Wayland Middle School
March Newsletter
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Mark Your Calendar
All Grades:
3/11 - TONIGHT! Wayland Sings (7:30 pm, WHS Fieldhouse)
3/12 - Band Fest (7:30 pm, WHS Fieldhouse)
3/13 - String Jamboree (7:30 pm, WHS Fieldhouse)
3/18 - 3/22 World Language Week
6th Grade:
3/19 - Night of Plenty
7th Grade:
4/12 - 2nd Cape Cod payment due (
1st payment was due 3/8
)
8th Grade:
3/14 - Rising 9th Grade Parent Night (7:00 pm, High School Auditorium)
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Message from the Principal
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Thinking with a team of teachers is a professional joy. Last week I had the privilege of joining a cluster of 6th grade teachers as they debriefed a week-long interdisciplinary project based learning (PBL) experience. Having learned alongside these teachers during last summer’s three-day PBL training by the Buck Institute for Education (generously funded by the Wayland Public School’s Foundation), I was thrilled when they decided to put their learning into action. The Thoreau cluster opted to discard their typical routine prior to the February break and instead embarked on a 5-day journey with students to design tiny houses. The plan was to offer a challenging task that required sustained inquiry of students throughout. Authenticity and real-world contexts were at the heart of the project with opportunities embedded for critique and revision. Their interdisciplinary project grew out of house mentor, Henry David Thoreau’s, desire to live simply.
The project launched when students gathered in the theater Monday morning,
February 11th.
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Mr. Kotin, in character as the “CEO of Consiglio Architects,” (complete with a faux mustache) charged the audience of ”newly hired architects employed by the Architectural Firm of Consiglio Architects and Associates” with designing a tiny house for a real client living in one of six locations: Kansas, Mexico, India, Japan, South Africa, or Russia. Together students then watched an episode of
Tiny House Big Living
for inspiration around what was possible to create in small spaces. They saw a young woman design and build an “art-themed” tiny house with the help of family and friends. Our sixth graders witnessed how home designers worked together, debating and compromising as they brought a vision to life. Students heard designers think through their choices and saw the ways in which the “architects” considered multipurpose design elements such as couches made of movable components for versatile seating or stairs with built in storage.
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Back in the classroom o
ur student architects went to work. They utilized social studies skills to research the six geographic locations and their climates where our clients wanted homes. For example, through their research on Japan one group learned about specialized “ofuro” bathtubs (for relaxing and unwinding at day’s end) that would eventually make its way to their bathroom design. Additionally, students determined how the weather of the climate might impact their design choices. Throughout the week in science classes students experimented with insulation properties and considered which materials would be the best match for various climates. In math classes students practiced with area, perimeter and scale, which were essential for drawing their blueprints. Our architects worked on planning and presentation techniques in English classes. They learned the technological tool of
voicethread
to capture and record their spoken presentation for their slides. After skill building, student architects were placed in groups and learned their specific assignments.
Our WMS in-house architect, Ms. Moira Breen, explained to students how architects rely on the needs of the client to drive every architectural design.
Students heard directly from real clients (college roommates, siblings, teachers, and friends who live or have lived in the chosen areas), who were interviewed about their personal priorities for space needs within their different home locations (ex: culinary spaces, meditation rooms, lighting preferences).
Having heard the most important needs of the client, the designing could begin.
Students had 37 square meters in which to work
. They determined a floor plan and then begin creatively and strategically planning spaces within the house, measuring and scaling to incorporate clients’ featured design elements. Like the
Tiny House Big Living
team our students needed to divide up tasks, negotiate, and compromise to weave in the range of ideas offered by the team. Where should the bathroom go? The reading nook? Sports equipment storage? Throughout the process students honed many 21st century skills as they navigated the natural disagreements that come up in teams. Students showed tenacity overcoming both academic and interpersonal challenges. A couple of groups even got to skype/speak with their live clients and discuss a rationale for design decisions, such as why they believed a bathroom should have two doors for design flow, rather than one. During the week; blueprints were drawn and redesigned based on feedback; furniture was scaled and added into floorplans, slides were drafted and revised; voicethread scripts were written, recorded, and re-recorded; and finally students proudly went public with their presentations to audiences of classmates and teachers. Ultimately every group created a successful product and presentation.
