Back Pocket
February 8, 2016
Be Your Best...
School Calendar
Principal's Message
Literacy Specialist Updates
Counselor's Corner
Registration information
Counselors have recently finished visiting the classrooms of incoming 6th, 7th and 8th grade students to explain the registration process and review the electives available for the 2017-18 school year. Registration sheets complete with math, language arts and intervention recommendations are scheduled to be distributed to students the week of February 13. Please review the sheet with your child, provide a parent/guardian signature, and have your child return it no later than February 22. Current 5th graders should return their sheet to their elementary teachers; 6th and 7th graders should bring their sheet to the WKMS counseling office.
There will also be a registration/information night specifically for incoming 6th graders and their parents at Windsor Knolls on Wednesday, February 15 (snow date is February 16). The night will begin with an optional opportunity for a self-guided tour of the building at 6:30 p.m. Our program will begin at 7:00 p.m. with introductory remarks by our principal Mr. Vasquenza followed by several mini-informational presentations specifically designed for parents new to the middle school experience. The program is expected to conclude at 8:50 p.m. Childcare for children from toddlers through 4th grade will be provided by Girl Scout Troup 81504.
Notes from our registrar
Is your family moving?
Please remember to send in a new Proof of Residency (gas, electric or water bill) to the Counseling Office in order to have your student’s address updated.
If your student will be transferring out of WKMS, please contact Mrs. Bingham in the Counseling Office that we can complete a Maryland Transfer Packet and ease your student’s transfer to his or her new school.
New phone number or email address?
Please call or email Mrs. Bingham in the Counseling Office with any new phone numbers or updated email addresses so we can quickly contact parents, guardians and emergency contacts for your student when needed.
Math Specialist Message
Is your child's math work frustrating to you? Take a look at this video which helps to show how mathematics learning has changed from "back in the day." The first nine minutes talks about why it's important for students to learn math in a different way and how priorities has changed. The second nine minutes takes a look at coding at an elementary school which is VERY COOL and the last segment discusses how sports can be used to engage students in math. I hope you will find this link helpful: http://www.wqed.org/smartparent/. AND, it's not too late . . . if you want to learn more and would like to be a part of the Balancing the Equation Book Club, please contact WKMS's math specialist, christine.thereault@fcps.org so that we can get you started!
Message From the Media Specialist
Visiting Author Steve Sheinkin books for sale:
With PTSA funding, WKMS will be hosting award winning author, Steve Sheinkin, on April 5, 2017. Steve writes non-fiction titles and has been a National Book Award Finalist multiple times as well as winning the Newbery Honor Medal. It will be such a treat to have Steve visit WKMS. We will have three grade level sessions on the 5th and a small group author session as well. All WKMS students can attend Steve's visit. Students are encouraged to read one of Steve's books before attending an author session. Thanks to the WKMS PTSA for offering our students this phenomenal opportunity. Steve's books are available for checkout from the media center. But, to offer students a chance to purchase one of Steve’s titles so that they can have it signed during Steve’s visit, I am also selling Steve’s books. I’m working with Curious Iguana bookstore and offering Steve’s books at a tax free 20% discount to students. If you’d like to purchase a Steve Sheinkin title for your student, simply send in the attached book order to me with your payment. Cut off date: Friday, March 24, 2017.
Feel free to contact me anytime you need to at: mary.clardy@fcps.org