WMS Family Update
June 4, 2021
Good morning Wamsutta Families,
There were no positive pools this week. We will have two more days of testing next week (Monday and Tuesday) and then we are wrapping the pool testing up for the year.
I have several important updates for you this week. The first is the schedule for 8th grade ceremonies. If the weather is good, we will be able to invite 2 family members per student to attend. If it isn't, we will be live streaming the ceremonies on Youtube and families will be unable to attend. More details are below. Cross your fingers so we can do this in person. I also have updates for AVA families, upcoming spirit days, and summer reading. There is also a new update regarding P-EBT benefits that I have included with the last notice on free and reduced lunch.
It looks to be pretty warm next week without our AC, and with infection rates low, we are allowing brief unmasking at student desks for water breaks from now until the end of the year. We had asked students to step outside the classroom for water breaks this year, but this position is no longer tenable with the expected heat.
Thank you as always for your time.
Joseph Connor, WMS
Principal
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.
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.
Spirit Days Next Week
Monday - Sports Day
Tuesday - Tropical Day
Wednesday - Tie-Dye day
Thursday - P. J. Day
Friday - Color day (5th, 6th and 7th wears blue, 8th wears white)
Summer Reading
Students entering Grades 5-8 can find their summer reading assignments here.
Students entering 9th will receive their assignments from AHS directly. Redaing 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.
Last Notice: Fee For Service Transportation
All the paper information has already been sent home with students, but there you can still access the information for fee for service transportation in the flyers below or at the APS website under the “For Families” Tab (Transportation-FFS).
Last Notice: Yearbook - Time is Running Out
Yearbooks are $20 and are available through Mr. Duquette or Mrs. Medeiros until sold out from now until the end of the year.
DATES TO REMEMBER
June 7
- MCAS Makeups
June 8
- PTO Meeting: In person in our Peace Garden at the back of the school at 6:30
June 15
- 8th Grade Ceremonies in the AM (more info to come)
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