Middle School Matters
Whatcom Middle School Newsletter, March 2021
From the Wildcat's Den...
Dear Whatcom Families,
After a year of being at home due to the COVID pandemic, all three grade levels and half the students in each grade level are now back to the building. Even though students are reoccupying hallways and classrooms, strict protocols are being followed. It isn’t business as usual. Masks are being worn. Students and staff are maintaining six feet of social distancing. White pawprints outside and white arrows inside the building help remind all of what 6’ apart actually is. Hand sanitizer units are at every entrance to the building. Washing hands is a part of every classroom protocol.
It’s amazing to see how cooperative students are and how they demonstrate their adaptability. Last week I saw a bunch of 8th graders playing foursquare, which was refreshingly familiar. How they were playing was the remarkable part. We have four courts. One student was in each of the four courts and the ball was being thrown a huge distance in between the courts. It was their own adaptation; maintaining social distancing but still playing. It’s great to see that the irrepressible nature of adolescents is still present, even after being at home for a year.
Wishing you all good health and good learning,
Jeff
Mark your calendar!
**Mar 16 - PTSA Meeting, 7 pm - Cancelled! Next mtg - April 20th**
Mar 18 - WMS MOD Pizza Night
April 5 - 9 - Spring Break!
looking way ahead...
First Week of May - School Pictures (some details below)
Middle School Intramurals start after Spring Break!
We are planning on starting middle school intramurals after Spring Break. The season will run from Monday, April 19 until Friday, June 11. We are offering Co-Ed Cross Country and Co-Ed Soccer. Practices will take place at WMS's Battersby Field, from 2:30 – 4:00 PM. Students will participate on the days when they attend school. Students will participate with other students at our school and not with other middle schools. There are no fees and no sports physical required. Our BVL, all remote, BFPP, homeschool, and private school students will choose the A Cohort or B Cohort sports days. Students will sign up using Final Forms. Parents will receive the Final Forms link in their email. (watch for this email)
*Students not currently enrolled at WMS will need to contact our registrar, Nancy Howell, prior to signing up for an intramural sport.
WMS MOD Pizza Night
School Pictures in May
- Tuesday, May 4 - Cohort A
- Wednesday, May 5, noon - 6:00 pm - Any WMS Student/BVL/Remote students
- Friday, May 7 - Cohort B
- Make-up day will be Wednesday, May 26th, 3:00 - 6:00
More information will go out to families regarding purchasing photo packets.
From the Counseling Office
Hello from the WMS counseling office. Now that we have a little time with every grade level in the building, it’s starting to feel a little more like Spring in the middle school. We’ve had as many “first days” in the last month as in the last six years! I love hearing kids’ voices in the halls and looking out my office window at the blacktop and seeing them playing. Molly and I even went into a classroom, safely distanced of course, and talked with the kids, present and remote, about how to access us, what we do, and answered questions; it was so great to see them!
While it’s wonderful to see kids at school, and most of them are happy to be back with their teachers and peers, I know the transition has also been challenging for some. The kids have gotten used to doing school on the couch with their pets and getting up to get snacks or go to the bathroom whenever they want; now they find themselves back in a highly structured environment with more restrictions on their freedom (and no pets!). If your student is having a difficult time transitioning back, you can talk with them about the things that help them- whether that’s coloring, playing music, talking with you or friends, doing something physical, hugging their stuffy or their pet, etc.; encourage them to continue doing those things. Now that the sun is making a more regular appearance and we have more daylight in the afternoon, daily outside time is a great way to boost their (and your own!) mood. Other things that help are rhythmic activities such as playing catch, juggling, drumming, or going for a walk. If difficulties persist, consulting your child’s physician can be a good starting point, just to make sure there are no physical causes for their distress. And, as always, Molly and I are happy to consult; feel free to reach out via phone or email.
Happy Spring everyone!
Beth Schille-O’Connor: (360) 739-6186, elizabeth.schille-oconnor@bellinghamschools.org
Molly J. Foote: (360) 739-4555, mollyj.foote@bellinghamschools.org
Math Circles – Enrichment Opportunity for Students in Grades 6-12
For those of you who cannot get enough of math and problem solving, we have an opportunity! Students are invited to join together for monthly math circles with math teacher Tara Vaughan. Ms. Vaughan will offer monthly math circle sessions for middle and high schoolers. In the sessions challenging problems will be presented with solutions that aren’t obvious, giving students a chance to recognize and appreciate the feeling of facing the unknown and exploring solutions. Students wishing to participate can attend one session, or come to each of them.
The sessions will be held on Wednesdays, from 11-noon on 3/24, 4/21, and 5/19.
Please sign up for this enrichment opportunity by Friday, March 19. A zoom link and introduction message will be sent the following week to registered participants, and then students can attend the sessions that work for them. It should be fun and exciting, and an opportunity to connect with students across the district to have fun with math and problem solving.
Attendance notes for in-person hybrid learning...
- Students that need to leave early for an appointment must bring a note to the attendance window before school starts, or have an email sent to Beth.Pelto-Fishbeck@bellinghamschools.org signed by a parent or guardian to excuse them from class. Families will not be able to enter the building. Students will be sent outside at the appropriate time for pick up. Alternatively, students are welcome to remain at home and engage in remote learning on days they have appointments.
- Students arriving to school late must come to the attendance window with a signed note from a parent or guardian.
Reminder: the health attestation is an important safety step for in-person instruction
PAWS Awards recipients exemplify our Pillars: Tenacity, Compassion, Excellence, Stewardship.
Skyward Emergency Contact Information
Sometimes emergency contacts change phone numbers or the contact in Skyward is no longer available. We would appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to log into Skyward Family Access and make sure your emergency contact information is up to date. If you need help or have questions, you can contact our registrar, Nancy Howell. Thank you!
Promise Tomorrow Learning Opportunity Grades 3-12
Do you like thinking about ways to make the world a better place?
The Promise Tomorrow Initiative is a great opportunity for motivated students to engage in student-driven inquiry! This is project-based learning at its best. Students will research complex topics, then innovate technologies, designs, or plans to mobilize behavior. Student teams will meet weekly via Zoom, be supported by a volunteer, and be supervised by a Promise Tomorrow Coordinator. Quarter 4 registration is open now and closes on March 22.
Projects will be presented quarterly with a final symposium in June. Those interested, please see detailed information and sign up at https://bellinghamschools.org/program/promise-tomorrow/
Questions about the project can be directed to the project administrative team, by level: Margi Smith (Elementary) margi.smith@bellinghamschools.org, Eva Chazo (Mid—level) eva.warnerchazo@bellinghamschools.org, or Erin Burke (High School) erin.burke@bellinghamschools.org.
District Meal Distribution
Food Recovery Program
Tech Support
Do you need a headset? You may request one using the district form. You will receive an email instructing you when and where you pick it up.
Whatcom Middle School PTSA
During this unprecedented time, PTSA is more important than ever. PTSA’s framework of unifying voices for impactful changes for children and youth provides the tools to empower parents and teachers to advocate and speak up for the health, safety, and education of every child.
Whatcom Middle School PTSA is committed to providing teachers and students with the same level of excellent service this year. We are asking you to join PTSA by following the link below. Thank you for your help and please support your PTSA.
www.memberplanet.com/s/whatcommiddleptsa/whatcommiddleschoolptsaforms
PTSA meetings will be on Zoom, unless otherwise posted.
- March 16
- April 20
- May 18
- June 15
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