Wayland Middle School
Monday Morning Minute
Important Dates


Monday 1/4 - 1/8 Remote learning for all WMS

Monday 1/18 Martin Luther King Day - No School 

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!

  • 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!

From Ms. Gavron

Dear WMS families,

Happy New Year!  Welcome to 2021! I hope you and your family enjoyed a restful, rejuvenating break.  As you heard from Dr. Unobskey this weekend, at WMS we are pivoting to remote for one week and then will return to hybrid model on January 11. This week, students’ schedules will run the same as they would on their regularly scheduled remote days. Despite no in person learning, we would still like to get as many new Chromebooks into students’ hands as possible this week.  We will prepare to swap out machines on Wednesday, January 6th between 10:00 - 2:30. If you cannot make that time, your middle schooler will exchange their machine next week on their in person days. 

Requirements for getting the New Chromebook. Families will need to go through the registration steps if they did not do so in September - WMS Chomebook Website:

FY21 $35 Maintenance Fee must be paid or a Liability Waiver must be signed. (Note - This does not apply to families who receive free or reduced lunch).
  • Complete the Chromebook Care and Use Agreement. Read and sign this agreement or review the agreement with your student and then fill out the google form in place of your signature.
  • Old Chrombook has been cleaned before returning with bleach-free disinfectant wipes. 
  • Old Chromebook and charger returned (or $20 for the charger - Checks can be made out to Wayland Middle School). 
  • Student has a case for the Chromebook. The majority of students can use the same case. Students who used a hard shell cover will need to get a different case. 
  • Amazon Basic Case - $13.49
  • Retina hard shell case - $28.99 (fits 11" - 12.3" devices)
  • Optional: We will also suggest getting an inexpensive stylus. 

Chromebook Exchange Locations:  10:00 - 2:30 Wednesday, January 6th.
Someone will meet you at the door, confirm your case, take the old machine and charger, check your registration is complete, and bring you the new one.
  • 6th grade: The WMS gymnasium door
  • 7th & 8th grades: WMS front door
Please wait in your car until the exchange is complete. Thank you.

WMS Dismissal Traffic:
Based on the traffic survey data we are looking to require outgoing traffic to turn right out of the WMS drive during dismissal from 3:15 - 3:35 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.  We have reached out to Police Chief Gibbons to determine any final steps to implementing this change. We will let you know when the new traffic pattern begins.

Have a good first school week of 2021.

Respectfully,
Betsy Gavron


Announcements

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.

For more information, to enroll, and to donate, please Visit the WPS COVID-19 Testing Website. Enroll by Thursday, January 14 at 5 pm.

Learn more at a WPS COVID-19 Testing Program Information Session:

  • Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 7 pm. Here is the Zoom link for the 1/7/2021 meeting

  • Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at 7 pm. Here is the Zoom link for the 1/12/2021 meeting
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. 

Please forward documentation to Laurie Hojlo
PTO News
Middle and More Coffees
Upcoming Dates

Middle and More Coffees continue throughout the 2020-21 school year. Here are a few upcoming dates: 
 
  • January 5, 12:50-1:50 pm: Math, Science & World Languages Discussion with WMS Department Heads
  • February 8, 10:00-11:00am: Creating Inclusive Environments in the Schools with Caroline Han, WPS Diversity & Equity Coordinator
  • March 8, 9:00-10:00 am: English & Social Studies Discussion with WMS Department Heads

Please contact Allison Kates, Parent Enrichment Chair (alliekat325@gmail.com), with any questions.
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

Please visit the WMS PTO’s Boards and Committees page for more details or email questions or inquiries to the WMS PTO (WaylandMiddleSchoolPTO@gmail.com).
Connect With Us!
Artist of the Week

Artist: Venezia Sebastianelli
Grade: 8
Medium: Watercolor

Reminders from Previous Weeks
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.
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
Wayland Middle School
Phone: 508.358.3801 Fax: 508.358.3802
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