Wangenheim Middle Newsletter
Volume 3: Issue X; January 22, 2023
Wangenheim Middle School - where we develop the next generation of innovators, collaborative problem solvers and positive agents of change with a global worldview.
Hello Wangenheim Families!
Welcome to Spring Semester! As we hope you are aware, the end of the Fall semester was Friday, January 20th. Monday, January 23rd is the beginning of a new semester. Student's grades will be submitted and processed this week. Parents should be able to see their student's grades through ParentPortal beginning Thursday, January 26th. A copy of the Fall semester grades will be mailed to the address on file. A physical copy will also be distributed on Friday, January 27th. Fall semester grades are final and cannot be changed.
Here are a couple of important items for you to know:
- As we begin our Spring Semester, all students will receive a print out of their 2nd Semester schedule Monday morning. For most students the only change will be the new elective they will have, unless they are already taking a year long elective course (ELD/ALD, Spanish, Music, ASB, Video Broadcast, etc.).
- Please welcome our new history teacher, Ms. Akana! She will be taking over the classes previously taught by Mr. Perez and be with us for the rest of the school year. Mr. Perez has retired and is loving his new leisurely morning routine.
- Another important notice is that beginning Monday, January 23rd, we will no longer be able to process blue slips for students after 2:35pm (11:15 am on minimum days). Students leaving at 11:48 am on minimum days should go directly to the office. We have had a surge in requests, some legitimate and some in an attempt to avoid traffic in the parking lot. The result has been highly disruptive for the classrooms as teachers are trying to finish their lesson to end the day. We appreciate your support.
- City construction is beginning on Gold Coast and Parkdale. The city has sent communication to the community, and we are including the information we received.
As always, please contact us if you have questions. I am looking forward to a great Spring Semester and close to the 2022-2023 school year.
In partnership,
Matt Fallon, Ed.D.
Principal
Wangenheim Middle School
Dates to Remember:
- January 25 & 26, Staff Development (minimum days)
- January 26, 8th Grade Field Trip to Mira Mesa High School
- February 8 & 9 (minimum days)
- February 16 (minimum day)
- February 17 & 20, Presidents Days observance (no attendance)
- February 24, Shadow a Student (minimum day)
JOKE OF THE DAY:
- – There are too many cheetahs.
ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS:
Level Up Summer Academic Program at Challenger
City Construction on Gold Coast Drive
COVID home testing
Wildcat Study Center on Tues, Wed, and Thurs (except min days)
- 2-certificated staff support
- 3:05 pm to 4:00 pm
New Clubs forming now
Clothing Closet now open
DonorsChoose-staff projects
PTSA- Kona Ice on minimum days
COMMUNITY CORNER
Free Balboa Park Museum passes
Community Resource Map
Bus Pass request form for students for students experiencing homelessness
CAL Kids, college savings fund sponsored by the State of California
SANDAG's Youth Opportunity Transit Pass
Waves of Honor (Sea World)
San Diego Public Library (Mira Mesa branch)
Level Up Summer Academic Program is offered to current students for enrichment purposes. The program will not be offered at Wangenheim Middle this summer.
Challenger Middle
8:00am – 1:00pm
- Program begins Tuesday, June20, 2023 and ends Friday, July 21, 2023
- There will be NO School on Monday July 3rd and Tuesday July 4th
- Academic Program will be one (5) week session (5) five hours per day
*Students who are eligible for Extended School Year (ESY) through their individualized IEP will be enrolled through your child’s IEP Case Manager. Do NOT fill out this form.. If you have specific questions regarding your child’s eligibility for ESY, please work with your child’s IEP Case Manager.
Applications are now available. Print the form below or see your counselor for more information and to sign up.
Please allow extra time due to construction in the area.
COVID Home tests
Beginning Jan. 30, 2023, COVID-19 testing will shift from weekly site testing to an all home test kit model. Students and staff who wish to test regularly, or as needed, may pick up free home test kits from their school office through the end of the 2022-23 school year.
As a reminder, individuals should not attend work or school if they are feeling sick or experiencing symptoms of any cold-like virus, until those symptoms start to improve and there is no fever for 24 hours (without use of fever-reducing medication). If any student or staff tests positive for COVID-19, please do not attend work or school and report the illness here.
The district will continue contact tracing and case management for all students and staff until further notice. All positive home test results that are reported to the school will be documented, and the district contact tracing team will report those positive results to the County Department of Public Health. The COVID-19 Dashboard will remain in use for staff and families to monitor case rates at their schools.
WILDCAT STUDY CENTER
The Wildcat Study Center will be open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays after school in the library. NO ADVANCE NOTICE NECESSARY. There will be no WSC on minimum days. This is a quiet place for students to study from 3:05 pm-4:00 pm. Two certificated staff, one English and the other Science/Math emphasis will be available to support students, as needed.
CORE ACADEMY
Wangenheim Middle School will hold Saturday Sessions of CORE Academy: Supporting Student Achievement Success (CASSAS), a Saturday of education for students to receive additional support and enrichment class in their core classes and/or make up absences or tardies. This supports the ongoing effort to help prepare students with the skills and knowledge necessary to meet the ongoing demands of the 21st Century.
