WMS Community Bulletin 01-20-20
EXCELLENCE*EQUITY*COMMUNITY
Watertown Middle School 2019-2020
I hope you all had a wonderful long weekend. It definitely does feel like January now!
Our second i-Ready diagnostic tests are last week and this week. Students worked very diligently on the Mathematics i-Ready last Wednesday, and teachers have started to meet in grade-level groups to analyze the data. These "data chats" are led by Elizabeth Kaplan, our K-8 math/science coordinator, and will continue with more depth this week. 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!
I was able to take some time this weekend to reflect on the reason for the extra day off, and I hope you were as well. WMS had an excellent assembly last Thursday to recognize and celebrate the importance of Dr. King's work. The assembly was organized by Ms. Ruth Henry, and featured a wide variety of student participation, including grade 8 MLK, Jr. essay contest winners, a choir performance, skits and video, and a moving speech by grade 7 student LiaLah. She spoke about the importance of never using the "N" word, a lesson that all students of WMS must be sure to learn if they have not already. We will continue to work tirelessly together as a Watertown Middle School community to fight racism and all forms of discrimination. As Dr. King stated in 1966, "our goal is to create a beloved community, and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives". I look forward to working with all of you to achieve this goal!
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For Drop Off / Pick Up - Please be sure and use the Bemis Street entrance (NOT Waverley) 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 22 - Grade 8 to visit WHS 11:45-2:45 pm (look for the permission slip please!)
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
February 12 - PTO Meeting 7:00 pm
February 17 - February 21 - NO SCHOOL - February vacation
February 25 - Anti-Bias meeting 5:30-7:00 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 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
Loved this image from Google's homepage:
From the Nurse's Office - FLU ADVISORY:
Sick Child Protocol
With flu season upon us, here is a reminder of the district's sick child protocol
1. 24-Hour Rule:
A child must stay home for at least 24 hours to rest if the following symptoms are present the morning of school or the previous night:
· Fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. A child should not come back to school until the temperature is normal for 24 hours without medication
· Excessive coughing or sneezing
· Ear pain and/or eye drainage
· Vomiting and/or Diarrhea
· An unusual rash
2. Antibiotic has been prescribed: If an antibiotic medication is prescribed to your child for any illness, they should also stay home until they have been on the antibiotics for a full 24 hours.
FLU ADVISORY: Flu is most contagious the first 3-4 days after becoming sick. It takes 1-2 days after exposure to a flu virus before the illness becomes evident, and it may be contagious up to 7 days after becoming sick. The best two practices to prevent flu from spreading are proper and frequent handwashing and appropriate quarantine (e.g. coughing etiquette, wearing a mask, staying away when sick). If you have a fever, please stay at home for at least 24 hours since your last elevated temperature. If diagnosed with flu, please stay at home for a minimum of 3-4 days since the illness started.
**Also please note, that students are not to "self-dismiss" by texting home as cell phone use is not allowed during the school day. Please encourage your student to go see Nurse Michelle in the health office where she can assess and call home or have them use the phone in the main office.**
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.