World Language Middle School

Please Note: translate this newsletter by clicking the "Translate" icon.

Atención: traduce este boletín haciendo clic en el icono de la "Translate".

Attention : traduisez cette newsletter en cliquant sur l'icône "Translate".

يرجى ملاحظة ما يلي: قم بترجمة هذا البيان الإخباري من خلال النقر على أيقونة "ترجمة".

Makini: tafsiri jarida hili kwa kubofya ikoni ya "Translate".

December 16-20: House Spirit Weak

December 20: 30-minute Early Release

December 23-January 3: Winter Break- No School

January 6: Sign-up Deadline for Afterschool Tutoring

January 14: PTO Meeting

January 15: Winter Welcome at CIHS

Spring Conferences: February 4 & 13

Partner with PTO to send WLMS teachers into Winter Break with a little love from our families! The school is providing soups and hot drinks for our teachers on Friday 12/20, but are asking help from families to:
1) donate bread to go with soups.
2) donate holiday cookies of all kinds.
3) donate goodie bags so that staff can build-their-own cookie 'goodie bag' to take some holiday treats home.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848A4AB23A4FDCE9-54064461-winter

Please sign up no later than Thursday, December 19th and send items in by Friday morning at drop-off at the latest.

See the schedule below and remind your student to get in on the fun this last week before break!

WLMS has a Lost and Found that has accumulated LOTS of items!

Is your student missing something? Please remind them to take a look in our collection! If you send a description to Ms. Bock or Ms. Johnson about missing item(s), we're also wiling to go digging ;).

Tutoring sign-ups are still open! Students signing up this week will begin the week of January 13th.

Sign-ups will close January 6th. (You must provide your own transportation.)

Please use the link below to sign up for tutoring.

Be sure to mark your calendars for this fun night at Columbus International High School. Come learn about our Pathway high school, while also enjoying delicious food and musical entertainment! This event is free and is for all pathway families!

Ms. Yates is seeking to grow a board game collection for the library for students to utilize during recess or for teachers to 'check out' for student use in the classroom. She has developed a Wish List for any families desiring to contribute. The Wish List can be found here via Amazon, but she is accepting games both in new AND gently used condition. You do not need to purchase from the Amazon list. If you have different games you'd like to donate that are not on her list, or you have questions, please reach out to Ms. Yates at myates2@columbus.k12.oh.us. Thank you for your support in continually growing resources for our students and teachers!

Follow the library on Instagram at @wlms_reads

Click below for our most recent "Leopard Letter", our student-produced newsletter!

Because one of the goals of Ron Clark Academy model is improving school climate and culture, WLMS would like to use one of their approaches to this by adding a number of photographs of our students to our classrooms and hallways, but we need your help. WE ARE LOOKING FOR DONATIONS OF PICTURE FRAMES! If you have frames you would like to donate, please send them in to Ms. Ottobre-- all sizes are acceptable! If you have question, email Ms. Ottobre at eottobre@columbus.k12.oh.us.

What is the Ron Clark House Model? In Ms. Ottobre’s 8th grade classes and Ms. Howenstine's 7th grade classes have been 'sorted' into houses, like you might see in Harry Potter, after learning about the Ron Clark Academy. The house system is used to promote, enhance, maintain, and encourage excellent climate and culture in our school. There are four houses in our WLMS system: Amistad, the house of friendship; Altruismo, the house of giving; Isibindi, the house of courage; and Rêveur, the house of dreamers.

See this video for more information about the Ron Clark Academy and the house system model.

School Counselors are teaching 8th graders about the School Choice Process in December! Students visited Columbus International HS on December 13th. If you have any questions about the school choice process, please contact Mr. Carter or Mr. Mobley.

4077 Karl Rd, Columbus, OH 43224

If your family was unable to attend a school tour for CIHS, but would still like a tour and/or opportunity to shadow a language course, please reach out to Ms. Weinfurtner at kweinfurtner@columbus.k12.oh.us. And don't miss the Winter Welcome event on January 15th!

1441 Bethel Road, Columbus, OH 43220

Student-led tours are held every Friday morning at 7:45 am. Parents and students are welcome! No sign-up is required but please bring ID.

2632 McGuffey Rd, Columbus, OH 43211

Families interested in Columbus Alternative High School, please save these dates for CAHS's open house events. There are no individual tours being offered this year. To complete the interest form, click here.

546 Jack Gibbs Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215

To tour Fort Hayes, call the main office at (614) 365-6681. Ms. Cole, the office secretary, will ask for contact name, how many people in the party, any areas of interest and a contact phone number. All tours 2:45p - 3:30p with upcoming dates below:

Dec. 19th

Jan. 23rd

Feb. 20th

Mar. 20th

4405 Scenic Dr, Columbus, OH 43214

Please see the links below for more information about tours.

