Dear Wayland Middle School Caregivers,

Our students and teachers brought us many Bright Sides in the latter part of November.

Just before the Thanksgiving break, our 8th grade students and their teachers went to Boda Borg where they faced a variety of mental and physical challenges. Prior to the trip, our 8th grade teachers shared with our students the importance of maintaining a growth mindset as well as relying on teamwork when faced with challenges. Students “quested” in groups of 3-5, initially not knowing what to do, how much time they had, or how many challenges a Quest might have before they conquer it. Our 8th graders demonstrated patience, collaboration, and perseverance throughout the day!

In our 6th grade Spanish Immersion class, students were entering into a new standards-based unit of study. As a “hook”, an activity designed to motivate and engage students for future learning in a unit, students read creation stories in Spanish from around the world (such as Asi Nacio El Girasol - This is How the Sunflower Was Born) and discussed that these stories teach us about the cultures of the people who created them. Then students created their own stories, choosing a main character, a creation process, a conflict that the main character encounters, and a resolution of the problem. Pairs wrote their stories in Spanish and then proudly presented them to classmates.

Across our math classrooms, students are collaboratively “working at the whiteboard” (a Wayland Public School Foundation funded initiative). It looks a little different across the building, AND it is everywhere! In 8th grade, students are collaboratively working through the various ways to represent the equation of a line and then applying their knowledge to real world problems. For students who are building their collaborative skills, teachers are explicitly reviewing the values and norms for the group work. They emphasize perseverance, collaboration, taking risks, and finding new ideas along with important concrete expectations such as the “marker rule” (one student writes to reflect the conversation that the group is having) and “no erasing without asking permission first”. Teachers have chosen high interest thought problems to provide students with an opportunity to practice the “norms’ of the board work so they can then apply these collaborative skills to more challenging mathematical content.

Seeing our teachers and students in action in their classrooms is truly inspiring! Visiting classrooms is both joyous and critical to providing learning leadership in a school. Courtney, Rebecca, and I are committed to engaging deeply in the teaching and learning life of WMS. As always, my door is open. Whether you have questions, concerns, or simply want to share in the excitement of the school year, I encourage you to reach out.

Deborah

• Tuesday, December 3: MS/Select Chorus at WHS 7:00-8:00
• Wednesday, December 4: SUPER Wednesday Early Release. School dismisses at 12:20 PM. Grab & Go Lunch available
• Thursday, December 5: Spanish Immersion Parent Council Meeting 7:00-7:45 PM.
• Thursday, December 12: WMS Choral Concert 7:00 -8:00 PM. 🎤
• Tuesday, December 17: Principal's Parent Coffee 9:15-10:15 AM.
• Tuesday, December 17: WMS Band Concert 7:00 -8:00 PM. 🎺
• Monday, December 23 - Tuesday, December 31: Holiday Break - NO SCHOOL
• Wednesday, January 1: New Year's Day - NO SCHOOL 🥳

We are excited to host The Amazing Nano Brother Juggling Show for our Super Wednesday on December 4th. They are currently in residence at the Museum of Science in Boston. The following is an excerpt from the Nano Brothers Educator Guide:

“The Amazing Nano Brother Juggling Show is a 40-minute live dramatic performance exploring nanoscale science and technology. Using an engaging blend of juggling, drama, and comedy, the show introduces students to the mysteries of matter - including atoms, molecules, nanoscale forces, and scanning probe microscopy."

Save the date!

Please return the entire original package to the photographer on retake day. Write the student’s name and the reason for the retake on the envelope and a new package will be ordered using the retake day photo.

Students who were absent on original picture day and did preorder will have that order fulfilled with the retake day photo.

Students who were absent on original picture day and did not preorder may be photographed as well. Please print a copy of the order form attached below. Please fill out the bottom in its entirety and send with your cash or check payment into school on retake day.

All schools in the Wayland Public School district are focusing on the importance of regular school attendance for students’ academic growth and sense of belonging. To support this important district goal, we ask you to please schedule family vacations and other activities when school is not in session. On the rare occasion that a student is absent due to a trip or extended vacation, please have your student check the online google classroom and complete work as assigned to the best of their ability. Teachers are not required to provide work in advance. If possible, students should try to complete any quizzes or tests before leaving. Otherwise, they should make up any missing work within their first few days of their return to school. Please note that not all of WMS coursework is easily portable and that, as parents, you may have to guide your student through the work.

