FAQ
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How do I put money in my student's lunch account?
Student meals can be purchased through the SchoolCafe app. You can find additional information here: /Page/2483
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How do I find my way around?
There is a "Jump Start" day for 6th Graders on Tuesday, August 30th to give students time for guided tours, small group instruction, and time to get acquainted with the school building, teachers, and their classmates. 6th Graders will arrive at 9:15 AM on Tuesday, August 30th. All students (6th, 7th, and 8th Grades) will come to school at 9:15 AM on Wednesday, August 31st. All students will have opportunities to practice their schedule, go to their classes, practice lunch routines, find their lockers, and learn about safety and school expectations.
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When does the school year start?
For the 2022-23 school year, ½ûÂþÌìÌà begin Tuesday, Aug 30th (for 6th graders only) and Wednesday, Aug 31st (all grades). District calendars for the full year can be viewed here.
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How do I contact the school?
West Sylvan Main Office: 503.916.5690 (8:00-4:30)
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Our family is new; how do we enroll to attend West Sylvan?
Your first option is to stop by the main office and pick-up the forms and speak with the administrative assistants about procedures. Your second option is to download the forms off of the ½ûÂþÌìÌà website. Additionally, you will need to bring two documents proving residency (i.e. lease agreement, mortgage papers, a utility bill, etc.), passport or birth certificate for proof of age and immunization records for the students being registered.
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Can we get a guided tour?
Guided tours are not available currently, due to our building only being open to "essential visitors." We will be sharing a video tour of the building with families until our in-person tours resume. Tours for in-district transfers and incoming 5th graders are conducted during our open houses in late August and late Spring.
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How do students get to and from school?
Ninety-five percent of our students travel to school via school busses. Families are also welcome to carpool and self-transport. Please plan ahead for traffic delays when driving your scholars to campus. Information about the Transportation Department can be accessed at: /Page/115
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How do I volunteer?
There are a lot of opportunities for parents to share their talents and gifts within our school community. One way is to volunteer through the . Currently, we are not allowing volunteers in classrooms for health and safety reasons. If you wish to volunteer at a later date, once allowable, please complete all necessary forms through ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ. All volunteers need to have a ½ûÂþÌìÌà volunteer background check completed. Follow this link: /Page/149
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What is the dress code?
Appropriate dress contributes to a positive learning environment. Board Policy 4.30.012 provides: "Atire or grooming depicting or advocating violence, criminal activity, use of alcohol or drugs, pornography, or hate speech are phohinited." All ½ûÂþÌìÌà students are expectred to comply with the requirements of this policy. Specifically:
- Clothing may not depict, advertise or advocate the use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or other controlled substances.
- Clothing may no depict pornography, nudity or sexual acts.
- Clothing may not use or depict hate speech targeting froups based on race, ethnicity, gener, sexual orientaion, gener identity, religious affliliation or nay other protected classification.
- Clothing, including gang identifiers, must not pose a threat to the health or safety of any other student or staff.
- Enforcement must accommodate clothing worn by students as an expression of sincerely held religious beliefs (head scarves, for example) and worn by students with disabilities (protective helmets, for example)
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Who do I contact when I feel my student needs additional academic or social support?
If the problem is in a particular class, please feel free to contact that teacher directly (see Staff emails). There are grade-specific Counselors who are happy to provide additional support to students and families. Ricky Almeida (6th Grade) ralmeida@pps.net, Kandice Abney (7th Grade) kaabney@pps.net, Rebecca Cohen (8th Grade) rcohen@pps.net.
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Who do I contact if I believe my son/daughter or one of their friends is engaging in risky behavior?
Middle school can be a very difficult time of transition. Many students and their families find themselves facing new social development challenges as well as identity and self-concept growth. If you suspect that your child, or one of their friends, is engaging in behavior that puts them (or others) at risk, please contact the school counselors. They are here to offer support and guidance as well as to advocate on your behalf in seeking out additional resources. You can find their email contact information on the general staff listing.
