WMS Family Newsletter
October 8, 2023
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Dear WMS Families,
Quick announcements:
Megan E. Freeman, the author of Alone, is coming to WMS on October 18! Families who wish to purchase a book prior to the visit may order through The Book Rack in Arlington at this link: https://book-rack.square.site/ Books will be delivered to WMS and signed by the author, then distributed to students.
Check out all The Book Rack has to offer at their website: www.book-rack.com. Talk to your child at home about this exciting event!
- Community Service Announcement: Our Coats for Kids drive is officially underway! Every year we collect lightly used winter coats to donate to families in need. We accept all sizes of coats, but not other winter clothing including jackets, hats, gloves, etc. Please have your child drop off donations in the main lobby.
- At times, students may be absent for extended periods of time such as when they are sick or away at a family obligation. When they return, students need to follow-up with their teachers for missing assignments should they be out of school for an extended amount of time. Teachers are flexible with deadlines and prioritizing assignments for students. It is an expectation in middle school that students are tracking their own progress and learning to be proactive about their own learning as we prepare for high school and beyond.
Upcoming Dates:
- October 9: No School - Indigenous Peoples' Day/Columbus Day
- October 10: PTO Meeting (6:30-7:00PM, WMS Art Room)
- October 10: 8th Grade Washington DC Trip Meeting for Caregivers (7:00-8:00, WMS Auditorium)
Respectfully yours,
Ms. Jennifer Chen Fein, Principal
Ms. Susan Carle, Assistant Principal (Clusters 1, 3, 5)
Ms. Jennifer Sarmiento, Assistant Principal (Clusters 2, 4, 6)
New News at WMS
Update for 7th grade Caregivers about Lunch
Dear 7th grade caregivers,
The 7th grade, as a whole, will have assigned seats for at least the next month. As a grade we have not yet been able to meet the expectations in the cafeteria. Cafeteria expectations are in place to keep all members of the WMS community safe.
The four expectations are:
- No running
- Staying in your chosen seat, unless throwing something away, getting water, or using the restroom
- Having a pass from a staff member to leave the cafe
- Maintaining a conversational noise level by speaking with your tablemates.
Unfortunately, last Friday, after repeated reminders of the expectations throughout September, the 7th grade was unable to hear directions during the shelter-in-place. This is concerning on multiple levels, especially if there were an even more serious threat at the school.
The assistant principals and duty teachers are hoping to lift these restrictions sooner than the end of the trimester 1 goal that we have shared with students (Dec. 4). We are already seeing a positive shift in behavior, so we hope to be able to get students back in preferred seats by Nov. 1.
We encourage you to have conversations with your children about the importance of understanding and meeting safety expectations. Thank you for your partnership in this.
WMS Fall Dance - November 3
WMS is having our first dance of the year on November 3 from 6:00-8:00PM.
Students who are interested in attending need to have their permission slip completed by their caregiver and returned. We have copies of these permission slips in the main office, or families can print their own from below:
English Fall Dance Permission Form
Portuguese Fall Dance Permission Form
Spanish Fall Dance Permission Form
Nepali Fall Dance Permission Form
Armenian Fall Dance Permission Form
Turkish Fall Dance Permission Form
Japanese Fall Dance Permission Form
Persian Fall Dance Permission Form
Urdu Fall Dance Permission Form
Thai Fall Dance Permission Form
Watertown High School - Open House
Watertown High School will be offering an in-person Open House for 7th & 8th-grade students and families on Thursday, October 26. Please be in touch with Adrienne Eaton, the WHS Lead School Counselor, at adrienne.eaton@watertown.k12.ma.us with any questions or concerns.
Opportunities for Parents/Caregivers To Get Involved
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) - October 10
Our first PTO meeting this year will be on October 10, 2023 at 6:30pm. We will meet in person in the art room at WMS. You can enter through the main entrance at 68 Waverley Avenue, and go up the main staircase to get to the art room.
Are you interested in being on the WMS PTO? Reach out to our new co-PTO Presidents Elena Poillucci <elenapoillucci@gmail.com> and Melissa Parker <melissapisces@yahoo.com> with any questions or to express interest in joining next year.
Also, see the flyer below for our upcoming fundraiser!
Diversity Council - October 16
Here are our slides from our September meeting. We hope you will join us at our next meeting.
We will usually meet the third Monday of each month, virtually here at 6:00pm.
You can reach out to Sarah Seldomridge at sarah.seldomridge@watertown.k12.ma.us with any questions. Thank you!
