WMS Family Smore

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لترجمة هذه الرسالة من المدرسة ، اضغط عليها ثم استخدم الرابط الموجود على اليمين.

Այս տեղեկագիրը թարգմանելու համար կտտացրեք այն, ապա օգտագործեք աջ կողմում գտնվող հղումը:

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There is no school on Monday, January 16 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In advisory last Thursday, all WMS students spent time reflecting on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's legacy, especially on civil rights in America. On Tuesday in advisory, students will come back and consider - "What change to you want to see at WMS or in Watertown? How can you write a statement that shows how MLK’s values are important today?" as individual parts of a whole school. Through this whole school activity, we hope to spark real conversations about the community we strive to be.

Starting this week, our students who are English Language Learners have been participating in mandated ACCESS testing. This test assesses Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing. If your child is in the ESL program, please encourage them to do their very best!

Here are some other dates to be aware of this week:

• January 16: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - NO SCHOOL

• January 18-22: ACCESS Testing for English Learners (Make-ups: January 23-27)

• January 18: "Meeting Myself" Zoom Q&A session for 8th grade caregivers with Wayside Youth and Family Support Network (7-8pm)

• January 18-19: ACCESS Testing for English Learners

• January 19: Diversity Council (7:00pm, virtually)

• January 19: WMS Chorus Concert (7:00pm, WMS Auditorium)

We also have some social events coming up for students:

• January 27: 6-7th grade dance (6:30-8:30pm)
  

• Date To Be Determined: 8th grade social (6:30-8:30pm)

Remember, ask your child tonight to brainstorm for tomorrow's advisory - "What is your dream for Watertown?"

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)

We are hiring both a part-time (3.75 hours per day) & full-time (7 hours per day) school nutrition worker for Watertown Middle School! Hourly rate up to $18.50 per hour.

To view the job descriptions & apply online click the links below

Part-Time School Nutrition Position

Full-Time School Nutrition Position

Contact Brandon Rabbitt at 617-926-7756 or brandon.rabbitt@watertown.k12.ma.us for more information

Dear 8th Grade Families,

For those interested, WMS is offering a program for our 8th grade students called “Meeting Myself”. This program will be run by Wayside Counselors with the support of School Counselors and School Mental Health Clinicians. “Meeting Myself” is focused on helping students make positive choices as they navigate adolescence. Specific topics will include self-identity, self-esteem, substance use, and managing stress and peer pressure.

Please look at the attached flier for more information.

Join us on Wednesday, January 18th from 7-8pm for a Zoom Q&A with Christina Lupica, Youth Engagement Specialist with Wayside Youth and Family Support Network. We can answer any questions pertaining to this program.

​​Join Zoom Meeting

https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/87335466752

Click on the link below to find updates from your child's teachers. These cluster/class smores are a helpful tool to know what your child is learning. These s'mores are shared and updated every other week in the WMS Family Smore.

Cluster 1

Cluster 2

Cluster 3

Cluster 4

Cluster 5

Cluster 6

The Specialists

Reading

ELD/Phonics

Connections

LB Math

Wilson Reading

The WMS Diversity Council meets once a month on the third Thursdays at 7:00pm virtually, with the next meeting on January 19. We will be focusing on actionable steps outlined in the district equity audit taken last school year. Any and all are welcome to join.

The WMS SSC meets once a month on the first Tuesdays at 7:00pm, virtually. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, with our K-7 and 8-12 Science Coordinators coming as special guests.

The PTO meets virtually on the second Wednesday of each month, and the next meeting is on Wednesday, February 8 at 7pm. Reach out to the PTO President Erin Macomber at erin_macomber@neds.org with any questions or to express interest.

