Wayland Middle School
 Newsletter
Mark Your Calendar
8th Grade:
6/10 - Tonight! Rising 9th Grade Athletics Meeting, 6pm (High School Auditorium)
6/13 - Chromebook Return ( with charger )
6/17 - Step Over Day & Kimball Farm Outing

7th Grade:
6/11 - Cape Cod Night (7-8:30 pm)
6/12 - Chromebook Return

6th Grade:
6/11 - Chromebook Return

All Grades:
6/18 - Last Day for Students (Please note 1:10 pm release)
Principal's Message

 “The lasting pleasures of contact with the natural world are not reserved for scientists but are available to anyone who will place himself under the influence of earth, sea and sky and their amazing life.” - Rachel Carson
When Wayland graduates reunite and reminisce about their glory days, Wayland Middle School trips often become topics of conversation. There is something special about an entire class biking to Walden Pond, exploring ecosystems on Cape Cod, and considering justice in our nation’s capital, Washington,D.C. These whole grade treks are transformative, allowing for new bonds to form among students and their teachers, experiential learning to take place out in the field, and students’ comfort zones to be stretched in surprising ways. Most recently I joined the 7 th grade adventure to Cape Cod with my bus group, the Sharks. We reveled in Carson’s words placing ourselves under the influence of the earth, sea, sky and so much amazing life. I offer a few reflections on the many ways students grow on such a journey.

Relationships are a priority for students on the Cape Cod trip. In the weeks leading up to our departure many students fret about the social side of the experience. Creating cabin groups takes hours of careful planning and social engineering. Despite these careful efforts, the announcement of cabin and bus assignments brings both whoops of joy and inevitable disappointment. Most students are able to work through these emotions and make the most of the hand they are dealt, while some need a little more support to do so. One year a student
insisted on staying home from the trip because she was not slated to be in a cabin with the majority of her “BFFs,” and her discomfort with not feeling connected to most of the students on her bus was significant. After a few tears had been shed and much encouragement offered, the counselor and I convinced her to keep an open mind and give the trip a shot. We checked in throughout the journey and were relieved to see many more smiles than frowns. Two weeks later I was delighted to read in her Cape Cod memory book about the amazing time she had with the new friends she’d made. Versions of this story play out time and time again as students’ resiliency is strengthened. Kids who don’t run in the same circles often find themselves spending significant time together and delight in making unexpected friends. A new sense of belonging emerges as the grade gels. In girls’ cabins, common ground often comes in the form of styling hair for one another. After an evening at Bass River Sports it is fun to come back to the cabin and watch the brushing, combing and twisting commence. Braiders share hidden talents, weaving connections along the way. Watching students expand their social circles never fails to make me smile. In addition to the ever-important social scene, the trip is certainly an academic endeavor. Our 7th grade scientists travel to the Cape in the spirit of Rachel Carson to explore a sense of wonder, stewardship and connection to the environment. For three days we are immersed in a variety of ecosystems that comprise our natural world. On land we hike and bird watch. A special walk takes us through a variety of ecosystems to reach the lush green cedar swamp trails that one trip leader termed “yoda’s swamp”. Wild blueberry bushes line the path, and we pass through pines and oaks before coming to the swampy marshes of the cedars. It is a serene stop for journaling as we take pause to admire these ancient, unique trees and their surroundings. Carson’s words are apt, “It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know of wonder and humility.” The mosquitoes can’t undermine the splendor of such a vista, and this year despite all the rain, there were surprisingly few.
Many students write about the sense of awe such an environment elicits. Out on the water we travel by boat to explore the ocean’s treasures with naturalists. We cast for plankton and then observe the catch under microscopes. I love the excited “aha’s” I hear as students identify various microorganisms, matching a picture and a name with a real life creature they’ve discovered in the sea. The favorite activity on board is, without a doubt, the touch tank that holds an aquarium of snails, clams and an assortment of different crabs. Many students are eager to get their hands wet and investigate creatures’ features. In the tidal flats we again work as scientists exploring and discovering marine life such as horseshoe crabs sporting slipper snails on their back. This year the sharks came upon a deceased sand shark that had washed up to shore and were concerned and intrigued about how it met its demise. This journey lets students grow their thinking skills as they wrestle with the complexity of human-environment interaction and expand their scientific knowledge base. Many thoughtfully consider how we can better care for our natural words and be better stewards of it. I am sure at least one marine biologist is born each year aboard the boats or in the tidal pools.
For many of our 7th graders this trip falls right in their wheelhouse. Several have explored the Cape for years with their families. Others are veterans of sleep-away camp, and have no problem slumbering in bunks with relative strangers. But for some of our students, the Cape Cod trip is a journey into the unknown that taxes them emotionally. It may be the first time a student has traveled so far from home.Bunking in cabins with classmates and the occasional arachnid can create a good bit of angst for some. Others may never have been to the beach before and are plagued by a fear of sea creatures. It can be an exercise in perseverance through challenge. Countless personal victories are won on a trip like Cape Cod. For some it may be meeting the physical challenge of a long hike. For others it is speaking on a microphone at the front of the bus to share their newfound expertise of a site on Cape Cod, such as Nauset Lighthouse. Finally, others struggle to unplug from instant electronic connection to parents and friends. It was interesting to hear how at least one student’s thinking evolved around this technological break, “I like not having our phones. It is really calming and refreshing.” I am thankful for the many caring teachers, teaching assistants and counselors who work behind the scenes to coach students through anxieties, help them negotiate social angst and find success, growing their risk-taking skills in the service of learning. As Carson astutely points out, “If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.”
Our grade level trips are a big part of what makes Wayland Middle School such a special learning community. I know all too well that these trips do not happen without the dedication of teachers, who are willing to leave their own families to spend 24 hours a day in the same challenging conditions as our 7th grade students. I thank our staff, who believe in the educational value of such experiences and are committed to the resulting academic and social growth. Our teachers appreciate the enhanced relationships with students, the new things they learn from students and colleagues, and seeing students overcome personal hurdles on this journey. Thank you Cape Cod staff.

