WMS Community Bulletin 05-23-21
EXCELLENCE*EQUITY*COMMUNITY
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Se você estiver em um computador, abra uma nova página. Em seguida, para traduzir esta newsletter, clique no link à direita. Se você estiver em um telefone, toque na pessoa no círculo preto para obter o botão de tradução.
(Portuguese)
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(Spanish)
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إذا كنت تستخدم جهاز كمبيوتر ، فافتح هذا في صفحة جديدة. بعد ذلك ، لترجمة هذه النشرة الإخبارية ، انقر فوق الارتباط الموجود على اليمين.
إذا كنت تستخدم الهاتف ، فالمس الشخص الموجود في الدائرة السوداء للحصول على زر الترجمة. (Arabic)
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Եթե համակարգիչ եք, բացեք սա նոր էջում: Ապա, այս տեղեկագիրը թարգմանելու համար կտտացրեք աջ հղմանը: Եթե հեռախոսով եք, դիպչեք սև շրջանի անձին ՝ թարգմանության կոճակը ստանալու համար: (Armenian)
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Bilgisayar kullanıyorsanız, bunu yeni bir sayfada açın. Ardından, bu bülteni çevirmek için sağdaki bağlantıya tıklayın. Telefonda iseniz, çevir düğmesini almak için siyah daire içindeki kişiye dokunun. (Turkish)
Watertown Middle School 2020-2021
Happy Sunday! I hope this newsletter finds you all well and enjoying the weekend. It is certainly warmer these days, however, so please be sure your children are coming to school with refillable water bottles to stay hydrated.
Reminders:
MCAS:
Monday, May 24 - Makeups for ELA in-person MCAS (all grades)
Wednesday, May 26 - Remote Administration of ELA MCAS (all grades)
Thursday, May 27 - MATH MCAS in-person (all grades)
Friday, May 28 - SCIENCE MCAS in-person (grade 8 only)
We will let you know soon when other makeup and remote adminstration days will occur.
Please remind your children they should:
Come to school on time by 8:30 am
Go to bed early and get plenty of sleep
Eat a nourishing breakfast each morning
Always work to their best ability - we all believe in them and know they will do their best!
Thank you very much. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.
Grade 5 to 6 transition - Thank you to everyone who attended the Information Night for Parents/Caregivers of Rising Grade 6 students last Tuesday. A recording of that meeting as well as other Grade 6 information can be found at this link on our website.
Grade 8 End of Year Events - We are continuing to plan for end-of-year events. I will be consulting with Dr. Galdston and Ms. Desmarais, as well as the nurses and the Watertown Board of Health, to confirm we can all stay safe in each event. I will also be meeting with Grade 8 teachers. Stay tuned for more information and please reach out to Gina Brennan, PTO President, with any ideas or if you'd like to volunteer at all. Her email address is: gbrennan@noonanrealestate.com
Masks Wearing Updates from Dr. Galdston:
The past few weeks after our return from April vacation have been very encouraging in terms of the COVID-19 pandemic. With only three positive pools and eight cases in our district since our return, we are optimistic about a gradual return to a more normal school experience. The downturn in the cases of COVID-19 across Massachusetts is undoubtedly due to our continued commitment to adhering to the health and safety measures in place and the vaccinations that are available for all people ages 12 and up.
Mask-wearing indoors and outdoors at school
As a follow-up to my previous update regarding the new guidance from the state, WPS will continue requiring mask-wearing both indoors and outdoors, even for staff and students who have been fully vaccinated. This is a local decision and is supported by the Watertown Health Department. We are very close to the end of the year and we want to end it on as healthy a note as possible.
Without a vaccine for children under 12 along with the challenges of maintaining social distancing while outdoors, continuing mask-wearing will enhance the safety of all of our students-those that are vaccinated and those that are not. Students have been wearing masks for a year, and we have just over 4 weeks left of school this year. Changing now will be disruptive to our very established routines. Please note that children already have mask breaks and don't wear masks during snack time and while eating lunch.
WPS administration will revisit mask-wearing after the Memorial Day break for students 12 and over, as vaccination numbers increase for this age group. We appreciate your support for keeping all of the members of our school community safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
WPS Athletics
Based on the recommendations of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA), and the Middlesex League, the following protocols will be implemented for all students participating in WMS and WHS athletics:
- MS/HS Athletes on spring teams in active play OUTDOORS are not required to wear a mask/facial covering.
