The Wang Eagle
Week of January 30th, 2023
Building a Better Normal Together...
Looking at the upcoming cold front...yup...winter is here!!!! We recommend that your student wear layers at school. That way, they can make sure they are comfortable in the classrooms, hallways, and walking home or walking outside during dismissal or in the morning. In addition, in the event of significantly inclement weather, the Superintendent will make a decision about whether or not schools will be open and we will message it out as quickly as possible. Wang School, along with the district, will try to message that out right away via the following methods:
- Notifying the local news (Channels 4, 5, 7, 25 starting at 5:00 AM)
- Phone call from the Lowell Public Schools (Typically between 5:00 AM - 5:30 AM)
- Wang School's social media outlets: Facebook & Twitter
Don't forget to take advantage of the many opportunities still available at the school...because keeping your children active and engaged is the best way to make the most out of their education!
Family Portals will be launched this week...
We are SUPER excited to announce that we are launching our Family Portals this week.
Our SHORT term goals for these are:
- Making sure that ALL of our families have access to their Family Portals
- Releasing all Report Cards and Progress Reports there (so you don't need to depend on your child to give them to you)
- Allow families to make sure their child's attendance and contact information is accurate
Our LONG term goals for these are:
- Allow parents to upload and simply update all Emergency Forms directly into their Aspen Portals each year
- Have not only all of the final grades in Aspen, but also have each and every assignment from every class in there so parents can see those individual grades AND they can see what work their child is missing
We are sure there will be "wrinkles" in this launch, so let us know if you need any help or support. However, all families should be getting an email that looks like the one below this week that will take you, step-by-step through the process of launching your Family Portals!
Families with siblings at Wang School may get the email twice (one for each student), but you only need to follow the directions ONE TIME and all of the siblings should be included on the same Family Portal.
The email will look like this:
Dr An Wang Middle School
To the parent or guardian of YOUR STUDENT'S NAME
The school is opening its Family Portal!
You will find below your login, your password, and a link to a set of directions on how to access and use the portal.
Login: YOUR LOGIN WILL BE HERE
Password: YOUR TEMPORARY PASSWORD WILL BE HERE
Please use this link in order to learn how to access the Family Portal.
How to Access the Family Portal.
2023 Calendar Raffle on sale now!
We are holding our annual calendar raffle again and (as always) 100% of the money raised goes DIRECTLY to supporting student activities and classrooms. So, the more we sell…the more activities we’ll be able to run (fund) this year!
We have several ways to participate this year:
Sell individual Calendar Raffle Tickets
They are available in the main office…send your student in with the number you would like us to send home
Sell tickets and record them on the “Sales Sheet” on the other side of this document
We will put in a ticket for EVERYONE on your sales sheet...if you need another sales sheet, they are available in the main office
We also have several ways to pay this year:
We have the traditional cash or check
Checks should be made out to Wang School PTO
We have Venmo and PayPal available
ALL PAYMENTS SHOULD BE TURNED INTO THE CLASSROOM TEACHERS OR THE MAIN OFFICE IN ORDER TO BE ENTERED INTO THE RAFFLE
The Venmo and PayPal accounts can also be used for straight donations if people are interested
There will be a winner picked every day in March and they will either win a cash prize ($25) or a gift basket (valued at $50+) put together by the staff. People can win MULTIPLE TIMES over the course of the month…so don’t be afraid to enter a ton of times!
For every 5 tickets a student sells, we will enter THEIR NAME in the drawings each day for FREE!
Call the office or email Mr. Stahl if you have any questions!
PTO PayPal
PTO Venmo
February Break & Saturday School Academic Support...
Are you looking for an opportunity for your student to get some academic support from staff? Are you looking for some time for them to complete missing work? Are you looking for a way to help them avoid summer school or even potentially retention by catching up on work? If so...check out the two opportunities below;
- We are offering a Saturday Opportunity Academic Support program for students who need some extra time and support completing their work. This is completely voluntary and students must come with work that they need to complete. It will be staffed by teachers in the building who can support your student in finishing their work to help make sure they are keeping up with all of their responsibilities. To sign-up your student for this program, please complete the application below.
