About

Welcome to West Middle School!

Since 1962, West Middle School is proud to serve Plymouth-Canton Community Schools. The dedicated staff at West Middle School is committed to supporting your students and providing them with incredible learning experiences throughout middle school. We also know the importance of partnering with families, so we look forward to working together to ensure your student's success.

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Home of the Bulldogs!

44401 W. Ann Arbor Trail
Plymouth MI, 48170

Phone: (734) 416-7550
Fax: (734) 416-7548
Attendance 734-416-7550 #2

Cheri Steckel, Principal

Patrick Calzone, Assistant Principal

Frequently Requested Forms

Student Attendance / Late Arrivals

If your student will be absent, please call our attendance line at 734-416-7550, press 2.

Be prepared to give the following information:

Student Name
Student ID NUMBER
Grade
Date of Absence
Reason for absence including illness symptoms such as cough, fever, fatigue, nausea, etc.
A daytime phone number to verify the call

Please call the attendance line to report all absences and late arrivals by 8:15 AM. Unless we receive notification of your child's absence, your child will be marked unexcused.

You can report your student's absence using the MiStar Parent Connection

P-CCS has added the option for parents to report s student absence through the MiStar Parent Connection. Once you are logged into your account, a link to “Report Absence” will be available at the top of the screen.

The Report Absence link will open a screen for parents to complete. The parent checks the name of the student for whom any absence is being submitted. If the parent has multiple students, they will all be listed on this page and the parent will be able to select the student for whom the absence is being submitted. The parent also enters the applicable dates.

If the parent checks the “All Day” flag, attendance will be submitted for all periods on the dates provided. If the parent does not check the “All Day” flag, times must be entered, and attendance will be submitted for whichever periods meet during the time range. Please be aware that parents can submit absences two days prior and two days forward. Parents will need to contact the student’s school to report any extensive absences.

For step-by step instructions, please click on this link

Automated Parent Notification System (APNS)

Parents will be informed of student's unexcused absences at approximately 9:15 a.m. each day. In cases of extended absences, school personnel may require documentation to substantiate the reason for the absence. To avoid unnecessary calls, it is important to notify West Middle School about your child's absences prior to 8:15 a.m. on the day of the absence.

Student Class Assignments & Grade Resources

Class assignments, student grades and missing assignment information can be located using the MISTAR ParentConnection or through your student’s classroom Canvas Page. Accessing these resources will assist in keeping both you and your student current on the needs and expectations in each of their classes.

Both these sites are also a great resource for parents and students to access when a student is absent from school. Classroom assignments and many classroom handouts are available through Canvas. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with these tools.

Office Procedure for Dropping Off Items for Students

We would like to encourage parents to only drop off forgotten items that are absolutely necessary for your students' school day. When coming to the school, please ring the buzzer for the office, once inside the first set of doors (sally port) you will see a table to the right. Please fill out the student item drop off form on the table and place it with your student’s item. This form will give us the information we need to get a message to your student.

Our policy at West is to put a message up on our message board to let the student know there is an item in the office for them. Students know they are to check this board throughout the day. We also have a TV monitor located in the cafeteria that we post the student names on, letting them know to check the message board. The students are able to see this screen during breakfast and lunch times. Any student who has not picked up their message by 2:10 pm is called down over the PA system and given their message/item at that time. We have been using this system for over 20 years and it works well.

We do not interrupt class time to call a student down for an item. We hope you can understand that each time we interrupt a class, instruction time stops and this is an issue that we need to keep in mind for all our students.

Office Procedure for Picking Students Up Early from School

Please have your student bring a note or call the office on the day that they are leaving, letting us know the time and reason for leaving early, and also who will be picking them up. This must be a parent or guardian, or someone on their emergency contact list. If it is anyone other than the parent or guardian, we will call to confirm that the emergency contact has permission to pick up the student. If a person is not on your emergency contact list, they cannot pick up the student - no exceptions. You can always go into your MiStar Parent Portal and update your Emergency Contact List as needed.
Once you arrive to pick up your student, you will push the buzzer to enter the office and one of the secretaries will address you through the speaker. You will need to show your Drivers License, and then you will sign your student out on the sign out sheet on the table to your right. If you do not notify the office ahead of time and we are not expecting you, it will require extra time to locate your student.
When you are done signing out your student, you can return to your car. Please make sure you are pulled up to the curb and not parked in the parking lot. We will call the student out of class and send them out to the car.

