Ram Families,

Important Reminders:

• Picture Make-up Day: Students who missed picture day will have another opportunity to get their student ID on Monday, September 16, 2024.

• CogAT Testing: All 7th graders will take the CogAT test on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.

• PTA General Meeting: Join us this Wednesday, September 18th at 5:30 pm in the Wilson cafeteria for our PTA General Meeting.

• Fall Open House: Meet us this Wednesday, September 18th from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm for our Fall Open House.

Read further for more news and updates in this Ram Review!

Natalie Bauerkemper

Principal

Wilson Middle School

Monday, September 16, 2024 - Picture Retakes

Monday, September 16, 2024 - Plano ISD College and Career Night

Tuesday, September 17, 2024 - CogAT Testing (7th grade only)

Tuesday, September 17, 2024 - Let's Talk: Guardianship and Alternatives (SPED Optional Meeting)

Wednesday, September 18, 2024 - Fall Open House (6:00 pm)

Wednesday, September 18, 2024 - PTA General Meeting

Wednesday, September 25, 2024 - Chick-fil-A Fundraiser (6:00 am - 9:00 pm)

Friday, October 11, 2024 - End of 1st Grading Period

October 14 - October 18, 2024 - Student Holiday (No School)

Friday, December 6, 2024 - PTA Winter Social

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Dear Parent/Guardian,

On Tuesday, September 17, 2024, students in 7th Grade at Wilson Middle School will take the Cognitive Abilities Test™ (CogAT®). The purpose of this letter is to inform you about the test so that—with your support and encouragement—your student will do his or her best on the test.

About CogAT

CogAT measures students’ learned reasoning abilities in the three areas most closely related to success in school:

• The Verbal Battery measures students’ abilities to reason with words and concepts. These reasoning abilities play an important role in reading comprehension, critical thinking, writing, and virtually all verbal learning tasks.

• The Quantitative Battery measures students’ abilities to reason with quantitative symbols and concepts. These reasoning skills are significantly related to problem solving in mathematics and other disciplines.

• The Nonverbal Battery measures students’ abilities to reason with geometric shapes and figures. To perform successfully, students must accurately implement strategies for solving novel problems.

The three separate batteries provide a broad perspective on each student’s learned reasoning abilities, identifying cognitive strengths and weaknesses.

How your student can prepare for test taking—and what you can do to help

You can help your student do his or her best by considering these tips:

• Make sure that your student is in school and on time on test days. Reschedule appointments and other out-of-school time on non-testing days.

• Make sure your student gets a good night’s sleep and eats a healthy breakfast before each day of testing.

Results

Students who complete all three domains will receive a CogAT Composite Score called an Ability Profile. The scores will indicate how your student performed on the test compared with students across the nation who are either the same age or in the same grade. Discuss the test results with your student in a positive way by pointing out his or her strengths.

If you wish to gain further knowledge of your student’s Ability Profile please visit this interactive website by Riverside Publishing at https://riversideinsights.com/citc/profile-finder.

Thank you for encouraging and supporting your student during testing. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact TaGwunda Martin at (469)752-6714 or tagwundamartin@pisd.edu.

Sincerely,

Natalie Bauerkemper

Principal

Wilson Middle School

Estimados padres de familia y tutores,

El día Tuesday, September 17, 2024, los alumnos de 7th Grade grado en Wilson Middle School realizarán el examen de habilidades cognitivas Cognitive Abilities Test™ (CogAT®, por sus siglas en inglés). El propósito de este comunicado es informarle sobre el examen para que -con su apoyo y buenos ánimos- su estudiante dé lo mejor de sí en dicho examen.

Acerca del CogAT

El CogAT mide las habilidades de razonamiento aprendido de los alumnos en las tres áreas más estrechamente relacionadas con el éxito escolar:

• La Batería verbal mide la capacidad de los alumnos para razonar con palabras y conceptos. Estas habilidades de razonamiento desempeñan un papel importante en la comprensión lectora, el pensamiento crítico, la escritura y prácticamente todas las tareas de aprendizaje verbal.

• La Batería cuantitativa mide la capacidad de los alumnos para razonar con símbolos y conceptos cuantitativos. Estas habilidades de razonamiento están significativamente entrelazadas con la resolución de problemas en matemáticas y otras disciplinas.

• La Batería no verbal mide la capacidad de los alumnos para razonar con formas y figuras geométricas. Para obtener buenos resultados, los alumnos deben aplicar con precisión estrategias para resolver problemas novedosos.

Las tres baterías independientes proporcionan una amplia perspectiva de las habilidades de razonamiento aprendidas de cada alumno, identificando los puntos cognitivos fuertes y débiles.

Cómo puede prepararse el alumno para el examen y qué puede hacer usted para ayudarle

Puede ayudar a su estudiante a dar lo mejor de sí mismo teniendo en cuenta estos consejos:

• Asegúrese de que su estudiante asista a clase y sea puntual el día del examen. Reprograme las citas y otras actividades extraescolares para los días en que no haya exámenes.

