PTA Trivia of the Week

What important American historical event took place on this date in 1814?

Scroll down for the answer!

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!

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!

**ANNOUNCEMENTS**

Message from the PTA President, Dave Badanes

We're off to a great start this year! New membership has been strong, and we've got a lot in the works, including the return of Parent Trivia Social Night and an updated grants program.

Don't forget our in-person General Membership Meeting this Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 7pm in the WMS library. Mr. Boykin will be joining us, and it's a great chance to talk with him in a smaller setting.

I'm also excited to start a new occasional feature in the newsletter to highlight one of our volunteers. Today we're recognizing Anna Baker! Thank you Anna for everything you do!

See you Wednesday.

The WMS Spirit Store is Open!


Your student - and your entire family - can show school spirit with hoodies, PJs, jackets, vests, shorts, and more!

We have youth sizes, adult sizes, and women's cut apparel too.

The WMS PTA will earn 15% from each purchase!

Sales extended till September 27. Order now! Get a head start on holiday gift shopping....

Click here to order:

Products - Williamsburg Middle School Spirit Wear 2026 - Worldwide Printing

WMS Volunteer Spotlight - Anna Baker

About me: I am Anna Baker, mom to APS 3rd, 8th, and 11th graders, and I am the Restaurant Night Coordinator.

About the program: Our monthly spirit nights raise money for the PTA, support local restaurants, and give busy families a break from cooking -- all in one!

Why I volunteer: I want to model for my kids that being part of a community means contributing to it. I also enjoy working with WMS parents and teachers.

YHS Band and Color Guard Door-to-Door Fundraiser - Be on the Lookout THIS SATURDAY!

Student members of the award-winning Yorktown band and color guard ensembles will be

in YHS zoned neighborhoods on Saturday, September 19, to solicit donations for our band

programs. Please consider donating, as many of our middle school children will soon be

growing into this program! Every donation directly supports:

• Financial assistance for ALL students to participate in the band programs and trips, regardless of need
• Purchase of instruments, music, uniforms, and equipment
• Maintenance of instruments, equipment, and uniforms
• Professional musicians to run clinics with students
• Band and Color Guard ensemble transportation needs throughout the year

Want to learn more? Please visit our YHS Band Booster Website.

Ready to donate today? Use this link paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/1783814

Restaurant Fundraiser at Deli Italiano - Sept. 23

Please join us at Deli Italiano:

- Wednesday, Sept. 23

- 4 to 9 PM

- 6505 N 29th Street in Arlington

Take the night off cooking and bring the whole family to help support WMS!

Be sure to let the cashier know that you are there to support the WMS fundraiser, when you place your order!

Note that orders with deals or coupons cannot be counted toward the fundraiser.

You're invited to the Outdoor Lab - Oct. 4

Bring your family to experience catch-and-release fishing, boating on the pond, visiting the creatures of the Animal Lab, hiking our trails and more! Bring a picnic lunch and we'll provide the s'mores fixings to roast around the campfire.

Come meet the AOEA Board and learn more about what the Outdoor Lab provides APS students year-round.

If you are interested in volunteering, we'd love to have your help. Register to volunteer

Please register by Friday, October 2.

CLICK HERE to register.

LTC Book Bash — Bring a Book. Take a Book, Share the Joy! - Oct.3

The Literacy Tutoring Collaboration (LTC) is a Northern Virginia-based nonprofit working to

close the literacy gap by helping all students reach grade-level reading through intensive literacy interventions during the school day, at little to no cost to schools. As we begin our first year of programming in Arlington, we’re excited to bring the community together to celebrate the joy of reading!

Please join LTC for a FREE community event on Saturday, October 3, from 9:00 a.m.–12:00

p.m. at Cherry Hill Park in Falls Church City.

The main event is a book swap for readers of all ages—including adults! Bring books you’ve outgrown and swap them for something new to you.

While you’re here, enjoy face painting, outdoor games, crafts, and a live DJ. Bring the whole family and come ready to read, play, and have fun!

Bring a book. Take a book. Share the joy.

The event is completely free, and optional donations are welcome. Those who choose to

donate will receive an LTC canvas tote bag for their books and be entered into a raffle.

For more information, visit www.literacytutors.org/bookbash2026

PTA Trivia of the Week - ANSWER

On September 14, 1814, when the smoke cleared in "the dawn's early light" after the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Maryland, Francis Scott Key saw the American flag, not the British Union Jack, flying over the fort.

Key was inspired by this signal of American victory, and wrote his poem "The Star-Spangled Banner," which was set to the tune of a popular American song.

The song officially became the U.S. national anthem in 1931.

WMS GENERAL INFORMATION

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.

Have content for a future PTA Newsletter? Send it to our Communications VP by Thursday and we will include it in the following week's newsletter.