WMS Weekly Newsletter

Dear Wayland Middle School Caregivers,

Back-to-School Night (BTSN) last Thursday was certainly a bright side of the week. WMS buzzed with excitement as you explored your student’s day by living their schedule and, most importantly, meeting all of your student’s teachers. You reconnected, exchanging hugs and sharing stories and laughter with one another and us as you enjoyed study and flex time. Most importantly, throughout the evening, there was exuberant joy as you recognized that your student is part of a middle school that truly prioritizes community, fostering an environment where the values of BERT (Belonging, Empathy, Respect, and Trust) are alive and well. Thank you for your expressions of gratitude for our staff, professionals who are guided by their love of middle schoolers and their passion for what they teach.

We thank the Wayland Public Schools Foundation, the WMS PTO, and the Boosters for having information stations in the lobby. Thanks to the Boosters’ efforts, many of our students were sporting new Wayland “wear” on Friday morning.

A special thanks to our amazing Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) for providing a hearty and delicious dinner for our staff prior to Back-to-School Night.

Deborah

• Thursday, September 26 or Friday, September 27: 8th grade NY Science Geology Trip
  (8th grade students participate on one day)
• Tuesday, October 1: Principal’s Coffee 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m., WMS Cafeteria
  Come and meet the new administrative team! Details and RSVP below.
• Tuesday, October 1 and Friday October 4: 6th grade Walden and Hopkinton Outdoor Center Trip
  (6th grade students participate on both days)
• Thursday, October 3: Rosh Hashanah - NO SCHOOL
• Thursday, October 10 and Friday, October 11: 7th grade Sense of Wonder Days: Treetop Adventures and "In School Field Trip"
  (7th grade students participate on both days)
• Monday, October 14: Indigenous People Day - NO SCHOOL
• Wednesday, October 23: School Picture Day
• Wednesday, October 23 & Wednesday, October 30: Caregiver Conferences

Please consider meeting with Deborah, Courtney and Rebecca on Tuesday, October 1, from 9:15 - 10:15 a.m. The purpose of this meeting is to help us learn from you, WMS community members, about what is working well and what you consider to be areas of need to improve our school. We'll use this input to guide our focus and decisions as we move into our new roles.

Questions we'll ask to inform our learning are:

• What you feel is working well at WMS ? What about our school and community makes you feel proud?
• What do you consider our greatest areas of need to improve our school?
• How can we best serve your student(s) and your family in our roles?

Our team truly values your input and will work hard to take action on the input that you share. We recognize that meeting during the school day is not optimal for all caregivers. Please share your input and feedback in this Google Survey if you are unable to attend.

We have received reports that there have been near accidents in our teacher parking area in the last week.

If you are dropping off/picking up your child, please review the attached traffic map and the description of the Middle School Drop-Off and Pick-Up Traffic Flow. WMS Traffic Procedures . Safety is the number one priority in the drop-off/pick-up circle. Please be patient and stay in your place in line. If there is any confusion, our wonderful crossing guards will help you.

Please do not drop students off in the teacher parking area.

This year, the middle school is using planners to support every student’s success.

Using planners is vital for middle school students as they develop crucial organizational and executive functioning skills. Planners enhance time management by helping students track assignments, assessments, and important dates, which reduces last-minute stress and fosters prioritization of tasks.

This structured approach often leads to improved academic performance, as students are less likely to forget assignments and can break larger projects into manageable tasks. Additionally, planners facilitate communication between home and school, enabling parents to see what their student is working on and where they may need support, fostering greater parental involvement.

Every student should have a planner. Students will bring a planner to every class, and the planner will go home with the student every night. Teachers will explicitly teach students how to use their planner to get the full benefit from this tool. Please note, the school has a supply of planners in case a student needs one.

6th grade Walden and Hopkinton Outdoor Center, Tuesday, Oct 1 and Friday, October 4
(6th grade students participate on both days)
Students will enrich their understanding of Henry David Thoreau by walking in his footsteps, hiking through Walden Woods and along the shore of Walden Pond. At the Hopkinton Outdoor Center students will participate in activities focusing on leadership, communication, and teamwork skills.

7th grade Sense of Wonder Days, Thursday, October 10 and Friday, October 11
During these two days, students will explore the house themes of stewardship, connection, and wonder. On alternating days, half the grade will stay at school for a special schedule that starts with an Audubon presentation with their rescued birds of prey followed by a rotation through workshops designed by our staff. On the alternate day, students will travel to TreeTop Adventures, a high ropes and obstacle course in Canton, MA which will excite the students and also offer many opportunities for team building and cooperation.

8th grade NY Science Geology Trip, Thursday, September 26th or Friday, September 27th (participating 8th graders will go on one of these days)
During the geology field trip, students will be using their book learning and field observations to developed theories about the formations they see. Students will measure dinosaur footprints, collect ocean fossils, explore a cave, observe deep river cuts and glacial evidence, which will allow them to form a theory about the geologic events of the last 500 million years.

AM Wellness is a school club during which students can enjoy exercise and activity first thing in the morning. This year the club will be supervised by Ms. Mait and Mr. Williams. Activities typically include basketball and indoor soccer so only students who are interested in participating in these activities should attend. AM Wellness takes place Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 8:00 - 8:30 a.m. The doors to AM Wellness close at 8:20 a.m.

Conferences for parents and caregivers will occur after school on October 23 and October 30. More information will be forthcoming regarding these conferences

Artists: Elisa Katlinskaya & Amelia King

Grade: 8

Medium: Colored Pencil

This “Google Doodle” was created to evoke the artistic style of minimalist artist Robert Mangold. This activity challenges art students to identify elements of a given artist’s style and manipulate materials to alter the Google logo to match their findings.

Lead by:

Kelsey Sanclemente, LMHC

Wayland Youth and Family Services

Topics covered in Youth Together:

• Dealing with social challenges
• Dealing with anger, stress, sadness etc.
• Boosting self-confidence
• Building friendships
• Strengthening Conversation Skills

Tuesday afternoons from 3:20 - 4:15 p.m., room 109

Please reach out to Kelsey Sanclemente at ksanclemente@wayland.ma.us if you are interested in learning more!

Our goal is for 100% participation by our middle school families. Go HERE to donate.

Please click this link to see how your donations benefit our students!

Join the WMS PTO Facebook Group!
The WMS PTO adds weekly updates in the WMS Weekly Newsletter, but further details, reminders, photos and videos are shared on Facebook. Stay in the loop!

The Norton Family and the Eliza J. Norton Foundation (EJNF) invite you to gather and play at Cochituate Ball Fields on Sunday, October 6 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (rain date October 20). The fun-filled day includes a bouncy house, obstacle course, photo booth, field games, pizza, ice cream, desserts, KISS 108 DJ Mikey V, music, and more.

The goal is to provide at least 300 books as part of our Read with Heart initiative for the 2024/2025 school year. They will provide books on kindness, inclusivity, and teamwork to underserved schools and organizations around New England in the name of EJNF. We will have books available to purchase, and donate, on-site.

The Celebrate with Heart Community Festival is a free event but they ask that you register so they can best accommodate all of their guests. Register to attend here!