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WMS Family Smore

December 11, 2022

WMS FamilySmoreDecember 11, 2022

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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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Dear WMS Families,

I can't believe it, but we are only 2 weeks away from Winter Break. To celebrate, we are getting ready for our first all-school assembly later this month - the Geo Bee! Stay tuned for more information next week.


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

  • December 1-23: Parents and Caregivers can complete the 5 Essentials Survey (We need at least 20% of parents/caregivers to complete the survey - we are at 10% so far)

  • December 13: 8th grade field trip to BC Basketball Game (10:00AM-2:30PM)

  • December 14: Early Release PD Day: Day 12:30pm dismissal with grab n go lunch (Day F1, will see every class for a shortened period of time)
  • December 14: PTO Meeting (7:00pm, virtual)
  • December 15: Diversity Council (7:00pm, virtual)


Be well and take care of one another.


Respectfully yours,

Ms. Jennifer Chen Fein, Principal

Ms. Jennifer Sarmiento, Assistant Principal (Clusters 2, 4, 6)

Mr. Patrick Dayton, Interim Assistant Principal (Clusters 1, 3, 5)

News at WMS

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5 Essentials Survey

We need your feedback! Watertown Public Schools is surveying students, families, and teachers, and we need at least 20% of parents/caregivers to complete the 2023 Watertown Parent Survey. 10% of our parents/caregivers have completed the survey so far, can we get another 10% this week? This survey should take about 15 minutes to complete, and it gives our leadership team valuable information on what we are doing well and how we can improve.


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


Please let us know how you and your family are experiencing school here:

2023 Watertown Parent Survey

Opens Dec. 1, 2022 and closes Dec. 23, 2022.

Attendance Reminders - call the main office before 8:30AM to report a student's absence

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.

Last Week's News from WMS Teachers

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


Reading

Connections

LB Math

Wilson Reading

The Specialists

ELD/Phonics

Opportunities for Parents/Caregivers To Get Involved

Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) - December 14

The PTO meets virtually on the second Wednesday of each month, and the next meeting is on Wednesday, December 14th at 7pm. Reach out to the PTO President Erin Macomber at erin_macomber@neds.org with any questions or to express interest.

Diversity Council - December 15

The WMS Diversity Council will meet once a month on the third Thursdays at 7:00pm virtually, with the next meeting on December 15, 2022. We will be focusing on actionable steps outlined in the district equity audit taken last school year.


Reach out to Jen Sarmiento at jennifer.sarmeinto@watertown.k12.ma.us to express interest in joining or with any questions.

School Site Council (SSC) - January 3

The WMS SSC meets once a month on the first Tuesdays at 7:00pm, virtually. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.

INFORMATION FROM THE WMS COMMUNITY

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Watertown High School Winter Concert

Concert Information:

  • Tuesday December 13th at 7pm
  • Shaw Auditorium


Come and support our student musicians!!


Admission is FREE!!!!

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News from Watertown Recreation

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.

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Watertown High School Artists exhibit at the Watertown Public Library

Come to the beautiful Watertown Public Library and enjoy the amazing work of our Watertown High School Artists! The exhibit will be there for the month of December!

WMS School Spirit Shop
WMS apparel is available in a variety of styles for women, men and youth with a variety of color and logo combinations. A portion of the proceeds go to the WMS PTO to help fund activities and enrichment opportunities for students throughout the year.

Upcoming Dates

  • December 1-23: Parents and Caregivers can complete the 5 Essentials Survey
  • December 6: School Site Council (7:00pm, virtual)
  • December 14: Early Release PD Day: Day 12:30pm dismissal with grab n go lunch (Day F1, will see every class for a shortened period of time)
  • December 14: PTO Meeting (7:00pm, virtual)
  • December 15: Diversity Council (7:00pm, virtual)
  • December 21: Quarter 2 Progress Reports are made available to parents/caregivers
  • December 21: First Annual Holiday Bake Sale and Sing Along (WMS cafeteria, 5:30-7:00PM)
  • December 26-January 2: Winter Recess - No School

  • January 3: School Site Council (7:00pm, virtual)

  • January 11: PTO Meeting (7:00pm, virtual)

  • January 13: PD Day - No School

  • January 16: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School

  • Watertown Public Schools Calendar 2022-2023