WBMS Friday Notes
February 26- March 2
Reflections from Ms. Perkins
WBMS Parents and Guardians –
What happened this week at WBMS? A band concert, a Parent U on Mindfulness, a Parent U on the high school transition process, a 7th grade dance, an 8th grade trip to Alpharetta High School, Read Across America Day, the beginning of Kindness Month, and so much more! In classes I observed students learning how we see color, understanding the real-life implications of plagiarism, and creating marketing plans for original products. And let me tell you - some of their product ideas are GENIUS! My favorite moments this week beyond witnessing students thinking and creating were watching our 7th graders enjoy one another’s company at the dance (They had so much fun!) and engaging in 10 minutes of reading at the beginning of all classes today. What a wonderful sight that was for a booklover like me!
It looks like we will finally have a rain-free weekend. I hope you are all able to gather together with family and friends and enjoy it!
In collaboration,
Rebecca Williams Perkins
Principal, Webb Bridge Middle School
Dates To Remember
Mar 6- Chorus Pre -LGPE Concert
Mar 7- Hat Day for Pennies for Patients
Mar 7- Georgia Walk to School Day
Mar 7- Orchestra LGPE- 8th Grade
Mar 8- Release Day- NO SCHOOL
Mar 9- Digital Learning Day- school work completed at home
Mar 12- Make-up Day: Regular School Day
Mar 14-17- 7th Grade JA Field Trip
Mar 14- GMEA Chorus LGPE
Mar 15- Band/Orchestra 6th Grade Symphony
Mar 16- SGC Meeting
Mar 23- Talent Show
April 2-6- Spring Break
April 12-24- Milestones
April 20- Wacky Webb Day (taking place of TOWB)
May 10-11- Geobots 6th Grade
May 11- 8th Grade Dance
May 12- Relay for Life
May 22- 8th Grade Celebration @ 7:00pm at AHS
March 7th
Donate $1= Wear a Hat
Make Up Days
There will be three make-up days:
- February 16
- March 9 (Digital Learning Day- Students will stay home, but still have schoolwork to complete. More info to come)
- March 12
Spring Break is not affectedand the school year also will still end before Memorial Day.
WBMS Digital Learning Day- March 9th
Below you will find the expectations for our March 9th Digital Learning Day
- 45 minutes of iReady or ELA assigned task
- 45 minutes of IXL or Math assigned task
- 30 min of Science assigned task
- 30 min of Social Studies assigned task
- 20 min - Connections/WL/Reading will assign a digital task for students to complete – no longer than 20 minutes each
- Students will have 3 days to complete work
1:00-3:00- Digital Learning "Office Hours"- teachers will be available online/in a digital space, to assist students if they have questions.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! March 14, 15, 16
7th Grade JA Field Trip—March 14, 15, 16
Parent Volunteers are needed to help at JA Finance Park at the Georgia World Congress Center! Parents will help run a store and guide students through a simulation. They need to report to the World Congress Center at 8am for training on their assigned day to help. The day ends around 2:30. Parents must drive themselves to the World Congress Center and will not travel with the students on busses. Parents may sign up for any day or multiple days. The schedule of homeroom classes is below:
· Wednesday, March 14: Desrosiers, S. Anderson, Davies, Moran, Battalgia, Muvdi
· Thursday, March 15: Webber, McFarland, K. Wood, Pariseau, Paradis/Miller, Pennington, Winfield/Flanagan
· Friday, March 16: Swartz, Allenson, Kaiser, Liming, Kanzler, Boltz, F. Anderson, He
Please sign up using the link at the end of this email. Remember that all volunteers must also be certified as WBMS/Fulton County Volunteers. That information can be found on the Webb Bridge website.
Our students have worked incredibly hard preparing for this experience and the Atlanta community came together to build a state- of-the-art simulation to create a truly authentic experience. Now,we need you, our parents, to join us and help guide our teams of students as they work throughthe highs and lows that go along with being a professional for a day.
We hope to see you there!
