We are so excited to have Ms. Taylor join the West Middle School community for the remainder of the school year.
Ms. Taylor is a veteran leader with over 40 years of experience in education and recently served as the interim principal at Andover High School during the 2023-24 school year.
Ms. Taylor is a retired principal of Beverly High School, having served in the role for eight years. She holds a BA in English from Regis College, a Masters in Theatre Education from Emerson College and a Masters in Education from Salem State University. Ms. Taylor has served in various roles including teacher, summer school director, and director of teacher-mentor programming. Prior to her tenure as principal, she served as assistant principal at Beverly High School for ten years.
Please join us in welcoming Ms. Taylor to our wonderful WMS community!
Our second round of MAP testing will take place between 1/10 and 1/24. We complete MAP testing three times per year to assess student learning. Students will take MAP tests in Reading and Math. If you would like a copy of your student's report, please contact your child's ELA and Math teacher.
Our 8th grade has been selected to take part in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessment this year. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)—a congressionally mandated large-scale assessment administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)—consists of print and digital assessments in various subject areas. The Nation’s Report Card provides results on student performance based on gender, race/ethnicity, public or nonpublic school, teacher experience, and hundreds of other factors.
On February 3rd, fifty 8th grade students will be taking the Reading or Math assessment.
Letters went home to students who have been randomly selected to take either assessment. If you did not receive a letter, your student was not selected.
* The deadline to opt out of the assessment is January 17th *
More details about the NAEP can be found in the link below. ⏬
This year, our district is engaging in a comprehensive review of our existing literacy practices. The goal of this work is to improve our system so that we can effectively support teachers and families in the hard work of guiding ALL students to success.
To help inform our strategy, we want to learn more about your experience with materials and assessments through your engagement through a brief, anonymous survey accessed here:bit.ly/APSfamily. Please complete one survey per household.
We hope to have all feedback completed by January 10th. Thank you!
The new Steps 4 Success Club is the perfect place for students to stay on top of their schoolwork! Held every Monday afternoon from 3–4 PM in the Cafeteria at West Middle School, this supportive program helps students complete assignments, stay organized, and develop effective study skills with a group of high school volunteers.
Teachers and high school volunteers are on hand to provide guidance and answer questions, ensuring students get the help they need. Snacks will be provided!
