WMS Community Bulletin 04-16-21
EXCELLENCE*EQUITY*COMMUNITY
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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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(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 this newsletter finds you all well. We had a terrific first week of full days all in-person! We made a couple of minor adjustments here and there, but overall it went smoothly and often seemed like typical school! I saw many smiles (even through masks) and heard much laughter and excellent discussion in classrooms. Lunch went well both outside on the "Bemis Street Beach" and inside (during the snow!). There was even the sound of live music being played! Very exciting!
As much as we want to return to typical school, however, we will continue to maintain all of our safety protocols and frequently review them with our students. For your information, here is our updated Watertown Middle School COVID Family Guide.
Some Back to Full Days Information from my Previous Newsletter:
Before School Breakfast Program (7:45-8:15 am): We are happy to be able to offer breakfast to students who would like to eat at WMS before school starts. Students who would like to eat breakfast or work quietly in the building will be admitted into the building starting at 7:45 through the Waverley Avenue door ONLY. Students should not be in any other part of the building before 7:45. There will be monitors for the Before School Program in the Cafeteria and Auditorium.
When students come in the Waverley Ave door:
- Cafeteria ONLY if they are eating - they get their food and sit at an individual desk - no sitting all together.
- Auditorium for sitting and working with 2 seats between them - no eating in the auditorium
- Lobby - no students should be waiting in the lobby - they need to wait outside until the bell rings at 8:15
- There is no going from one space to another - they pick one and stay there until the 8:15 am bell.
LUNCH: All students are eligible to receive a bagged lunch from the cafeteria each day for free. There will always be a vegetarian option and the menu can be found here: Watertown School Nutrition Update. Of course, students are welcome to bring their own lunches as well. Students will eat lunch by cluster, and we will be eating outside unless there is dangerous weather. We have stadium cushions for all students to sit on, and they will be at least 6 feet from each other on the grass by Bemis Street, currently nicknamed the "Bemis Street Beach". Should we need to eat inside, all students will be at individual chairs and tables 6 feet apart in the cafeteria or in the auditorium, facing one direction.
**Please be sure your child has warm clothes for mask break, lunch, and Phys. Ed. outside!
Schedules:
***REMINDER*** All students who have opted for in-person learning must attend school each day unless directed to quarantine by Nurse Michelle, and then they are allowed to Zoom into their classes. If a student is feeling unwell, please call them in absent, and they can make up the work as with a typical sick day. Zooming in for in-person students is ONLY an option when directed to quarantine due to Covid.
Specialist Classes: Here is a Slideshow that describes what students need for these classes. This has been shared with students in Community Meeting as well.
Please keep in touch with your child's teachers and guidance counselors if they are having a hard time at all with anything: schoolwork, homework, stress, friends, etc. Communication is always the key to helping the children be as successful as possible! :)
Please also feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns. Thank you!
Please be well and take good care of one another. I hope you have a wonderful April Break!
Respectfully yours,
Donna Martin
Principal
GRADE 8 INVASIVE SPECIES PROJECT
GRADE 8 INVASIVE SPECIES PROJECT
GRADE 8 INVASIVE SPECIES PROJECT
Here are some important upcoming dates:
Monday, April 19 - Friday, April 23 - NO SCHOOL - April Vacation
Monday, April 26 - Anti-Bias Coalition Meeting 5:00-6:30
Wednesday, April 28 (Cluster 5) and Thursday, April 29 (Cluster 6) - WHS School Counselors will be meeting with the 8th graders to discuss schedules for next year.
Wednesday, April 28 - PTO Meeting (rescheduled)
Friday, April 30 - YRBS Survey given during Community Meeting (see information below)
Friday, April 30 - Term 3 report cards sent home
Tuesday, May 11 - Parent/Caregiver of Rising Grade 6 students Information Night
(additional information to follow)
MCAS - Testing Window May 17 - June 11
ELA - Thursday, May 20 (all grades)
MATH - Thursday, May 27 (all grades)
SCIENCE - Thursday, June 3 (grade 8 only)
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OTHER UPDATES
Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) - The YRBS will be administered on Friday, April 30 in Community Meeting. In order to better understand and address the health-related challenges affecting children and youth, Watertown High School is working with a coalition of cities and towns in Middlesex County to administer the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). The survey is part of a larger effort to help increase the resiliency of young people by reducing high risk behaviors and promoting healthy behaviors. Given the observed impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the welfare of students, it is essential to know how students are currently doing, so that we can best support them.