• Asegúrese de que su estudiante duerma bien y tome un desayuno saludable antes de cada día de examen.

Resultados

Los alumnos que completen los tres dominios recibirán una Puntuación Compuesta CogAT denominada Perfil de Habilidad. Las puntuaciones indicarán el rendimiento del alumno en la prueba en comparación con el de otros alumnos del país de la misma edad o del mismo curso. Comente los resultados de la prueba con su alumno de forma positiva, destacando sus puntos fuertes.

Si desea obtener más información sobre el Perfil de Habilidad de su alumno, visite este sitio web interactivo de Riverside Publishing en https://riversideinsights.com/citc/profile-finder.

Gracias por animar y apoyar a su alumno durante los exámenes. Si tiene alguna pregunta o duda, póngase en contacto con TaGwunda Martin at (469)752-6714 or tagwundamartin@pisd.edu.

Atentamente,

Natalie Bauerkemper

Principal

Wilson Middle School

September 3, 2024

Dear Wilson Parents/Guardians:

We invite you to attend our Fall Open House on Wednesday, September 18th. The doors will open at 5:30 PM so that you can attend the PTA General Meeting (Cafeteria) prior to the start of the Open House schedule. We ask that you be seated in your student’s 1st period class at 6:00 PM where we will watch a brief Title I Parent Information Video before starting.

You may look at your student's schedule on your phone or bring a copy with you to the Open House. If students attend, they are expected to remain with parents throughout the evening.

This evening is planned as a time for you to familiarize yourself with your child’s schedule and hear important information about each class. If an individual conference with the teacher is desired, parents may schedule an appointment for a separate time with the teacher.

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to seeing you Wednesday, September 18th.

Sincerely,

Natalie Bauerkemper

Principal

Congratulations to our outstanding players of the week and student athlete of the month of September!

Players of the Week:

• Offense:
• A Team: Jackson Hall
• B Team: Blake Johnson
• Defense:
• A Team: Cameron Reid
• B Team: Triton Rodriguez
• Special Teams:
• A Team: Julian Caliendo
• B Team: Seth Armijo

Student/Athlete of the Month:
Judah Holder - recognized for his exceptional performance in both academics and athletics, demonstrating coachability, teamwork, and a willingness to help others. Keep up the great work, Judah!

-Wilson Football Coaches

From September 2nd through December 29th, $.50 from every order of Golden Chick's new Churros will go directly to local schools just like Wilson! Wilson was specifically was picked to be the recipient of funds raised by Golden Chick this year.

This year, they extended our fundraising timeline to give as much as possible back to those who are shaping and molding our communities and future generations. Last year, every school they supported received between $300 and $1,000 – with even more time, and with your help, we can make this number even bigger!

Please see the flyer below for the first Let's Talk Transition series of the new school year! Adriane Grace, attorney, will be presenting on Guardianship and the Alternatives on September 17th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Families may request the Zoom link by e-mailing: stephanie.fryar@pisd.edu

A QR code will be available in the cafeteria this week for students who wish to sign up for a locker. When signing up, students can indicate their preferred locker location, and we will do our best to accommodate their requests.

Mrs. Martin will be calling down students over the next two weeks to assign lockers. We appreciate your patience as we roll out this new process, which hasn't been in place since before COVID.

Please remind your students that having a locker does not grant extra time during passing periods. It would be helpful for them to practice unlocking combination locks at home to avoid frustration.

Please review the notice below from our Safety & Security team:

• Important Safety & Security Information

During the school day, students are prohibited from having their cell phones, earbuds, or any other personal electronic devices visible. We kindly request that these items remain concealed in their backpacks. Once students are dismissed to their 1st period classes, they will be reminded to put away their devices. To ensure everyone is aware, we will reinforce this procedure the first few days of school. We encourage you to have a conversation with your child regarding this policy before the school year starts.

To accommodate the district's addition of 5 minutes to each school day, we have revised our bell schedule. Starting this fall, we will have a Monday-Thursday schedule and a separate schedule for Fridays.

The new Friday schedule allows for more flexibility, enabling us to meet in smaller groups, foster collaboration, and build connections as a whole school community. Additionally, this revised schedule provides opportunities for increased collaboration with our feeder high schools and senior high schools, promoting a stronger sense of continuity and cooperation across our educational community.

Ram Families,

***You will have the option to pay in Rycor beginning on August 13th.***

Celebrate your child's birthday and support Wilson at the same time! Pay $25 for your child's name to be posted on the marquee during their birthday week (Monday - Sunday). The student's first name, last initial and birthdate will display on the marquee. We will also either shout out your student over the school announcements or during lunch time over the microphone!

*If the marquee is not working, which is rare, their name will display the next working day.

Complete the details below and submit payment at least two weeks prior to the Monday of your child's birthday week.

