Middle School Campus Newsletter
February 2024
Report Cards Go Home Today
Report cards go home today, 02/02/24!
**Honor roll announcements will be in the next edition.
A Message from Campus Principal, Mr. Egresits
Dear Families;
Today you will receive your child’s 20 week report card. This report summarizes student performance since the last progress report. I would ask you to take some time, as a family, to discuss any concerns relating to the report card, as the next progress report will be sent home with students on Thursday, March 14th. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s school counselor at 266-3113 (Parkway), 266-3115 (7th) or 266-3165 (8th).
Please click below for additional reminders by grade level:
Thank you,
Mr. Egresits
Campus Principal
Digital Awareness / Keeping Parents in the Know
The digital world is constantly evolving with new social media platforms, apps, devices, and children and teens are often the first to use them. There are pro's and cons to student's accessing these platforms and we want to keep parents in the know. Each month, we will highlight articles and information related to parent digital awareness, and monitoring student activity.
While you may not be able to monitor all of your child’s activities, there are things you can do to prevent cyberbullying and protect your child from harmful digital behavior:
- Monitor a child's social media sites, apps, and browsing history (students often have multiple accounts, or hidden accounts that parents are not aware of)
- Review or re-set your child’s phone location and privacy settings.
- Stay up-to-date on the latest apps, social media platforms, and digital slang used by children and teens.
- Know your child’s user names and passwords for email and social media.
- Establish rules about appropriate digital behavior, content, and apps.
February's article: Middle Schoolers Need More from the Adults in their Lives (Guest Opinion By Ryan Burdick)
February Teacher Spotlight
Miss Bramhall is a Whitesboro, Class of 2019, Alumni and is thrilled to be teaching 8th grade English as a long-term substitute. She is a recent graduate of State University of New York at Geneseo and is currently working towards her Masters Degree in Literacy from State University of New York at Oneonta.
In her free time, Miss Bramhall enjoys painting, cooking, watching movies, and spending time with her fiancé in their new home in Waterville, NY. Miss Bramhall also has another job outside of teaching as a Princess Performer where she dresses as princesses such as Belle and Ariel and performs at children’s events and benefits.
During her time at Whitesboro, Miss Bramhall was very active in the music department and in a full-circle moment, she will be the Assistant Director of the high school’s musical this year, School of Rock. She is so excited for this opportunity and to be back home in a district she loves!
Reminder to Parents
As the lost and found continues to grow, we are asking parents to please make sure that your children's belongings (clothes, lunch boxes, drink bottles, stationery, etc.) are clearly labelled with your child's name. Labelled property can be easily returned to its owner. Thank you.
Esports Club
Esports, or electronic sports, involves competitive gaming where individuals or teams play against each other in popular video games. This rapidly growing field combines elements of strategy, teamwork, and digital proficiency.
Esports demands critical thinking, quick decision-making, and strategic planning, which significantly contribute to cognitive development. Just like traditional sports, Esports requires effective teamwork and communication. Our club members learn to work collaboratively, building skills that are essential both inside and outside the gaming world. Esports provides a platform where students of diverse backgrounds and abilities can participate equally, promoting inclusivity and a sense of community.
Our Esports club has been met with great enthusiasm! Our students are not only enjoying the thrill of gaming but are also actively learning about digital citizenship and the importance of balancing gaming with other academic and personal responsibilities. The club meets once a week after school, and we have already seen some remarkable talent and teamwork on display!
We are excited about the future of the Esports Club at Whitesboro Middle School!
To learn more about other clubs, sports, and activities we offer on the Middle School Campus, please click here.
NJHS and Student Council Raise Money for Local Fire Departments
In December, the NJHS and the Middle School Campus Student Councils teamed up to hold a fundraiser for the local volunteer fire departments. Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 donated baked goods that were sold during lunch periods. The money raised was donated to our district's fire departments. In total, over $1,100 was raised. We are happy to support the brave duty of our local firefighters!
New York State Mentoring on the Whitesboro Middle School Campus
The NYS Mentoring Program at Whitesboro has upper level students from the high school meet one-to-one with students at the middle school campus. Mentoring sessions occur one time per week from October through April. Mentors serve as a source of friendship and support for younger students as they navigate through these formative years. During mentoring, mentors provide direction, advice, guidance and encouragement to a younger peer.
In January the mentors, mentees and staff facilitating the program have a celebration to mark the halfway point of this experience. Students in the program had the opportunity to share food and participate in games such as cornhole, ping-pong, foosball and kan-jam. In April, participating students will have the opportunity to have a culminating experience in which formal certificates from New York State are awarded to the mentors. Mentees will also get the chance to express what mentoring has meant to them as the experience comes to an end. We thank the student mentors that have given the gift of their time as well as shared their knowledge and experiences to make their younger peers grow and develop.
State Testing in Spring 2024
The Middle School Campus will be participating in the New York State Education Department (NYSED) computer-based testing for Grades 3-8 English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. The Grades 3-8 ELA and Mathematics Tests are administered in the spring to students across New York State. These annual ELA and mathematics tests are designed to measure how well students are mastering the learning standards that guide classroom instruction and are a valuable tool used to help ensure students have the support needed to succeed. The tests can also help identify any learning needs a student may have. We appreciate you supporting your student(s) as they participate in this valuable assessment process. More information to follow.
Parkway Students to Attend School of Rock Preview
On Tuesday, February 27th, Parkway students will attend a preview of the High School musical production of School of Rock. Permission slips were handed out in student homerooms. Please complete the permission slip and return it to school to have your son/daughter attend the preview. Extra permission slips can be obtained in the Parkway main office.
Community performances of School of Rock will take place on Thursday, February 29th and Friday, March 1st at 7:00 pm, and Saturday, February 2nd at 2:00 pm in the High School auditorium. Tickets are $10 general admission, and are available by calling Whitesboro High School at (315)266-3200, Whitesboro Middle School at (315)266-3100, or Parkway School at (315)266-3175, or emailing Mrs. Decker at jdecker@wboro.org. Advance tickets are not required, but we encourage you to purchase in advance as performances often sell out.
Parent Access to Morning Announcements
Keep yourself informed by checking our daily announcements. Announcements for your child’s school can be found in their respective Google Classrooms: Parkway School Announcements and Middle School Announcements. You can access the daily announcements by using your child’s login information (username & password) to access the announcements Google Classroom pages.
Middle School Campus PTO Spirit Wear Sale
Show your W'boro spirit! Checkout the Middle School Campus Spirit Wear store, offered through Max's Print Shop. The store is open year round.
Upcoming Events
- February 2, 2024...........Reports cards sent home
- February 5, 2024...........Middle School PTO Meeting at 6:30PM, Parkway Library
- February 19-23, 2024....Mid-Winter Recess, NO SCHOOL