-
How do I put money in my student's lunch account?
Student meals can be purchased through the SchoolCafe app. You can find additional information here: /Page/2483How do I find my way around?
There is a "Jump Start" day for 6th Graders in August of each year to give students time for guided tours, small group instruction, and time to get acquainted with the school building, teachers, and their classmates. During JumpStart, all students will have opportunities to practice their schedule, go to their classes, practice lunch routines, find their lockers, and learn about safety and school expectations. For Scholars who enter school after August the School Counselor will help your Scholar acclimate to campus.
When does the school year start?
For the 2022-23 school year, ½ûÂþÌìÌà begin Tuesday, Aug 30th (for 6th graders only) and Wednesday, Aug 31st (all grades). District calendars for the full year can be viewed here.
How do I contact the school?
West Sylvan Main Office: 503.916.5690 (8:00 AM - 4:30 PM)
Our family is new; how do we enroll to attend West Sylvan?
Your first option is to stop by the Main Office and pick-up the forms and speak with the Administrative Assistants about procedures. Your second option is to download the forms off of the ½ûÂþÌìÌà website. Additionally, you will need to bring two documents proving residency (i.e. lease agreement, mortgage papers, a utility bill, etc.), passport or birth certificate for proof of age and immunization records for the Scholars being registered. If your Scholar speaks another language than English as their primary language, there will be some additional placement testing for English Language supports.
Can we get a guided tour?
Guided tours are not available currently. There is a video tour of the building on our website. Tours for in-district transfers and incoming 5th graders are conducted during our open houses in late August and late Spring.
How do students get to and from school?
Ninety-five percent of our students travel to school via school buses. Families are also welcome to carpool and self-transport. Please plan ahead for traffic delays when driving your Scholars to campus. Information about the Transportation Department can be accessed at: /Page/115.
How do I volunteer?
There are a lot of opportunities for parents to share their talents and gifts within our school community. One way is to volunteer through the . We welcome all ½ûÂþÌìÌà approved volunteers to join us throughout the day to help in the main office, the Library or to supervise lunch periods. All volunteers need to have a ½ûÂþÌìÌà volunteer background check completed. Follow this link: /Page/149
What is the dress code?
Appropriate dress contributes to a positive learning environment. Board Policy 4.30.012 provides: "Atire or grooming depicting or advocating violence, criminal activity, use of alcohol or drugs, pornography, or hate speech are phohinited." All ½ûÂþÌìÌà students are expectred to comply with the requirements of this policy. Specifically:- Clothing may not depict, advertise or advocate the use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or other controlled substances.
- Clothing may not depict pornography, nudity or sexual acts.
- Clothing may not use or depict hate speech targeting groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation or any other protected classification.
- Clothing, including gang identifiers, must not pose a threat to the health or safety of any other student or staff.
- Enforcement must accommodate clothing worn by students as an expression of sincerely held religious beliefs (head scarves, for example) and worn by students with disabilities (protective helmets, for example)
Who do I contact when I feel my student needs additional academic or social support?
If the problem is in a particular class, please feel free to contact that teacher directly (see Staff emails). There are grade-specific Counselors who are happy to provide additional support to students and families. Ricky Almeida (6th Grade) ralmeida@pps.net, Kandice Abney (7th Grade) kaabney@pps.net, Rebecca Cohen (8th Grade) rcohen@pps.net.Who do I contact if I believe my son/daughter or one of their friends is engaging in risky behavior?
Middle school can be a very difficult time of transition. Many students and their families find themselves facing new social development challenges as well as identity and self-concept growth. If you suspect that your child, or one of their friends, is engaging in behavior that puts them (or others) at risk, please contact the grade-level School Counselor. They are here to offer support and guidance as well as to advocate on your behalf in seeking out additional resources. You can find their email contact information on the general staff listing.