Respectfully,
Betsy Gavron
Announcements
Rising 9th Grade (Current 8th Grade) Athletics Meeting
TONIGHT - Monday, June 10, 6:00 PM
Wayland High School Auditorium
This information session gives an overview of Athletics at Wayland high school is for rising 9th grade students and their parents.
Parent Survey
 Would you please take a few minutes to complete our 2019 WMS Parent Survey? We appreciate your time and your feedback! The survey will remain open through Monday, June 17th. Click here.
I mportant Message to Parents/Students re: MBTA CharlieCards:

Current school year (2018-2019) Student CharlieCards will deactivate at mid-night on August 31, 2019 . Please use up all stored value (pay per ride) down to ZERO prior to 8/31 as the MBTA Student Pass Program DOES NOT have the ability to transfer any leftover funds. It is important that students do NOT load September Monthly Passes on their current school year CharlieCard, as it will auto-deactivate and no longer work after 8/31/19.

To request student passes for the upcoming school year (2019-2020), please SIGN-UP    here. Students can pick their 2019-2020 CharlieCards at the main office in September.
New England Mathematics League Contest
Five 6th Graders Score 1st Place
In our May 28th MMM, we inadvertently missed the name of a student who placed top ten in the NEML contest. Five 6th graders earned this honor - Alyssa Ao, Henry Han, Aidan Huang, Leila Topi and Zack Zhang. These students have been invited to participate in the International Summer Tournament this July. Congratulations!
Lost and Found
Please have your child check for missing items in our Lost & Found, or come and take a look for yourself! Unclaimed items will be donated to charity (to the Wayland Schools' PTO Green Team Textile Recycling Project) as is our custom prior to each of the school breaks.
Bus Routes for 2019-20 are Posted
Please click here for 2019-2020 bus routes. A certain number of seats on Bus 3 will be allocated for students who would like to visit the library after school. This option is only available to students who are registered to ride a bus and have purchased a bus pass.
PTO News
Contact:   WaylandMiddleSchoolPTO@gmail.com
Pictures for Slideshow for Mabel Reid Wallace
Deadline: Wednesday, June 12
The WMS Boston resident students are putting together a slideshow for Mabel Reid Wallace, our former Wayland METCO Director. They are collecting pictures of Mabel at school events, either by herself or with any of the WPS children or staff. Please click here to mail pictures to Shavon Drayton by Wed, June 12th.
7th Grade Cape Cod Night Staff Dinner
Tuesday, June 11 (Drop items 4:45-5:15 pm)
The PTO is organizing a dinner for the 7th grade teachers before Cape Cod Night to show our appreciation. We still need help for setup/cleanup! Click here to sign-up.
8th Grade Graduation Breakfast
Tuesday, June 18
The last sign-up for your 8th grader! WMS PTO will be congratulating the 8th grade students and teachers with a breakfast on the last day of school. Please pitch in if you can, this one is easy and being there to help is a great way to see all our kids, their wonderful teachers and wish them well! To help or donate items please click here to sign-up .
To the Outgoing WMS PTO Board, Committees and All Volunteers!   What a year it has been! WMS PTO relies on the time and monetary donations of our parent community for all that we do. Thank you! A special thanks to our WMS PTO Board and Committee volunteers for all their heavy lifting; we made a great team!
2019-20 WMS PTO Board
  • President & Prior President, Sejal T. Srinivasan
  • Vice President, Lisa Raftery
  • Treasurer, Pam Cerne
  • Fundraising Chair, Karen Cooper
  • Parent Enrichment Chair, Allison Kates
  • Staff Appreciation Chair, Mei-Lyn Kingsley
  • Secretary, Katherine Ball Bassick

