WMS RedHawk Update #3

We are looking forward to having our students back in the building next week! Don't forget that the Middle School Schedule has an early release EACH Wednesday, including the first day of school!

Tim Loversky

• New start time…. Please drop-off your child no later than 7:40 AM so that they have time to get to their locker and to class.

• Start Time: 7:50 AM - when students should be seated in their classroom ready to learn

• End Time: 1:50 PM each Wednesday,
  2:50 PM is our regular dismissal time for other days of the week.

• Every Wednesday is an Early Release, including the first day of school

• Occasionally we will run an alternative bell schedule for testing, Team Day, etc. Those will be added to the posted bell schedule.

• Each year we work to reduce the number of students who are tardy to school and class by assigning detentions when tardiness becomes significant.

If you will be dropping off your child in the morning, then you must watch this Morning Drop-Off Procedures video! It explains how we do drop off in the morning. We know that traffic poses challenges and have developed a well oiled machine to expedite the process. If you follow these directions, we can get a whole bunch of kids in safely and quickly. The key is that you pull up to the furthest sign, and then your child gets out on the passenger side nearest to the building.

• If your student has a bus, please encourage them to ride it as this will help reduce car traffic

If you are going to pick-up your child in the afternoon, you will need to pick them up at the Norris Center. Here are video directions to watch with your child on how afternoon pick-up works.

• To help students locate their bus in the afternoon, we have a bus board with the lineup of buses. You will also be able to view the PM Bus Arrival Google Doc where we digitally document the bus locations. Please encourage your child to pay attention to the bus document so they don't miss their bus.

• How to Access the PM Bus Arrival Doc on Google Docs and Your Phone

• Notes for parents:

• Don’t park in the parking lot or along where the softball fields are. This causes issues with our buses entering and exiting.

• Early Release on Wed August 12th and every Wed thereafter

• Pick up car riders at Norris Center

• Late buses the first morning or two: Buses will likely be a bit late the first morning or two. Make sure your student is at their stop a few minutes before their Just have your student stay at their bus stop until it arrives.

• Late Buses in the PM: Please be patient and know that they will likely run a few minutes late. You can use this live Google Doc to see when your child’s bus leaves Wredling. We add the times each bus departs for the first several weeks then switch to documenting just the time the final bus departs. (Please bookmark that document for future use.)

• Make sure your child knows their ROUTE number for AM and PM. Our teachers will do this at the end of the day, but it is smart to put their bus routes somewhere where they can easily find them. Tell them that bus ROUTES are displayed in the side window of the bus. Tell them NOT to look at the bus number on the back.

• Bus routes were published August 7th at 8 AM in Home Access Center (HAC) this year - not eLink as in prior years

• Students should simply bring a pen and paper, and their Chromebook to class first period. Teachers will tell them what they need each period.
  
• For new students, Chromebooks should be handed out the first day.
  
• Cell phones, cellular smartwatches and wireless ear buds (or the like) should be “off and away during the day and stored in lockers.” All students should have wired earbuds or headphones. We have had major issues with students wearing earbuds in class and in the hallway and they were unable to hear directions from staff. Many streamed music wirelessly from their phones rather than listening to instruction. We also had students bringing expensive Bluetooth earbuds and lose one or both during the day. This caused those students a lot of distress especially when they didn't find their missing property.
• During the first 5 weeks of school, we will be continually reviewing the expectations for our students across all of their settings (ex. bus, hallway, classroom, cafeteria, etc.). We will share that information with you after the first week of school or so. We have high expectations for our students and we know they can live up to them!

• It is not a bad idea for students bring a lunch the first few days as lunch lines can get long, especially for 6th graders who are learning about their food options and take a longer time to order / get food. Students are welcome to bring lunch or Purchase lunch in the cafeteria.

• They will have traditional school lunch choices available. Menus are posted on the District website on the Food Services page.
  2024-2025 Breakfast & Lunch Meal Prices:
  Middle School Breakfast - $2.00
  Reduced Breakfast - $0.40*
  Middle School Lunch - $3.75
  Reduced Lunch - $0.40
  Milk - $0.60 (when purchased separately from meals)
  A la carte items - prices vary
  

• Click here to learn all about our meal service plans.

• Please make sure to put some money on PushCoin if you want them to access snacks.

• A good conversation to have before school starts is how to budget for snacks. Topics like “not buying snacks for the table” and “you only have money for two snacks per week” are important topics to cover.

• Here is a list of all of our Team Leaders, Admin, and Student Support Team members who will support your child. Please keep this link handy for future reference.

• You can also use our Staff directory located on the right hand side of the Wredling Website.

• So who do I contact for my concern???
  While there are always some exceptions, the general rule of thumb is to email or call:

  • Emotional issues - Counselors

  • Disciplinary issues - Student Services Coordinators (Deans)

  • School work issue - Teachers

• In general, if your child needs support, start with the teacher and then the team leader. If you still need help, move to the Assistant Principals (academics) or Student Support Coordinators (Deans) (behavioral).
  

• If you email Tim Loversky (principal) he may forward your email to the right person to handle the issue. Please do not be offended when he does this. The goal is to expedite getting the issue attended to as promptly as possible.

