Wayland Middle School
Monday Morning Minute
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Dear Families,
I left Wayland Middle school Friday night with cold toes and a huge smile. The event of the night was the culminating outdoor performance of our fall play, Seedfolks, based on the book with the same name by Paul Fleischman. Director/WMS Drama Teacher, Kelly Lopez, and her cast and crew of thirty-two Wayland Middle School students were inspiring in the outdoor venue of our WMS courtyard. The play was set in a vacant, abandoned, trash-strewn lot in Cleveland, Ohio (fittingly outdoors). As the story unfolded, previously isolated neighbors began to come together across differences of race, religion and culture in order to transform the decrepit space into a flourishing, community garden. The diverse characters learned to see and listen to one another, cultivating seedlings of trust as their produce and community grew. As Ms. Lopez noted, the characters’ journey in some ways parallels our own experience of the times, as we learn how to emerge from the isolated world that COVID-19 created during this pandemic. We’ve bid farewell to Zoom as our vehicle for learning, and this year we are re-navigating ways to foster community at WMS in masks, amidst a sea of hand sanitizer. Coming together in productions such as Seedfolks provides a natural avenue for participants to nurture new friendships, build confidence and skills, and share their collective growth with our greater community. Thank you to all the families who supported their thespians in this fruitful endeavor.
In addition to having play performances, last week our fall sports seasons came to a close. The cross country team fine-tuned preparations for their State Championship meet which was held on Saturday. Congratulations to all the runners on a season filled with personal records and camaraderie. On Thursday, I dusted off my trusty old cleats and tracked down my ankle brace to “play” in the faculty-student soccer game -- a long standing tradition that closes out our girls’ and boys’ WMS soccer seasons. It was a beautiful sunny fall afternoon. The student-athletes were primed for a competitive game, marked by great shots, better saves, much laughter and good sportsmanship. The Rocket Club was launching rockets nearby in what felt like a celebratory fashion. The soccer teams concluded their afternoon off with a pizza celebration. I felt so grateful to be able to resume some of the extracurricular traditions that make WMS such a special place.
Respectfully,
Betsy Gavron
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Upcoming Dates
11/11: Veterans' Day - NO SCHOOL
11/24: Thanksgiving Recess begins at 12:20 PM (no lunch)
2021-2022 Early Release days
11/17, 11/24, 1/5, 2/9: 12:20 PM dismissal, no lunch served.
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Arrivals
REMINDER our doors do not open until 8:25 a.m. (with the exception of students who are signed up for AM wellness who go in at 8:00). Please do not drop off students earlier.
If your child is running late - school begins at 8:40 - and you arrive later than 8:45 a.m., please drop off at the front of the building, so we are sure we get accurate attendance.
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Early Dismissals
If you must dismiss your child early from school, please follow this protocol:
- Send a note into school with your child that day with the time you will pick them up.
- Instruct your child to bring the note to the Front Office upon arrival.
- Your child will be given a Dismissal Pass to give to the teacher at the beginning of the class they’ll need to be dismissed from.
- At the indicated time, your child will come to the office to check out and wait for you at the entrance.
- If all steps are followed, there is no need for you to call or get out of your vehicle.
Thank you very much!
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Has your child been seeing the invisible?
Ever wonder what your child is listening to under those headsets?
Are you wondering what all this means? Well, neither of these exciting opportunities would be possible without donations to the Wayland Public Schools Foundation from parents like you.
Use this LINK to sign up to receive more age-specific information in the future and let us know what types of WPSF grants you would like to see more of in coming years.
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Cradles to Crayons
Winter Clothing Drive
Wayland Middle School is holding a winter clothing drive this month of November for Cradles to Crayons to prepare for the upcoming winter! You may donate hats, gloves, mittens, jackets/coats and any winter clothing including pants and sweaters that you no longer need or use!
- Please do not bring any boots or shoes.
- We prefer new or gently used items.
- Before you bring these items to school, check to make sure there are no rips, stains, or holes, etc.
There will be a box at the front of the school in the lobby to drop off all items so we can give them to the Cradles to Crayons organization and help kids and families across Massachusetts to prepare for the cold season. If you have any questions please contact chloe_chitkara@student.waylandps.org.
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Trick or Trash
The Wellness Department and Environmental Club are teaming up to collect empty Halloween candy wrappers to be recycled.
Bins will be placed in the mural entrance by 6th grade and in the main entrance by the office.
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Buddy Dog Donations
6th Grade Community Service Club
The 6th grade community service club has a new project supporting Buddy Dog by putting boxes around our school for families to donate the things Buddy Dog needs most, including:
- Martingale collars, in medium and small
- Non-clumping, clay cat litter
- Canned cat food (any brand or variety but preferably not shredded type)
- Cardboard filing boxes (bankers boxes)
- Bully sticks, dehydrated chicken jerky for dogs (made in the USA)
- Sturdy leashes with padded handles
- Soft cat toys like toy mice
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Fill Your Reusable Water Bottles!
It is very hard to continue to observe the overuse of plastic water bottles on campus and the resulting waste. Unfortunately, as we await the Water Department’s fix to the Wayland's water issue, we must continue to provide extra water to students via single-use, plastic water bottles. The water bottles provided by school are not meant to be students’ only water source or even their first water source. All students should bring a filled, reusable water bottle to school each day and only use the single-use bottles as a last resort. Every day we find partially consumed water bottles left behind and the waste is just unnecessary.
Please bring a filled, reusable water bottle to school!
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Social Skills Group: Youth Together
Kelsey Sanclemente, LMHC
Counselor, Wayland Youth and Family Services
Topics covered:
- Dealing with social challenges
- Dealing with anger, stress, sadness etc.
- Boosting self-confidence
- Building friendships
- Strengthening Conversation Skills
Groups are being held in Room 109, Tuesday afternoons, 3:10 - 4:05 pm.
if you are interested in learning more!
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Artist: Sofia Pazolli
Grade: 6
Medium: Clay, Acrylic, Wire & Found Objects
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Outdoor Lunch
Volunteers Needed
We have had a difficult time finding volunteers for this! It’s a great way to be at the school and see the kids and outdoor lunch cannot happen without adults outside. All you have to do is make sure kids are playing safely and cleaning up their lunches. Each lunch is 30 minutes long and allows the kids to get fresh air and a welcome mask break. One parent a day is needed to join Ms. Gavron outside.
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Gift Your Child: 110 Families Have Donated So Far!
Please consider donating if you haven’t already -- the WMS PTO helps fund student activities, classroom and curriculum enhancements and support for special grade-level events.
Grant Applications from WMS Staff are arriving and we don’t want to turn down these great ideas!
Don’t forget to request an employer match!
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PTO Thanks...
Irene Rideout, Pam Roman and Melissa Hartford for joining the kids at outdoor lunch! Teachers are teaching during lunches, and so to make outdoor lunch happen, the school needs volunteers. Sign up here.
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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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DID YOU KNOW?
As well as having unique finger prints, we all have unique tongue prints.
Slugs have four noses.
It is impossible to lick your own elbow.
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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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