The Stampede
September 6, 2019
A Message from Mr. Garrett
Dear Mustang Families,
As I have shared in previous parent communication, we have had a great start to our school year at WMS! Thank you for your support, it is greatly appreciated!
As the weeks progress at school, more expectations are placed on students with homework, quizzes and tests. As you know, this can lead to stress even with middle school students each year as more is expected of them. Managing time can be difficult at school as well as after school with activities that students are involved in. Below you can find a few hints that may help with the demands of homework and student grades:
1) Consistent time each night to work on homework and missing assignments
2) Utilizing their planner to write down what is due in each class for homework
3) Utilize Skyward to check for missing assignments and get them turned in to receive even partial credit to help their grade
4) Maximize seminar time in 7th & 8th grade to work on homework. Most days students will have 35 minutes to work on homework, missing work & if needed to see a core teacher to help
*As always, if you have a concern with a students grade, please do not hesitate contacting a teacher to find out ways your child can improve their grade.
Thanks and have a great weekend!
Family Passes NOT Accepted at Tournaments
Attendance Information
Excused Absences
Please notify the attendance office as soon as possible to excuse absences for your child. Letters will be sent home to acknowledge excessive absences and doctors notes will be required after 10 total absences of any kind.
The following is a list of Board of Education approved excused absences.
Personal illness (physician note may be required for any accumulation of absences over 3 days)
Serious illness or death of a family member or close friend
Obligatory religious observance of student’s own faith
Participation in school approved activity
Verified medical appointment (which can be verified by appointment card). Parents are encouraged to make appointments outside of the school day whenever possible.
Legal matters (which can be verified through court services officers)
Emergency situations which require immediate action (which can be verified)
An absence which has been requested in writing and approved in advance by a building administrator.
Unexcused Absences
Absences will be classified as unexcused if they do not fit one of the Board of Education’s stated reasons for excusable absences or if the building attendance procedure is not followed by the parent/legal guardian.
Truancy is defined as a student who is not attending a school as defined by law. Kansas Law (K.S.S. 72-1113) states that students are truant when they have:
3 unexcused absences in a row, 5 unexcused absences in a semester or 7 unexcused absences in a school year.
Attendance letters will be sent out and parent phone calls will be made before a student's attendance is referred to the district attorney.
Tardy Policy
When a tardy occurs, instruction is interrupted by a student entering a classroom late. A student is considered tardy to class when they enter the room after the designated time and they do not have a pass excusing the tardy.
Excessive tardies will result in parent phone call, office detentions assigned by the building Principals and individual classroom teacher assigned detentions. Missing the bus and oversleeping are considered unexcused tardies.
Charge Those Chromebooks!
WMS Website Calendar
The "EVENTS" are listed in the middle column. Clicking on "See All Events" will allow you to sort events by category - General WMS Events, Athletic Events, Performing Arts Events, etc. You are also able to subscribe to the WMS website calendar (or specific categories) to add these events to your personal calendar.
Reporting An Absence
This can ONLY be accessed via the PARENT Skyward account. Students do not have access to this feature.
If you need to pick up your student early for an appointment, etc., please call the office when you are on your way and we will have your student ready for you in the office.
GEYCP NEWS
Building Blazers Athletic Performance
GEYCP and nationally certified speed and conditioning coaches, Tyler Cordts (GEHS Head Wrestling Coach) and Joe Leiker (GEHS Head Girls Basketball Coach and Track & Field Coach) are excited to work with future Blazers who are interested in trying new and exciting ways to improve their physical fitness.
Session is geared toward building core muscle groups, mobility, balance, confidence, team work, and perseverance. Coaches Cordts and Leiker will use various activities and equipment such as strength bands, jump ropes, agility ladders, speed cones, and body weight exercises to enhance your campers fitness potential.
For students in 4th - 8th grades
Date: Mondays -- September 16th - October 21st
Time: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Location: GEHS Gym
Cost: $50 (Includes a t-shirt)
Link to Register: http://bit.ly/2L5TVRy
Attention Middle School Girls Basketball Players
GEHS Lady Blazer Basketball Coach Joe Leiker and his staff are excited to offer a 5 week Building Blazers Basketball Skills Academy for 5th - 8th grade girls. Your future Lady Blazer will work on basketball intelligence and the skills needed to perform at her best during the upcoming basketball season.
Sunday Nights
September 8th - October 6th
6:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.
GEHS GYM
Click Here to register: http://bit.ly/2L1yq43
GEYCP Presents: Once Upon A Mattress - Middle School Theater Opportunity
Wheatridge Middle School
Website: https://www.usd231.com/o/wheatridge
Location: 318 East Washington Street, Gardner, KS, USA
Phone: 9138562900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WMSMustangs/
Twitter: @WMSMustangs231