WBMS Friday Notes
3/12/21
Reflections from Ms. Williams
WBMS Parents and Guardians –
I have received so many emails this week about Milestone Testing; and while I have already sent a follow-up messenger with frequently asked questions and answers, I want to take today’s message to further alleviate testing concern and detail a bit more how the testing results will be used.
Currently there is a lot of media focus about learning loss due to the unusual teaching situation we have been in since last March. And while I understand the concern, I think it applies more to places where schools have been completely closed or where remote learning is all asynchronous. I am in our classrooms daily and can assure you learning is happening – both for our F2F and our remote learners. Our teachers frequently check in on our students’ learning and consistently use informal data to make instructional decisions about what concepts need to be retaught and to whom.
Milestone are intended to showcase what students have learned and how much they have grown. It is not intended and will not be used to hinder our students. Milestone results are an overall way for you as parents, for your children as learners, and for us as educators, to see what they have mastered, how much they have grown, and where any skill deficits may be, so we can address them. We will dig into this information and use it to plan our instruction wholistically and individually. As a wholistic example, if our 7th grade ELA students score well as a group in the area of narrative writing, then our teachers know the strategies they used to teach and assess narrative writing worked, and they will continue to use the same instructional approaches in the future. Conversely, if there is an area where our students as a whole do not score well, we will look for different ways to address the standard. Individually, our teachers look at each child’s results and use it to better differentiate instruction from the beginning of the year. If there is learning loss, we want to address it immediately! We do not want Milestone testing to be stressful for our students, staff, or community.
Enjoy your long weekend with your children.
In collaboration -
Rebecca Williams
Principal, Webb Bridge Middle School
Dates to Remember
March 12...Teacher Workday (no school for students)
March 15...Professional Development Day (no school for students)
April 5-9...Spring Break (no school for students)
May 26...Last Day of School
Last day to make changes to rising 7th and 8th grade courses- MARCH 12
- If you wish to make any changes to your rising 7th and 8th grade students’ courses, please use the course verification form http://bit.ly/3aWKKQn by Friday, March 12th. If you are satisfied with the course recommendations, there is no need to complete the form.
Important Information for Your Child's Quarter 4 Learning Environment
Quarter 4 Learning Environment change: DEADLINE MARCH 12
As we approach the midterm of the second semester, Fulton County Schools is requesting parents and guardians make a commitment for how you want your child to learn; face to face or remote. This selection will be for the remainder of the school year (the last nine week period begins in March and runs through the end of the semester in May).
No action is needed if parents and guardians are happy with their child’s current learning environment. Only those who wish to change their student’s learning environment need to communicate with us. If you wish to make a change to your student’s learning environment for the last nine weeks of the school year, please complete this short form below by 4PM on March 12th:
FORM- I Wish to change my child’s learning environment for the last 9 weeks.
Please note, any change requests made after March 12th must be approved by the Area Superintendent.
Important Information about Georgia Milestones Testing
This year, the district will continue to offer a variety of state and national assessments to help us understand how our students are performing.
The State of Georgia is moving forward with administering the Georgia Milestones to all students in grades 3-8 and high school students taking Algebra I, US History, Biology, and/or American Literature (grade 11).
This year, the Georgia Milestones End of Course tests will count for 0.01% of the final grade in a high school course. For students in grades 3 - 8 the Georgia Milestones will NOT be solely used for promotion or retention decisions. It will be used as one of several data points to help schools target individualized learning.
Based on these changes, we would like to understand which of our families' plans for spring testing. This information will help us prepare our test sessions and staffing.
The survey will be open until Friday, March 19. Our goal is for ALL FCS students to answer the survey, including those learning face-to-face and those learning remotely.
You will need to complete the survey once for each of your students at FCS.
Link: https://fultonschools.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6lBLLIAWcYZYBJs
Spring Testing Schedule:
8th Grade
Apr-30- Algebra I EOC
May 3-Sci/Phys. Sci
May 4- Social Studies
6th/7th/8th
May 6- Math Part 1
May 7- Math Part 2
May 11- ELA Part 1
May 12- ELA Part 2
May 13- ELA Part 3
Please reach our to our testing coordinator Carmen Hurst HurstC@fultonschools.org with any questions questions you may have regarding Milestones Testing.
Click on the link below for frequently asked Milestones questions and answers.
