WRMS Weekly Update

Dr. Gonzalez made the official announcement at December's Board of Education Meeting that we will open as a true, 6-8, Middle School in September of 2020! We are thrilled! Please join us for one of our remaining presentations regarding the improved future Middle School experience for our students:

• January 29th, Hurley Theater, Jr./Sr. HS, 9:00 - 10:00 AM
  
• January 29th, WRMS Cafeteria, 6:30-7:30 PM

Here is the presentation if you are unable to join us or would like to view it in advance. Please feel free to reach out!

The attached advisory is being shared on behalf of our partners in law enforcement regarding an incident in Hillsdale, NJ.

With the beginning of the 3rd marking period, students will have access to their own Genesis accounts. We know many students have access to their parent's account, but now their username and password will be their own, allowing parents to maintain a confidential password of their own. We hope that their access will encourage continued growth in academic responsibility, independence, and accountability.

I thought I would let everyone know that as we start a new year, illness doesn’t seem to discriminate.

WRMS is experiencing a little bit of everything with no major outbreaks at the present time. I have documented a few cases of the Flu, so please follow our School Health Guidelines located in the Medical Handbook as well as directives below from the Center for Disease Control.

Our custodial staff has increased their cleaning in the classrooms, lockers, public areas, and even door handles.

Working together to prevent illness is the best preventative medicine for our school, homes, and community.

Warm Regards,

Mrs.Penn

The CDC recommends a 3 step approach:

1. Get a Flu Vaccine - it is not too late!
2. Stop the spread: wash hands often, avoid touching eyes, nose/mouth, clean frequently touched items, cover coughs and sneezes
3. Take antiviral medications if prescribed by your doctor

*** STUDENTS SHOULD STAY HOME UNTIL FEVER FREE FOR A FULL 24-HOURS, WITHOUT MEDICATION, AND ARE ABLE TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

On another note - please also submit any updated physicals to the nurse's office. If we have documentation that the doctor has already conducted the mandatory screenings, this will prevent us from pulling students from class to repeat them. Thank you!

Seventh grade health, with the support of our guidance department, is covering the difficult topic of teen sexting and its dangers. To help parents in continuing this important conversation at home, please see this article from the Cyberbullying Research Center, Teen Sexting: A Brief Guide for Educators and Parents.

Westwood Regional School District has partnered with the national nonprofit, YouthTruth, to help us hear feedback from our parents, staff, and students about what we are doing well, and how we can improve.

From January 21 to January 31, 2020, the YouthTruth Family survey will be open and we want to hear from you! Once the survey is open, we will send out an email with the link to the survey and any additional details. The survey takes about 15 minutes and your anonymous response will be combined with responses from other parents/guardians throughout the district.

Thank you in advance for your feedback!

The next Special Education Parent Advisory Council meeting will be held on January 23, 2020, at 6:30 PM in the conference room within the Department of Special Services. All parents are encouraged to attend! Ariana Wiecenski, District Occupational Therapist, will be supported by Jessica Gluck, Assistant Director of Special Services, and Ray Renshaw, Director of Special Services as she addresses the topic of self regulation. Furthermore, strategies and resources regarding the Zones of Regulation will be shared during the meeting.

PSO Middle School Sports Program - Winter Session

Reminder: Middle school sports and NEW tumbling start this week!

• Tuesdays - Multi-Sports with Ms. Lizzi 3-4pm
• Tuesdays - Tumbling with Mrs. Sans 3-4 pm
• Thursdays - Multi-Sports with Ms. Cascio 3-4pm

Classes start January 14th - 8 weeks, $55 Click here to register

WRMS Campgaw Mountain Snow Tubing
Monday, February 3, 2020
6:00pm - 8:00pm (Please arrive by 5:45)
200 Campgaw Road
Mahwah, NJ

All 6th and 7th grade students along with their families are invited to attend our annual winter snow tubing event! The cost is $20 per participant and includes hot chocolate. Parental supervision and own transportation is required.

Pizza will be available for $2 per slice. The Campgaw Concession will be open as well.

