In the Middle
Whitnall Middle School Weekly Family Newsletter
Whitnall Middle School Message
Hello,

Welcome to second semester! It's hard to believe that we are half way through the academic school year.

At the start of the second semester all WMS Students will be working in their own Learner Profiles. Students will be doing goal setting and reflecting around who they are as a learner and what interests they have in and outside of the classroom. A Learner Profile has a lot of benefits for the students as they grow here at WMS and it is a strong connection to our growing Academic & Career Planning (ACP) framework throughout our district. At conferences in March students will be able to share with you some of their goal setting as well as current and possible future interests!

If you didn't notice - it seems winter has finally arrived officially! With that we get snow and cold. Please know we try to get our students outside as much as possible and even when the students hurry it is not a lot of time. Being out and getting up and about helps break up the day and reset for the second half. Students need to be prepared to go outside each day. If a windchill gets brings down the temp - we will keep them in!

Yours in learning,

Bob Antholine
Principal WMS
Upcoming Events
January 29 - 7th Grade Youth Frontiers at WHS
January 30/31 - 8th Grade Field Trip to Civil War Museum
January 31st - Electives Showcase at WMS 6:00pm
February 1st - Wheelchair Basketball Game & PBIS Assembly
February 1st - 8th grade band joins HS for Pep Band Night
February 7, 2019 - Organ Piper Fundraiser (8th Grade Hamilton)
February 8, 2019 - WMS Dance 7:00-9:00pm
February 13 - PTO Hosting a WSD Board Candidate Forum
It's WMS Musical Time!
Tryouts for the Whitnall Middle School Musical are coming up and this is something you don't want to miss! Tryouts WILL BE February 12th & 14th at WMS. There is a possibility of callbacks on February 15th.
There is an informational meeting students MUST attend on February 4th at 3:15 to get all of the preparation materials for tryouts and to answer any questions!
The 2019 Musical is being called 'Rockin' Around America' - it is a mashup of a few different musicals and that makes it a WMS original!
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
Kids deserve the best.
Anti-bullying
In October of 2018 one of our WMS parents notified us of a Children's Hospital of Wisconsin grant that focused around Anti-Bullying - in November we were notified that we had received the grant. Since receiving the grant there has been some internal planning as well as some planning with the grant committee.

On January 14th Mrs. Stingle & Mrs. Paul launched our first Student Anti-Bullying Panel. We had over 40 6th-8th grade students participate. Students were notified of the opportunity through our daily announcements as well as during our advisory time. Students that participated collaborated with one another to provide student answers/insight into a number of questions. Here are just a few examples: What is bullying? At what point does conflict between students become bullying? What is an Upstander? How do you think students who are bullied feel?

More activities and Staff Trainings are planned! We are excited to find a way within this topic to grow student voice! If you have any questions please let us know.
7th Grade Youth Frontiers
January 29th all of our 7th grade students are participating in a leadership summit that is being led by Youth Frontiers at Whitnall High School.
8th Grade Field Trip To Civil War Museum
January 30th the 8th Grade B Team (Busateri) and on January 31 the A Team (Craig) will be going to the Civil War Museum in Kenosha. ALL students MUST bring a bag lunch and drink that day!
WMS Electives Showcase Night
January 31st 6:00-7:30pm
Join us for the Electives Showcase to see what elective courses have to offer at Whitnall Middle School!
Who: Current WMS families and students and 5th Grade students and families!
Where: Start off in the WMS cafeteria at 6:00pm! If you are late....don't worry! There will be a video rolling in the cafeteria as an on-going introduction.
PBIS Assembly & Wheelchair Basketball Game
Student Advisory Panel Update:
Our Student Advisory Panel is committed to a Service Learning project every month. This school year they have hosted a food drive to benefit the Meyer Family Organization, an Art Contest that included a visit to Manor Park, a Parent Coffee and Donuts in the drop off lane day right before winter break and a staff breakfast! As part of the WMS PBIS recognition assembly and Student vs Staff Volleyball Game on December 21st, Student A dvisory Panel recognized WMS fall sports and activities and did a recap of semester 1 through a slide show! We are always looking for ways to get involved in our community so if you have any ideas, please let Mrs. Stingle know; kstingle@whitnall.com

Wheelchair Basketball Game and Ping Pong
On February 1st WMS will be hosting a wheelchair basketball game in conjunction with our PBIS monthly recognition. Our very own, Mr. Steve Wilson is the head coach and has been a head coach for a variety of wheelchair basketball teams from UW-Whitewater to the U.S. men's team.

