Wayland Middle School
 December Newsletter
MARK YOUR CALENDAR

12/11 - WMS / WHS Winter Choral Concert (at the High School, 7:30 PM)
12/17 - WMS / WHS Winter Orchestra Concert (at the High School, 7:30 PM)
12/18  - WMS 6th Grade ALL MUSIC Winter Concert, WMS Auditorium at 7:00 PM
12/20  - Holiday recess begins at the end of the day
1/6/2020  - Classes Resume
From the Principal
Lear a World Language in 6th Grade

Learning a world language opens doors. When I was a junior in college I had the opportunity to live with a Spanish family in Granada, Spain while studying language and art history at the University of Granada. I fondly remember my “little brother,” Antonio Miguel, and how we laughed and played our tiny gatito (pet kitten) each morning. During my time in Granada I was able to make regular trips to a beautiful neighborhood called the Albaicín for local fish fries with American and Spanish classmates. We would hike up to the restaurants after playing pick up soccer on rooftop fields. I also traveled to beaches with my Language Study Abroad (LSA) cohort and visited amazing museums and landmarks; my favorite being the world famous Alhambra filled with beautiful Muslim architecture.

Studying Spanish in highschool and college helped open my eyes to an incredible world and a new culture outside my New England comfort zone.

To this day, I enjoy supporting my own children with their Spanish studies and relish any chance I get to dust off my Spanish when my family visits Spanish speaking countries. As a school leader it is a privilege to be able to help launch many Wayland Middle schoolers on their language learning journeys, hopeful that they too might have such adventures in their futures. In that spirit we are excited to announce that beginning next year our students will have the opportunity to embark on their language journey beginning in sixth grade, rather than seventh.

Over 40 years ago WMS World Language Curriculum Leader Debbie Tofias began advocating for the addition of world language classes to our sixth grade programming. Since that time much research has emerged to support her vision, highlighting the benefits of early language acquisition. As a member of Wayland’s 2016 Elementary Language Study Committee I was able to delve into this research with a committed team of parents and educators K-12. Our inquiry revealed that the earlier a student begins learning another language, and the more time they spend learning it, the more cognitive, social and academic benefits accrue. Early bilingualism/biliteracy strengthens executive function, promoting balanced learning between receptive skills (listening, reading) and productive skills (speaking, writing). Additionally, bilingual brains are healthier, more complex, more actively engaged and more empathetic. Finally NEA research, confirmed that second language study:

  • benefits academic progress in other subjects, 
  • narrows achievement gaps,
  • benefits basic skills development,
  • benefits higher order, abstract and creative thinking, 
  • enriches and enhances cognitive development,
  • enhances a student's sense of achievement, 
  • helps students score higher on standardized tests,
  • promotes cultural awareness and competency, 
  • improves chances of college acceptance, achievement and attainment, 
  • enhances career opportunities, and
  • benefits understanding and security in community and society. 

This research pushed me towards a programmatic shift to include world language in sixth grade.
 
Why Now? – 6th grade world language in 2020-2021

In 2016 Elementary Language Study Committee recommended adopting a Spanish Immersion program in Wayland, and next year the first cohort of Spanish immersion students will enter second grade. As we anticipate their eventual arrival in middle school, we know that we need to have a schedule that would accommodate time to study Spanish along with a content class taught in Spanish. We believe it is prudent to have a well-established sixth grade language program in place before we begin preparing for that linguistically advanced cohort to arrive. We want the norm to be that a vast majority of 6th graders study world language in 6th grade. Making a schedule change next year minimizes staffing implications. According to our historical data, we will require about 2.2 FTE's (full time equivalent) to hire the Spanish, French, Latin and Mandarin teachers necessary to staff the program. Next year we have 1.6 FTE's teachers leaving WMS due to retirement, so the impact to jobs will be minimized to 0.6 FTE’s to make the new program a budget neutral addition. Finally, changing the 6th grade schedule to match the 7th and 8th grade model allows room in the schedule for necessary special education classes as well. Students requiring intensive specialized reading and writing instruction would no longer need to drop social studies or science to make room in the sixth grade schedule for their reading and writing classes. Instead the reading and writing class could be taken in lieu of a world language class. 
 
With every programming change there are tradeoffs. 

In the new schedule our sixth grade core subjects (Math, English, Science & Social Studies) will shift from being offered five days a week to being taught four days a week. This will cause us to make changes to curriculum and 6th grade teachers will shift from teaching four sections five days a week to teaching five sections four days a week. Making this decision now, gives us the necessary time to thoughtfully plan for these curricular adjustments and make well thought-out decisions throughout this year and into the summer.

World Language Curriculum Leader Klara Sands and I look forward to hosting an evening for 5th grade parents in late winter or early spring to discuss the 6th grade language options and answer questions about the new programming. Like Klara and Debbie Tofias before her, I am passionate about learning languages and the role they play in cultivating global citizens.
 
