WMS Family Newsletter
September 24, 2023
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Dear WMS Families,
It was great to see so many caregivers at Open House. We have several updates in this newsletter this week.
Quick announcements:
PHONES - Our main office phone is now working, so you can reach us at (617) 926-7783. If you are calling for absence or dismissal reasons, no need to call, just fill out the WMS Student Absence Form at the bottom of this newsletter.
Shout out to one of our own Watertown Middle School 8th graders, Daphne Goldstein, check out her article Comparing Online and AI-Assisted Learning: A Student’s View
Please see the latest SEPAC newsletter with information about a playground meet up today at 1:00PM
For those planning ahead, here is the WPS MCAS schedule Spring 2024
Picture Day was this past Wednesday, and everyone looked great. Here is all of the information for WMS Picture Day, including when Picture Retake Day is.
Upcoming Dates:
- September 27: Early Release Day with Grab-n-go Lunch (11:45 dismissal, students will see all classes for shorter periods)
- September 27: WMS Site Council (in person in the WMS Art Room with zoom link for those joining virtually)
- September 28: WMS Diversity Council (6:00-7:00 virtually here)
Respectfully yours,
Ms. Jennifer Chen Fein, Principal
Ms. Susan Carle, Assistant Principal (Clusters 1, 3, 5)
Ms. Jennifer Sarmiento, Assistant Principal (Clusters 2, 4, 6)
New News at WMS
Early Release PD Day - Wednesday, September 27, dismissal at 11:45am
Next Wednesday, 9/27 we will have a modified half day schedule where students will go to all regular classes for a shortened period of time.
Students can pick up a grab and go lunch at 11:45am. Staff will have professional learning time in the afternoon.
D.E.A.R. ("Drop Everything and Read")
At WMS we are incorporating D.E.A.R. ("Drop Everything and Read") into our school day as part of our school wide literacy development. Our goal is to support all readers’ growth through student choice and by meeting each reader “where they are” in order to improve decoding, fluency, and vocabulary acquisition.
D.E.A.R will be a mandatory part of our Supported Substitute Classroom (SSC), when staff are absent, as well as FLEX Fridays. Students will be supported in both the SSC and during FLEX Fridays through independent reading strategies and practices. D.E.A.R. is a national celebration of reading designed to make reading a priority activity in our lives. April 12th is national D.E.A.R. day in honor of author Beverly Cleary’s birthday. D.E.A.R. time was a reading practice featured in the Ramona books.
Something that caregivers can help with is reminding your child to pack their D.E.A.R. book every day, along with their charged chromebook, planner, and any other school supplies.
Late Bus and After School Activities
We are excited for clubs and other after school activities to start in early October.
In the meantime, we already have Learning Lab every day after school, free of charge! Looking for extra help with schoolwork? The WMS Learning Lab meets in the WMS Library Monday-Friday 2:15-3:45pm.
Students will pay $50 one time to participate in any sports or clubs all year; if it is a hardship for a family they should reach out to the guidance counselor to inquire about a scholarship.
Students may participate in any enrichment activities for free (Student Leadership, GSA, Yearbook, and Learning Lab).
Students and families will receive the club sign up form in the next week or so.
The late bus runs Monday-Friday at 3:45pm.
WMS Open House Slides from last Thursday
It was great to see so many caregivers with us last Thursday.
If you missed it, here is an overview of our school:
WMS Open House Overview Slides 2023
Teachers will be sharing monthly updates from their classrooms next week, and they will include any materials shared in the Open House night.
We look forward to seeing all caregivers for our Fall Caregiver Conferences on October 19 and October 24. We will be sharing information on how to sign up for those soon.
Safety Drills This Year
Next week, we will be performing Bus Drills, which teach students how to safety exit a bus in an emergency situation. All students participate, as we might be on a bus for field trips or other reasons throughout the year.
In the next several weeks, we will also be practicing our Evacuation Drill to our secondary site, as well as ALICE Table Talk Drills which help us prepare for emergencies up to and including an active shooter. Thank you Watertown Police Department for your partnership in these drills.
