page background
page background

WMS Family Newsletter

February 4, 2024

WMS FamilyNewsletterFebruary 4, 2024

To translate this newsletter, please use the link to the right.


Para traduzir este boletim, clique nele e use o link à direita.

Para traducir este boletín, haga clic en él y luego use el enlace a la derecha.

لترجمة هذه الرسالة من المدرسة ، اضغط عليها ثم استخدم الرابط الموجود على اليمين.

Այս տեղեկագիրը թարգմանելու համար կտտացրեք այն, ապա օգտագործեք աջ կողմում գտնվող հղումը:

Чтобы перевести этот бюллетень, нажмите на него, затем воспользуйтесь ссылкой справа.

Bu bülteni çevirmek için üzerine tıklayın ve ardından sağdaki bağlantıyı kullanın.

Dear WMS Families,

This week, we have had an opportunity to slow down and reaffirm our values of safety and respect for everyone. Thank you to all of our staff, especially our mental health team, for helping us to hold space to process our feelings and have tough conversations. Speaking of our mental health team, we are hoping to see any and all caregivers for Caregiver University: Your Teen and Mental Health later this week!


Quick News:

  • WMS is presenting our annual Teaching and Learning showcase at the School Committee Meeting on Monday. Join us to hear about what we have been doing in our WIN blocks this year and the impact it is making on student learning!


  • Thank you for supporting your child as they took i-ready mid-year diagnostics. We are seeing some exciting growth across the school. We are finishing up testing, and teachers will be using the i-ready data to target instructruction in the coming weeks and months. Caregivers will receive the math and reading midyear diagnostics in March with the Trimester 2 report cards.


Upcoming Dates this week:

  • February 5: School Committee Meeting - WMS Teaching and Learning Showcase (7:00pm, VIEWING AVAILABLE ON CABLE TV (CHANNEL 99 – COMCAST,

    CHANNEL 13 –RCN) AND ONLINE AT https://wcatv.org/)

  • February 7: Chipotle Fundraiser for WMS PTO (4-8pm, 69 Bond St, Watertown, MA 02472; order code: T88YMVH)

  • February 8: Caregiver University: Your Teen and Mental Health in English, Spanish, and Portuguese (6:30-7:30pm)


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)

New News at WMS

Advisory Lesson - Positive Upstanders

We have been talking as a school community this week about how we keep each other safe. Here is the advisory lesson that all students discussed on Friday.


The important messages to take away for students is

  1. When something happens in my community and I am not sure if someone else is unsafe or needs extra support, tell a trusted adult

  2. Be a kind, empathetic, and respectful ally to all students and adults at WMS.


Principal Chen Fein is offering time during each student lunch on Monday to answer any questions students still have. Guidance counselors are always available for a check-in at any time for all students.

zoom_out_map

Chipotle Fundraiser for WMS PTO - February 7 (4-8pm)

Use the code T88YMVH or the flyer to the right to support our PTO!


33% of event sales get donated to the cause.

Caregiver University - MENTAL HEALTH AND YOUR TWEEN - February 8

All caregivers are invited to join us on zoom at 6:30pm on Thursday, February 8, 2024.


Learn more about mental health and your tween, so you can better support your student! Presented by WMS mental health and guidance staff.


We will be sharing this information in three separate zoom rooms in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.


Here is the link for the form for signing up for Mental Health and your Tween. See you on Thursday

Reminder of Student Cafeteria Expectations

This coming week, 7th grade students will have assigned seats at lunch. This is a logical consequence for one week, as students have not consistently been able to meet our cafeteria expectations. Parents and caregivers - please talk with your child about meeting these expectations:


  • Staying seated at their preferred table, except to use the restroom, throw away garbage, or get water

  • Not running

  • Using inside voices with peers at their table

  • Leaving the cafeteria with a pass

  • Having safe bodies and keeping our hands to ourselves in the lunch line


We are hopeful that this is a re-set and we are able to return to preferred seating on February 12th.

