The Winch Word
News and Notes from Oliver W. Winch MS - June 2015
The End of the School Year
The end of the school year is upon us, and June always seems to speed by before we even have time to blink. It's always amazing to look back on an individual year and reflect on all that has happened. I have learned so much in my first year working with your children, and, hard as it might be to believe, I have already started thinking about what 2015-16 will bring. As I look back on this school year, I am proud of a number of things. I am proud of all of the relationships I have seen our staff develop with our students. I am proud of all of the learning I have witnessed. I am proud of the conversations I have overheard between students and staff and families. I am proud of the growth of our students academically and socially. I am proud that you all have put your trust and faith in our ability at OWWMS to educate your children and to help them grow up to be productive and responsible citizens. I am proud to be the principal at Oliver W. Winch MS. It's been a great year!
What's happening at OWWMS?
Here's a photo of the 7th & 8th grade Gold Team on a field trip to the Betar Byway and Cooper's Cave Park with their teacher, Mrs. Ross-Hills, on June 5th. The weather was a little wet but it did not dampen spirits. Several of the students were overheard by Mrs. Ross-Hills saying that this was the "best field trip ever!"
Here are some dedicated members of the 6th grade Green Team's "Green Thumb Gardening Club" sprucing things up and getting the soil ready for a garden in our library courtyard. From their teacher, Mrs. Wysocki: "Today we removed rocks and weeds from the garden and worked on the courtyard flower gardens as well. Next week we will be prepping the soil for planting!"
A couple of weeks ago some of our 6th grade students participated in activities that simulated what it might be like to navigate the world as someone who is visually impaired. There were a number of activities that went on in the front of our building, and any of the students stated that they didn't realize how much they take for granted when it comes to being able to see the world around us.
Thanks ATI!
I wish you all had a chance to see the 8th grade lockers this past Friday and what our ATI (Above the Influence) leaders chose to do on their own Thursday afternoon (with permission, of course). Each 8th grader received a positive post-it message on their locker as they arrived at school on Friday. Below I shared the one that spoke to me the most. What can I say? Food holds a very special place in my heart!
The Bulldog Bulletin
Click here to check out our most recent issue of our student newspaper publication, The Bulldog Bulletin. Thanks to Red 7 ELA teacher Mrs. Leroux and our student journalists for a great job reporting!
Congratulations Mrs. Lieberman!
Along with saying "see you later" to our students at the end of each school year, June also becomes a time for us to say goodbye to colleagues who have come to the end of their career. This year our sole retiree at OWWMS is Mrs. Sue Lieberman who has taught Family and Consumer Science in both the middle school and high school during her tenure at South Glens Falls. Mrs. Lieberman has touched many lives as a teacher, and I know that retirement is a bittersweet notion for her. Please take a moment in the coming days to wish Mrs. Lieberman well in her new adventure as a retiree!
Annual Awards Ceremonies
All ceremonies begin at 1:00 PM in the MS LGI. Award recipients and their families have been notified ahead of time. All are welcome to attend.
Monday, June 15 - Blue 7
Tuesday, June 16 - Red 7
Friday, June 19 - Red 8
The Last Week of School
Our last week of school schedule is as follows:
Monday, June 22nd - Regular dismissal at 2:01 PM
Tuesday, June 23rd - Half-day dismissal at 10:30 AM
Wednesday, June 24th - Last Day for Students: Half-day dismissal at 10:30 AM
Thursday, June 25th - No School for Students/Last Day for Staff
Note: Locker clean-out will happen during homeroom on Wednesday (17th) for grade 6, Thursday (18th) for grade 7, and Friday (19th) for grade 8. Students will have access to their lockers only through the end of the school day on Tuesday, June 23rd.
OWWMS Text Messaging Information Service
Remind.com is a convenient service that allows individuals or organizations the opportunity to send out to the community cell phone text message updates containing important communication and information about events. Please consider signing up for text updates from OWWMS. We have approximately 100 parent/guardian members right now, and the hope is that it will continue to grow. Follow this link to learn how to sign up for this free service using your cell phone or email. It is one more easy, quick way for us to stay in touch over the course of a school year and throughout the summer.
Home-School Association
At the beginning of the school year I heard from a number of parents who talked about wanting to remain as connected to their child's middle school experience as they were at the elementary level. While certainly transitioning your children to the middle school involves helping them work toward self advocacy and independence, we always welcome parent involvement. Our Home-School Association is a great way for you to be connected to all of the happenings at OWWMS. Please consider adding "Join OWWMS HSA" to your autumn to-do list. Meetings are held one Monday per month. I hope to see you there in 2015-16!