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Portage Education Foundation

Portage Athletic Foundation


Welcome to Portage West!
Moving to new frontiers.

 

West Middle School is located in Portage, Michigan and serves about 690 students in grades six, seven and eight. West also serves as the Hearing Impaired middle school for Kalamazoo county.

Mission Statement

"The West Middle School community will offer students preparation for a lifetime of learning, enabling the student to meet life's challenges."

School News

Letter from the Principal: Mr. Killips has an important announcement for all of the friends and families of West Middle School. Please click here to read this announcement.

The May-June Newsletter is available online by clicking here. This issue contains information on the WMS awards program, the end of the year and a number of other important events.

7th Grade Students/Parents: Western Michigan University is pleased to offer a special summer science program for students going into the 8th grade next school year (2012/2013). Please click here for the informational flyer about this program.

8th Grade Michigan Adventure: Parents and students, the following links will provide you with the forms and information you need for the end of the year Michigan Adventure Trip.

Trip Parent Letter
Trip Permission Slip
Trip Medical Authorization

Athletic Physicals: Attention parents please note on your calendar that Northern High School will be hosting Athletic Physicals on Monday,  June 4th @ 6:00pm with a  cost of $30 and Central High School will be hosting Athletic Physicals on Thursday, May 17th @ 6:00pm with a cost of $30.   6th, 7th and 8th graders from West are welcome to get a physical.   Please make sure that you try to get your student an athletic physical this summer if you can to avoid any kind of situation during the school year where your student surprises you with needing one in order to participate in a sport.   Athletic physicals are good on or after April 15th of the current school year until the following April.  Mr. Helsom does not carry athletic physicals over from one school year to another.  When in doubt, please email him to confirm that your student has a physical on file for the current school year.  He can be reached at ghelsom@portageps.org

Physical Form

8th Grade Farewell: Parents, please use the following links for information about this year's 8th Grade Farewell.

Farewell Parent Letter
Farewell Parent Volunteer Form

World Language Proficiency Exam: Parents, please read the following letter about the World Language Proficiency Exam. Parent Letter

Posted 3-28-12, West Middle Pool Update:  The process of repairing the pool at West Middle School is underway.  The PPS Maintenance Department has begun work in preparation for the contractors who will be relining the drainage system.  Following completion of the drain line repair, the pool will be cleaned, filled, and tested.  We are hopeful that all the work can be accomplished and the pool can be brought back into service by May 1.  This repair will not change the current plans for the WMS intramural swimming program.

8th Grade Trip: Click here for information on the 8th Grade Michigan Adventure Trip.

Michigan Announces 2010-11 Schools “Beating the Odds”... click here to read the Michigan Department of Education release.

35 West Michigan schools 'beating odds': West Middle School is named in an article from WoodTV Channel 8 about the performance of local schools. Please click here to read the article.

Yearbook Ordering Form: Please click here for this year's yearbook flyer.

Pay to Participate Information: Please click here for information regarding the new Pay to Participate program for middle and high schools.

Free and Reduced Lunch Benefits: The following link provides information for parents on the new free and reduced meal benefit application process. Click here.

Curriculum Instruction Council – WMS Parent Representative – Brian Abbott

Please send e-mail with any comments, questions or concerns to:
abbottb@me.com

Student Lunch Account Balances

Portage Public Schools is pleased to announce a website where parents can now add money to their children’s food service accounts with a credit or debit card *. This site also provides balance/transaction information, allows you to place purchasing restrictions on your children’s account and transfers funds between your children’s account. SendMoneyToSchool.com provides access for all grade levels (K-12) and is part of the Meal Magic Food Service software program the district uses. The following link will provide you with information on how to setup your account. http://www.portageps.org/departments/foods/creditcard.aspx

Parents can travel directly to this service from the following link:
http://www.sendmoneytoschool.com/

* Please note there is a $1 convenience fee charged to your credit/debit card when placing money on your children’s account.

Help Student Leaders Get Cash For Your Trash! Student Leaders would like you to keep your eye out for the following recyclable items for empty inkjet cartridges and empty laser cartridges. West Middle School can earn cash for the used items you bring in. Just bring in your recyclables for donation to the media center or front office. This collection will be ongoing - we will collect items all year round. Help us get cash for your trash!

Support WMS When You Shop by taking advantage of the fund raising offers made by these businesses. Click here to see the list.

Handy Information including telephone numbers, class schedules and office hours can be found here. You'll need Acrobat to open it.

Safe Routes to School Initiative:
Walking & Biking Safely to School
Safe Walking & Biking Routes to West Middle

Quick Links

Find information fast using these links!