Westland MS - Feedback

[Anonymous]

The discussion above is from 2022.
How about now in 2024? With the new Principal. Phone policy, academics, school vibes?

[Anonymous]

Didn't the school have a bus related issue this year?

[Anonymous]

Try talking to your neighbors to see what they can share and y'all compare notes.

[Anonymous]

Two assistant principals are leaving/retiring. New principal wants to bring in new blood?

Kids cannot have backpacks in the classrooms anymore.

Otherwise, things seem fine/the same (have a DC in 8th grade).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two assistant principals are leaving/retiring. New principal wants to bring in new blood?

Kids cannot have backpacks in the classrooms anymore.

Otherwise, things seem fine/the same (have a DC in 8th grade).

No backpacks in the class is common for MCPS MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The discussion above is from 2022.
How about now in 2024? With the new Principal. Phone policy, academics, school vibes?

New principal is only 1 week into the school year. Too soon to tell. Phone policy is "no phones during the school day." This has been communicated clearly to parents and kids--not sure how strictly this is enforced but my kid has their phone in their locker from 9-3 as required. Classes are pretty crowded 28-34 kids is common, but that's typical across MoCo I believe. Teachers seem good. Lunch period can be chaotic with kids throwing food and limited supervision by staff (a few staff members for hundreds of kids).

[Anonymous]

Beyond having a new principal, Westland just hired away one of Pyle’s longtime APs, so a lot of change there this year. Pyle’s principal recently announced he will be on medical leave until January, and they will have two new APs this year. And the retired WJ principal is filling in as AP for the AP who is stepping up to be interim principal this year. That should help a lot. North Bethesda also has had AP turnover in recent years, but the principal has been the same, so it may be steadier there than at the other places. They’ll all have the same curriculum tho and none will be particularly rigorous because thats just not how mcps middle schools are structured. I’d choose based on where you find a home, the rest is too hard to guess.

[Anonymous]

Any thoughts on getting the most out of English instruction? I know that's a MoCo-wide issue and not a middle school specific issue, but my kid is so bored with the pace of "Advanced" English since there's no differentiation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts on getting the most out of English instruction? I know that's a MoCo-wide issue and not a middle school specific issue, but my kid is so bored with the pace of "Advanced" English since there's no differentiation.

-said every MCPS MS parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts on getting the most out of English instruction? I know that's a MoCo-wide issue and not a middle school specific issue, but my kid is so bored with the pace of "Advanced" English since there's no differentiation.

At the very least push for them to add enriched novel studies for students who are above grade level.

[Anonymous]

Watch out for the new AP, she’s a piece of work!

[Anonymous]

The one at Westland or the one at Pyle?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The one at Westland or the one at Pyle?

The one at Westland. She’s from Pyle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The one at Westland or the one at Pyle?

The one at Westland. She’s from Pyle.

In what way? As in eccentric?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Watch out for the new AP, she’s a piece of work!

Name please? The staff directory may not have been updated, but it lists as APs:
a former principal who is acting (Tsonis)
a former SSIMS principal (Bryant)
a former WJHS AP (Tucker)