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Williamsburg Middle School PTA Newsletter
November 2, 2026
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** Distribution List Notice **
We have updated the distribution list for this newsletter.
We added email addresses for new PTA members, in addition to several email addresses that were previously unassigned to any group within our system and were not receiving our newsletters.
If you are receiving this newsletter today but have moved on from WMS or do not wish to receive these for any reason, please click on the Unsubscribe link at the bottom of this email to be removed. Thank you!
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PTA Trivia of the Week
Why is Election Day on a Tuesday in November?
Scroll down for the answer!
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PTA Memberships and Donations
Join the PTA today! Please note that you have to join each year - memberships do not roll over from year to year. The cost is $15 per person and $30 per family. Join
Please also contribute to a specific class fund for $40. Donate to Class Funds
Please also consider making a donation of any amount to help with events like Wolf Paw prizes, classroom grants, PALS Day, and more. Donate
Donations are tax deductible!
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Administrative Reminders
Sign up for the WMS PTA Weekly Newsletter
If you received this newsletter as a forward, please sign up to get it weekly. Click here, and then click on Get the PTA Weekly Newsletter.
WMS Morning Announcements
Keep up with the latest news that your kids are getting each morning. Click here for the WMS Morning Announcements!
PTA Volunteers
If you are interested in getting more involved, please reach out to our PTA President at president@wmspta.org. We would love to hear from you!
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Message from the PTA President, Dave Badanes
Hi everyone,
Trivia Night was a hit!
Thank you to everyone who came out. The turnout was fantastic, and it was great to see so many of you laughing, competing, and having fun together. Congratulations to the team Unpopular on the win! Huge thanks to Kaitan for organizing the whole evening. We’re planning to do it again in the spring, so stay tuned.
PTA Meeting this Wednesday, November 4 at 6:00 PM (virtual via Teams)
Our next meeting is this Wednesday, and I hope you’ll join us. Here’s what’s on the agenda:
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E-bike and scooter safety: We’ll talk about keeping our kids safe as more students get around on e-bikes and scooters.
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AI at WMS: A WMS administrator will join us to talk about AI and how it’s showing up in our school community.
Whether you can stay for the whole meeting or just part of it, we’d love to see you there.
How to join:
Microsoft Teams meeting
Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 934 142 054 526 4
Passcode: hA9m5D
Download Teams | Join on the web
Thank you all for everything you do for our school community. See you Wednesday!
Warmly,
Dave
PTA President
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Fall Festival - Nov. 13 - Volunteers and Donations Needed!
WMS students will have the opportunity to enjoy music, games, prizes, and more at the Fall Festival on Friday, November 13th in the courtyard during modified lunch periods:
- 10:40am-11:30am (6th grade)
- 11:35 am-12:25 pm (8th grade)
- 12:30pm-1:20pm (7th grade)
The school and PTA need volunteers and donations to make this event great for our students. Please consider donating and/or volunteering for the event.
Donations can be dropped off in porch boxes October 31st-November 10th at either 4501 41st Street North (Peralta-Byrd Family) or 5031 25th Street North (Hatch Family).
CLICK HERE to sign up!
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Slides and Video from WMS Parent Chat: Supporting Student Success
A message from Susan Russo, Williamsburg Director of Counseling:
Dear WMS Families-
Thank you to those of you who were able to join the WMS Student Services Team for our 1st Quarter Parent Chat "Supporting Student Success" featuring:
- Canvas & PARENTVUE tutorial from a WMS teacher
- Organization and time-management tips
- Overview of all the school’s supports and tools available to your child
If you weren't able to make it, not to worry - the presentation slides and video can be found here! Parent Coffee - Williamsburg
Warm Regards,
Susan Russo
Williamsburg Director of Counseling
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The WMS Grant Program!
The WMS PTA is excited to support our teachers through grants that enhance learning and create meaningful opportunities for our students.
These grants can help fund classroom projects, educational materials, technology, and other resources that make a difference in our children's education.
