WMS PTA Newsletter November 13

WMS PTA

Newsletter

November 13, 2022

Be on the lookout for an email from Victor O'Neill Studios. If you do not see it in their inbox, check the spam/junk folder.

Any student who has not had a chance to order, it’s not too late! Please visit://vosphoto.com/uc.

Use your student ID when prompted for the online code.

For questions regarding school pictures please email: underclass@vosphoto.com

Make ups will be on December 14, 2022.

IMPORTANT INFO

Main Phone Line: 703-228-5450

Attendance Line: 703-228-5444

TECH SUPPORT

For technical support, call the Family Technology Call Center at 703-228-2570, Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Friday from 7 am - 6 pm

Parent tech help can also be found at

https://williamsburg.apsva.us/technology/tech-help/tech-help-parents/

Parentvue Access

https://va-arl-psv.edupoint.com/PXP2_Login.aspx

WMS News

PTA Membership and Activity Fee Reminder

Please help us be sure we can have the Fall festival!

Activity fees are what primarily fund the WMS fall fest, WMS End of Year Parties along with most of 8^th Grade Promotion. If you haven’t already, please consider donating today.

http://wmspta.org/pta-membership/

Student Services Newsletter

This is the first edition of the student services Newsletter.

https://www.canva.com/design/DAFMTDQrwpI/vW0ccKOgL4JNVld-Eewyjw/view?utm_content=DAFMTDQrwpI&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Information

Thinking about applying to TJHSST? Please check out this video before starting the application process:

TJHSST RISING FRESHMAN VIDEO (Links to an external site.) This video will answer any questions you have about the school, the application process, how to fill out the application and important dates!

APPLICATION WINDOW OPEN: OCTOBER 24, 2022 @ 4pm

Volunteers Needed

While we're talking about the PTA.....we have volunteer positions available. Most are a short commitment.

HIGH NEED - ACTL Rep - This committee meets monthly at Syphax Center from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (IN PERSON). Secondary schools are allowed two representatives. Job Duties - attend meetings and report out to monthly PTA membership meetings.

Back to School Teacher Breakfast - Needed for August 2023 - Solicit volunteers, donations, and purchases for back to school teacher breakfast. Drop items off at school and set up breakfast.

PALS Day Coordinator - Needed for August 2023 - Solicit volunteers, donations, and purchases of doughnuts and water for PALS Day. Drop off items at school and man the doughnut table with additional volunteers.

Schools Supplies Coordinator - Late Spring 2023/Late Summer 2023 - Work with vendor to order supplies, once delivered, solicit volunteers to open boxes, and deliver to correct classrooms before PALS day in August.

PTA Reflections Art Contest Chair - August/September/October 2023 - Solicit artwork from students, collect from school, find judges, award students, deliver artwork to county contest. This is a concentrated effort in August to announce the contest and find judges before the county contest due date.

Pre-order Your WMS Yearbook Now!

Get a jump on the year and pre-order your 2022-2023 WMS yearbook. Information on how to order can be found in here.

Link Your Harris Teeter Grocery Card and Raise Money for WMS PTA!

Don't forget to link your grocery card numbers! Harris Teeter requires re-linking with your school each year. Our linked numbers are low so you may not have re-linked your cards for this year. It's easy and a great way for WMS to earn extra money. Learn how below:

Harris Teeter - VIC Card Shoppers:

Go to Harris Teeter's Together in Education website and sign into your HT account. Click on "Link Your School Today." Then enter the Williamsburg Middle School ID: 4926.

Don't have your VIC card number? Call 800-432-6111

Choose WMS PTA in AmazonSmile and Help Us Earn Money!

AmazonSmile is operated by Amazon and benefits non-profits like our WMS PTA. If you make purchases through AmazonSmile (vs. regular Amazon), Amazon will donate a percentage of your purchase to WMS PTA. Click here for instructions on how to set that up on your mobile app, mobile web browser or desktop computer.

WMS Box Tops Program - Now An Easy-to-Use App!

The Box Tops for Education program is now mobile. This makes it so much easier for families to increase our school earnings. WMS has earned over $12K from Box Tops, funding much-needed programs within our school. Please click here for more information on how to download the app and start sending Box Tops dollars to WMS.

