Wilson Wildcats

Hello Wilson families,

Winter break is here and it couldn't come soon enough. Wishing you all a restful and joyous holiday break with friends and family. I look forward to slowing down and visiting my family in CT. It is much needed. We also want to thank Mr. Casey for his time serving as a vice-principal this fall during Ms. D'Agostino's maternity leave. Mr. Casey did a great job connecting with all of our students. He is now back in the classroom as a 7th grade math teacher for Team Opportunity.

Ms. D'Agostino is back to Wilson after spending the first few months of the school year with her beautiful twins, Alison and Michael and their big sister Natalie. She certainly has her hands full at home, yet is excited to be back with her Wilson family.

Covid Antigen Tests:

Your student was given a box of covid antigen tests in homeroom this week. One is for use during the holidays. The other one is to be used the night before returning to school on January 3.

From the Nurses Health Clinic:

If your student tests positive for Covid-19, they must stay home for 5 days. The day they started symptoms is Day 0, the next day is Day 1, then Day 2, etc. They may return to school on Day 6 and must wear a mask for an additional 5 days. A headache, scratchy throat, congestion/runny nose, cough, and/or fever are some of the more common symptoms of Covid-19.

Siblings and close contacts do not need to quarantine and can come to school as long as they are not having symptoms of illness. However, they must wear a mask for 10 days when around others following exposure.

Click for more information from the Massachusetts DPH: Covid-19 Isolation and Exposure Guidance

2023 Annual Community MLK Celebration Writing/Art/Performance Piece Contest

On Monday, January 16, 2023, in Natick, MA., the Greater Natick Interfaith Clergy Association, Natick Is United, the Natick Board of Health, Natick 180, Town of Natick, Natick Public Schools, METCO, and SPARK Kindness will host the 18th Annual Community MLK Celebration from 10:00-11:00 at Kennedy Middle School (more details to be announced closer to the date). See event page for more details.

Students at Wilson and Kennedy Middle Schools and Natick High School are invited to submit an essay, poem, creative writing (400 words or fewer) OR performance OR presentation of an art piece. Both Middle Schools and Natick High School will select the winning submission(s) to represent the school at the MLK celebration. The creator of each winning entry will win a $100 prize; additionally, other submissions will be featured in the event program and/or in an event recording.

For more details about the event and/or writing contest, follow this link for information.

Wishing you all a wonderful break. We return to school on Tuesday, January 3. Enjoy the pictures below of the wonderful events this week.

Respectfully,

Teresa Carney

Twitter: @wmsnatick

Instagram: wmsnatick

1. IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

Friday, December 23-Full Day of School (Dismissal is 2:05 pm)

December 24-January 2: No School- Winter Break

Tuesday, January 3: School Reopens from Winter Break

Wednesday, January 11: 5th grade Band and Chorus Concert 9:00 am (parents/caretakers invited)

Wednesday, January 11: 7th & 8th grade Band and Chorus Concert 7:00 pm (all invited)

Thursday, January 12: 6th grade Band and Chorus Concert 9:00 am (parents/caretakers invited)

Monday, January 16: No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Wednesday, January 25: Early Release 11:30 am

2. Natick Board of Health Flu Clinic Information:

Click here for more information about the flu clinic.

3. TUTORING PROGRAM-

We are happy to announce that we are continuing our collaboration with the high school and running a tutoring program for middle school students at Kennedy and Wilson. There are members of the National Honor Society at the high school who are volunteering to tutor middle school students. Our hope is to create tutoring partnerships that will primarily meet in person at the high school library between 2:30-5 p.m. as it will be monitored by a staff member. Occasionally, sessions can be held via Google Meet as a virtual option. Families will primarily be responsible for transporting their students to the high school for their tutoring sessions. We are providing training for the tutors on best practices for working with middle school students.

If you are interested in signing your student up for tutoring, please fill out this form. The hope is to get students matched with tutors by the end of November.

4. YEARBOOKS ARE ON SALE: The yearbook is a great way to record your student's school year. It features students from all grades, clubs, sports teams, etc. It is for everyone!

To order: Please go to www.yearbookforever.com and search for "Wilson Middle School." Please include your student's full name and homeroom number. "Be sure to select the location in Natick, MA.

Pricing: Order early to lock in the lowest price. Prices increase as the year goes on (please see the pricing schedule below):

November 1-January 31= $30

February 1-March 31=$35

April 1= $40 until they sell out
*Please Note*: Yearbooks are expected to sell out. Books are not guaranteed. Any questions, please contact Allyson O'Connor at aoconnor@natickps.org.

5. POSITIVITY PROJECT THEME THIS WEEK: SELF CONTROL. Self-control means you can control your emotions and behaviors. You think before you act. Click here to read the parent letter.

6. WILSON ATHLETICS

Please click here: Wilson Athletics for important information.

7. LIBRARY NEWS

Please click here: Library News for important information. There is A LOT of new information, so please click on the link to read it.

8. TOWN OF NATICK FLU CLINIC:

Click here for more information about the flu clinic.

Natick Public Schools is excited to announce our partnership with Paper for on-demand tutoring for NHS students. Paper is a secure, online tutoring service that provides students with unlimited, 24/7 academic support. Whether they’re stuck on homework, studying for a test, or need someone to read and make suggestions to their essays, there will always be experts available online to assist students in over 200 subjects and more than 4 languages.

Paper tutors have been specially trained to conduct expert, academic support in a secure, chat-based platform. With a commitment to helping students learn, they’ll never give students answers, but rather interact with them in an encouraging tone to lead them forward.

This is a free service that we’re providing, so students are encouraged to use it as much as they need, whenever they need. Our teachers also have accounts and will be able to review all student activity to see what they’re working on and provide more targeted instruction as needed.

If you’d like to learn more about Paper you can sign up for a Paper hosted Parent Info Session, available in both English and Spanish.

To see Paper and the help it offers firsthand, we encourage you to login with your students. To get started, simply visit PAPER’s student login page, type your school’s name, and log in via Google using your school credentials

We’re thrilled to offer our students the unlimited, 24/7 support that Paper provides and we can’t wait to see what we’re able to accomplish together.

Email Blast

Do you know of any Wilson parents that don't receive our blasts? Feel free to forward this email and have them join our mailing list at http://eepurl.com/gBdwNv

If you have any questions, please contact the Wilson PTO at wilsonmspto@gmail.com.

Natick Public Schools does not discriminate in employment nor its educational programs, services, and activities based on race, creed, color, age, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, physical and intellectual differences, immigration status, homeless status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Please be aware all electronic communication to and from Natick Public Schools is public record and subject to public disclosure per Massachusetts General Law Chapter 66, Section 10.

• Title I: Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990Title II
• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990Title VI
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964Title IX
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
• MGL, Ch.76, Section 5: Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 76, Section 5