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I loved listening to the teachers reflect on the experience. They celebrated the successes and debated areas for improvement for future years. Ideas included
- Adjusting research pacing
- Pre-teaching some mathematical skills
- Having the architect explain features of real blueprints
- Sharing drafts with live clients to get feedback for more iterating
- Presenting to larger audiences - perhaps including parents
All and all teachers described the experience as one of the “best weeks of the year” and expressed delight in the unique opportunity to work outside their academic silos to show students ways in which subjects can connect cohesively. Through the project students saw how skills they develop in middle school could have application in the real world. My favorite words teachers offered to reflect were, “I loved that we had a chance to work together,” and “we gave kids something truly memorable.”
I feel incredibly lucky to work in a school in which the resources are available to train educators in cutting-edge ways to engage and teach students. It is a gift to work with a professional team willing to take risks and put in the countless hours required to innovate in new ways. And to think, this is just one of many examples of where the PBL summer training has taken root in our school. Just ask a seventh grader about plastic…You might get an earful.
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7th Grade Cape Cod Trip Reminder
Cape Cod payment #1 was due Friday, 3/8 ($170).
Please visit the
7th grade website
for more information on payment dates and methods of payment.
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WORLD LANGUAGE WEEK!
Celebrating Language and Culture at WMS
March 18 - 22
World Language Week kicks off next week! We'll be sharing our cultures, tasting different food, and watching a cultural performance sponsored by our PTO! There will be special food for lunch in the dining room.
Encourage your students to participate by dressing up each day of the week:
Monday, 3/18 -
Latin
wear
Purpureus (Purple)
Tuesday, 3/19 -
French
wear
Bleu (Blue)
Wednesday, 3/20 -
"
Where you're from, where you've been, where you'd like to go
"
Wear anything with a foreign phrase on it, a traditional outfit, etc.
Thursday, 3/21 -
Chinese
wear
红 Hóng (Red)
Friday, 3/22 -
Spanish
wear
Amarillo (Yellow)
There will be many other events to be a part of during this week of celebration! Ask your students about World Languages Week!
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Family Partnership Conversations - How to Talk to Children About Race
Wednesday, April 3rd 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Loker Cafeteria
The IDEAS (Initiatives for Developing Equity and Achievements for Students) organization will lead a discussion with families on speaking with their children about race and culture. IDEAS has provided comprehensive professional development for Wayland educators on culturally proficient instructional practices and in the spirit of a school-family partnership, we want to provide these crucial resources to families so that all members of the school community can feel confident and possess the capacity to speak to their children about race.
This Family Partnership Conversation will take place in the Loker School cafeteria. Adults only please. We hope you can join us. Please RSVP
here.
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Spring Track! - Open to all 6th, 7th and 8th graders
The middle school track team competes against other 6
th
, 7
th
and 8
th
graders from neighboring communities and athletes can compete in a wide range of events. Whether you are a sprinter, jumper, thrower or long distance runner, this is a great opportunity to get into terrific shape and be part of a strong winning tradition at WMS.
Athletes and families can learn more about the team and can also register by visiting our Spring Track Blog. The first practice will take place on Monday, March 25th as long as the snow has melted and the season continues until the end of May. Ple
a
se click on the link below for more details. We look forward to coaching you!
3. You must have a current physical on file here at school. Please bring a copy of your current physical to Coach Farley to make sure you are cleared to participate.
Coach Sands, Coach Merry and Coach Farley
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2019-2020 Financial Assistance Overview and Application Form
There are two changes this year, making the process more convenient:
1.) Families can start the process now rather than waiting for May 1, and 2.) The application form requires families to check off which financial documents they are submitting for review, rather than having to record income information on the form.
Link to the Overview:
Link to the Application Form:
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We are looking for volunteers for next school year!
Volunteering is a wonderful way to get to know other parents, the school, teachers and administrators.
Click here
to read descriptions of volunteer roles.
