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WMS PTA
Newsletter
October 16, 2022
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Donations Needed for WMS SNACK ATTACK on October 20 | |
The WMS PTA is hosting a SNACK ATTACK for 180 teachers and staff on October 20 from 11:00 – 12:30 pm. We need your help/donations for this much appreciated gesture for the hardworking WMS staff. Please sign up using the link below to donate to the menu or help with the event. Feel free to sign up for one or multiple slots – all donations are appreciated.All contributions (marked for SNACK ATTACK and in disposable serving trays) need to be dropped off by 10 am in the Staff Lounge the day of the event. Non-perishables may be dropped off the day before. Please reach out to Lee Thompson (703-403-2698, leebthompson@comcast.net) with any questions or to coordinate an alternate drop off location/time. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0544ADAA22AB9-wmssnack3
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Helping Hands kicked off its first community service project of the year - a COAT DRIVE for the war victims in Ukraine! Do you have coats at home that you’re ready to donate? New or used adult-sized coats will be collected in the WMS lobby until Wednesday 10/19. Adult L & XL are most needed, but all adult coats will help. Winters in Ukraine are harsh, and so many Ukrainians have lost their homes or are without power because of the war. They need warm clothing to survive! Please contact Molly Wolff with questions. Thank you, WMS families, for your support!
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PTA Membership and Activity Fee Reminder | |
Activity fees are what primarily fund the WMS fall fest, WMS End of Year Parties along with most of 8th Grade Promotion. If you haven’t already, please consider donating today.
http://wmspta.org/pta-membership/
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Still Have Questions about WMS | |
Remember to check out the orientation presentation for a quick reference. It was presented on PALs day and has a lot of useful info.
The morning announcements blog is a great place to get information that is relayed to students each day and may not get shared at home.
Keep those resources bookmarked and handy. Personal tip, flag each week's PTA newsletter to refer to during the week. When the next one comes in you can unflag and/or delete the old.
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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 OPENS: OCTOBER 24, 2022 @ 4pm
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It’s time to learn about gifted services at WMS! Gifted Services Information Sessions can be viewed by selecting this link to our Information Sessions page on our gifted services website. You will find three separate videos about gifted services: Overview/ Delivery of Services, Differentiation, and Referral/ Identification. You will have the option to watch the video for each topic or choose to read through the presentation slides that correspond to each video. If you have questions regarding gifted services or you have specific questions regarding your child, please complete this form and I will be happy to set up a conference (in-person, video, or phone).
The monthly newsletter is published! Please select this link to access. You will find information about the APS Virtual High School Information Night, APS JR Honors, Honors Band, Orchestra, & Chorus Music program auditions, and a Patriot’s Pen essay competition. There are also parenting articles about identity and meditation as a coping tool for twice exceptional children. Please visit our WMS website to learn more about gifted services overall.
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While we're talking about the PTA.....we have volunteer positions available. Most are a short commitment (unlike this here newsletter so if you'd like to help with that too, I won't turn you down.)
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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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October is Bully Prevention Month | |
During October’s Bullying Prevention Month, students will learn strategies to Recognize, Refuse and Report bullying. Unity Day will be recognized on Wed, Oct. 19 to celebrate kindness, acceptance, and inclusion in our schools. Everyone is encouraged to wear orange that day to send a visible message that no child should ever experience bullying. Here’s how to report incidents of bullying:
If you are concerned that your student is being bullied, share your concerns with your student’s counselor or administrator.
Any student, parent/guardian, or school staff may initiate a complaint for themselves or another party by completing the Bully Harassment Incident Form.
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Supporting Students with Disabilities | |
APS is participating in Learning Disabilities Awareness Month in October to raise awareness about the one in five students who learn differently because of Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or other disabilities. Throughout the month, they are sharing resources and information about Special Education:
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Update Your ParentVue Info-Deadline Oct 31 | |
Since the start of the school year, approximately 46 percent of families have completed the AOVP—thank you! AOVP is the opportunity for families to review and update student, parent and emergency contact information. It also contains important policies and information. All families must complete this process by Oct. 31, 2022. Support is available in a variety of ways: Families can access the AOVP through their ParentVUE account online or on the app
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APS Earns A+ and Top Rankings in 2023 Best Schools Report | |
The 2023 Best Schools Report by Niche is out, and APS again ranked #1 Best Place to Teach and #2 Best Public School Division in Virginia. Niche publishes the report annually and specializes in K-12 school analysis and ranking. Arlington earned an A+ overall and high marks for schools, teachers, academics, health and safety, diversity and other categories. Niche also rated APS #9 among 132 Virginia school divisions for having the best teachers. Read the full Report Card and learn more.
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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!
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Arlington Your Voice Matters Results Available | The results for the 2022 Your Voice Matters Survey are available online. The survey’s topics included include school and community climate, health and well-being and engagement. In total, more than 19,000 survey responses were collected from students, staff, and families. The results will be used to inform work across both APS and the Arlington County Government. | | |
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Register for a free native tree! Arlington is giving away 500 young native trees to residents this fall to help expand and enhance the urban tree canopy. Pick up your tree at Barcroft Park’s baseball field parking lot on Sat., October 22 or Tues., October 25.
Every second matters in a life-threatening emergency. Attend free, Until Help Arrives training on Thurs., October 27, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Fire Training Academy and learn how can help yourself and others while waiting for first responders. Sign up: emergency.arlingtonva.us/uha
Share your input on temporary outdoor seating areas and general outdoor dining to inform Arlington’s rules and regulations as part of the Future of Outdoor Dining (FOOD) Study through October 21.
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Have content for a future PTA Newsletter? Send it to Tonya Chiarodo by Friday and it will appear in the following week's newsletter. | | | | | |
