
WMS Update
FEBRUARY 2024
Upcoming IMPORTANT dates...
8TH GRADERS:
- Monday, February 10th = Kirkwood Career Day & Tour during the school day from 1-3PM
- Tuesday, February 18th = HS counselors will come to the MS to discuss 9th grade schedule and 4-year plan. PAPERWORK FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL IS DUE FEBRUARY 24TH!
- Wednesday, February 26th = Kirkwood CCHS information night at 6:30PM at Kirkwood Washington Co Regional Center (see info below in the newsletter!) RESCHEDULED FROM FEB 5TH
KINDNESS WEEK:
- February 10-13th...see info below in the newsletter!
EARLY DISMISSALS (1:25pm)
- Friday, February 7th
- Friday, February 21st
- Friday, February 28th
NO SCHOOL:
- Friday, February 14th (PD/Workday for staff)
- Monday, February 17th
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
- WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH from 3:45-7:15 in the MS gym
The Winter months are here and the weather is changing!
We always appreciate donations of KLEENEX! Each classroom goes through a bunch this time of year.
They can be taken to the office or to your child's homeroom teacher.
Breakfast & Lunch Menus
KINDNESS WEEK!
WMS is teaming up with Stewart and Lincoln to celebrate and promote Kindness Feb 10-13.
Lessons and activities will be completed during Homeroom. See the image for dress up days!
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES = Feb 19th
Washington Middle School hosts Parent/Teacher Conferences once every term. We don't have scheduled times to come meet the teachers. Parents come anytime from 3:45 - 7:15pm to the gym where all teachers are located. Please make sure to arrive before 7 so that you have adequate time to meet with all teachers.
Unable to attend in person? Feel free to email the teachers and they will reply back. This LINK will take you to the district website with all the teacher emails you need.
Term 4 PT Conference date = April 23
ATTENTION 8TH GRADERS & FAMILIES!
LOTS OF INFORMATION FOR 8TH GRADERS & THEIR FAMILIES!!
It's time to start preparing for the 25-26 school year!
On FEBRUARY 26TH, Kirkwood will be hosting a college credit in high school information night...see below for all the information. (RESCHEDULED FROM FEBRUARY 5TH)
On FEBRUARY 10TH, 8th Graders will be going to Kirkwood from 1:00-3:00 for a career day and tour the facility to learn about College Credit in High School offerings.
On FEBRUARY 18TH, HS Counselors will be coming over to meet with 8th graders about signing up for 9th grade classes and filling out a 4-year Plan. This paperwork is due by February 24.
On FEBRUARY 19TH, HS Counselors will be available at the High School during conferences (3:45-7:15) to answer any questions regarding the 25-26 school year. If you would like any help or have questions about 9th grade registration/4-year plans, please stop by the HS and talk to them!
Eighth graders are invited to learn more about College Credit in High School (CCHS) opportunities and student next steps. Washington County parents and students (currently in 8th - 11th grade) are invited to CCHS Information Night on February 26th at 6:30 p.m. to learn more!
CCHS Info Night will include:
- Overview of College Credit in High School Programming (course formats, student eligibility requirements, career exploration and program benefits)
- Regional Center Career Academy offerings, CCHS courses available onsite at high schools, and online options
- Hear current CCHS students share about their experience, and time for Q&A
- Campus Tours, for those interested
- Kirkwood staff assistance available for CCHS student application and/or 2025-26 Career Academy registration, for those interested.
RSVP is requested, to confirm your attendance. Please register HERE.
College Credit in High School programs are a valuable opportunity for students to explore potential careers and get a jumpstart on college program pathways. Credits earned in CCHS coursework count toward a student’s high school diploma and their future college degree.
Parents and students should together explore all concurrent credit courses available in Washington County and career academies that will be offered in the 2025-2026 Washington County Regional Center Program of Study.
Questions? Contact the Kirkwood Washington County Regional Center at 319-653-4655 or email tera.pickens@kirkwood.edu
Student of the Month (JANUARY)
Each month, WMS staff will nominate students who follow their classroom social contracts, are safe, respectful, and responsible at school. Two students with the most nominations from each grade level will be selected as "Student of the Month". These students receive a t-shirt, 250 Demon Dollars in their tracker, and are posted on our Facebook page! Students who are nominated but do not win for the month receive 50 Demon Dollars.
