WMS Family Smore

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It is that time of year where we there are many opportunities for celebration and connection. Here are some ways we are celebrating, and how you can connect this week:

• Our building was excited to host MusicFest, back for the first time in 3 years, this past weekend.

• Susan Carle (AP) and Tom Cloherty (Guidance Counselor) joined me in visits to every 5th grade student last week, and we are looking forward to meeting many 5th grade caregivers this coming week as we prepare to welcome our newest school community members in just a few short months - see the photo above.

• It is teacher appreciation week this week. You can help show appreciation to our hardworking and dedicated educators by encouraging your child to write a note or two of gratitude to a teacher. The PTO is going to surprise our teachers with a few treats this week, so reach out to our PTO President at Erin Macomber <erin_macomber@neds.org> if you want to help out.

• I hope to see many of you at the upcoming coffee with the principal this Thursday (8:35-9:25am, WMS Cafeteria). We will focus on school safety, with an opportunity to meet our school resource officer, Officer Anna Margaryan.

• DESE Parent/Caregiver Focus Groups: There is a DESE comprehensive audit of WPS taking place in our district during the week ahead. For additional details and if you would like to participate in a parent/caregiver focus group, please read Dr. Galdston's newsletter that was sent out on April 27 - DESE Parent/Caregiver Focus Groups

• We are planning to have a school dance on May 5th from 6-8pm! Right now, we are looking for any caregivers that are interested in contributing to the event (chaperoning, setting-up, donating, decoration). You must be CORI'ed in order to attend the event. We are happy to help with that process! Please contact Assistant Principal Susan Carle (susan.carle@watertown.k12.ma.us) to express interest.

Here are dates to be aware of this week:

• April 6-May 2: Watertown Public Schools Art Show

• May 2: WMS School Site Council Meeting (4:00pm, at WMS room AG18/hybrid)

• May 3: Washington DC Trip Final Caregiver Meeting - 8th Grade (7:00pm, virtual)

• May 4: Coffee with the Principal - School Safety Q&A (8:35-9:25am, WMS Cafeteria)
  

• May 4: Caregiver Info Night - for the 5-6th grade transition (7:00pm, virtual)

• May 5: School Dance (6-8pm for students, 5:30-8:30pm for chaperones)

Respectfully yours,

Ms. Jennifer Chen Fein, Principal

Ms. Susan Carle, Assistant Principal (Clusters 1, 3, 5)

Ms. Jennifer Sarmiento, Assistant Principal (Clusters 2, 4, 6)

Please see the following update from Maddox Caron, our 8th grade Project 351 representative:

After sorting through all of the clothing, 36 bags were sent toward Cradles to Crayons! 15 bags of items that didn't fit their guidelines has been donated to a secondary nonprofit organization called Planet Aid! The team deeply appreciates all who donated and are very grateful to have used WMS as a host site. The amount of clothing our community gathered is astounding and according to calculations, 19,017 kids were helped in all. THANK YOU!!!

Click on the links below to find updates from your child's teachers. These cluster/class smores are a helpful tool to know what your child is learning. These s'mores will be updated monthly in the WMS Family Smore.

Cluster 1

Cluster 2

Cluster 3

Cluster 4

Cluster 5

Cluster 6

The Specialists

Reading

Connections

LB Math

ELD/Phonics

Wilson Reading

School Nurse

The WMS SSC meets once a month on the first Tuesdays at 7:00pm, virtually.

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023, with an updated time of 4:00pm and updated location in person/hybrid at WMS. We will be drafting the 2023-2024 School Improvement Plan. Here is the agenda.

The PTO meets virtually on the second Wednesday of each month, and the next meeting is on Wednesday May 10th at 7pm. Reach out to the PTO President Erin Macomber at erin_macomber@neds.org with any questions or to express interest.

The WMS Diversity Council meets once a month in the evenings, and more regularly after school so students can be included.

Our next meeting will be on Thursday, May 18 virtually, at 7:30pm. We will be focusing on planning and hosting an in-person event that celebrates the diversity of our school, as well as actionable steps outlined in the district equity audit taken last school year. Any and all are welcome to join.

Reach out to Sarah Seldomridge at sarah.seldomridge@watertown.k12.ma.us with any questions or to express interest.

Our school is proud to celebrate our diverse community with our first annual WMS Diversity Night!

This special evening will be a showcase of the many different cultures, traditions, identities, and backgrounds that make our school such a unique and wonderful place. We believe that diversity is a strength, and that everyone has something valuable to contribute to our shared human experience. Clubs, student groups, families, and individuals are all encouraged to sign up to host a table. Please use this form to sign up.

