Willink Principal's Newsletter
Willink Titans CARE
Principal's Message
March 9, 2018
Dear Willink Families,
Happy Friday! And the snow keeps coming.... I guess the groundhog was correct. Looks like the cold and snow will be around for a bit longer. Even a winter sports enthusiast like me is ready for some warmer weather! Thankfully, I have not run out of firewood yet!
This month's CARE-acter trait is loyalty. I am going to discuss it with students on Monday and I know many of our teachers will be discussing loyalty as well. Please take the opportunity to discuss what loyalty is and isn't with your child.
As you know, the tragedy in Parkland, Florida is on everyone's mind. I want to assure you that we are doing everything we can to ensure that students and staff are safe. We are also reviewing all of our protocols and policies. Some of you may know that there is a national call to action on March 14th. If you have children at Thomas, you should have received an email yesterday explaining the student-led activities taking place in the morning. I have been working with our student council as well to identify activities that would support students in Parkland, Florida, focus on school safety, and build empathy and connections between students here at Willink and between Willink and Spry. We will be sharing these optional activities on Monday with you and the students. All activities will take place within the confines of Willink and will be student led. All of our activities will be outside of the political realm as well. Willink is very lucky to have a group of students who want to led meaningful activities to build community, support students in Parkland, and help our school be as safe as possible. Finally, please, if you ever have any questions about something, you hear or read that pertains to Willink and it makes you concerned, give us a call. We will be as transparent as possible and seek to put any concerns to rest. The relationship between the families and the school is paramount to student success.
One way you can help us keep everyone safe is by using the Safe-Schools Helpline. This service is 100% anonymous. In the past, this helpline has been used by students to share information related to students not being Titans that CARE, bullying/harassment, situations of possible self-harm, as well as comments made that are threatening in nature. When someone makes a report, it is automatically sent to our Director of Security, Mr. Neil Flood. He then reviews it and passes it along to the building principal as well as others depending on the report. We then investigate the report, follow-up with the students and families involved and send a message back to the service so that they can inform the person making the report of our actions. So, if you hear something that concerns you, see something that concerns you, say something. You can contact Safe schools helpline either by phone, 800-418-6423 ext. 359 or electronically, https://www.safeschoolhelpline.com/.
Access to clean water is essential for people to survive. While we are very blessed to have abundant freshwater, other places are not so lucky. Our 7th-grade students are reading a book right now that highlights the plight of people in Sudan. A Long Walk to Water is a true story about the plight of a young man named Salva Dut and a young girl named Nya. The story focuses on the distance they have to walk to get water as well as the turmoil caused by a civil war raging in the country. As it turns out, Salva ends up migrating to the United States and his organization, Water for South Sudan, is based here in Rochester. Willink students were very touched by this story and decided to take action. They, along with DeWitt Road and Plank North students, have come together to support this cause. There are many ways you can help the Water for South Sudan organization drill more wells, which will enable young girls to attend school instead of walking 8 or more hours per day to collect unclean water! Students can purchase color-changing, BPA-free water bottles ($5), water drop squishy keychains ($3) or both for $7, during all lunches from Monday, March 12th - Thursday, March 22nd and/or can donate loose change to our Jar Wars competition in any of the four school offices. The one administrator with the least amount of money will be saved, but the remaining three, with the most amount of money, will be given a special "prize" by students. Lastly, you can donate to the Water for South Sudan fundraising page online through April 6th - just click on the link! https://water-for-south-sudan-inc.networkforgood.com/projects/47284-willink-middle-school-s-water-for-south-sudan-project I am so proud of our students for thinking about others and wanting to take action on a global level.
I hope you all have a great weekend and be on the lookout for more information related to the student-led March 14th activities on Monday.
Jim
Upcoming Events: See the calendar on the website for times/details
March 14, 2018 ~ PI day
March 16, 2018 ~ Candy Bar Bingo
March 20, 2018 ~ Coffee with the Principal
March 30, 2018 ~ Spring Break Starts
News from the Health Office
Spring sports season sign-up is underway. Modified sports for current 7th & 8th graders will begin within the next few weeks. Your student athlete should be listening to the announcements for meeting dates and time as well as start dates and times. A current physical must be on file in the health office for your child to participate in a sport. Sport sign-up is now online. Go to the Willink website, then the Health Office and follow the link for Family.ID to sign your child up.
Lost and Found: We have a large amount of lost and found items located throughout the building (Nurse’s office, outside both the girls and boys locker room and by the back door of the school). Please check with your student or call our office (670-1035 or 1036) if you feel you are missing an item. All unclaimed items do get donated throughout the year to a local organization.
Care Quality Winners!
Red House
Green House
Blue House
Titans CARE to Make a Difference Award Winners for February
Assistant Principals' Recognition
Willink In Action!
6th Graders Dissecting Worms
6th Graders Dissecting Worms
Happy Book Face Friday!
6th graders "shark tank"
Student/Parent Portal
2017-2018 Willink Middle School Yearbook
*Watch the Willink Morning Show on Titan TV