While we hope everyone enjoys the events a primary focal point will be persevering and overcoming obstacles regardless of what is out in front of us.

After February 1st WMS will be hosting a ping pong tournament within our school as a fundraiser along with some other fun events the first full week of February. The tournament will be a $5 donation for a double elimination tournament with the winner taking on our own Ping Pong master - Mr. Gableman. Students will be sent THIS LINK prior to the wheelchair game and assembly.

February 7th - Organ Piper Fundraiser
A Number of our 8th grade students will be going to see the play Hamilton in Chicago later this school year. To help off set the cost Organ Piper Pizza has offered a couple of fundraising nights! February 7th - order some pizza and support WMS 8th grade students. All monies donated by Organ Piper Pizza go to decrease the cost for each student.
2019-2020 PTO Officer Positions
We are about to cross the mid year point within the school world! With that our PTO is already starting to plan for the 2019-2020 school year. Per the WMS PTO bylaws all Officer positions are 1 year terms. If you are interested in supporting WMS as an officer on the WMS PTO please email: WMS PTO
Inclement Weather Information
As winter weather approaches, we like to remind you of the policy on school closings. The decision to close District Schools is made by the Superintendent after consultation with the bus company, neighboring districts, the Weather Bureau, and the Sheriff’s Department. The following radio and television stations will be notified of the decision to close District Schools by 6:00 a.m., unless, due to special circumstances, a decision could not be made by that time.
AM Radio FM Radio TV Stations
WTMJ - 620 94.5 WTMJ-Channel 4
WOKY - 920 99.1 WITI - Channel 6
WISN - 1130 97.3 WISN - Channel 12
96.5 WDJT - Channel 58
98.3
102.9
106.1
106.9
School 'Stuff'

Student Absences: .
Please report your students absence to the school by 8:00 a.m. You may use the Absence Reporting Form or call the attendance line at 414-525-8650. .
No call and no note will result in the absence being recorded as truancy. If a student has a medical/dental appointment, we encourage you to provide an excuse from the provider.

Appointments/Planned Absences
If your student has an appointment, special event, leaving early, etc. Please contact the office prior to the event so we can have your student waiting for you in the office. You may use the Absence Reporting Form or call the attendance line at 414-525-8650. . If the student will be gone more than two days, please utilize the Planned Absence Form


Pick Up & Drop Off Information
As shared previously - busing and car drop-off/pick-up have been adjusted to decrease congestion near the Edgerton intersection where many students cross. While it may take some time to adjust we appreciate your patience with us and one another.

The map attached HERE shows an aerial view of the changes.

2018-2019 PTO Dates
PTO Meeting Times 7:00pm-8:30pm

Next meeting is Wednesday, February 13th.

This year during athletics our PTO will be selling concessions. PTO is in need of volunteers. If you are able to help out or would like more information please email the WMS PTO at wmspto@whitnall.com or by clicking HERE

Sports & Clubs
For the 2018-2019 school year all Whitnall athletics are now being organized through our Athletic Director Dave Pentek. Specific information for athletics and club will also be shared by coaches/advisors as soon as possible. Check the Athletics part of our webpage for updates as well as the online registration.

2018-2019 Athletics
Cross Country 6th-8th Grade
Poms 7th-8th Grade
Girls Basketball 7th-8th Grade
Boys Basketball 7th-8th Grade
Wrestling 6th-8th Grade
Girls Volleyball 7th-8th Grade
Track & Field 7th-8th Grade

2018-2019 Anticipated Clubs
Robotics (VEX Materials have arrived!)
Forrest Ecology Club
Holiday Band (Completed!)
Chess
Musical
Jazz Band
Wood Working (Currently Taking Student Names)
Art Club (Up and Running)
WMS Leadership
Please use the following information to determine whom to contact for different questions. If you have any questions on how to direct you call/questions please contact Ms. Dawn Jones, WMS Secretary at 414-525-8660.

Bob Antholine Principal
414-525-8652
@Antholine (twitter)

Krystle Stingle Assistant Principal
414-525-8663
@kstingle (twitter)

Building Daily Operations and Events/Teaching and Learning
Primary Contact: Bob Antholine Email

Student Attendance and Behavior
Primary Contact: Ms. Krystle Sti ngle Email


School Counselor
James Gableman
414-525-8654

School Psychologist
Nicole Lussier
414-525-8795

School Social Worker
Courtney Fleishmann
414-525-8655
Important Links and Resources
Whitnall Middle School | 414.525.8660 | info@whitnall.com | h ttps://www.whitnall.com/schools/middle/