WMS Family Smore
September 10, 2023
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,
We have been having a blast with kids in our first week of school. As I observe classrooms and spend time with students during lunch, I have heard from many students that this first week is going well, and they love their teachers so far! We are settling into our new schedule, and students are already well on their way to understanding the schedule and getting to the right class in time to learn.
We are still receiving requests to switch classes or teachers. We want to remind caregivers and students that schedules are final at this point, and we are not able to facilitate additional schedule changes. Middle school is a really great time to meet new friends, and sometimes that can feel scary in the first few days of school. We encourage students to keep putting themselves out there, and to talk to their advisor or guidance counselor if they need help getting connected to classmates.
It has been a hot one this week! While some of our classrooms at WMS are air conditioned, many are not. We are doing our best with fans, and hopefully next week will be cooler. In the meantime, we suggest sending your child to school with a water bottle so they can stay hydrated. Putting the water bottle in the freezer overnight will also help them have something cool with them all day.
Sometimes information is shared on social media that may or may not be true. If caregivers or students have feedback about our school, please reach out to any of the people listed at the bottom of this newsletter. We do not monitor social media websites, nor is that a helpful way to give feedback or receive accurate information about our school. Thank you for your proactive communication, as we do our best to ensure students have a well rounded middle school experience.
So far, the first week with our high school friends being our neighbors has been going smoother than expected. Please know that WMS and WHS administrators are in constant communication to support our students in staying in their own spaces so that we are minimizing the interactions that 6-8th graders have with 9-12th graders or any contractors who are working in the building (who have all been CORIed). If families hear of any concerns, please reach out to WMS admin so we can address it immediately.
Thank you for filling out our many beginning-of-year forms. If your child is missing some forms, they can stop by the main office to pick up another copy. In addition, here are links to our district's updated financial assistance waiver forms, which are replacing the previous "free and reduced" lunch forms. We will have copies of these forms in the main office, and all guidance counselors are able to help students and families as well.
Financial Assistance FY24 Option 1
Financial Assistance FY24 Option 2
Believe it or not, WMS picture day is coming soon, on September 20th. We will be sharing information next week for ordering pictures.
Please see the this Middle School Fall Athletics smore with information about sports starting up this week.
Families can report student absences on this google form, which will also always be a button at the bottom of this smore. If there is documentation such as a doctor/dentist note, you should add that note to the form or bring it into the main office so we can excuse the absence.
Please see this message from our nurse Lisa Gallagher: WMS Nurse S’more - August 28
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)
News at WMS
SEPAC news
ELPAC Event - Welcome for Multilingual Families!
The Watertown English Learner (EL) Parent Advisory Councils (ELPAC) is hosting the following event:
Welcome to the 23-24 School Year!
Meet Multilingual Families!
Saturday, September 9th
9-11 am
Arsenal Park in Watertown
🎉 Meet other people who speak your language!
🎉 Find out more about Watertown!
We will be at tables 9,10,11, and 18 near the playground.
We will provide snacks and drinks.
Here are the flyers for the Welcome event in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
If you have questions please contact Kate Phillipson at kathryn.phillipson@watertown.k12.ma.us
Wayside Wellness - Opportunity for 8th grade students
Dear 8th Grade Families,
For those interested, WMS is offering a program for our 8th-grade students called “Wayside Wellness”. This program will be run by Wayside Counselors with the support of School Counselors and School Mental Health Clinicians. “Wayside Wellness” is focused on helping students make positive choices as they navigate adolescence. Specific topics will include self-identity, self-esteem, substance use, and managing stress and peer pressure.
Please look at the attached permission form if interested.
Please email Amanda Skypeck, 8th Grade Guidance Counselor, a signed permission form or fill out the Wayside Wellness Google Permission form by Monday, September 25th if you would like your student to participate in this group.
Opportunities for Parents/Caregivers To Get Involved
WMS Site Council
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. For example, the WMS School Improvement Plan 2023-2024 was written in collaboration with the Site Council, teacher, and district leaders last year, and will be informing our work as a staff and school this year. We are looking for caregivers, especially those who can be with us for two or more years, to join!
This year, the WMS Site Council will be meeting on the following Wednesdays from 4-5pm, virtually, unless otherwise listed.
- September 27 (in person at WMS with zoom link for those joining virtually)
- October 25
- November 29
- January 3
- January 31
- March 27
- May 1
- May 29 (in person at WMS)
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
Thank you PTO for helping us start the year off strong with popsicles for students and breakfast for our staff.
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
You can also reach out to Sarah Seldomridge at sarah.seldomridge@watertown.k12.ma.us with any questions. Thank you!
Upcoming Dates
- September 20: School Picture Day
- September 21: WMS Open House (6-8pm)
- September 27: Early Release Day (11:45 dismissal, students will see all classes for shorter periods)
- October 1: monthly update from teachers in WMS Smore
- October 2-5: i-ready diagnostic tests for math, reading (Special Schedule)
- October 9: No School - Indigenous Peoples' Day/Columbus Day
- October 18: Trimester 1 Progress Reports sent to families
- October 19: Early Release Day (11:45 dismissal, students will see all classes for shorter periods), Teacher-Caregiver Conferences
- October 24: Early Release Day (11:45 dismissal, students will see all classes for shorter periods), Teacher-Caregiver Conferences
- October 30: monthly update from teachers in WMS Smore
- WMS Bell Schedule and Trimester Dates 2023-2024
How is our communication being received?
Watertown Middle School
Website: https://wms.watertown.k12.ma.us/
Location: 68 Waverley Avenue, Watertown, MA, USA
Phone: 617-926-7783