Opportunities for Parents/Caregivers To Get Involved

WMS Site Council - update from January 31 meeting

This past meeting, we heard updates from our Science and Math coordinators. Here is an overview of the information:


Join us for our next meeting on Wednesday, March 27. We will be hosting our ELA Coordinators.


The WMS Site Council is a body of students, faculty, parents, and caregivers that plays a strong role in the vision and direction of our school. Site Council meets on the following Wednesdays from 4-5pm in person (WMS art room, A128)/virtually (zoom). Join us for any of our following meetings:

  • March 27 - guest: ELA Coordinators
  • May 1 - drafting the WMS School Improvement Plan 2024-25
  • May 29 - finalizing and voting on the WMS School Improvement Plan 2024-25


Do you have a question for the WMS Site Council, but can't make it to our meetings? Submit this form to ask, and we will share a summary in this newsletter and/or follow up with you.


Reach out to Principal Chen Fein at jennifer.chenfein@watertown.k12.ma.us with any questions or to express interest in joining next year.

Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) - February 13

We had a blast at the 90's Party in January - see pictures below.


Order from Chipotle on Wednesday to support WMS PTO!


Please join us for our next meeting, February 13 (virtual) at 6:30pm. Upcoming meeting date for the year include: February 13 (virtual), March 12 (virtual), April 9 (in person - WMS Art Room/virtual), May 14 (virtual), June 11 (virtual).


Are you interested in being on the WMS PTO? Reach out to our new co-PTO Presidents Elena Poillucci <elenapoillucci@gmail.com> and Melissa Parker <melissapisces@yahoo.com> with any questions or to express interest in joining next year.

Diversity Council - February 26

The WMS Diversity & Belonging Council is a forum for caregivers and other community members to work toward more equitable practices at the middle school by encouraging accountability, raising awareness, and fostering community engagement.


We will usually meet the third Monday of each month, with our next meeting on February 26 virtually


You can reach out to Sarah Seldomridge at sarah.seldomridge@watertown.k12.ma.us with any questions. Thank you!

Friends of Watertown Music - registration is open through March 5

Friends of Watertown Music invites you to attend our 11th Annual MusicFest, on Friday, March 15, 2024, from 5:30 to 9:00 pm, at the Watertown Middle School.

MusicFest is a fun community event, offering something for everyone with over 40 performances, across 3 stages. The variety of performers often includes student musicians, Watertown Public School teachers, local rock bands, established musicians, a vignette of musical theater, and more. Performances run from 5 to 20 minutes, so attendees have the chance to go around and see as many acts as they wish.

Calling all musicians: registration is open through March 5th!

MusicFest will also feature an ‘instrument petting zoo’ to inspire budding musicians, and for anyone wanting a snack, pizza and refreshments will be sold throughout the evening.

The community is invited to attend all or part of the evening.

All proceeds from this MusicFest fundraiser help the Friends of Watertown Music support the music programs in the Watertown Public Schools. Suggested donations of $8/person or $25/family will be accepted at the door.

Previously Shared News at WMS

Dec/Jan News from WMS Teachers

All Clusters emailed their monthly update directly to caregivers, as well as having the information available here. We hope these updates help you engage in conversation with your child about what they are learning.


Please see our monthly update from WMS teachers:

Cluster 1

Cluster 2

Cluster 3

Cluster 4

Cluster 5

Cluster 6


Specialists

World Language

Reading

Library & Literacy

Wilson Reading

LB Math

Orchestra

Band


Nurse Lisa

Reminder of Promotion Requirements for WMS

As we are just over half way through the school year, we would like to remind students and families of our promotion requirements. More information can be found in our WMS Family Handbook. Here is an excerpt from the handbook:


Promotion Requirements

It is our high expectation that all students will pass and thrive in all of their classes. In order to be promoted to the next grade, students must receive a passing grade in their math and ELA classes.


Students who do not pass both ELA and/or math are expected to attend summer school

programming and pass the required coursework. Students who do not attend or pass summer

school programming will be scheduled for intervention work during WIN the following school

year or may be retained in the same grade for the next school year.