- Saturday Opportunity Academic Support Application
- We are also offering a February Academic Support program the week of February Break. It would go from 8AM to 11:30AM on Monday through Thursday of that week. It will focus on skill-building, but also incorporate a chance for students to complete assignments that are not done from their classwork.
- February Academic Support Application
Still some space left in a few after-school programs...
On Tuesday, January 17th we will start the winter rotation of our after-school program...so grab a seat for your student before they are all gone!
Talk to your student about the UML Oceanography program on Tuesdays afternoons (flyer is attached below)...it really is an AMAZING opportunity for the students to get some amazing STEM learning opportunities, but also to talk to UML students and who can possibly give them advice about building a path for themselves moving forward.
Don't miss out on these opportunities...there are only a FEW SEATS LEFT in a FEW of the programs, so grab one for your student before they are all gone!
After-School Program Options:
Algebra (INVITE ONLY & 8TH GRADE ONLY): Invite only; The purpose of this algebra class is to prepare students for the High Honors Geometry test in the spring. If students pass this test, they will be able to skip Algebra I and take Geometry for their freshman year. This puts students on track to take AP Calculus in high school.
Art Club - Set Design (7th & 8th GRADE ONLY): Join Mrs. Morgan, Ms. Faber, and Ms. Corcoran on Tuesdays and Thursdays to design the set and props for our school play, Seussical! For 7th and 8th graders only. We will only be accepting serious 7th and 8th graders who actively help and participate in art. Starting the week of Tuesday, January 3rd, 2022.
Debate Club: Do you have an opinion? Do you want to be heard? Do you like to argue? This is the activity for you! We will discuss, argue and debate all sorts of topics including current events to what’s happening in our schools. Come join us for debate club!
Fragrant Fun: In Fragrant Fun, students will take on the role of "chandlers", or candle and soap makers. They will learn how to make soaps and candles of different varieties and styles! Students will gain knowledge about the different ingredients and steps that go into the chandler process. From jelly soap to dipped candles, students will be able to customize their smelly creations to their liking.
Games - Bodaciously Grandioso, Big Grand Board Games: Come hang out with Mr. Buckley & Ms. Grady while having fun doing their favorite hobby! Board games! Come make new friends while we play familiar games and teach you new games. We'll help you build friendly competition and strategies to achieve victory!
Games - Online Trivia Building: Students will learn how to create and enhance online trivia games (with Blooket & Kahoot), which they can share with their peers. Tournaments based on the created games will be played during the second half of each class. (ONLY 20 SEATS AVAILABLE)
Guitar Ensemble: Want to learn how to play guitar? Join “Guitar Ensemble!” We’re going to learn the parts of the guitar, how to tune it, and basic maintenance. We’re going to learn about famous guitarists of the past and present. We’re going to learn about different styles of guitar playing. Finally, we’re going to perform songs that every guitarist should know. Join “Guitar Ensemble” after school every Monday and Wednesday!
Interior Design Library Club: Help us redesign our Thomas Varnum Library with your artistic skills and eye for decorating interior spaces. We will be creating an aesthetically pleasing environment for our newly reopened school library. Members will participate by designing, painting, and drawing to create a space that is harmonious, happy, and welcoming to all. Members will also discuss the 7 elements of interior design and how to implement those elements to create a space specific for our school's library needs.
Lego Robotics: Come join us to learn how to code and build functioning robots all with beloved Legos. Compete against your peers to see who's robot can complete challenges the most efficiently! Program lego robots to earn points in our First Robotics Competition!
Newsletter: Want to learn more about who we go to school with? Curious what's happening at our school? Student Newsletter is the program for you. Bring your ideas and your creativity and help write with us!
Oceanography Club (TUESDAYS ONLY): The Oceanography club is back with UML students putting together some fun activities where kids can explore and learn all about the science of the sea! Join now before all the seats are gone! See the flyer below for more details.
