WFBMS FAMILY NEWS

I am so excited for the start of a new school year. It has been wonderful meeting some of you over the summer and I look forward to getting to know all of you better as we work together to support your learners every day. This is the first edition of the weekly Whitefish Bay Middle School Family News! In years past, this communication was sent out on Thursdays; however, based on family feedback, all schools in the district will be sending communications out to families on Mondays.

As we look to have a successful start to the year, we will be hosting our Meet and Greet this Tuesday (tomorrow 8/27). This is a great chance for you and your learner(s) to get to know your teachers for the coming year. Please see the linked letter sent out a few weeks ago for more details about the event. Below are a few tips that have helped families navigate the Meet and Greet in the past:

• Print your schedule out ahead of time. We will gladly print one for you in the office; however you can avoid a line by bringing one yourself.

• While the event starts at 4:30, you do not need to show up at the start. If you budget 40 minutes to make your way through the checklist of tasks, you should be fine arriving by 5:20. The start of the event is typically the busiest.

• If your child has medications she/he will be taking during the school day, make sure to swing by the health room to get the necessary forms.

Should you not be able to attend tomorrow, do not worry. A major concern I have heard from families who will miss the event is that their child will have to bring all of their supplies on the first day of school. While they are more than welcome to, they can also bring what fits in their backpack over the course of the first few days. Teaching and learning will start from day one, but the first week or two of school is also focused on sharing common expectations and setting routines and procedures that are the key to a successful school year. Because of this, your learner will have a fantastic start to the year, even if she/he does not have all of the listed supplies over the course of the first few days.

As always, should you ever have any questions or concerns about your learner's experience at the middle school, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I am always happy to listen and talk with you. I look forward to partnering with all of you as we embark on this school year.

• Tuesday, August 27, 4:30 PM- 6:00 PM- Middle School Meet & Greet
• Tuesday, September 3, 8:05 AM- FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL 😀!
• Tuesday, September 10- School Pictures

School picture day will be held on September 10th . Afterwards, you’ll be able to select your image for your yearbook and purchase any portraits, and all orders will be delivered to your home. To view and order photos from Picture Day click on the link and fill in the information needed: https://www.vipis.com/group/a2f4125e/whitefish-bay-middle-school . Or, you can search for them at vipis.com shortly after photos are taken. If you need further assistance, contact VIP at support@vipis.com.

Join the PTO: We are excited for a new school year! If you haven’t already, we invite you to create an account in Membership Toolkit and join the PTO to gain access to our online school directory. Both steps can be completed at https://wfbmspto.membershiptoolkit.com. Your MTK account is free and ALL Middle School families need a Membership Toolkit account. If you already have a MTK account, please consider making a donation to the PTO!

Follow us! The start of the school year is upon us! Don’t forget to like, follow, and bookmark all of the WFBMS PTO accounts to stay informed!

Instagram: @WFBMSPTO

Facebook: @WFBMSPTO

Website: https://wfbmspto.membershiptoolkit.com

All spirit wear orders are placed online and shipped directly to your home. Popular brands include Puma, Nike, Under Armour, and North Face. Shop Now!

Visit the WFBMS online store by clicking here or click on Spirit Wear on the WFBMS PTO website.

Bring your friends and family to the bank, Saturday, September 7th from 10 - 1, and enjoy Paul's Smokehouse & BBQ. A portion of the food proceeds will go towards Nuss Grant, and Town Bank will match all food items sold up to $2,000. A special thanks goes out to Paul's Smokehouse & BBQ for the food donation!

The Department of Health Services has updated immunization requirements for school-aged children. These requirements for school-age children will go into effect at the beginning of the 2024–2025 school year. If your family is interested in signing a waiver, please contact your healthcare provider or the district nurse.

Changes include:

• Meningococcal (MenACWY-containing) vaccine has been added as a requirement for students entering seventh grade, and a booster dose for eligible students entering 12th grade.
• If a child has had chickenpox, a parent report of chickenpox disease is no longer acceptable for exemption from the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine requirement. Children must have a diagnosis of chickenpox from a qualified health care provider (M.D., D.O., N.P., or P.A.) to be exempt from this requirement, however existing exemption options still apply.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services website includes additional information. We encourage you to contact your healthcare provider if you have specific questions, or to schedule an appointment for a vaccine.

Curious about what is discussed at School Board Meetings? Linked below, you'll find key takeaways from recent School Board Meetings.

Website: https://www.wfbschools.com/schools/middle/
Location: 1144 East Henry Clay Street, Whitefish Bay, WI, USA
Phone: 414-963-6800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WFBSchools/