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".

November 25-29: Wellness Week No School

December 6: Picture Retakes

December 12: Winter Concert

Hello Movement Families,

You should have received a text message on Wednesday, October 23rd announcing that WLMS will no longer be using Class Dojo as a result of Senate Bill 29 and new requirements regarding student-data privacy. Class Dojo is not in compliance with SB29, which went into effect on Thursday, October 24th, and therefore cannot de utilized for our families.

We are working to replace Class Dojo with a program called Talking Points. An app is available through Talking Points that will allow you to easily connect with your student's teachers. See below about downloading the app in multiple languages. Here is an article as well about connecting with your student's teachers: https://talkingpoints.elevio.help/en/articles/890

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 should not need a school or a class code. If you are prompted to provide a school code, 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. If you have already responded that you need a code, this has been noted. We will follow up with you.)

We ask for your patience as we continue to troubleshoot some initial issues that are beyond our control regarding limited contact information that was provided to Talking Points for each student. We will not depend on school-wide communication using Talking Points until these issues are remedied. In the meantime, please keep an eye out for emails and make sure to read the bi-weekly s'more for important announcements and reminders! And, as always, you can find staff and teacher emails on our website directory here: https://www.ccsoh.us/domain/4044

Finally, 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, again please reach out.

Thank you for your help and patience as we work through this transition.

Lynsey Bock & Joy Johnson

Family Ambassadors

Award-winning author and illustrator Bryan Collier will spend the day at WLMS TOMORROW Wednesday, November 6th, meeting with students and sharing his passion for art and literature. If your student has a book by Collier, they will have an opportunity to get it signed! Please have them bring it to school! Students will be preparing for his visit by interacting with a "virtual reading room" that Mr. Leopold has developed. See details below --It might interest you too!

Click on the pdf link above to open the BRYAN COLLIER VIRTUAL READING ROOM.

1. Click on the picture of Bryan Collier on the top left side of the reading room. A four-minute video will show up where Bryan talks about his books and his artwork.

2. Go back to the virtual reading room and click on the book DAVE THE POTTER which is the first book on the left of the first shelf. The video is 5 minutes long and tells the true story of a slave who was a master potter maker—-and also a poet, but, because slaves were not allowed to read or write, he hid his poems by writing them inside the pots as he made them.

3. One more time go back to the virtual shelf and click on the book KNOCK, KNOCK which is on the top shelf on the right. This video is about nine minutes and is the true story of a man whose father would play Knock, Knock with him every morning until one day his dad went to prison and was not there for him anymore. The boy grows up to be a man who chooses to not let that pain cause him to give up on his dreams and he becomes successful as a strong father who is always there for his children.

   4. If you can take just two extra minutes, this YouTube link shows the man who KNOCK KNOCK is written about reciting a short poem about his experience. Very inspiring! https://youtu.be/RTZrPVqR0D8?si=ECUNrHN7OUyAqgiC

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!

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.

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.

Mr. Carter and Mr. Mobley are the two school counselors at WLMS. In October, the school counselors went into the classroom to talk to students about what the School Counseling department offers.

Students learned:

+ Who are the School Counselors and Student Support Team Members at WLMS

+ What does a School Counselor do?

+ When to see a School Counselor?

+ How to see a School Counselor?

+ What is Confidentiality?

+ Introduction to the Student Success Store

+ What is GPA (Grade Point Average)?

+ How to earn High School Credits in Middle School! (7th and 8th grade)

If you have any questions, talk to your student or send one of the School Counselors an email:

Mr. Carter - wcarter@columbus.k12.oh.us (Spanish)

Mr. Mobley - cmobley@columbus.k12.oh.us

Basketball season is up next! Details coming soon!

Check out WLMS's own school library newsletter!

If you have been down to the library recently, you might have noticed our new book vending machine. This vending machine uses tokens that our school librarian, Ms. Yates, can give to students to "buy" a book.

There will be two ways students get a token. One, at the end of each quarter the top three students with the most checkouts will get a token. The second way will be PBIS Postcards.

These postcards are to recognize when a student is exemplifying one or more of the 3 R's.

Teachers will submit postcards to the librarian. She will pull a card out of the box weekly and those students will get a token for a book.

Follow the library on Instagram at @wlms_reads

Ken Schloemer from Whetstone Library came to visit WLMS on Oct. 30th. He presented materials available to students throughout Columbus that will help them with reading, assist with homework, offer after-school spaces, and provide a space for educational and social events. Please see below for just a few of the opportunities available at your local library. Visit the following link to find a library closest to you and to learn more about how you can access resources.

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.

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 and some virtual reality fun in partnership with COSI! 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.

On Tuesday October 22nd and Thursday October 24th we auditioned almost 60 students who were interested in being on stage for WLMS' Production of Matilda Jr. Additionally, we have another 60 plus students who wanted to be a part of crew for the show, either by being in the backstage crew, running lights and sound, or designing and building the set. Friday, November 8th we will announce who made the cast and crew. Additionally, we will have our first rehearsal for everyone Tuesday, November 12th from 2:30-4:30P with a parent meeting to follow at 4:30p.