Information for Rising 7th and 8th Graders (current 6th and 7th graders)
Information for Rising 6th Graders (current 5th graders)
For Rising 9th graders planning to attend AHS next year ( current 8th graders)
AHS Scheduling Night 2021
Did you miss AHS scheduling night? Click on the link below to view Dr. Kersey and Alpharetta High School’s amazing teachers for the first ever virtual Scheduling Night! Video will include a message from Dr. Kersey followed by opportunities for you and your students to learn more about the courses Alpharetta High School offers. This informative content, created by AHS’s teachers, can help you and your students make informed decisions about what courses to take next year, with information specific to rising freshmen as well as upperclassmen! Please click on the event page on the AHS website!
International Festival
Please watch this short video for more information on the International Festival
7th grade students only
Attention 7th Grade students, you may now apply for Intro to Art for your 8th grade year. This course is a High School Credit course that is offered only to 8th Grade. There is an application with more information and details. Please feel fee to reach out to Mrs. Miller with questions.
March 17th- Celebrating the Webb Way!
Fulton Virtual School
Need Bus Information?
How can parents find a student bus stop?
Sign up for Here Comes the Bus and download the app to view the real-time location of your child’s school bus on your smartphone, tablet or computer. With it, you will have the information you need to send your child to the bus stop at just the right time, helping to protect them from inclement weather and other roadside dangers. What’s more, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your child has not missed the bus. From the Fulton County Schools homepage, click on I Want To – Find My Bus for more information. Or click on the link below.
https://ga50000114.schoolwires.net/Page/7389
Parents can also find their child’s bus stop information in the Campus Parent Portal – from the student dashboard:
- Click on More
- Click on the Transportation tab to see student stop information.
Label Your Chargers!
New Checkout Procedure
Need to Report an Absence?
Interested in Becoming a Substitute Teacher?
Kindergarten Roundup Information
MARCH READING MADNESS!
March Reading Madness begins!! With students’ input and book circulation stats, brackets were created with authors in three divisions: Middle Grades, Young Adult, and Graphic Novel/Manga categories. Step 1: Join the WBSM March Reading Madness Microsoft Team with code cagn3d1. Phase I: students may predict winners in each of the head-to-head contests through to championships in any or all of the divisions. The first bracket submitted will be the one used for judging, so students may want to wait until closer to submission deadline (3/21) for their final choices. Phase II: Join in Team channel conversations about authors and their books to learn what peers are reading (and for insights on bracket picks). Phase III: The games begin on March 22nd at 7 a.m.! Each day new Forms will be posted on the Team for that day’s competitions, to be completed by 8 p.m. Students may score 1 point in each contest for their favorite authors; authors with the most points advance to the next bracket. Prizes will be awarded to students who guess closest to author winners in each division for each grade level but we hope everyone who participates feels like a winner as they share and learn about new reading choices!
All WBMS students have access to both our print and digital books through curbside or in-school pickup of books reserved on Destiny or through the eLIbrary in ClassLink. Please click on the March Reading Madness and Women's History Sway for videos, information, and sample titles.
WBMS Media Center – at curbside!
Students may now check out books from the WBMS Media Center – at curbside! Locate and hold titles in Destiny Discover, then watch for an email from the Media Center that your books are ready. Pickup times are between 7:45 a.m. and 4 p.m. on school days outside the media center (traffic circle just past front office entrance). Dial 470-254-8755 and we will bring books to you outside. Books may be returned any time to the secure book drop just outside the media center. Please contact Ms. Brown at brownnt@fultonschools.org with any questions.
WBMS Jr. Beta- Next Meeting is on 3/25
March Act of Service is the Beta Week Bingo Board. Directions are in Teams.
Webb Bridge Jewish Club - Next Meeting 3/18
Our Next Meeting will be F2F on March 18 at 8:15 am in Ms. Sheftel's room #605.
AND Club Shirts have arrived! Pick up your shirt at the meeting!
Please check our Teams site for all things WBJC!
Daffodils are blooming in our Holocaust Memorial Garden! Over 1700 daffodils have been planted in the front of our school for The Daffodil Project. Make sure to walk by our garden as more flowers bloom everyday. For more information on The Daffodil Project visit https://www.daffodilproject.net/
The Jewish Club is proud to partner with the No Place For Hate Initiative.
