Chromebooks distributed today!
Tuesday Morning Minute
October 4, 2016
From Assistant Principal Benzie

Good morning,

As we get ready for the Chromebook distribution this week, we wanted to remind everyone about internet safety. We strongly urge all families to have a frank discussion about social media websites and the dangers that come from its usage. If you have any further concerns regarding this issue, please do not hesitate to contact the school for guidance.

I cannot stress enough the importance of parental oversight when it comes to internet safety. As a school, we do our best at educating the students, but we are not able to watch over them once they leave. This is where your support comes in! Open the line of communication, and do not let them push you away. If you ask them to “friend” you, so that you can keep an eye on them, do not let them say no. I had this same conversation with a parent last week. It was great to hear that the parent stood her ground and told her child if they wanted a social media account, they would have to have access to the account. It is also important to note that to legally create a social media account (including Facebook and Instagram), the user must be at least 13 years old. 

Warm regards,

George

Chromebooks distribution Today!

We will distribute Chromebooks today, October 4th. We would like to give them to all students, so please make sure that you:

1. Have a case.
2. Have signed and returned the  WMS Chromebook Care & Use Agreement .
3. Paid the insurance fee HERE , or signed the liability waiver HERE and returned the signed document. 

We will not be able to give devices to students who do not have all three of these things completed.

Questions? Contact Bethann Monahan at bethann_monahan@wayland.k12.ma.us

From the Office
Absences & Late Arrivals

School starts at 7:35 AM. If your child will be absent or late to school, please notify the school office as soon as possible. You can:

 - Call the school at (508) 655-6670 and select option 2. 

 - Send an email to ms_attendance@wayland.k12.ma.us

Please tell us your child's first and last name, grade, and the date(s) your child will be absent. If your child will be arriving late to school, please indicate the expected arrival time. 

Please remember, you must notify the office even if you have notified a teacher or guidance counselor of an absence. We are responsible for the safety of your children during the day and need to know they are safe with you if they are not in school with us. 
Thank you. 

From the PTO 

PTO NEWS 

Gift Your Child

Have you Gifted Your Child yet? This year there will be no sales-based fundraisers at the middle school – no cookie dough, no wrapping paper, no collecting orders and money or 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 with a credit card when you register at www.myschoolanywhere.com or through www.waylandpto.org, or mail a check payable to “Wayland PTO” to Wayland Middle School PTO, 201 Main Street, Wayland, MA 01778.  The suggested donation is $100 per middle school student.   

Visit the PTO on Facebook to see some of your donations at work in the classroom, around school and in extracurricular activities, as well as to stay up to date on events, news, volunteer opportunities, and more!

MySchoolAnywhere – the NEW ONLINE DIRECTORY

Have you registered for MySchoolAnywhere yet?  The new online directory is an OPT-IN directory…you MUST register to be included!  Please visit http://waylandpto.org/myschoolanywhere-online-districtwide-family-directory/ to register today.  Our goal is to have full participation in the online database before we discontinue the printed directory next year.  

Middle & More Coffee
Tuesday, October 18th, 8:45 - 9:45 AM
In the Library

Save the date for our first Middle & More Coffee on Tuesday, October 18th from 8:45-9:45 am in the library.  Principal Betsy Gavron, along with staff members, will be discussing the new study skills curriculum being implemented in the Middle School this year.  We hope you can join us!  Find the entire year’s schedule of parent coffees at http://waylandpto.org/middle-school-pto/middle-and-more-coffees/

Volunteer Needs

Teacher Appreciation Lunch

The PTO is looking for 2-3 parents to coordinate our Teacher Appreciation Lunch in May.  This is a lot of fun for friends to work on together, and is a great way to show the WMS teachers and staff how much we appreciate them. 

Middle & More Coffees

The PTO needs a volunteer to set up for the monthly Middle & More coffees.  This would involve setting out coffee, tea and snacks that you have picked up ahead of time, as well as working with Ms. Ravid in the library to arrange the furniture for the meeting.   

Please contact Amy Simmons (simmons221@comcast.net) to sign up for the Teacher Appreciation or Middle & More Coffee volunteer spots!

PTO Appreciation 

Thank you to the 7th & 8th Grade Parent Reps for organizing a potluck dinner for the teachers and staff on Back to School Night last week, as well as many thanks to all of the parents who donated food or supplies for the dinner.  It is a great way for us to thank the teachers for their work with our children, and allows them to focus on preparing for the evening with parents – it is greatly appreciated!

REMINDERS (from previous emails)

Seeking School Council Members 
NEW DEADLINE:Submissions close October 7th

We have a good response to our request for parent/guardian volunteers to join this year's WMS Council.  SInce we need to meet by mid-October, we have moved our submission date up. If you are interested, kindly submit your name and a short biographical paragraph to Betsy Gavron by October 7th

In accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 71: Section 59C, Wayland Middle School will have a School Council that meets regularly and is responsible for the following:

  • Assist in the identification of the educational needs of the students attending the school
  • Review the annual school budget
  • Approve the school improvement plan
  • Review the student handbook

School council meetings typically take place quarterly, on mutually agreed upon dates, from 5:00 to 6:15pm.  Thank you in advance for your support.  

Register Your Stop & Shop Card and Earn Money for Wayland Middle School

Please register your Stop & Shop Bonus Card to earn money for our school through their A+ School Rewards Program.  Registration is easy and it won’t affect your Stop & Shop gas points program in any way.  Last year, WMS participants in the A+ School Rewards Program earned over four thousand dollars for our school! Please consider signing up - The program runs from October 7, 2016 - March 16, 2017.

Our Stop & Shop school ID is 09946.  To register your card: 

Go to:  http://www.stopandshop.com/aplus  

·  Under "Customer Zone" click on "Register Your Card"

·  Enter the first 3 letters of your last name

·  Enter your 13-digit Stop & Shop Card # (on the back of  your card, underneath the      barcode)

·  Click on "Continue to Listings"  

·  Enter 09946 under "School 1" 

·  Click on "Register"

·  Click on "Confirm my Information"

Thank you!!!  

Artist of the Week
Hartley Peck
Grade 8
Acrylic & Watercolor

Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events .
All Grades
10/10: NO SCHOOL, Columbus Day
10/11: NO SCHOOL
10/12: NO SCHOOL, Yom Kippur
10/13: Math Meet @ WMS - 3:00 PM
10/14: Q1 Progress Reports

Grade 6
10/6: Henry Cluster Walden Pond Trip
10/7: David Cluster Walden Pond Trip

Grade 7
10/20: RLC Days of Wonder Trip (1/2 Grade)
10/21: RLC Days of Wonder Trip (1/2 Grade)

Grade 8
9/29: Gr. 7 & 8 Back-to-School Night, 6:45 PM
10/25: NY Caves Field Trip (1/3 grade)
10/27: NY Caves Field Trip (1/3 grade)
10/28: NY Caves Field Trip (1/3 grade) 
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