Click here to view Committee positions. We are looking forward to another great year ahead!
2019-20 Back to School Supplies
Order by Aug 14, 2019 to ensure delivery before school starts!
The PTO offers a great service to save you time and money by purchasing your child's exact grade-level school supplies, prepackaged, online through School Tool Box , delivered to your home.

You can also CUSTOMIZE your order by adding or removing items from our teachers' lists. Already have colored pencils, ring binders or ear buds? Remove them. Need an additional box of pencils for home use or for a sibling? Add them. It's that simple! All orders ship within 10 days. 



Questions? Please contact Ashley Boyer (afboyer@gmail.com)
PTO Thanks ...
Parent Enrichment Team of Emily Gordon and Rama Ravi for our last Middle & More Coffee on conflict resolution. You can find the hand-out on our PTO website or Facebook closed group .
Artist of the Week
Artist: Avery Fitzgerald
Grade: 8
Medium: Spraypaint
Reminders
End of Year Chromebook Collection:

All devices need to be turned in with a charge of at least 80%.   This will allow us to place them into a dormant mode for safe storage over the summer. 
  • 6th grade - Tuesday, June 11 (charger remains home over summer)
  • 7th grade - Wednesday, June 12 (charger remains home over summer)
  • 8th grade - Thursday, June 13 return with charger
Any student not returning to WMS next school year will need to turn in their charger. 6th and 7th grade students keep their charges over the summer. If you need to purchase a replacement charger, you can purchase one on  Amazon here
From the Registrar:
Moving? Private School Next Year? 
If your family is moving from Wayland, or if you've decided to send your child to private school next year, please be sure to submit a student withdrawal form to your child's guidance counselor so that we may begin the process of preparing your child's records for transfer. Many thanks!
Wayland Cares -  EMPOWER | Youth Leadership, Communication, Collaboration, & Substance Prevention
Wayland High School
Two Sessions: June 24 - 28 and August 5 - 9, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
For Students Entering Grades 8 - 12, Fee: $50

Work with a group of Wayland peers on a mix of games, presentations, activities, brainstorming, and talk about substance prevention and healthy decision-making. The program is $50 and staffed by Jason Verhoosky, Director of Wayland Youth and Family Services, and Kelly SanClemente, Clinician, Wayland Youth & Family Services. The program is limited to 15 participants each session.

To register, please apply through  Wayland Town Recreation . Contact Jane Purser with any questions or call Wayland Cares at 508-358-6825.
F irst Day of School & 6th Grade Orientation 2019-2020
6th Grade Orientation - Tuesday 8/27 9am - 12pm
First day of school - Wednesday 8/28

WMS School Hours 2019-2020
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:40am - 3:15pm
Wednesday 8:40am - 2:30pm
Doors will remain locked until 8:10 am, at which time
AM Wellness will begin and staff will be in the building.

Please make note of 5 half-day Wednesdays when WMS dismissal will be 12:20pm
Sept. 18, Nov. 20, Nov. 27 (day before Thanksgiving), Jan. 8, Feb. 26
Wayland Middle School
Phone: 508.358.3801 Fax: 508.358.3802
Distributed to WMS Listserv Subscribers
To CHANGE the school(s) you subscribe to click "Update Profile" below
To be removed from ALL Wayland Schools' listserves, click "Unsubscribe"