WMS Site Council - October 25
The WMS Site Council is a body of students, faculty, parents, and caregivers that plays a strong role in the vision and direction of our school. For example, the WMS School Improvement Plan 2023-2024 was written in collaboration with the Site Council, teacher, and district leaders last year, and will be informing our work as a staff and school this year.
This year, the WMS Site Council will be meeting on the following Wednesdays from 4-5pm in person (WMS art room, A128)/virtually (zoom), as we try out this hybrid model of meeting.
- October 25
- November 29
- January 3
- January 31
- March 27
- May 1
- May 29
Here is the agenda for our September 27th meeting, we hope to see you then.
Race Reels is back - October 19, 2023
Attached is the flier and volunteer form for our 1st Race Reels for Fall 2023. To kick off Race Reels Fall 2023, we'll have 9 yr. old Little Regalia business owner Isis McFadden as our guest speaker and we'll watch a series of short video clips about the Dolls test which played a major role in Brown vs Board of Education.
Previously Shared News at WMS
October News from WMS Teachers
Click on the links below to find a monthly update from your child's teachers*
Traffic Safety Reminder to all WMS Parents/Caregivers
Here are some safety reminders:
Bemis St. is closed to all vehicles from 9AM-2PM to ensure the safety of our WHS Students as they walk between buildings.
When picking up your student, please continue to be mindful and cautious of WHS students that are crossing Bemis St to get to their classes between buildings. Reminder that Watertown High School is still in session when Middle School students are being picked up.
Late Bus and After School Activities
Students will pay $50 one time to participate in any sports or clubs all year; if it is a hardship for a family they should reach out to the guidance counselor to inquire about a scholarship.
Students may participate in any enrichment activities for free (Student Leadership, GSA, Yearbook, and Learning Lab).
Students and families will receive the club sign up form in the next week or so.
The late bus runs Monday-Friday at 3:45pm.
D.E.A.R. ("Drop Everything and Read")
At WMS we are incorporating D.E.A.R. ("Drop Everything and Read") into our school day as part of our school wide literacy development. Our goal is to support all readers’ growth through student choice and by meeting each reader “where they are” in order to improve decoding, fluency, and vocabulary acquisition.
D.E.A.R will be a mandatory part of our Supported Substitute Classroom (SSC), when staff are absent, as well as FLEX Fridays. Students will be supported in both the SSC and during FLEX Fridays through independent reading strategies and practices. D.E.A.R. is a national celebration of reading designed to make reading a priority activity in our lives. April 12th is national D.E.A.R. day in honor of author Beverly Cleary’s birthday. D.E.A.R. time was a reading practice featured in the Ramona books.
Something that caregivers can help with is reminding your child to pack their D.E.A.R. book every day, along with their charged chromebook, planner, and any other school supplies.
Upcoming Dates
- October 9: No School - Indigenous Peoples' Day/Columbus Day
- October 10: PTO Meeting (6:30-7:00PM, WMS Art Room)
- October 10: 8th Grade Washington DC Trip Meeting for Caregivers (7:00-8:00PM, WMS Auditorium)
- October 18: Alone by Megan E Freeman assembly and author signing
- October 18: Trimester 1 Progress Reports sent to families
- October 19: Early Release Day (11:45AM dismissal, students will attend all classes for shorter periods), Teacher-Caregiver Conferences
- October 24: Early Release Day (11:45AM dismissal, students will attend all classes for shorter periods), Teacher-Caregiver Conferences
- October 30: monthly update from teachers in WMS S'more
- November 3: WMS Fall Dance (5:00-7:00PM)
- November 7: No School for Students - Professional Development Day
- November 10: No School - Veterans Day (Observed)
- November 22: Early Release
- November 23-24: No School - Thanksgiving Holiday
- November 30: Picture Retake Day
- December 4: Trimester 1 Ends
- December 5: Trimester 2 Begins
- December 12: Trimester 1 Report Cards, MCAS 2023 Results, i-Ready diagnostic updates, and Yardstick Caregiver Guide for 6, 7, 8th graders mailed home
- December 14: WMS Winter Showcase Performance (7:00-9:00PM)
- December 22: Early Release
- December 25-January 1: No School - Winter Recess
- WMS Bell Schedule and Trimester Dates 2023-2024
How is our communication being received?
Watertown Middle School
Website: https://wms.watertown.k12.ma.us/
Location: 68 Waverley Avenue, Watertown, MA, USA
Phone: 617-926-7783