October Newsletter
Walt Morey Middle School
Greetings Mustang Families!
By now the school year is well under way. Thank you to all of you who came out for Open House. It was wonderful to get to meet so many Walt Morey families. I hope you enjoyed the opportunity to tour the school and get to know your child’s teachers.
Every quarter, middle schools send out a progress report half way through the term. These grades are NOT final. It is just a way for the school to communicate with families about students' progress while there is still time for them to improve their grades. Progress reports will be mailed home on Thursday, October 12. If students have any missing assignments, you can encourage them to complete them before the end of the quarter.
As we move forward in the school year, I want to emphasize that you, as the family, are important team members. I encourage you to contact your child’s teacher, counselor, or an administrator if you ever have questions or concerns. We are here to support you.
Important Calendar Dates
There will not be any school for students on the following dates:
- October 13- State In Service Day
- November 9- 1st Quarter Grading Day
- November 10- Veteran's Day
- November 20-22- Fall Conferences
- November 23-24- Thanksgiving Holiday
Fall Pictures
Friday, October 6th is Fall Picture Day. All 7th and 8th grade students will be photographed during their PE class, and all 6th grade students will be scheduled periods 1 through 3. The photos will be used for student ID cards as well as the school yearbook. If you would like to order pictures, please see flyer below.
Fall Sports
Fall sports are up and running. Check out the school website for the volleyball and cross-country schedules. Come on out and cheer on our Mustangs.
6th-8th Grade Boys Basketball will be here in a month. All interested in trying out for one of the teams should fill out the athletic clearance forms, including completing a sports physical from a physician. Forms can be found in the front office.
SUN After School Program
It is with absolute enthusiasm that I get to share that Walt Morey's SUN 2023-24 SUN program has officially begun!
SUN stands for Schools Uniting Neighborhoods and is a family resource-based program funded by the county through partnering community agencies. At Walt Morey, the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) is the lead agency providing extended day activities, family resource navigation, and much more to ensure the all students and families have access to a system of support that encourages both academic success and community development.
Fall SUN extended day activities will occur Monday-Thursday beginning October 2nd through until December 6th. Students will arrive to the cafeteria check-in at 2:15 PM, where they will spend time enjoying an after-school meal and socializing with other students for about 45 minutes. At 3:00 PM, students will head to their pre-registered class of choice that they will participate in until 4:25 PM. At which point, students will be released to be picked up either by our after school bus or by a trusted adult.
*Please Note: Students who leave school property at the end of the school day are NOT permitted to return back to SUN.
The list of activities/classes that will offered during Fall SUN term are as follows:
- Game Board Design: Do you want to learn what gameplay mechanics make your favorite games so fun? In this workshop we'll be putting our problem solving skills to the test by exploring the role of probability, resource management, and game theory in modern game design. Play and discuss a diverse selection of games to help inspire your own designs, then create your own game to share with your friends!
- E-Sports & STEM, also know as ESOGA: Play on high-performance gaming laptops while enjoying dynamic STEM challenges and team competitions, all while improving cognitive abilities and 21st century skills. Class will featuring family friendly games such as, Minecraft, Brawlhalla, Fall Guys, Roblox, Rocket League & more! ***Participating in ESOGA requires an additional waiver***
- Arts & Crafts: Use your artist imagination and creativity by making your own works of art. Painting, scrapbooking, tye-dye, origami, perla beads, clay making, and so much more!
- Study Hall: Receive all-around academic support after school, as staff will be available to help you complete homework assignments, reteach confusing concepts from class, prepare for tests, and help you develop studying and organizational skills needed to succeed in school.
- 1:1 Tutoring: Reynolds High School's Speech and Debate Team will offer individualized tutoring supports to students seeking additional support completing assignments or understanding concepts from any classes. 1:1 tutoring will occur on the following dates during Fall SUN:
- Thursday, October 19
- Tuesday, November 7
- Thursday, December 7
For questions, concerns, or more information, please feel free to each out to Walt Morey's SUN Site Manager, Melissa Ryan. P: (503) 491-1935 Ext.1728. E: melissaR@irco.org
Rules for Attending After School Activities
In order to attend and participate in after school activities such as athletics, musical performances, and SUN, students are required to attend school on the day of the activity. If students are absent more than 2 periods, go home sick, are sent to ISS, or are suspended out of school, they will not be able to attend or participate in any activities on the day of your absence. This pertains to both participants and spectators. Additionally, any student coming to watch a game or performance must be accompanied by an adult.
Save the Date: Fall Conferences
Fall Conference will take place the week of Thanksgiving. The conferences will be student led, so students should plan to attend their conference with you. The purpose for this format is to empower students to take accountability for their own learning outcomes. All of your child’s teachers will be conferencing in the same room, so that you will have the convenience of being able to speak with the homeroom teacher, the language arts/social studies teacher, and the math/science teacher all in one common location. Each teacher will take turns meeting with you. If you would also like to speak with your child’s elective or PE teacher, I know they would love to see you. Your child will be able to direct you to the right location.
We will be sending out invitations and information on how to sign up on October 23rd.
RSD Student Handbook
Outdoor School
Outdoor School is an opportunity to get your students fully immersed in learning about science, nature, art and community through a multi-day/overnight adventure. Outdoor School has been a part of Oregon's education history for over 60 years! This year is the second year post-pandemic that 6th grade students have the opportunity to spend the night at camp.
Last week, three of our 6th grade classes attended Outdoor School. Two classes went to Camp Kuratli and one class went to Camp Collins. The remainder of our 6th grade classes will attend Outdoor School in May. More information details on the May trip will be provided in the Spring.
I have included some photos below from Camp Kuratli.
Ruby Visits Walt Morey
Introducing Ruby, the therapy dog! Ruby is part of the program Pet Partners. Their stated mission is to improve human health and well-being through the human-animal bond. "As a leader in the field, Pet Partners is continuously evolving to meet the diverse needs of global communities, with innovative programming, activities, and educational opportunities that are centered around the human-animal bond. Humans and animals share a deep, innate connection, and we believe that through the human-animal bond we can improve the physical, social, and emotional lives of more people and communities."
Last week, students in our Newcomer ELD program were able to spend time getting to know Ruby and reading books to her in the library. Ruby will be visiting students in the library on the second Wednesday of every month.
Here is a link to more information about Pet Partners:
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
It's National Hispanic Heritage Month! This month we will be celebrating the culture, contributions, and heritage of Hispanic Americans in the library. Last Thursday, we hosted the first cultural activity and had a great turnout. Students learned about Mexican Artist Frida Kahlo and created their own self portraits.
Congratulations to September Mustangs of the Month!
These students were chosen by their teachers and are commended for their attendance, hard work, perseverance, and dedication to learning. They are excellent role models for their peers, demonstrating every day what it means to be a proud Mustang. These students will receive a free ice cream at lunch on Tuesday, October 10.
Julian Serafica
Armando Tuxpan-Gomez
Yarid Dominguez
Samantha Damian Lira
Celina Ghabbour
Arsalan Aziz
Grace Wright
Salminio Kelsey
Jace LaVallee
Xitlaly Lunas-Vargas
Juliantonio Dominguez
Annette Carrasco-Baltazar