All are welcome to celebrate and learn about Jewish culture, food, and traditions in a fun and safe space that encourages friendship and community leadership. To join or with questions, please contact Mrs. Seletsky at seletskyn@fultonschools.org
French Club
Reading Club
Anime Club
Anime Club is for students who enjoy Japanese animation, manga, and culture, as well as video games and other animation styles. Email Mrs. Meddin at meddinmj@fultonschools.org for more information.
Anime Club...please fill out the Form Questionnaire.
FCA
FCA will begin in October with the last Friday of the month, October 30th. We will do in person and virtual for those who are at home. Our leaders will be reaching out to the community to look for new members and new leaders to help them out. They have always done an excellent job! We will continue to add guest speakers as we are allowed to through county policy. This group is open to any one seeking fellowship and friendship!
WBMS Library STREAM Student Advisory Council
Our WBMS Library STREAM Student Advisory Council involves students interested in reading and creating assisting in development and support of programs for reading and makerspace activities. This semester’s plans include a 2021 reading challenge, simple home-based makerspace activities, programs to support reading, and input into book purchases. Students interested in participating in the WBMS Library STREAM Council are invited to apply through this link.
Math Club
Academic Team
Students interested in joining Academic Team for the 2020-2021 school year should fill out bit.ly/WBMSAcademicTeam and join the club page on Teams with the code 6izszaw. The code can be entered by clicking the upper right hand corner “Join Team” from the page that shows students all of their teams. Everyone is welcome to join. Questions can be e-mailed to Brooke Wood at woodb@fultonschools.org or Christian Bernhardt at bernhardtc1@fultonschools.org.
Guitar Club and Advance Chamber Orchestra
WBMS Guitar Club: Meets on Wednesdays from 4:15-4:50 pm. Open to anyone interested in the guitar.
WBMS Advanced Chamber Orchestra: Meets on Mondays from 4:15-5:00 pm. Open to all WBMS Orchestra students by audition.
Contact Barket@fultonschools.org for more information
Basketball Camp Announcement
The Alpharetta High School players and staff are hosting two youth camps this summer.
Who: Any boys 1st-8th grade
When:
Camp 1: June 7-11
Camp 2: July 21-24
Go to www.alpharettabasketball.com to register.
8th Grade Speech Competition
Calling all 8th graders at Webb Bridge! This month, AHS club Speakers and Leaders Unite is hosting their first ever school wide speech competition open to grades 8 through 12. The prompt is: 21 Century Past, Present, and Future. Visit our competition website at: https://21centuryspeech.weebly.com/ for more information about the competition and how you can participate! The due date to submit videos is March 24 at 11:59 pm, and sign ups are open now!
AHS Big Brother and Sisters Club
Join Zoom Meeting 3/18 @ 4:30pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89240545028?pwd=YzFDQWFzL1Y0Q2UyUkNIelZFV2JHZz09
Meeting ID: 892 4054 5028
Passcode: zM3Urw
AHS Big Brothers and Sister's Club Fundraiser
JR Raiders Cheer
AHS Cross Country
All WBMS Extramural School Sports are Cancelled for the Spring Semester
Announcing The Community Cupboard
Do you know a family in need at WBMS?
Please reach out to our counseling staff so we can find ways to help.
We are so happy to announce our new PTA and SGC initiative, the Community Cupboard. This will provide emergency necessities for families in our school experiencing hardship.
Please consider making a donation! Current needs can be found HERE. We also have an Amazon Wish List.
School Resources
Registration is open for Building Character Acting Classes! We have virtual and in-person classes starting soon! Check out our website www.buildingcharacter.org for times and locations, or email any questions to info@buildingcharcater.org
“It’s the most creative way to spend time after school.!”
Please Support Our Business Partners!!
(770) 751-1240
Fulton County Schools Resources:
• Universal Remote Learning Resources: https://www.fultonschools.org/universalremotelearning
• URL Parent Learning Support: https://www.fultonschools.org/parentlearningsupport
• FoodStop Distribution Points: https://www.fultonschools.org/foodstop
• Coronavirus Updates: https://www.fultonschools.org/coronavirus
• Community Resources: https://www.fultonschools.org/communityresources
• Code of Conduct: https://www.fultonschools.org/codeofconduct