504 Training hosted by Watertown SEPAC: We invite you to join us for a free, virtual 504 training on Tuesday, January 24 at 6:30pm. Please note that a brief registration is required to attend. The meeting link will be sent to you by email after you register. See the link for more information and to register for the workshop: https://www.smore.com/g5qdc

The Watertown SEPAC

"The mission of the Watertown SEPAC is to encourage honest and effective communication, understanding, and mutual respect in a supportive partnership inclusive of all students, caregivers, educators, and the community at large in an effort to ensure the delivery of appropriate services and supports to students with disabilities and special health care needs. We work directly with district administrators to address system-level challenges, facilitate family-district communication, and provide families with training and resources."

https://sites.google.com/watertown.k12.ma.us/watertown-sepac/

The Watertown Free Public Library will be hosting immigration lawyers from Greater Boston Legal Services on a monthly basis. They will be providing free and confidential legal consultation for immigrants.

Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 17th | 6-8 PM By appointment

Second Tuesdays of the Month, 6-8 PM By appointment

Register for a free immigration legal consultation with a representative from Greater Boston Legal Services at the Watertown Free Public Library by calling 617-603-1808.

The Bookmobile is coming! Starting in January, the Bookmobile (aka The Speed Reader) will be making regular stops at Watertown Middle School.

If you haven’t been able to get to the Watertown Free Public Library, the library is now coming to you. We’ll be able to check out books, get new library cards, learn about library services and talk to friendly librarians.

Catch the Speed Reader in the WMS Waverly Ave front parking lot on the first Thursday of each month from 3:15-4:30pm. Upcoming dates include:

• February 2
  
• March 2

In the event of inclement weather, Bookmobile service will be cancelled.

Watertown Recreation winter sports are live! There are several indoor and outdoor options.

Please see here for the entire Watertown Rec brochure- pages 8-11 focus on middle-school aged activities. The Ski Program is completely full but if there is enough interest from more students, they will add an additional bus! In the meantime, students can still get a discounted ticket to the mountain and provide their own transportation.

Lastly, the City of Watertown has Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics tickets for any resident or employee of Watertown. See here for Bruins and here for Celtics. Tickets are first come first serve.

In the event that a student is absent, a parent or caregiver must call the absence hotline at 617-926-7783 before 8:30 a.m. Please state the name, grade, homeroom of the student and the reason for their absence. In the event that the absence is not reported, a Robocall will automatically go out to the student’s home or the place of employment of the parent or caregiver to inform them that the student is absent. Students are responsible for working with their teachers to make up work they missed while absent.

Check out page 26 of the WMS Family Handbook to see all of our attendance procedures in more detail.

We live in New England, and whether we love them or hate them, snow days may be just around the corner. As such, please review the information contained in this section regarding school closure protocols. State law requires 180 days of instruction and also requires that any school closures (“snow days”) be made up before June 30. In the case of inclement weather or school closure for emergency reasons, information about school closures can be found at this link.

• January 16: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - NO SCHOOL
  

• January 18-22: ACCESS Testing for English Learners

• January 18: "Meeting Myself" Zoom Q&A session for 8th grade caregivers with Wayside Youth and Family Support Network (7-8pm)

• January 18-19: ACCESS Testing for English Learners

• January 19: Diversity Council (7:00pm, virtually)

• January 19: WMS Chorus Concert (7:00pm, WMS Auditorium)
  
• January 24: 504 training hosted by the Watertown SEPAC (6:30pm, registration required)
  
• January 25: WMS Orchestra Concert (7:00pm, WHS)
• January 26: Last day of Quarter 2
  

• January 27: First day of Quarter 3

• January 27: 6-7th grade dance (6:30-8:30pm)

• Date TBD: 8th grade social (6:30-8:30pm)

• February 1: WMS Vocational Education Night (6:00-7:00pm, WMS Auditorium)

• February 2: Bookmobile parked at WMS Main Entrance (3:15-4:30pm)
  

• February 7: School Site Council meeting (7:00pm, virtual)

• February 8: PTO Meeting (7:00pm, virtual)

• February 9: Quarter 2 Report Cards mailed home

• February 16: Diversity Council (7:00pm, virtually)

• February 20-24: February Recess - NO SCHOOL

• March 2: Bookmobile parked at WMS Main Entrance (3:15-4:30pm)

• March 7: School Site Council meeting (7:00pm, virtual)

• March 8: PTO Meeting (7:00pm, virtual)

• Watertown Public Schools Calendar 2022-2023
  

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