Goodbye to Our 8th Graders!

8th Grade Field Trip to Bainbridge Island’s Japanese American History Museum

By Kayla

On Tuesday the 8^th Graders went to Bainbridge Island to visit the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum and the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial.   They had the opportunity to speak with various docents that were either interned at the camps or had friends that had been interned at the camps.

The docents first took students through the Historical Museum and discussed important points on internment and their points of view on the situation. After this, each student was given a name tag of a Japanese American that was actually interned and were asked to research that person and write the most interesting thing the student learned about them on the back of the card.

After learning about their particular person, the docents and the 8^th Graders then met at the Japanese Exclusion Memorial where they walked the wall and found the name they had been given. To conclude the field trip, the docents shared stories of memories they had about the relocation or life in the camp. Overall, it was an amazing experience and a once in a lifetime opportunity. The 8^th graders truly enjoyed hearing from the docents about their experiences and perspectives. Hopefully the 7^th grade class will be able to experience and visit the museum next year.   

5th Grade Trip

by Carson

The fifth grade class went on a trip to Neah Bay to explore the beauty of the NW Coast and learn more about the culture of the Makahs.  The students went to the Makah Culture Museum where they got to see a whale skeleton and hear a story that was part of Makah culture.  Students also went on a backpacking trip to places like Cape Alava and slept at an elder center one night.

A lot of people said the trip was tons of fun, people especially liked going on the beach.  Here is what some students said about the trip.

Jacob- "It was fun."

Ethan- "It was good because we got to go to the beach." 
                                                
 Raymond- "My favorite part was going to Cape Alava and taking a nap."                            

Dena - "My favorite part was climbing on the rocks at low tide and falling in the water."

Elizabeth- "My favorite part was seeing sea lions."                                                           

Nathan- "My favorite part was that we got to sleep in the senior center instead of tents."         

 Cooper- "My favorite part was sleeping on the beach."                                                        

6th Grade Trip

Nathaniel and Hannah

Last week the sixth grade went to Dry Falls and Vantage. After a long car ride we arrived at Dry Falls. We explored the visitor center and set up our tents and after a great meal went to bed. However, after only being sleep a little while the wind picked up and we had to get up and make sure the tents didn't fall down. Eventually the tent poles broke. We had to take the tents down and move. We moved to a field by the bathrooms. At eleven o'clock we were settled into our sleeping bags. At one o'clock the sprinklers came on and soaked everything. We finally found a spot and got to sleep.

On Tuesday we packed up and went to Vantage. On the way there we went on a hike. However, Sidney hurt her knee and went to the hospital. For the rest of the day we played at a park.

On Wednesday we woke up in the new campsites in our replacement tents. We climbed for the first time on the trip. Some groups hiked to the sand dunes while others went to a waterfall. For lunch we had the same lunch we had every day of the trip, bread. After lunch we continued our activities including private journaling in the canyon.

Thursday was like Wednesday except we hiked to Never Never Land and we also repelled. Repelling is when you start at the top of a cliff and lower yourself to the bottom.

On Friday we packed up camp and went home. On the way we stopped at the Ginkgo Petrified Forest to look at the petrified wood. We arrived at Westside School at 3:00. All and all the trip was really fun and successful. Even the sprinklers were kind of fun.

7th Grade Trip

BY: Henry and Nate

Westside's 7th grade trip was very successful. We went to Eastern Oregon to go rafting on the Grande Ronde river. The drive there was 8 
hours, and when we finally arrived we played capture the flag. The second day we met our 5 river guides and we had brief instructions and then we were on our way down the river. The rapids we went on were a class 1-2 rapids, overall the river was mild and calm. Each night the class indulged on some amazing food made by the river guides.

We had a lot of fun and everyone bonded together. We also played chicken where somebody gets on another person's back and they battle another chicken. We also wrote in journals talking about what we did in the day.  

If you asked any 7th grader what their favorite trip was this would most definitely be the best one by far.(no offense)

8th Grade Spring Trip

By Aisha

For the 8th graders last trip together we went to Mt. St. Helens where we learned about the intense day and aftermath of the eruption, explored the Ape Caves and tested our knowledge of the outdoors in a 24 hour survival challenge. We (8th graders) had 2-3 weeks to prepare and plan our trip as a class. We were split up into four groups: Campfire and Stoves, Scheduling, Activities, and Food and planned the trip from there. Campfire and Stoves had to learn how to start and maintain a fire as well as how to use a Coleman Stove. Scheduling took control of things such as van groups and timing. Activities group planned campfire activities and group games/activities. And the food group created the meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks Monday-Friday. This trip was a definite eye opener showing our class how strong of a bond we have with one another and how much we will miss each other when we go our separate ways for high school. Nevertheless it was a great trip filled with emotional bonding moments as well as fun and bubbly ones to make it unforgettable.

Westside Middle School Bike to School Day and the MS Hoedown This Friday!!!

Our annual bike to school day is this Friday May 15. It's a great way to get exercise while
helping the environment as well. Those who participate will receive a homework pass the night before, so you can leave your supplies at school for the night, making biking more convenient.  In addition, there will be a surprise prize to those who bike.


We all encourage you to participate in Bike to School Day, it's a good opportunity to save energy and get outside.


And remember, The Hoedown is this Friday from 6 to 8 in the courtyard. There will be a pie eating contest and each grade has chosen someone to participate.

5th grade: Greg

6th grade: Garrett

7th grade: Jac

8th grade: Anthony.

If you haven't already turned in your forms, get them in a soon as possible to Susannah and

come join the fun!