WMS Family Newsletter
October 1, 2023
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Dear WMS Families,
This week in our Mindfulnes Monday advisory, we learned "Progressive Muscle Relaxation". We encourage families to use prompt below to try at home with the whole family!
Quick announcements:
WMS Clubs Fall 2023 are here! Students were given the flyer this week, and can start signing up for clubs in the main office. Trimester 1 cubs will start on Monday, October 2 and run through December 4. We will run three rounds of clubs this year, coinciding with the Trimester change. 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). The late bus runs Monday-Friday at 3:45pm.
Please remind your children that they are not allowed to wear blankets at school. If they arrive at school with a blanket they will be asked to keep it in their locker. The blankets are becoming a distraction, they are not appropriate attire for school, and they are not hygienic (often dragged through the building and shared). Thank you in advance for your assistance with this matter.
- We are moving into October, and at this point student schedules are finalized including for WIN. Please know that students are rescheduled for WIN A or WIN B in trimesters 2 and 3, using data including from i-ready diagnostics and teacher-recommendations, to get students the support they need, or a new enrichment experience. Performance Music classes (Band, Orchestra, Chorus) are full year courses that run on one of the WIN days for the year. Students who still have questions about scheduling can talk to their grade level counselor, but please know that we are likely not able to make more scheduling changes for now.
- Here are links to helpful community resources! Watertown Community Resources - English, Watertown Community Resources - Spanish, Watertown Community Resources - Portuguese
Upcoming Dates:
- October 2-5: i-ready diagnostic tests for math, reading (Special Schedule on October 2-3)
- October 3: PowerSchool Login Information shared with students and caregivers, email to come from Principal Chen Fein
- October 6: 8th grade field trip to Blue Hills
- October 9: No School - Indigenous Peoples' Day/Columbus Day
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
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.
Mindfulness Monday - Progressive Muscle Relaxation
This past Mindfulness Monday in Advisory we learned how to use "Progressive Muscle Relaxation." Try it at home!
When we become upset, stressed, anxious, and/or overwhelmed, the tension in our muscles increase.Progressive Muscle Relaxation can teach us to become more aware of tension in our bodies so we can better identify and manage stress.This technique is to tense certain muscles, and then release the tension.
Sit comfortably in your seat. Shut your eyes if you’re comfortable doing so.
Begin by taking a deep breath and noticing the feeling of air filling your lungs.
Breathe in for 4 seconds….hold for 4 seconds….breathe out for 5 seconds.
Release the breath slowly and let the tension leave your body.
Take in another deep breath and hold it.
(brief pause)
Again, slowly release the air.
Now move your attention to your feet. Begin to tense your feet by curling your toes and the arch of your foot. Hold onto the tension and notice what it feels like.
(5 second pause)
Release the tension in your foot. Notice the new feeling of relaxation.
Continue this pattern, with focus on: lower leg, upper leg, stomach, chest (lungs), back, arms, neck, eyes and mouth.
(5 second pause)
Finally, tense your entire body. Tense your feet, legs, stomach, chest, arms, hands, head, and neck. Tense harder, without straining. Hold the tension.
(5 second pause)
Now release. Allow your whole body to go limp. Pay attention to the feeling of relaxation, and how different it is from the feeling of tension.
Begin to wake your body up by slowing moving your muscles. Adjust your arms and legs.
Stretch your muscles and open your eyes when you’re ready.
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.
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.
Previously Shared News at WMS
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.
Safety Drills This Year
In the next several weeks, we will also be practicing our Evacuation Drill to our secondary site, as well as ALICE Table Talk Drills which help us prepare for emergencies up to and including an active shooter. Thank you Watertown Police Department for your partnership in these drills.
We teach students these safety protocols every year so that we are all able to better handle any emergencies that may happen in school or outside of school. We will share more information with families before we have the Evacuation and ALICE drills, so you know what to expect and can talk with your children at home before/after the drills.
Upcoming Dates
- October 2-5: i-ready diagnostic tests for math, reading (Special Schedule)
- October 3: PowerSchool Login Information shared
- October 6: 8th grade field trip to Blue Hills
- 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)
- October 18: Trimester 1 Progress Reports sent to families
- October 19: Early Release Day (11:45 dismissal, students will attend all classes for shorter periods), Teacher-Caregiver Conferences
- October 24: Early Release Day (11:45 dismissal, students will attend all classes for shorter periods), Teacher-Caregiver Conferences
- October 30: monthly update from teachers in WMS S'more
- November 7: No School for Students - Professional Development Day
- November 10: No School - Veterans Day (Observed)
- 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