SNL Sports Academy: Come join some college athletes from UML for team-building and collaborative games to help build character and tend to physical & mental health!
STEM Club: The STEM club will focus on the students finding a project that they would like to discover. The students can focus on an Engineering and Design project. A Kitchen Chemistry experiment. Would you like to participate in discovering how you might grow food on Mars. Maybe you want to improve the accuracy of your football throws, or soccer kicks. If this sounds like you then join STEM Club!
Writing & Illustrating a Book: Students will work in teams to brainstorm, write, and illustrate a 20-30 page book for the student book scholar contest through the National Youth Foundation. The winner will be published! More details here: http://b04.417.myftpupload.com/student-book-scholar-contest/. (ONLY 15 SEATS AVAILABLE)
WWWE: We will be exploring to world of wool, specifically making scarfs by Knitting, crocheting and weaving. We also may be doing some wet felting and of course Needle felting.
Yearbook: Be involved in creating your 8th grade yearbook. Take pictures at events, create posters, help decide on themes, and create pages to represent the 2022-2023 school year! (8th grade ONLY)
Emergency Forms are essential...
These forms and updated contact information are absolutely ESSENTIAL for us to have from EVERY student. In addition to contacting you about school events and/or updates on how your child is doing in school, having accurate contact information is essential in the event that there is some kind of emergency at the school that impacts your student.
If you have not done so already, please complete and return your child's Emergency Form to their teacher. Starting this week, we will be calling and emailing any and all families who have not completed the Emergency Forms until we have 100% of our forms completed.
Thank you for your help in making sure we have the most updated and accurate contact information on file for your child this year. If there are any changes as the year progresses, you can always contact the school to update your file.
Monitoring Social Media at home...
First of all, speak to your child about how mostly everything they see on social media is not truly a reflection or reality. In essence, people most often post the "highlight reels" of their lives in order to portray an image that essentially is not real. In some cases, people blatantly lie or manipulate the truth in their posts to seem "more important" or "better off" than they actually are in real life. Many of our students are comparing themselves and their lives to these "highlight reels" or even "blatant lies" being posted by other people. Talk to your child about how mostly everything they see or read on social media is absolutely NOT reality. Everyone has problems and struggles...so don't let them believe that social media posts that portray a perfect body or face through filters or ones that brag about amazing lives are reality. Everyone has problems and struggles, but they use exaggerated of fake social media posts to hide them.
Secondly, monitor your child's access and interactions on social media. There is absolutely value in honoring your child's privacy and letting them maintain their own identity in these social media platforms, but to be completely oblivious to what they are doing on their phones and/or computers is simply not a good idea as a parent. We cannot and will not "police" the social media interactions of all of our almost 700 students...it simply is not possible. We will try to mediate things as best we can and support our students when there are issues, but it needs to be the parents who are truly "policing" their child's interactions on social media and communication platforms. It isn't being "nosey" to ask your child about their social media life...it's parenting. Never be afraid to look into your child's online activity or their communication via chat rooms, texts, or messaging platforms because then you can help educate your child on how to truly navigate the world of social media in a safe and healthy way.
We will be putting together some workshops for parents on the different social media and messaging platforms that students are using and also on how parents can stay on top of what their child is doing on these platforms; what they are saying, who they are communicating with, if they are being bullied, or if they are the ones doing the bullying. Remember, staying involved with and aware of your child's social media identity and what they are doing online is NOT being nosey...it's parenting.
Keep an eye out for our upcoming Social Media Parenting workshops...we hope to have them put together some time in October.
SSC & PTO...
Below are the dates for the SSC/PTO meetings this year and they will be hybrid, meaning you can attend in person or via Zoom. Please feel free to drop in, listen to what is happening at the school, ask any questions you may have, and find out how we can work together more effectively to keep our school moving forward during these crazy times! We hope to see you at our meetings this year.