- TIMES: 8:30am – 12:30pm
- DATES: February 25, March 18, April 15, May 6 (8th Grade Only), and May 20 (8th Grade Only)
- Breakfast and snacks are provided for all participating students
WANGENHEIM CLUB NEWS
New Clubs forming
Asian American and Pacific Islander Club
Let's Build Lego Club
Join fellow Lego builders to create and share.
Latinx Club
WANGENHEIM HAPPENINGS:
Letters to our Troops
Mrs. Zelman's class wrote letters of appreciation to our troops.
Peer Mentoring
Selected 8th Graders working with 6th Graders in our Peer Mentoring program.
Wangenheim Track Team
Congratulations on a great season
SCHOLASTIC BOOK ORDERS
Scholastic Book Clubs offers a wide selection of quality books that are just right for your student's reading level and interest. With a $25 order, you can pick a FREE $5 Book (use code: READS).
Class Order Due Date: 1/14/23, Class Code RB7Q9
- Shop Digital Flyers: https://clubs.scholastic.com/middleschool
- Shop Our Class Page: https://orders.scholastic.com/RB7Q9 where you can access all levels, preschool through middle school
All orders earn FREE books and supplies for our school. Orders will be delivered to the school and distributed through their English class. Please contact Mrs. Minezaki, School Library Tech, if you have any questions. Thank you for your support!
WANGENHEIM CLOTHES CLOSET
The Wangenheim Clothes Closet is now open. We have a limited selection of tops, bottoms, shoes, and other items available for those in need. There are also some school supplies and hygiene products. Please contact their counselor or Heather Weld (hweld@sandi.net) to make an appointment for you or your student to check out what is available.
If you have gently used clothing items or other items to donate (socks, soap, lotion, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, face soap, lip balm...), please contact Ms. Weld to make drop off arrangements.
SHOW YOUR SCHOOL SPIRIT
Students, come buy Wangenheim t-shirts and hoodies before school in Room 902. Check and cash only please.
- T-shirts..................$9.00
- Baseball t-shirts...$16.00
- Hoodies................$26.00
DONORS CHOOSE
Many of our staff members have created DonorChoose projects to advocate for our students. Please see current project below. Your support would mean so much. Please share with family and friends.
Mrs. Garrett: Ready to Read!
Help me give my students a wide variety of books to choose from in our classroom library.
Mrs. Minezaki: Expressive Scrapbooking
Help me give my students materials, such as photo paper and ink, to share and express memories through journaling and scrapbooking.
Mrs. Minezaki: Feeling Good Inside and Out
Help me give my students basic hygiene products plus socks to keep their feet warm during the winter months.
Mrs. Minezaki: For Love of LEGO Sets
Help me give my students the opportunity to start a LEGO Robotics team.
Mrs. Ryder: Esports Club with Nintendo Switch
Help me give my students a place to meet new friends, make connections, and enjoy friendly gaming competition using Nintendo Switch.
Mrs. Slezak: Egyptian Pharaoh Art!
Help me give my students a new pencil sharpener and an art experience! The pencil sharpener is to get our colored pencils ready for this amazing art project of a pharaoh!
Mr. Zeller: Ping Pong Club Supplies
Help me give my students a new ping pong table, paddles, balls, and nets!
Mrs. Zelman: New Classroom Community Area
Help me give my students some tall tables to stand and work at, a new carpet and benches for our community area.
NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS
We would like to showcase and share the activities and achievements of our Wangenheim community.
Last year's yearbook sold out. Don't miss out. Order your yearbook only $40.00 in the Finance Office (cash only) or online today.
PTSA News
Generate donations to Wangenheim PTSA
Shop at smile.amazon.com and we’ll donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to your favorite charitable organization—no fees, no extra cost.
Kona Ice Fundraiser on minimum days
The Kona Ice shaved ice truck will be on campus during lunch on minimum days. Prices range from $4-$6.
COMMUNITY CORNER
The map shows where you might find:
- Mental Health (including ATOD services)
- Community Centers & Tutoring
- DV Resources
- Crisis Resources & Legal Assistance
- Pregnant, Parenting & Foster Resources
- Food and Clothing Resources
- Homeless/Transitional Living/Low Income
- Medical Clinics/Health Centers
- Military Families
SANDAG's Youth Opportunity Transit Pass allows anyone 18 and under to ride San Diego transit (bus, trolley, Coaster, and Sprinter) for free until June 30, 2023. There are several ways children and families can take advantage of this opportunity, such as using their existing online bus pass or getting a hard copy card through SANDAG.
DATES TO REMEMBER
JANUARY
- End of Semester, January 20 (grades viewable January 27)
- Staff Development, January 25 & 26, early dismissal
FEBRUARY
- Staff Development, February 8 & 9, early dismissal
- February 16, early dismissal
- Presidents Day observance, February 17-20, no attendance
- SGT, February 21, 3:10 pm
- SSC, February 23, 3:10 pm
- Shadow a Student, February 24, early dismissal
- CORE Academy, February 25