Westwood Middle School

⚽🌪️ GAME WEEK is HERE, Whirlwinds!

It’s time to kick off soccer season! 💚🔥

Join us as our teams hit the road for their first games of the year:

📍 March 2 @ 4PM – vs. Bishop (Away)

📍 March 4 @ 4PM – vs. High Springs (Away)

Let’s show up loud and proud! 💚🌪️

#WestwoodMiddle #WhirlwindPride

📲 Stay Connected!

Follow Westwood for updates and highlights:
Instagram & X: @WestwoodMS_ACPS
Facebook: Westwood Middle School & Westwood Middle PTA

📚✨ From Book to Real Life! ✨📚

Ms. Millisor’s 6th grade reading classes recently finished Holes — and brought the story off the page and into the classroom!

After reading about onions in the novel, students got curious and decided to try raw onions for themselves. 🧅😄

The reactions were priceless, the laughs were loud, and thankfully… mints were ready to save the day! 🌿😂

That’s what we call hands-on learning! 💚

#WestwoodStrong #LearningInAction

#6thGrade #HandsOnLearning #HolesNovel

🌍💚 International Family Night: Stronger Together 🌪️

Join us as we celebrate the cultures, connections, and community that make Westwood shine!

📅 February 26

⏰ 5:30–7:30 PM

📍 Multipurpose Room

✨ Enjoy performances, games, Passport to Fun, and food trucks

🎟️ Free admission (some food items available for purchase)

Bring the whole family and celebrate with us — we can’t wait to see you there! 💚🌍

👉 Follow us on Facebook & Instagram for event highlights, photos, and updates from International Family Night and all things Westwood.

#StrongerTogether #InternationalFamilyNight #WestwoodMiddle #Whirlwinds 💚🌪️

🎶🔥 WESTWOOD BAND BROUGHT THE HEAT AT MPA! 🔥🎶

Our students took the stage at the Music Performance Assessment (MPA) and earned ALL SUPERIOR RATINGS! 🏆✨

Solos? Superior.

Duets? Superior.

Sax Quintet? Superior.

Under the leadership of Band Director Mr. David Dixson, our musicians showcased their hard work, talent, and dedication. 🎷🎺🎶

Hard work + talent + confidence = BIG WIN for Westwood!

We are so proud of these incredible students for representing with excellence! 💚🤍🌪️

#WestwoodBand #WestwoodWins #MPA #AllSuperior#BandExcellence #WestwoodProud #AlachuaCountyPublicSchools

We’re excited to host the ACCPTA General Meeting at Westwood Middle School! 🌪️
📅 February 23, 2026
⏰ 6:00–7:30 PM
Everyone is welcome—come connect and learn more about PTA work across our county!

👉 Click for more information: Alachua County Council of PTAs's Post

As we continue celebrating Black History Month at Westwood Middle School 🖤

Today's Student Spotlight features M. Rockwell 💚🌪️

Her project highlights Lewis Latimer, an inventor and engineer whose work helped improve the light bulb and advance technology. 💡✨

🎥 Click the link to watch her video presentation.
https://animoto.com/play/UCmE0fBpOQiR6xQ4JGD0Ew

#BlackHistoryMonth #WestwoodMiddle #StudentSpotlight #Whirlwinds

How a Bill Becomes a Law… Westwood Style! 🇺🇸📜

Students recently explored the legislative branch by participating in a hands-on simulation of how a bill becomes a law. The class was divided into the House of Representatives and the Senate, where each “member of Congress” created and presented a bill to their respective chamber for debate and a vote.

Each chamber ultimately passed one bill, which was then sent to the other body for consideration. After further debate, one bill emerged from Congress and was sent to the President. Following careful deliberation, President Burney vetoed the bill. Congress attempted to override the veto but was unable to secure the required two-thirds vote in both houses, so the veto stood.

Students did an excellent job engaging in the process and had a lot of fun bringing civics to life. One of the highlights was the surprise arrival of the “President,” played by Mr. Burney. The bill selected for final consideration was written by Jackson Ibanez, who is pictured holding his bill.

