H.L. Watkins Weekly Updates

Dear Howell L. Watkins Middle School Families,

With great excitement, I write this letter of introduction to you as the new Principal of H.L. Watkins Middle School. I am honored to have the opportunity to lead a school with such exceptional students, an extremely dedicated staff, and a supportive school community. I feel very fortunate to join the Seminole family and support the students and families.

I come to you with 17 years of experience as an educator. I spent time teaching Reading, Social Studies and Science. Most recently, I have served as the manager of Leadership Development for The Department of Professional Growth and I was an Assistant Principal at Boynton Beach High School. I am thrilled to bring my skills as an educational leader to H.L. Watkins Middle School and work with you as a partner in education to ensure your child's success.

I am excited to unite my experience, openness to learning, and student-centered approach to support our young scholars. Because the relationships between families and the school are vital to the success of our students, I encourage you to become involved in every way possible.

I look forward to meeting you soon!

Dr. Presley Charles

Principal

Algebra 1 students have just started the first of two units on statistics. We are looking at data representations using dot plots, histograms and box plots and are about to examine standard deviation and the empirical rule applied to normal distributions. Geometry students have just completed their unit about quadrilaterals and are beginning the first of two units on circles. We will examine circle characteristics and derive the equation of circles given a center and a radius as well as introducing radian measure, tangents, chords and secants.

Algebra 2 students are halfway through the unit which introduces exponential and logarithmic functions. We apply this work to real-life situations involving financial transactions such as loans and compound interest calculations.

The Algebra 1 students took part in the door decoration competition for Black History Month and produced some very creative work including themes based around superheroes. Attached is a photograph of three students who participated in the event and displayed their artistic talents - Chaerlsy Mesidor, Tammy Nguyen and Aliyah Boitnott.

Ian Bottom, Algebra 1 / Geometry / Algebra 2

The scholastic book fair carnival is March 7-11. Cash only. Come see all the amazing books and more you can buy! There will be prizes for each purchase made and games to play. If we meet our goal of $1,000 in sales, Mrs. Blankenship will take a pie in the face by the biggest spender!

Parent Tips for FSA

• Prioritize attendance and homework

• Communicate with teachers

• Talk to your child about the importance of the test and doing their best

• Offer positive reinforcement.

• Support healthy habits

• having a good breakfast

• good sleep

• arrive to school early

• Provide a space and time for your child to study

• Encourage your child to do his best and use the test taking strategies that were taught in class

• use time wisely

• eliminate wrong answers first and try to make educated guesses by using context clues and recognizing distractors

• If time allows, go back and check your work

• 6th graders should check where their testing group is with their teachers the week of the FSA

• 7th and 8th graders should check SIS for any changes made to their testing group the week of the FSA.

• 7th and 8th graders should charge their chromebooks overnight so they bring them to school fully charged and ready for testing.

The FSA Writing Assessment will be on April 7, 2022. If you are interested in your child attending our Writing Spring Break Camp please fill out the survey below:

https://forms.gle/vvN7TJ65gppjwGY28

Days: Monday, March 14, 2022 - Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Time: 9am-12pm (snacks and lunch will be provided)

*Bus transportation will not be provided.

We will only have limited quantitates, so reserve yours now to ensure your student will have one!

$30. https://palmbeach.schoolcashonline.com/

The School District of Palm Beach County has entered into an agreement with Paper Education Company, Inc. that will provide unlimited access to Paper’s online tutors who are available on-demand, 24/7 year-round to help students in grades 6-12, across 200+ subject areas. The tutoring services are offered in English, Spanish, French, and Mandarin.

"Providing students with the opportunity to access tutorial assistance anytime during the day will increase the opportunity for their academic success," said Dr. Glenda Sheffield, the District's Chief Academic Officer.

Thanks to support provided by federal ESSER II Grant funds, the service will be available at no cost to District students and families. The program is scheduled to roll out on January 4, 2022, with students having access through May 26, 2022.

