WMS Family Update
June 9, 2021
Good morning Wamsutta Families,
There were no positive pools this week. I am pleased to end this year's testing with two straight weeks of no positives. Hopefully it will be a good omen for the return to school in August.
Although it goes without saying, it has been hot in the building this week and decidedly unpleasant. We are doing our best with extra water and mask breaks, moving classes outside (which hasn't been much help, but at least we can unmask) and to other locations in the building that aren't as oppressive. We will continue using these strategies today, and if the forecast holds, we should be in good shape tomorrow through the last day. I thank all of our staff, students, and families for their patience.
I also have some potentially very positive news: In the fall, we gave out Feinstein Foundation "Golden Tickets" that, if chosen in a lottery, allows for a nice prize for the ticket holder and a very significant sum for the school. Our ticket was the winner of this week's raffle, so if you have in your possession ticket #45185 please bring it to the office. I fear that this ticket may be lost, and I don't know what happens at that point, but I will work on that problem if we can't find the ticket. Let's hope our community still has it somewhere.
Lastly, I have end of year news for Yearbooks, a Kona Ice afternoon sponsored by our PTO next Monday, and a reminder for the schedule of 8th grade celebrations on Tuesday.
Thank you as always for your time.
Joseph Connor, WMS
Principal
Yearbooks and Kona Ice
The Kona Ice truck will be by for all grades Monday afternoon. AVA students are welcome to pop by between 1230 and 2. If you have any dietary concerns, please let me know.
Second Notice: 8th Grade Ceremonies and Last Day Field Day
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Homerooms 105 and 106 (Almeida and Sarcione)
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM: Homerooms 116 and 119 (DiBiasio and Campbell)
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: 117 and 120 (Simkins and Doyle)
2 family members per student will be permitted. Families are asked to park in our front lot (or along the front loop if full) and walk to the back of the school. We will hold a brief ceremony (students under our tent, families will have seats just outside the tent) and there will be time for pictures in front of a balloon wall (thank you McNamara Family) as well as some backdrops that the students have been working on in art class. Families that wish to dismiss their child after the ceremony may do so by signing students out. Again, if the weather is bad, we will live stream the ceremony for families at the above times. Links will be provided if needed.
On the last day, which is a half-day, we will host an 8th grade field day. Students will have a get a breakfast (thanks to the PTO), a chance to mingle and sign yearbooks, and listen to some music and play some games outside. If the weather is bad, we'll do as many of the aforementioned things as we can inside.
Second Notice: AVA Families - Updates
- AVA students currently in grades 5-8 will be automatically re-enrolled for in person school in the fall. Nothing is required of you. Remote learning options for K-8 students will be extremely limited, and require medical documentation to be considered. Students in grade 8 who wish to pursue remote learning will need to stay tuned as much is still up in the air. There will be a Virtual High School, but what is offered, how it is offered, and how students can apply/be accepted will be coming in the next weeks.
- Current AVA students who have Art portfolios from Ms. Stevenson's class from last year may pick them up in our office from 8-2 PM any day from now until the end of the year.
- 8th Grade AVA students are welcome to join us for our Field Day on the last half-day.
Second Notice: Summer Reading
Students entering Grades 5-8 can find their summer reading assignments here.
Students entering 9th will receive their assignments from AHS directly (and are now included in the above link). Reading over the summer is always important for student growth, and the pandemic has made this practice even more important than in year's past.
Last Notice and New Details: Free and Reduced Lunch
All students enrolled in Attleboro Public Schools will continue to receive free meals through June 2022 regardless of eligibility status. However, families are required to submit updated free/reduced lunch applications annually. Though students will continue to receive free meals, an application must be submitted each school year to qualify for additional support. The lunch application can be found HERE and can be completed until May 31, 2021 for the current school year.
June 4 Update:
The state announced that P-EBT will continue throughout the summer. All students who have received P-EBT will be eligible for summer P-EBT, except for those who graduated in 2020 or moved out of Massachusetts. Eligible students will receive a total of $375 in P-EBT benefits in two equal payments of $187.50 this summer. The first payment will be issued on July 1, and the second payment will be issued on August 1.
DATES TO REMEMBER
June 15
- 8th Grade Ceremonies in the AM
June 16
- 8th Grade Field Day/Last Day of School - Dismissal at 11:40
Wamsutta Middle School
Email: jconnor@attleboroschools.com
Website: http://wms.attleboroschools.com/
Location: 300 Locust Street, Attleboro, MA
Phone: (508)223-1540
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wamsuttamiddleschool
Twitter: @WamsuttaMS