We are only halfway through the school year, with plenty of time for students to work towards their goals. Students can always reach out to their teachers for extra support, with Flex Friday as an option for students to request time to relearn a topic or re-take an assessment. We also have the Learning Lab open free of charge in the WMS library Monday-Friday 2:15-3:45pm, for any students to stay and complete homework/practice and receive additional support from WMS educators.

After School Information

Learning Lab is a place where students can get support in completing practice or homework. Students can attend for free, Monday-Friday, 2:15-3:45pm in the WMS Library.


WMS Winter Clubs run through March 14, 2024.


Students pay $50 one time to participate in any sports or clubs all year; please reach out to the guidance counselor to inquire about a scholarship. Students may participate in any enrichment activities for free (Learning Lab, Student Leadership, GSA, and Yearbook).


The late bus runs Monday-Friday at 3:45pm.

News from Watertown Rec

We are excited to begin our Winter II session on Mon Jan 29th, 2024!


We have programs that are in need of numbers, and we would love it if you would consider registering for these programs! Such programs include:


Youth & Middle School Programs

  • Creative Crafts Lowell School Grades 3-5
  • Creative Crafts Cunniff Grades 3-5
  • Creative Crafts Sat. Cunniff Grades 3-5
  • All Sports Lowell School Grades 3-5
  • Youth Wrestling Grades 5-8
  • Floor Hockey Grades K-1
  • Floor Hockey Grades 2-3
  • CSI Investigation Grades 2-4
  • Cyber Crawler Robot Grades 4-6
  • Solar Bot.14 Grades 5-7

High School Programs

  • High School Volleyball Grades 9-12

Adult Programs

  • Women’s Basketball Open Gym Ages 18+


Attached is the Winter II Program Offerings Brochure which will tell you all the information about these programs! If interested, please do not hesitate to register as all recreation programs are on a first come first serve basis. Do not hesitate to share with your friends as well! We hope to see you in our future programing!


Regards,

Hunter Weissman

Recreation Supervisor

hweissman@watertown-ma.gov


(617)972-6494 - 12154

Upcoming Dates

  • February 5: School Committee Meeting - WMS Teaching and Learning Showcase (7:00pm)
  • February 7: Chipotle Fundraiser for WMS PTO (4-8pm, 69 Bond St, Watertown, MA 02472; order code: T88YMVH)

  • February 8: Caregiver University: Your Teen and Mental Health (6:30-7:30pm)

  • February 13: WMS PTO (6:30pm, virtual)
  • February 19-23: No School - February Recess
  • February 26: WMS Diversity and Belonging Council (6:00pm, virtual)
  • February 28: Early Release (11:45am dismissal with grab-n-go lunch)
  • March 12: WMS PTO (6:30pm, virtual)
  • March 13: Trimester 2 Ends
  • March 14: Trimester 3 Begins
  • March 14: Early Release (11:45am dismissal with grab-n-go lunch)
  • March 14: Caregiver Conferences (1-3pm virtual, 5-7pm in person)
  • March 15: MusicFest at WMS (5-9pm)
  • March 18: WMS Diversity and Belonging Council (6:00pm, virtual)
  • March 19: Caregiver Conferences (1-3pm in person, 5-7pm virtual)
  • March 21: Trimester 2 Report Cards mailed home
  • March 27: String Spectacular 2024 (3-5pm, WMS)
  • March 27: WMS Site Council (4-5pm, WMS art room/zoom)
  • March 29: Early Release Day (11:45am dismissal with grab-n-go lunch)
  • April 9: WMS PTO (6:30pm, in person - WMS Art Room/virtual)
  • April 10: Early Release (11:45am dismissal with grab-n-go lunch)
  • April 11: Caregiver University - WMS Math Night for 5-8th grade caregivers (6:30-7:30, virtual)
  • April 15-19: No School - April Recess


Community Resources


Community Resources for Food



Source: Watertown News, December 11, 2023

Watertown Middle School Contacts


Watertown Middle School Full Staff Directory
zoom_out_map

Watertown Middle School

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


Find us on...

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

Jennifer Chen Fein
Jennifer is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters