. Please view the graphic for the area to remain covered.

Dress code will be monitored each morning by teachers and/or any staff member that recognizes a student is out of dress code. Teachers/Staff will monitor throughout the day and correct students any time a violation is observed. This dress code was developed with a concern for modesty, safety, and the general good order of the school.

1. Any text or imagery on the clothing must adhere to the school expectations for appropriate content. Clothes that have words or saying that are profane, sexually suggestive or that promote drugs, tobacco, alcohol, violence, racism, or sexism are prohibited. Sleepwear or pajamas are not permitted as school attire and should not be worn to school. Blankets are not permitted at school due to safety reasons.

2. Crop tops are not permitted. All students must have entire torsos covered.

3. No visible under garments.

4. Large backpacks and winter coats are not allowed in classrooms, must be placed in lockers.

5. Head coverings/ bandanas/ are not permitted on head in the building (except for religious and cultural purposes). Bandanas around the arm, neck, wrist, or sticking out of pockets, etc. are not allowed anytime in the school building. Hoodies and hats may not be worn on the head inside the building.

Parents should verify children are dressed according to school policy by reading/reviewing West End School Parent/Student Handbook

Informational meeting Thursday, August 10 at 4:15 in the Library

 

Youth Ultimate Nashville is pleased to announce that a West End Middle School Ultimate Frisbee team will be forming this fall.

Practices will be held two times per week at Elmington Park directly after school and practices will begin the first week of school. Please email Jeff Middlebrooks if your child is interested at [email protected].

What to be fully prepared for day one? Check out our suggested supply list as you gather items for the year. If you have any trouble getting items, please reach out as there are many school partners who can assist with student supplies.

 

School Supply List

· 3 ring binder with 5 dividers

· Loose leaf wide-ruled notebook paper (2 packs)

· Pencils

· Highlighters

· 6 composition notebooks

· Ear buds (wired only)

Email: [email protected]
Website: https://westend.mnps.org/
Location: 3529 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN, USA
Phone: 615-298-8425
Twitter: @westendmiddle