For additional information or to sign up visit: http://vhub.at/WebbBridge
Pennies for Patients!
http://events.lls.org/pages/ga/WebbBridgeMiddleSchool-2018
Jr. Beta Club and Student Council are actively involved in collecting loose CHANGE and Bills are welcome too for the Pennies for Patients. Last year we raised over 3,000.00 and this year our goal is 4,000.00. Please bring in your CHANGE and place it in the containers in the cafeteria.
Milestones Testing
The Georgia Milestones Assessment System (Georgia Milestones) is a comprehensive summative assessment program spanning grades 3 through high school.
Georgia Milestones measures how well students have learned the knowledge and skills outlined in the state-adopted content standards in English Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.
Students in grades 3 through 8 take an end-of-grade assessment in English Language Arts and mathematics while students in grades 5 and 8 are also assessed in science and social studies. High school students take an end-of-course assessment for each of the ten courses designated by the State Board of Education.
Our Fulton County Schools Assessment Department has released the official testing dates for the EOG and EOC Milestones Testing for the Spring.
April 12 – EOG Writing- 6,7,8
April 16- EOG ELA 6,7,8 (all students except students taking the 9th grade Literature Honors EOC course)
April 18- EOG Math 6,7,8 (all students except students taking an EOC Math course)
April 23- EOG Science 8th grade ONLY (except students taking an EOC Physical Science course)
April 24- EOG Social Studies- 8th grade ONLY
*Makeups for EOG will be rolling
April 25- EOC- 9th grade Lit
April 26- EOC- 9th grade Lit
April 30- EOC Geometry
May 1- EOC Physical Science
May 3- EOC Algebra
For additional information and resources regarding the Georgia Milestones Assessment System (EOG and EOC), please follow this link:
Why Social Media is Not Smart for Middle School Kids: Tweens' brains are simply too immature to use social media appropriately.
By: Melanie Hempe, RN, founder of Families Managing Media.
Excerpt from Pschology Today article, Why Social Media is Not Smart for Middle School Kids: Tweens' brains are simply too immature to use social media appropriately.
Because the midbrain is reorganizing itself and risk-taking is high and impulse control is low, I can’t imagine a worse time in a child’s life to have access to social media than middle school. Here are just a few reasons why:
- Social media was not designed for them. A tween's underdeveloped frontal cortex can’t manage the distraction nor the temptations that come with social media use. While you start teaching responsible use of tech now, know that you will not be able to teach the maturity that social media requires. Like trying to make clothes fit that are way too big, they will use social media inappropriately until they are older and it fits them better.
- Social media is an entertainment technology. It does not make your child smarter or more prepared for real life or a future job; nor is it necessary for healthy social development. It is pure entertainment attached to a marketing platform extracting bits and pieces of personal information and preferences from your child every time they use it, not to mention hours of their time and attention.
- A tween's “more is better” mentality is a dangerous match for social media. Do they really have 1,456 friends? Do they really need to be on it nine hours a day? Social media allows (and encourages) them to overdo their friend connections like they tend to overdo other things in their lives.
- Social media is an addictive form of screen entertainment. And, like video game addiction, early use can set up future addiction patterns and habits.
- Social media replaces learning the hard social "work" of dealing face-to-face with peers, a skill that they will need to practice to be successful in real life.
- Social media can cause teens to lose connection with family and instead view “friends” as their foundation. Since the cognitive brain is still being formed, the need for your teen to be attached to your family is just as important now as when they were younger. Make sure that attachment is strong. While they need attachments to their friends, they need healthy family attachment more.
- Social media use represents lost potential for teens. While one can argue that there are certain benefits of social media for teens, the costs are very high during the teen years when their brain development is operating at peak performance for learning new things. It is easy for teens to waste too much of their time and too much of their brain in a digital world. We know from many studies that it is nearly impossible for them to balance it all.
Click below to read the full article.
Clubs and Athletics
Jr. Beta Club
Our next meeting will be on March 13th at 8:00am in the cafeteria. Remember meetings are mandatory. If for some reason you are unable to attend, please make sure you contact us via Edmodo or email. Don't forget National Beta Week (see info below).
National Beta Club Week - March 5th-9th
Join us as we celebrate National Beta Club Week. We will be sponsoring different events throughout the week to bring awareness to our awesome club.
