West Ridge Reflections
February 15, 2018
West Ridge Middle School
MESSAGE FROM INTERIM PRINCIPAL ROBIN LOWE
Good evening parents,
Are you getting a little weary of all this drizzly weather? I certainly am! With the dismal weather conditions comes a tendency to stay inside more than usual. What are your kids doing during this time inside? Are they holed up in their rooms watching You Tube or are they on social media? Perhaps online gaming is more their style. Whatever the device, stop and take the time to monitor their online use.
We talk all the time about the safety risks of being online - predators, cyberbullying, etc. But when do we stop and consider the health concerns associated with being on a device nonstop? There have been numerous studies regarding the impact of staying on an electronic device (whether it is texting, gaming, etc) and a decline in a person's social skills. Adolescence is a critical time for building social skills and learning how to navigate the world. Tweeners don't need something that can prevent them from developing those crucial skills. When is the last time you had a real conversation with your child? Or played cards or a board game? Or ate dinner together with no personal devices allowed?
We know that there are kids (and adults!) addicted to their devices. This is a very real problem, but fortunately, there are some very real solutions.
1. Take away your child's device at a given time each evening. Do not allow them to use their cell phone as an alarm - buy them a wind-up. All devices should be with you at night (including game controllers).
2. Allocate time each week to having genuine conversations with each other. Dinner together, games, etc where you hold conversations and devices are not allowed.
3. Model the behavior you expect from your kids. If you are on your device all the time, then this is what your child will consider normal.
I know it is hard to hold the line with your kids. No one likes to be the mean parent, but the bottom line is that we are the parents and they are just kids. If we don't parent, who will?
Have a wonderful weekend!!
Robin
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WILDCAT CLUB NEWS
February 23rd: 6th Grade Medieval Fest
HEAR YE! HEAR YE!!
ALAS!! Medieval Fest is almost upon us!
As part of the 6th Grade Medieval History study unit, participation is mandatory. Students and volunteers are highly encouraged to dress up in authentic costumes. See below for costume resources/ideas.
WE STILL NEED A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS! This event is possible ONLY because of the amazing volunteers that organize and run the whole show. CLICK HERE or below to volunteer.
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Need Costume Ideas & Resources?
LUCY IN DISGUISE COSTUME RENTAL PROMO:
10% off 1-day costume rental or get a weekly rental for the full daily rate. Must mention "West Ridge Medieval Fest" before rental is rung up! https://www.lucyindisguise.com
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Our Mardi Gras Teacher Appreciation Luncheon is on Wednesday, February 21 and we still need volunteers to help with setting up and cleaning up!
Click HERE to sign up! We appreciate your help and we appreciate our teachers and staff!
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It's a great day to be a Wildcat!
Aimee Cunningham & Suzanne Newhouse
WRMS Wildcat Club Co-Presidents
Don't Want to Miss a Thing This Year at WRMS?
Join the Wildcat Club on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wildcatclub
COUNSELORS' CORNER
GRADE LEVEL TRANSITION INFO
Click below to see transition and course scheduling information by grade level.
EEF
Image: Dan Siegel, author, Unlocking the Adolescent Brain
YEARBOOK
Yearbook Ordering Deadline is FRIDAY, 2/23/2018!
Skip the end-of-the-school-year stress of hearing
"Mom!, Dad! ... you didn't order me a yearbook!"
Ordering is quick, online, and secure.
8th GRADE PANORAMIC PICTURE !
Goldbeck Co. will be here Monday, March 5th at 8:45am to take the annual 8th Grade Panoramic Picture! It's a special collectible that can be purchased the following day (Tuesday, March 6th, during lunch). More details to come!
UIL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! (parents & students)
Our Academic UIL meets will be hosted by EANES ISD. We need volunteers on Wednesday March 21 @ West Ridge MS (Writing and Math) and Saturday March 24 @ Hill Country MS (ALL other events).
Please sign up to help monitor and/or join the hospitality team! We're using SignUp.com.
Middle School students needing service hours have opportunities to help too!
Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
1. CLICK HERE to see our SignUp on SignUp.com.
2. Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
3. Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on SignUp.com.
Note: SignUp.com does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact Angel Bethke (abethke@eanesisd.net) who can help you sign you up manually.
STUDENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - BCE CARNIVAL
WRMS & WHS students can earn service hours volunteering at the BCE Carnival on Saturday, March 3rd!
CLICK HERE to sign up!
iPad REPAIR REMINDER
Just a friendly reminder to please send your children to the iPad Help Desk if you notice their iPads are cracked/broken or if they don't have a protective sleeve.
There have been incidents in which students were cut by broken glass. We provide cases and protective sleeves to help avoid damage.
Your help is greatly appreciated and will make a positive impact on the sustainability of the program and also on student safety.
Thank you!
LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY - NJHS Fundraiser
Our annual fundraising campaign on behalf of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is well underway.
We are over halfway to our goal of $10,000 and KNOW WE CAN DO IT!!!!!
You should have received a link to donate through your student's Wildcat Time class (WCT). You may have already heard that the winning WCT will get a free Olive Garden lunch!!!
Bake sales, hot chocolate sales, and fun events will continue for the next 2 weeks, all raising money to help fight blood cancers!
Thank you for supporting LLS and for partnering with us to teach your kids the value of helping others and giving back!
6th Grader Jack B comes closest so far in making the shot in the Lucky Shot Competition sponsored by Ms. Stary's Wildcat Time class to raise money for our LLS fundraising campaign.
DISTRICT NEWS
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DISTRICT FLYERS
SCHOOL CALENDAR
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WEST RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL
9201 Scenic Bluff Drive, Austin, Texas 78733
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