School Policies and Procedures are established at every school to improve local systems and processes and to ensure the safety of our students, employees and visitors.

In order to assist you in learning about the policies and procedures at Westwood Middle School, we are including a list of frequently asked questions from parents to our front office staff. It is our goal for our school website and the Parent/Student Handbook to be a resource for answering your questions. We will continue to add questions/answers as necessary.

Q: I need to speak to my child’s teacher. Can I come in early one morning and go to the classroom?
A: Mornings are busy times for our teachers as they are preparing for the school day, so please call the front desk at 352-955-6718 to schedule an appointment. All of our meetings are in the mornings at 8:20am. 

Q: How do I get my child’s teacher email address?
A: All school employees have the same ending to their email address: @gm.sbac.edu. Email addresses are listed on our Faculty and Staff page.

Q: My child has a 3:00 dentist appointment. Can I check her out at 2:30?
A: Yes, you can check you child out at anytime, you must present a picture ID. Remember to send in a doctor note so your child's absence will be excused. There are no checkouts after 3:00pm. 

Q: My child usually rides the bus home but I need him to be a car rider today. Can I call or send an email to make that change?
A: Yes, call the front desk 352-955-6718 and we will deliver a note to your student with the changes.

Q:I need my child to ride another child's bus, what is the procedure?
A:A note must be sent in to the front desk before school starts with your child's name, the name of the other child, a valid phone number for the parent and the date. We will then call you to confirm the note. Without confirmation they WILL NOT be allowed to ride the bus.

Q: I want to visit my child’s classroom. Do I need to check in the front office first?
A: Unexpected visitors can be disruptive to the learning environment, therefore we ask that you refrain from visiting the classroom unless you have made arrangements with the teacher. If arrangements are made, you will check in the front office for a visitor pass before proceeding to the classroom.

 Q:Can I have food delivered to the school for my child?
A:NO, any food delivered to the school will be turned away.

Q:What do I do if my child is absent?
A:Write a note for your child's absence. The student will give the note to his/her first period teacher. Students are responsible for asking teachers for work missed in each class upon their return to school. If you know your child will be missing multiple days, you can call the school and request work missed so it can be completed while the child is out.

Q:Does attendance count in Middle School?
A:Yes. Students are allowed 6 parent notes per semester and unlimited doctor notes. Once a student earns 5 unexcused absences truancy proceedings start. This begins with a letter home, then an education planning team meeting, and then if the issue is not resolved it moves to court proceedings with the parent and student appearing before a judge. 

Q:Is behavior and academics a condition for field trips and events on campus?
A:For all field trips and events on campus where a student is missing class, behavior and academics are a condition. Students must be passing their classes in order to participate. Each trip will have a specific behavior policy that must be adhere to by the student. 

Q:How early can I drop my student off at school and how late can they stay on campus?
A: 8:00am. Students must sit on the front benches until they are let into the multipurpose room at 8am.

Q:Does WMS serve breakfast and lunch?
A:Breakfast is served from 8:15am to 9:10am each morning.  All our students receive free breakfast and lunch.