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!
Last Friday, we held our third 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 175 students for demonstrating respect in a variety of ways (231 cards!). This month, our Math classes will be leading a character lesson about how to respectfully, and responsibly Engaging as a Learner. Why are we focusing on engaging as a learner? Well, over the past few years, Wayne Central has been focusing on the way we organize and teach our standards, targets, and assessments. We have been pulling learner behaviors out of our grading practices and recognizing those behaviors in our Eagle Score (link) criteria.
Our lesson will focus on: - Understanding what an engaged learner looks, sounds, and thinks like
- Strategies for getting back on track when distracted
- Ways to seek help and use feedback when learning gets challenging
- The importance of persevering through challenging work
- Identifying personal strategies students can use to become more engaged and take greater ownership of their learning
Additionally, our counseling staff met with our fifth graders multiple times in computer class to discuss 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. |
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. |
As we get closer to the 5-week mark, we take time to look through individual student schedules and make adjustments. As grades and student growth is assessed, interventions may be added to individual student schedules. This may mean that your child's schedule is changed, but we try to do so in the least disruptive way possible. Any change that we make to any student's schedule is to provide the best learning environment for all students |
Middle School Bus Expectations We are proud of the many students who consistently make safe, respectful, and responsible choices while riding the bus. Students know the routines, and we appreciate the partnership of our families in reinforcing these expectations.
Riding the Bus Is a Privilege Riding the school bus is a privilege that comes with responsibility. Students are expected to make safe choices from the moment they board until they safely exit.
Every day, students should: - Scan their bus card when boarding.
- Remain seated on the bus.
- Keep feet, backpacks, and belongings out of the aisle.
- Keep hands, arms, and objects inside the bus.
- Use quiet, appropriate voices.
- No eating or drinking on the bus.
- Treat other students, the driver, and the bus with respect.
- Follow the driver’s directions the first time.
- Keep hands and objects to themselves and never throw anything.
- Follow school expectations for cell phones and electronic devices.
- Never tamper with emergency exits or safety equipment.
Make the Most of Bus Time Students are encouraged to use their bus ride positively. Headphones at an appropriate volume, reading, or completing schoolwork are great ways to stay engaged and make the ride productive.
Safety Comes First Our bus drivers are responsible for getting students to and from school safely. Their focus must remain on the road and their surroundings. Student behavior should never distract a driver or compromise the safety of others.
******** Students who do not follow bus expectations may be subject to school consequences and/or the loss of bus-riding privileges. If bus-riding privileges are suspended or revoked, parents/guardians will be responsible for transportation to and from school. *******
Thank you for talking with your child about these expectations and helping us keep every bus safe, respectful, and positive for everyone. |
October 1 - Wayne County Career Carnival for 40 (max) 8th graders who submitted the permission slips last week. If more than 40 students submitted, a random drawing will occur.
October 9 - Professional Learning Day (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)
October 12 - NO SCHOOL
October 15 - Picture Make-up Day
October 19 - EARLY DISMISSAL DRILL DAY (practicing early dismissal 15 minutes early - read below!)
October 20 - 7C's Survey
October 22 - CARE Assembly (afternoon)
October 26 - Modified Boys Basketball / Indoor track start
October 30 – WMS Halloween Dance 🎶 Student Government is planning a fun Halloween Dance with food, a DJ, and more! $3 entry, $1 snacks and drinks. - 5th & 6th graders: 5:30–6:30 PM
- 7th & 8th graders: 7:00–8:30 PM
October 30 – Halloween at School 👻 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.
Guidelines for Costumes at School (Oct. 30): - Faces and eyes must remain visible (no full-face masks or sunglasses).
- No weapons or look-alike weapons.
- Costumes must follow the Code of Conduct dress code (bodies appropriately covered, no offensive messages, no drugs/alcohol).
- Footwear must be safe for bus rides and stairs.
- Costumes should be respectful and considerate of others.
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WMS yearbooks can be pre-ordered now! Click this link to pre-order your child's yearbook!
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On Monday, October 19, 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. - Only the school nurse, a registered nurse, can accept medications.
- Administrators, secretaries, teachers, and students may not accept or transport medications.
- Please contact the nurse in advance to schedule a drop-off time.
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 (see below!). 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. |
Students will participate in the 7Cs Survey (Care, Confer, Captivate, Clarify, Consolidate, Challenge, and Classroom Management)—a short questionnaire that helps us better understand their classroom experiences. The survey takes about 20 minutes and is completely anonymous. Feedback helps guide our efforts to enhance teaching and learning for all students. If you have questions about the survey, please reach out. We value your partnership as we continue working together to help our students succeed. |
We are always proud of students who take initiative and seek extra help from their teachers. Learning to advocate for support is an important part of developing independence and responsibility. We also love to see our students participating in clubs and athletics. Being involved leads to feeling connected and part of our school community!
As a reminder, any plans to stay after school for extra help must be arranged in advance. For safety and supervision purposes, it is essential that our teachers and staff know which students are remaining after school and where they are expected to be. 🚨As October hits every year, we start to see some students try to hang out on athletic fields without supervision or they may start staying after school without a plan. We have seen some children attempt to walk around the building or spend time in restrooms. We want to continue to welcome students who are staying for a purpose, but if a student shows a pattern of remaining after school without a plan, they will not be permitted to stay.🚨
Please review the following expectations with your child: - Students should communicate directly with their teacher ahead of time and receive confirmation before planning to stay after school.
- Students who are staying for pre-arranged teacher support, clubs, or athletics should remain in their 8th period class and wait for the second dismissal before reporting to their after-school location.
- Students without pre-arranged supervision should leave campus at regular dismissal time.
We appreciate your partnership in reinforcing these expectations. Clear communication and planning help us ensure a safe, structured, and supportive environment for all students. |
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 |
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