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Middle & More Coffees: Parent Seminars
English, Social Studies and Writing
Rescheduled to Monday, March 25, 8:45 am
Introducing our Wellness Series:
Media, Popular Culture and our Teens
Dossie Kahn, PsyD, Wayland Youth & Family Services
Tues, April 9, Evening Offering! 7 pm
Dr. Kahn will use examples from a popular television show to facilitate a discussion about content and themes our young teens are being exposed to, how much we know about their media exposure, and what this means for their development, our parenting, and our households. This evening promises to be relevant, engaging and stimulating, so don't miss it!
Your Middle School Kid's Gonna Be Okay: How Parents Can Facilitate Their Child's Executive Function Development
Michael Delman, CEO of Beyond BookSmart
Thurs, May 16, 9:00 am
Children, being so vulnerable to the opinions of others and not yet having developed long-term thinking, must learn how to make good decisions and develop the motivation and skills to stay focused on those things that truly matter to them in a world filled with distractions. The good news is that parents can teach these skills. Join author Michael Delman, a lifelong educator and Executive Function expert, as he shares tips and tools that parents can use with their middle school children.
Conflict Resolution with Middle School Children
Dr. Lindsay Steinsieck, PSYD, and Shannon Mackey, MSW, of the Human Relations Service
Tues, June 4, 9:00 am
This discussion will address pre-adolescent development, common areas of conflict, limit setting and strategies for de-escalating angry or frustrated children.
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Attention Parents of Rising 9th Graders! - Meet and Greet
Save the Date! May 6, 2019 at 8:45 am
Meet with current high school parents to learn more about WHS, the transition from 8th grade, ask your questions! Hosted by WHSPO (Wayland High School Parent Organization).
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PTO Thanks….
Staff Appreciation Team of Paula Berg, Nan Li and Vicky Sin for organizing our Staff Thank You Day today!
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Artist:
J
ahdaya “JJ” Franklyn
Grade: 6
Medium: Acrylic
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High School Course Recommendation Information
for Rising 9th Graders (Current 8th Grade)
Please
click here
for general information about the 9th grade course recommendation timeline for current 8th grade students and families. Detailed information about the process will be presented to students on Thursday, March 14th, during the school day. There is an information session for parents in the evening, 7:00 - 8:30 pm, at the High School.
Note from Wayland Boosters:
The Boosters store will be open during the March 14th evening parent information session.
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From the Health Room
Postural Screenings for All WMS Students - March 18, 19 and 20.
All students at WMS are required to receive an annual Postural Screening (as per MDPH regulations) unless parents/guardians provide an OPT-OUT for the SCREENING by email, fax or note with their signature. Most physicians’ offices include a postural screening as part of an annual physical exam. This is something you can look for on your child’s annual physical exam report provided to you.
Screenings are administered during Wellness classes. Boys will need to be shirtless and wear a pair of shorts. Girls will need to wear a pair of shorts with either a bikini top, an open back bathing suit or a halter top. If your child has an abnormal screening result, you will be notified by mail. Letters are not typically mailed for normal results.
Please let Nurse Murai know if you would like to OPT-OUT
by Thursday, March 14
. (
Email
[email protected]).
As always, please feel free to contact the health office with any questions.
Yumiko Murai MSN, RN
Community Health Nurse
Phone: 508-358-3809
Fax: 508-358-3816
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Bus Registration for the 2019-2020 School Year
Deadline - March 31st
School bus registration is now open for the 2019-2020 school year. All families who choose school bus transportation, whether town-paid or fee-based, must register on or before
March 31, 2019.
CLICK HERE
to register, and for detailed information regarding fees.
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MCAS Dates
Please mark your calendars. If at all possible, we ask you to avoid scheduling appointments for your child on his or her testing dates. Thank you!
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6th Grade:
ELA: April 1 & 2
Math: May 6 & 7
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7th Grade:
ELA: April 4 & 5
Math: May 9 & 10
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8th Grade:
ELA: April 25 & 26
Math: April 29 & 30
STE: May 2 & 3
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2019-2020 School Year Calendar
Next year's school calendar is available on the
district website
. Please note that the first day of school is Wednesday, August 28th. (Orientations for 6th and 9th grades are Tuesday, August 27th.)
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Wayland Middle School
Phone: 508.358.3801 Fax: 508.358.3802 Nurse: 508.358.3809
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