Dear WMS Families,
There is a lot to share this chilly Monday morning. So, you might want to grab a cup of coffee or cocoa and settle in.
Anti-Racism & Equity Work with 8th Graders:
Aligned with the Wayland School Committee’s 2021 Anti-Racism Resolution and in light of the racist incidents we have experienced at WMS in recent months, I am pleased to let you know about a special set of workshops our 8th graders will engage in during this Super-Wednesday, February 9th. Workshops will build on ongoing TAG efforts and deepen understanding of Belonging Empathy Respect and Trust - BERT.
We have invited our long-time partners from IDEAS - Initiatives for Developing Equity and Achievement for Students - to lead 8th grade students in homeroom-based, interactive workshops entitled Responding to Hurtful and Harmful Incidents. The goals of the IDEAS workshop is that students will:
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Explore and better understand the impact of hurtful and harmful incidents that WMS students with marginalized identities experience, and
- Walk away with strategies to help students respond to hurtful/harmful incidents.
Following their IDEAS workshop, students will choose to delve into an area they wish to consider more deeply. We are fortunate to be capitalizing on in-house expertise as well as community partners, who have reached out to offer their support. Students will choose one of the following workshops (limit 24 per workshop):
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Rabbi Danny Burkeman (Rabbi at Temple Shir Tikva Wayland) - “Understanding and Combating Anti-Semitism”
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Dr. Omar Easy (Wayland Superintendent) & Dr. Dwayne Thomas (Chief Learning Strategist for Thomas Leadership Solutions and the Academic, Coaching, Enrichment, and Sports Network) - “Having Courageous Conversations and Taking Courageous Actions”
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Caroline Han (Wayland’s Director of Diversity Equity and Belonging) - “More than the ‘Model Minority’: A Conversation for Students” This will be an affinity group* for any interested student who identifies as Asian, Asian American, Pacific Islander or multi-racial student of Asian descent
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JaNae Hood (WMS METCO Coordinator) - “History Behind the Crown of Glory: Natural Hair Forum”
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Dr. Tony Laing (Wayland METCO Director) - “Why Black Lives Should Matter to Everyone: A Student Discussion”
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Reverend Dr. Stephanie May - Harvard Professor and Minister at First Parish Wayland - "Indigenous Peoples of Wayland - from Early Colonial Settlement to 21st Century Mascots"
* Note: An affinity group setting provides a safe space for students with a shared identity to come together in an environment where they make up the majority. In this setting, participants are more likely to share feelings, experiences and strategies and receive validation and support.
Finally, our 8th grade students will also attend an annual theater performance on Wednesday, offered by Theater Espresso that connects with work around justice in Social Studies.
“Justice at War: The Story of the Japanese Internment Camps
What responsibility does the government have to citizens and non-citizens during times of war or national emergency? What role does ethnicity or social class play in the administration of justice? Do the constitutional powers of the executive branch supersede those of the judicial branch during wartime?”
This interactive reenactment brings to life the Supreme Court case of Endo vs. Milton Eisenhower.
Building Update:
As you know last Sunday a sprinkler pipe froze and burst, causing water to rain down on classroom and office spaces, and WMS was closed for the day. Unfortunately, due to the ensuing damage, these spaces will not be usable for many months to come. Contractors have been working to mitigate the damage area, including but not limited to demolition of space throughout the weekend. Ms. Maines and I have been working hard to finalize a classroom and office relocation plan. We will be installing a temporary classroom behind the gym (in 2-3 weeks) where our wellness in the classroom classes will meet. We appreciate the incredible flexibility students and staff have shown as we navigate this new challenge.
Report Cards:
We plan to open access to report cards in Home Access Center today and send home a printed copy of your middle schooler’s report card. Over the weekend we were experiencing some technical difficulties with eSchool that we hope we can resolve today. Stay tuned.
Testing Kits:
Today in homeroom, COVID testing kits will be distributed to students whose families requested that they receive one. Each kit contains two at-home COVID tests. Families are encouraged to test their children today (February 7th) and then again the following Monday morning (February 14), preferably before school. Testing kits will be distributed through homeroom every other week.
Parents and guardians should note that these test kits are being given directly to students, and they should see the test kits come home unopened.
If you would like to request a test kit for your child, please use the following link.
We strongly encourage families to participate in this program, and to test their child with the at-home tests on Mondays before school when possible. Families do not need to inform their school if their child tests negative, but should inform the school right away if their child tests positive.
We also urge families to have their child participate in the pooled testing program, which takes place on Thursdays. Enrollment is open to all except those with COVID-19 infection in the prior 90 days. Contact Parry Graham to enroll. By participating in both programs, we will be able to proactively identify students who are COVID-positive, and keep our schools as safe as possible.
As always, please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.
Respectfully,
Betsy Gavron