- Monday, February 6th @ 5:30PM
- Monday, March 6th @ 5:30PM
- Monday, April 3rd @ 5:30PM
- Monday, May 1st @ 5:30PM
- Monday, June 5th @ 5:30PM
Wang School SSC/PTO Google Meets Meetings
- To join the meeting by video, click this link: Wang School SSC/PTO Meetings
- Otherwise, to join by phone, dial +1 570-415-1140 and enter this PIN: 347 973 276#
All LPS & Wang School Policies...
- LPS Student Handbook
- Wang School Dress Code 2022-23
- Wang School Technology Policy 2022-23
Wang School Dress Code for 2022-2023...
We appreciate your support in enforcing our dress code moving forward...we have put the rationale for each element of the dress code below.
No obscene/inappropriate images or words on clothing
Fairly self-explanatory
No hats or hoods in school
This does NOT include religious items and the only other exception is hoods INSIDE a teacher's classroom if allowed by that teacher (some rooms are chilly sometimes)
The reason for this rule is it is a safety issue in the hallways for identification purposes in the case of emergencies
No pajama pants
Helping students learn how to dress for a professional environment
Helping instill proper morning routine and hygiene practices (not just rolling out of bed and coming to school in the same clothes they slept in the night before)
Ripped jeans are allowed...AS LONG AS...no underwear or pockets are exposed
Shorts fall into the same category as rips...AS LONG AS...no underwear or pockets are exposed
No sagging pants
Underwear or undershorts cannot be exposed
Shirts
Must have straps...doesn’t matter how thick
No underwear or inappropriate body parts exposed above or below shirt line
Wang School Technology Policy for 2022-2023
Prohibited Items based on LPS policy: The following items are considered disruptive to the educational process in Lowell Public Schools and are not allowed in school:
Cell Phones and communication devices such as Apple watch
Video Games
Radios, iPods and other Walkman Type Devices
Hand Held Laser Pointers
Playing Cards
Tobacco Products (including hookahs)
E-Cigarettes (vape)
Lighter/Matches (possession will lead to immediate suspension)
Skateboards/Scooters/Roller Blades/Heelys/Hoverboards
Other Items or Devices deemed inappropriate by the Principal or his designee
Students displaying and/or using any of these prohibited items will have the item confiscated and may receive disciplinary action including suspension. Though the school will secure the device, the ultimate responsibility for any loss or damage remains with the student who brought the prohibited item to school. A parent or guardian must come into school to pick up the item.
Earbuds/Headphones: Students must be able to hear the intercom and directives from staff at all times to ensure safety. For this reason students are not allowed to wear earbuds in school. Ear buds will be confiscated and not returned until the end of the school year or until a parent/guardian comes in to collect the article. The only exception to this prohibition applies to teachers who allow the use of earbuds in the classroom for educational purposes, but the earbuds must be put away before exiting the classroom.
While we will be allowing students to bring phones to and from school, the Wang School Policy is that they must be turned in to the HR teacher or the main office each morning. Devices like cell phones or Smart Watches should not be in the school hallways or used during the school day UNLESS there is an academic reason. Phones are always available to students in the main office, there is no need in school for a student to have a cell phone or Smart Watch.
On the other hand, wireless earbuds, bluetooth connected headphones or AirPods ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED at Wang School for any reason. We have wired earphones the students can borrow if needed or they can bring their own wired earbuds for use at school when allowed/appropriate. Wireless earbuds, bluetooth connected headphones, and/or AirPods are not allowed for any reason.
In the event a student does not follow these policies, the image below diagrams how the school will respond and if confiscated too many times the student's phone or device may be locked in the school's safe and returned to the parents at the end of the school year.
want to send some good vibes?
Dates to Remember
- Tuesday, January 31st: Basketball Games @ Pyne Arts
- Thursday, February 2nd: Basketball Games @ Wang
- Tuesday, February 6th: Skate Night @ Roller Kingdom
Follow Us on Social Media
Dr. An Wang Middle School
Email: mstahl@lowell.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/Page/25
Location: 365 West Meadow Road, Lowell, MA, USA
Phone: (978) 937-7683
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lpsdwang
Twitter: @WangLPS