WMS Family Smore
March 26, 2023
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Dear WMS Families,
We had some powerful Caregiver Conferences this past week, and we are looking forward to talking with more caregivers this Tuesday.
We want to remind families that our front doors on Waverly open at 7:45am for breakfast, learning lab, and the gym.
Check out our 8th grade Cluster 6 students at the statehouse this past week in the pictures below, Cluster 5 is going in a few weeks!
We had a fun time with students at our crafts and game event on Friday. We are looking forward to our next all school dance in early May! More info to come soon.
Here are some dates to be aware of this week:
- March 28: Early Release Day, 12:30pm dismissal with grab n go lunch (Day A2, will see every class for a shortened period of time) - Student-led Caregiver Conferences (In Person 1:00-3:00pm, Virtual 6:00-8:00pm)
- March 28: Get Fit, Get Form, Get Lively WMS PTO fundraiser (1:00-2:00pm)
- March 30: Grade 6 and 7 Parent Math Night (7:00pm, virtually)
March 31-April 1: WMS Musical - Bye Bye Birdie (7-8:30pm; 2-3:30pm on Sunday)
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
You are invited to our middle school musical - Bye Bye Birdie: March 31-April 1
Shows: March 31st thru April 2nd in the WMS Auditorium
Friday 3/31 @ 7:00pm
Saturday 4/1 @ 7:00pm
Sunday 4/2 @ 2:00pm
Tickets:
Watertown Students FREE (with student ID)
WPS Staff $5
General Admission $10
WMS Yearbook 2023!
It's that time of year where you get to order a yearbook! This is an opportunity open to ALL grades. The deadline to purchase your yearbook is MAY 12TH. Students who would like a yearbook must order one online by that deadline; we can not order additional yearbooks after. Yearbooks cost $23, and can be purchased here: YEARBOOK ORDER ONLINE
Annual K-12 Art Show
You are invited to the 2023 Visual Art Show at the Watertown Mall. Selected student work will be displayed in the mall from April 6th until May 2nd.
An opening reception with student performances is planned for Tuesday April 11th from 6pm until 8pm.
Sign up for Student-led Caregiver Conferences: March 28
Attention all student caretakers! Our Student-led Caregiver Conferences are coming up with both virtual and in-person opportunities to meet with your child's teacher(s).
Tuesday, March 28
1:00-3:00pm (in-person)
6:00-8:00pm (virtual)
We kindly request you to use this WMS March Conferences Links 2023 to sign up for a time slot that is convenient (as possible). There will be interpretation in a variety of languages available.
Please note that these conferences are student-led, which means your child will be communicating their work and progress during the meeting. This is a great chance to meet your child's teacher, learn about your child's progress in school, and see how you can work together to help your child achieve their goals.
This time around, we will also have counselors, specialist teachers, and other support staff available in the WMS Library during our in-person conference times. Caregivers are encouraged to stop by the library to ask any questions of the educators there, to receive help navigating PowerSchool, or for any other questions you may have.
Please reach out directly to your child's teachers with any specific questions about scheduling a conference.
Cradles to Crayons Children’s Clothing Drive
WMS 8th grade student, Maddox Caron is working with Cradles to Crayons and Project351 to run a 0-12 clothing drive between March 20th and March 31st. Join in!
New or lightly used clothing can be dropped off in the box at the main lobby.
Ages 0-12, but any size is accepted
New or lightly used
Undergarments & socks must be new
1 in 3 children in Massachusetts is at risk of experiencing clothing insecurity. Together we can make a difference!
Previously shared news 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 will be updated monthly in the WMS Family Smore.
Coffee with the Principal - Equitable Grading edition notes
It was great to spend time with some caregivers in person this week at our first Coffee with the Principal this year. For those who missed it, here is a summary of our conversation about the equitable grading shifts we are thinking about at WMS and what it means for you and your child.
- As our teachers shift towards more equitable grading practices, it is important that rigorous instruction and learning continues to happen. Though the WMS staff is starting by examining our grading practices, this is leading us to shift our teaching and planning practices as well. Some of these shifts can be seen this year, other shifts will take a few years for us to do well.
- Practice for student learners, sometimes in the form of homework, is an important part of learning! Even if some teachers are not giving a grade for homework completion, it is important to put in the practice time before a final assessment in a class, which is graded.
- "Habits of Mind", "soft skills", or "social pragmatics" are important, and teachers are shifting towards giving feedback to students and caregivers through comments rather than through the letter grade, as the letter grade (A-F) is intended to communicate the student's mastery of a subject area rather than the behaviors that the student demonstrates in class.
- If we make a shift in our grading, it will happen over the next few years. We currently grade students in an A-F system, and we will continue that next year. With elementary schools in WPS using a standards-based grading system, and the high school using an A-F system, it will be important for WMS to be a bridge between those two systems, perhaps in a hybrid grading model. This is NOT a decision that has been made yet, but one we are exploring.
- While the high school is likely not shifting from the A-F system, they are exploring how to grade more equitably within that system. Our 8th and 9th grade teachers have already begun meeting to plan for a smooth transition for our 8th graders in just a few short months!
