Greetings, Wildcat Families!
We are so excited to be back at school and can't wait to see our students and families this week and next!
For our new Wildcats, this newsletter is shared weekly on Monday and contains lots of information to keep you in the know! We also suggest you bookmark our website and follow us on social media. Links for all of those can be found at the bottom of this newsletter.
Important upcoming dates:
Thursday, August 11th Back to School Night!
Drop in between 4:30-6:30 to pick up your child's schedule, meet his/her teachers, and visit information tables in the cafe. This year, schedules will be picked up in your child's LIFT classroom. Report to your grade level hallway to access an alphabetical list of these assignments. Visit your teachers and be sure to stop by the cafe to meet our support staff and volunteers!
Save time by completing our back-to-school forms ONLINE! Visit our website to access these forms.
Friday, August 12th 6th Grade Rookie Camp!
Doors will open at 8:30 with registration from 8:30-9:00. Students will be escorted down for fun activities beginning at 9:00. Parents will remain in the cafe from 9-10:00 for an informational meeting. This meeting will be recorded and placed on our website for any parents who are unable to attend. Students will get to know each other, meet their teachers and run through a schedule of their day, have lunch and be ready for pickup at 12:30 PM.
Monday, August 15th FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!
Hooray! It's the big day! We will have all hands on deck to be ready to welcome your child back to school and make it the best first day ever! Please see helpful information and reminders below about drop-off and pickup. Parents, be sure all forms have been completed online before this day so we have your most updated contact information.
We are here for you! Do not hesitate to contact us if there are additional ways we can support your child and family. We are STRONG when we are #woodmonttogether!
Jennifer Couch
Principal
Dress Code Reminders
Please be sure you've reviewed our student dress code with your child. We want all our students to be able to remain in class once they arrive to school! In the past, we have provided tape to cover up holes in pants that are above the knee. This year we would like to ask your help in making sure this is taken care of before students arrive to school.
CELL PHONES OUT OF SIGHT!!!
Parents, we need your help. Please talk with your child about responsible and ethical use of technology. It is a school rule that cellular devices and wireless earbuds remain out of sight (preferably stored in bookbags) while in the school building. It is our hope that students are able to adhere to this rule and keep the privilege of carrying these devices on their person throughout the day.
Please note, parents of students who violate this policy will be contacted by a teacher and/or administrator and assigned a locker and combination on their grade level hallway. Students will be required to lock up their cell phone upon arrival and retrieve it at dismissal. The requirement to keep the cell phone locked in the assigned locker will remain in effect for the rest of the school year. Again, this consequence will only happen if students are unable to abide by our request to keep phones and earbuds stored out of sight throughout the day.
Our school phone lines are always available for two-way communication between students and parents. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and effective learning environment. Please contact administration if you have any questions.
Morning Arrival
Our doors open at 7:30 a.m. Please do not drop off students before that time, as no supervision is available. In order to keep a long line from forming, please PULL ALL THE WAY DOWN before unloading your child.
Breakfast is provided FREE OF CHARGE to all students. Breakfast for car riders closes at 8:15 a.m. Breakfast for bus riders extends until the last bus arrives. All students should arrive before 8:30 a.m. to be counted present and on time for the day.
Parents, I know mornings are a busy time for us all, and many of you head to work after dropping off your child. However, please note that parents are not allowed to "skip the line" in morning drop-off. This creates a safety hazard for your child!
We have a SINGLE LINE drop-off. Once our doors open at 7:30, we do our best to quickly clear the line by having parents PULL ALL THE WAY DOWN before unloading their child. It does take a few minutes when there is heavy traffic.
If you need to ensure drop-off right at 7:30, please arrive by 7:15 so you can be at/toward the front of the line.
Afternoon Dismissal
Afternoon Dismissal: Parents who pick up their child each day, please observe the following procedures:
- Form double lines while waiting for dismissal.
- Display your dismissal number so we get your child into the queue.
- The use of cell phones while the line is moving is prohibited.
- MERGE at the cones, taking turns from each line (one from right, one from left, etc.). Be courteous.
- PULL ALL THE WAY FORWARD before stopping and loading your child.
- Stress to your child to report to the carline as soon as their name is displayed and WATCH for their car. Pickups requiring extra time due to student delays will be asked to circle back through the carline.
Chromebooks Issued Soon!
Tdap Required for Rising 7th Graders!
South Carolina state law requires a Tdap for all students entering 7th grade. Students who are not compliant with immunization requirements are eligible for exclusion from school. Please provide an updated SC Certificate of Immunization or documentation of Tdap immunization prior to the first day of the new school year.
DHEC Appointment Line 855-472-3432 (Call Mon.-Fri. beginning at 8:30 a.m.)
Backpack Blessings
Backpack Blessings is a program that the Columbia Baptist Church organizes and provides to our Woodmont Middle School students. We are so thankful for their generosity! If your student is in need of school supplies, boxed lunch/dinners, hygiene products, or clothing, please fill out the Google Form Survey below. If you have specific needs or questions about this program, you may contact the 6th Grade Counselor, Ms. Genova.
WMS is a Smoke-Free Campus
Woodmont Middle School