WMS Community Bulletin 10-25-20
EXCELLENCE*EQUITY*COMMUNITY
If you are on a computer, open this in a new page. Then to translate this newsletter, click on the link to the right.
If you are on a phone, touch the person in the black circle to get the translate button.
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Se você estiver em um computador, abra uma nova página. Em seguida, para traduzir esta newsletter, clique no link à direita. Se você estiver em um telefone, toque na pessoa no círculo preto para obter o botão de tradução.
(Portuguese)
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Si está en una computadora, abra esto en una nueva página. Luego, para traducir este boletín, haga clic en el enlace a la derecha. Si está en un teléfono, toque a la persona en el círculo negro para obtener el botón de traducción.
(Spanish)
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إذا كنت تستخدم جهاز كمبيوتر ، فافتح هذا في صفحة جديدة. بعد ذلك ، لترجمة هذه النشرة الإخبارية ، انقر فوق الارتباط الموجود على اليمين.
إذا كنت تستخدم الهاتف ، فالمس الشخص الموجود في الدائرة السوداء للحصول على زر الترجمة. (Arabic)
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Եթե համակարգիչ եք, բացեք սա նոր էջում: Ապա, այս տեղեկագիրը թարգմանելու համար կտտացրեք աջ հղմանը: Եթե հեռախոսով եք, դիպչեք սև շրջանի անձին ՝ թարգմանության կոճակը ստանալու համար: (Armenian)
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Bilgisayar kullanıyorsanız, bunu yeni bir sayfada açın. Ardından, bu bülteni çevirmek için sağdaki bağlantıya tıklayın. Telefonda iseniz, çevir düğmesini almak için siyah daire içindeki kişiye dokunun. (Turkish)
Watertown Middle School 2020-2021
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!
Here are some important upcoming dates:
Monday, October 26 - i-Ready Reading diagnostic begins (please see information below)
Saturday, October 31 - Halloween (please see information below)
Tuesday, November 3 - NO SCHOOL
Wednesday, November 4 - School Site Council meeting 6:30-8:00 pm
Thursday, November 5 - WMS Transition to Hybrid Parent Forum 6:00 pm
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i-Ready Reading diagnostic testing is continuing tomorrow! Please read the information below and encourage your child(ren) to be sure and finish the diagnostic during their Independent Work time. They are starting during Cluster Time, but will most likely need to finish on their own. The data we receive from the diagnostic test will help us support them at their level during this school year. Thank you for your help encouraging them! They did well during the math diagnostic last week!
There is i-Ready Zoom support from 1:00-3:00 pm each day Monday-Wednesday.
Here is the link:
Join Zoom Meeting https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/92435144769
Open House - Thank you for a wonderful Open House last Thursday 10/22! I appreciated all of the positive comments, and I know many think we should continue the virtual format in the future! The teachers enjoyed seeing you as well and getting a chance to answer some questions about the teaching and learning this year.
Hybrid Learning - As WMS moves toward opening the building to all for Hybrid learning, we are finalizing the documents and protocols we will share with all to ensure a safe and successful transition. I will host a Parent Forum next Thursday 11/5 at 6:00 pm to discuss all of the details involved in the transition to Hybrid. If you have questions prior to the Parent Forum, please email me. Here is the Zoom Link:
Join Zoom Meeting https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/95514356604
Flu Shots Needed! As per state mandates, in-person students will need proof of the influenza vaccine by December 31, 2020. Please email or fax paperwork to Nurse Michelle at WMS.
Please email me with any questions, concerns, or input you may have. As always, we will work together as a community! #wmsstrong
Take good care of each other,
All my best,
Donna
i-Ready Reading Diagnostic 10/26
Information for i-Ready Reading Diagnostic Testing on Monday, 10/26:
- Teachers will share all necessary information regarding i-Ready with students during Community Meeting on Monday, October 26th. These will be similar to materials they have shared in the past during HR time, such as a slide show and videos to explain the process and prepare them to take the diagnostic.
- It was determined that running i-Ready and Zoom at the same time for students would cause several issues with technology, so they will be taking it mainly during their Asynchronous/ Independent Time. However, teachers will have their students start the diagnostic test with them together during Cluster Time on Monday, 10/26.
- While the students are taking the i-Ready diagnostics, there will be live support for them available on Zoom from Coordinators and others during Cluster Time 11:30-12:30 pm and then 1:00-3:00 pm on Monday 10/26 - Wednesday 10/28. Teachers will post the information for the Zoom support in their Google Classrooms.
We will be administering the diagnostic during asynchronous/independent work time. The diagnostic window for secondary (grades 6-9) is between 10/19 - 10/30.