- MS/HS Athletes on spring teams in active play INDOORS are still required to wear a mask
- Visitors, spectators, volunteers, and staff are not required to wear mask/facial covering at this time ONLY IF THEY ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN SIX FEET OF DISTANCE.
Please remember that students should wear masks while not engaged in active play.
Any changes to this protocol or any additional changes regarding mask-wearing will be communicated to families as they are made.
Please keep in touch with your child's teachers and guidance counselors if they are having a hard time at all with anything: schoolwork, homework, stress, friends, etc. Communication is always the key to helping the children be as successful as possible! :)
Please also feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns. Thank you!
Please be well and take good care of one another.
Respectfully yours,
Donna Martin
Principal
Here are some important upcoming dates:
Monday, May 24 - School Committee meeting 7:00 pm
Wednesday, May 26 - School Site Council meeting 6:30-8:00 pm Join Zoom Meeting
Monday, May 31 - NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day
Testing Dates
MCAS - Testing Window May 17 - June 11
ELA - Monday, May 24 - Makeups for ELA in-person MCAS (all grades)
Wednesday, May 26 - Remote Administration of ELA MCAS (all grades)
MATH - Thursday, May 27 (all grades)
SCIENCE - Friday, May 28 (grade 8 only) **date change**
i-Ready - June 3 and 4
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OTHER UPDATES
Assistant Principal Search: We had a great first round of interviews last week, and interviewed 12 candidates. I am hoping to bring the finalists in to meet teachers, students, and parents/caregivers this Thursday and Friday, and will be coordinating the schedule with Dr. Galdston. I will let you know when it is final.
Please email me with any questions, concerns, or input you may have. As always, we will work together as a community! #wmsstrong
Take good care of each other,
All my best,
Donna
Book Clubs in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade ELA classes!
"I accidentally read ahead to the end..." "Are there other books if we finish early?" "I'm not that good at reading, but I'm really, really trying."
Watertown Boys & Girls Club Event!
Kids Night Out event on Friday, May 28th. The middle school students in the Torch Club leadership program have worked diligently to put this event together!
“Here is the link to pre-register: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040F49AEAC2DA5FE3-torch
Please complete our WBGC Member Daily Health Screening (google.com) on the day of the event before your child enters the building. If you have any questions, please let me know and I am looking forward to seeing all the members here. Thank you!”
Student Dress Code Reminder
With students coming back to school full time on April 12, we wanted to remind all students and families about the WMS Dress Code as published in the WMS Handbook. Please review this with your child(ren). Thank you!
Student Dress Code
Students’ clothing/dress should reflect their readiness to focus on learning, education and hard work. We recognize that students express themselves in many ways as young adults, but at the same time, school attire should support the scholarly culture that leads to academic success.
Student clothing should be neat, clean, and worn in the manner for which it was designed. If a student is out of dress code, he/she will first get a verbal warning and be asked to change. If the student can’t find appropriate clothing, he/she can use our stock of Watertown athletic clothing as an alternative. If it is a second or repeat offense, the student will be referred to administration for disciplinary action.
Students are expected to adhere to the following guidelines while in school, or while attending a school-sponsored event or field trip:
No clothing or accessories with inappropriate or offensive symbols or statements shall be worn. Some examples include but are not limited to:
References to drugs, tobacco or alcohol
References to discriminatory slurs
References to violence
Sexual connotations
Head coverings shall be worn in the case of religious or health reasons.
Chests, stomachs, buttocks, and all undergarments should be covered at all times. Undergarments should not be visible at any time.
All clothing, including shirts, tops, dresses, pants, shorts, and leggings, must be completely opaque (not see-through).
Clothing must be free of holes, rips, and tears that are inappropriately located.
Night clothing, including but not limited to pajamas, slippers, etc. may not be worn.
Administration reserves the right to evaluate the appropriateness of student dress when needed.
We will evaluate the dress code on an annual basis to adjust for cultural trends
Weekly Learning Plans
Grade 6 Website and e-Learning Plans - click here
Grade 7 Website and e-Learning Plans - click here
Grade 8 Website and e-Learning Plans - click here
If you have any questions, please email (or have your student email) the teacher.
Thank you!
**EMERGENCY ALERTS**
Watertown Middle School
Email: donna.martin@watertown.k12.ma.us
Website: https://wms.watertown.k12.ma.us/
Location: 68 Waverley Avenue, Watertown, MA, USA
Phone: 617-926-7783
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watertownms/