Westridge Warriors Weekly - Week of November 2, 2026

Hello Westridge Students, Families, and Community Members,

Welcome to Week 13! Can you believe we are already this far into the school year? The second quarter is moving right along, and our Warriors continue to learn, grow, compete, and represent our school in so many different ways!

By now, the excitement of a new school year has settled, and we are in the part of the year where consistency really matters.

It's easy to work hard when everything is new and exciting. The real challenge is continuing to give your best effort, even when things get difficult, the work gets harder, or you simply don't feel like it. Keep showing up. Keep putting in the work. The results will follow! 

It's time to show some Warrior spirit because VOLLEYBALL SEASON IS HERE!

Our student-athletes are hitting the court, working together, building their skills, and representing Westridge!

We are excited to watch our Warriors compete this season, but remember, being part of a team is about much more than winning games. It's about teamwork, communication, perseverance, and learning how to support one another, even when things don't go exactly as planned. Let's show our volleyball players some love this season! Come out, cheer them on, and help us bring that Warrior energy! And to our athletes—play hard, support your teammates, and make us proud!

We are several weeks into the second quarter, and now is a great time to check in on academic progress.

Students, here's a question for you:

There's a difference! Giving your best doesn't mean getting every answer correct or earning an A on every assignment. It means paying attention, participating, completing your work, asking questions, and continuing to try when something is difficult.

Families, encourage your child to check their grades and have a conversation about how things are going.

Remember, the effort you put in today makes a difference in the opportunities you have tomorrow.

Our six Houses continue to build their identities, and we love seeing students showing pride in their teams! Sparta. Athena. Leonidas. Centurion. Guerrero. Valiente.

Six Houses. One Warrior Family! Remember, you don't have to wait for a big competition to represent your House. Show leadership in the classroom. Encourage someone. Participate in school activities. Make positive choices. And don't forget—a little friendly competition makes things more fun!

Warriors, we are continuing to track tardies, and getting to class on time remains an expectation.

Think about it this way: When you show up late to practice, you miss the warm-up. When you show up late to a game, you may miss the first play.

The same thing happens in the classroom! When you're late, you miss the beginning of instruction, important directions, and opportunities to get started on the right foot.

Let's keep working toward being in class, on time, and ready to learn!

Middle school comes with friendships, disagreements, and sometimes a little more drama than we need. 

Here's something important to remember:

Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is walk away, ignore a negative comment, or choose not to get involved in a situation that has nothing to do with you.

Being respectful doesn't mean you let people treat you poorly. It means you know how to handle difficult situations without making them worse.

Let's continue working together to make Westridge a place where students feel safe, supported, and valued.

Think about something you struggled with at the beginning of the school year. Maybe it was finding your classes, understanding a difficult subject, making friends, or trying something new. Now, think about how much you've grown since then.

You didn't get better because everything was easy. You got better because you kept trying!

This week, I'm challenging every Warrior to push through one thing that feels difficult.

Maybe it's an assignment you don't understand.

Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep representing your House. And keep showing that Warrior PRIDE!

November 10 – SAC at 5:00 PM-6:00 PM - Math Academic Night 6:00 PM-7:00 PM

November 18 - Multicultural Night 5:00 PM-7:00 PM

November 19 - Teach in 1st period; Connectivity Day 7th period

November 23 – Nov 27 – Fall Break/Thanksgiving Break

December 1 – Chorus Concert 6:30-7:30PM

December 3 – PM 2 ELA; Band Concert 6:30 PM-7:30 PM

December 10 – PM 2 Math

December 15-16 - CFE

December 17 – Orchestra Concert 6:30 PM-7:30 PM

December 21-January 4 – Winter Break

January 5 – Students return

We want to remind everyone about the importance of regular attendance. Being on time and present not only supports your academic success but also fosters a sense of community. Let’s strive for a strong start by making every school day count!

Car riders please make sure to follow the carline and not allow your student to walk through traffic. Safety needs to be our number one priority.

Students should not be on campus prior to 8:45 AM. If you need to drop off prior to 8:45 AM, please register your student for the YMCA Before School Program. Information can be found here. In addition, the first period begins at 9:30 AM.  

Wanting a Parent/Teacher conference? Reach out to your students' guidance counselor.

6th Grade - Chelsee Crawford Chelsee.Crawford@ocps.net

7th Grade –Shannon Folsom Shannon.Folsom@ocps.net

8th Grade – Valerie Cope Valerie.Cope@ocps.net

Athletic paperwork and physicals must be completed and properly uploaded in Aktivate. Volleyball practices will be conducted every day for approximately 1.5 – 2 hours after dismissal time. Athletes are expected to attend all of the practices unless they have arranged with the coach otherwise. Athletes are required to have and maintain a 2.0 average and exhibit leadership and good behavior to be considered and remain on any Westridge sports team. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact the following: 

Athletic Director - Shawnette Johnson

Parents need to opt IN to clinic services. This means that unless you have completed the health forms we will not be able to assist your student in the clinic. Health forms can be completed digitally on Skyward Family Access or you can fill out the forms and turn them into the main office. Those forms can be found below.  

Please make sure all-important parent/guardian information is up-to-date in skyward. 

Volunteers must re-register each year through the image link below.

See information about the Parent Square platform and links to social media.