WMS Family Smore

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As we move into 2023, we are inviting parents and caregivers to join any of our opportunities to get involved that are shared each week. For example:

• Last Tuesday, we hosted the K-7 Math coordinator Elizabeth Kaplan and the 8-12 Math coordinator Dan Wulf at our School Site Council meeting, and had the opportunity to hear about and ask questions about our math curriculum. We will be hosting our Science coordinators at our next meeting, and all are welcome to join our next School Site Council on February 7th (7:00pm, virtual).
• Coming up this week, Superintendent Dr. Galdston is joining part of the PTO Meeting (7:00pm, virtual) as a special guest this Wednesday to say hello to the WMS community and answer any questions that parents might have about the district. All are welcome to join!

All are welcome to come to any of our monthly opportunities to get involved, even if you are not regularly in attendance for School Site Council, the Parent Teacher Organization, or Diversity Council.

We also have some social events coming up for students:

• January 20: 8th grade social (6:30-8:30pm)

• January 27: 6-7th grade dance (6:30-8:30pm)

More information to come soon.

We are looking for applicants for the following positions, please share with your networks:

• School Nutrition Worker
• LTS Grade 6 Social Studies Teacher
  

Here are some other dates to be aware of this week:

• January 10-12: WMS Musical Auditions - Bye bye Birdie
• January 11: PTO Meeting (7:00pm, virtual) - Dr. Galdson is coming as a special guest
  

• January 13: PD Day - NO SCHOOL
  

• January 16: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - NO SCHOOL

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)

Click on the link 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.

Cluster 1

Cluster 2

Cluster 3

Cluster 4

Cluster 5

Cluster 6

The Specialists

Reading

ELD/Phonics

Connections

LB Math

Wilson Reading

Dear 8th Grade Families,

For those interested, WMS is offering a program for our 8th grade students called “Meeting Myself”. This program will be run by Wayside Counselors with the support of School Counselors and School Mental Health Clinicians. “Meeting Myself” 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 flier for more information.

Join us on Wednesday, January 18th from 7-8pm for a Zoom Q&A with Christina Lupica, Youth Engagement Specialist with Wayside Youth and Family Support Network. We can answer any questions pertaining to this program.

​​Join Zoom Meeting

https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/87335466752

The PTO meets virtually on the second Wednesday of each month, and the next meeting is on Wednesday, January 11 at 7pm. Reach out to the PTO President Erin Macomber at erin_macomber@neds.org with any questions or to express interest.

The WMS Diversity Council meets once a month on the third Thursdays at 7:00pm virtually, with the next meeting on January 19. We will be focusing on actionable steps outlined in the district equity audit taken last school year. Any and all are welcome to join.

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.

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.

Watertown Recreation winter sports are live! There are several indoor and outdoor options.

Please see here for the entire Watertown Rec brochure- pages 8-11 focus on middle-school aged activities. The Ski Program is completely full but if there is enough interest from more students, they will add an additional bus! In the meantime, students can still get a discounted ticket to the mountain and provide their own transportation.

Lastly, the City of Watertown has Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics tickets for any resident or employee of Watertown. See here for Bruins and here for Celtics. Tickets are first come first serve.

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.

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.

• January 10-12: WMS Musical Auditions - Bye bye Birdie
• January 11: PTO Meeting (7:00pm, virtual)
  

• January 13: PD Day - NO SCHOOL
  

• January 16: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - NO SCHOOL

• January 18-22: ACCESS Testing for English Learners

• January 18: "Meeting Myself" Zoom Q&A session for 8th grade caregivers with Wayside Youth and Family Support Network (7-8pm)

• January 18-19: ACCESS Testing for English Learners

• January 19: Diversity Council (7:00pm, virtually)

• January 19: WMS Chorus Concert (7:00pm, WMS Auditorium)
  
• January 23: WMS Orchestra Concert (7:00pm, WMS Auditorium)

• January 20: 8th grade social (6:30-8:30pm)

• 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 2: Bookmobile parked at WMS Main Entrance (3:15-4:30pm)

• 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 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 Public Schools Calendar 2022-2023
  

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Website: https://wms.watertown.k12.ma.us/
Location: 68 Waverley Avenue, Watertown, MA, USA
Phone: 617-926-7783