We teach students these safety protocols every year so that we are all able to better handle any emergencies that may happen in school or outside of school. We will share more information with families before we have the Evacuation and ALICE drills, so you know what to expect and can talk with your children at home before/after the drills.
Opportunities for Parents/Caregivers To Get Involved
WMS Site Council - September 27
The WMS Site Council is a body of students, faculty, parents, and caregivers that plays a strong role in the vision and direction of our school. For example, the WMS School Improvement Plan 2023-2024 was written in collaboration with the Site Council, teacher, and district leaders last year, and will be informing our work as a staff and school this year. We are looking for caregivers, especially those who can be with us for two or more years, to join!
This year, the WMS Site Council will be meeting on the following Wednesdays from 4-5pm, virtually, unless otherwise listed.
- September 27 (in person in the WMS Art Room with zoom link for those joining virtually)
- October 25
- November 29
- January 3
- January 31
- March 27
- May 1
- May 29 (in person at WMS)
Here is the agenda for our September 27th meeting, we hope to see you then.
Diversity Council - September 28
We will usually meet the third Thursday of each month, but for September we will meet this Thursday. We will meet virtually here at 6:00pm.
You can reach out to Sarah Seldomridge at sarah.seldomridge@watertown.k12.ma.us with any questions. Thank you!
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) - October 10
Our first PTO meeting this year will be on October 10, 2023 at 6:30pm. We will meet in person in the art room at WMS. You can enter through the main entrance at 68 Waverley Avenue, and go up the main staircase to get to the art room.
Are you interested in being on the WMS PTO? Reach out to our new co-PTO Presidents Elena Poillucci <elenapoillucci@gmail.com> and Melissa Parker <melissapisces@yahoo.com> with any questions or to express interest in joining next year.
Previously Shared News at WMS
7th Grade Caregivers - SBIRT
Please see this letter informing you of the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) interview that is conducted each year with 7th grade students.
Wayside Wellness - Opportunity for 8th grade students
Dear 8th Grade Families,
For those interested, WMS is offering a program for our 8th-grade students called “Wayside Wellness”. This program will be run by Wayside Counselors with the support of School Counselors and School Mental Health Clinicians. “Wayside Wellness” is focused on helping students make positive choices as they navigate adolescence. Specific topics will include self-identity, self-esteem, substance use, and managing stress and peer pressure.
Please look at the attached permission form if interested.
Please email Amanda Skypeck, 8th Grade Guidance Counselor, a signed permission form or fill out the Wayside Wellness Google Permission form by Monday, September 25th if you would like your student to participate in this group.
Upcoming Dates
- September 27: Early Release Day (11:45 dismissal, students will see all classes for shorter periods)
- September 27: WMS Site Council (4:00-5:00pm in person in the WMS Art Room with zoom link for those joining virtually)
- September 28: WMS Diversity Council (6:00-7:00 virtually here)
- October 2-5: i-ready diagnostic tests for math, reading (Special Schedule)
- October 3: PowerSchool Login Information shared
- October 9: No School - Indigenous Peoples' Day/Columbus Day
- October 10: PTO Meeting (6:30-7:00PM, WMS Art Room)
- October 10: 8th Grade Washington DC Trip Meeting for Caregivers (7:00-8:00, WMS Auditorium)
- October 18: Trimester 1 Progress Reports sent to families
- October 19: Early Release Day (11:45 dismissal, students will attend all classes for shorter periods), Teacher-Caregiver Conferences
- October 24: Early Release Day (11:45 dismissal, students will attend all classes for shorter periods), Teacher-Caregiver Conferences
- October 30: monthly update from teachers in WMS S'more
- November 7: No School for Students - Professional Development Day
- November 10: No School - Veterans Day (Observed)
- WMS Bell Schedule and Trimester Dates 2023-2024
How is our communication being received?
Watertown Middle School
Website: https://wms.watertown.k12.ma.us/
Location: 68 Waverley Avenue, Watertown, MA, USA
Phone: 617-926-7783