If you have a 8th grader, high school is right around the corner. Do you know where your student will be going to high school? Please complete the survey below so that we can understand where you're at in the process and help you navigate this next step! Please let us know if you need this survey in another language and we can send it to you directly!

8th Grade Caregiver Survey (English)

8th Grade Caregiver Survey (French)

8th Grade Caregiver Survey (Spanish)

It is important for families to know their "home school", especially 8th grade families as high school decisions approach. Because World Language MS is a lottery school, all 8th grade families will receive a 'reservation" at our pathway high school, International HS. Students are not required to accept this reservation and can choose to apply for lottery into another CCS school or they can return to their home school by address. This is why students need to know what their home school actually is! On the district website, the School Locator tool allows you to find your assigned schools by address. Type your address into the box then zoom out to see your assigned school.

Having trouble? Call the CCS Factline at 614-221-3228 and ask what high school your child would be assigned based on your address.

Our basketball season is underway! See the schedule below and come support our Leopards!

World Language Middle School has partnered with The City of Columbus Recreation and Parks to host their Center Without Walls program on site at WLMS and spots are still available for your student! Our students have been enjoying awesome programs like Jazz Lab, virtual reality fun in partnership with COSI, and marbling art! This program is on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2:30-5:00p, offering homework help, group activities, healthy snacks and more. See the flier below for more information. A downloadable form is also attached.

Note: Transportation home after the program is not provided.

Questions? Reach out to Ms. Geistfeld at jgeistfeld@columbus.k12.oh.us.

Please complete the Google Form for Musical Caregivers if you have not already! (Links and QRs are below!) and please sign up to contribute to after-school snacks as well using the Sign-up Genius link. SNACKS ARE COVERED THROUGH DECEMBER BUT WE HAVE LOTS OF JANUARY OPENINGS! Click on the pdf link below to see the rehearsal/after-school schedule.

Please reach out if you have any questions!

Google Form:

https://forms.gle/36974sbW7eiE435aA

Signup Genius:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848A4AB23A4FDCE9-53188252-snack#/

Next PTO Meeting: Tuesday, January 14th 6:30-7:30p (via Zoom):

• Zoom Meeting Link:
  https://us05web.zoom.us/j/6145806094?pwd=bQTd7F17jpO2O0NnsOskaR01qnECen.1&omn=89437218130
• (Meeting ID: 614 580 6094 Passcode: WLMS2425)

• Can't make the meeting but want to be involved? Join our email list!
• Email worldlanguagepto@gmail.com

Do you want to participate but have limited time?

Committees are a perfect option! Help when you can and how you can!

Below is a list of committees; committees in BOLD need members most, but if another committee interests you, please let us know!

Email worldlanguagepto@gmail.com to sign up!

Yearbook Committee: 3-4 members

take photos, gather photos, build pages, possibly sell 'ads'/sponsorships, promotion

Parent Volunteer Coordinators: 1-2 members

communicate with parents/FA and create Sign-up Genius sign-ups re: staff needs

Musical Committee: 2-3

members coordinate with parent volunteer coordinator specific to musical volunteer needs, sell ads, organize 'swag' sales, help with editing program

Multicultural Committee: 2-3 members

connect with ELL families, recruit multi-lingual families to promote involvement across school tracks and populations

Fundraiser Committee: 3-4 members

propose/coordinate fundraising opportunities, logistics, promotion

Dance Committee: 1-2 members

point person(s) with Principal Santos and Principal Davis for PTO partnership, coordinate supplies/decor, direct parent volunteers with Parent Volunteer Coordinator

Spiritwear Committee: 1-2 members

Develop spiritwear designs, manage orders

Social Media/Communications Committee: 1-2 members

Develop announcements, reminders, and general communication about PTO/PTO-sponsored events

President: Kyle Ewart

Co-Vice President: Lindsay Capps

Co-Vice President: Susie Troyer

Secretary: Melanie Matthews

Treasurer: Hannah Spiegel

Learn more about your PTO officers by clicking on the pdf below!

When families and teachers work together, children are more likely to be successful, attend school every day, and feel connected to their classmates and teachers. Parents and caregivers who are involved with school feel like they are part of the school community. One important way some families choose to participate in their child’s school is by joining the PTO or a committee. Parents and caregivers are able to meet other families in and work with teachers and administrators to make decisions about the school or district.