Transportation

Change of Transportation Plan for your Student

Change of transportation messages must be called in to the office no later than 2:00 p.m. in order to ensure your student receives that message before the end of the school day.

2024-25 Transportation Information and Updates

The Durham School Services Mobile Bus Tracker App, which enables parents and guardians to view multiple stops on an assigned route, including the scheduled arrival time for each stop, is available now. BusZone (English) BusZone (Spanish)
- *Please note: When setting up your account, the District Access Code for PCCS is 4097PCCS. Make sure to use your student’s ROUTE number, not bus number when setting up your account.
For more information, view "A Simple Guide for Bus Riders"(PDF)
Route information is available in both the MiStar Student and Parent Portal.
If you have questions about Transportation or need a list of contacts, please visit the P-CCS Transportation page.

Riding Home on a Different Bus?

In order for a student to ride with another student both guardians must write a note containing the following information:

1. Both Students Names
2. What bus will be ridden.
3. Date
4. Guardian Signature

These noted must be brought to the main office before the end of lunch/recess for approval. Once approved, they student will give the noted to the bus driver.

Health & Wellness

School Pictures

Yearbook Purchases

Yearbooks are available at a discounted price of $30.00 until September 30th. After September 30th, the cost will go up to $35 and may be ordered online until May 1st. You may purchase the yearbook at schedule pick up with cash or check payable to P-CCS, or you may order online at: Yearbook Forever

By purchasing your yearbook online, you are able to PERSONALIZE the cover, order extra autograph supplements, and truly make the book your own. THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE BY ORDERING ONLINE!

IMPORTANT NOTE: When entering your child's information, in the "Homeroom Teacher" box, please type your student’s FIRST HOUR teacher's name. This is VERY important! If your student takes a class at the high school in the morning, type “Davies” in the spot.

Use of Office Telephones

Telephones in the offices are for school business. Due to the disruption caused, students will not be called from classes to take telephone calls. Only emergency messages will be given to students. Students will not be allowed to use these phones unless they are conducting school business or in the case of an emergency.

Arrangements regarding after-school activities need to be made before arriving at school.
If a student forgets their lunch, homework, musical instrument, or any other item they need for school and has called someone to bring it to school, it is their responsibility to check the message board outside the main office to see if it has arrived.
Please make sure your child’s name is clearly written on the item you are dropping off.
Please remember that student use of electronic devices upon arrival at school could result in disciplinary actions.

School Visitors

Student Images And Media Posting Opt-Out Form

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools has an opt-out policy for students and families who wish to not have their images used in school- and district-wide media, including the district website, district and school social media outlets, as well as external media outlets such as newspapers and online publications.

Please download and complete the form below if you wish to have your student(s) opt-out of the above uses. You can email the completed form to:

Mail: P-CCS Executive Director of Communications, 454 S. Harvey St., Plymouth, MI, 48170
In-Person Drop-Off: E.J. McClendon Educational Center, 454 S. Harvey St., Plymouth, MI 48170

P-CCS Student Images and Media Opt-Out Form (in PDF form)

Behavioral Expectations

Cell Phone/Electronic Devices (Middle School)

Please refer to the cell phone policy in the Student Handbook. Highlights of this policy are:

CELL PHONES/ELECTRONIC DEVICES (MIDDLE SCHOOL)

Cell phones and all mobile devices shall be turned off during the school day.
Cell phones and all mobile devices shall be kept in a student’s locker – not in clothing pockets or in pencil cases unless indicated differently by the building administration.
Cell phones and all mobile devices are not allowed to be used in locker rooms or restrooms at any time.
Cell phones may be used in a classroom when directed by the teacher and for academic purposes only.

If a student needs to make an emergency call during the day, they are to come up to the office.

Consequences and Family Communication:

Students using phones or electronic devices without authorization:

First offense: The student will be asked to surrender their phone to the teacher and can pick up the phone from the office at the end of the day.
Second offense: The student will be asked to surrender their phone to the teacher and can pick up the phone from the office at the end of the day. The student will also serve a lunch detention the following day.
Third offense: The student will meet with administration to create a personal electronics plan/contract. A parent or guardian will need to pick up the phone from the office.