WMS Family Newsletter

English : Students have begun their Narrative Writing Unit. Within this unit they are focusing on characterization, sentence fluency, dialogue, pronouns, adverbs, adjectives, plot, sensory details, similes and metaphors. They are also reading three independent reading books and then taking Reading Counts quizzes on the books to get credit for them. Students are also completing homework assignments on No Red Ink and studying helpful words taken from the Common Core Standards which will help assist them on the upcoming PARCC assessment.

Science : Team 6-4 has begun unit 3 in science class. We are trying out a new teaching tool called STEM Scopes. Students will be studying diversity in ecosystems. Using STEM Scopes students will explore succession, changes in ecosystems and ocean biodiversity. There will be hands on activities and students will be responsible to supply evidence to support their thinking.

TEAM 6-4, the Sea Stars, will be hosting a SPRING FLING Dance March 23 from 5-7 pm in the Villa Nova Building. Come celebrate Spring Time! Photos, flowers, pizza, snacks and drinks will be for sale. Photos $1. Dress up optional. Be on the look out for further announcements.

Sixth graders have created their "Math About Me" pictures and hung them up in our classroom. They are learning how to manage fixed and variable expenses. Seventh and eighth students are learning the financial responsibilities associated with buying a car and car insurance.

Winter Landscapes were taught to grade 7 and grade 8 students. They were asked to create a scene involving wInter activities, animals and people dressed for the weather. A major concept in this lesson was perspective. This concept was used to show distance and space on the flat surface of the paper. By making things in the front of the picture bigger and things in the back of the paper smaller, it shows that there is distance between those two areas and also gives you more opportunities on your paper to add more objects and interest.

Students and teachers are excited about our upcoming Book Fair. An amazing selection of books is headed our way! At the Book Fair, you will find the latest and finest titles for middle school students, as well as books of interest to parents. Mark your calendar for our Family Event during Parent/Teacher Conferences on Thursday, March 3rd, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. See you at the Book Fair!

For more information and a preview of some of the books available at the fair, check out the Book Fair homepage for your school.

WMS at Hamlet: http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairs/cptoolkit/homepage.do?method=homepage&url=wmshamlet

WMS at Villa Nova: http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/woonsocketmidschvillanova

Sixth grade students should be bringing updated physical exams and immunizations to the school nurse. Students entering seventh grade in September are required to have updated physical exams and immunizations (Tdap, #2 Varicella, Meningitis & HPV) before entering seventh grade. Students entering eighth grade in September are required to have a second HPV vaccine. Please drop off documentation to the nurse's office.

The nurse's offices are accepting donations to support Women's Heart Health. February 5th is National Wear Red Day to promote awareness of the number one killer of women each year.

LASERS: Please warn your children about the dangers of lasers. If flashed in someone's eye this can lead to severe damage. These are not allowed at school.

Myschoolbucks.com, an on line payment system that you can use to make on line payments to their child's lunch account. You can make payments with credit cards or by Echeck. The link is woonsocket.sodexomyway.com and from there is a tab to click for on line payments. You may make payment of up to $120 total, spread over multiple student accounts if required. The fee charged by Myschoolbucks is $2.00. Any parent may sign up and view their child's account without making payments. Payments can also be made at school as they are now.

Follow these simple steps to get your log in information if you have not done so:

• Go to Main Office (Hamlet or Villa Nova)

• Show the clerk your Identification

• Give the clerk your e-mail address

• Sign your name on the sign up form

• The clerk will give you a login, password and instructions

Check out the WMS school counseling website by visitinghttp://novaguidance.weebly.com/ or going on to our school website and looking under the School Counseling tab. Learn about many of our exciting leadership programs, access resources to support your child's social and emotional health, read about our Students of the Quarter and find helpful information about grade reporting and making the middle school transition.

Winter Fun Vacation Camp will be held on Tuesday, February 16th - Friday, February 19th from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Villa Nova. Students will participate in daily themed fun activities, sports, arts & crafts and games. Breakfast will be served. Students need to bring their own lunch. Pick up and drop off will be at the back entrance of the Villa Nova cafeteria. Cost is $10.00 for CCF members or $25.00 for non-members (CCF membership and camp fee)

The Winter 2016 After-school Program Session will end on Friday, March 11th. The Spring After-school Program Session will begin on Monday, March 21st and end on Thursday, May 19th. Registration booklets for the Spring Session will be available early March.

Save the dates:

• Thursday, March 10, 2016 - Winter Fest (Student Showcase) at Villa Nova cafeteria from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
  
• Thursday, March 31, 2016 - Spring Dance at Villa Nova cafeteria from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. ($5.00 at the door)
  
• Thursday, April 14, 2016 - Family Sports and Games Night at Villa Nova cafeteria and gym from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
  
• Friday, May 13, 2016 - Theater Club's presentation of "Hairspray Jr." musical at Villa Nova cafeteria at 7:00 p.m. ($10.00 at the door)
  
• Thursday, May 19, 2016 - After-school Program End of the Year Celebration at Villa Nova cafeteria from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
  

Please contact Ms. Costa at 401-235-6125, x4253 with any questions.

On February 8th from 2 pm to 3 pm, our parent and family engagement liaison, Jen Renigaldo, will be holding a recipe club meeting in Villa Nova. Recipe clubs are food-themed friendship circles in which friends - both new and old - gather to share memorable recipes. Please bring a recipe that is special to you to share. Your recipe can be original, or it can be from a published recipe. The recipe can be as simple or as complex as you like, anything goes! Recipe cards will be provided.

Using a QR code scanner on your smartphone, hold your phone up to the QR code to be directed to our weekly school lunch menu.

Monday, February 8th

• 2 pm - SIT Meeting - Hamlet Room 124
• 2 pm - WMS Recipe Club - Villa Nova
• 6 pm - PTO Meeting - Hamlet Cafeteria????

Wednesday, February 10th

• 7 pm - School Committee Meeting - Hamlet Cafeteria
  

Thursday, February 11th

• 6 pm - 8 pm - Valentine's Dance hosted by Team 8-1 - Villa Nova Cafeteria

Monday, February 15th to Friday, February 19th

• NO SCHOOL - Winter Recess
• 9 am to 2 pm - Winter Fun Vacation Camp provided by 21st CCLC - Villa Nova building
  

Wednesday, February 24th

• 7 pm - School Committee Meeting - Hamlet Cafeteria
  

Thursday, March 3rd

• 5 -8 pm Parent - Teacher Conferences

Email: mthompson@woonsocketschools.com
Website: http://woonsocketmiddleschool.weebly.com
Location: 60 and 240 Florence Drive
Phone: 401 235-6125 401 235-6110
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/middleschoolofwoonsocket
Twitter: @wms_ri