WMS Family Newsletter

January 21, 2024

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WMS School Website

WMS Family Handbook 2023-2024

WMS Student Absence Form

Dear WMS Families,

We are offering incentives for students to show us their SOAR core values (Service, Ownership, Achievement, Respect). Congratulations to students who are either WMS Eagles of the Month, or who have earned a feather for our Eagles 100 board! When we practice our core values, it helps us internalize them in our daily thoughts and actions. Who will be caught SOARing this week??

Quick News:

Please see the latest update from SEPAC: Bullying Training, January 30
The Watertown Recreation Department has their Winter II Program Registration ongoing. Please consider registering early and often. Click here for the Winter II Program Offering Brochure

Upcoming Dates this week:

January 22: WMS Diversity Council (virtually here at 6:00pm)
January 25: Trimester 2 Progress Report Reminder
January 26: 90s Party - hosted by the WMS PTO - Sons of Italy (7-10pm)
January 29-30: WMS i-Ready mid-year diagnostics (Reading, Math)

Respectfully yours,

Ms. Jennifer Chen Fein, Principal

Ms. Susan Carle, Assistant Principal (Clusters 1, 3, 5)

Ms. Jennifer Sarmiento, Assistant Principal (Clusters 2, 4, 6)

New News at WMS

WMS Evaluation Team Chair - last day is Friday, January 26

It is with sadness and well wishes for Sarah Juusola that we announce her last day at Watertown Middle School will be this Friday, January 26th. Sarah has been the Evaluation Team Chair for WMS, and has served this school community for the last 15 years. As Evaluation Team Chair, she oversees 504s and IEPs at WMS.

We are in the process of finding a great candidate to fill this position, so please encourage any potential candidates in your network to apply. In the meantime, starting on Monday, January 29, caregivers can reach out to Kathy Desmarais, Director of Student Services, at kathleen.desmarais@watertown.k12.ma.us, with any questions or concerns about your child's IEP. Please direct any initial questions about 504s to your child's grade level counselor.

7:30-7:45 Drop Off on Bemis Street

This is just a quick reminder that parent drop off before school from 7:30-7:45am is on Bemis Street and the Waverley Avenue entrance is reserved for our buses and vans.

7:10-7:30am: Parent Drop is OK on Waverly Ave and on Bemis Street; doors open on Bemis at 7:30am

7:30-7:45am: All parent drop off must be on Bemis Street. Waverly Ave is reserved for school buses and vans only.

7:45am and after: Parent Drop off should be on Waverly Ave, so students can sign in tardy.

Our staff monitors the Waverley Avenue entrance to ensure that our transportation to school runs smoothly and we appreciate all families' support and respect toward our staff on duty.

Thank you for your ongoing support and understanding.

Opportunities for Parents/Caregivers To Get Involved

Caregiver University - MENTAL HEALTH AND YOUR TWEEN - February 8

Diversity Council - January 22

The WMS Diversity & Belonging Council is a forum for caregivers and other community members to work toward more equitable practices at the middle school by encouraging accountability, raising awareness, and fostering community engagement.

We will usually meet the third Monday of each month, with our next meeting on January 22 virtually

You can reach out to Sarah Seldomridge at sarah.seldomridge@watertown.k12.ma.us with any questions. Thank you!

ELPAC - Secondary Caregiver Event - January 25

Are you a caregiver of a child in grades 6-12? Do you want to know more about how to support your child in their learning?

The English Learner Parent Advisory Committee is having a Secondary Caregiver Event on how to use Power School and Google Classroom on Th. 1/25 from 7-8pm in the WMS Library. It is an in-person event. Here are the flyers.

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English

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Spanish

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Portuguese

You are Invited Back to the 90's on January 26th

Watertown Anti Bias Coalition - January 29

Here is a link to the SY 23-24 Watertown Anti Bias Coalition Meeting Dates. This document will be updated at the conclusion of each session with a link to the meeting agenda/slidedeck and a link to each session's feedback forms.

Best,

Dr. Daly and Superintendent Galdston

Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

WMS Site Council - January 31

Join us for our next meeting on Wednesday, January 31. We will be hosting the Math and Science Coordinators, with updates in both subject areas to share. Here is the agenda.

The WMS Site Council is a body of students, faculty, parents, and caregivers that plays a strong role in the vision and direction of our school. Site Council meets on the following Wednesdays from 4-5pm in person (WMS art room, A128)/virtually (zoom). Join us for any of our following meetings:

January 31 - guests: Math and Science Coordinators
March 27 - guest: ELA Coordinators
May 1 - drafting the WMS School Improvement Plan 2024-25
May 29 - finalizing and voting on the WMS School Improvement Plan 2024-25

Do you have a question for the WMS Site Council, but can't make it to our meetings? Submit this form to ask, and we will share a summary in this newsletter and/or follow up with you.

Reach out to Principal Chen Fein at jennifer.chenfein@watertown.k12.ma.us with any questions or to express interest in joining next year.

Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) - February 13

Please join us for our next meeting, February 13 (virtual) at 6:30pm. Upcoming meeting date for the year include: February 13 (virtual), March 12 (virtual), April 9 (in person - WMS Art Room/virtual), May 14 (virtual), June 11 (virtual).

