The Wolves Den
April 26, 2021
Forward Testing
The 6th and 7th graders are done with Forward Testing. 8th graders will continue their Forward Test this week, and complete the last few sections they have. We will also be asking all of our virtual students to come into the building this week to complete their Forward Test. Any student that missed a portion of their Forward Test will have time to complete it.
During testing days, students should bring the following items: fully charged district-issued Chromebook, charger, and earbuds. Smartwatches should remain home, as students cannot wear them during testing. Cell phones should remain at home or will need to be turned off and given to their teacher to hold during testing.
Mark Your Calendars!
April 26th- May 10th
- This is the window for the parent engagement survey. This survey will be shared with you electronically, if you do not receive it please let us know. We are so grateful for the feedback. Thank you
Thursday April 29th
- Regular School Day for Students
Tuesday & Thursday, April 27th & 29th
- 8th Graders taking Social Studies & Math Forward Test
Wednesday April 28th
- All Virtual Students taking Math and ELA Forward Test
Thursday April 29th
- All Virtual 8th grade students taking Social Studies and Science Forward Test
Friday April 30th
- No School for Students, Inservice Day for Staff
May 4th & 5th
- Forward Test Make Up days for any test missed by students
- Hmong Day Celebration
Community Outreach
- "Healthiest Manitowoc County Substance Use Prevention Coalition has a work group specifically working to address reducing access to youth tobacco use, including electronic vaping products. Over the past few months, youth focus groups combined state and local data have helped shape the scope of our work."
Summer Camps:
- Scouting Programs and Scout Camps open to boys and girls this summer. Check out their flyer
QPR for Suicide Prevention:
- A parent/ family/ guardian training recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. More information here.
Summer School
It is time to think summer! MPSD is excited to share our Summer School 2021 Course Catalog. You can check out the variety of opportunities here.
Middle School Transition
● Students entering 6th or 7th grade for 2021-2022 will have transitioning programming at their middle school in August.
Wilson Warhawk Welcome Transition
8:00-10:00 (6th Graders)
10:30-12:30 (7th Graders)
August 2-5 OR 9-12
Washington Wolves Welcome Transition
8:00-10:00 (6th Graders)
10:30-12:30 (7th Graders)
August 2-5 OR 9-12
Washington and Wilson WEB Leaders
● Where Everyone Belongs (WEB) is an opportunity for student leadership. Current seventh grade students may apply to be mentor-leaders for next year’s sixth graders as they transition to Wilson or Washington Middle Schools. Sign up is through an application process, which will be available in spring 2021 through each Middle School.
Middle School Bridge
● Middle School grade levels
○ Taking place at Washington and Wilson Middle Schools
○ July 12 - July 29, Monday - Thursday
○ 8:00am - 11:35am
Both Wilson & Washington are offering a Bridge Academy for all incoming students grades 6-8th. This three week program would allow students to make early connections with teachers, school counselors, administrators and other staff members. It is our goal to provide a unique learning endeavor that is not only engaging, but fun as well where students find academic success, grow as leaders, and create connections.
Students will have three rotations each morning including:
● ELA
● Math
● STEAM/Leadership
Yearbooks
Counselor Update
Forward Testing continues this week for many of our Washington students! Here are some tips and tricks from the Washington Counseling Department you as parents and guardians can discuss and work through with your student:
- Encourage your student to get a good night's rest. To your student it may mean or look like: going to bed earlier, having their phones and electronics be stored away in a different room, LED lights off, or playing calm music to set your student to sleep.
- Read the answers, then read the question. Doing so can help the reader understand what the question may be asking of them. It can also help a student eliminate incorrect answers. Placing the answer into the questions to determine if it "makes sense," is also helpful.
- Context clues for technical terms. If there are vocabulary words your student does not know, have him or her read the other words surrounding the word.
- Teach your student how to listen to his or her body. A body scan involves a person to feel and understand when his/her body is feeling out of place. Students may experience tightness in their body, sweating, or a rapid heart beat. If such feelings are experienced, let your student know, as they begin to experience these feelings to (1) stop, (2) place their hand on their stomach, (3) take a deep breath in, and (4) exhale the stressors out.
- Let your student know, it is in their best interest to answer all questions, if they are running out of time or even if they do not know the answer. There is a 1 in 4 chance of guessing the correct answer.
SWIRL- A School Goal
The Washington Middle School goal is to improve our students' literacy skills by creating an opportunity for every student, every day, in every class to practice the skills of Speaking, Writing, Interacting, Reading and Listening- SWIRL.
We are excited to continue to share SWIRL in every advisory classroom, every Thursday. We are all watching a video of a community member talking to our students about how they use the skills of SWIRL in their careers. Our goal is for students to see SWIRL in many sorts of jobs- letting them know that SWIRL is a part of their future.
Thank you to Kassie Johnson for sharing her story about being a dairy farmer with our students.
We are looking for more community members to highlight how they use SWIRL in their jobs. If you or someone you know would like to create a SWRIL video for Washington, please email Ms. Courtney Schultz: schultzc@mpsd.school
House Team Updates
Washington Middle School
Email: delsmanl@mpsd.school
Website: https://washington.manitowocpublicschools.org/
Location: 2101 Division Street, Manitowoc, WI, USA
Phone: 920.663.9570
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonMiddleSchool