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WMS Family Newsletter

December 3, 2023

WMS Family Newsletter December 3, 2023

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Bu bülteni çevirmek için üzerine tıklayın ve ardından sağdaki bağlantıyı kullanın.

Dear WMS Families,

We are wrapping up Trimester 1 and starting Trimester 2 next week. This is a good time to sit and reflect with your child. What are you proud to have learned in Trimester 1? What is one habit you want to strengthen or change in Trimester 2? See more information below.


Upcoming Dates:

  • December 1-22: Parents and Caregivers can complete the 2023 Watertown 5Essentials Parent Survey (We need at least 20% of parents/caregivers to complete the survey)

  • December 4: Trimester 1 Ends
  • December 5: Trimester 2 Begins
  • December 15: Trimester 1 Report Cards and Yardstick Caregiver Guide for 6, 7, 8th graders mailed home


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

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Trimester 2 is starting: December 5

Trimester 2 begins on December 5. While much of the school day will continue as usual, here are the changes that students will experience:

  • 2 new specials classes (Art, Health, Music, PE 1, PE 2, Tech Ed)
  • New lunch times - see picture to the right. Students are reminded that there is free grab-n-go breakfast in the cafeteria every day starting at 7:20am.
  • Up to 2 new WIN classes


We are excited to be offering refined WIN courses this year, as we provide important learning opportunities to meet each student's needs. Here are some things to know about WIN courses this year:

  • WIN classes are designed to be an intervention or an extension of learning on grade level standards.
  • Most WIN classes are one trimester long, meeting twice a week. Exceptions are some yearlong courses including Band, Orchestra, Chorus and Kingian.
  • We have 106 different WIN classes running in Trimester 2. Some titles include: Coding, Study Skills and Executive Functioning, Current Events, Newcomer Academy, Math Intervention, Reading Informational Text, Latin Heritage Spanish, Creative Writing Extension, Energy & the environment, among many more!
  • We place students in classes based on data including student diagnostic need (i-ready, IEP goals), teacher recommendation, and when possible, student interest.

If your child has a question about WIN, they can ask their homeroom advisor or guidance counselor.


WMS Bell Schedule and Trimester Dates 2023-2024


Please note that Trimester 1 report cards will be mailed home on December 15, and that there may be more up to date information before that on PowerSchool.

Information about Winter Clubs!

Fall/Trimester 1 Clubs are finishing up this week. Winter/Trimester 2 Clubs will run from December 11, 2023-March 14, 2024. The club sign up form was given to students this week and can also be found here: WMS Clubs Winter 2023


The late bus runs Monday-Thursday at 3:45pm.


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 (Learning Lab, Student Leadership, GSA, and Yearbook).

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5 ESSENTIALS SURVEY

We need your feedback! Watertown Public Schools is , and we need at least 20% of parents/caregivers to complete the 2023 Watertown Parent Survey (so far 3% have completed it). The survey will be open until December 22, 2023.


Here is a short quote from Dr. Galdston's message to all families:

Research has shown that schools that are strong on three or more of the 5Essentials were 10 times more likely to improve student learning gains than schools weak on three or more of the Essentials.


The 5Essentials are:

  • Effective Leaders

  • Collaborative Teachers

  • Involved Families

  • Supportive Environment

  • Ambitious Instruction


With three years of data after this year's administration is complete, we look forward to sharing the data with staff and with the larger community.

Opportunities for Parents/Caregivers To Get Involved

Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) - December 12

The WMS PTO meets on the second Tuesday of the month, with a mix of virtual and hybrid meetings. We will meet at 6:30pm.


Date for the year include:



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.

A Note from the PTO

WMS Site Council - Meeting Notes

Summary from November 29 Meeting:

We shared our student/child's experiences while experiencing the end of Trimester 1. A theme is that the practice that students are able to retake an assessment to show increased mastery is both helpful and stressful towards the end of a trimester. It can also be frustrating for a student or parent if their teachers have different ways of approaching retakes. We talked about how we are in a phase of exploring equitable grading practices but not yet ready to commit as a whole school to the specific details, which is a goal in the coming months and years as we provide a consistent experience for students and families.


