We hope everyone is staying warm as we move through what feels like a never-ending stretch of winter. Students and staff continue to work hard as we enter the second half of the school year, and the new semester provides an important opportunity for students to pause, reflect, and reset. Next week, February 9 and 10, students will review their Quarter 2 grades, comments, and learner behaviors and develop new goals for Quarter 3. Quarter 2 report cards will be released online through SchoolTool on February 5 and mailed home via USPS. Goal setting and reflection are essential life skills, and we will continue to encourage our scholars to put forth their best effort, ask for help when needed, and take advantage of additional time and support with their teachers. Thank you for your continued partnership in helping our students prepare for high school and beyond.
February is Black History Month, a time to recognize and honor the achievements, contributions, and experiences of Black Americans who have shaped our nation’s history and continue to influence our world today. As a school community, we will intentionally reference the purpose of Black History Month and highlight notable historical figures whose perseverance, leadership, and impact connect to the values we promote at WMS. Our library also has a wonderful collection of books that celebrate Black history and culture, and we encourage students and families to explore these resources. Please be sure to check out the library section of this newsletter for more information and links.
As we reach the midway point of the year, our teachers are reminding students to clean out materials from their folders. We know middle schoolers can accumulate quite a few items in their bags, so please don’t hesitate to check their backpacks and help lighten their load!
Beyond the classroom, if your child is not participating in an extracurricular activity and would like to, they can! Study after study has demonstrated that students succeed academically when they are engaged in extracurricular activities. Please review the clubs and activities link on our website for more information. As always, if there is anything we can do to enhance your child's school experience or if you have questions about anything, feel free to reach out to their school counselor or teachers directly!
We are extremely proud of the cast, crew, directors, volunteers, and families who supported the production of Mary Poppins, Jr. in January! Everyone involved did such a wonderful job and we have an incredible amount of talent and dedication in Wayne. Thank you!
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This Thursday, we are excited to welcome Jared Campbell back to WMS to reflect on January’s character trait of Acceptance and introduce February’s trait of Perseverance. In the coming weeks, students will engage in character education lessons focused on perseverance, shaped by input from both our teachers and students.
During January, our Social Worker, Ms. Goodwin, met with student groups during lunch to learn more about their experiences at WMS. Using this feedback, we will be rolling out a character education lesson in February and March that explores what perseverance looks like in a middle school setting. This includes continuing to put forth effort when learning feels challenging, managing frustration, asking for help when needed, and staying committed to personal and academic goals. Students will also reflect on how shifting their perspective and viewing mistakes as opportunities for growth can improve their chances of achieving success.
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Partnering to Support Healthy Digital Communication
We want to share a quick reminder for families. We have recently seen a small increase in outside-of-school conflicts carrying into the school day through texting and social media.
When this happens, students benefit most when families partner together to support healthy communication and problem-solving. Families can help by:
- Talking regularly with your child about friendships, online behavior, and respectful communication
- Monitoring and limiting digital communication when conflicts arise, including blocking or muting when needed
- Encouraging students to resolve issues respectfully and in person rather than through text or social media
- Coaching your child to pause, think, and problem-solve before reacting
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Collaborating with other families when appropriate to address concerns constructively
- Modeling respectful communication when handling conflicts and disagreements
By working together, we can help students manage conflicts responsibly, prevent issues from disrupting the school day, and continue building positive social skills. Thank you for your partnership in guiding students toward respectful and healthy communication.
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Recently, many students have been bringing in “fidgets” that are described as tools to help with focus. While some items can be helpful, our teachers are finding that too often these items become distractions, especially when they are large, noisy, or lead to sharing and borrowing during class time.
We would like to limit the use of fidgets to students who have a documented need for them. For students who do need to use fidgets, the item must meet the following expectations:
• Does not make sound while being used
• Can be manipulated quietly without distracting others, including no clicking, whistling, or other noise
• Can be used while working, such as in one hand while writing or typing with the other
• Does not create a mess
If you have any questions about the use of fidgets at school, please reach out to an administrator.
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February is here... which means many students have run out of pencils and pens. If your child is running low, please send them to school with any extra supplies you may have. Additionally, if you have a stockpile of pencils, we would greatly appreciate any donations! Students can bring them to their Social Studies teachers, and we will redistribute them as needed. Thank you for your support! |
Scholastic Book Fair Date Change
Please note that our Spring Scholastic Book Fair dates have shifted slightly and will now take place June 1–5 (instead of June 8–12). This change is due to Scholastic closing their warehouse earlier than in past years. Adjusting the dates allows us to receive our book shipment on time and ensures a well-stocked, high-quality Book Fair for our students. Thank you for your understanding and continued support of reading at WMS!
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Our counselors work hard to provide our students with a safe and welcoming school environment. We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate our hardworking school counselors for the valuable support they provide to our students and families. If you have a moment this week, please reach out to them with a kind note!
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January and February - Counselors have been meeting 1-on-1 with 8th grade students about their course selections. Please connect with your 8th graders to learn more about those conversations!
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March - The High School counselors will begin the scheduling process for next year!
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- Friday, February 6 - Staff Development Day
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February 16-20 - Presidents’ Week Recess - Just a reminder that Presidents Week Recess, also known as Winter Break, is scheduled for February 16-20. We hope all of our students and families have a rejuvenating break and take some time to relax and recharge.
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Potential members will receive a letter if they meet the grades criteria.
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Don't forget to preorder your middle school yearbook for the 2025-2026 school year.
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As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We look forward to an exciting and successful second half of the school year!
Sincerely,
Kevin Page, Principal
Bill Heinsler, Assistant Principal
Chris Shaffer, Assistant Principal
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