WMS Community Bulletin 01-11-20
EXCELLENCE*EQUITY*COMMUNITY
Watertown Middle School 2019-2020
Happy Spring! Well, not exactly, but it sure does feel like it today! I think we still have a bit of winter left to go... It's these kind of ups and downs in the weather that lead to sickness, however, so we are constantly reminding the students to wash their hands and cough into their elbows. We are all trying to stay healthy! :)
Our second i-Ready diagnostic tests will be this week and next week. The Mathematics i-Ready will be on Wednesday, January 15th, and the Reading i-Ready will be on Thursday, January 23rd. We are looking forward to seeing the progress the students have made since the fall, and we will share the results with you all as well. Please help your child be prepared for the diagnostics by reminding them to bring to school a set of headphones/earbuds and a reading book on those days. Thank you!
As we enter the new calendar year and several important months of learning, I wanted to share some Attendance Reminders from the WMS Handbook:
Attendance is the most important aspect of educating our students. When students are not here, they do not have access to instruction. To focus attention on the importance of attendance, the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act or No Child Left Behind, specifically mentions attendance, reflecting the increasing awareness that attendance is a key indicator for assessing school and student success.
Students are expected to be present and punctual for all classes. All students must be in homeroom by 8:30 a.m. The school doors open at 7:45 a.m. for students participating in the morning programs, and at 8:20 a.m. for all others. Students are expected to arrive at school at 8:20 a.m. to be ready for the school day.
Tardiness
A student is considered tardy if he or she is not in homeroom by 8:30 a.m. Students who are tardy must report to the office window to sign in and get a pass before going to class or homeroom. Students arriving at school after 11:00 a.m. are considered “absent by tardy,” as they have missed a significant amount of the school day, and will be marked absent for the day.
Students who are frequently late to school will meet with a guidance counselor to problem solve and work with parents/guardians. Students will also be issued a detention for every five times they are late to school and may receive more consequences if the pattern continues. Additionally, if the pattern continues an administrative meeting will be held with parents/guardians, student, guidance and administration.
For Drop Off / Pick Up - Please be sure and use the Bemis Street entrance (NOT Waverly) before 8:30 am. The buses and vans use the Waverly entrance until 8:30 am and it is a safety issue to also have cars use that entrance.
Here are some important upcoming dates:
January 15 - Early Release Day - 12:30 pm dismissal
January 15 - i-Ready Mathematics Diagnostic (bring headphones/earbuds!)
January 15 - PTO meeting 7:00 pm WMS Library
January 16 - In School MLK Assembly
January 16 - Equity Event @ WMS 6:00-8:00 pm (see information and flyer below)
January 20 - NO SCHOOL
January 20 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast (information below)
January 22 - Grade 8 to visit WHS
January 23 - i-Ready Reading Diagnostic (bring headphones/earbuds!)
January 27 - Last day of Term 2 / Semester 1
January 28 - First day of Term 3 / Semester 2
January 28 - Anti-Bias Coalition meeting 5:30-7:00 pm
February 5 - School Site Council meeting 6:30-8:00 pm
February 7 - School Dance 7:00-9:30 pm
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*** In the event there is a snow day at some point, the "A" and "B" days stay the same as currently assigned ***
Monday, Jan 13 - B day
Tuesday, Jan 14 - A day
Wednesday, Jan 15 - B day - Early Release - 12:30 pm dismissal
Thursday, Jan 16 - A day
Friday, Jan 17 - B day
Monday, Jan 20 - NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Tuesday, Jan 21 - A day
Wednesday, Jan 22 - B day
Thursday, Jan 23 - A day
Friday, Jan 24 - B day
Monday, Jan 27 - A day
Tuesday, Jan 28 - B day
Wednesday, Jan 29 - A day
Thursday, Jan 30 - B day
Friday, Jan 31 - A day
Monday, Feb 3 - B day
Tuesday, Feb 4 - A day
Wednesday, Feb 5 - B day
Thursday, Feb 6 - A day
Friday, Feb 7 - B day
Monday, Feb 10 - A day
Tuesday, Feb 11 - B day
Wednesday, Feb 12 - A day
Thursday, Feb 13 - B day
Friday, Feb 14 - A day
Monday, Feb 17 - Friday, Feb 21 - NO SCHOOL - February Vacation
Monday, Feb 24 - B day
Tuesday, Feb 25 - A day
Wednesday, Feb 26 - B day
Thursday, Feb 27 - A day
Friday, Feb 28 - B day
From the Nurse's Office - FLU ADVISORY:
Thursday 1.16.20: Undocumented and Unafraid: Lessons from a Dreamer
Join us at Watertown Middle School from 6-8 pm for an evening with Gaby Pacheco + the Watertown Middle School Chorus. Gaby Pacheco marched 1500 miles from Florida to D.C. as an undocumented student activist in the 2010 Trail of Dreams. Her courage + perseverance led to the passage of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). She was also the first undocumented Latina to testify for Congress. Her story reminds us that Dr. King’s legacy of nonviolence is still being used effectively today.
Register for dinner, childcare and interpretation at bit.ly/undanduna or follow link below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc3EE5iFvVDAGg0ZQOur6w_Nv7D5k8m0Mich8-qVsXNWjdItg/viewform
Monday 1.20.20: 20th Annual Unity Breakfast
Join us at the Hellenic center at 8:30 am for our 20th anniversary. Featuring Honorary Host Superintendent Dede Galdtson and Keynote Speaker Jonathan "Globe" Lewis. Follow link for more information.
Kingian Community Course Registration
This 16-hour course will provide an introduction to Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation. Participants will receive an overview of Dr. Martin Luther King’s philosophy and methodology of nonviolence. They will explore how these teachings have been applied in diverse settings across the globe and learn concrete tools for addressing and de-escalating conflicts within our families, schools, community and beyond. Using a variety of interactive techniques, participants will also reflect together on how to apply what they have learned in our current environment. Trainers will include faculty and students from Watertown Public Schools as well as Watertown police officers.
Dates: Saturday, February 1st from 9 am to 6 pm (12-1 lunch) and Saturday, February 8th from 9 am to 6 pm (12-1 lunch).
Registration Form **The link is fixed now**
Location: Community Room, Watertown Police Department, 552 Main St.
Registration deadline: January 24, 2020
Parent Attendance Survey - please read and complete ***
In an effort to help students be in school regularly and on time, one of the teacher Professional Learning Teams (PLTs) is surveying students and parents/guardians about attendance. Please click the link below and complete the survey. Thank you for your input and help!
Digital Citizenship Lessons
Guidance Counselors
Grade 6 - Ms. Ashley Cohen
Grade 7 - Ms. Amanda Skypeck
Grade 8 - Ms. Stacy Mahoney
Community Service - Get Involved! :)
The link will also be posted on the WMS website.
A Reminder from Student Council!
- For plastic recycling, families can turn in plastic film and bags, especially after opening their holiday gifts. We are collecting plastic until April.