Wayland Middle School
Monday Morning Minute
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Important Dates
Monday 1/18 Martin Luther King Day - No School
Wednesday 2/10 Early Release
2/15-2/19 Winter Recess
Monday 2/22 Classes Resume
REPORTING ATTENDANCE EVENTS:
If your child will be Absent, Arriving Late, or Leaving Early on a school day, please be sure to either email us at ms_attendance@waylandps.org or call the attendance line at 508- 358-3801/Select Option 1. Provide your child’s name and grade with the date(s) they will be absent or the approximate time they will be arriving late / leaving early. Precise attendance reporting is a challenge when students are remote, but your efforts to make the office aware of exceptions will help us to maintain accurate records. Thank you!
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If your student is going to be absent on an in person learning day, you must still fill out the Healthwatch form - thank you for your cooperation!
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Good morning WMS families,
We are excited to welcome our students back to in-person learning this week. Today, I want to share with you information about Chromebooks, dismissal traffic, and two Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations.
Chromebooks and Cameras On
I want to thank all of the staff who helped with the massive distribution of student Chromebooks last week. We’ve seen significant improvement in audio quality with the new machines, and the touch screens have made it easier to do things like show work in math. We look forward to getting the remainder of machines out to students this week. Now that students can be seen and heard, we will re-norm our Zoom meetings and expect students to have cameras on during classes. Having cameras on improves engagement and helps build class community. The only exceptions to the camera on expectation will be if there is an individualized camera plan (created between a family and a liaison or guidance counselor) due to emotional needs or wifi challenges. We appreciate any support you can offer in helping students meet this camera-on expectation. Students who refuse to comply will be asked to meet with Mr. Benzie.
Dismissal Traffic - A New Plan to Try
After discussing with Police Chief Gibbons the right turn only dismissal plan that we piloted before December break, he requested that we try one new option for two weeks before making a long-term change. He suggested that once we need to direct cars into the overflow area, we transition to two lanes out and one lane in for the bulk of dismissal. Chief Gibbons is hoping this will have the same positive impact on traffic flow, without forcing those who live south of WMS to have to turn right. We will see how this traffic pattern works over the next two weeks. Wayland Police will help support the new dismissal pattern on Monday and Thursday this week (the first day of in-person learning for each cluster.)
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Dr Martin Luther King - Celebrating the Legacy of our 8th Grade House Mentor
Celebration #1 - Whole Community
Lastly, I encourage you to save the date for our community-wide Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration that will take place virtually on Monday, January 18 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. The theme of the 2021 program sponsored by our Boston Parent Council is “Portrait of a Leader.” If you plan to attend, please register HERE by 12 noon on Thursday, January 14, and a formal e-invitation will be sent on this date, with the Zoom link for the celebration. There is a space limitation of 500 people. For more details please refer to Dr. Unobskey’s email from Friday January 8th.
Celebration #2 - Wayland Middle School Staff and Students
Although we cannot gather in person for our annual whole school assembly with students to celebrate our 8th grade house mentor’s legacy, our house leaders have arranged a week long celebration of Dr. King’s work with various activities to take place in homeroom and TAG throughout next week.
As always, we thank you for your ongoing efforts to mitigate COVID health risks and partner with us to support your middle schoolers educational and social emotional needs. Have a good week.
Respectfully,
Betsy Gavron
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Reserve your Yearbook NOW!!
Don’t miss out on an awesome keepsake of this very unique school year
- Full color photographs
- All grades 6,7 8 represented
- Interactive links to view performances
To guarantee your copy (limited quantity), go to Jostens.com
Click: HIGH SCHOOL box
Enter: Wayland Middle School
Select: 2021 Yearbook
Yearbooks ordered before the start of February break (2/15/21) can be purchased for $17.00.
Prices will then increase to $22.00.
Don’t put it off – last year we COMPLETELY SOLD OUT and had to turn away many last-minute buyers!
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WPS COVID-19 Surveillance Testing - Launching in January 2021!