***Please see the below attached informational letter and Opt-Out form.***
Yearbook Ordering Information:
Below is the website and job # to purchase the Watertown Middle School Yearbook:
Website: Ybpay.lifetouch.com
Job: #7822621
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
FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT: Travel Protocols
As we head into the April Break, please review the Watertown Public Schools' protocol for return from travel out of state or out of the country.
Domestic Travel:
Any students who travel out of state must quarantine for 10 days before they are allowed to return to school. Watertown Public Schools exempts students within the following categories:
Travelers who have received a negative COVID-19 result on a test administered not more than 72 hours prior to their arrival in Massachusetts. Travelers may also test out of the quarantine advisory after arrival in Massachusetts, as long as they quarantine until receiving a negative test result.
Anyone who is returning to Massachusetts after being out of the State for fewer than 24 hours
Travelers who are fully vaccinated (i.e. who have received two doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines OR who have received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, 14 days or more ago) and who do not have symptoms.
International Travel:
Anyone arriving from an international destination must quarantine for 10 days, per the recommendation of the Watertown Health Department. During days 11 - 14, students may return to school as long as they are symptom-free. A COVID test is required on day 15 and can be obtained through the school testing program provided day 15 falls on a day when tests are administered at the school. *Families should consult with the school nurse and building administrator regarding international travel throughout the duration of the global pandemic as guidelines change rapidly.*
These protocols are subject to change due to the trajectory of the virus. It is always best to consult with your child's school nurse or principal when considering travel.
Free, virtual mental health workshop on Thursday, April 22!
The Library is co-hosting a free, virtual mental health workshop for parents next week led by local therapist Liz Brenner. If you know folks who may be interested, please feel free to forward this info or share the links below!
Family Strategies: Stress, Isolation, Coping, and More
Thursday, 4/22 | 6:30 PM | via Zoom | Stressed? Sad? Exhausted? Join local therapist Liz Brenner for an hour-long session to help parents discuss what is challenging in the current parenting environment, and provide resources for current family stressors.
Program website: watertownlib.org/mentalhealth
Facebook event: facebook.com/events/148896423772253
The Watertown Splash!!
From Mr. Vitti~
I thought you all would like to see the latest online story in the Watertown Splash in which we polled WMS students about the best and worst parts of the last year, as well as what they are looking forward to most in the return to full-time school.
Check out the story here -- and please tell your friends, family, and social media followers to check it out, too!
Student Dress Code Reminder
With students coming back to school full time on April 12, we wanted to remind all students and families about the WMS Dress Code as published in the WMS Handbook. Please review this with your child(ren). Thank you!
Student Dress Code
Students’ clothing/dress should reflect their readiness to focus on learning, education and hard work. We recognize that students express themselves in many ways as young adults, but at the same time, school attire should support the scholarly culture that leads to academic success.
Student clothing should be neat, clean, and worn in the manner for which it was designed. If a student is out of dress code, he/she will first get a verbal warning and be asked to change. If the student can’t find appropriate clothing, he/she can use our stock of Watertown athletic clothing as an alternative. If it is a second or repeat offense, the student will be referred to administration for disciplinary action.
Students are expected to adhere to the following guidelines while in school, or while attending a school-sponsored event or field trip:
No clothing or accessories with inappropriate or offensive symbols or statements shall be worn. Some examples include but are not limited to:
References to drugs, tobacco or alcohol
References to discriminatory slurs
References to violence
Sexual connotations
Head coverings shall be worn in the case of religious or health reasons.
Chests, stomachs, buttocks, and all undergarments should be covered at all times. Undergarments should not be visible at any time.
All clothing, including shirts, tops, dresses, pants, shorts, and leggings, must be completely opaque (not see-through).
Clothing must be free of holes, rips, and tears that are inappropriately located.
Night clothing, including but not limited to pajamas, slippers, etc. may not be worn.
Administration reserves the right to evaluate the appropriateness of student dress when needed.
We will evaluate the dress code on an annual basis to adjust for cultural trends
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!
**EMERGENCY ALERTS**
Watertown Middle School
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/