Monday, 3/5
We will empty recycle bins, clorox surfaces in classrooms and around the school, and help teachers pick up around the school. Join us at 8 to help! Bring in Clorox Wipes for 1 service hour!
Tuesday, 3/6
Wear your Beta T-shirts or Beta colors (black and gold) to support Beta; meet us at 8:30 on the 100 hall to welcome your fellow students to school!
Wednesday, 3/7
Wear your hat to show your Beta Spirit! We'll sponsor a $1 Hat Day for the whole school. We donate all proceeds to a charity we vote on.
Thursday, 3/8 (No School for students)
Share how you lead through serving others by submitting your photo to bit.ly/betapics. (Kindness Bingo)
Friday, 3/9 (Digital Learning Day- Students have school from home)
Do an act of service for someone in our community. Share a photo to bit.ly/betapics.
FBLA
Members of our FBLA competed at the state level in an array of business and computer science categories. Winning 1st place, and eligible to continue to the FBLA National Conference is Advait Naik for Intro to Computer Science and Coding. Finishing 2nd at the state level was Rachel MacDonald in the FBLA Creed event. And finishing 3rd at the state level was Anushka Sharma for Business Math and Financial Literacy. In addition, Webb Bridge’s FBLA organization took 5th place as the largest local chapter in the state. Congratulations to our FBLA organization at Webb Bridge!
Chess Club
Webb Bridge Process to Performance After School Acting Classes
Thursdays 4:15-5:45 This session will work on improvisation, scene study, physicality, character development, and audition techniques. Students will also work on one-act plays. This is a phenomenal class to work skills as well as gain stage experience!
For more information: www.buildingcharacter.org
email: info@buildingcharacter.org
Please Support PTA
Dear Jaguar Families,
Have you wondered how you can get more involved in a fun and rewarding way with WBMS? Join the WBMS PTA Board! We only have a few openings left on our 2018-19 WBMS PTA Board. Please email Paige Philips at paigephillips@mindspring.com to learn what positions are open and what might be the best fit for you.
Remember-It’s never too late to donate! Please click on the link below to make a tax deductible contribution to the PTA and help fund programs in your child’s school.)
SGC Elections
School Governance Elections:
We are now in the next phase of the elections process! Voting will occur March 22-28. Parent and Teacher candidate statements are located below.
Parents and teachers will receive an e-mail with a voting link. Parents no longer need Home Access codes to vote!
Read candidate statements on our website HERE
Meetings and Public Comment
Webb Bridge’s School Governance Council meets in the morning one Friday each month in room 116; our next meeting is March 16th @ 7:30 in the PLR room. We will be discussing the Strategic Plan for 2018 and beyond. We will be asking for staff, parent, and community input on the strategic plan through a Parent University and a form on Friday Notes (starting after our January meeting).
We hold a Public Comment period starting at 7:30 AM. Please feel free to attend and help us start our planning! If you cannot come to issue public comments, please fill out the form below.
WBMS Strategic Plan- Draft
Please Support Our Business Partner!!
Thanks Taziki’s for sponsoring our 8th grade teacher’s luncheon
5306-B Windward Pkwy, Alpharetta, GA 30004
Motocross racing March 3, 2018 (6:30 p.m.)
Watch off-road motorcycles race on dirt tracks with steep jumps, tight corners, and obstacles at AMA Supercross in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta Gladiators- Hockey
Watch the Atlanta Gladiators play a home game at Infinite Energy Center in Duluth.
Family obstacle course March 3, 2018
You and your kids age 3+ can take the KidFitStrong Fitness Challenge, which includes 10 fitness stations (sprinting, push ups, wall crawls, hurdles, jumping jacks, sit ups, climbing, tunnel crawls) in Piedmont Park. Free except food and nearby activities. Register online.
Jewish Music Festival March 8 - 25, 2018
Atlanta locations
Atlanta Jewish Music Festival includes jazz, sacred, folk, orchestral, kids’, and rock ’n’ roll music.
Science festival March 9 - 24, 2018
Atlanta Science Festival features hands-on activities, performances, presentations, and facility tours in dozens of locations to celebrate local science and technology. See the events list or booklet.
