WMS Update and Survey [Thank you in advance!]
Dear WMS Families,
What a great start to the school year! Our first two days have been a lot of fun, and it has been wonderful to have our students back in the classrooms with our staff. Click here to see some pictures of our students on their first days! We appreciate the collaboration and partnership of our families as we work together to make this the best possible year for our students. If you ever need to contact us for assistance, please do not hesitate to do so! Thank you for all of your help!
As we look ahead, here are a few important updates and reminders:
📸 Picture Days
Picture Day will take place during Physical Education classes on:- Wednesday, September 9th, D Day
- Thursday, September 10th, E Day
🏫 WMS Open House (September 16, 5:30-6:30 PM, Washington D.C. meeting 6:30 PM)
We are looking forward to welcoming families to our WMS Open House on Wednesday, September 16th, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.Social Skill Practice! We would love to have students show their families around the school! This year, we are also encouraging students to introduce their family members to their teachers. This is an important social skill that helps students learn how to connect people who may not know one another. We encourage families to talk with their students about this ahead of time, especially if this is a new experience for them.
- On Tuesday, September 15th, we will send a ParentSquare update with a digital copy of your student's schedule. Having the schedule available on your phone will be helpful as you and your student navigate the building and get familiar with their daily schedule.
- At 6:30 p.m., we will also hold a Washington, D.C. Trip Information Session for 8th grade families who are interested in learning more about the trip this spring. Our 8th grade advisors will be available to share information and answer questions.
💻 Chromebooks and Student Passwords
Almost all families have completed the Acceptable Use Policy, which means students are able to have their Chromebooks in hand.Please remember that student passwords have changed.
- Check your ParentSquare account for a secure document for your child's new password. To find this document, look under "Alerts" and "Student Password Change is NOW LIVE" from August 26.
- Please help your student develop a strategy for remembering and recovering their password so they can successfully log in to their Chromebook.
🚨 Safety Drills - Fire Drills and Reminder about having a plan for
We will begin conducting safety drills, including fire drills, as early as this week. We will review expectations with students and explain the importance of following all safety procedures. It is important that students follow directions and demonstrate responsible actions during drills. Student understanding and cooperation are essential to making sure we can respond to situations in an effective and safe manner.
**Please remember to develop an early dismissal plan with your family and any caregivers.**
In recent years, we have been in scenarios where students were sent home early (i.e., an extended power outage).
Having a plan in place is vital to ensuring your child arrives at their destination safely and families are not scrambling/panicking.
🦅 CARE: The Wayne Eagle Way
Our September CARE The Wayne Eagle Way lesson will focus on Respect and will be taught by our Social Studies teachers throughout the month. Students will discuss and reflect on realistic middle school situations involving personal boundaries, classroom distractions, and collaboration. They will explore how their everyday actions affect their peers, teachers, and the overall learning environment. Through these conversations, students will identify behaviors that demonstrate respect, strengthen relationships, and support learning for everyone.Students will be able to identify respectful behaviors that positively impact peers, adults, and the learning environment. We encourage families to continue these conversations at home and ask your student what Respect looks and sounds like at WMS. Thank you!
Student Screeners Begin in September
Wayne Middle School students will participate in three rounds of screeners this year to support both academic and social-emotional growth. The first round begins in September:
STAR Assessments (Sept. 9–16): Computer-based tests in Math and ELA that help teachers identify what students know and what they’re ready to learn next.
SAEBRS Survey (Sept. 29): A short well-being screener that helps us understand how students are doing socially, emotionally, and academically.
We use the results from both tools to guide classroom instruction and provide the right supports—such as check-ins with trusted adults, small group sessions, or Academic Intervention Services (AIS)—to help every student succeed.
If you would like to learn more about STAR or SAEBRS, click here (link), or contact your child’s school counselor or assistant principal.
💬 We Would Love Your Feedback about how we did this summer!
Finally, we would appreciate your feedback about our summer communication and events as we look for ways to continue improving how we connect with our families. If you attended 5th Grade Orientation and/or our Welcome Walks, we would especially appreciate your feedback on those experiences. The survey should take approximately 2 to 3 minutes to complete if you answer all of the questions.Thank you so much for a wonderful start to the school year! We appreciate your partnership and support, and we can't wait to have our students back on Tuesday.
Sincerely,
Kevin Page, Principal
Bill Heinsler, Assistant Principal
Chris Shaffer, Assistant Principal
---------------------------Other Reminders and Updates---------------------------
🌐📱 Safe School Helpline – Report Safety Concerns Anonymously 💬📞 |
🛏️ Save the Date: Annual Mattress Fundraiser!
