Wilson Middle School Newsletter

April 2023

A letter to our families from the Principal

Parents/Guardians be ready! Eighth grade students are getting anxious to make the transition to the high schools. Sixth and seventh grade students continue to work through the challenges of growing up. As adults we need to be aware of these challenges. Many times students lose sight of the importance of finishing the year strong; we need to remind them to have a strong finish to anything they start. Please communicate with teachers and counselors if you see signs of your student beginning to feel too relaxed about the end of the school year. Remember our extended day opportunities for students, i.e. homework center.

Smarted Balanced Assessment (SBA) Testing information

This year, the SBA, Smarter Balanced Assessment testing window for Language Arts, Math & 8th grade Science is May 8th-May 26th. More than ever, it is important our students do well and show their learning on this test. Schools rely heavily on the results of these assessments to make important placement decisions for your students in school programs and classes. In other words, your student’s results on the SBAC can determine whether he/she will be placed in advanced classes or intervention classes. There are several things you can do at home to help your student have the greatest opportunity to get the best results possible; 1) Start with telling them you want them to try their best, 2) Set a goal for improvement, 3) Make sure they are at school everyday & on time, 4) Make sure they get a good night rest & breakfast in the morning. Following these steps can help your child be more successful.

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We appreciate our teachers!

May 8th– May 12th is the district-wide teacher appreciation week. The Yakima School District recognizes all certified teachers during this week. Help us celebrate them and show we appreciate their hard work and dedication to the students, Thank you!

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It is Principal's Week

Principals week will be May 22nd-May 26th. Our administration at Wilson works really hard everyday to keep things running smoothly, showing us how much they care about everyone & our school. Please take your time to acknowledge & show them we are thankful for all they do for Wilson Middle School.

Thank You, Mr. Araiza, Mr. Gonzales & Mrs. Howell!

Important Dates

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5/8-5/26: SBA Testing

5/8-5/12: Teacher Appreciation Week

5/9: Spring Sports Pictures

5/11: Incoming 6th grade Parent Night @6pm

5/18: Booster Meeting @6pm (virtual)

5/22-5/26: Principal Appreciation Week

5/29: Memorial Day/No School

Information from the Nurse's Office

Character Word of the Month

Reverence

Honor or respect felt or shown

Congratulations to the April Students of the Month

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Congratulations...

.Dani Mott, Isabella Lopez, Antonio "Vin" Gonzalez, Samuel Anderson, Addisyn Gutheridge, Ramon Juarez, William (Luke) Suhm, Brianna Zendejas Hinojosa, Andy Merlos-Tello, Alvaro Olivas Lucas, Julissa Andrade, Jordan Hartman-Irwin, Alexa Cuevas, Jayden Nunez-Cuevas, Jordyn Wilson, Andy Garcia De La Cruz, Itzel Sanchez, Lucianna Ortega, Jovi Dumas and Damian Mendez

A note from the library

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Please return all overdue library books by June 2nd. Fines must be paid by the end of the year. Pay fines to Mrs. Thomas, and bring the receipt to the library to make sure fines are recorded. You can buy a good, used copy of the same title that was lost instead of paying the cost to replace the book. Returning the books borrowed is the best thing to save having to pay fines! The last check out date is May 31st for the school year.

School Policies

Cell Phone and Electronic Device Policy

All student cell phones, earbuds, and electronic devices are to be turned off and stored in student backpacks once students are on campus between the hours of 7:30 am and 2:30 pm.

Wilson Middle School staff will not be responsible for lost or stolen cell phones or electronic devices. If the student is caught with their phone out during school hours, the phone will be taken to the office. If it is the students 1st offence they can pick it up at the end of the day. If there is a 2nd incident and anytime after, the parents will be asked to come and pick up the cell phone from the office.

If students need to reach parents for any reason they can use the phone in the office.

Please encourage your student to come to the office if they are not feeling well. We do not allow students to text or call parents from their cell phones in class. This disrupts learning and causes confusion in the office because we are unaware as to why the student is leaving.

Dress Code

Wilson Middle School guidelines for students will foster an environment of respect for oneself, a sense of school pride, and will improve the level of safety in our building, while maintaining a focus on academic achievement. This policy applies to all students at Wilson Middle School.

Students may wear:

· Pants, shorts, sport shorts, and skirts of any color.

· Shorts and skirts that are longer than the finger tips, when arms are extended down to the sides.

· Tops that are of any color, or style, as long as shoulders, cleavage, backs, chest, and midriffs are covered.

· Hats and hoods, but only outside the building.

· Footwear that is safe for all school activities.

Students may not wear:

· Pants, shorts, or skirts with holes above the finger tips; unless worn with leggings underneath.

· Clothing with excessively ripped/hanging material that can catch or snag.

- Muscle shirts, tank tops or crop tops.

· Bedtime slippers, flip-flops, or “slides”

· Pants, shorts, or skirts, “sagged”.

· Trench coats or long overcoats.

· Any items deemed by administration as disruptive to the educational process, such as gang attire, or items with sexual, drug or alcohol messages, or those deemed unsafe. (This includes gang color or representation through numbers, pictures, Old English fonts, etc.)

We believe our dress code preserves our commitment to provide a safe and equitable school environment for all students. If in doubt, please call 573-2400 to avoid a disruption to your student’s education.

Attendance Policy

ABSENCES: If you have not called in your student's absence and we have not made contact with you, please send a note with your student upon his/her return in order to avoid an unexcused absence. We are now required to send an attendance letter after three unexcused absences. At five unexcused absences, we will schedule a conference to discuss attendance issues. If, your child obtains 7 unexcused absences or 10 unexcused absences in a year a BECCA petition will be filed for your student in juvenile court. Feel free to contact our attendance secretary at 573-2410.

TARDIES:

Students need to be in class by the time the tardy bell rings. In the morning, the first bell rings at 7:50am, students are expected to be in class by 8:00am and ready to learn! Students have 4 minutes to get to their next class on time; otherwise they are tardy, which disrupts the learning process.

CHECKING OUT A STUDENT:

When you know your student has an appointment or needs to be picked up early, we ask that you to send a note or call in the morning with the time they will be picked up. Your student will need to turn in the note to the office and will receive a pass to be released with the time you indicate. We will not be calling classrooms, as this interrupts instruction.

If you have any questions, please call our attendance secretary at 573-2410.

PRE-ARRANGED ABSENCES:

If your student will be gone from school for other than an illness, or medical appointment, please fill out a prearranged absence form ahead of time. The forms are in the office at the student service desk. They need to be completed two weeks ahead of time with a parent signature or attached note, the dates of the absence, teacher signatures, and the principal’s signature. If such an absence occurs, and the form is not completed by district guidelines, the absence is not excused

Students should always check their school email and Canvas page to stay current on their school assignments.

Non-Discrimination Statement

Yakima School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.

The following employees at 104 N. 4th Ave. Yakima WA 98902 have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

(Non-Students) Title IX/ADA: Robert Noe, Chief Legal Counsel, (509) 573-7039 noe.robert@ysd7.org;
(Adult) ADA/504 Compliance Coordinator: Chris Miller, Human Resources Director, (509) 573-7066 miller.christopher@ysd7.org;
(Students) Title IX/ADA/Section 504: Omar Santoy, Director of Student Services, (509) 573-7004 santoy.omar@ysd7.org.

Individuals with disabilities who require assistance or special arrangements to attend a program or activity sponsored by the Yakima School District should contact one of the ADA Coordinators 24 hours in advance of the event to inquire about reasonable accommodation. Deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing, and/or speech impaired individuals may access Washington Relay Services by calling 7-1-1- or 1-800-833-6388.

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