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Updates and Events for the week of April 1-5, 2024
Dear Parents:
Please read all announcements below that may pertain to you. A look ahead to next week is at the end of the document. As always, if you have any questions or concerns for any of us, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Mrs. Berkemann
Mrs. Haar
Mrs. Kloeckner
Mrs. Ross
Mr. Brandmeyer
Mr. Bernhardt
State Testing:
Wesclin Middle School will be administering the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) Tuesday, April 9 through Monday, April 15. All students will be tested in Math and English/Language Arts. The 5th grade will be testing each of the days between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm. If at all possible, please avoid making appointments during these times. Any test sessions that are missed, will have to be made up. You can help your child prepare for the tests by making sure they get a good night’s rest, eat a healthy breakfast, and encourage them to do their best. If you have any questions regarding the tests, please contact your child’s homeroom teacher.
From Monday, April 22 through Wednesday, April 24, the 5th grade students will be taking the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA). The format and schedule will be similar to the IAR test.
Eclipse Permission Slip
On Monday, April 8, we will have an opportunity to view a partial solar eclipse at Wescllin Middle School. In order to view the eclipse outside on the football field, all students must have a signed permission slip. We have been provided with eclipse viewers from the SIUC Department of Physics that comply with ISO standards. Please sign and return the permission slip by Friday, April 5. Students that do not have a signed permission slip will not be able to view the eclipse outside. Students not participating will complete related activities inside.
Students in the Fifth Grade are invited to bring a beach towel or small blanket to use while viewing the eclipse. All activities will be weather dependent.
Eclipse Viewing Permission Slip
TJ’s Pizza Fundraiser:
The WMS Support Committee’s pizza fundraiser is now underway. Please sell the pizzas and desserts now through Wednesday, April 10. All order forms are due back by Thursday, April 11 with payment. Checks may be made payable to WMS Support Committee. There are gift card incentives students can earn for selling more items. Pickup or items is tentatively scheduled for Monday, April 29. Please help support all of the activities and materials the WMS Support Committee offers Wesclin Middle School.
Decorated Egg Contest:
The Honor Society is sponsoring a decorated egg contest. Students may bring in hard-boiled or hollowed out eggs. They are due Friday, April 5 by 8:15 am to Mrs. Emig. All eggs should be dropped off in Mrs. Emig’s room or the office! The eggs should be in some kind of container. (For example- a plastic margarine container for the eggs or shoebox) The container should be labeled with your name and the category you would like to compete in. You may NOT enter one egg in more than one category, but one student may enter different eggs in different categories. (Limit 3 eggs per student). All eggs must be school appropriate!
Decorated Egg categories include: Animals, Celebrity/Famous Person, Disney, Teachers/Staff, and Wesclin.
First place in each category will receive a DK Gift Card. Second place will receive Candy and Soda! Third place will receive a Free Homework Pass! All eggs will be entered in a “Best Overall” category! The “Best Overall” winners will receive an Easter Gift Basket of Goodies! Judging will be Friday, April 5th (afternoon).
Skate City Field Trip:
The fifth grade students will be attending a class field trip to Skate City, formerly FunSpot, in Belleville on Tuesday, April 30. Skate City staff will be conducting a STEM class about math, music, and skating. After the STEM activity, students will be able to free skate with the Skate City staff. During this event, students will have the option to purchase a cheese pizza and soda lunch or they may bring their own lunch. The cost of the field trip and bus fee is $14.50. If your child would like to purchase the pizza lunch, there will be an additional $5 fee. All purchased lunches must be pre-ordered. Please fill out the permission slip that was sent home and return it as soon as possible. If the fee creates a financial hardship, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s homeroom teacher or the school office so arrangements can be made. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Girls’ Basketball Camp:
Coach Ben Crawford and the high school girls varsity basketball team will be hosting a basketball camp for girls in grades 3-8. The camp will be held on Monday, June 3 through Wednesday, June 5. Students in grades 3-5 will attend from 9:00 am to 10:30 am, and students in grades 6-8 will attend from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm. To register, fill out the form sent that was sent home (extra are available in the office) or contact Coach Crawford at crawfordb@wesclin.org. Campers who register before May 17 will receive a T-shirt.
Anonymous Alerts:
Wesclin is offering students the use of a free app, Anonymous Alerts. The app is designed to allow users to notify school administrators of concerns they may see throughout the day. The concerns may be related to bullying, violence, drugs, alcohol, strange behaviors, etc. The app will be installed on the student’s Chromebooks. You can also download the app on personal devices by going to the App Store or Google Play. To start the app, enter wesclincusd as the activation code. You can also go online to send a report (https://tips.anonymous.com/wesclincusd). If you have any questions about the app, please contact Mr. Huels at huelsz@wesclin.org.
Yearbook Orders:
Yearbook orders for the 23-24 school year are now being taken. Packages start at $22.00. To order, go to https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/2712090/Wesclin-Middle-School/2024-Yearbook/20230829042653990102/CATALOG_SHOP/
Water Bottles and Snacks:
Students may bring a small snack to have after their 2nd Hour class each day. 2nd Hour ends at 9:43. If your child would like to bring a water bottle, he/she may keep it in his/her locker until snack time. WATER BOTTLES SHOULD CONTAIN WATER ONLY. Please be sure to take the bottle home each night to be cleaned. Snacks should be healthier snacks. Candy will not be considered an acceptable snack.
Warrior Wednesdays:
Each Wednesday has been designated as “Warrior Wednesday.” Be sure to show your school pride by wearing your Wesclin gear (no hats, please!). Students and their families are also encouraged to come out and support the various teams throughout the year. Go Warriors!
Class Website:
Feel free to visit the 5th grade website at https://www.wesclin.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/Middle%20School%7CTeacher%20Pages%3E%3E5th%20Grade for a variety of information including frequently used links, daily homework list, and contact information.
Upcoming Events
Thursday, March 28-Monday, April 1: Spring Break, No School
Friday, April 5: Popcorn Sales; Eclipse Permission Slips Due
Monday, April 8: Eclipse Day!
Tuesday, April 9 - Monday, April 15: IAR Testing
A Look at Next Week: April 1-5, 2024
Be sure to check the assignments for your child’s teacher in each subject...not just the homeroom teacher)
ELA Reading: Mystery Unit: The Case of the Messy Room
Skills Covered: details, main idea, inferences, text evidence
Figurative Language: Personification
Grammar Spotlight: Good and Well; Negatives
Literature Blocks: Ask your students about their novels!
Reading: Mrs. Kloeckner: Continue reading Skylark
Science
Mr. Brandmeyer: Lesson 9-1: Properties of Matter; Buoyancy Lab
Chapter 9 & 10 Vocabulary Review (Quizlet)
Be sure to check Google Classroom as many of the daily assignments and resources will be posted on a daily basis.
Math
Mrs. Haar, Mr. Bernhardt, and Mrs. Ross: Next week, we will continue and finish Unit 5: Algebraic Thinking and the Coordinate Plane - More Decimals and Fractions - Lesson 30 on Evaluating, Writing, and Interpreting Expressions. We will also begin Lesson 31 on Understanding the Coordinate Plane. We will continue to prep for IAR testing. Students will be responsible for completing their My Path lessons in class.
Mrs. Kloeckner: Measurement, perimeter, area
Social Studies
Mrs. Berkemann: We will begin a project on the Civil War. Please make sure your child has scissors, glue sticks, and colors (or markers). Enjoy your Spring Break.
Language Arts
Mrs. Kloeckner: Writing complete sentences,idioms, verb tenses