- It is important for us as a school to become more consistent in our messaging and practices across clusters. This is why we will take a few years to dig deeper in the the standards at every grade level and subject area. If we moved towards a hybrid grading system (standards-based grading and an A-F letter grade translation), the purpose would be to make it easier for students, families, and teachers to understand what standards students are making appropriate progress in, and what needs more work. At the end of the day, we want our grades to be accurate, bias-free, and motivational.
- Whether we move towards a hybrid model, or stay in the A-F grading model, as we come to consensus as a school staff, we will use events like Back to School Night to inform caregivers of what they can expect to see on a report card, and how they can use it to help their child celebrate their growth and make a plan for continuous improvement. Clear communication is important!
If you missed this first coffee hour, don't worry because we will have a few more opportunities this year. We will highlight topics like school safety and next year's schedule changes with WHS becoming our neighbor.
Opportunities for Parents/Caregivers To Get Involved
School Site Council (SSC) - April 4
The WMS SSC meets once a month on the first Tuesdays at 7:00pm, virtually. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, April 4th, 2023, with our K-7 and 8-12 Science Coordinators coming as special guests.
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) - April 12
The PTO meets virtually on the second Wednesday of each month, and the next meeting is on Wednesday April 12 at 7pm. Reach out to the PTO President Erin Macomber at erin_macomber@neds.org with any questions or to express interest.
WMS PTO fun-raiser - Get Fit, Get Form, Get Lively
Our next "fun-raiser" for 8th grade end-of-year events is coming up on Tuesday, March 28th. It's an early release day so we thought that a fun way to raise money for the class events would be to do a workout boot camp with Jan Taylor from Get Lively Fitness Studio!!
The cost is $25 and the whole amount is going to the kids (since Jan is donating her time and studio which is amazing!!) So the more kids that sign up, the more funds we raise for the class!
You can also use this link: www.getlivelynow.com/wms to go straight to the eventbrite page!
So sign your kid up and have them bring friends!! Families with students in grades 6, 7, and 8 are welcome to attend!
- WMS PTO
Diversity Council - April 20
Information from our WMS Community
Spring family offerings from the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture
In-Person Event | Saturdays, March 11, April 8, May 13, 2:00–3:30 pm
Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge
Meet up-and-coming scientists and learn about questions at the forefront of research today in this series of monthly short talks. Perhaps you’ll discuss how studying dog reactions help us learn about the evolution of social behavior, or maybe you’ll consider the regrowth of a microscopic worm after injury. Recommended for ages 10–Adults.
Let’s Draw: HMSC Sketching Weekend
In-Person Event | Saturday, March 18 and Sunday, March 19, 1:00–4:00 pm
The Harvard Museums of Science & Culture provide inspiration for all levels of artists and curious visitors. Elevate your own creative process by trying your hand at sketching this weekend. Meet HMSC Volunteer Sketching Facilitators in the galleries and learn what motivates them to draw in the museums. Then try sketching a museum object yourself.
Amazing Archaeology Fair at Harvard
In-Person Event | Sunday, March 26, 1:00–4:00 pm
Explore North American, South American, Egyptian, and Mesopotamian archaeology across the exhibit halls of two museums. Activities include ancient DNA analysis, animal mummies, King Tut’s throne, spear throwing, flintknapping, and other surprises during this popular annual event.
In-Person Summer Programs | Mondays–Fridays, 9:30 am–12:00 pm
Registration is open! Select from a wide array of Summer Science Week programs for children entering grades 1–8. Favorites include Amazing Animals, Super Scientists, and The Ins and Outs of Skeletons
Third Annual YardArt Watertown Returns for the Entire Month of April Saturday, April 1 – Sunday, April 30, 2023
Regular WMS Reminders
The WMS Learning Lab - extra help available at school
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.
Upcoming Dates
- March 28: Early Release Day, 12:30pm dismissal with grab n go lunch (Day A2, will see every class for a shortened period of time) - Student-led Caregiver Conferences (In Person 1:00-3:00pm, Virtual 6:00-8:00pm)
- March 28: Get Fit, Get Form, Get Lively WMS PTO fundraiser (1:00-2:00pm)
- March 30: Grade 6 and 7 Parent Math Night (7:00pm, virtually)
March 31-April 1: WMS Musical - Bye Bye Birdie (7-8:30pm; 2-3:30pm on Sunday)
April 4: School Site Council Meeting
April 6: Last day of Third Quarter
April 7: Early release/First day of Fourth Quarter
April 10: Art Show with Jazz Band Performance
April 11: SEPAC documentary viewing (6:30pm, Hosmer Learning Commons)
April 12-13: ELA MCAS, special schedule
April 12: PTO Meeting
April 17-21: April Recess- No School
- April 28: Music Fest (5:30-9:00 PM, WMS)
- May 2: School Site Council Meeting
- May 4: Coffee with the Principal - School Safety Q&A (8:35-9:25am, WMS Cafeteria)
- May 12: Deadline to order a yearbook
- May 15-16: Math MCAS, special schedule
- May 23-24: STE MCAS (8th grade only), special schedule
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