We also hosted Kraig Gustafson, 8-12 and soon to be 6-12 Social Studies Coordinator. He shared an Overview of 6-8th Grade Social Studies. 6th and 7th grade has been using a new curriculum: Investigating History, and 8th grade is getting ready for student to take the Grade 8 Civics MCAS for the first time this year. Kraig also shared information about course options in 9-12th grade.


Future Meetings:

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. Site Council meets on the following Wednesdays from 4-5pm in person (WMS art room, A128)/virtually (zoom). Join us for any of our following meetings:

  • January 3 - guest: World Language Coordinator
  • January 31 - guests: Math and Science Coordinators
  • March 27 - guest: ELA Coordinators
  • May 1 - drafting the WMS School Improvement Plan 2024-25
  • May 29 - finalizing and voting on the WMS School Improvement Plan 2024-25


Do you have a question for the WMS Site Council, but can't make it to our meetings? Submit this form to ask, and we will share a summary in this newsletter and/or follow up with you.


Reach out to Principal Chen Fein at jennifer.chenfein@watertown.k12.ma.us with any questions or to express interest in joining next year.

Diversity Council - December 16

The WMS Diversity & Belonging Council is a forum for caregivers and other community members to work toward more equitable practices at the middle school by encouraging accountability, raising awareness, and fostering community engagement.


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, with our next meeting on December 16.


You can reach out to Sarah Seldomridge at sarah.seldomridge@watertown.k12.ma.us with any questions. Thank you!

Call for Parent/Caregiver Chaperones

There are many events we have at WMS throughout the year where we welcome caregivers to help us chaperone. Usually this is for a field trip or a school event such as the upcoming dance. We ask that chaperones complete the CORI process through Human Resources.


If you are interested in volunteering to chaperoning for future trips or WMS events this year and would like to be added to our CORI'ed chaperone list, please email our assistant principals at susan.carle@watertown.k12.ma.us and jennifer.sarmiento@watertown.k12.ma.us


If you are you a registered nurse or know someone who is, our district also has PAID nurse positions for these trips, and we can fast track you through the hiring process. You would only have to come on whichever trip(s) you're available for - no need to commit to more than that! If you are interested in chaperoning as a paid nurse for an upcoming trip, please email our principal at jennifer.chenfein@watertown.k12.ma.us.

Previously Shared News at WMS

Nov/Dec News from WMS Teachers

Please see our monthly update from WMS teachers:

Nurse Lisa


Cluster 1

Cluster 2

Cluster 3

Cluster 4

Cluster 5

Cluster 6


Specialists

LB Math

Caregiver University - PowerSchool and Google Classroom 101

It was great to see so many caregivers at our first Caregiver University Event in November.


If you missed it, here are the slides we used in our presentation.

Supporting Students with PowerSchool and Google Classroom - English slides

Supporting Students with PowerSchool and Google Classroom - Portuguese slides

Supporting Students with PowerSchool and Google Classroom - Spanish slides

Supporting Students with PowerSchool and Google Classroom - Arabic slides


Our next Caregiver University event will be focused on Teen Mental Health and how to support your child, coming up in early 2024.

Upcoming Dates

  • December 1-22: Parents and Caregivers can complete the 2023 Watertown 5Essentials Parent Survey (We need at least 20% of parents/caregivers to complete the survey)

  • December 4: Trimester 1 Ends
  • December 5: Trimester 2 Begins
  • December 12: WMS PTO (6:30pm, virtual)
  • December 14: WMS Winter Showcase Performance (7:00-9:00PM)
  • December 15: Trimester 1 Report Cards and Yardstick Caregiver Guide for 6, 7, 8th graders mailed home
  • December 16: WMS Diversity Council (virtually here at 6:00pm)
  • December 22: Early Release (11:30am Dismissal, grab-n-go lunch)
  • December 25-January 1: No School - Winter Recess
  • January 10: Early Release (11:45am dismissal with grab-n-go lunch)
  • January 15: No School - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • January 25: Trimester 2 Progress Report Reminder
  • January 29-30: WMS i-Ready mid-year diagnostics (Reading, Math)


Watertown Middle School Contacts


Watertown Middle School Full Staff Directory
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Watertown Middle School

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Find us on...

Website: https://wms.watertown.k12.ma.us/
Location: 68 Waverley Avenue, Watertown, MA, USA
Phone: 617-926-7783

Jennifer Chen Fein
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