Wayland Union Middle School

WUMS Students and Families,

We are officially just one week away of kicking off a fantastic school year together!

There is a lot happening at WUMS right now as teachers prepare classrooms, schedules get their final touches, and our entire team gets ready to welcome students back. The building is starting to feel like school again, but it won't truly feel complete until our Wildcats are here!

A new school year brings a fresh start. Whether you're excited, a little nervous, or somewhere in between, know that we're excited to see you and we're ready to help you have a great year.

Schedules: Schedules go live very soon! They will be released tonight. That said, please know that all 7th and 8th graders had the opportunity to provide input regarding explanatories. We used this information to guide as much of their schedule as possible. Change requests will be honored if there is a medical need, however outside of that we have worked to build a cohesive schedule for all students.

Enjoy these last few days of summer and soak in all of the sunshine! We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, August 19 for our Open House!

Respectfully,

Rachel Cimek

Principal

August

8/14 - Strength and Conditioning Ends at the HS Fitness Center

8/19 - Open House for all students 4:00pm-6:00pm

8/19 - 7th Grade Vision Screening - during Open House

8/24 - First Day of School (1/2 Day - Dismissal at 10:45am)

8/26 - School Picture Day - During Our School Day

September

9/04 - No School

9/07 - No School - Labor Day

9/25 - Homecoming

The middle school is hosting an Open House for our students to come and visit with their teachers, see their classrooms, and practice opening their lockers.

7th graders will be doing a vision test at this time. Please remember to bring your glasses or contacts with you for this test.

Meyer Music will be joining band and orchestra students within their respective rooms. This will provide students with the opportunity to be fit for their instruments.

Wayland Middle is proud to introduce Mr. Caleb Campbell, as our new assistant principal.

Mr. Campbell earned his bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University before completing his master's degree at Grand Canyon University. He brings 18 years of educational experience to his new role, including the past 14 years serving Wayland Union Schools. Throughout his Wayland career, he has taught 4th grade at both Dorr and Pine Street Elementary Schools, 8th grade math at Wayland Union Middle School, and most recently served as the Middle School Dean of Students during the final three months of the 2025-2026 school year.

Mr. Campbell loves soccer and coaches the Wayland Boys Varsity team. In his free time he is joined by his wife and three boys. They like to go out to Holland where they do fishing, swimming, and boating.

Congratulations! We are so excited to see how you will mold our school.

WUMS would like to welcome to our school...

My name is Carter Crow, and I am excited to be joining Wayland Union Middle School as the new 8th-grade math teacher. Wayland has always been a special place to me, so having the opportunity to teach here is something I truly appreciate.

I graduated from Alma College with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Mathematics. While I was there, I also played on the men's soccer team for four years. In my classroom, I hope to create an environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, learning from mistakes, and growing in their confidence with math. I want my students to know that it's okay not to have all the answers right away, we're here to learn together.

When I'm not at school, you'll usually find me outdoors, fishing, watching sports, or relaxing with a good movie. I'm looking forward to getting to know my students and their families and making this a great school year. Go Wildcats!

Hello! I'm Mr. Greene and I will be teaching 7th grade math. I've taught for 11 years and I'm super excited to teach at the middle school level again. This grade level is a great opportunity for students to see the relevancy of math.

Wayland is a special place where my family has put down roots and I have two who attend Baker Elementary. In my free time I enjoy playing hockey, watching football, and being outdoors.

I'm looking forward to getting to know the students and families of Wayland!

Raising animals is one of my favorite things to do, and I am looking forward to sharing some of that with students in some special ways. My dog Freyja is working on becoming a certified Therapy Dog and will be visiting the classroom regularly throughout the school year. I really love kayaking, folk music festivals, camping, swimming, soccer, and mushroom hunting. I am also an award winning baker, and I love cooking and baking with the kids at school.

I am excited to get to know all of your students better, and I hope you enjoyed learning a little more about me!! See you soon!!

Starting up for our 2026/2027 school year we will have a new exploratory class offered to our middle school students, MEERA (Manufacturing and Engineering Education Reimagined for All).