Respectfully
Betsy Gavron
Announcements
CALENDAR FUNDRAISER

We are significantly behind in our fundraising efforts. This money is essential for enabling all of our middle school trips to run. Please encourage your student to sell sell sell! Fundraiser has been extended to 12/13/19. Thank you!
Looking For a Way to Acknowledge a Special Teacher or Staff Member?
HATS Off is the Answer!
Deadline is Friday, December 13

Say “Thank You” to a special teacher or staff member this holiday season with a HATS Off donation! Every donation to the HATS Off campaign helps the Wayland Public Schools Foundation award phenomenal grants to our teachers and staff members to fund classroom innovations and creative units of study that are not covered by the school budget.

HATS Off is the perfect way to recognize a special teacher or staff member and support the great work of the Wayland Public Schools Foundation!

When you make a donation to HATS Off, each teacher or staff member you designate will receive a personalized HATS Off certificate that will include your very own message of appreciation and a HATS Off magnet that can be displayed in an office or classroom. The amount donated will not be disclosed. Visit the WPSF website here to donate:   https://www.waylandpublicschoolsfoundation.org/hats-off. Donations are tax deductible and may qualify for matching gifts at participating companies.

All HATS Off orders should be placed by December 13th.

Questions? Please contact Trystan O'Leary ( trystan_oleary@hotmail.com) and Lia Barris ( liabarris@gmail.com).
CHINESE FOOD FESTIVAL
Wednesday, Dec. 11th, 2019, 3 pm ~ 3:45 pm
Wayland Middle School Cafeteria

Come join us for Chinese cuisine poster presentations, Chinese cuisine tasting, Chinese songs, lion dance, kung-fu and dance performances!
Hosted by Dr. Chang's Chinese Class Students
Try Out for the MathCounts team: Wednesday December 11, 2:45-4:30
We need 10 students to make up the MathCounts Team. After school, Coach Han will proctor a contest to determine the top 10. If you would like to try out, please sign up for the  MathCounts Try out .
Please have your child check for missing items in our Lost & Found, or come and take a look for yourself!    Unclaimed items will be donated to charity (to the Wayland Schools' PTO Green Team Textile Recycling Project) at  3:15 PM Friday, December 20th  , as is our custom prior to each of the school breaks (December, February, April and June).
Holiday Travel Absences

If your family's holiday travel plans involve your child missing school on either side of the break,    please    remember to notify the school. There is no need to wait until the day of the absence, you can send notice as early as you'd like.

We have two notification methods to choose from: 
Wayland High School Class of 2021 Fundraiser
Christmas Tree Removal
Sign up by Wednesday, January 8

Tired of dragging your Christmas tree to the transfer station? The students of WHS would like to help you out! We will come to your home, pick up your
Christmas tree from the end of your driveway, and dispose of the tree. We are
servicing the Towns of Wayland only.

When: Saturday, January 11, 2020
Time: 8 am – 2pm
Cost: $20 ($10 for senior citizens)
To sign up, please use the link: http://bit.ly/WHStrees

If you have any questions, please contact one of us at the emails below:
Mary Barber (Class of 2021 Advisor) at: Mary_barber@wayland.k12.ma.us
Heidi Friedlander (Class of 2021 Advisor) at: heidi_friedlander@wayland.k12.ma.us
Sam Goldstone (Class of 2021 Class President) at: samuel_goldstone@student.wayland.k12.ma.us
PTO News
Gift Your Child: We Raised $24,000 Together!

Thank you to everyone who donated to our only fundraiser!  Our community raised $24,500! With your generosity, we can continue to support a wide range of student, staff and community programming and resources. We are ahead of our $22,000 Budget. Participation of 40% fell slightly below prior year, but continued our momentum towards 100% family participation. 

We will  accept donations year round , but will be granting money in January 2020.  If you still would like to make a donation click here!  

Don’t forget employer matching donations!
Please Give to the Holiday Gift Drive

Just a few miles away from the Wayland Middle School is a group home for kids between 12 and 18 years old who can't be placed in foster homes, and can't be with family, primarily because of abuse and neglect—around 84 kids, some with no family contact at all, living in a group home for the holidays. How can you help? It's actually easy—the kids in short and long-term residence at Wayside Youth & Family Support Network have compiled an Amazon wishlist of gifts they'd like. Please give a gift if you can.

*Select "Wayside Campus-Gift Registry Address"
All gifts are tax-deductible and most range from $10-$60

Thank you!
MIDDLE & MORE COFFEE

7th & 8th Parent Grade Check-in
Cluster Leaders and Betsy Gavron
December 13, 1:15 - 2:15 pm

We will be joined by the Cluster Leaders and Ms. Gavron. Topics can include curriculum topics, school-sponsored trips, social development, academic expectations and parent concerns. This is primarily a time for parent Q & A.
Artist of the Week
Artist: Emma Li
Grade: 8
Medium: Watercolor & Pencil
Reminders from Last Week
Applying to Private School?
While we hope you are enjoying your experiences with Wayland Public Schools, we also know that some families will choose to apply to private schools as an alternative educational option. Please be sure to carefully follow the process outlined HERE to ensure a timely, quality processing of your child’s application to private school.
 Miss Something from a WMS Morning Minute or Newsletter?
Links to past issues of the Morning Minute and Monthly Newsletters
can be found on our website under the "News" tab, or click here .
Wayland Middle School
Phone: 508.358.3801 Fax: 508.358.3802
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