Middle School Matters
Whatcom Middle School Newsletter, September 2022
Dear Whatcom Middle School Community
What a wonderful start to our school year! We all feel that there is such a positive and ready-for-school vibe in our building. Students have jumped right into their learning, making connections to staff and friends, and having a very strong start. Ms. Hulford and I have so enjoyed getting to meet everyone and sharing in the joy of WMS!
We were able to start the first week with great grade level assemblies where we learned more about one another, our Whatcom pillars, our theme for the school year, which is #WhatcomKind and the Whatcom Stomp! We look forward to many more positive assemblies, activities, clubs and other ways to have a positive school climate and culture this year.
This week, we will have our Back-to-School Open House on Thursday, 9/15 from 6:30-8:15 PM. This will be an evening for students and families to see the building, meet teachers and other staff members, have conversations with other families, and hear more about all the offerings at WMS. This is not a time to talk about specific student needs. If you have specific questions for a teacher, please reach out to them over email to set up a time to further discuss. Click here to access teacher email addresses. Translation services will be provided. We ask that you follow this schedule to the greatest extent possible.
Parking is limited so please consider carpooling, riding bike, walking, or taking WTA.
Sincerely,
Mischelle Darragh, Principal
Breann Hulford, Assistant Principal
Mark your calendar!
Sept 15 Back-to-School Open House 6:30 pm
Sept 19 PTSA Meeting, 7:00 pm
Sept 22 12:00 dismissal
Sept 23 No School - Teacher Workday
Sept 27 Picture Day
Picture Day
All students will be photographed by O'Conner Photography Studio for their student ID card and school records. If you would like to purchase your student's portraits, click below to pre-order their portraits today!
https://vando.imagequix.com/g1000958316#login
You can also purchase by visiting the website at www.oconnorphotographystudio.com
If you have any questions or need assistance please give the studio a call at 1-800-993-4929.
From the Counseling Office...
Hello, and Welcome Back!
We’re in the swing of things and it is so great to see the kids engaged in school, catching up with friends and teachers, and learning all the routines. Rita and I have been visiting classrooms to introduce ourselves to kids and remind them how to access us, whether that’s to talk about something they’re dealing with, or just take a break.
We’re also available to meet with parents; you can call or email to make an appointment. Parents ask us a lot of questions about their student’s development, behavior, academics, relationships with peers and/or adults, or pretty much anything else that comes up when raising an adolescent; we’re happy to help, and if we don’t know the answer, we’ll try to find someone who does! I can be reached at extension 4352; Rita is at 4353. We look forward to connecting with you!
Beth Schille-O’Connor and Rita Hocking-Kombol
ParentSquare for communications
Bellingham Public Schools is now using ParentSquare to streamline school-to-home communications. ParentSquare is used for mass communications (school newsletters, district information, urgent alerts), classroom communication (one-to-one and group messaging, parent-teacher conferences), and related school services. The web-based/app-based platform will allow parents/guardians to update their contact preferences and manage their messages from schools and the district. Go the bellinghamschools.org/parentsquare for more information.
Picking up students early from school and excusing absences...
The quickest way to check your student out early is to send them with a note to the attendance window in the morning before school starts or send an email to Beth.Pelto-Fishbeck@bellinghamschools.org. Your student will receive a pass allowing them to leave the building at the appointed time and meet you at your vehicle.
Do not make arrangements with your student's teachers! Call the Attendance Office!
If you have an unplanned check out, please call the attendance office, (360) 676-6460, opt. 1. Please allow us time to locate your student by calling in advance. You will need to come inside and sign your student out.
Students arriving to school late, or returning from an appointment, need to sign in at the attendance window and have a signed note from a parent or guardian. Your student will then receive a pass which they will take to their teacher.
Any time your student is absent from school, please contact Beth Pelto-Fishbeck to excuse the absence. Contact can be made by email beth.pelto-fishbeck@bellinghamschools.org , a phone call to 360.676.6460 option 1, using ParentSquare, or a note sent in with your student. If your student brings in a note, please have them bring it to the attendance window before first period.
If you receive an automated notification from Parent Square that your student was marked absent for school, you have 48 hours to respond via Parent Square to excuse the absence. After 48 hours, you will need to send an email or call Beth Pelto-Fishbeck directly to excuse the absence.
If your student is sick, please refer to our website for Covid protocol information. https://bellinghamschools.org/covid-19-information/ If your student has one symptom lasting more than 24 hours, a fever, or multiple symptoms, they should take a Covid test before returning to school. Please notify Beth Pelto-Fishbeck if your students tests positive.
Clubs
Whatcom Middle School PTSA
Whatcom Middle School PTSA is committed to providing teachers and students with an excellent level of service this year. We are asking you to join PTSA by following the link below. Thank you for your help and please support your PTSA.
www.memberplanet.com/s/whatcommiddleptsa/whatcommiddleschoolptsaforms
2021-22 PTSA Board:
- President - Justin Nelson
- Vice President - Lorrie Melton
- Treasurer - Daniele O'Connell
- Secretary - Audra Stiles
The first meeting is set for Wed., Sept. 19th, 7:00 pm in the WMS Library and also on Zoom.
https://bellinghamschools.zoom.us/j/81646183713
Meeting ID: 816 4618 3713
Also, please make sure to mark your calendars for September 26th through September 30th. We will be holding our All District Fundraiser! Look for information to come home with your student during the next week.
Cell phone policy
Parents needing to contact their students may do so by emailing your student's district email address or by calling the Main Office or Attendance Office. Your child can call you from our attendance office.
A Message from Health Services: COVID-19 guidance update for 2022-23
Bellingham Public Schools continues to prioritize the health and safety of our students and staff as we start this school year co-existing with the COVID-19 virus. While we still take COVID-19 seriously, it’s not the emergency it once was.
We will continue to follow protocols to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our schools as established by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Whatcom County Health Department (WCHD).
Below are some highlights. You can check our COVID-19 webpage for updates.
- Staff and volunteers are still required to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Boosters are recommended.
- Masks are still required in the health room.
- Any person testing positive for COVID-19 is required to isolate for five days. We will follow the DOH symptom flow chart.
- Rapid antigen testing will be available at all schools and sites. iHeath rapid antigen test kits are available to send home.
- Health Services will continue to maintain the dashboard as a means of notification and follow WCHD outbreak response requirements (same as last spring).
Feel free to contact BPS.Health@bellinghamschools.org if you have questions.
BSD Family Handbook and 2022-23 Calendar
Follow us on Instagram @whatcom_ms
Whatcom Middle School
Principal: Mischelle Darragh
Assistant Principal: Breann Hulford
Administrative Assistant: Cindy Schuitema
(360) 676-6460
- Attendance, option 1
- Athletics, option 2
- Registrar/Counseling, option 3
- Main office, option 4
Email: aileen.walton@bellinghamschools.org
Website: whatcom.bellinghamschools.org
Location: 810 Halleck Street, Bellingham, WA, USA
Phone: (360) 676-6460