Are you interested in being on the WMS PTO? Reach out to our new co-PTO Presidents Elena Poillucci <elenapoillucci@gmail.com> and Melissa Parker <melissapisces@yahoo.com> with any questions or to express interest in joining next year.

Previously Shared News at WMS

Dec/Jan News from WMS Teachers

Starting this month, all Clusters emailed their monthly update directly to caregivers, as well as having the information available here. We hope these updates help you engage in conversation with your child about what they are learning.

Please see our monthly update from WMS teachers:

After School Information

Learning Lab is a place where students can get support in completing practice or homework. Students can attend for free, Monday-Friday, 2:15-3:45pm in the WMS Library.

WMS Winter Clubs run through March 14, 2024.

Students pay $50 one time to participate in any sports or clubs all year; please reach out to the guidance counselor to inquire about a scholarship. Students may participate in any enrichment activities for free (Learning Lab, Student Leadership, GSA, and Yearbook).

The late bus runs Monday-Friday at 3:45pm.

Caregiver University - PowerSchool and Google Classroom 101

It was great to see so many caregivers at our first Caregiver University Event in November.

If you missed it, here are the slides we used in our presentation.

Supporting Students with PowerSchool and Google Classroom - English slides

Supporting Students with PowerSchool and Google Classroom - Portuguese slides

Supporting Students with PowerSchool and Google Classroom - Spanish slides

Supporting Students with PowerSchool and Google Classroom - Arabic slides

Our next Caregiver University event will be focused on Teen Mental Health and how to support your child, coming up in early 2024.

Upcoming Dates

January 22: WMS Diversity Council (virtually here at 6:00pm)
January 25: Trimester 2 Progress Report Reminder
January 26: 90s Party - hosted by the WMS PTO - Sons of Italy (7-10pm)
January 29-30: WMS i-Ready mid-year diagnostics (Reading, Math)

January 31: WMS Site Council, 4-5pm, WMS art room/zoom
February 8: Caregiver University: Your Teen and Mental Health (6:30-7:30pm)

February 13: WMS PTO (6:30pm, virtual)
February 19-23: No School - February Recess
February 28: Early Release (11:45am dismissal with grab-n-go lunch)

WMS Family Smores Archive 2023-2024

Community Resources

Community Resources for Food

Watertown Food Pantry: 80 Mt. Auburn St. (rear of the Belmont-Watertown United Methodist Church), Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. https://www.watertown-ma.gov/330/Watertown-Food-Pantry, 617-972-6490
Watertown Catholic Collaborative Food Pantry: 770 Mt. Auburn St. (basement), Thursdays from 10 to 11:45 a.m. 617-926-7121
Watertown Community Fridge: 80 Mt. Auburn St. (Front of the Belmont-Watertown United Methodist Church), Open 24/7 https://www.watertowncommunityfridge.org/
Watertown Social Services Resource Specialists: at Wayside Multi-Service Center, 127 North Beacon St. https://www.watertown-ma.gov/673/Watertown-Social-Services-Resource-Speci 617-744-9585
Live Well Watertown/Watertown Farmers Market: City Hall, 149 Main St. 617-972-6446 x8 https://www.livewellwatertown.org/home
Watertown Community Foundation: https://www.watertownfoundation.org/ 617-926-1500
Food Pantry at American Legion Post 440: 295 California St., Newton, 3rd Fridays from 10 to 11 a.m. 617-244-0440
Centre Street Food Pantry: 11 Homer St., Newton, Tuesdays 2:30-6 p.m. & the first Saturday of the month from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. 617-340-9554
SNAP: (formerly Food Stamps) https://www.mass.gov/snap-benefits-formerly-food-stamps
Project Bread: https://www.projectbread.org/ Food Source Hotline (1-800-645-8333)

Source: Watertown News, December 11, 2023

Watertown Middle School Contacts

Ms. Jennifer Chen Fein, Principal, jennifer.chenfein@watertown.k12.ma.us
Ms. Jennifer Sarmiento, Assistant Principal (Clusters 2, 4, 6), jennifer.sarmiento@watertown.k12.ma.us
Ms. Susan Carle, Assistant Principal (Clusters 1, 3, 5), susan.carle@watertown.k12.ma.us
Ms. Lisa Gallagher, Nurse, lisa.gallagher@watertown.k12.ma.us
Ms. Sarah Juusola, Special Education, Team Chair, sarah.juusola@watertown.k12.ma.us
Mr. Tom Cloherty, Grade Six Counselor, thomas.cloherty@watertown.k12.ma.us
Ms. Jody Gladstein, Grade Seven Counselor, jody.gladstein@watertown.k12.ma.us
Ms. Amanda Skypeck, Grade Eight Counselor, amanda.skypeck@watertown.k12.ma.us
Ms. Saira Chaudhry, Administrative Assistant, saira.chaudhry@watertown.k12.ma.us
Ms. Laurie Brackett, Administrative Assistant, laurie.brackett@watertown.k12.ma.us
Officer Anna Margaryan, Watertown Police Department School Resource Officer, anna.margaryan@watertown.k12.ma.us

Watertown Middle School Full Staff Directory

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Watertown Middle School

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Website: https://wms.watertown.k12.ma.us/
Location: 68 Waverley Avenue, Watertown, MA, USA
Phone: 617-926-7783

WMS Family Newsletter