WMMS Tiger Times

Welcome to a new school year at William Matthew Middle School! I hope your summer was filled with rest, fun, and special memories with family and friends.

Our team has been working hard to prepare a safe, engaging, and welcoming environment for all students. Our focus will continue to be centered around our expectations of being respectful, responsible and safe while building strong relationships, supporting academic growth, and fostering a positive school culture.

As we gear up for the start of another exciting year, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued partnership and support. Communication between school and home is key to student success, so please keep an eye on our newsletters, website, and social media for important updates and events. We encourage you to reach out with any questions or ideas. Together, we can make this school year one of the best yet. We can’t wait to welcome our students back to the halls of WMMS. Let’s make it a great year and GO TIGERS!

Sincerely,

Dr. Brandi VanDelft

WMMS Principal

Here at WMMS each student is placed into a "House" to build community and school pride. Students are placed into a house during a sorting assembly their 6th grade year and remain in that house throughout middle school. Students receive house points for positive behavior related to our school expectations and academic achievements in the classroom. We carefully keep track of house points and reward our quarterly house champions!

Student arrival will be the same as we ended the year with our student drop off/pick up lanes in the new parking lot. All students will enter through the main (west) doors starting at 7:10 AM.

Students eating breakfast at school should do so as soon as they arrive in the morning. If your student will be eating breakfast at school, please have them here by 7:30 AM to give them plenty of time to eat before the 7:43 AM bell. Those students riding buses that arrive later than 7:30 AM will be given time to eat breakfast.

After eating breakfast (or as soon as arriving if not eating), students will report to their assigned seating area. Students are separated by grade level. Cell phones and personal electronic devices must be kept out of sight once entering the building. Students are released to their lockers beginning at 7:43 AM. First hour begins at 7:48 AM.

School ends at 2:45 PM

Bus:

Students riding “C” buses in the afternoon are to report directly to their bus through the main doors. Students riding “R” buses in the afternoon are to be seated at the assigned tables in the commons. Wait for your bus to pull into the loading zone before loading.

Parent pick up: Students will leave the building using the main doors.

Walkers/Bike Riders:

All walkers/bike riders will exit through the south doors and use our new sidewalk connected to the walking trail.

In order to protect the learning environment, cell phones and personal electronic devices (including smart watches/apple watches, bluetooth enabled headphones/airpods, etc.) must be kept in the student’s locker during the regular school hours of 7:43 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. (unless allowed by the administration for medical purposes). Upon entering the building, students need to turn their devices off and put them in their backpack, binder, or pocket until the bell rings at 7:43 a.m. where they may store them in their locker. After school detentions are extensions of the school day and cell phones/devices are not allowed. Students are to leave their cell phone and personal electronic devices shut off and locked in their lockers for the entirety of the school day. Students are welcome to use the office phone to call home with staff permission. Parents/guardians may always leave a message in the office if they need to reach their student.

Water is the only allowable beverage in the hallways at WMMS. All energy drinks and coffee beverages are banned at WMMS. Soda, juice, or milk may be brought in a lunch box to consume at lunch times. Soda and juice may be used as a reward in class, but the drinks must be sealed and may only be consumed in the teacher’s classroom. No snacks or candy are allowed to be open or consumed in the hallways at WMMS. Teachers may allow snacks or candy for a reward day, but the candy or snacks must remain sealed until the student enters the classroom and must be consumed in that classroom and disposed of before leaving the classroom.

FCA meets on Thursdays at 7:20am in Mr. David Cook's room.

The first meeting is September 3rd.

All students grades 6-8 are welcome.

Missouri requires all students entering the 8th grade to have one MCV (Meningococcal Vaccine) and one Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) prior to school starting.

Please drop off your 8th grader's updated immunization record before the start of the school year.

Student medications can be dropped off starting August 21st.

Please contact our school nurse, Kristi Zentz, with any questions you may have kzentz@kirksville.k12.mo.us

Attendance: We look forward to seeing your child every day! If your child must miss school, please contact the main office (660) 665-3793 before 8:00 to let us know. If we haven't heard from anyone regarding an absence, we will call home to make sure your child is safe. Please turn in any doctors excuses to our secretaries asap.

Scheduling/Student Concerns: Our school counselors are here to help!

Mrs. Rachel Van Riessen (7th grade Eagles & 8th grade)

Mrs. Michele Yoder (7th grade Mag 7 & 6th grade)

Extension 4

Medical Concerns: Nurse Kristi Zentz can help if your child has medical needs or if you have questions about your child's health.

Extension 5

Classroom Questions: The easiest way to reach your child's teacher is via email.

Transportation: If you have a question about your child's bus or about signing your child up to ride the bus, please contact Ecco Ride at (636) 204-5441.

General Questions: If you are not sure who to contact for your specific question, our amazing office secretaries, Mrs. Carter and Mrs. Reed, can help answer your question or connect you to the right person.

William Matthew Middle School

1515 South Cottage Grove

Kirksville, MO 63501

660-665-3793