WMS Family Newsletter
December 10, 2023
Dear WMS Families,
With two weeks left of school before we move into our Winter Break, there are many exciting things happening at WMS during and outside of school including a WMS Community Art Event on Monday, December 18. Please read carefully this week as there are a number of new announcements.
Quick Updates:
- Introducing our new WMS Administrative Assistant: Hello! My name is Saira Chaudhry. I am the new Admin Assistant here at Watertown Middle School. I was previously working at Prospect Hill Academy Charter School as the Assistant to the Principal for 3 years, where I wore multiple hats. I absolutely love working in the school system. I have always been extremely grateful to my teachers and school staff for helping me become the person that I am today. I have a very energetic 8 year old daughter (and an even more energetic cat named Milo) who keep me busy with various activities and adventures. I love working with children and seeing their eyes light up when they discover something new. I look forward to meeting and working with all of you.
- A note from SEPAC: https://www.smore.com/b3rhw
Upcoming Dates:
December 1-22: Parents and Caregivers can complete the 2023 Watertown 5Essentials Parent Survey (We need at least 20% of parents/caregivers to complete the survey and currently have 14% - thank you!)
- December 12: WMS PTO (6:30pm, virtual)
- December 14: WMS Winter Showcase Performance (7:00-9:00PM, WMS gym)
- December 15: Trimester 1 Report Cards and Yardstick Caregiver Guide for 6, 7, 8th graders mailed home
- December 16: WMS Diversity Council (virtually here at 6:00pm)
- December 18: WMS Peter Clough Memorial Community Art Event (drop in from 2:30-7:00pm in the WMS cafeteria)
- December 22: Early Release (11:30am Dismissal, grab-n-go lunch)
- December 25-January 1: No School - Winter Recess
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)
ALICE drill at WMS - December 13
These drills are a good way for students to learn what to do in the event of a dangerous situation either inside or near the building. It is our hope that preparing for situations we hope will never happen helps students feel confident in their skills to respond to emergencies whether they are at school or in their daily life. The drill will include discussions of what to do in different scenarios of an unknown intruder and will end with lock down drill. We will not be "acting out" simulated threats in the building, but rather discussing and educating students of their options and how to best stay safe.
We are working closely with the Watertown Police Department to plan and run these drills, and are doing our best to mitigate challenging feelings that can arise for students or staff around these drills. We will be keeping an eye out for students that may be experiencing anxiety around the drill, however, if you know your child is concerned with these types of events, please don't hesitate to reach out to your student's school counselor so we can be proactive in our support for your child.
WMS Peter Clough Memorial Community Art Project - December 18
Announcement of Design Workshop:
Please join us for an art-making session on Monday, December 18, 2:30 pm - 7:00 pm, in the WMS Cafeteria. Come for as long as you want, bring your friends and family, and have fun working on new designs for 'The Gifts to the World'!
Background for the Workshop:
Last fall, WMS embarked on a community conversation about the Peter Clough Memorial Community Art Installation in the entryway of the Watertown Middle School. Previous WMS students wanted to reimagine/refresh some of the images portrayed on the art installation to more closely reflect the cultures and the people that walk through our doors every morning at WMS.
Mr. Peter Clough was a beloved former Global Studies Teacher and Assistant Principal of WMS who died from Lymphoma in 1995 at the age of 32. Mr. Clough made a significant impact on WMS students, encouraging them the value of character, service, allyship, selflessness, and sacrifice. The contract that Mr. Clough asked his students to sign still remains in his former classroom at WMS. There is also a memorial art installation for Mr. Clough in the main lobby of WMS, which portrayed the gifts he gave to the world. The installation was created by students and staff through a collaborative community art project facilitated by artist Joshua Winer. The large ring mounted on the ceiling is a halo for the sculpture. The initial letters of the words create an acrostic which spells “Peter Clough”. These words express the values of Peter B. Clough, and were chosen by his wife Kerri in honor of her husband.
Pride, Education, Tolerance, Esteem, Respect
Communication, Love, Open Mindedness, Understanding, Gratitude, Happiness
With students currently attending WMS from across the globe, we seek to portray our diverse community in a way that continues to honor Mr. Clough’s memory and contributions to WMS while creating a sense of belonging for all members of our WMS of our community.
After months of productive dialogue, working closely with the original artist Joshua Winer, we are inviting you to participate in this community art hands-on workshop session with Josh, and inclusive of those who knew and loved Mr. Clough, current WMS students, WPS Students and any interested member of the Watertown Community.
One final note: In the near future, in collaboration with Artists for Humanity, we hope to also include the WMS community in our process to update the design a new centerpiece for the mobile that expresses the sense of belonging that Mr. Clough would have wanted.
Please join us to collaborate on this community art project on Monday, December 18 in the WMS Cafeteria anytime from 2:30-7:00pm.
If you have questions, please ask Dr. Ceronne Daly, WPS Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, at ceronne.daly@watertown.k12.ma.us.
5 ESSENTIALS SURVEY
We need your feedback! Watertown Public Schools is , and we need at least 20% of parents/caregivers to complete the 2023 Watertown Parent Survey (so far 14% have completed it). The survey will be open until December 22, 2023.
Here is a short quote from Dr. Galdston's message to all families:
Research has shown that schools that are strong on three or more of the 5Essentials were 10 times more likely to improve student learning gains than schools weak on three or more of the Essentials.
The 5Essentials are:
Effective Leaders
Collaborative Teachers
Involved Families
Supportive Environment
Ambitious Instruction
With three years of data after this year's administration is complete, we look forward to sharing the data with staff and with the larger community.
Trimester 2 is starting: December 5
Trimester 2 began on December 5. While much of the school day will continue as usual, here are the changes that students will experience:
- 2 new specials classes (Art, Health, Music, PE 1, PE 2, Tech Ed)
- New lunch times - see picture to the right. Students are reminded that there is free grab-n-go breakfast in the cafeteria every day starting at 7:20am.
- Up to 2 new WIN classes
We are excited to be offering refined WIN courses this year, as we provide important learning opportunities to meet each student's needs. Here are some things to know about WIN courses this year:
- WIN classes are designed to be an intervention or an extension of learning on grade level standards.
- Most WIN classes are one trimester long, meeting twice a week. Exceptions are some yearlong courses including Band, Orchestra, Chorus and Kingian.
- We have 106 different WIN classes running in Trimester 2. Some titles include: Coding, Study Skills and Executive Functioning, Current Events, Newcomer Academy, Math Intervention, Reading Informational Text, Latin Heritage Spanish, Creative Writing Extension, Energy & the environment, among many more!
- We place students in classes based on data including student diagnostic need (i-ready, IEP goals), teacher recommendation, and when possible, student interest.
If your child has a question about WIN, they can ask their homeroom advisor or guidance counselor.
WMS Bell Schedule and Trimester Dates 2023-2024
Please note that Trimester 1 report cards will be mailed home on December 15, and that there may be more up to date information before that on PowerSchool.
Watertown Middle School
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Find us on...
Website: https://wms.watertown.k12.ma.us/
Location: 68 Waverley Avenue, Watertown, MA, USA
Phone: 617-926-7783