We can’t believe October is already here! Thank you to all of our students, staff, and families for helping make the start of our school year such a success. Every individual plays an important role in creating a welcoming, positive, and focused learning environment. We truly appreciate our school community!

Earlier today, we held our second annual Middle School/High School Pep Rally for Homecoming — and it was a huge success! Our students and staff had a blast celebrating our community pride.

In September, we focused on the character trait of Respect, and our staff recognized more than 156 students for demonstrating respect in a variety of ways. This month, our Social Studies classes will be leading a character lesson about coping strategies. Why coping strategies? Well, last year, student surveys revealed that many students feel stressed about school, worry about peer-to-peer social media pressures, and spend over three hours a day on their phones while getting less than seven hours of sleep each night. Based on that feedback, we are focusing our first lesson on coping strategies and healthy habits. In addition, our counselors visited 5th-grade classrooms to talk about healthy and positive conflict-resolution skills. Developing these skills is essential for improving peer relationships, empowering students to handle challenges constructively, building self-confidence, and practicing assertiveness in respectful ways.

Administrators will also be leading lunch check-ins with students to review trends and celebrate positive behaviors. During those check-ins, we will hold a CARE Card Drawing for a special 5–8 trip to the Ninja Warrior Factory team-building experience. Our character lessons will continue to be shaped by student feedback throughout the year!

Looking ahead, October’s character trait is Responsibility. This directly connects to our building goal of having 100% of students set personal goals for academic success. On October 14, during first period, students will review their 5-week grades and create a personalized learner-behavior goal for the rest of the marking period. This goal will be recorded on page 5 of their student agenda.

Students will then monitor their progress daily on page 25 of their agenda by checking off whether they worked toward their goal. We’re excited to support our students as they work toward reaching their goals!

As students settle into their routines, October is often a time when some may become a bit too comfortable, and with that, we occasionally see a rise in off-track behavior. We are proactively addressing this by helping students reflect on their choices, build stronger habits, and take ownership of their learning. A key part of this work is encouraging students to advocate for themselves—whether that means asking for help, emailing a teacher, or following up on a missing assignment. These skills are essential for both academic and personal growth.

Thank you for your continued partnership in helping students thrive. Grades and assignments are updated in Schoology, so we encourage you to check often and use it to spark conversations at home. Together, we can support students in building strong habits and reaching their full potential.

Student Government is planning a fun Halloween Dance with food, a DJ, and more!

Students are welcome to dress up for Halloween, but we ask that costumes are chosen with care. Costumes should allow everyone to enjoy the day in a fun, safe, positive, and productive manner.

On Monday, October 20, we will conduct our annual Early Dismissal Drill by dismissing approximately 15 minutes early. Please make sure your family and caregivers have a clear early dismissal plan in place. In recent years, we’ve had unplanned early dismissals (such as power outages), and having a plan ensures your child gets home safely and calmly.

To keep all students safe and comply with state health regulations, all medications must be dropped off directly with the school nurse.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and organized process!

Red Ribbon Week is celebrated nationwide as a way to promote being drug-free. It began in 1988 to honor DEA agent Enrique Camarena. Each year, schools across the country highlight the importance of living drug-free lives.

Please talk with your middle schooler about this important message, and encourage them to take part in the fun Spirit Week activities (details coming soon!). If you ever have concerns about substance use, please reach out to your child’s counselor — we are here to help connect families with resources.

All students have been loaned a district-issued Chromebook — thank you for your support!

Please remind students to handle them carefully: avoid picking off keyboard keys, pressing on the screen, or tossing backpacks with Chromebooks inside. Preventing damage helps avoid unnecessary costs for families.

Thank you for your continued support in helping make WMS a safe, positive, and engaging place for all students. We look forward to a great month ahead together!

Sincerely,

Kevin Page, Principal

Bill Heinsler, Assistant Principal

Chris Shaffer, Assistant Principal