Middle School Newsletter
October 2021
From the Principal:
Dear Parents,
All students at the Middle School have completed their iReady Reading and Math Fall Benchmarks during the first three weeks of school. This data assists with providing appropriate academic interventions as well as providing baseline data measuring student growth.
Clubs and afterschool activities are in full swing. Clubs being offered currently include: Volunteer Club; Newspaper Club; Student Association; Robotics/Coding Club; Cooking Club; Student Leadership Committee; Art Club; Odyssey of the Mind; and Running Club. Over 50 Middle School students are participating in “Peter Pan Jr.” this fall. Also, 55 students/athletes are participating in Modified Fall Sports.
The photo below is of Williamson Middle School students and staff participating in the Pledge and Moment of Silence the morning of 9/11/21.
Thank you for your continued support of our district.
John E. Fulmer, Principal
Williamson Middle School
From the Assistant Principal:
Greetings from the Assistant Principal,
The start of the 2021-2022 school year has not been without its challenges, but we at the Middle School are very grateful to have our students walking the halls, being part of the daily routine, and participating in extracurricular activities. The sense of ‘normalcy’ has returned.
However, due to factors beyond their control, many of our students have learning gaps. These gaps are particularly evident in Reading. Through the work and dedication of our English and Reading teachers, we are working to address these deficits. Our initiative is to ‘Build a Culture of Literacy,’ within the Middle School. In an effort to meet the need, and increase the desire to read for pleasure, we have structured a 5th grade library special into the schedule. Our librarian highlights books and topics in which our students might be interested. We have seen a dramatic increase in library activity in one month!
The Middle School has also introduced a 10 minute “Community Forum’ for all our students. Teachers have the opportunity to use the flex time to address many needs. It can be a time of free reading or a time to introduce poetry! Exposure to all forms of literature and writing is critical at this stage. Lastly, our English teachers have invited our librarian into their classes for a ‘book talk’. Once exposed to interesting novels, our teachers have reported that books ‘fly out of the room’ because of demand! We are excited by the transformation we have seen! Please encourage your child to read as often as possible!
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email or call at (315) 589-9665.
Kathryn Taylor
Middle School Assistant Principal
From the Health Office:
We are committed to helping your students have a healthy and successful school year!
A few reminders:
- All school medications must be brought in by an adult. A doctor’s order is required for medication administration by the school nurse or an attestation from the doctor along with the order if they are going to self carry their medication. For the safety of our student’s, please do not send medication in your child’s backpack.
- If your student has a new medical diagnosis, please update us.
- Cough drops are considered a medication and must be dispensed through the school nurse’s office with a doctor’s order from your pediatrician. For the safety of our students, please do not send in a bag of cough drops for your child. Thank you for your cooperation.
- Please remember if you answer “Yes” to any of the questions on the Covid-19 Questions, then you or your child should not report to school, contact your health care provider and the health office at 315-589-9665 x 3520.
- Student/Family/Community Flu Shot Clinic will be held on October 5, 2021, from 4:00 - 7:00 PM in the Middles School Cafeteria.
- Flu Season is fast approaching and usually starts in the fall and ends in the spring. When there is an outbreak or epidemic, usually during the winter months, the illness tends to be most pronounced in preschool or school-aged children. Adult caregivers are easily exposed and can contract the disease. The virus is usually transmitted in the first several days of the illness.
Flu Symptoms
- All flu viruses cause a respiratory illness that can last a week or more. Flu symptoms include:
- A sudden fever (usually above 100.4)
- Chills and body shakes
- Headache, body aches, and being a lot more tired than usual
- Sore throat
- Dry, hacking cough
- Stuffy, runny nose
Some children may throw up (vomit) and have loose stools (diarrhea).
As always please feel free to call the middle school health office if you have any questions or concerns, 315-589-9665 x3520.
Tammy A. LaBarr,
Middle School RN
OCTOBER CALENDAR
OCTOBER LUNCH MENU
Student of the Month for September 2021
Callie Leisenring - All PRIDE attributes!
Joseph Silliman - All PRIDE attributes!
Danica Verbridge - All PRIDE attributes!
Kayleb Thomas - All PRIDE attributes!
6th Grade
Braelynn Ahern - Exhibiting PRIDE behaviors for the month!
Hailey Kramer - Exhibiting PRIDE behaviors for the month!