As we continue to foster BERT, especially belonging, in our community, we ask that party favors, especially clothing based party favors, remain outside of the school setting. When large groups of students all come in on Monday after a function wearing identical t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, etc. which advertise the celebration, it does not feel good and unintentionally sends an uncomfortable message to those who were not on the invite list. If you could ask that your student not wear an item as part of “group wear”, we would appreciate it. Fitting in and finding one’s way through the middle school years can be challenging. We are grateful for any help you can offer in this area as it will reduce in-school, social angst as students navigate the middle school landscape.

As part of our annual clean up before the December break, we will clean out WMS’ Lost and Found. There are many water bottles, hoodies, and jackets in our Lost and Found at this time. Please ask your student(s) to check the Lost and Found to see if any missing items belong to them. Also, if you are in the building for one of our wonderful upcoming events, please check the Lost and Found; the Lost and Found is found opposite the entrance to the library. On December 20th, items in the Lost and Found will be cleaned and donated when possible or discarded.

The Wayland Middle School PTO's annual holiday gift drive for kids living in residential homes of Wayside Youth & Family Support Network has begun!

Imagine if your child had nothing to open during the holidays…That’s what can happen to some of the tweens and teens living just a few miles away from WMS in one of residential homes of Wayside Youth & Family Support Network. Wayside is a group home for kids between 12 and 18 years old, many of whom will not have contact with any family members during the holiday season. There are about 85 young people who's lives we can positively impact.

How can you help? It's actually easy–the kids in short and long-term residence at Wayside Youth & Family Support Network have compiled an Amazon list of gifts they'd like. You can donate gifts via Wayside’s Amazon registry of items created especially for the Wayland Middle School PTO gift drive. Your selection will ship directly (later to be wrapped by WMS Community Service Clubs). Most gifts range from $25-100, and all are 100% tax deductible.

Please give a gift if you can. Thank you, and happy holidays!

Go to: Gift Drive Amazon Link

*Select "Wayside Campus-Gift Registry c/o Tim Hagen Address" for Shipping

Wayside Youth & Family Support Network is a local organization offering support, housing, and education to children who have experienced abuse, neglect, and trauma.

Learn more about Wayside Youth & Family Support Network.

Thirteen-year-old problem solver, Edwina, dishes out advice with the help of her friends and a little song and dance!

SHOWS:

Thursday, February 6: 7:00 PM

Friday, February 7: 7:00 PM

Have your child join the google classroom for all the info!

https://classroom.google.com/u/0/c/NzI5NDk3MzA0MDE3

Registration is open for basketball! WMS Girls and Boys Basketball is open to 7th and 8th graders. Basketball players should be prepared to commit to practices/games Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays beginning in early December through the week before February vacation.

Coach Hip and Coach Pinzone will be holding informational meetings in the coming weeks and will provide additional information regarding tryout dates, schedules etc. Interested student athletes must be registered via ArbiterSports (formerly FamilyID) and must have a current physical on file with the nurse in order to participate in tryouts. Registration will close on December 6, 2024.

The cost of Middle School athletic programs is $125 with payment due upon the completion of tryouts. For additional information, please reach out to the appropriate coach.

🏀 Boys Basketball: Thomas Pinzone - thomas_pinzone@waylandps.org

🧺 Girls Basketball: Hip Rivera - hipolito_rivera@waylandps.org

Artists: Madison Traina

Grade: 6

Medium: Watercolor, Acrylic and Ribbon

Thank You to everyone who has donated to the middle school PTO this fall! With your support we are at 91.7% of our goal! We are currently receiving grant requests from staff and will soon be putting your donations back into the classrooms. If you have not yet donated to Gift Your Child, please help us reach our fundraising goal--we are so close, with less than $2K to go!

Please see more examples of what we can support with your help.

Many companies will match an employee's gift to a charity one-to-one or even more in donations! Ask your employer if they offer a charitable match!

We're in need of bakers/volunteers! Please sign-up here to bring 2 dozen cookies (homemade or store-bought) or beverages to support our holiday cookie staff appreciation event on Monday, Dec 9. We're also looking for a few volunteers willing to pop into the middle school 1-2x during the year to help set-up or clean-up a staff appreciation event, please email Heather at hwgrimmett@gmail.com to learn more or volunteer. Thank you!

The WMS PTO adds weekly updates in the Monday newsletter, but additional details, reminders, photos and videos are shared on the WMS PTO Facebook Group. Stay in the loop!

Communications/Social Media PTO Chair

We are looking for someone that can create engaging content for the WMS Facebook Group and future Instagram account. The PTO uses canva.com to create fun videos, social media posts and more.

Other opportunities to volunteer

To see some of the descriptions, click on the volunteer opportunities below.

We have many ways to get involved! Please fill out our survey below or send an email to: Waylandmiddleschoolpto@gmail.com