All "Student of the Month" winners are automatically nominated for the prestigious Citizenship Award which is granted to one student in each grade level at the end of the year.
Students chosen as WINNERS for the month of JANUARY:
6th grade = KAIDEN STANLEY & SELENE COLIN
7th grade = ZURIA PASCUAL-GONZALEZ & KIRYA COATES
8th grade = HUNTER BARNES & JORDAN GARRELTS
Other students nominated so far this school year:
6th grade = Lawson Love, Adrian Green, Lily Adam, Jackson Courtney, Layla Schneider, Ania Marcelino, Eliana Martin, Callie Brink, Lane Vradenburg, Ian Munson, Alexa Gonzalez Gaytan, Kaiden Stanley, Aiden Alvarez, Addyson Neer, Ethan Wheeler, Ryder Glaspie, Pryce Sobaski, Weston Taghon, Kayona Krochak, Ernesto Sales-Gomez
7th grade = Luke Schmitz, Alec Catano, Madalyn Roundy, Hudson Turner, Nathan Hay, Mitchell Mei, Addison Starr, Evalyn DeJesus, FuYi Mei, Lovella Peiffer, Marie Soumahoro, Yomaira Hernandez, Cintia Villalta-Lopez, Hamlet Lee, Taylor Black, Kaelyn Wullner, Ever Anderson, Marilin Urizar Mota, Scarlett Rodenborn, Ari Valdez, Paige Woline, Delilah Inclano, Jake Morataya, Mya Rost, Gentry Taghon, Wyatt Kline, Jack Frazier, Tyrell Taylor
8th grade = Alex Rodriguez, Charles Sanders, Morgan Bruty, Aiden Klopfenstein, Lyric Hotle, Bryer Sobaski, Kora Miller, Avery Wheeler, Claire Pickens, Denisse Urina Gonzalez, Easton Davis, Alissa Cavegn, Kaleah Gerdes, Shamus Johnson, Adelyn Godinez, Aiden Shelangoski, Kyler Williams, Chris Richardson, Harley Venenga, Joseph Frieden, Jace Kinzenbaw, Julissa Malaga, Kale Anderson, Jackson Dugger, Sawyer Manz
Congratulations to all and keep up the great work!!
What is Kindness?
Kindness is the ability & willingness to express care & compassion for others. Kindness is a choice to use our time, talent, and resources to better the lives of others and the world through genuine acts of love, compassion, generosity, and service.
Why focus on Kindness?
Kindness boosts positive emotions. Acts of kindness create neural pathways that enhance feelings of well-being and the natural flow of feel-good endorphins and neurotransmitters.
Kindness is self-replicating. When we perform an act of kindness, it is likely to encourage others to act in a similar way.
Kindness reduces stress and anxiety. Kindness promotes positive relationships with other people. Anything that helps you to build bonds with other people helps decrease anxiety.
Kindness in Action:
Celebrate small things. Start each day with Good Things as a class. Publicly and privately affirm kind and thoughtful actions and attitudes.
Create opportunities for students to regularly affirm each other. Once a week, dedicate time for students to write notes of affirmation to classmates and school staff members.
Model Kindness. Be mindful of body language, tone, and mindset. Kindness is learned by example!
Here are some other fun things to celebrate this month also:
February 6-10th = National School Counselors Week (Thank your school counselors!)
February 11th = Make a Friend Day
February 17th = Random Acts of Kindness Day (one of my personal favs!)
February 20th = Love your Pet Day
YOUTH ART MONTH!
Youth Art Month is a celebration of the visual arts! The program provides a medium for recognizing skills about the visual arts experience, unlike any other curriculum subjects, including:
- problem-solving
- creativity
- observation
- communication
Art shows, special exhibits, fundraisers, and school and community activities take place annually, traditionally during March, to celebrate visual art education for grades K through 12. The theme is “Healing Through Color”.
Washington Middle School students who had their artwork judged this past weekend by three art educator judges were:
Taylor Black, Gentry Taghon, Lyric Hoyle, Joseph Frieden, Harley Venenga, Miriam Pierce, William McWhirter, EmmaLynn Pierre, Lovella Peiffer and Zander Magnuson.
