WMS Family Smore
January 22, 2023
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Dear WMS Families,
We had a wonderful chorus concert this past week - congratulations Abi Varsos and all of the chorus students!
As we draw close to the end of Quarter 2, we encourage students and families to use PowerSchool to stay informed of current academic progress, and finish the first half of the school year strong.
- January 24: 504 training hosted by the Watertown SEPAC (6:30pm, registration required)
- January 25: WMS Orchestra Concert (7:00pm, WHS)
- January 26: Last day of Quarter 2
January 27: First day of Quarter 3
January 30: New WIN classes start for the second half of the year
January 27: 6-7th grade dance (6:30-8:30pm)
February 2: 8th grade social
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)
News at WMS
New News from WMS Teachers
Click on the links below to find updates from your child's teachers. These cluster/class smores are a helpful tool to know what your child is learning. These s'mores are shared and updated every other week in the WMS Family Smore.
Vocational/Technical Education Night - February 1
School Nutrition Positions Available at Watertown Middle School! Apply Now
We are hiring both a part-time (3.75 hours per day) & full-time (7 hours per day) school nutrition worker for Watertown Middle School! Hourly rate up to $18.50 per hour.
To view the job descriptions & apply online click the links below
Part-Time School Nutrition Position
Full-Time School Nutrition Position
Contact Brandon Rabbitt at 617-926-7756 or brandon.rabbitt@watertown.k12.ma.us for more information
Opportunities for Parents/Caregivers To Get Involved
School Site Council (SSC) - February 7
The WMS SSC meets once a month on the first Tuesdays at 7:00pm, virtually. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, with our K-7 and 8-12 Science Coordinators coming as special guests.
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) - February 8
The PTO meets virtually on the second Wednesday of each month, and the next meeting is on Wednesday, February 8 at 7pm. Reach out to the PTO President Erin Macomber at erin_macomber@neds.org with any questions or to express interest.
In addition, please join us for a night out soon - February 10th at Donahue's from 7:00-10:00PM. Even if you can't make it, you can make donations to the WMS PTO at our venmo account here.
Diversity Council - February 13
The WMS Diversity Council meets once a month. Our next meeting will be after school in person on February 13, with the meeting after being on Thursday, March 16 virtually, at 7pm. We will be focusing on planning and hosting an in-person event that celebrates the diversity of our school, as well as actionable steps outlined in the district equity audit taken last school year. Any and all are welcome to join.
INFORMATION FROM THE WMS COMMUNITY
Girls and Boys Lax
Registration for Waltham/Watertown Youth Lacrosse is open! We are looking for new and experienced boys and girls from grades K-8 to join our Lacrosse community. The Waltham and Watertown Youth Lacrosse organizations merged a few years back and we are looking to continue to grow this sport we love so much and know your kids will too.
The boys are a part of Mass Youth Lacrosse (MYL) which represents most towns in Massachusetts while the girls play in the Founders Girls Lacrosse League. Practices are at Waltham High one-to-two weekday nights (and/or Saturday mornings) depending on age group. Home games are played on Sundays at Waltham High School. Practices, weather permitting, will begin in March with games scheduled to begin in early April. If there are any questions please feel free to reach out to John O'Brien (jobrien32@hotmail.com).
The registration link is here: https://waltham.demosphere-secure.com/_registration
And be sure to follow Waltham Youth Lacrosse on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Waltham-Youth-Lacrosse-103060247927982
Thank you!
Waltham Youth Lacrosse
504 Training hosted by Watertown SEPAC
504 Training hosted by Watertown SEPAC: We invite you to join us for a free, virtual 504 training on Tuesday, January 24 at 6:30pm. Please note that a brief registration is required to attend. The meeting link will be sent to you by email after you register. See the link for more information and to register for the workshop: https://www.smore.com/g5qdc
The Watertown SEPAC
"The mission of the Watertown SEPAC is to encourage honest and effective communication, understanding, and mutual respect in a supportive partnership inclusive of all students, caregivers, educators, and the community at large in an effort to ensure the delivery of appropriate services and supports to students with disabilities and special health care needs. We work directly with district administrators to address system-level challenges, facilitate family-district communication, and provide families with training and resources."
https://sites.google.com/watertown.k12.ma.us/watertown-sepac/
Immigration Legal Consultations with Greater Boston Legal Services - Watertown Free Public Library
The Watertown Free Public Library will be hosting immigration lawyers from Greater Boston Legal Services on a monthly basis. They will be providing free and confidential legal consultation for immigrants.
Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 17th | 6-8 PM By appointment
Second Tuesdays of the Month, 6-8 PM By appointment
Register for a free immigration legal consultation with a representative from Greater Boston Legal Services at the Watertown Free Public Library by calling 617-603-1808.
BOOKMOBILE at WMS - February 2
The Bookmobile is coming! Starting in January, the Bookmobile (aka The Speed Reader) will be making regular stops at Watertown Middle School.
If you haven’t been able to get to the Watertown Free Public Library, the library is now coming to you. We’ll be able to check out books, get new library cards, learn about library services and talk to friendly librarians.
Catch the Speed Reader in the WMS Waverly Ave front parking lot on the first Thursday of each month from 3:15-4:30pm. Upcoming dates include:
- February 2
- March 2
In the event of inclement weather, Bookmobile service will be cancelled.
Attendance Reminders - call the main office before 8:30AM to report a student's absence
In the event that a student is absent, a parent or caregiver must call the absence hotline at 617-926-7783 before 8:30 a.m. Please state the name, grade, homeroom of the student and the reason for their absence. In the event that the absence is not reported, a Robocall will automatically go out to the student’s home or the place of employment of the parent or caregiver to inform them that the student is absent. Students are responsible for working with their teachers to make up work they missed while absent.
Check out page 26 of the WMS Family Handbook to see all of our attendance procedures in more detail.
JUST IN CASE - INCLEMENT WEATHER SCHOOL CLOSURE/DELAYED OPENING INFORMATION
We live in New England, and whether we love them or hate them, snow days may be just around the corner. As such, please review the information contained in this section regarding school closure protocols. State law requires 180 days of instruction and also requires that any school closures (“snow days”) be made up before June 30. In the case of inclement weather or school closure for emergency reasons, information about school closures can be found at this link.
Upcoming Dates
- January 24: 504 training hosted by the Watertown SEPAC (6:30pm, registration required)
- January 25: WMS Orchestra Concert (7:00pm, WHS)
- January 26: Last day of Quarter 2
January 27: First day of Quarter 3
January 27: 6-7th grade dance (6:30-8:30pm)
February 1: WMS Vocational Education Night (6:00-7:00pm, WMS Auditorium)
- February 2: Bookmobile parked at WMS Main Entrance (3:15-4:30pm)
February 2: 8th grade social
- February 7: School Site Council meeting (7:00pm, virtual)
- February 8: PTO Meeting (7:00pm, virtual)
February 9: Quarter 2 Report Cards mailed home
February 10: WMS PTO Trivia Night (Donahue's, 7:00-10:00pm)
February 16: Diversity Council (7:00pm, virtually)
February 20-24: February Recess - NO SCHOOL
March 2: Bookmobile parked at WMS Main Entrance (3:15-4:30pm)
March 7: School Site Council meeting (7:00pm, virtual)
March 8: PTO Meeting (7:00pm, virtual)
Watertown Middle School
Website: https://wms.watertown.k12.ma.us/
Location: 68 Waverley Avenue, Watertown, MA, USA
Phone: 617-926-7783