Our annual universal assessments in math and literacy will begin shortly. Students in grades 1-9 will take the i-Ready fall diagnostic in October. This will provide us with important data on how students are performing in both math and literacy. In grades 1 - 8, the fall diagnostic data will help teachers to create individualized lesson paths for students to work through in online instruction. In grade 9, it is used for beginning of year data and end of year growth. As in past years, Kindergarten will take their first diagnostic in December. i-Ready conducted studies of the reliability of the data when giving the diagnostic remotely in the spring across various districts. Their findings revealed that there was less score inflation in districts that were communicating directly with families and when families watched i-Ready family videos about the diagnostic. To that end, we encourage parents/families to view this video to refresh or learn about i-Ready to best support their children.
i-Ready Family Guides (Spanish, Portuguese, Haitain Creole)
Introducing i-Ready Assessment at Home to Families Videos (English | Spanish)
Family Guidance for Administering the diagnostic At Home videos (English | Spanish)
The i-Ready experience better helps teachers:
Use insights from i-Ready to plan instruction
Set goals and help students take ownership of their learning
Please see the below slide of reminders for the students. We know they will do their best and show us what they know!
PTO Update!
Please help us as we embark on new ways of fundraising for the WMS PTO for what will definitely be a new and challenging year! Click the campaign below to see our fundraising goals this year and what we are hoping to support.
Weekly Learning Plans
Grade 6 Website and e-Learning Plans - click here
Grade 7 Website and e-Learning Plans - click here
Grade 8 Website and e-Learning Plans - click here
If you have any questions, please email (or have your student email) the teacher.
Thank you!
Yearbook Elective for Grade 8 students
LUNCH/MEALS PROGRAM UPDATES
MEALS ARE FREE FOR ALL STUDENTS FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR!
STARTING MONDAY 10/26
GRAB & GO MEAL SITE WILL BE OPEN:
EVERY MONDAY
12 - 1:30PM
&
4:30 - 6PM
BREAKFAST & LUNCH FOR THE WHOLE WEEK WILL BE PROVIDED FOR FREE TO ANY CHILD!
Technology Information for WPS Families
We look forward to supporting you with your educational technology questions.
Please visit the WPS Family Ed-Tech for ALL websites for weekly 10/19 Family Ed-Tech for All Newsletter, Live support sessions, Resources, Tutorials & tips that are curated and created, especially for you.
Please complete the WPS Ed-Tech Support Request Form if you need support with Ed-Tech. A Member of the WPS Ed-Tech team will reach out to you asap.
Visit our WPS STEM Week 2020 Website that hosts Academic STEM offerings for different grade levels to choose from, along with additional resources. We look forward to seeing you actively engaged in STEM Learning. This year's MA STEM Week theme is to SEE YOURSELF IN STEM. Please use this form to submit an image, short video (less than 1 minute), or animation of yourself engaging in STEM. Please contact District Ed-Tech Coordinator at (rashmi.pimprikar@watertown.k12.ma.us) for more information.
Following are Links to the WPS Seesaw Resources
- WPS Family Guide to Seesaw in English | Famly Guide to Seesaw in Spanish
- WPS Seesaw Resources Hub for SeeSaw training resources, family guides, and additional tips.
Thank you,
Rashmi Pimprikar (District Ed-Tech Coordinator) & George Skuse (District IT Manager)
WMS Attendance Policy and Procedures
From the Handbook (with some Remote Learning updates):
Attendance is the most important aspect of educating our students. When students are not here, they do not have access to instruction.
At Watertown Middle School, we pride ourselves in maintaining a very high attendance rate throughout the year. Understandably, there will be times when our students will need to take time away from school for a variety of excused reasons. The following procedure is in place to ensure good attendance, support our families, and follow state and federal laws.
Students are expected to be present and punctual for all classes. All students must be in Homeroom/Community Meeting (in-person or Zoom) by 8:30 a.m.
If you are having trouble with your Chromebook or have any Tech Difficulties (computer, camera, charging cord, hot spot)...
Call 617-926-7783 and let Ms. Cardillo or Ms. Brackett know.
“My name is (your name) and I have (teacher name) right now and I am having Tech Trouble. Can you please let my teacher know?”
Tardiness
A student is considered tardy if he or she is not in homeroom by 8:30 a.m. Teachers will mark students tardy when they are late to homeroom and/or late to class.
Absences
In the event that a student is tardy or absent, a parent or guardian must call the absence hotline at 617-926-7783 before 8:30 a.m. Please state the name, grade, and homeroom of the student. In the event that the absence is not reported, the school will call the student’s home or the place of employment of the parent or guardian to verify the absence.
Please see the Handbook for further details describing Excused Absences versus Unexcused Absences.
Resulting Actions:
● After 3 days of unexcused absences with no contact to the school from the parent, the Assistant Principal will be notified.
● After 5 days of absences (both excused & unexcused) per quarter, a letter of concern will be sent to parents/guardians. At ten absences, a support meeting will be scheduled with parents/guardians, guidance, and administration to create an Attendance Plan, which clearly outlines the school, parent, and student obligations to improve the problem. If absenteeism continues, further action will be taken, up to and including petitioning the Juvenile Courts with a Child Requiring Assistance, (C.R.A.).
**EMERGENCY ALERTS**
Watertown Middle School
While we are out of school, please email with any questions, or text/call my work cell (617-631-6807)
Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm.
Thank you,
Donna Martin, Principal
Email: donna.martin@watertown.k12.ma.us
Website: https://wms.watertown.k12.ma.us/
Location: 68 Waverley Avenue, Watertown, MA, USA
Phone: 617-926-7783
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watertownms/