Students can work together with their teachers to brainstorm creative ideas and identify needs that could be supported through a PTA grant.
Your child's idea could help inspire a project that benefits an entire classroom or grade level!
Encourage your child to ask their teachers to apply!
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Restaurant Fundraiser at Lebanese Taverna - Nov. 19
Please join us at Lebanese Taverna on Thursday, November 19!
Dine in or carry out at either of their two locations:
- Westover restaurant location: 5900 Washington Blvd. (reservations recommended)
- Market location: 4400 Old Dominion Drive
For online orders, be sure to include "WMS" in the Notes section.
Gift cards and catering also count.
They will donate 20% back!
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PTA Reflections Program - Entry Deadline is Nov. 20
National PTA’s 50+ year Reflections program provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts, which boosts student confidence and success in the arts and in life.
Every year, over 300,000 students participate in the program, advancing from the local to the state to the national level, earning recognition and prizes for their talents.
The student-created theme for the 2026-2027 Reflections program is: “What My Culture Means to Me”
Visit Virginia PTA’s Reflections and National PTA’s Reflections websites for more information.
For more information, contact reflectionswmspta@gmail.com
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WMS Food Bus to Assist AFAC
The Helping Hands club is bringing the AFAC Food Bus back! Each school day, students are encouraged to place unopened and/or unused food in the dedicated AFAC fridge or bins in the cafeteria, which is transported to AFAC in a bulk delivery at the end of the week. This partnership provides for our community's food insecure, diverts food waste, and promotes a culture of giving among the entire student body.
We need parents (and their students) to help to make this possible by collecting and transporting the food from WMS to AFAC (2708 S Nelson St, Arlington, VA 22206) at the end of the school week (usually Friday afternoons).
It is SUPER easy, a great lesson for our children, and it feels good to give!
Please consider volunteering to drive the food donations to AFAC!
CLICK HERE to sign up!
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YHS Dance Team Junior Dancer Clinic - TOMORROW
Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Yorktown High School
The Yorktown Dance Team is looking forward to spending Election Day with your kids!
They will learn skills and choreography, play games, and perform what they have learned at the end of the day.
Registrants are divided by grade and all skill levels are welcome! Pizza and snacks are included as well as a T-shirt.
K-8th grade are welcome!
REGISTER HERE: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/ydt-junior-dance-clinic
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JB-LF 5K & Carnival: Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 AM
Bring the whole family to 5115 Little Falls Road for a 5K, a Kids Fun Run, food, music and carnival fun!
The event supports JB-LF, a local nonprofit dedicated to healthy moms and healthy babies.
Register at https://jb-lf.org/events/
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PTA Trivia of the Week - ANSWER
Congress set Election Day in 1845, and the choice of Tuesday came from the habits of an agrarian society.
Before 1845, states held presidential elections on different days. A 1792 law only required that electors be chosen within a 34-day window before the first Wednesday in December. That let early results influence later-voting states, and some people could vote more than once.
Why Tuesday in November:
November came after the harvest and before winter made travel hard. Many voters needed a day to reach the county seat. Sunday was for church, so they could travel Monday and vote Tuesday. Wednesday was market day in many places.
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Teen Hangouts at Central Library - Grades 6-12
Teen Hangouts for grades 6-12.
Dates:
- November 3, 10, 17, 24
- December 1, 8, 15
Art supplies and snacks provided!
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Volunteer Opportunity at Central Library - Grades 7-12
Volunteer opportunity for grades 7-12.
Join the volunteer corps - a monthly meeting to learn more about volunteering and work on projects.
Dates:
- November 5
- December 10
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Main Phone Line: 703-228-5450
Attendance Line: 703-228-5444
Technical support: 703-228-2570, Monday through Thursday from 7 am - 9 pm, and Friday from 7 am - 6 pm
Technical support information: click here.
ParentVue: click here.
Morning announcements: click here.
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