Braxten Beland - Exhibiting PRIDE behaviors for the month!
Jordan Harmon - Exhibiting PRIDE behaviors for the month!
7th Grade
Anna Silliman - Integrity
Aidah Giuliano - Responsibility
Mackenzie Frank - All PRIDE attributes!
David DeFisher - All PRIDE attributes!
William Swarthout - All PRIDE attributes!
Haeden Wing - Excellence in PE everyday!
Travis Towne - Showing independence and eagerness to learn!
8th Grade
Myles Wurtz - All PRIDE attributes!
Julianne Purcell - All PRIDE attributes!
Laura Colfer - All PRIDE attributes!
Middle School Picture Day
Picture Makeup Day is on Wednesday, October 20th from
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Middle School Musical
Mark your calendars: Important Musical Dates!
Weekly Rehearsals: Will be held on Mondays & Sat. mornings
Performance dates: Dec. 3, 4, 5
YEARBOOK
Information for 8th Grade Parents
The Yearbook is doing something new this year ~
Recognition Ad for your 8th grade student!!
You will be receiving a flyer in the mail with all the information and price.
If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact:
Alan Baker – Abaker@williamsoncentral.org
Mary Jo Bailey – Mbailey@williamsoncentral.org
Or call 315-589-9665
WILLIAMSON PTSA NEWS!
Visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WilliamsonCSDPTSA OR click “PTSA” in the left-hand column at www.williamsoncentral.org
NEXT MEETING
Attend our next meeting on Tuesday, October 12th at 6:30 p.m in the Elementary School Library. Please make sure that you bring a mask.
District APPROVAL for VOLUNTEERING
Interested in helping with an event during the school year? Just complete an application to become a district-approved volunteer (unless you have been approved during a previous school year - then you’re all set!). There is a notary at the District Office who can assist you with finalizing your application - just call ahead (315-589-9661) to make sure the notary will be on-site when you plan to stop in! And don’t forget to bring your ID! It’s a quick process with years of payoff in being a part of your child’s school experiences.
UPCOMING EVENTS
October 1st - Middle School picture day
October 5th - Students and Families Flu Shot Clinic @ the Middle School Cafeteria 4-7pm
October 7th - Elementary School Open House @ 5:30pm (Zoom)
October 8th - Superintendent Conf Day (No school)
October 11th - Columbus Day (no school)
October 12th - PTSA meeting
October 18th - High School picture retake day
October 20th - Elementary School and Middle School picture retake day
October 29th - Big Pumpkin Day
BIG PUMPKIN DAY
Big Pumpkin day will look a little different this year. Classroom teachers will choose 2-3 crafts to do in their classroom during the day. The students will also have a snack provided for them. This will take place on Friday, October 29th.
Box Tops are changing to fit today's families. The new and improved Box Tops mobile app uses state-of-the-art technology to scan your store receipt, find participating products and instantly add Box Tops to your school's earnings online. To get started, download the Box Tops for Education app onto your mobile device. It’s a free app! Create a new account or sign into your existing account. The app will guide through each step from there. No more clipping! Just scan your receipts!
MEMBERSHIP
We are collecting PTSA membership renewals and new memberships!
Becoming a member is a very simple and quick way to support programming for our students! Download the Membership Brochure form from the PTSA page on the district website (click Community > PTSA at www.williamsoncentral.org).
DID YOU KNOW?
Amazon.com now helps raise money for our schools? Tens of millions of products on AmazonSmile are eligible for donations. You will see eligible products marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on their product detail pages. To get started, sign in to
smile.amazon.com on your desktop or mobile phone browser.
From your desktop, go to Your Account from the navigation at the top of any page, and then select the option to Change your Charity. Or, from your mobile browser, select Change your
Charity from the options at the bottom of the page.
Select a new charitable organization to support. Type in PTA New York Congress. Enter the code 07-217 and select WSPTSA. .5% of your purchase will automatically go towards the Williamson PTSA. It’s that easy!
REACH OUT TO US
President: Rachel Higbee
Vice President: Kristin Adams-Wangler
Treasurer: Stephen Adams
Secretary: Jen Manahan
The Williamson Central School District does not discriminate regarding age, sex, creed, race, color, sexual orientation, natural origin, political affiliation, marital status, veteran or military status, genetic information, disabling conditions or any other basis prohibited by state or federal non-discrimination laws.