The Ram Review

We are thrilled to be back in full swing for the spring semester! There is so much to celebrate and look forward to as we dive into this new year together.

First, we are proud to announce that Wilson has officially been approved as an IB Candidate School! This is a tremendous step forward in expanding opportunities for our students and elevating the level of education we provide. We will be sharing more updates as we move through the candidacy process.

On the court, basketball season is in full gear! The past two weeks have been packed with thrilling games—some big wins and a few hard-fought close losses. Our Rams are showing incredible heart, and we are so proud of their effort and sportsmanship. Let’s keep that momentum going! We would love to see you in the stands this week to cheer on our players.

Thank you for your continued support, and let’s make it a fantastic semester!

Natalie Bauerkemper

Principal

Wilson Middle School

Monday, January 20, 2025 - MLK Day - Student/Staff Holiday

Monday, January 27, 2025 - Winter MAP Score Reports Sent Home

Friday, February 7, 2025 - Spring Pep Rally

Monday, February 17, 2025 - Student Holiday / Staff PD Day

Tuesday, February 18, 2025 - Student Holiday / Staff PD Day

Monday, March 17, 2025 - Friday, March 21, 2025 - Spring Break

Monday, March 24, 2025 - Student Holiday / Staff PD Day

Friday, April 18, 2025 - Student/Teacher Holiday

Friday, May 23, 2025 - Ram Fest

Friday, May 23, 2025 - Last Day of School

Students in Grades K-8 have completed the middle of the year MAP testing sessions. These results provide teachers with valuable information about each student’s learning progress and next steps for their instruction. Parents and guardians can expect to receive a hard copy of their child’s results; this Family Report will come home with the student. For more information about MAP testing, parents may visit the NWEA’s Family Toolkit website (available in multiple languages) or visit the links here for a brief overview of the report in English or Spanish. Reports will be sent home no later than January 27.

For questions about a child’s results or progress, please contact your child’s teacher.

The 2023-2024 Federal Report Card for Wilson Middle School has now been released, and posted to the Wilson Middle School website https://www.pisd.edu/wilson_ar. The report provides information concerning student performance on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR), as well as information on student enrollment, class size averages, and financial expenditures. The information contained in the School Report Card is described in the “School Report Card Definitions.” The Federal Report Card is also available at https://tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/accountability/academic-accountability/performance-reporting/federal-report-cards. If you have any questions concerning the School Report Cards, please let us know.

Thank you for your continued support of Wilson Middle School.

El boletines de informe federal del 2023-2024 para la escuela Wilson Middle School han sido publicados en el sitio de internet Wilson Middle School https://www.pisd.edu/wilson_ar. El reporte proporciona información sobre el rendimiento de los estudiantes en la prueba STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) que es el nombre del programa de evaluación académica para los estudiantes en las escuelas públicas de Texas, así como información sobre estudiantes inscritos, tamaño promedio de la clase y gastos financieros. La información contenida en el reporte de progreso de la escuela es requerida por la ley estatal y se describe en las "definiciones del boletín de informe de la escuela". El boletín del informe del gobierno de los Estados Unidos se encuentra disponible también en https://tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/accountability/academic-accountability/performance-reporting/federal-report-cards. Si usted tiene alguna pregunta acerca del boletín de informe de la escuela, por favor háganoslo saber.

Gracias por su apoyo continúo en la escuela Wilson Middle School.

Parents are now able to access student report cards within Skyward for the second nine weeks. When attendance letters, progress reports, and report cards are posted to Family Access, parents/guardians receive a notification through the message center.

To access the document:

1. Go to the student module
2. Select portfolio
3. Provide an electronic signature prior to accessing the document.
4. Once the electronic signature is provided, a download icon appears. This will download the PDF and allow parent/guardian to view the document.

Additional help with Skyward/Family Access can he found here: https://www.pisd.edu/familyaccesshelp

Time is running out to order your WMS yearbook. Yearbooks are $45. Questions? Email Ms. Scott @ lisa.scott@pisd.edu

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

The Ram Community can translate the Ram Review newsletter into multiple languages. Please look at the top of the newsletter and click on translate. From there, you will be able to translate the newsletter in your preferred language.