Warrior Weekly

The faculty, staff, and students at WMS took time on September 11th to pay tribute to those brave men and women who tragically lost their lives on this same day in 2001. Our chorus students began the program by singing the National Anthem, followed by Mrs. Haynes reading the timeline of events of that fateful day. Our salute ended with Taps, played by our band teacher Mr. Klaich. Students silently returned to their classrooms to reflect on what this day means to each and every American. We will never forget!

I can’t believe we are only three weeks away from the end of Quarter 1! The year is moving fast and we are holding on tight! Please see the information below of some focus points and upcoming dates for September and October.

Parent/Teacher Communication- Please allow for at least 24 hours when contacting your child’s teacher before a response may be given. Our teachers have one planning a day at different times so please give a little time for them to receive your message and respond appropriately.

Behavior- We are experiencing some concerning behavior this year and would like your help! We have talked with our students about cleaning up after themselves in the cafeteria, noise level in the hallways, and overall kindness towards each other. Last Tuesday we started a probation period and since that time, we have taken away Fun Friday, canceled PTO school store, taken away recess equipment and did not let them eat outside in the courtyard. It has taken this long to get the recess equipment back. We saw a strong improvement with their behavior today We are still working towards bringing back Club Friday and PTO school store.

Study Buddies will begin on Monday. If a student is failing a core subject they will be required to attend Study Buddies on that core subject’s specific day: Monday= Science, Tuesday= Math, Wednesday=ELA and Thursday- Social Studies.

September 18th - ½ Day of School for Students next Wednesday- Students will be released from school at 12:15 on Wednesday, September 18th.

Starfish- We will begin reading Starfish, by Lisa Fipps, as a school-wide read at the end of September through October, which is anti-bullying month. This novel is middle-school appropriate and based on bullying. Each middle school student can relate to the situations within this text. In the novel, a 12-year-old girl, Ellie, was asked to share her favorite quote from the book they were reading in class, and she had just the quote: “The whale didn’t need to be ‘fixed,’ he was the whale who sang his own song.” This quote really hit home for Ellie as she has grown a self-acceptance that allowed her to accept the fact that she was overweight, but still beautiful and made perfectly. Ellie dealt with bullies, even her own mother, for years, and finally learned to stand up to bullies in her school instead of letting them have control over her feelings. Starfish not only helps a victim of bullying but also helps us learn how to stand up for someone who is being bullied. Luckily Ellie had people whom she trusted and knew cared deeply for her, and she leaned on those people for support. Ellie learns how to “just face one wave at a time, not an ocean!” To learn more about the novel, you can go to https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/starfish-0. Please contact Mrs. K. Williams (kiwilliams@gcsd.k12.sc.us) if you have any questions or concerns.

School wide writing assessments- At the end of Quarters 1, 2, and 3, WMS will administer a school-wide writing assessment that mimics the SC Ready writing assessment students will take in May. The purpose of the school-wide assessment is to practice completing all steps of the writing process under mock testing conditions to prepare students for the end of the year. The assessment also provides teachers with information on which components of the writing process need to be addressed in more depth to help our students become stronger writers. On October 2, students will take the school-wide writing assessment for Quarter 1. WMS will operate on a testing schedule that day. Students will test in their Warrior Time classes. Each student will receive a text selection, a copy of the test directions, a South Carolina writing rubric and scratch paper. Students must read and annotate the text, create their own graphic organizer, and write a rough draft to answer the writing prompt question. Once those steps of the writing process are complete, students will then type and submit their final drafts via their ELA Google Classrooms. The ELA teachers will use rubrics to grade students' work. By practicing formal writing in a formal testing environment, the goal is to prepare students to be most successful on state testing and better prepared for the writing requirements down the road.

Upcoming Dates-

September 18- Half Day for Students

September 27- WHS Homecoming Parade and Football Game

October 1- School Pictures for the yearbook AND Q1 iReady Reading Growth Monitoring Assessment (Activity Schedule)

October 2- Q1 TDW (Testing Schedule)

October 3- Last day of Q1 AND Q1 iReady Math Growth Monitoring Assessment (Activity Schedule)

October 4- Fall Pep Rally...Activity Schedule

October 7-11- Fall Break...NO SCHOOL

October 17- Vision, iReady, Data Information Night from 5-6:30

October 18- Q1 Honor Roll Parade and YAA Party

October 22- SIC Meeting at 6pm in the Celebration Room

October 23- Half Day for students

October 28-November 1- Red Ribbon Week

As always, please let us know if you have any questions and if we can help you in any way and remember, We Just Can’t Hide That Warrior Pride!

Our amazing Social Studies team, made up of Mr. Milliken, Ms. Vereen, and Mr. Novi, teach both Geography and South Carolina & U.S. history. Seventh graders have just finished up their study of North America and are headed south to learn about Central America and the Caribbean; while 8th graders have been working in groups on their Road to Revolution activity. Both grade levels are in the midst of completing their quarterly Document Based Questions as well. Thanks to the hard work of our Social Studies teachers, our students are well prepared to succeed!

Our Rehabilitative Behavioral Health Services Counselors also play a vital role in the success of our Warriors. The services they provide ensure that our students' needs are being met on all levels and we are ever so grateful for them.

The DHEC recommended student health screenings will be completed at WMS on 09/24/24 through science classes. We will check vision, hearing, and dental on all 7th graders and height, weight, and BMI on all 8th graders. If you want to opt out of the screenings, please write the nurse a note or e-mail her at pmcdill@gcsd.k12.sc.us.

Dental hygienists are working to schedule a day (TBD) to visit WMS to do exams, cleanings, x-rays, and sealants if needed. If you are interested, please scan the QR code below or download and complete the attached paperwork and return it to the nurse.

The date for the school visit has not been determined at this time. We will share this information as soon as Nurse McDill receives this from DHEC.

Saturday, September 14

Cross Country Warrior Invitational at Stables Park @ 8:30 am

Girls Golf Palmetto Championship at True Blue Time: TBD

Sunday, September 15

Girls Golf Palmetto Championship at Caledonia Time: TBD

Tuesday, September 17

Girls Golf vs North Myrtle Beach at Tradition @ 4:45 pm

Girls JV Volleyball at Aynor @ 6:00 pm

Boys Volleyball vs Hanahan @ 6:00 pm

B Team Football vs Forestbrook Middle at Socastee High School @ 6:00 pm

Wednesday, September 18

Girls Golf vs Socastee at Tradition @ 4:45 pm

Girls B Team & JV Volleyball vs St. James @ 5:30 pm

Thursday, September 19

Boys Volleyball vs Academic Magnet @ 6:00 pm

JV Football vs Carolina Forest @ 6:00 pm

Friday, September 20

Varsity Football vs Andrews @ 7:30 pm

Don’t forget to get your Sports Pass to all WHS sporting events! This pass will get you into all regular games hosted at WHS and supports all the high school's athletic programs. Get yours TODAY!

Take a little advice from the Yearbook Staff and BUY A YEARBOOK at www.jostensyearbooks.com.

Help PTO sell and distribute items to students at the WMS School Store! Click on the image below to sign up. Also, please make sure you've completed and submitted a GCSD Volunteer form before your arrival. Forms can be found here or in the WMS Front Office.

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Thank you to Jacqueline N. Clancy Consulting for partnering with us at the PLATINUM level!

Email: radams@gcsd.k12.sc.us
Website: https://www.gcsd.k12.sc.us/o/wms
Location: 247 Wildcat Way, Pawleys Island, SC, USA
Phone: 843-237-0106
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Waccamawmiddleschool/