[**IMPORTANT**] Open House/Bookfair, 8th Grade D.C. Trip Meeting, Security Measures with CARS, Grading Practices, Academic Workshops, 5th/6th Gr. Band/Chorus, Homecoming

Dear WMS Families,

We have had a fantastic start to the school year! Having students and staff back in the hallways, classrooms, cafeteria, at recess, and after school has been wonderful. We apologize for the long newsletter today. Our goal is to keep families informed about the updates and happenings at their child(ren)'s school! 

There’s a lot happening at Wayne Middle School in coming weeks, and we want to keep you in the loop:

Wednesday, September 16, 5:30-6:30pm: WMS Open House (Grades 5-8)
This is a casual, open format where families can meet teachers, explore their child's schedule, and learn more about our academic program. Feel free to walk through at your own pace—there are no set rotations. Students are welcome to attend with their families!

• We will be sending an electronic communication out with your child’s schedule the day before Open House!

• Click here to view the WMS Library Newsletter! The Scholastic Book Fair will be held in the WMS Library from 9/14 to 9/18 and DURING OPEN HOUSE. Every student will have the opportunity to visit the fair with their ELA class. Check out our Book Fair Homepage for more information, including the option to order online. You can also browse offerings using the website!

• 6:30-7:30pm: 8th Grade Washington, D.C. Trip Info Meeting - After Open House, we’ll host an informational meeting for 8th-grade families regarding the Washington, D.C. trip. We plan to wrap up in under an hour. Library Newsletter & Information about the Scholastic Book Fair: September 14-18
  
  

🚗 🚘Security Matters at WMS [MUST READ] 🚗 🚘

At Wayne Middle School, the safety and security of our students and staff is always a priority. One simple way families can help us maintain a safe school environment is by following our arrival and dismissal procedures.

🕑🕑Our doors open at 7:30 a.m., and students are dismissed at 2:12 p.m. For dismissal, we ask families not to line up in the school parking lot more than 30 minutes before dismissal. Having vehicles waiting in the parking lot while students and staff are still in the building creates an additional security concern and can make it more difficult for us to monitor activity around the school. 🕑🕑

We appreciate your help in keeping our school environment safe and secure. If you have any questions or concerns about our arrival or dismissal procedures, please feel free to contact me directly or reach out to our Director of Security.

Safety Drills

There are several types of emergency drills practiced across the district to help prepare staff and students for potential situations. During the first weeks of school, we review the different types of safety drills we conduct. We anticipate beginning our fall fire drills this week and aim to complete several by the end of the month. These drills are an important part of ensuring that all students and staff know how to respond quickly and safely in an emergency. We encourage you to talk with your student(s) about the purpose of these drills and to reinforce the importance of safety and preparedness. To learn more about safety drills and preparedness in our schools, click here: Safety & Security Website (link).

Understanding Our Grading Practices

At Wayne Central, we have been focusing on the way we organize and teach our standards, targets, and assessments. We have also been working towards more clearly reporting and grading our students. As part of this work, you may notice an 80/20 approach being used in your child's academic classrooms.

Our goal is for an academic grade to clearly communicate a student's current level of proficiency toward the learning standards identified by the teacher. To make grades a more accurate reflection of academic learning, learner behaviors are being separated from academic grades. Click here to see our grading philosophy (link).  Instead, these behaviors will be communicated through the Eagle Score (link) on your child's report card.

The Eagle Score (link) focuses on three important learner behaviors:

• Respect

• Responsibility

• Engaging as a Learner

In our academic gradebooks, approximately 80% or more of a student's grade will come from assessments that show their progress toward identified learning standards. Up to 20% may come from classwork and other formative assessments.

• Formative assessments are short activities or checks that help teachers see what students understand while they are still learning. They give teachers information about what students know, what they may need help with, and what should be taught or practiced next.

Our goal is to make grades meaningful and useful for students and families by clearly communicating what students know and are able to do.

Making the Most of Academic Workshop

Most WMS students have an Academic Workshop built into their school day. This time is designed to provide students with additional time and support to be productive, build good learning habits, and make progress academically.

One important part of Academic Workshop is independent reading. We expect students to spend at least 10 minutes reading independently, and all students should have a book in progress, sometimes referred to as a DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) book.

After DEAR time, students should use their Academic Workshop time productively. Students should first complete any assigned homework or work they need to finish. Once their work is complete, students are encouraged to log into IXL. IXL is a personalized learning program that provides students with opportunities to practice and strengthen skills in reading, mathematics, and other content areas.

Our goal is for Academic Workshop to be a productive and supportive part of the school day. It is not intended to be a time for gaming, searching for games online, or socializing. We want students to use this time to read, complete their work, practice important skills, and become more independent learners.

🎶 5th and 6th Grade Band & Chorus are Starting Soon! 🎶
We are excited to share that our 5th and 6th grade band and chorus programs are about to begin! Lessons are being organized and will start this week. Students will soon be making music together in both small group lessons and full ensemble rehearsals. For more detailed information, please reach out to to Mrs. Erickson (for 5/6 band) and Ms. Tichenor (for 5/6 chorus).

Full ensemble rehearsals will take place once a week during Academic Workshop time for 5th and 6th grade Chorus and Band ensembles.

Full ensemble rehearsals will take place once a week after-school rehearsals, as well:

• Mondays: 5th Grade Band & 6th Grade Chorus *this is different than last year*

• Thursdays: 5th Grade Chorus & 6th Grade Band *this is different than last year*

School Counselor Lessons with 5th Graders starting mid-September:
This September, our school counselors will be visiting 5th grade classrooms to lead a four-part series on conflict resolution skills. Students will build self-awareness, practice empathy, and learn how to communicate and problem-solve respectfully with their peers.

Over the course of the lessons, students will:

• Recognize and manage their own emotions while understanding others’ feelings.

• Strengthen listening and communication skills, including using “I” statements.

• Practice problem-solving strategies and reflect on fairness versus equality.

• Learn how to stand up for themselves in respectful, assertive ways.

These lessons give students practical tools to handle conflicts, strengthen friendships, and create a more supportive learning environment.

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: Computer-based tests in Math and ELA that help teachers identify what students know and what they’re ready to learn next.

• SAEBRS Survey: 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.

Homecoming Events:

• Homecoming week themes are being developed and will be shared with students as soon as possible!

• Athletic Schedule: Click here (link) to view the athletic schedule around Homecoming. 

• 🦅🦅Community Parade & Football Game, September 25🦅🦅: 

  • The community Homecoming Parade will start from Fireman's Field at 5:30 PM and end at the turf football field between the MS and HS.

  • Football Game Kickoff is at 7:00 PM. As a reminder, middle school students must be accompanied by an adult. We hope you and your family can join us for the fun evening events!

Thank you for your support! As always, if you ever have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the school. If you’re unsure of who to contact, our school website (link) has a clear guide to help you connect with the right person. 


Have a wonderful weekend!

Kevin Page, Principal
Bill Heinsler, Assistant Principal
Chris Shaffer, Assistant Principal
Follow us on Instagram @WayneCentralMS