Middle School Newsletter
February 2022
From the Principal:
Dear Parents,
We have completed over one half of the school year. We continue to ask students and families to be creative, supportive and independent. Given the circumstances, students (and staff) have persevered.
Throughout the school year, we assess our students not only with content knowledge, but organizational skills, project based assignments and note taking ability. Teachers give students feedback, in multiple ways, which encourages problem solving and engagement. We also continue to create and maintain relationships that lead to interactive and responsive instruction.
To bring the focus toward learning for understanding, informal assessments (i.e. verbal questioning) are a critical part of the instructional process. Formative assessments (i.e. tests and quizzes) focus on learning to understand and application of knowledge. Gathering information on student understanding, analyzing that information, then using it to guide instruction is an effective teaching practice. The assessment process allows us to greater understand the unique learning abilities of our students and tailor instruction to meet their needs.
Williamson also administers formal summative assessments that are used as benchmarks for students’ success. These assessments inform us how we can vary our instruction and/or provide additional services for our students.
The Middle School assesses all students through the i-Ready diagnostic assessment. The Reading and Math assessments are given to students three times per year, in September, January and May (we are proud of our growth so far this year). This technology based assessment allows us to identify specific academic strengths and concerns for each student.
Thank you for your continued support during these challenging times. Stay safe.
John E. Fulmer, Principal
Williamson Middle School
From the Assistant Principal:
Greetings from the Assistant Principal,
The second semester has begun! We have reached the halfway point in the year! As strange as it seems, we start planning for spring. At the sixth grade level, we begin to look at potential candidates for Acceleration in seventh grade. Students must meet certain requirements such as, high academic average, strong i-Ready scores and (in normal years) exceptional attendance. We also discuss a student’s ability to cope with the increased workload and responsibility. Students recommended for the Acceleration program should be able to demonstrate a significant level of independence. In addition to acceleration at the seventh grade level, we also have an opportunity for our eighth grade students to take Earth Science. Earth Science is a credit bearing high school course. Students who successfully complete the course and take the Regents Exam, will earn one credit towards graduation. Again, a student must meet specific criteria to be considered for the Earth Science course. A student’s average, ELA i-Ready scores and teacher recommendation are part of the process for selection. We encourage all our students to do their best and work towards academic success.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email or call at (315) 589-9665.
Kathryn Taylor
Middle School Assistant Principal
From the Health Office:
One of the most important steps to keep school staff and students healthy is cleaning hands at key times with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not readily available. School-based programs promoting hand hygiene can result in less gastrointestinal and respiratory illness and fewer missed school days.
Promote Hand Hygiene in Your School
- Build time into daily routines for students and staff to wash hands, especially at key times like after bathroom breaks, before lunch, or after playing outside. Take into consideration any additional time students or staff may need to wash their hands. Consider increasing hand hygiene monitoring to ensure adherence among teachers, students, and staff.
- Teach and reinforce handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Integrate hand hygiene lessons in K-12 school curricula to regularly remind students of the importance of hand hygiene.
- Consider making hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol available for teachers, staff, and students. Hand sanitizer is not a substitute for cleaning hands with soap and water. However, hand sanitizers can be placed in areas where soap and water are not readily available (e.g., cafeterias, classrooms, gyms) and near frequently touched surfaces (e.g., water fountains, doors, shared equipment). Supervise young children under the age of 6 when they use hand sanitizer to prevent swallowing alcohol or contact with eyes.
- Consider increasing access to hand hygiene infrastructure and supplies, such as sinks, portable handwashing stations, and hand sanitizer dispensers. When hand hygiene facilities and supplies are available, students and staff are better able to make hand hygiene part of their routine.
- Place visual cues such as handwashing posters, stickers, and other materials in highly visible areas throughout the school, such as bathrooms, and locker rooms, classroom sinks, or cafeteria kitchens.
Know When and How to Use Hand Sanitizer
CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water because handwashing reduces the amounts of all types of germs and chemicals on hands. But if soap and water are not readily available, using a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can help school staff and students avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.
FEBRUARY CALENDAR
FEBRUARY LUNCH MENU
Student of the Month for January 2022
Nora Abdunnasir - All PRIDE attributes!
Jace DeLyser - All PRIDE attributes!
