What's new with Watkins Middle?

A weekly reflection and preview of all things WMS

WMS updates and reminders

Students are asked to refrain from bringing glass containers to school, and administration also requests that students refrain from bringing outside drinks (Starbucks, etc) into the building as they often get spilled and could damage school property.
This Friday marks the first home Varsity Football game. We hope that all community members are able to attend. Parents are encouraged to attend with their middle school students for appropriate supervision.
August 22nd is our Open House/Meet the teacher night. This event will take place from 5:00-7:00pm. Due to limited parking we ask that parents use only one vehicle to attend. It will be crowded.
Interested in volunteering for the SWL Robotics team? See our volunteering information here.
Please be aware that the middle school is very full in terms of class availability. Schedule requests changes will not take place until the week of the 26th unless the request is associated with an issue related to a core class or missing periods. Sections are very full, and options may be limited.

As a reminder to parents, middle school is an exploratory experience for kids. We do our best to meet the elective requests made by families, but please remember that they are requests, not guarantees.

Please take a look at the drop off map below regarding AM & PM drop off routes. As a reminder to parents. Please help ensure the safety of all students, and maintain a consistent flow of traffic by supporting us with the following:

Do not enter the bus loop while busses are present, and no person should ever pull in between buses during arrival or dismissal times.
When navigating the parent drop off line please...

Abide by the one way traffic. Do not go against the flow of traffic.
Drop your child off by the 600 hall where staff are present.
Pick your child up by the 600 hall where staff are present.
Please stay alert for other children and avoid changing lanes, do not drive up the middle.
Do not park or pick up your child in the west (Rugby field lot) as this is our pick up location for our special needs bus. Please do not pick your child up in the middle of Watkins rd, or in the court of the neighborhood to the south of WMS.
Parents are encouraged to exit and drive west on warrior way to help with the flow of traffic. Remember that buses will have the right of way on school properties.
Please be patient, alert, and polite.

Is your child transported by an older high school sibling? The district runs a sibling shuttle from the high school to the middle school. Once your high schooler parks your middle school student can board bus #32 to hitch a ride down to the middle school.
Attention 8th grade parents!! Our first DC trip parent meeting will take place on August 22nd right after open house. The meeting will take place in the middle school cafeteria at 7:00pm.
Planning on monitoring your child's grades this year? Once school begins you will want to sign up for 'Progress Book' access. If you are new to the building you will likely need to wait until the start of school. See directions on how to do so by clicking on the progress book button below.
Please be aware of, and share with your child, the following policy changes for the 24-25 school year.

Cell phones must be turned off and away.
Bookbags will not be permitted in classrooms. locker use will be reinforced to start the day, before & after lunch, and at the conclusion of the day.

Opening day activities

6th graders began the 24-25 school year by meeting their teaching staff, receiving building tours, learning routines (including locker practice), and engaging in some design challenges.

7th & 8th grade return

Remaining grades began classes on Friday where they also reviewed routines and procedures.

Mrs. Plants engineers

Mrs. Plants 8th grade Science students went about working through collaborative design tasks.

Project Based Learning

Staff building wide at WMS are encouraged to approach learning through project based learning methods.

Inquiry based

Many times PBL can be engaged through discovery and inquiry, whereby students are presented with a challenge question.

21st century learning skills

The 21st century learner needs to engage in collaborative problem solving for jobs that may not even exist yet. PBL encourages students to be thinkers, learners, and leaders just like our building vision statement exudes.

Progress Book Set up assistance

Complete this form to have a staff member reach out to you regarding parent access to progress book.

Athletics

Please click the link below for all of your athletic ticketing and scheduling needs.

Hometown Ticketing

Varsity Ticket events are $7 up to 1 hour before the event. At the gate tickets are $8 (use of a card includes a fee at the gate). Middle School tickets are $5.

All athletes should enter and exit the building through the 600 hall (Door 7) entrance before and after practice each day.

Upcoming Events

8/22 WMS Open House, 5:00-7:00pm
8/26 MAP ELA Benchmark
8/27 Picture Day
8/30 PBIS Kickoff event (Kickball tournament)
9/12-9/26 Fall Parent Teacher Conferences

Watkins Middle School Google Calendar

Stay up to date with all our building happenings!

Contact us

Get in touch with WMS!

Email: jball@laca.org
Website: https://wms.swl.k12.oh.us/
Location: 8868 Watkins Road Southwest, Pataskala, OH, USA
Phone: (740)927-5767
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gowatkinsmiddleschool
Twitter: @WatkinsMiddle