Information for 8th Grade Families

Please save all these dates! It's going to be a fun and busy time of year as they prepare to become high schoolers!

• Boardwalk Beach Carnival and Dance at WMS - Friday, June 9, 2023, from 7 - 9 pm, parents to drop off/pick up at the school, children to dress in boardwalk/beach attire (no swimsuits);
• Kings Dominion Day Trip - Monday, June 12, 2023, from 8 am - 6 pm, buses transport children to/from school;
• Graduation/Promotion Rehearsal at WMS - Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 7:50 am, parents to drop off at school; and,
• Graduation/Promotion Ceremony at WMS - Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at 8:15 am, children and parents to attend.

For our Boardwalk Beach Carnival and Dance, we will reach out closer to the event with a Sign Up Genius to recruit a few parent volunteers and obtain donations to make the event fun and fabulous for our 8th Graders! For the other events, the school administration is mainly involved and organizing them, but as soon as we know more, we will contact everyone!

***In the meantime, if you have not donated to the 8th Grade Activity Fund yet but plan to do so, please do so now! Our budgets for the above events come directly from the activity fund for our class. We'd like to be able to solicit few donated items so that our children AND their parents can enjoy these events as stress-free as possible! There is a video on our PTA website that shows how we use the Class Funds for our fall and spring festivals as well as for our 8th Grade events.  

Here is the link for your contribution if you plan to donate and have not done so, please make sure to mark your donation for 8th Grade

-  PTA Membership 

Ramadan is March 22-April 21

The observance of Ramadan began last week. APS is supporting our students who are participating in the month-long practice of prayer and fasting which will end with the celebration of Eid. Ramadan Kareem!

Help WMS Fill Our Volunteer Need! Last spot!

Thanks to all those who have jumped in to help fill our vacancies! Only one left and it isn't too hard. Help coordinate the sprout box delivery before school starts. I (Tonya) am already doing Nottingham ES so I can help guide you; I just can't overcommit anymore than I already have.

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.

Updated Gifted Services Information

Want to see how our awesome teachers are providing differentiation for your child(ren)? Our Quarterly Differentiation Report is ready for your viewing pleasure! The 2nd quarter report can be found by selecting this link: https://williamsburg.apsva.us/differentiation-reports/ or by visiting our website-> WMS ->select the Teachers/Departments tab -> Gifted Services-> Differentiation Reports. 

If you are looking for ideas for your kiddo(s) this summer, you can visit our Summer Camp/ Opportunities website. Almost all camps are currently accepting registrations. This comprehensive list is sure to appeal to your child(ren)’s interests!https://williamsburg.apsva.us/summer-enrichment-opportunities/

Does your child want to look through book recommendations, see what clubs are available at WMS, visit a virtual museum, or read educational tweets from vetted organizations such as NASA? Have them go to our “Student Resources” page on our gifted services website by going to the WMS homepage ->Teachers/Departments->Gifted Services->Student Resources or by using this link:https://williamsburg.apsva.us/student-resources-page/. They can “bookmark” this page on their iPads for easy access in the future.

WMS Rising 9th graders (also known as 8th graders)

If you decide to change your student’s course request for Arlington Tech, the IB Program, or Yorktown, please contact the appropriate counselor listed below according to the student’s last name and/or school. Please note this is NOT your child’s assigned counselor for 9^th grade. 

Arlington Tech - Mr. Crews @ john.crews@apsva.us

Washington - Liberty IB Program - Ms. Canter @ Julie.Cantor@apsva.us

Yorktown HS, by last name-

Stahl A-D - Jeffrey.stahl@apsva.us

Alexis E-I – alexis.andre@apsva.us

Gilbert J-M – Allison.gilbert@apsva.us

Klipper N-R – Emily.klipper@apsva.us

Danielle S-Z – Danielle.dessaso@apsva.us

WMS Lunch & Learn Series

We will have a lunch and learn series with our Substance Abuse Counselor, Ms. Sexton.

The link doesn't work in the flyer so you can use this link.

And remember, if you are in crisis, take action! If someone you care about is in crisis, take action!

You have options:

* Call 9-1-1

*Go to the nearest emergency room at your local hospital 

*Call Arlington Emergency Mental Health 703-228-5160

*Go to In Crisis/ Need Help Now? on the APS website for important phone numbers, tips for students and families, and links to emergency information. 

WMS Magnets Available

WMS families, we have magnets available for purchase. We are in the process of setting up a store but in the mean time, send me an email at president@wmspta.org to pay and schedule a pick up.

$5 cash or check (for now)

PTA Membership and Activity Fee Reminder

Activity fees are what fund the fun events at WMS.  If you haven’t already, please consider donating today and joining the PTA. We are below 40% participation and would love to go well over that if possible. PS your grade level funds roll over and stick with your grade as well.

8th grade families, our students didn't get a big end of elementary school celebration. If more families don't participate, we won't be able to have a middle school ones as well. Currently only 102 of 267 families have paid. That's only 38%. I encourage you to contribute if you can. Unsure if you've already paid? Please feel to email Melissa Mathews. Did you also see the promotion is scheduled already?!

Activity fees are what fund the fun events at WMS.  If you haven’t already, please consider donating today and joining the PTA. We are below 40% participation and would love to go well over that if possible. PS your grade level funds roll over and stick with your grade as well.

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

Choose WMS PTA in AmazonSmile & Help Us Earn Money!

Link Your Harris Teeter Grocery Card

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