Be your best.

Do your best.

Grow even better.

Taking risks and trying new things is one way individuals grow...and grow a lot. This is very tricky for many children and adults. However, it is a mindset that can be overcome regardless of age.

I came across this article this past week. It reminded me of our word of the year and how WMS is trying to live the year- Be your best. Do your bests. Grow even better. EVERY SINGLE DAY.

The first few weeks of our WMS and DCC Mentor Program have been a great success. Lots of enthusiastic DCC student-athletes and WMS student smiles. We appreciate the time our DCC students carve out of their very busy schedules for our students! It is fantastic and greatly appreciated.

Don't forget to check out our DCC student-athletes in action. Here is a link to their athletic schedule. Goooooo Bucs!

Can you believe we have already reached the midterm of the first quarter? One struggle I often see with middle school students is ensuring they keep caught up in their classes. It’s easy to fall behind, especially if they have to be absent for a few days. If you have checked Infinite Campus and are finding that your child is falling into this category, there are many things you can do to help them catch up and feel more confident in their ability to succeed in their classes.

Supports provided at home:

1. Provide an agenda for your child and encourage them to use it. Organization is a huge component of being prepared for classes and planning ahead. It alleviates a lot of undue stress when kids aren’t panicking at the last minute to complete assignments, forgetting to study for a test, or not having the necessary materials when they arrive at class.

2. Set aside time for homework and make it a priority. Have a quiet space, devoid of noise and distractions (such as television and cell phones), available for your child to be able to focus and work. Set aside a scheduled time each day for homework.

3. Encourage your child to reach out to their teachers if they are venting frustrations with homework or understanding assignments. Teachers care about the success of their students. They want to help. Many of them will make themselves available if a student just asks.

4. Check Infinite Campus with your child frequently. It is a great way to keep on top of your child’s progress in school and to have conversations about what they are doing well, and what they may need to be doing differently to improve.

Supports provided at school:

1. ASC support is available to all students Monday through Thursday. The ASC room is located in Mrs. James’ room, and is open to students at 7:30 am and 3:45 to 4:45. It provides a place for students to complete their assignments and to get one-on-one help if needed.

2. Peer tutors provide additional academic support for students. Peer tutors are 7th and 8th-grade students recommended by their teachers to be tutors. These students volunteer their own time to help other students understand and complete their assignments. They also assist with organization when needed.

Friday School is another fantastic opportunity for your child to get back on track in making academic improvements. Some students may view Friday school as a negative, or a punishment. It is nothing more than another opportunity for kids to have some extra time to get caught up on assignments and/or get extra help understanding concepts. Again, we care about your child, and we want to do everything we can to help them be successful, but we need them to meet us halfway.

Did you know we have many different extra-curricular activities besides sports? Many of our students are active in various different activities throughout the year. Activities that are sports related and club related. Some of the different extra-curricular activities we have are: Student Council, TIP, CHAMPS, National Junior Honors Society, Peer Mediation, Peer Mentoring, Yearbook Club, etc.

Also, we have some extra-curriicular activities that pop up time to time. Right now, Mr. Mercado and Ms. Mires are spending some Wednesdays after school with kids to grow their weight lifting skills. Mr Hopfauf has started Tennis Tuesdays this fall.

Extra-curricular activities are a great way for our students to try different things, make new friends, and take risks.

I have been thinking a lot about struggle lately. Life is made of struggle. In the science community, we recognize that struggle and even failure result in growth. In experimentation, success only leads to recognizing that the task was successful. Struggle requires us to look at things from new lenses and from a different angle. We have to come up with new strategies and challenge our existing preconceptions. Struggle and failure are growth opportunities.

In the Marine Corps, the end of boot camp is marked by an event called The Crucible. The Crucible tests the resolve and physical fitness of every Marine. Over fifty-four hours, Marines forty-five miles while negotiating obstacles, team building activities, and mock combat missions. During this time, Marines are sleep and food deprived. Sleep is limited to thirty minutes throughout the activity and Marines are limited to two MRE meals. The event reveals the true nature and abilities of each Marine.

When I reflect on this experience, I think of the word crucible. A crucible is a device utilized in metallurgy. Blacksmiths melt metal in a crucible and remove the impurities from the surface of the resulting substance. The impurities float to the surface and can be skimmed, improving the purity of the remaining solution. The crucible serves to strengthen the resulting product. That refining process is the same that we endure as we progress through struggle. I challenge each of you to think of struggle and failure as opportunities for growth and improved strength as you move forward in life.

I can't believe it, but our football, volleyball, and cross country seasons are almost over! Only a few weeks left.

This means that our girls' basketball and wrestling seasons will be beginning soon. They typically begin the end of October. If your child is interested in participating in either sport, they will need a sports physical to attend and participate in practice. Students need a sports physical for this year. Last year's physical will not be applicable.

We are a 6th-8th middle school in addition to a Special Education Pre-K program in Glendive, MT. GO DEMONS!

Email: wms@glendiveschools.org
Website: https://www.glendiveschools.com/o/wms
Location: 505 North Meade Avenue, Glendive, MT, USA
Phone: 406.3772356
Facebook: facebook.com/wmsglendive

Principal

Dean of Students