Ronald Schreiber - All PRIDE attributes!
Aubrie Frank - All PRIDE attributes!
Alana Atwater - Always being willing to help a friend in need!
6th Grade
Brendan Burns - Demonstrating PRIDE behaviors for the month!
Austin Leaty - Demonstrating PRIDE behaviors for the month!
Madison Johns - Demonstrating PRIDE behaviors for the month!
Melanie Suwyn - Demonstrating PRIDE behaviors for the month!
7th Grade
Ryan Wahl - Responsibility!
Paige Putnam - Responsibility!
Erin Colfer - Responsibility!
Owen Bendschneider - Perseverance!
8th Grade
Arthur Schreiber - All PRIDE attributes!
Lauren Schmeelk - All PRIDE attributes!
Brianne O'Neil - All PRIDE attributes!
Mariah Jackson - Work ethic!
YEARBOOK
District Communication
WILLIAMSON PTSA NEWS!
Visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WilliamsonCSDPTSA OR click “PTSA” in the left-hand column at www.williamsoncentral.org
NEXT MEETING
Attend our next meeting on Tuesday, March 8th at 6:30 p.m. in the Elementary School Library.
DISTRICT APPROVAL for VOLUNTEERING
Interested in helping with an event during the school year? Just complete an application to become a district-approved volunteer (unless you have been approved during a previous school year - then you’re all set!). There is a notary at the District Office who can assist you with finalizing your application - just call ahead (315-589-9661) to make sure the notary will be on-site when you plan to stop in! And don’t forget to bring your ID! It’s a quick process with years of payoff in being a part of your child’s school experiences.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Feb 21-25 No School
Presidents Week Recess
Box Tops are changing to fit today's families. The new and improved Box Tops mobile app uses state-of-the-art technology to scan your store receipt, find participating products and instantly add Box Tops to your school's earnings online. To get started, download the Box Tops for Education app onto your mobile device. It’s a free app! Create a new account or sign into your existing account. The app will guide through each step from there. No more clipping! Just scan your receipts!
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
If you are interested in keeping up on PTSA happenings and volunteer opportunities but can’t always attend meetings, please get in touch with us on our facebook page (www.facebook.com/WilliamsonCSDPTSA) or by e-mailing any of our officers (contact info below). Join us in continuing the tradition of commitment and service our PTSA has provided to our district’s students!
PTSA IS LOOKING FOR THEIR NEXT VICE PRESIDENT!
Do you enjoy organizing events?
Are you a team player?
Do you like working with a group that raises money for your school through fundraising?
If so - you should join our team!!!
If you are interested in becoming the next VP - please reach out to us at Williamsoncsd.ptsa@gmail.com
MEMBERSHIP
We are collecting PTSA membership renewals and new memberships!
Becoming a member is a very simple and quick way to support programming for our students! Download the Membership Brochure form from the PTSA page on the district website (click Community > PTSA at www.williamsoncentral.org).
DID YOU KNOW?
Amazon.com now helps raise money for our schools? Tens of millions of products on AmazonSmile are eligible for donations. You will see eligible products marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on their product detail pages. To get started, sign in to
smile.amazon.com on your desktop or mobile phone browser.
From your desktop, go to Your Account from the navigation at the top of any page, and then select the option to Change your Charity. Or, from your mobile browser, select Change your
Charity from the options at the bottom of the page.
Select a new charitable organization to support. Type in PTA New York Congress. Enter the code 07-217 and select WSPTSA. .5% of your purchase will automatically go towards the Williamson PTSA. It’s that easy!
REACH OUT TO US
President: Rachel Higbee
Vice President: VACANT
Treasurer: Stephen Adams
Secretary: Jen Manahan
Williamson Central School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its education program or activities, including employment, as is required by Title IX. Furthermore, Williamson Central School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, religion, marital status, age, sexual orientation, or disability in admissions, participation or employment. Inquiries regarding the application of Title IX may be directed to the Assistant Secretary of Civil Rights of the Department of Education or to the District’s Title IX Coordinator, Kathryn Avery, who can be reached at Williamson Central School District, 5891 Route 21, P.O. Box 900, Williamson, NY 14589, via email at kavery@williamsoncentral.org, or via telephone at (315) 589-9661.