Wayland Middle School
Monday Morning Minute
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Important Dates
3/24 8th grade parent ZOOM meeting on grade 9 course selection 7PM (a link will be sent the day of)
4/2 Good Friday - No School
4/19 - 4/23 Spring Recess
5/31 Memorial Day - No School
- Reminder: Please do not drop students off for in person learning before 8:25 AM
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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!
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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Dear WMS families,
It is hard to believe that this week marks the one year anniversary of the day Wayland schools shut our doors in what we anticipated would be a temporary, proactive, one-week shutdown. We hoped a temporary closure would thwart the spread of the COVID-19 virus that had found its way into our community. Upon realizing the shutdown would be longer than a week, we answered the call to pivot to an all-remote, enrichment-only model of learning, still assuming the closure would be limited. Once it was clear that there would not be a path to reopening for in person learning in the spring of 2020, we again heeded the Commissioner of Education’s directives and closed out the school year with a revised, all-remote model that allowed for gentle, curricular forward progress.
The summer was a whirlwind as well. After creating and debating three different schooling options over the summer, the Wayland School Committee decided that the school year to begin with a rigorous and robust online model of learning, complemented by limited, in-person IEP service delivery for some students. Some families, however, committed to spending the entire first semester in a new Wayland Remote Academic Program - WRAP. In October those not in WRAP transitioned into a hybrid model that offered two full days in person learning and two full days of synchronous instruction, with TAG and support services occurring on Wednesdays.
This is the model that we have remained in, until now. As we have made headway with the virus and vaccinations are rolling out the Massachusetts Commissioner of Education is urging schools to return to an all-in model, which in Wayland would lead us to reduce our social distancing parameters from six feet to three. Recent successes with pooled testing in our schools has added an additional layer of confidence that the incidence of COVID in our environment is minimal. This prospect of a transition to all in leads different members of our community to experience a range of emotions - relief, excitement, apprehension, and unease to name a few. We anticipate that this week the School Committee will vote on whether WMS will transition back into an all-in person model five days a week to close out the year. Such a change would require a significant overhaul of our master schedule and a complete re-outfitting of our furniture to accommodate students learning at three feet of distance. While we would aim to preserve many routines and minimize disruption to current class compositions, some change would be inevitable. We are eager to determine the next steps and plan accordingly.
We know that each and every academic transition in the past year has caused students and their adult caregivers to adapt in significant ways. This has not been easy for families. So too have our teachers adjusted to each new model with accompanying twists, turns and evolving health protocols. We have learned so much along this journey, adding many new tools to our pedagogical tool boxes. It’s been exciting to see how so many students have grown their academic independence, resilience, and advocacy skills in this adventurous school year. We will keep you posted as we learn what more is to come.
Today, I had planned to unveil to you the complexities of our MCAS schedule that staff had painstakingly developed. As soon as it was completed, however, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Educations decided to delay the implementation of these annual exams. We will create and publish a new MCAS schedule when new guidance emerges around updated testing windows.
We thank you for your patience and unwavering support and partnership in this unique, topsy-turvy year. A special thanks to the PTO who organized a system for helping teachers secure COVID vaccinations appointments in recent days. It takes a village to get through a stretch like this one, and we appreciate being part of such a caring, supportive community. As always, please don’t hesitate to let us know how we can support you and your middle schooler.
Respectfully,
BetsyGavron
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State Subsidized COVID-19 Pooled Testing
Program Extended Until April 16
Great news-- the state has extended the COVID-19 pooled testing program through April 16. If you are not currently enrolled it's not too late!
Deadline: Thursday, March 18
(If you have already enrolled in the COVID-19 testing program, no further action or fee is required)
- Simplified enrollment process - no scanning
- Quick turnaround - test results back within 24 hours, max 48 hour
- Minimal quarantine time - individual follow up testing occurs in the evening with results in 15 mins (at no additional cost to you)
- Simple, non invasive testing procedure (not scary for kids)
Testing helps improve the safety and well being of our children at school. Please enroll today!