Did you know you can earn money for WLMS PTO while you shop? Link your Kroger account to World Language Middle School PTO using the link below; just log into your Kroger account and search for "World Language Parent Teacher Organization" or Organization Number: DQ451. Afterwards, every time you make a grocery purchase at Kroger, they'll donate money to WLMS PTO- at no additional cost to you!

Yearbook sales are officially live! Yearbooks are delivered in May before the end of the school year. Use the QR or the details on the flier below to place your online order.

The 2nd & 7 Columbus Kids’ Book Bank is hosting its 2024 Fall Giveaway, offering free books for readers of all ages! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to stock up on exciting reads for the whole family. These giveaway events are open to the public, and you can grab books from their large inventory on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Visit bookbank.secondandseven.com for more details or call 614.396.8161. Take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to encourage reading at home!

What is College Credit Plus?

The State of Ohio's College Credit Plus Program can help students earn college and high school credits at the same time by taking college courses from colleges and/or universities. The purpose of this program is to promote rigorous academic pursuits and to provide a wide variety of options for college-ready students. Taking a College Credit Plus course from a public college or university is free, which means no cost for tuition, books, or fees. If you choose to attend a private college or university, you may have limited costs.

In place of regular high school classes, students can take college courses and earn credits that can be transferred to colleges and universities after graduation.

CCP Information Sessions

Columbus City Schools invites you and your student (s) to join us for ONE of these mandatory information sessions in order for your students to participate in College Credit Plus (CCP) courses during the 2025-2026 School Year. You can choose to attend ONLY ONE face-to-face, virtually, or watch the video. The session will include a presentation on the College Credit Plus Program and information on next steps. College/university representatives will also be presenting information and available for individual questions about their application process.

This meeting is mandatory for ALL students taking CCP courses, regardless if it's taken on the college campus, online, or in your high school. Attending the informational meeting must be completed yearly along with submitting the Letter of Intent.

For more information visit the CCS Higher Education Partnership link below.

CCS Higher Education Partnership (HEP) Information Link - Click Here

Help your student stay on track this school year. They’ll have access to:

• Reading Buddies, 15 minutes of one-on-one reading practice for K-3 students
• School Help Centers, offering K-12 students free help with their schoolwork plus use of computers, printers, digital research tools and other resources
• HelpNow, connecting them one-on-one with a virtual tutor Monday-Friday, 2:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
• Online school help tools available 24/7
• YouMedia, an open lab space at nine locations where teens can explore technologies
• After-School Snack, offered at 16 locations in partnership with the Children’s Hunger Alliance

Visit columbuslibrary.org to learn more.

Reminder: WLMS is transitioning to Talking Points. An app is available through Talking Points that will allow you to easily connect with your student's teachers. Click on the "WLMS Resource S'more" button below to find instructions for downloading the app in multiple languages. If you download the app, you will be prompted to enter a 5-digit verification code that is sent to your phone. After this, you do not need a school or a class code. Once you access the app, your student's teachers should populate within two days. If you still don't have access to your student's teachers after this period, please reach out. If no caregiver in your household has been able to successfully connect to Talking Points, please send the name of your student and the phone number you are using with the app to Ms. Bock at lbock@columbus.k12.oh.us.

In attempt to reduce the amount of information in your bi-weekly s'more, we have compiled resources that are ongoing into a "Special Edition WLMS Resource" S'more. Use the button below to access this s'more for information like:

• Talking Points Instruction Letters (multiple languages)
• High School Choice Information
• Using the WLMS Website
• WLMS Attendance
• WLMS Transportation Details
• WLMS PBIS
• CCS District Resources: Factline & ESL Department
• Community Resources: Columbus Metropolitan Library, Tutoring, Food/Housing/Internet Assistance, etc.
• Socio-Emotional Resources for Middle School Families

As additional resources become available, this s'more will be updated.

Our role as Family Ambassador is to share information, tools and strategies that can further connect your student’s learning experience between their time in the classroom and home, host educational opportunities for families, and connect families to community and district resources. We want to support and help you to engage with the WLMS community, as well as help with navigating CCS. Questions about what you read in this s'more? We can help with that too!

We look forward to meeting your family this year if we haven’t already and are eager to connect with you! We are in the building throughout the week, and are also available to connect during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. Please do not hesitate to reach out, we are here FOR you; our contact information is listed below. If the use of an interpreter would aid our communication, we are happy to arrange that as well!

Go Leopards!

Joy Johnson (español): jjohnson15@columbus.k12.oh.us Phone: 614.526.9507

Lynsey Bock (français): lbock@columbus.k12.oh.us Phone: 614.407.6102

Have you ever wondered how to find something on the website? There's a lot of information! See below for some help navigating all our school's homepage.