Skip To Main Content

Principal's Newsletter-August-September 2024

Dear Parents/Guardians,

In Dr. Giarrizzo’s welcome back letter titled #wildcatpride, he highlighted some examples of the pride we all feel for our school community, with student achievement always at the forefront.  We also pride ourselves on being a place that exemplifies respect, honor, and care for others.  The ultimate expression of this is when we see students take the lead and act as role models.  Middle school students never disappoint.  Each year we see remarkable examples of students extending kindness and compassion to one another.   

We discuss positive, safe, responsible, and respectful behavior expectations at our opening assemblies with students each year.  We explain that every student deserves a safe and supportive environment; one that they are comfortable in; one in which they can thrive as a learner.  We emphasize that every individual at Westlake Middle School has a role in shaping the environment by making responsible choices and working to understand the thoughts and feelings of others. Ultimately, we want our students to see the process of understanding thoughts, feelings, and perspectives as an opportunity to learn and grow.

As part of this process, we review the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA).  We discuss appropriate language and an awareness and sensitivity to language that can be considered discriminatory.  We also outline the difference between bullying and conflict and provide examples of each.  We discuss what each student can do to avoid and resolve conflict and be an upstander when others are mistreated.  For our newest families, those entering 6th Grade, you heard us talk about these topics at our orientation in May and we will continue that dialogue at our 6th Grade Parent Woo Hoo Welcome on September 10th at 7:00 p.m.  You will often hear us say if we all just talk about it with our children, we can help shape thinking and behavior.  We know that peer relationships, topics of differences between people, and bullying can become the most challenging parts of adolescence.  For these topics, we believe parents are the best teachers.  With this in mind, we ask that you please consider proactively talking about the ways students can do their part to contribute to a positive environment.  

Taking time to learn about, be aware of, understand, and respect differences

  • Middle school is a time when young adults are figuring out who they are and realizing that although we have a lot in common, there are some things that make us different.  Students are becoming more aware of differences and learning about differences that they did not realize or understand fully in elementary school.  Learning to respect differences in who we are and how we think supports a positive environment.  

Being aware of language that is offensive, discriminatory, and hurtful  

  • As students become more aware of differences, they are also learning language used to describe differences.  Some of this language can be offensive, discriminatory, and hurtful.  Proactive teaching about language will help students avoid using this language.  We ask that if you hear such language, you use it as a teachable moment.

Taking responsibility for actions

  • We all make mistakes.  If students do something that impacts someone else, they need to understand the impact so they can avoid repeating the behavior.  “I was just kidding” and “Other people do it too” are excuses we hope to extinguish.  It is also important to take time to recognize that accepting responsibility for doing something hurtful to others is not easy and is commendable.    

Respecting personal space 

  • As students move from childhood to young adulthood the simple understanding that we should not be physical with each other needs to be reinforced.  Physical behavior, playful or not, has no productive place in our learning environment.  Each year we help students understand that physical behavior that may take place among friends or on athletic fields, cannot occur in classrooms, hallways, and at recess.

Being an ‘upstander’  

  • The simple act of laughing at someone who is being teased can amplify the negative behavior.  Similarly, the simple act of walking away, telling a person to stop, or telling an adult, can diminish or extinguish a negative behavior.  Talk with your child about what they can do to remove themselves from negative situations and stand up for those who are targets of negative behavior.

In his letter, Dr. Giarrizzo challenged everyone to choose kindness.  A learning environment that exemplifies respect, honor, and care for others, is one in which learners will thrive and take on the opportunities and challenges that education has to offer.  We look forward to challenging students to become high-level problem solvers, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders of tomorrow.  We wish everyone a positive, productive, and powerful 2024 - 2025 school year and we are excited to welcome back all of our students next week.

Anthony Mungioli
Principal-WMS