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2021-2022 Student Transportation
The 2021-2022 School Year - School bus registration will open March 2, 2021 and close on March 31, 2021. All families who choose school bus transportation, regardless of Town-paid (enrolled in grades K to 6 and live more than 2 miles from school) or fee-based (enrolled in grades K to 6 and live closer than 2 miles from school or enrolled in grades 7 to 12) must register on or before March 31, 2021.
More information about FY 2021-2022 Transportation
Thank you!
TRANSPORTATION - GENERAL INFORMATION
Who is eligible for transportation ? - Students in Kindergarten through grade 6 living more than two miles from their districted schools are eligible to receive town-paid transportation. Students in Kindergarten through grade 6 living less than two miles from their districted schools and all students in grades 7 to 12 are eligible for fee-based transportation, based on space availability.
What is the bus fee? - The transportation fee is $300 per student and capped at $850 for a family with three or more student riders if registration is postmarked or submitted on-line on or before March 31, 2021. Registrations submitted after March 31, 2021 will be accepted based on space availability and the fee increased to $400 for an individual pass and to $1,150 for the family cap of three or more student riders.
How do I register my student and pay for transportation? - There are two ways to register and pay for transportation:
Registration and On-line Payment- Register on-line and pay the transportation fee via UniPayGold on or before March 31, 2021. There is a charge for payment by electronic check and an additional fee for payment by credit or debit card. For more information, the fee schedule is posted on the WPS website.
Registration and Mail-in Payment - Complete and submit on-line the 2021-2022 School Bus Registration Form A new form has been created which you can complete on-line and click “Submit” located at the bottom of the form. A confirmation will be sent to your email address from “notification@sharpschool.com”. If you do not receive a notification, please check your spam folder. If payment is required, mail a check made out to “Wayland Public Schools”, Wayland Public Schools Transportation Office, 41 Cochituate Rd, Wayland, MA 01778, on or before March 31, 2021.
Is there financial assistance available? - Financial assistance is available for eligible families. The application form and information about financial assistance is available on the Student Transportation Page on the school district’s website. Please submit your application for financial assistance on or before June 30, 2021.
When will bus routes be available? - Bus routes will be posted on the Wayland Public Schools Website in June, 2021.
Will my student need a bus pass to ride the bus?- Every student registered for transportation will need to present a bus pass before boarding. Bus passes will be issued in August, 2021. For the safety of all, student riders will be asked to present bus passes to drivers before boarding.
Who can I contact for more information? - Contact information about bus transportation, routes and passes before and during school hours is provided below:
For information about registration, payment, refund, and routes during school hours:
Melissa Ricci, Transportation Coordinator (part-time)
For information about routes and buses before school hours:
Janet Delano, Dispatcher
Linda Quinn, Manager
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On Tuesday, March 9 at 7.00 pm Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Program will be holding our 2021 Virtual White Ribbon Event, which was canceled last year due to the pandemic. The title is A Call to Families: Discussing Healthy Masculinity with Young People and will be led by Rickie Houston of A Call to Men.
We hope to attract a broad cross-section of the school population - faculty, parents' organizations, and students to listen to the presentation and then join break-out rooms to discuss what they have heard.
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Middle and More Coffees
Upcoming Dates
Middle and More Coffees continue throughout the 2020-21 school year. Here are a few upcoming dates:
TODAY March 8, 9:00-10:00 am: English & Social Studies Discussion with WMS Department Heads. Parents from all grades welcome! A link will be sent later this morning.
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Artist: Bella Schreiber
Grade: 8
Medium: Digital Collage
Bella created this digital portrait as part of our investigation into the artistic style of painter/sculptor Kehinde Wiley. Bella used digital tools to create a repetitive patterned background, situated behind an image of a subject of her choosing.
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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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