PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
- Wednesday, December 4th from 3:45-7:15PM in the gym
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR
- December 3rd - 6th & during PT Conferences
EARLY DISMISSALS (1:25pm)
- Friday, December 6th
- Friday, December 13th
- Friday, December 20th
NO SCHOOL!
- Monday, December 2nd
- December 23rd through January 3rd for Winter Break!
SCHOOL BEGINS AGAIN MONDAY, JANUARY 6TH!
BAND/CHOIR CONCERT THURSDAY, JANUARY 9TH.
END OF TERM 2 IS FRIDAY, JANUARY 10TH.
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.
If your child walks to school or will be at school before the middle school is open to students (7:50am), please make sure they are dressed for the weather!
If they are in need of some warm clothes, hats, gloves, etc, they can make an appointment to visit the Kindness Kloset!
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.
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 NOVEMBER:
6th grade = LAWSON LOVE & PRYCE SOBASKI
7th grade = MARILIN URIZAR MOTA & SCARLETT RODENBORN
8th grade = KALEAH GERDES & SHAMUS JOHNSON
Other students nominated so far this 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
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
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
Congratulations to all and keep up the great work!!
What is Responsibility?
Responsibility is the willingness and ability to take ownership of our thoughts, words, and actions. We have a responsibility to our school, family, and community to be accountable for our choices and how they impact ourselves and others.
Why focus on Responsibility?
Responsibility teaches resilience. It is not possible to persevere and achieve our dreams without taking personal responsibility seriously.
Responsibility empowers us to own our actions. There is great power in being able to make conscious, calculated choices to reach goals and manage those things in our control.
Responsibility teaches us to manage our time and resources. Responsibly organizing and prioritizing needs is an executive function of the brain that improves with practice.
Responsibility in Action
Give students roles and responsibilities. When students have a leadership role in class, they are accountable for contributing positively to the classroom culture.
Empower students with self-management tools. Provide students with tools to help manage stress and impulsivity while motivating them to meet goals.
Clearly communicate consequences. Empower students to make choices and experience the consequences of their actions, both positive and negative.
Here are some other fun things to celebrate this month also:
December 4th - Crazy Sock Day
December 7th - Write a Letter Day
December 16th - Chocolate-Covered Anything Day
December 18th - Bake Cookies Day
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
Greetings from NESTT (Navigating Emotions & Stress Through Teaching)!
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.
December/January
Our mindfulness activity for this newsletter will be a strategy that allows us to decrease our anxiety at any moment of the day. This could be a morning, nightly, or in the moment strategy. This strategy takes less than 5 minutes! I hope you find it as helpful as I do and my students.
Leaves on a Stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvnmafNjBTY
November strategy was:
Modified from: The 5-4-3-2-1 strategy.
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
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!
There will be a 6th, 7th, and 8th grade BAND & CHOIR CONCERT on
THURSDAY, JANUARY 9TH at the HS Auditorium!
- BAND will start at 6:30PM (6th, 7th, 8th, & MS Jazz)
- CHOIR will start at 7:30PM (6th, 7th, & 8th)
7th grade BOYS:
- Tuesday, Dec 3 = HOME vs Keokuk 4:30PM
- Thursday, Dec 5 = @ Ottumwa Evans MS 4:30PM
- Monday, Dec 9 = HOME vs Burlington 4:30PM
- Thursday, Dec 12 = HOME vs Mt Pleasant 4:30PM
- Thursday, Dec 19 = @ Fairfield MS 4:30PM
8th grade GIRLS:
- Tuesday, Dec 3 = @ Keokuk MS 4:30PM
- Thursday, Dec 5 = HOME vs Ottumwa 4:30PM
- Monday, Dec 9 = @ Burlington Edward Stone MS 4:30PM
- Thursday, Dec 12 = @ Mt Pleasant MS 4:30PM
- Thursday, Dec 19 = HOME vs Fairfield 4:30PM
Meet Schedule:
- Monday, Dec 2 = @ Fort Madison MS 4:30PM
- Tuesday, Dec 10 = @ Highland HS 4:30PM
- Tuesday, Dec 17 = HOME 4:30PM
- Thursday, Dec 19 = @ Keokuk MS 4:30PM
- Tuesday, Jan 14 = @ Fairfield HS 4:30PM
- Tuesday, Jan 21 = HOME 4:30PM
- Tuesday, Jan 28 = @ Fort Madison MS 4:30PM
- Friday, Jan 31 = @ Mt. Pleasant MS 4:30PM
Tournament Schedule...
Sat, December 7 = HOME
Sat, December 14 = @ Solon HS (bullseye only)
Sat, January 11 = @ Mid Prairie HS
Sat, January 18 = HOME (Battle of the Orange)
Sat, January 25 = @ Mt Vernon HS
Sat, February 1st = @ Cardinal Community HS
Sat, February 8th = @ Cedar Rapids Prairie
Sat, February 22 = HOME
February 28 - March 2 = STATE in Des Moines
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
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