Congratulations to Taylor, Harley, Miriam, William, Lovella and Xander for having your work chosen for the 2025 Youth Art Month Show! These works of art will be displayed at Jordan Creek Mall from March 1-29. An awards program will be held March 29 starting at 1 PM at Jordan Creek Mall.
Harley Venenga’s portrait was also selected to be 1 of 25 to be displayed in the governor‘s office for the month of March. This is such an honor to have work displayed at the Iowa State Capitol building.
CONGRATS TO ALL OF OUR TALENTED ARTISTS!
Kindness Kloset @ WMS
The MS Kindness Kloset has everything you need: school supplies, clothing (YM to Adult 4X), jackets, socks, shoes, and other personal care items. If you are in need of any of these items, stop by the MS main office or call 319-653-5414 to make an appointment. We support students and families of all ages in the district.
Currently we are ONLY accepting the following:
- Athletic shorts (adult sizes)
- Sweats (youth large - adult sizes)
- Demon gear (adult sizes)
- Tennis shoes
- Personal care items
NESTT @ WMS
Greetings from MS NESTT!
(Navigating Emotional Stress Through Training)
The next few months I will be sharing strategies that will be easily implemented in one’s daily routine. As I get to know your child. I will be working on many of the same strategies. I hope you find these strategies helpful.
February
The experts say to help regulate our emotions we should be doing something mindful daily. If you are like me. Life gets in the way. Here is a 3 minute body scan that we do in the NESTT room. I hope you find it as helpful as many of our students. Body Scan
January
Have you ever just had enough? HERE is a great article that provides strategies so as parents we can scream-less. Just think how peaceful the house could be!
Reflection: After using the strategy a few times. I would love to know how it has helped either you or your child. If you have any strategies that you would like to share. I would love to see them!
Nicole Farmer
Educational Websites!
(parent login is the same link, login is just at the top)
Students check their grades on a weekly basis to see how they are doing and if they are missing any work. Parents should log in periodically as well to see how their child is doing.
Teachers post their daily schedule, any links to websites, videos or assignments, resources and information students need to know about each of their classes. If a student is absent, Schoology is a great place to look to see what they have missed.
IXL Learning is an online program where students can gain fluency and confidence with essential math and language arts skills through fun and interactive questions and built-in support. It's adaptive, comprehensive, aligned, and accessible! Students know their usernames and passwords. If they go through Classlink on their Chromes, it'll take them right to it.
Power Up is a gamification of skills K-8 for reading, grammar, and word study. It takes a student where they are at and gives intervention and practice of those skills they need to advance to different levels. It is being used as a great data resource to see where we can further help students where they need assistance. Students know their usernames and passwords. If they go through Classlink on their Chromes, it'll take them right to it.
Need to practice typing? This is one of many typing websites students can use.
VARSITY TUTORS Information
WMS Band & Choir
WMS Band website! Check it out! wms-bands.com
WMS Choir website! Check it out! www.wms-vocal-music.org
You can find lots of music information and concert/performance dates on these websites! Bookmark them to keep them handy on your computer or phone!
2024-25 Activity Registration
WCSD will be switching over to Bound for all things activities this school year: Activity registration, physicals, schedules, scores, stats, etc. Registration for the 2024-25 school year is now open.
All students interested in participating in middle school or high school sports at Washington including dance, cheer, and Esports must be registered in Bound. Please refer to the flyer for the registration link and step-by-step instructions. The registration link is also available here: www.gobound.com/ia/schools/washington
Please note that registrations are valid for the current school year only and must be renewed each academic year. Students must be registered for each sport individually (e.g., football, wrestling, track). Students will not be permitted to practice until all steps of the Bound registration process are complete, including uploading a current physical. Hard copy physicals will not be accepted; please do not send them to school.
If you have any questions, please contact the Activities Office.
Here is a linked document that was sent to all students and parents from the Activities Office as well.