PBR- Bull Riding March 10 - 11, 2018
Professional Bull Riders compete to see who can last the longest atop a bucking bull at Infinite Energy Arena.
Luck of Avalon- March 16th 6pm
Schedule of Events:
At 6PM, Luck of Avalon kicks off as the Irish do with a bagpipe and drum performance from North Georgia Pipes and Drums on the Plaza stage! After an Irish introduction, the party begins as crowd-favorite Az-Izz continues the tradition of transforming the Plaza into a dance floor for a special Motown performance. And if you missed the introduction from North Georgia Pipes and Drums, you’re in luck! They will be performing throughout the streets Avalon to spread festive Irish cheer until 7PM!
Don't forget to share your pictures on social media with us using #LuckOfAvalon! And, stop by the Smilebooth GIF booth to create a custom GIF in your festive green attire. Bringing the little leprechauns? Family fun face painting will be available until 9PM as well!
Shamrock ‘N Roll Road Race March 17, 2018
Shamrock race March 17, 2018
Shamrock ‘N Roll Road Race is a walk or run (kids fun run, 5K, and 10K) with Irish entertainment that begins at Atlantic Station.
Spring into the season with Avalon's Easter Bunny! Enjoy an egg-cellent photo opportunity with everyone's favorite furry friend beginning March 19th through March 31st.
Pricing Details:
Package A (One 6x8 photo and 4 wallets): $15
Package B (Email with all photos): $20
Package C (One 6x8 photo and 4 wallets + Email with all photos): $25
CHILDREN'S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA DOG SHOW-OFF
Calling all dog lovers! Please join us for a Dog Show-Off at Avalon benefitting Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Canines For Kids on Saturday, March 24th from 2PM to 4PM. Register your faithful companion to show around the Plaza! Show off your dog's good looks, obedience and great temperament.
Dogs will be categorized as small, medium, or large and a maximum of twenty dogs per category can be registered. Prizes will be offered to a winner in each category!
Click here to register your polished pup to compete in the show.
Lost and Found
All lunch boxes and water bottles need to be put near the cafeteria on the left side entering the café, and will be donated or thrown away the last day every week.
All items in the lost and found next to the clinic will be donated or thrown away on the 15th of every month.
All Items of value: glasses, electronics, jewelry etc. should be given to the front office.
Low Cost Internet
Get assistance with low-cost internet providers for your student’s Surface by clicking this link:
http://www.cheapinternet.com/low-income-internet
This link has a listing of various programs in our area offering low cost internet connectivity for qualifying families.
As always, please exercise caution when reviewing options and choose what will work best for your income and family’s need.
2017-2018 School Year
First Semester
August 1 – 4 ........................................... Preplanning for teachers
August 7......................................................... First Day of School
September 4........................................Labor Day (schools closed)
October 6 ......................................Teacher Workday (students off)
October 9 ......................................Columbus Day (schools closed)
November 20 – 24.............. Thanksgiving Holidays (schools closed)
December 21 ....................................... Last Day of First Semester
December 22 – 29 ...........................Winter Break (schools closed)
Second Semester
January 1 – 3.....................................................................Winter Break (schools closed)
January 4.......................................................................Teacher Workday (students off)
January 5................................................Professional Development Day (students off)
January 8...........................................................................First Day of Second Semester
January 15...........................................Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (schools closed)
February 16*..................................................................................... Snow Makeup Day
February 19 ....................................................President’s Day Holiday (schools closed)
March 9*.........................................................Snow Makeup Day- Digital Learning Day
March 12.............................................................................................Snow Makeup Day
April 2 – 6 ..........................................................................Spring Break (schools closed)
May 24.................................................................................................. Last Day of School
May 25.......................................................................................................... Post Planning
May 28...............................................................Memorial Day Holiday (schools closed)
* Designated as inclement weather make-up days (if needed).
Our School Release Days
These are the dates approved through the RFF process as part of School Governance. WBMS students will NOT attend school on the following dates:
September 1, 2017
October 5, 2017
January 16, 2018
March 8, 2018