Step 1: Complete this Google Form

Step 2: Make payment of $25.00 (You will have an option to pay beginning on August 13th)

Credit Card only: Sign into your Child's RYCOR account: https://www.studentquickpay.com/pisd

All volunteers (PISD staff volunteers, too) must create or update their application at plano.voly.org.

Hello Ram Families! Your Wilson PTA is open and ready for the 202-2025 school year!

Visit us at https://wilsonmiddleschoolpta.membershiptoolkit.com/ to get started on your back to school preparation. On our website, you can complete the following:

1. Update your annual Parent/Student Info (including updating your student's current grade)
2. Purchase your annual PTA Membership
3. Subscribe to the PTA calendar & newsletter

Please visit https://www.pisd.edu/volunteer to complete your annual volunteer application/background check. Stay tuned for more information on volunteer opportunities at WMS.

Free and Reduced Price

Plano ISD participates in the federal meal program, which provides free and reduced-price meals for students who qualify. Families who may qualify for meal benefits are encouraged to complete a federal meal application for the 2024-25 school year. Applications may be completed through SchoolCafé by logging in to your account, or by creating a new account.

Students who qualified for free or reduced-price meals at the end of last school year are eligible to participate at their current eligibility status for the first 30 operating days of the 2024-25 school year or until a new eligibility determination is made whichever comes first.

• In order for meal benefits to continue, a federal meal application for the 2024-25 school year must be completed.
• Students with no application on file after 30 operating days will return to full-paid eligibility status effective September 25, 2024.
• Households that have submitted a federal meal application for free or reduced-priced meals for the 2024-25 school year do not need to reapply.
• Households who wish to apply for free or reduced-priced meals will need to complete an online federal meal application for the current school year.
• Applications will be processed within 10 business days.
• Eligibility notification letters will be sent via email.
  • If you have not received the letter in your inbox, please check your junk and spam folders.

Beginning in fall 2024, new school hours will be:

• Early Childhood Schools: Beaty, Isaacs & Pearson (full day): 7:55 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
• Head Start (full day): 7:55 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
• Pre-K (full day) at Elementary School Campuses: 7:40 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Elementary Schools: 7:40 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Middle Schools: 8:25 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
• High/Senior High Schools: 9:05 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (note later start and end times)
• Plano ISD Academy High School: 9:20 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Dear Wilson Rams,

We are excited to announce that Plano ISD and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County (BGCCC) will continue their partnership and offer an after-school program at Wilson Middle School for the 2024-2025 school year. Through our partnership, your student will receive daily assistance with their homework, participate in fun enriching activities, and have access to test-taking strategies and skills that we are confident will increase their readiness for future college or career plans.

The program, called Club Reach, is only accepting 50 students who are in grades 6,7 or 8. Club Reach will be located at Wilson Middle School and will start immediately after school until 7:00pm daily. Students will receive daily snacks and be supervised and mentored by responsible and trained Boys & Girls Club staff members.

Typical after-school care, including Plano ISD’s PASAR program, cost upwards of $250 per month. However, this partnership allows an affordable rate of only $100/month plus an annual Boys & Girls Club membership fee of $20.00. Your Boys & Girls Club membership provides your student access to all of the programs and activities that the Club offers, including weekend programs, field trips, and special events.

Boys & Girls Clubs have a 160-year tradition of enabling all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Their vision is to “provide a world-class Club Experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who enters our doors, with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle.” Furthermore, the Boys & Girls Club helps kids become their best selves on their paths to great futures. Focusing on six key areas, we: create Safe Places; provide caring Mentorship; meet youth Mental Health needs; bridge the Workforce Readiness gap; champion Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; and ensure our Youth Advocacy elevates issues impacting youth.

FAQ:

1. When does this program start? August 19, 2024

2. Is there transportation to bring my student home? No, parents will be responsible to transport students home everyday. Pickup time is 7pm.

3. What is the total cost of this program? Monthly payments of $100 can be made to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County ($20 for annual membership fee). Limited scholarships are available.

4. How can I get more information or speak to someone from the Boys & Girls Club? For more information and to apply for membership go to www.bgccc.org/enroll. Or you can call our Plano Branch at 469-752-0001.

Parents of Ram Athletes,

Please see the information below and complete the necessary forms in order for your son/daughter to compete in athletics for the upcoming school year:

• A student athlete must have all paperwork signed by a parent/guardian before he or she can participate in any physical activity.
• Medical History: This form now is on Rank One for the parents to complete online.
• Physical - uploaded by the parents. This form also needs to be dated after April 1, 2024.
• Use the following link to complete the required Rank One forms: https://planoisd.rankonesport.com/New/Home.aspx

Counseling assignments for the 2024 – 2025 school year:

6th Grade

469-752-6716

jasmine.hanks@pisd.edu

7th Grade

Drew Obert

469-752-6718

8th Grade

Cynthia Wilcox

469-752-6717

cynthia.wilcox@pisd.edu

paula.ward@pisd.edu

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