We are excited to announce that Wayland Public Schools plans to begin a COVID-19 surveillance testing program in late January 2021 provided we meet our fundraising goal. The program is available to all K-12 students and school staff. Although this program is voluntary, we encourage everyone to enroll to help sustain in person learning and make our community safer. The testing program will:
- Increase safety by identifying and isolating carriers, including asymptomatic individuals
- Increase comfort and peace of mind learning / working in our school buildings
- Help us understand the incidence of the virus in Wayland Public Schools as we consider what mode of learning is appropriate for our students and staff at different times throughout the rest of the school year.
We are in the process of selecting a vendor, but estimate the fee for a 10-week testing program will be $175-200 per student. Families who are interested should enroll and indicate their financial need.
The Town of Wayland has set up the Testing for COVID-19 in the Wayland Schools Fund to collect donations for families in need (estimated at 30% from our community) and for school staff, e.g, teachers, student support staff, custodians and food services workers. Our ability to provide testing for your child is dependent on our collective ability to fundraise to support families in need and school staff.
Learn more at a WPS COVID-19 Testing Program Information Session:
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Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at 7 pm. Here is the Zoom link for the 1/12/2021 meeting
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SAVE THE DATE:
2021 Virtual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Program
Monday, January 18th
5:30pm-7:00pm
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. program will include a portrait slideshow of students' personal artwork or pictures on whom they consider a leader. Elementary students will perform, and we will honor Elliott Francis (Wayland METCO '71), who is the first Wayland METCO Program graduate. There will also be presentations by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. contest student winners, and the keynote address will be delivered by Michael J. Bobbitt, Artistic Director of the New Repertory Theatre in Watertown, MA. He was recently named one of the most influential leaders in Boston suburbs by the Boston Globe.
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IMPORTANT NOTES FROM THE NURSE
**MANDATORY** FLU VACCINATION - all students
Every student must have a flu vaccination this year, as required by the Mass Department of Public Health. This includes students in WRAP
The deadline for providing documentation for vaccination is February 28, 2021. Vaccination for flu as soon as possible is critical in preserving resources amidst the increase of COVID cases, and we encourage your children to get the flu shot as soon as possible, if they haven't already. Flu season typically runs from mid-November until the end of March.
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Middle and More Coffees
January Recap
We had a great turnout for our January parent meeting with the Math, Science & World Languages Curriculum Leaders on Tuesday, January 5th! Principal Betsy Gavron was joined by Klara Sands (World Languages), Tom Longnecker (Science), and Rebecca Poulo (Math) who shared some new initiatives that the departments introduced this year and all were incredibly complimentary of the hard work and dedication of the WMS Students. A Q&A document from that discussion may be found here.
Upcoming Dates:
Middle and More Coffees continue throughout the 2020-21 school year. Here are a few upcoming dates:
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February 8, 10:00-11:00am: Creating Inclusive Environments in the Schools with Caroline Han, WPS Diversity & Equity Coordinator
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March 8, 9:00-10:00 am: English & Social Studies Discussion with WMS Department Heads
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Interested in Joining the 2021 PTO Team?
Want to get more involved while your child is at Wayland Middle School? Join us on the PTO!
Several Board and Committee positions available for the 2021-22 school year, including:
- VP
- Treasurer
- Parent Enrichment (Monday Morning Coffees)
- Picture Day
- Landscaping
- 6th Grade Parent Reps
- 7th Grade Parent Reps
- 8th Grade Parent Reps
- New Family Welcome Coordinator
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Artist: Abby Bennett
Grade: 8
Medium: Acrylic
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Reminders from Previous Weeks |
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MASK RULES & GUIDELINES
In accordance with MA Department of Public Health and CDC guidelines face coverings must:
- Cover the nose and mouth
- Fit securely and comfortably against the side of the face
- Be secured with ties or ear loops
- Allow for breathing without restriction
- Be able to be laundered without damage or change of shape
- Be made of at least 2 layers of material
- Face coverings may not have an exhalation valve or vent
The following are not allowed: Gaiters, bandanas, scarves, and face masks that have a ventilation valve. They are not considered effective face coverings and will not be allowed.
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The Orange and Black - Our Student Run Newspaper
Be sure to check out our student run newspaper featuring news, stories, poems and other work! The Orange and Black
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Wayland Middle School
Phone: 508.358.3801 Fax: 508.358.3802
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