WMS Connections Program

Greetings Families,

We hope everyone has enjoyed their first week back from Winter Break. It has certainly been a productive week. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Connections worked on their mid-year i-ready diagnostics. Those who needed extra time completed their i-ready diagnostics later in the week within the program. Despite the special schedules, shortened week, and returning from break, everyone did excellent work and started a variety of new assignments.

Additionally, two Connections students earned the Student of the Month for January. Students can achieve this recognition by embracing our WMS SOARS principles: Success, Ownership, Achievement, Respect, and Service in their daily lives. This month we recognize Ayaan in eighth grade for Respect and Farrukh in sixth Grade for Achievement.

We have a few exciting events this month, including a school dance for 6th and 7th graders and a school social for 8th graders. These events are currently being planned out. However, when more information becomes available, we will share this information home (time/dates/costs/etc.)

Lastly, we would like to welcome back Assistant Principal Susan Carle! Thank you to Interim Assistant Principal Patrick Dayton for your heart and service during the first half of this year. In the next two weeks, Mr. Dayton will transition back to his Special Educator role.

We have been reading Fortunately the Milk by Neil Gaiman. And the students are working on sequencing the plot of the story.

We live in New England, and whether we love them or hate them, snow days may be just around the corner. As such, please review the information contained in this section regarding school closure protocols. State law requires 180 days of instruction and also requires that any school closures (“snow days”) be made up before June 30. In the case of inclement weather or school closure for emergency reasons, information about school closures can be found at this link.

This test provides information about ELL students' English language abilities in school. Educators use this information to make decisions about students' education. ACCESS measures what students know and can do in English in the domains of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. (ACCESS testing- January 18-22)

• (make-ups and individual testing continued in the days after)

• January 11: PTO Meeting (7:00pm, virtual)
  

• January 13: PD Day - No School
  

• January 16: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School

• January 17: MLK Assembly - Special Schedule

• January 18-22: ACCESS Testing for English Learners

• January 26: Q2 ends
• January 27: Q3 begins
  

• February 2: Bookmobile parked at WMS Main Entrance (3:15-4:30pm)

• March 2: Bookmobile parked at WMS Main Entrance (3:15-4:30pm)

• Watertown Public Schools Calendar 2022-2023

Please always email BOTH teachers when reaching out to the Connections Program:

Mr. S - alex.strongin@watertown.k12.ma.us

Ms. Kelly - erika.kelly@watertown.k12.ma.us

Alex and Erika can be reached between the hours of 8:00 - 3:30 on school days. Email is our preferred method of communication. In the event of an emergency, you can always contact the Main Office at 617- 926-7783.