December will be here before we know it! More information about WLMS Music Concert will be coming soon! If you have any questions please reach out to:

Kevin Baum, Choir Director kbaum1@columbus.k12.oh.us

Ryan Swartz, Band and Orchestra Director rswartz@columbus.k12. oh.us

Mr. Leopold invites all students to participate in the 2024-2025 Caldecott Challenge. Follow this link to access weekly challenges throughout the school year:

https://clinton-es-young.my.canva.site/studentcaldecott-24-25

Directions: Each week, listen to the 2-3 books linked on the site. (Start with Week One and work at your own pace.) Then use the Google form to vote for ​your favorite! Remember that the Caldecott Medal is about the ILLUSTRATIONS! Enjoy!

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.

Next PTO Meeting: Tuesday, November 12th 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

Really want to be 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!

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!

Did you miss the season premiere of FACES?

The program that brings learning to life is back! Join us on Thursdays as FACES goes inside the classroom and behind the scenes with CCS.

Click the link below to watch last weeks episode and stay tuned for more FACES.

Registration for School's Out Fall is open and there are still openings!

Do your students need something to do during Wellness Week? Look no further than your local community center! School’s Out Fall opens community centers for extended hours during Columbus City Schools’ Wellness Week, Nov. 25-29 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

These fill up fast-please register soon. Use the link below to register.

Thanksgiving is about giving back! NBC4, Urban One, and the United Way of Central Ohio are teaming up once again to feed Columbus. CCS will be assisting in distributing FREE turkeys and sides to families as part of the 2024 Turkey Tour.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024

Time: 11am-2pm

Ft. Hayes Metropolitan Education Center

670 Jack Gibbs BLVD (please use entrance address from Leonard Ave.)

Stepping Stones Is a free six-week group designed specifically for parents/caregivers of children ages 0-12 with developmental delays or disabilities. Throughout this group, parents/caregivers will learn strategies to help them manage their child’s behavior and get more of the behaviors they want to see.

The first session is November 7th at 6pm on Zoom.

Participants will be eligible for up to a $90 gift card at the end of the six-weeks.

Call: 614-355-8099 or email:TripleP@NationwideChildrens.org to register.

The Family, Adolescent & Child Community Engagement Service (FACCES) is excited to announce the launch of their upcoming cooking classes, led by the talented Chef Donte. In a time when fast food often seems like the easiest option, these classes offer families and youth a new, healthier alternative. Participants will learn to prepare nutritious and delicious meals using fresh, organic ingredients grown right in the FACCES garden and greenhouse.

These classes will be available both in-person and virtually, making them accessible to everyone in the community. The recipes are easy to follow and designed to be cost-effective and timesaving, so families can recreate them at home with ease.

At FACCES, the belief is simple: well-being leads to well-doing. These cooking classes go beyond meal preparation—they’re about fostering health, connection, and shared knowledge that will benefit children, families, and the entire community.

For more information on upcoming FACCES Cooking Classes, call (614) 319.6070 or email food@thefacces.org for schedules and registration details. Stay tuned for more updates!

HOW IT FEELS TO BE FREE: THE CONCERT FOR COMMUNITY features the nation’s largest community chorus on stage at the majestic Ohio Theatre in downtown Columbus. This groundbreaking concert explores themes of self-realization and community transformation through songs and stories of hope, redemption, and freedom. The evening will feature stunning performances by incarcerated adults from Central Ohio prisons as well as videos highlighting stories of people transitioning from incarceration to freedom.

November 7, 2024, 7:30pm

Ohio Theatre

Join the Cleveland Cavaliers for Columbus City Schools Night on Friday, November 8th at 7:30pm vs Golden State Warriors at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, 1 Center Court, Cleveland, OH 44115. Everyone who purchases game tickets will be entered into a raffle to hold the big flag on the court during the singing of the National Anthem.

Other games that are included in this offer for discounted tickets are :

• Sunday, December 1 vs Boston Celtics
• Monday, January 20 vs Phoenix Suns
• Sunday, February 2 vs Dallas Mavericks

Come out and cheer on our Cleveland Cavaliers and show your support for Columbus City Schools. Use this link to purchase tickets for CCS Night: bit.ly/CCSCAVS2425. The games are available at the special CCS discount rate.

For more information, contact Thyran Nowden with the Cleveland Cavaliers at 216-219-3433 or tnowden@cavs.com.

