FWHMS Family Newsletter
Connecting Families to School - September 2020
Our Family Newsletter Is Now Translated into All Needed Languages. it is also ADA compliant. Go to the bottom of this newsletter to access.
Welcome to the 2020-2021 School Year - A Year Like No Other - #ChargerStrong
We are so excited to welcome everyone back whether it's in person or remotely. While it has been a busy summer with an enormous amount of planning, we will continue to work diligently to ensure a smooth start to the year.
Chromebooks for Incoming 6th Graders
We are awaiting their arrival. These were purchased in the spring and had continued to be back ordered due to high demand nationwide and limited resources. As soon as we have them in hand, we will be getting them out to the students.
Our teachers are prepared to deliver lessons either way. Our math and literacy programs have consumables that were given out at our Meet and Greet the past two days so that students have all the materials that they need. If you were unable to pick up the items, all hybrid students will receive them during their in person first day. Any fully remote family can call the main office to make arrangements to pick up the items.
Instructional Focus
For the past two years through our work with Focused Schools, our instructional leadership team has been working towards a vision for our students. Our focus has been on critical thinking/problem solving. We had a student slogan and logo contest - Chargers Come Fully Charged. This fall we are rolling out our new logo and slogan to our entire school community in various ways.
Student Schedules
B Day - Every Tuesday and Friday
Wednesdays change based on the calendar below to ensure equal in person time for students in both cohorts.
Hybrid Students Only
For the schedule on gray paper - This is your child's in school schedule.
For the schedule on white paper - This is your child's remote at home schedule.
They should not match up. This allows teachers time to teach in person students and remote at home students at different times.
*Note students in resource rooms were given a single custom schedule for the full week to help students know what to do in school and at home.
For Remote Families Only
For the schedule on gray paper - This is your child's full schedule for quarter one.
For Schedules on Gray Paper ONLY
You can ignore the Wednesday column if it's easier and if it's an A Day your child can look at Monday or Thursday. If it's a B Day, your child can look at Tuesday or Thursday.
Calendars
Student Assignments/Teacher Websites
We are rolling out a brand new site that is housed on our school website for students and families to know what graded assignments are being given by your child's teacher. All work will be graded as usual. We are not using credit/no credit.
Teachers update the grades in the parent portal on a bi-weekly basis. They also add comments as needed. Please use this information and the new teacher websites to know and track what work your child must complete.
Career Exploration
In the spring, we were awarded a $100,000 grant from ASA to offer career exploration for all students throughout the year as well as revamp our STEM courses. Students will see this additional course on their schedule at least once at some point during the school year.
Bus Stops
Please be advised that there is only one stop allowed per student - unless the afternoon is the shuttle to the Boy's and Girl's Club.
This one stop should be the student's permanent address. Due to our COVID19 restrictions and spacing needed on the bus, we are unable to pick up and drop off students in different locations. We are not able to make different stops for different days.
After School Clubs
As of today, our first after school club sign up is for STEM Club only. This is in order to be sure students have enough time and are ready to compete in the virtual Lego competition. News about more club offerings will be coming soon.
STEM Club Sign Ups
The fall session of the STEM Club will compete in the FIRST LEGO League Challenge. Two teams of up to 10 students will use teamwork and cooperation to build and program a LEGO Mindstorms Robot to complete missions on the challenge mat. The teams also create a solution to a real world problem that they present at the competition. Team members must commit to all meetings as this is a cooperative team event. Interested students should send an email with a short paragraph explaining why they would like to participate, to cgrace@bmrsd.net.
Calendar of Events
- Picture Day
Wednesday, September 30th
- Picture Day
Pay Online for School Lunch
You can view the account balance, see what was purchased, and schedule automatic payments if you wish.
School-wide Ongoing Fundraisers
Stop & Shop A Plus Program - Register your rewards card to help us earn $$. Log on to www.stopandshop.com/aplus to register online USE SCHOOL ID: 07080 or dial 1-877-275-2758 to register your card over the phone.
Amazon - Please click here to shop on Amazon.com. A small percentage of what you purchase will go to the Hartnett Middle School PTO to help support field trips, assemblies, special events, and after school programming. It is the same Amazon.com you may use, with a small percentage supporting middle school students.
FWHMS Communication and Happenings
Our website is the main hub of information. The following is key information you will find:
- Daily Intercom Announcements
- Monthly School Calendar
- Homework Page
- Monthly Family Newsletter Links
- After-school Program Information/Registration
- BMR Athletes Information/Registration Details
- Staff names and emails
OneCall will be used in the following ways:
Robocalls
For Emergency only - such as unplanned early dismissals or information on an emergency in the building. They will be sent after 3:30 pm and end before 8 pm.
Roboemails - On Tuesdays and Fridays only (as needed)
For standard communication - such as portal access to progress reports, report card distribution, the monthly newsletter release, registration information for sports/after-school clubs, field trip information, and other information as needed. The emails may be by whole school or by grade level depending on the communication needs.
Social Media - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat
We use all our social media to share special happenings after they have happened so that families can see what we are doing. You can find us on all platforms at @fwhms2003
About FWHMS
Email: tcurt@bmrsd.net
Website: https://www.bmrsd.net/o/fwhms
Location: 35 Federal St, Blackstone, MA, United States
Phone: 508-876-0190
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/middleschoolofwoonsocket
Twitter: @fwhms2003