Please check out Mr. Benzie's latest blog:

http://wmswindows.blogspot.com/2015_11_01_archive.html

If you'd like to be notified by email whenever Ms. Gavron or Mr. Benzie add a new blog post, please submit your email address in the "Follow by Email" box.

If a student has a B+ on a progress report, what does that really tell you about what she has learned? You probably infer that she is not at the top of the class, but that she is doing pretty well.  You know that she can do some math, but which concepts are solid, and even more importantly, which concepts need further practice?   The B+ average could tell several different stories, but does not clarify how the student is performing in relation to the learning goals. This distinction is the fundamental objective of standards based assessment.   

Join Ms. Gavron and the math department curriculum leaders on November 12, from 8:45 - 9:45, as they explain Standards Based Assessment, the pilot the math department is implementing this year. We will discuss the rationale and answer your questions about this assessment practice. We look forward to having you join the discussion.

Dear Parents and Guardians: 

Our Gift Card Calendar fundraiser is coming soon! This annual fundraiser provides money that is essential for offering much needed scholarship relief to families so that all students can participate in our grade-wide trips to places such as Washington D.C., Cape Cod, New York caves, etc.  These school trips are important learning opportunities that enhance our curriculum in rich, meaningful ways and provide educational experiences that cannot be replicated in the classroom.

Your child will bring home gift card calendars and much more information very soon. But meanwhile, we must get busy organizing and preparing for the work ahead and we can't run this fundraiser without lots of help! Our students distribute Gift Card Calendars for a suggested donation of $10 each and then return the remittance slips with the money collected to their teachers.  Daily, we need parent volunteers to count the money and slips from each homeroom. We try to get four to six volunteers for each day and it usually takes (depending on volume) between 60 to 90 minutes to count and tally everything. 

It's fun to hang out at school with other parents and count money!  And...you'll work a bit with Rob Reddington who is always entertaining! Volunteers are needed daily starting November 16 through December 11 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. (longer on high volume days). 

You can sign up and choose a date(s) on our VolunteerSpot page (link below). If you prefer not to use VolunteerSpot, just contact [email protected] directly and she'll sign you up! 

Sign up here:  http://vols.pt/daY861 

Thank you from the entire WMS staff!

On Thursday, November 5 the middle school will be transformed into a mathematical maze for 6th grade students and their parents during Sixth Grade Math Night. Families will begin in the cafeteria with an assortment of math games (including 24, 99, Cribbage and Number War card games).  Parents will be provided with a list of commercial games which enhance reasoning and spatial skills. Following the games, families will disperse throughout the 6th and 8th grade wings as they visit different stations, each hosting a math strand – Measurement Station, Algebra, Statistics and Probability Station and Geometry Station.  

Please put this Thursday, November 5 on your calendar and reserve the date. Sixth grade students should have already brought home an invitation with more information. There will be 2 sessions for families: 4:30 – 6:00 pm and 7:00 – 8:30pm. At each session, students will compete in a scavenger hunt consisting of math problems and clues. The winners of the scavenger hunt will receive a prize. The sessions will conclude with a sundae party provided through the generosity of the PTO. Hope to see you there.

http://www.waylandmiddleschool.org/orange_black/

David Liu & Jake Moser

Title:  Yin Yang

Media: Paper, Charcoal, and Adhesive

Statement:  "We made this to symbolize balance."

Mrs. Fields cookie dough will be delivered to Wayland Middle School this Wednesday, November 4.  Pick-up will be between 1:00-5:30.  All families who submitted orders should have received an email confirming this information.  If you received a delivery email, please be sure to respond to the Google Poll (http://goo.gl/forms/qMzUByZ4iC) to confirm pick-up so that the PTO can track responses, connect with all families regarding pick-up, and plan our volunteer needs for that day accordingly. 

CloseBuy orders will be delivered to Wayland Middle School on Monday, November 16, and will be sent home with students via homeroom either November 16 or 17.  

Congratulations to our three top-sellers, Keita Williams, Jack Curran and Mia Djafari, who each won a $25 Visa gift card, and to Mrs. Dunkelberg’s top-selling homeroom – they will be celebrating with a lunchtime pizza party this week!   If you have any questions, please contact Amy Simmons at [email protected].   

Volunteers Needed! The PTO could use your help with the final distribution of our fall fundraising goods!  If you are available to help during any of these times, please contact Amy Simmons at [email protected].  Thank you!  

Wednesday, November 4:

• 11:00 help the PTO sort cookie dough orders for pick-up
• 1:00-5:30 help distribute cookie dough orders during pick-up

Monday, November 16:

• 10:00-11:30 help deliver pre-sorted Close Buy orders to homerooms for student pick-up.

6th Grade Math Night is just around the corner, on Thursday, November 5th. We are looking for volunteers to help and/or send in items needed. 

Please click on the link to see how you can help out. http://vols.pt/BGhKvV    

Questions? Please contact Meredith Tobe or Sandy Staiti [email protected]  or  [email protected]

WMS Wellness presents OPERATION GRATITUDE—our 5th annual Halloween candy drive for the troops! Bring your Halloween candy to school & deposit it into your class container. Candy will be collected each morning from 7-7:30 in the front lobby from November 2 to 6. If your class reaches the minimum goal, everyone in the grade gets a recess!

If your child was absent on picture day, or if you are dissatisfied with your child's portrait and would like to try again, the photographer will return to WMS on November 4. Retake information follows:

• Please have your child return his or her entire undamaged portrait package directly to the photographer on Retake Day.
• Write any suggestions for the photographer on a piece of paper so it shows through the envelope window (for example, indicate what you didn't like about the original photo). 
• Portrait packages will be distributed approximately 3 weeks after Retake Day.

TEDx is about bringing big ideas to our community to spark connection and deep conversation. If you are interested in speaking or performing, auditions will be held November 7 and 8 at the High School. Audition sign-up HERE.

Bring in your warm, gently used, good quality winter coats (in all sizes - babies, toddlers, children, and adult) and place them in the collection bin in the WMS lobby. You can find more information about Coats for Kids HERE.