Good morning,  

Last week I witnessed a returning student help a new member of our community learn how to open her locker. The success was rewarded with a high five! Belonging, which is at the heart of BERT*, takes a central role in these early days as we build classroom communities and welcome all students.  There are a few ways that you can assist us in our mission to help us create a community of belonging throughout the year:    

1. Invitations:  With a grade-level population exceeding 200, we do not expect that every classmate is invited to every party or celebration that arises.  We do expect, however, that invitations be distributed outside of school. Online, snail mail or by phone are all good alternatives.  
2. Party Favors:  There seems to be a trend of clothing-based party favors. When large groups of students all come in the Monday after a function wearing identical t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, etc., that advertise the celebration, it does not feel good and unintentionally sends an uncomfortable message to those were not on the invite list. If you could ask that your child not wear an item as part of a "group wear," we would really appreciate it.  
3. Birthday Locker Decorations:  In past years some friends have decorated one another's lockers as a way to celebrate birthdays.  While a single 8"x11" Happy Birthday sign is a thoughtful gesture, wrapping papered lockers (even complete with balloons and posters) can begin to feel like a popularity contest and can even take on a spirit of one-upsmanship.  It also gets us in hot water with the fire department.  We ask that you not allow your child to celebrate in this way. Instead you might encourage your child to decorate a friend's door or mailbox at his or her home or send a fun video birthday wish (via personal emails - not using school chromebooks).  

Fitting in and finding one’s way through the middle school years can be challenging. I appreciate your help in these three areas that will reduce some in-school social angst as students navigate the middle school landscape. Thank you for your ongoing partnership as we support students along this journey.  

Respectfully,  

Betsy Gavron  

* BERT = Belonging, Empathy, Respect, and Trust.  These are the four capacities we work to develop and nurture throughout the middle school years

Safety is the number one priority in the drop-off/pick-up circle.

Please acquaint yourself, and others that pick-up your children, with our traffic instructions. 

MAP AND TRAFFIC CIRCLE INSTRUCTIONS HERE.

Additionally, we've noticed that parents/guardians are parking in the teacher parking lot and their students are crossing through the buses to get to their rides. THIS IS DANGEROUS. For safety sake, please follow the traffic circle instructions and do not park in the lot. 

And please – for safety, no cell phone use while moving through the Traffic Circle. Thank you!

If you need to have your child dismissed from school early, please:

1.     Send a dismissal note to school with your child.
2.     Instruct your child to bring the note to the office upon arriving           to school.
3.     Your child will be given a dismissal pass to give to his/her teacher.
4.     At the indicated time, your child will come to the office to check-out and then meet           you outside.  With this process, there is no need for you to come into the office to             sign your child out.

If you are unable to send a note in with your child, you must to come into the school office to sign the dismissal log.

Select Chorus is an auditioned singing group selected from 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade students who are members of school-day Band, Chorus, or Orchestra.  The open rehearsal will be an opportunity for students to sing along with returning members and to learn the audition piece.  Individual auditions will be scheduled before and after school.  Once the group is selected, the Select Chorus will rehearse Wednesday mornings from 6:45 -7:30 and Thursday afternoons from 2:30 - 3:30.  For more information, contact Mr. Murray at stephen_murray@wayland.k12.ma.us

Like the WMS PTO Facebook page to stay up to date on events, news and volunteer opportunities!

The PTO has exciting news to share!  This year marks the debut of the much requested, online Wayland Public Schools Directory!  Families MUST register for this directory to be included, only an email address is required for registration, and once accepted to the directory, access is free.  For more information, as well as how to register, please visit: http://waylandpto.org/myschoolanywhere-online-districtwide-family-directory/.  The traditional print directory will be available for purchase at Back to School Night or via www.waylandpto.org for two years as we transition to the new database.

More exciting news – this year there will be no sales-based fundraisers at the middle school – no cookie dough, no wrapping paper, no collecting orders and money and delivering goods!  We will be joining the elementary and high schools in Gift Your Child – a direct donation fundraising campaign, where 100% of your donation is tax deductible and will directly benefit Wayland Middle School students.  You can donate at www.myschoolanywhere.com or www.waylandpto.org or at Back to School Nights.  Keep your eye out for more information later this month via USPS mail!

Upcoming Events

PTO Board Meeting  - September 8, 9-10 am 

Join your WMS PTO board and Ms. Gavron as we kick off the year with our first board meeting.  All WMS parents and guardians are welcome.  Or join us for our October meeting on Thursday, October 6, 9-10 am in Ms. Gavron’s office. 

Back to School Nights

The PTO will be at both WMS Back to School Nights this month.  Stop by our table to Gift Your Child, purchase a directory, meet board members, or to learn more about what the PTO accomplished at Wayland Middle School last year.  We look forward to seeing you! 

Volunteer Needs
School Picture Day – Wednesday, September 14, 8:30 am -1:00 pm

Would you like to receive a free school pictures package for your student?  Volunteer to help on Picture Day from 8:30-1:00, and your child will receive a free Package A from Hayward Photographers.  Contact Mary Boyle (mjiboyl@gmail.com or 617-290-0989) to sign up! 

Calling All 7th & 8th Grade Parents

We are looking for 1-2 more parents from both 7th and 8th grades to be Parent Reps for the year.  This would include coordinating a potluck dinner for the teachers before Back to School Night on September 29th, as well as helping the House Leaders with Cape Cod Night (7th grade) and D.C. Night (8th grade) in the Spring.  Please contact Amy Simmons (simmons221@comcast.net) to sign up!

WPS occasionally posts photos, videos or student work in the news and on school websites and/or online applications such as blogs. We may post photos and videos from school events and field trips. We rarely use a student's name, and if used, it is first name only. Please fill out this form only if you want to DECLINE publishing permission for your student's photos, videos and student work. Fill out the form for each child you wish to DECLINE publishing for. OPT OUT HERE.

Please have your child return the yellow Biographical Verification/Emergency form to his or her homeroom teacher as soon as possible.  Many thanks! 

Order forms will be mailed home. Your child will give his/her completed order form and payment directly to the photographer on Wednesday 9/14.

3 Steps to Sports Clearance

1. Register Online Before Tryouts Begin
   
2. Have a valid doctor's physical on file in the nurse's office (physicals expire after 13 months).
3. Pay Fee (cross country now, soccer and field hockey after tryouts)

Questions about registration, sports clearance, tryouts, or the WMS athletic program? Contact the WHS Athletic Office at 508-358-7488.