Dates for upcoming WMS Diversity Council meetings:

4/27 (7:30pm virtual)

5/18

6/8

Friends of Watertown Recreation,

Our Department of Recreation Spring Programs begin on Monday, May 1.

Brochure is now available for your preview.

If interested, please register for you program of choice today.

Please select the link below to access the specific information.

Watertown Recreation Spring Brochure - 2023

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The Pequossette Summer Program Documentation and Registration Packet is included.

Pequossette Summer Recreation Program Packet

Please follow the directions in this packet and register online.

In addition, these forms must be filled out and returned to the following address: recreation@watertown-ma.gov. The forms are fillable.

A current physical is also required with immunization records.

Website: www.recreation.watertown-ma.gov

Facebook: watertownrecreationdepartment

Instagram: watertownrecreation

Twitter: watertownrec

Please join us on Thursday, May 11th for a performance of Listen to Sipu (https://newrep.org/productions/listen-to-sipu/)

Details below and on the attached flyer!

When: Thursday, May 11th, 6:30 PM-8 PM

Where: Watertown Middle School

Cost: FREE with a light dinner provided at 5:15 PM

Thank you caregivers for remembering that students are welcome to come to WMS starting at 7:45am through the Waverly main entrance. Due to increases in safety protocols, we are not able to open doors earlier than that moving forward. In addition, parents that are dropping students off in a car need to drop students off on the Bemis entrance from 8:15-8:30am, rather than the Waverly entrance. This helps keep traffic flowing smoothly for Watertown.

Is your child looking for ways to get extra help with school? The Learning Lab is available in the WMS library M-F from 7:45-8:15am and M-Th from 3:00-4:15pm. Late buses run M-Th.

In the event that a student is absent, a parent or caregiver must call the absence hotline at 617-926-7783 before 8:30 a.m. Please state the name, grade, homeroom of the student and the reason for their absence. In the event that the absence is not reported, a Robocall will automatically go out to the student’s home or the place of employment of the parent or caregiver to inform them that the student is absent. Students are responsible for working with their teachers to make up work they missed while absent.

Check out page 26 of the WMS Family Handbook to see all of our attendance procedures in more detail.

It's that time of year where you get to order a yearbook! This is an opportunity open to ALL grades. The deadline to purchase your yearbook is MAY 12TH. Students who would like a yearbook must order one online by that deadline; we can not order additional yearbooks after. Yearbooks cost $23, and can be purchased here: YEARBOOK ORDER ONLINE

• May 2: WMS School Site Council Meeting (4:00pm, at WMS room AG18/hybrid)

• May 3: Washington DC Trip Final Caregiver Meeting - 8th Grade (7:00pm, virtual)

• May 4: Coffee with the Principal - School Safety Q&A (8:35-9:25am, WMS Cafeteria)
  

• May 4: Caregiver Info Night - for the 5-6th grade transition (7:00pm, virtual)

• May 5: School Dance (6-8pm for students, 5:30-8:30pm for chaperones)
  

• May 10: PTO Meeting (7:00 PM virtual)
  

• May 12: Quarter 4 Progress Reports reminder emailed home
  

• May 12: Deadline to order a WMS Yearbook

• May 15: Math MCAS, special schedule
  

• May 16: Math MCAS, special schedule

• May 17: Early Release PD Day, 12:30pm dismissal with grab n go lunch (Day B1, will see every class for a shortened period of time), "Third Wednesday" PLCs/ MESSS Dept Meetings (3:15-4:35pm)

• May 18: Diversity Council Meeting (7:30pm zoom meeting)

• May 23: STE MCAS (8th grade only), final reading i-ready diagnostic (6th and 7th grade), special schedule
• May 24: STE MCAS (8th grade only), final math i-ready diagnostic (6th and 7th grade), special schedule
• May 29: Memorial Day - No School
  

• June 1: Diversity Night hosted by the WMS Diversity Council (5:00-7:00pm, WMS Cafeteria)

• June 5-9: 8th grade Washington DC Trip/Watertown Week

• June 6: WMS School Site Council (7:00pm, virtual)

• June 12: 6th grade Canobie Lake Park Field Trip

• June 14: PTO Meeting (7:00 PM virtual)
  

• June 15: 8th grade semi

• June 16: Last day of school

• June 16: 8th Grade Awards Ceremony/Graduation

• June 23: Quarter 4 Report Cards mailed home to families

• Watertown Public Schools Calendar 2022-2023

Let us know how we are doing with our communication from WMS here.

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Website: https://wms.watertown.k12.ma.us/
Location: 68 Waverley Avenue, Watertown, MA, USA
Phone: 617-926-7783