APS News

November is National Native American Heirtage Month

November is National American Indian Heritage Month. APS recognizes the contributions and cultures of the Indigenous peoples across the North American continent, including those right here in Virginia. Learn more about National American Indian Heritage Month and check out these books recommended by the Arlington Public Library from Native American Voices.

Health Reminder

The weather is getting colder, and many schools are experiencing an uptick in students coming to school sick. Please continue to keep your student(s) at home if they are experiencing signs of illness. There is a new swab that will test for three illnesses at once (COVID, Flu, and RSV). Here is a flyer with more information.

Submit Your Creations for the 2023 MLK Arts Contest!

Arlington Public Schools students are invited to take part in the annual “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Literary and Visual Arts Contest.” The prompt this year is to “describe a time where you saw someone treated unfairly because of what they looked like or who they were; OR an event in history where people were treated unfairly because of what they looked like or who they were.”

Entries are due by 5 p.m. THIS FRDIAY!

APS Boundary Update

At this week's School Board meeting, it was announced there will not be a school boundary process for Fall 2022 meaning no boundary adjustments will take place during the 2023-24 SY. Earlier this year, staff reviewed projected enrollment levels and determined that student enrollment would be manageable for the current school year. Staff will share the various measures to manage student enrollment when the Superintendent’s Annual Update is presented this spring.

Academic Help Online at No Cost!

NEW Academic Support for Middle and High School Students: the new academic support available for secondary students called PAPER. PAPER provides 24/7 on-demand virtual tutors available to students for assistance with homework, essay review and other academic support in multiple subjects and languages. Teachers have been promoting this service directly to students. Details online. It is a great resource!

Free COVID Testing Resumes

COVID Testing Continues—Opt In Now: Our in-school weekly COVID testing program is available to all students. This testing helps with early detection of positive COVID cases at school, and is available to returning and new students whose parents/guardians either reaffirm their initial consent or complete a new consent form online. Complete information and opt in forms are online. View the updated COVID-19 Protocols and FAQ online.

Community News

YHS Crew Holiday Wreath Fundraiser---Please consider ordering your holiday wreath through the Yorktown High School Crew's annual fundraiser. Funds will go toward equipment and operations for the team. Local orders will be delivered by one of the crew to your address by December 1.

Order your wreath here! Please list the Rower Name as 'WMS' on the order form to help us group deliveries. Deadline to order is Tuesday, November 15th.

Looking for a fun way to make a difference, Wolves? December 4, 2022, Williamsburg's Tucker Wright is co-promoting a fundraising event at Bowl America in Falls Church from 1-4 pm! Sign up for an hour of bowling - six people per team registration, and it includes a couple of pizzas and a pitcher of soda, plus the shoe rental and the lane usage! All funds raised will go directly to Homestretch, a Falls Church-based organization dedicated to supporting families through homelessness into financial independence! You can learn more about Homestretch at www.homestretchva.org. You can sign up to sponsor a lane or register a team to play at https://bit.ly/StrikeOutHomelessness.

Prepare for leaf collection starting November 14! Find out how and when leaf vacuum trucks will be in your neighborhood and make sure to pick up your free paper yard waste bags at one of six locations throughout the County.

Join Arlington County Foster Parent Services on Tues., November 15, at 6:30 p.m. for a virtual information session to learn about the requirements to become a foster parent in Arlington.

Want to learn more about working for Arlington County? Find out about public service care

ers at Arlington County's Career Expo on Wed., November 16, at 4 p.m.

Help spread joy this holiday season during the 8th Annual Fill the Cruiser Toy Drive. Starting November 4, Arlington County Police Department will be accepting donated, new and unwrapped toys to ensure the holidays are bright for some of our most vulnerable community members.

PTA Executive Board

President: Heather Selig

VP External: Allison Glatfelter

VP Internal: Cristina Pereira

VP Communications: Tonya Chiarodo

VP Administration: Bryan Boykin

Secretary: Rena Cutlip-Mason

Treasurer: Melissa Mathews

Webmaster: Liz Crescioli

Have content for a future PTA Newsletter? Send it to Tonya Chiarodo by Friday and it will appear in the following week's newsletter.

Williamsburg Middle School PTA | wmspta.org