Wayland Middle School
Monday Morning Minute
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Dear WMS Families,
March offered our middle schoolers an uninterrupted stretch of prime learning time. We’ve flipped the calendar from March to April and look forward to the promise of warmer days.
Community Expectations
Students are enjoying the freedoms that have come with a roll-back in COVID protocols. And with freedom comes responsibility. As is frequent in the spring, we are beginning to have conversations about ending the year strong. There are reminders of and a renewed commitment to our community behavioral expectations. For example, 8th grade discussed the following in TAG this week, as we encourage the grade to be effective leaders as the most “senior” class:
- Strong starts to class - Settled by the bell with materials - Have a positive focused mindset
- Outdoor breaks - Ready at the start of class (so class can go together)- Hands to self - Come in when signaled
- Hallways - Keep to the right - Use school appropriate language - Make space for others
- Class Culture - Minimize distractions to others - Consider timing (pencil sharpening - bathroom breaks) - Bring ideas to the table - Listen to others.
We appreciate all you do to reiterate the importance of these expectations to students in all grades.
WMS Musical
Wayland Middle School’s musical productions never cease to take my breath away. Our WMS thespians did Lin Manuel Miranda proud as Moana and Maui traversed the Pacific (consisting of dancing & singing waves) on an epic journey to save Moana’s village. To the entire cast and crew, I say bravo/brava! To Kelly Lopez, Bernadette Vanaria, and Scott Jarrett, I say thank you for your unwavering dedication to developing the theatrical and musical talent of our sixth, seventh, and eighth graders.
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MCAS
As mentioned in prior weeks, ELA MCAS launches today for 6th grade, with 7th grade MCAS closing out the week. Please help your child be positioned for success by coming to school with a fully charged chromebook, a good night sleep, a healthy snack, and a full, reusable water bottle.
Cluster Placement
We are preparing to schedule --building balanced clusters and homerooms for 2022-2023. With over 600 students in the building and a myriad of factors and programming needs that impact placement, scheduling is an involved process. If you have requests about your middle schooler’s placement that match the following circumstances, please contact me.
- Request that your child not be placed with a specific child due to personal experience and impact on your child’s learning. (A list of children will not be considered.)
- Concerns about placement with a teacher due to your close relationship with that teacher or if you would like a different experience, due to having an older sibling in a classroom in a previous year.
All requests must be sent via email to betsy_gavron@waylandps.org no later than May 1, 2022 in order to be considered in the placement process. Please know that although we will work hard to honor your request, we cannot make any guarantees.
As always I thank you for your ongoing partnership.
Respectfully,
Betsy Gavron
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UPCOMING DATES
4/6 Open Forum with Dr. Easy for MS Families 9:30 a.m. (WMS Cafeteria)
4/11 Creating Safe, Healthy and Informed Technology Practices 7:00 p.m.
4/14 Spring Recess begins at close of school day, 3:15 p.m.
4/25 Classes Resume
5/11 5th Grade Parent Night 7:00 p.m.
5/17 Body Image, Disordered Eating and the Impact of Social Media 9:00 a.m.
5/30 Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL
6/13 2021 MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey Results & Discussion
6/20 Juneteenth - NO SCHOOL
6/21 Tentative last day for students (two snow days)
6/22 Tentative last day for teachers (two snow days).
MIDDLE SCHOOL MCAS DATES
(We ask that students please arrive on time and not be dismissed on testing days)
- 6th ELA: 4/4 - 4/5
- 7th ELA: 4/7 - 4/8
- 8th ELA: 4/11 - 4/12
- 6th Math: 5/2 - 5/3
- 7th Math: 5/5 - 5/6
- 8th Math: 5/9 - 5/10
- 8th Science: 5/12 - 5/13
IMPORTANT DATES FOR RISING 9TH GRADERS
(includes dates and helpful links)
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4/5 Virtual Q&A with HS on course selection process 6:30-7:30 p.m.
(HS will send a link the morning of)
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4/8 8th grade deadline for HS elective requests
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4/27 8th grade virtual transition night for students and families including mental health resources 7:00-8:00 p.m. (HS will send a link the morning of)
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Please join us for an Open Forum with Dr. Easy!
We will hear updates from the Superintendent and have time for Q&A facilitated by members of our PTO. Submit questions for Dr. Easy here.
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Congratulations on a Job Well Done to the Cast, Crew, Staff and Volunteers Involved in the Production of Moana Jr. |
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The Middle School is graciously welcoming donations of gently used balls and frisbees for outdoor lunches.
Donations can be dropped off at the middle school.
THANK YOU!
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Wayland Middle School is holding a spring clothing drive for Cradles to Crayons through Project 351!
You may donate shirts, sweaters, sweatshirts, pants, shorts, dresses and jackets that you no longer need or use! We prefer new or gently used items. We also collect brand-new pajama sets and socks. Please do not bring any shoes. 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 from March 30-April 7 to drop off all items. All donations will be brought to the Cradles to Crayons Giving Factory which will provide your items to kids and families across Massachusetts. If you have any questions please contact chloe_chitkara@student.waylandps.org
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BOOK DONATIONS
Please donate gently used books to support children in the foster care system, court-involved, homeless, or out of school to the donation box in the lobby. Books will be collected from March 28th to April 22nd, and all books will be donated to the More Than Words nonprofit foundation in Boston. Any levels and types of books are accepted, as long as they aren’t textbooks over 10 years old or encyclopedias. Please email ashley_zhu@student.waylandps.org if you have any questions.
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Sign Up to Receive FREE at home COVID-19 Test Kits
All families and staff are eligible for a rapid antigen test kit including two tests every other week. The state recommends that students who have had COVID-19 within the last 90 days not receive the test until they are past their 90 days, but that is a recommendation, not a requirement. Wayland is committed to providing test kits to any families that request them.
We are asking all families and staff choosing to receive the at-home kits to test on Mondays, preferably before school when possible. Positive results should be communicated to their school nurses as soon as possible; negative results do not need to be communicated.
Pooled PCR testing will continue on Thursdays. Enrollment is open to all except those with COVID-19 infection in the prior 90 days. Contact Parry Graham to enroll.
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Artists: Owen Chislett & Eli Maali-Pohl
Grade: 7
Medium: Digital & 3D Printed Model
These student designers collaborated to solve the problem of having the wrong size rolling pin while baking. Eli and Owen's solution was simple: a modular design with extension pieces. They built a prototype with modeling software and our classroom 3D printer (thanks to the WPSF!), and organized their "pitch" with a multi-page website.
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Interested in Joining the 2022-3 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 will be available for the 2022-23 school year. Please visit the WMS PTO’s Boards and Committees page for more details or email questions or inquiries to the WMS PTO.
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Parent Enrichment
Please join us as we hear from experts within our community on topics that impact the health and safety of our students.
April 11, 7:00 pm: Creating Safe, Healthy and Informed Technology Practices with Jason Verhoosky, Director of Wayland Youth & Family Services and WaylandCares.
May 17, 9:00 am: Body Image, Disordered Eating and the Impact of Social Media with Dr. Emily Gordon, Psy.D
June 13, TBD pm: 2021 MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey Results & Discussion with Jason Verhoosky, Director of Wayland Youth & Family Services and WaylandCares.
All discussions will be virtual. Meeting links will be shared via email and on the WMS PTO Facebook page.
Please contact Lisa Raftery, Parent Enrichment Chair, with any questions.
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Helpful Links & Important Info |
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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 a.m.). Please do not drop off students earlier.
If your child is running late - school begins at 8:40 a.m. - 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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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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