ACPS Families & Staff — We Want Your Input!

Alachua County Public Schools is hosting a community sessions to review DRAFT school boundary maps and share feedback.

What’s available now?

9 interactive draft maps (elementary, middle, and high school)

Enter your address to see how each proposed map could impact you

View the full session schedule & explore the maps:

alachuaschools.net/ourschoolsfutureready

Questions or feedback?

Email us at acpsfutureready@alachuaschools.net

This is your chance to learn, explore, and help shape the future of our schools. We hope to see you there!

As we continue celebrating Black History Month at Westwood Middle School 🖤

This week’s Student Spotlight features Lyla Fair, 6th grade 💚🌪️

Her project highlights Claudette Colvin, a brave civil rights pioneer who stood up for justice at just 15 years old.

🎥 Click the link to watch her video presentation.

https://animoto.com/play/1YaDaOw5bJcBd1z8nfr6rQ

#BlackHistoryMonth #WestwoodMiddle #StudentSpotlight #Whirlwinds

📅 Reminder: No school on Monday for #PresidentsDay! 🇺🇸

Fun fact: The White House was burned in 1814 during the War of 1812, forcing President James Madison to move out. But did you know there’s one U.S. president who never lived in the White House? 🤔 👀

🏀✨ Friday Night Rewind ✨🏀

We’re throwing it back to Monday’s 8th Grade Honor celebration! 💚🌪️

Boys & girls basketball brought the highlights, the hustle, and the heart — and our cheerleaders kept the energy high all night long! 📣🔥

🎬 Don’t miss it — click the link to watch! bit.ly/3ODPctg

We are so proud of our 8th graders and the legacy they leave behind. Once a Whirlwind, always a Whirlwind! 💚🏀

#FridayNightRewind #WhirlwindPride

As we continue celebrating Black History Month at Westwood Middle School 🖤

This week’s Student Spotlight features Roxanna, 6th grade 💚🌪️

Her project highlights Mary McLeod Bethune, an inspiring educator and leader who believed in the power of education to uplift communities 📚✨

🎥 Click the link to watch her video presentation.
https://animoto.com/play/byJRfm0R5xWWMXVB9GTe9w

#BlackHistoryMonth #WestwoodMiddle #StudentSpotlight #Whirlwinds

Good morning,

Just a quick reminder, families 💚

Students will be off on Friday, February 13 and Monday, February 16.

Feb. 13 is a Student/Teacher Holiday and Feb. 16 is Presidents’ Day.

Enjoy the long weekend, Whirlwinds! 🌪️

🎭✨ Our Jr. Thespians Made Us Proud in Orlando! ✨🎭

Our talented troupe traveled to the State Festival and brought home amazing results! 💚🌪️

🏆 Superior Ratings:
✨ Annique – Solo Musical
✨ Annique & Garrison – Duet Musical
✨ Cora, Alma & Kyleigh – Ensemble Acting

🏅 Excellent Ratings:
✨ Garrison – Solo Musical
✨ Kyleigh – Solo Musical
✨ Laila, Naomi & Kathryn – Group Pantomime
✨ Laila, Naomi, Kathryn, Eliana & Danielle – Ensemble Acting
✨ Adalynn & Sofia – Improvisation

We are so proud of each of these students for their courage, preparation, and performance on stage! 👏🎬

Huge thank you to Mrs. Hewitt for leading and supporting our Jr. Thespians every step of the way. 💚

#WestwoodMiddle #Whirlwinds #JrThespians #StateFestival 🎭✨

Westwood Families,

As we approach Valentine’s Day, we wanted to ask that families please not have deliveries of candy, food, flowers, balloons or other holiday items sent to school.  As per our policy, we will not be sending any delivered items to classrooms and not calling into classrooms during the school day for students to pick up deliveries. Westwood knows you love your children and we love them as well.  We appreciate your understanding of this policy and hope that you have a wonderful week.