D303 MIDDLE SCHOOL EXPECTATION: Students will be expected to keep their cell phones, cellular smartwatches, earbuds, and backpacks in their lockers during the school day this year.

Both WMS and TMS are implementing consistent practices regarding cell phones, cellular smartwatches, earbuds, and backpacks to enhance student well-being and safety. Drawing insights from the book The Anxious Generation, which highlights the impact of digital devices on student anxiety and focus, we aim to create a more focused and less stressful learning environment by limiting their use. Additionally, managing backpack use addresses classroom safety concerns by reducing tripping hazards and fostering better organizational skills among students. These measures are designed to promote a healthier, safer, and more productive educational experience for all students, especially in light of recent research linking excessive cell phone use to cognitive development issues, reduced attention spans, impaired learning, and lower academic performance.

Cell Phone, Cellular Smartwatch, and Earbud Expectations

1. Cell phones, wireless headphones, and cellular smartwatches should be off and away in lockers from 7:45 AM until the end of the day.
2. Cell phone and Smartwatch use is prohibited in classrooms, restrooms, and school offices unless a teacher states otherwise.
3. During the instructional day, cell phones must be in lockers and placed in the airplane or off mode.
4. If students need to make an emergency phone call during the day, students may use the classroom phone or request to go to the main office to use an office phone. They may also ask the teacher to use their cell phone to call or text a parent if necessary.
5. Students may not text or call a parent to come get them from school without first going to the school nurse or main office.
6. Students may be subject to disciplinary action if they do not follow the school’s cell phone rules.
7. The school and its staff are not responsible for any damage to or theft of a student’s cell phone, smartwatch, or headphones/earbuds. Students must properly secure and take care of their own devices.
8. Accommodations may be made for students who need a cell phone with them or wear wireless headphones for medical or personal reasons. These accommodations must be approved through a 504 Plan, an IEP, or with permission from the principal’s office.

Backpack Use

Backpacks may be used before and after school to transport materials from home to school (and vice versa). During the school day, students will be expected to carry their supplies and use their lockers to switch out items during passing periods. Their backpack needs to remain in their locker during the school day.

Accommodations can be made for students who need to carry a sling bag or backpack to each class due to medical or personal reasons. These accommodations must be approved through a 504 Plan, an IEP, or with permission from the principal’s office.

Prior to Safety Day and on August 21st, all students will have a lesson on Safety Day purpose and procedures. Safety Day drills will cover: fire drills, severe weather, and a lock down drill. If you have any questions about Safety Day or would like your student to opt-out of the lock down drill, please email: melissa.hickman@d303.org no later than Monday, August 19th at 3pm. We will arrange an alternate place for your student during the drill.

If your student needs addiional time to walk their schedule or set up their locker, you are welcome to bring them as follows:

• Friday, August 9th from 9:00 AM - Noon
• Monday, August 12th from 8:00 AM - Noon
• Tuesday, August 13th from 8:00 AM - Noon

*Students must be accompanied by an adult / older sibling.

Students who will not be in town from July 30th ⧿ August 9th
will be able to enter the building on the first day of school as early as
7:15 am on Wed August 14th to pick up supplies and go to their locker.

Check out the WMS spirit wear! Our online store is now open and orders can be placed until 8/19/2024. We have cozy hoodies, cool t-shirts, comfy pants, and more! Show WMS pride and support our school by making a purchase today! We only sell spirit wear a couple times a year so don’t miss the chance. We offer a variety of sizes and colors! All orders will be delivered to Wredling in late September.

Link to store: https://wredling2024.itemorder.com/shop/home/

The Color Palooza is held right after school from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM. This will be the ONLY after school activity on this date.

• Get more information and register by CLICKING HERE!
• Check out our promo video!

Many families have asked a variety of questions and we have answered them! CLICK HERE for the responses to the questions you have asked so far. See the Spanish version at the bottom of the linked document.

Mandatory Audition Workshop:

Monday, August 19th 3:00-6:00 pm

*Students must turn in all audition forms this day

Auditions:

Tuesday, August 20th or Thursday, August 22nd 3:00-6:00 pm

(students will choose 1 of the 2 days)

Callbacks:

Friday, August 23rd from 3:00-6:30

Rehearsals Begin:

Monday, August 26th 3:00-5:30

Audition Materials and the Information Packet will be available beginning July 30th at materials pickup…look for them under the WMS Theatre Poster near the Cafeteria.

Official sign-ups to secure an audition spot will be done electronically via a link on Schoology. Access to the audition site in Schoology will open on July 30th. It is essential that interested students visit and utilize this site to prepare for auditions.

Rehearsals will be held M, T, Th, F from 3:00-5:30 from 8/26 until the performances in October. Wednesdays will be added in late September. Students must be able to attend MOST all rehearsals and cannot have any conflicts during Tech Week rehearsals or Performances.

Shows

Thursday, October 24th (7:00)

Friday, October 25th (4:00)

Saturday, October 26th (2:00 and 7:00)

*This is an auditioned extracurricular activity; cuts will be made. Cast size for this show is 24.

Check out what is happening around our community. There are lots of opportunities to explore!

Website: wredling.d303.org
Location: 1200 Dunham Road, St. Charles, IL, USA
Phone: 331-228-3700

Fax: 331-228-3701
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WredlingMiddleSchoolD303