This program is designed to inspire and train the next generation of manufacturing workforce for your industrial base. This is offered for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.

The class will focus on hands-on curriculum and industry-aligned tools and technologies. Students will be working with tools such as virtual reality welding, CNC Machining, & 3D printers.

To read more about this exciting class, please click the link here:

We are trying something new!

Picture Day will be held on a typical school day, Wednesday, August 26. Getting through the line during Open House can be difficult as well as joining your child mid-work-day during the month of August. We are hopeful this runs smoothly and supports all needs.

Picture Day for Wayland Middle School - Wednesday, August 26

This event's Order Code is 0648CMF.

Online ordering is available before and after Picture Day. Shipping and handling charges may apply to orders placed after Picture Day. Use the code above to order pictures here.

Would you like a reminder and updates regarding your photos? Sign up here!

Please find the list of supplies your student will need for this school year.

Other items that may support your child on a regular basis:

• Water Bottle - labeled
• Backpack/Bag - to transport homework between home and school; kept in locker
• Binder System/Trapper Keeper - help your student carry items from class to class.

As you begin assessing your child's wardrobe and realizing that they have grown tremendously over the last year, please be sure to reference our dress code within the 25/26 handbook while our 26/27 handbook is pending approval.

To volunteer at the Wayland Middle School you will need to fill out a background check.

This background check is good for 1 calendar year.

IChat Background

For over-the-counter medication and prescription medication to be given at school an Administration Medication Form is required.

This information is available on the Wayland Union Schools website. It is located under Parent Quicklinks. Once there, click Administration Medication Form. Then, download and print the PDF to return to school.

Reminder: Any prescriptions will need to have a doctor's signature in order for students to receive at school.

If your student(s) will be utilizing district transportation for the 2026-2027 school year, please complete the request for transportation form.

Important: There will be a Safety Freeze, which takes effect three weeks prior to the first day of school and will last two weeks into the new school year. During this time, no changes will be made to bussing or routes.

If you have already completed this form for the 2026-2027 school year, you do not need to fill it out again.

If you have any questions, please call our Transportation Department at (269) 792-2262 or email transportation@waylandunion.org.

Our doors open at 7:30 AM for students.

• The building will remain locked until 7:30 AM. Students may wait in the vestibule near the main office when the windchill reaches 0 degrees.
• Parent drop off takes place in the front of the building. Wildcat Drive gets congested. We strongly encourage the use of our school buses and/or carpooling.
• Please pull forward as far as possible to reduce congestion and speed up everyone's drop-off.

School dismisses at 2:40 PM.

• Students will leave the building through various doors, however we ask that if you are picking up, you use the front lot or the lot near the gym.
• If an end of the day transportation change is needed to be communicated to your child, please feel free to call our office by 2:10.

Students who attend school more than 90% of the time are more likely to stay on track academically and build strong connections with peers and staff. When a student misses 10% or more of the school year - for any reason - they are considered chronically absent. This includes both excused and unexcused absences, tardies, late arrivals, and early check-outs. This contributes to lost learning time.

For our Middle School Students -

Tardy: Up to 10 minutes late per class

Absent: More then 11 minutes per class

Early Departure: Up to 10 minutes early

Class Is In Session:

School Day Starts: 7:45am

School Day Ends: 2:40pm

1/2 Day Starts: 7:45am

1/2 Day Ends: 10:45am

The Middle School is a cell phone free zone.

• Students will not be allowed to carry or use cell phones during the school day.
• Cell Phones will remain in their locker and turned off from 7:40am - 2:40pm
• Phones will be available in the office for students to contact parents/guardians.
• Parents/guardians can contact their child by calling the main office at (269) 792-2306

As you begin assessing your child's wardrobe and realizing that they have grown tremendously over the last year, please note our dress code.

Students are required to wear:

• A shirt with solid fabric covering the front, back, and sides under the arms
  

• Bottoms with solid fabric covering the buttocks and upper thigh.

• Appropriate footwear with a solid bottom/sole.

• Shirts/dresses that have straps over the shoulder and cover undergarments.