BASKETBALL (8th boys, 7th girls)
8th grade BOYS Game Schedule:
- Monday, Feb 3 = HOME vs Burlington 4:30PM
- Monday, Feb 10 = HOME vs Fort Madison 4:30PM
- Tuesday, Feb 11 = @ Keokuk Middle School 4:30PM
- Thursday, Feb 13 = @ Ottumwa Evans MS 4:30PM
- Tuesday, Feb 18 = @ Mt Pleasant Middle School 4:30PM
- Thursday, Feb 20 = @ Burlington Edward Stone MS 4:30PM
- Tuesday, Feb 25 = @ Fairfield Middle School 4:30PM
- Thursday, Feb 27 = HOME vs Fairfield 4:30PM
7th grade GIRLS Game Schedule:
- Monday, Feb 3 = @ Burlington Edward Stone MS 4:30PM
- Monday, Feb 10 = @ Fort Madison Middle School 4:30PM
- Tuesday, Feb 11 = HOME vs Keokuk 4:30PM
- Thursday, Feb 13 = HOME vs Ottumwa 4:30PM
- Tuesday, Feb 18 = HOME vs Mt Pleasant 4:30PM
- Thursday, Feb 20 = HOME vs Burlington 4:30PM
- Tuesday, Feb 25 = HOME vs Fairfield 4:30PM
- Thursday, Feb 27 = @ Fairfield Middle School 4:30PM
Washington Archery Program (6th, 7th, & 8th)
Tournament Schedule...
Sat, February 1st = @ Cardinal Community HS
Sat, February 8th = @ Cedar Rapids Prairie
Sat, February 22 = HOME
February 28 - March 2 = STATE in Des Moines
WMS PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization)
Interested in becoming involved with the WMS PTO?
Let us know how you'd like to help our students and staff throughout the school year by filling out this PTO VOLUNTEER SURVEY!
Find and follow our WMS PTO Facebook Page using this link!
Find and follow our WMS Facebook Page using this link!
We will meet the THIRD MONDAY of each month at 4:15pm in room 201.
If you would like more information, please email washmiddlepto@gmail.com
Upcoming Event...
Calling all Washington Alumni Athletes and Coaches-
here is the participant registration for the alumni event in March. ALUMNI REGISTRATION LINK
Here's the SCHEDULE for the Alumni Event! (subject to change)
We are thrilled to honor the outstanding achievements of some special teams
during our upcoming alumni event.
Come and be a part of this memorable occasion as we recognize their dedication and hard work! Please help us spread the word to all former teammates.
You don't have to sign up to play to be recognized, though we would love for you to play!
Special Recognition for Boys teams:
Teams will be introduced and recognized in between quarters of the game
1985-86 (State Champs/Conference Champs)
1994-95 (Conference Champs- Dave Tremmells last team, 30 year anniversary)
2005-06 (Last State Tournament Team)
2019-20 (Conference Champs- first under Coach Stark)
Special Recoginition for Girls teams:
Teams will be introduced and recognized in between quarters of the game
1992-1993 (1st Conference Champions)
1999-2000 (State Champions-25th anniversary)
2012-13 (Last conference championship)
Contact WMS
Email: jmclaugh@washington.k12.ia.us
Website: https://www.washington.k12.ia.us/schools/washington_middle_school
Location: 313 South 4th Avenue, Washington, IA, USA
Phone: 319-653-1101 (messages/attendance) or 319-653-5414 (main office)
Stay Informed!
Each month, a full update will be shared via email and on social media using the following Facebook pages.
Please FOLLOW the following pages to stay up to date:
Washington Middle School Facebook Page
Washington Middle School Parent-Teacher Organization Facebook Page
Resources if you need help...
Community & Family Resources: 319-351-4357
Mental health/counseling: 1-800-332-4224
Child Abuse Reporting: 1-800-362-2178
Domestic Violence: 1-800-373-1043
Rape/Sexual Assault: 1-800-284-7821 or 319-335-6000
Poison Control: 1-800-272-6477
Washington Police: 319-653-2107
WCHC (Hospital): 319-653-5481
Suicide Prevention: 1-800-362-8255
The Lighthouse Shelter: 319-653-5871
Washington Community Y: 653-2141
Youth Emergency Shelter: 319-337-5080
Iowa Substance Abuse: 1-866-242-4111
Public Health: 319-653-7758
HHS: 1-800-642-6249
Runaway Safeline: 1-800-786-2929
Family Systems: 1-800-401-3665 Ext 181
Your Life Iowa: 1-855-581-8111, Live Chat-yourlifeiowa.org , Text: 855-895-8398