Did you know that November is National Gratitude Month? I try to identify ways I am grateful every day, but I love the idea of there being a whole MONTH to focus on it.

It is so easy to focus on the things that aren't going right, complain about what a person did/didn't do, identify the things that we don't have and should have, or think about the wrongs of the world.

A few months ago, I learned about glimmers from friend of mine. You may know about them as well. "A glimmer is the opposite of a trigger- a micro moment of happiness, a little piece of awe, something that makes you feel hope. Once you start looking for them, life becomes so much brighter." Can you challenge yourself and family to find the glimmers? To not take the easy path of focusing on the negative, but focusing on the gratitude of the glimmers in our lives. There are so many!

Have a wonderful holiday break!

With gratitude,

Katy Kennedy

Principal

Washington Middle School

Oh my goodness, Trivia Night is going to be AMAZING! Be there on Thursday, November 30th from 5:00-8:00 for an event full of fun, facts and friends! We are hanging out at the Cottonwood Country Club.

ALL are welcome to come and enjoy delicious chili, cinnamon rolls, Fritos, and water from 5:00-5:45. Then, it is game on. From 6:00-8:00, its' entertainment time! 5th-grade-8th-grade students in teams of three will test their knowledge on trivia of various topics. Trivia Teams can pre-register with Mrs. Grattarola (Wilcox) for $25, or at the door for $30. There will be BIG prizes for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams.

All profits from this evening of fun, facts, and friends will help support the purchase of WMS student-athlete uniforms, which haven't been replaced since I was born. Ok, maybe NOT that long, but it is close.

Wednesday, November 22 is an Early Out Schedule. Dismissal is at 1:45.

Thursday, November 23-24 we have no school. Our staff is enjoying time with their families and friends during the holiday break!

Students are allowed to bring their cell phones to school. However, there are expectations that comes with this privilege. As stated in our student handbook,

Students are allowed to use their cell phones ONLY when:

• During transition periods while at their lockers.

• A staff member has given permission to use cell phones for academic purposes in class at a specified time.

If a student chooses to use their cell phone in ways that do not follow the expectations, a parent/guardian will be notified to pick up the student’s cell phone from the WMS Main Office, and the student will not be allowed the privilege of bringing his/her cell phone to school.

Please encourage your student to have and use a lock on their lockers.

I am not sure if you have noticed middle schoolers' aversion to wearing clothing that keeps warm. I know! It is shocking! In fact, it makes me colder to see middle schoolers choose to wear a hoodie, shoes with holes and socks, and warm up pants in the winter. Maybe I am just a stickler.

Regardless of their clothing choices, middle school students are expected to go outside for recess. The GPS procedure is for students to be outside before school and during recess unless it is below 0 degrees (real feel). Please encourage your student to dress for the weather because, most likely, they will be outside!

Email: wms@glendiveschools.org
Website: https://www.glendiveschools.com/o/wms
Location: 505 North Meade Avenue, Glendive, MT, USA
Phone: 406.3772356
Facebook: facebook.com/wmsglendive