A Campgaw Mountain Waiver MUST be printed and completed for each student to participate. Please send in to school with your child to turn in to their homeroom teacher labeled Campgaw Snow tubing OR mail to WRMS PSO, 23 Third Avenue, Westwood, NJ 07675 Attn: Campgaw Snow Tubing.

Link to Waiver

Registration and Payment can be made through Membership Toolkit Signups (Campgaw Tubing) or send in cash or check made out to WRMS PSO along with your waiver.

Option to Register in the Membership Toolkit and send payment offline is available through the website and app.

Link to Registration & Payment

DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION AND RECEIPT OF WAIVERS IS THURSDAY, JANUARY 23rd

Please direct any questions to Jennifer Hivry at jenniferhivry@gmail.com.

Thank You!

Box Tops!

Download the new Box Tops app and keep earning for our school! Box Tops is in the process of going digital. While you will be able to clip and send them in the traditional way while products remain on store shelves, earning 10 cents for the school with each Box Top you send in (and these really add up!), we will be shifting toward individual online submission and an all-school goal. Please download the app at the Apple App Store or on Google Play to participate. Anytime you purchase items featuring the new Box Tops label, you’ll simply need to scan your receipt and all such items will be recorded—with just one scan. Scanning these receipts also gets us entered in contests that win bonus Box Tops for our school!

Keep on clipping and start scanning! Next competition round ends in February!!

Please visit our website for information regarding the WRMS PSO. The PSO is seeking volunteers for our upcoming events. If you are interested, please email them at middleschoolpso@wwrsd.org.

Yearbooks are on sale early this year! Yearbooks are $25. To purchase, log on to the secure website YearbookOrderCenter.com.

• The order number is: 4511
• Confirm that you have selected Westwood Regional Middle School.
• Choose "Buy a Yearbook, Yearbook Packages" on the left side of the screen.
• After you put a yearbook in the cart it will ask you to "find a student". Enter your child's name and hit the search box. Once it comes up that the name can't be found click on "add your student". This will generate a list of who ordered a yearbook for distribution time.

Email Mrs. Zalarick with any questions at tracey.zalarick@wwrsd.org

Sales close May 9, 2020

Members of Girl Scout Troop 5279, are raising donations for an animal rescue, Peace 4 Paws. A donation box will be in the lobby through the end of February. Please see their flyer for more information.

This season, Hockey Fights Cancer will benefit the American Cancer Society patient services programs including those that provide free rides to treatment and places to stay near hospitals. Please consider donating! When you go to donate, click on a player's name that you want to donate the money under. The fundraiser will be open until Thursday, January 30th. Together, our hockey family looks to inspire hope and courage for those who are living with, going through, and moving past cancer. Please see their flyer for more information.

Please click here to access an online library of electronic flyers for our community partners.

Please mark your calendars for important upcoming events...

• 1/20 - No School, Staff Professional Day
  
• 1/23 - SEPAC Meeting, 6:30 PM, Special Services Conference Room
• 1/28 - Internet Safety for Parents, 7:00 PM, Jr./Sr. High School
• 1/29 - Middle School Transition Presentation, 9:00 AM, Jr./Sr. HS, Hurley Theater
• 1/29 - Middle School Transition Presentation, 6:30 PM, WRMS, Cafeteria
• 1/31 - End of Marking Period 2
• 2/3 - Campgaw Tubing
• 2/4 - Dating Abuse & Healthy Relationships Parent Program, 7:00 PM. Jr./Sr. High School
• 2/5 - Global School Play Day - More information to come!
• 2/6-22 - WWRSD has HeART, Westwood Gallery
• 2/7 - Quarter 2 Grades Available in Genesis
• 2/10 - PSO Meeting, 7:30 PM
• 2/17 - No School
• 2/27 - Board of Education Meeting, 7:30 PM, Jr./Sr. HS

Tuesday is an "A" day!

Email: shelley.laforgia@wwrsd.org
Website: http://www.wwrsd.org/westwoodrms
Location: 23 3rd Ave, Westwood, NJ, United States
Phone: 201-664-5560