“To help students gain the foundational knowledge they may be missing, the District wanted to find a service that students could access support 24/7,” said Diana Fedderman, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning. “The District recognizes that students need flexibility when they access this support, and Paper Education provides that flexibility.”

Students can use Paper to prepare for upcoming tests, get tips on how to grasp concepts, and even get help with elective subjects. When students are faced with an academic hurdle, the tutors will offer guidance and help them better understand where or why they’re stuck.

Students login through their Clever portal to access Live Help and type in their problem, draw it out on the whiteboard, or upload a file from any device. Paper also keeps teachers in the loop, with full visibility into each student's session.

Additionally, students will have access to Essay Review, which serves as an extra set of eyes when students need it. From assignments, to college application essays, to lab reports, students can upload any piece of written work along with their teacher’s instructions. The tutors then provide detailed annotations and thorough feedback on grammar, structure, and content. Each online educator is a Paper Education Company, Inc. employee who is trained in the Socratic teaching method and undergoes a criminal background check prior to employment. All student activity on the platform is recorded, tracked, and made readily available to teachers and administrators.

This equips teachers with transparent insights on how their students are learning outside the classroom and helps educators personalize their instruction. Paper will also provide the District with teacher and administrator user accounts.

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with the Palm Beach County School District in order to support every student’s learning journey,” said Philip Cutler, Paper Education’s founder and CEO. “Through this partnership, we hope to empower students to become better readers and writers, achieve college and career success, and pursue lifelong learning.”

• Additional information for parents and guardians.

• Parents and guardians can register for a free 45-minute info. session.

Founded in 2014, Paper is the world’s first Educational Support System (ESS) providing students with 24/7 live help and essay review, and teachers with real-time feedback and intervention tools. Paper partners with districts across North America to close the achievement gap and support educational equity.

The Seminole Buck Cart is out every Tuesday and Thursday! Here are a few reminders regarding Seminole Bucks:

1. Seminole bucks are given and signed by the teacher/staff member for students who are conducting themselves in the Seminole way.

2. Seminoles Bucks are valued at $1 per buck.

3. Student cash in their Seminole Bucks on Tuesday and Thursday to buy what they wants on the Seminole Cart.

*Stay tuned for a new systems for recognizing our students coming after Spring Break!

The School District of Palm Beach County Student Information System (SIS) Gateway for parents/guardians provides timely access to student information. Watch this video for information on SIS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGJEU9hSGrY#action=share

SIS will inform parents/guardians on student grades, schedule, discipline, and attendance.

http://www2.palmbeachschools.org/focuslanding/

https://www2.palmbeachschools.org/focuslanding/Docs/English/Registering-a-Student.pdf

We are starting off with a great season with boys and girls basketball and girls soccer.

We have boys basketball undefeated and beating Roosevelt Community Middle School last Thursday.

Our girls soccer team is remarkable and undefeated also .

We are super proud of our student athletes!! #Forwardstepsonly

Please join us Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 6pm in our Media Center for our monthly School Advisory Council meeting. More information is on our school website.

Mission
The mission of the School District of Palm Beach County is to educate, affirm, and inspire each student in an equity-embedded school system.

Vision
We envision...

The School District of Palm Beach County is an educational and working environment, where both students and staff are unimpeded by bias or discrimination. Individuals of all backgrounds and experiences are embraced, affirmed, and inspired. Each and every one will succeed and flourish.

The School District of Palm Beach County will take ownership for students’ academic mastery, emotional intelligence, and social-emotional needs by creating environments where students, families, staff, and communities will develop agency and voice.

A joy of learning is fostered in each student and a positive vision for their future is nurtured. Each student’s cultural heritage is valued and their physical, emotional, academic, and social needs are met.

WE SEE YOU.

Website: http://www.hlwatkinsmiddleschool.org/
Location: 9480 Macarthur Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, USA
Phone: 561-776-3600
Twitter: @WatkinsSeminol1