• Shirts/tops must cover the entire rib cage.

Prohibited clothing and/or attire includes:

• Clothing that exposes the chest.

• Clothing that exposes undergarments.

• Clothing that promotes or references tobacco, alcohol, or drugs (example: Cookies).

• Clothing that depicts violence, hatred, racism, sexually suggestive messages, or is gang-

  related (example: Playboy).

• Wearing of hoods on the head

• Wearing of sunglasses
• Blankets

iPad coverage is available to purchase at our Webstore. Just click the link at the bottom of this section.

When should you get coverage for your students iPad?

• 6th grade though 12th grade are eligible for this coverage.

What does coverage do for you?

• Fixes damaged screens at no cost AS LONG as damage is deemed unintentional.

What does coverage not do for you?

• This coverage does NOT cover lost or stolen Devices.

When is the coverage void?

• iPads that are damaged and NOT in the provided case. Taking the case off the iPad will void the coverage on the device for that instance, and damage will need to be paid for out of pocket. Coverage continues after the damage is fixed, and case is reinstalled.
• Damage is deemed intentional and/or excessive.

What are the out of pocket costs for repairs?

• Case Replacement- $30
• Screen Repair (case intact)- $50
• Screen Repair (case removed)- $110
• Lost or Stolen Devices-$250
• Devices that have excessive unrepairable damage-$250

Insurance Cost

• 1 Year of Insurance: $30
• 2 Years of Insurance: $40
• 3 Years of Insurance: $50

PLEASE NOTE: Intentional damage and void coverage is not determined by Wayland Union Schools. This is determined by the coverage provider.

Sign up and pay here: Ipad Insurance

Final Forms registration for the 2026-2027 school year is now open for both Middle School and High School student-athletes!

To participate in athletics at Wayland Union Schools, all student-athletes must complete registration through Final Forms.

Important Reminders:

• Register and complete all required forms in Final Forms.

• Upload a current sports physical.

• Select all sports your athlete plans to participate in or try out for to ensure all required forms are generated.

• Both the student-athlete and parent/guardian must review and sign forms annually.

Deadlines:

• Final Forms registration must be completed before participating in any tryout or practice- August 17 for MS.

• An MHSAA sports physical is required for all Middle School and High School athletes.

• Physicals must be dated on or after April 15, 2026, to be valid for the 2026-2027 school year.

• Physical forms can be uploaded to finalforms account or dropped off at the Middle School office.

Helpful Links:

• Final Forms Registration: https://waylandunion-mi.finalforms.com

Thank you for helping us streamline the athletic registration process and ensure your student-athlete is ready for the upcoming season.

- WU Athletic Office

Hand2Hand is a program where we work with a local church and them distribute food to our students.

If you would like to learn more about the Hand2Hand program please click on their website.

To fill out to receive Hand2Hand please click on the link.

Scan the QR code for more information

Meals are expected to begin delivery mid-September.

• If your child is riding a bike to school, they will need to bring a bike lock to ensure security.
• Water is permitted on the carpeted areas of our building. Other beverages are not permitted and students will be asked to finish them in the front of the building.
• Right when you walk into our front doors you are welcomed by an engraved Wildcat within the floor.
  Please respect our wildcat and walk around it! - Thank you!
  

We all experienced those back to school jitters. Here are a few things you, as a parent, can do to help your student not be so nervous.

• Talk with your child about their concerns
• Visit the school in advance
• Meet with the teachers
• Come up with a step by step plan for the first day.
• Arrange with a friend/sibling to connect with during times of the day.
• Have your child help in back to school preparations.
• Go over class schedule together. Maybe find a map of the school and show where classes are.
• Take a walk or plan a family game time the night before to take their mind off the next day.
• Head to bed on time.
• Be confident. Encouraging words and show enthusiasm about this new school year.
• Plan something special for after the first day to celebrate. Either a family favorite meal or a treat.
• Teach deep breathing. - 4 seconds breath in through the nose, hold for 7 seconds, release breath through the mouth for 8 seconds.

Simple ways families and schools can work together to support student success.