Middle School Matters
Whatcom Middle School Newsletter, November 2019
From the Wildcat's Den...
Dear Whatcom Middle School Families,
Every year, Bellingham Public Schools surveys all our families, all our staff, and students in grades 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11. Our district’s strategic plan, The Bellingham Promise, guides our work and our collective commitment to our children. We believe that all children should be loved and that every child can learn at high levels. We need your feedback on what we are doing well and what we can continue to improve.
If you have more than one child enrolled at Whatcom, you may take the survey multiple times or just once, depending on what you think will best represents your family’s experience for your children. If you have children in different schools, please take the survey for each school.
Please complete the survey by Friday, Nov. 22, 2019
http://bellinghamschools.org/familyfeedback
All survey responses are anonymous. No one at your school will see your individual responses. A separate organization, Qualtrics, is managing the survey to ensure confidentiality.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to assist us in collecting this vital information. We greatly appreciate your time.
If you have any trouble getting to or taking the survey, please let me know. We hope to hear from all of our families.
Sincerely,
Jeff Coulter
Whatcom Middle School Principal
Upcoming Dates
- 11/19 PTSA Meeting, 7:00 pm in the WMS Library
- 11/27 12:00 dismissal
- 11/28 - 29 No School - Thanksgiving Holiday
- 12/2 - 6 Book Fair in WMS Library (details below)
- 12/12 12:00 dismissal
- 12/18 Orchestra Concert
- 12/23 - 1/3 Winter Break
Intramural Basketball for 6th graders has begun!
7th/8th gr. Boys' Basketball and Dance/Tumbling has begun
We still have many students with jerseys that need to be returned. If your student was on the track team or played soccer, please check to see that their jersey was returned, to avoid any fines. Additionally, basketball players and dance participants will not receive a uniform if they have not yet returned their soccer or track jersey.
WMS Food Drive was a huge success!
3,067 pounds!
Awesome group effort!
Edventure Team wins!
From the Counselors...
Wow! It seems like the year is flying by. Here we are almost to Thanksgiving, and in no time we’ll be heading into Winter Break. We’re starting our 6th grade team-building/guidance lessons. If you have a 6th grade student, be sure to ask them what we’re up to! The activities are designed to help the kids develop problem-solving, cooperation, distress-tolerance, emotional regulation, and teamwork skills, all of which should also help them out in their academic classes as well.
Speaking of emotional regulation and distress tolerance, as many of you know, the level of anxiety amongst adolescents has increased in recent years and we’re seeing this in the schools as well. This sometimes takes the form of school anxiety/refusal. The prevailing research on addressing anxiety in any form is that avoidance only increases the problem.
While it can be really difficult to watch your child struggle and be fearful, gently acknowledging their fear and letting them know you believe they have the ability to get through whatever the situation is and encouraging them through it is the best course. Helping them learn how they can self-soothe, whether that is with breathing techniques, coloring, listening to music, doing something physical like going for a quick walk, etc. and encouraging them to practice those skills when they’re not anxious, sends them the message that they have strength and can work through challenges. Then, when they have an anxious reaction, they can utilize the tools they’ve been practicing to get through it. The more they work through it, the more they’ll start to internalize that they’re capable and can manage difficult situations.
If you have concerns about your child and anxiety it never hurts to speak with their pediatrician, and of course, you’re welcome to call us and we can help guide you to resources!
-Beth & Molly
A message from Common Threads...
Cooking in the Classroom began October 28th! Classes will enjoy cooking lessons once each month through early March. In our first cooking lesson students prepared and tasted hummus in a leafy wrap. Volunteers wanted! If you’re interested, please contact: ruby@commonthreadsfarm.org - For more information about Common Threads please visit www.commonthreadsfarm.org
Update your contact information on Skylert
Skylert enables you to receive notifications concerning your children, including messages from Bellingham Public Schools and your child’s school. You have control over which notifications to receive and how you would like to receive them. Skylert is accessed via Skyward Family Access, so it is no longer necessary to login to a separate portal for SchoolMessenger to manage contact preferences.
Whatcom Middle School
Principal: Jeff Coulter
Assistant Principal: Tina Allsop
Administrative Assistant: Aileen Walton
(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