Don’t miss this FREE opportunity to help parents stay informed and keep their kids safe online. Here's what parents will learn during this Internet safety presentation:

• Online gaming and social media insights
• Preventing online risks such as scams and deep fakes (and how AI is making these scams more convincing)
• Best practices to be safe online
• Managing screentime and bullying
• App settings for age-appropriate content
• Parental controls and tips on kid’s device setup
• Parents can also ask their own questions during the live Q&A

Remote Area Medical Services will provide FREE dental, vision, and medical services on a first-come, first-served basis:

November 16-17

East High School (1500 E. Broad St)

Clinic doors typically open at 6 a.m. All services are free and open to the public. No ID required. Please arrive early to secure an spot. Due to time constraints, be prepared to choose between DENTAL and VISION services. Medical services are offered to every patient attending the clinic.

For more information, please visit the link below.

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 the following dates:

• Tuesday, October 15, 2024, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• 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!

Join Columbus City Schools’ Pathway Express for a day full of exploring STEM and Zoology!

Saturday, December 14, 2024

3 - 6pm

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (4850 W Powell Rd., Powell, OH 43065)

Family Learning Experiences include:

• Free Flu Shots

• Marine Life Exploration with the Watters Aquatic Conservation Center

• Environmental Responsibility Awareness with Keep Columbus Beautiful

• Free Books and Giveaways (While Supplies Last)

• Experience the Magical Zoo Lights!

During December’s Pathway Express event, learning will be centered around Critical Thinking, a key quality in our Portrait of a Graduate. This means helping our students analyze and apply evidence-based reasoning to understand “big picture” challenges and how solutions affect other parts of a system.

Registration for the event opens Monday, November 18 at noon!

Families must register in advance for tickets by going to the link below.

Free transportation is provided! Buses will shuttle families from Northland, Walnut Ridge, South, and West High Schools to the zoo and back. Buses will depart from each school at 3:00 p.m. and will depart the zoo at 8:00 p.m. to drop families back off at the school that evening.

Attendance: Please ensure that your student is present EVERY DAY ON TIME. If your student is absent or if you know of a planned absence for an appointment, please use the QR code or our Google Form link. This is the most efficient way for us to accurately record student absences.

You can view or access the World Language Middle School attendance Google Form for the 23-24 school year here. We also have magnets with a QR code to quickly access the form. Need a magnet? Let us know and we can get one to you! Email lbock@columbus.k12.oh.us or jjohnson15@columbus.k12.oh.us!

Transportation Reminders: Please communicate any changes to your student's normal instructions for dismissal by 1:45 pm. Additionally, if you plan to pick up your student early, we would like you to do that before 1:45 pm to allow safe access for all as our buses begin arriving.

If your student is not riding the bus from school to home, we ask that they be picked up in the back parking lot, located on Sharon Avenue across from Colerain Elementary School at 2:30 pm. Cars should form a line, and wait for their students to be dismissed. There will be staff members there to assist. All students should be picked up no later than 2:45 pm. Please refrain from parking in the main parking lot to maintain safety for our staff and students as we load and dismiss buses. Thank you for your cooperation.

Locker Help!: Is your student still struggling with their locker? Have them watch this video from Ms. Garcia for some extra help!

WLMS PBIS: What is PBIS? PBIS stands for Positive Behavior Interventions and Support. It is a research-based framework that encourages schools to create a positive, predictable, and safe learning environment to ensure success for all students. The WLMS PBIS expectations are available below; click on your preferred language to enlarge the image. More information about PBIS can be found here.

Did you know that Columbus City Schools ESL Department has a designated call center in a variety of foreign languages? Call center hours are from 7:30a– 4:30p.

Call the CCS ESL Department at 614-365-8802 and select the number corresponding to the language you require assistance with:

For Spanish Press #1

For Somali Press #2

For Nepali Press #3

For Arabic Press #4

For French Press #5

For Swahili Press #6

For Kinyarwanda Press #7

For English Press #8

To view the ESL Department flier with more details, open the attachment here:

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 & Lynsey Bock

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

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

The Columbus City Schools FACT Line, part of the Office of Customer Relations, has compiled a listing of local agencies, organizations, and individuals (independent contractors not under the auspices of CCS) who provide tutoring or family-related services.

WLMS School Counselors have compiled a list of community resources for our WLMS families. Click on the document below to see the full pdf with lots of great information!

Freshtrak is an online tool that can be used to search for food access “events” in your community. Daily pantry hours, pop-up food events, and neighborhood resources are organized by zip code.

Are you looking for resources for affordable internet to support your student?

Check out these programs to see if you qualify:

Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) - https://www.fcc.gov/acp
EveryoneOn - https://www.everyoneon.org
PCs for People - https://www.pcsforpeople.org

Columbus Metropolitan Library: https://www.columbuslibrary.org

Upon entry into middle school, students are bombarded with environmental, social, emotional, and physical changes. Did you get one of our Middle School Matters pamphlets at our Open House last month? If not, check out this pdf from the Georgia Department of Education for important tips and advice for helping your student successfully transition into and thrive during their middle school years!

This helpful document covers:

• Social and Emotional Changes

• Organizational and Environmental Factors

• Academics

• Developmental Growth

• College and Career Readiness

¡También tenemos folletos disponibles en español a pedido!