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Williamsburg Middle School PTA Newsletter
April 6, 2026
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THIS WEEK'S HEADLINES
PTA Meeting - Online - THIS WEDNESDAY at 6 PM - Join Us!
Please join us for our next PTA meeting, which will take place via MS Teams on Wednesday, April 8 at 6pm. The link is below. In addition to general PTA business, we will also have a guest speaker on "AI Fluency and Responsible Usage for Middle Schoolers and Rising High School Students." We hope you will join us!
Meeting Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/279595218278157?p=wgzl3MizT5xdfxTTOQ
PTA Restaurant Fundraiser - Raising Cane's at Seven Corners - Apr. 16
4 to 10 p.m. Seven Corners location. 15% of sales will be donated. Mention the WMS fundraiser in person or use the code RCFUND96 when ordering online or in the app.
PTA Restaurant Fundraiser - Deli Italiano - May 6
They will give 20% back on all full-price orders. Includes dine-in, carry-out, and delivery. Diners can mention the fundraiser in-store or add a note to online orders.
Join the WMS PTA!
If you haven't joined the PTA yet, it's quick and easy.
Click here, and then click on Memberships. Note that you have to rejoin each year. So if you haven't signed up this school year, you're not a PTA member!
Sign up for the WMS PTA Weekly Newsletter
If you received this newsletter as a forward, please sign up to get it weekly.
Click here, and then click on Get the PTA Weekly Newsletter.
WMS Morning Announcements
Keep up with the latest news that your kids are getting each morning.
Click here for the WMS Morning Announcements!
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Our PTA cannot carry out its programs and support for our students.
Please consider making a donation today!
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PTA Volunteers
If you are interested in getting more involved, please reach out to our PTA President at president@wmspta.org. We would love to hear from you!
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WMS Band Fundraiser at Clare and Don's - Tomorrow - Limited No. of Tickets Left
Please join us for our WMS Band fundraiser at Clare & Don's on April 7.
- Student performances
- Prize raffles
- Music trivia
- and more!
Can't make it to the fundraiser? You can still purchase raffle tickets!
Click here for more information and to register!
Any questions, contact carriesimkin@gmail.com.
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PTA Restaurant Fundraiser - Raising Cane's at Seven Corners - April 16
- Raising Cane's
- 6363 Seven Corners Center
- Thursday, April 16
- 4-10 PM
- Use code RCFUND96
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Message from WMS Theatre Teacher, Mr. Randle - Seeking Materials!
Williamsburg Middle School’s spring production of Matilda is looking for help gathering materials.
Matilda is an irreverent, joyful take on growing up and the importance of education. Rehearsals for the production are well underway. Now is the time we turn our attention to the set, the costumes, and the other ‘tech’ elements of the show.
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For costumes, we are looking for white blouses, button-down shirts, khaki or tan pants and skirts. Costume donations should be for kids aged 10-14. If possible, items should be machine washable. We have some pieces, but we hope to clothe a veritable army of enthusiastic singers and dancers in a ‘school uniform’ look. Old backpacks are also welcome.
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We are also looking for incidental items that ‘feel 80s’ or even early 90s to dress the set. We have older-looking world maps, TV camcorders, newspapers, old trophies, etc and are hoping to take in a few more items to fill out several environments. (There are opportunities for home, office, school, and business furnishings at different moments in the show.)
As always, thank you to the WMS community for the support. Come see Matilda the 14th, 15th, or 16th of May in the WMS auditorium. Tickets available on the WMS website the week before.
Drop off items at the main office, care of Mr. Randle.
James Randle
Williamsburg MS Theatre Teacher | Arlington Public Schools
Phone: (703) 228-5450
james.randle2@apsva.us
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YHS Cheerleading Team - Kids Clinic - Apr. 13
No school for students on Monday, April 13 (grade prep day for teachers).
The YHS Cheerleading team is hosting a kids clinic for girls and boys in grades K-8, from 9AM to 2PM.
CLICK HERE for more information and to sign up!
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Restaurant Fundraiser - Deli Italiano - May 6
Join us for a restaurant fundraiser at Deli Italiano in the Williamsburg Shopping Center, at the intersection of Williamsburg Blvd and Sycamore St.
Wednesday, May 6
4-9 PM
6505 N 29th Street
Arlington
Be sure to mention WMS Fundraiser when you order!
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8th Grade Parents - Celebrate WMS Class of 2026 with a YARD SIGN! - Apr. 17 is Last Day to Order
Show your WMS Pride to the whole community with your own WMS Class of 2026 Yard Sign. You can even buy multiple signs to keep as a keepsake for your students. You can order your sign via Givebacks and support the PTA by going to https://wmsptawolves.givebacks.com/shop/items/29e7bbb345bc
Each sign is $20 and you can buy a sign between now and April 17!
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8th Grade Families - Fund is $2,000 Short - Pls Consider Donating
The 8th grade class fund is $2,000 short as compared to previous year's classes.
Please consider donating, perhaps a second time, to help ensure our kids also are able to enjoy the special end of 8th grade year activities.
Donations to the 8th Grade Class Fund can be made here: https://wmsptawolves.givebacks.com/shop
Also, if you are a local business or have a connection to a business, please email us at events@wmspta.org. We are welcoming event sponsors for the various end of year activities.
Thank you for considering this request. Let's make it a great end of year for our fantastic students!
-The WMS 8th grade Activities Committee
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8th Grade - End of Year Activities - Schedule
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NEW DATE: Boardwalk Beach Carnival at WMS - Friday, June 12
6 pm – 8 pm, parents to drop off/pick up at the school, children to dress in boardwalk/beach attire (no swimsuits)
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Kings Dominion Day Trip - Monday, June 15
8 am - 6 pm, buses transport children to/from school
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Graduation/Promotion Rehearsal at WMS - Tuesday, June 16
7:50 am, parents to drop off at school
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Graduation/Promotion Ceremony at WMS - Wednesday, June 17
8:15 am, parents to attend. Families receive 2 tickets only!
For the June 12 Boardwalk Beach Carnival, we will reach out closer to the event with a Sign Up to recruit parent volunteers and obtain donations to make the event fun and fabulous for our 8th Graders!
Please also consider donating to the 8th Grade Activity Fund. The budget for the above events comes directly from the activity fund. Donations to the 8th Grade Activity Fund can be made here: https://wmsptawolves.givebacks.com/shop
Additionally, if you are an owner of a local business or have a connection with a business, we are happy to take business sponsorships for any of our 8th Grade events. Please let the PTA know by emailing events@wmspta.org.
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Message from YHS for Rising 9th Grade Families
Dear rising 9th grade families,
The Yorktown Parent Teacher Student Association (YHS PTSA) is looking for candidates for the following Board positions for the 2026-2027 school year:
- Internal Vice President (coordinates volunteer activities for student-focused programs)
- Communications Vice President (creates and sends out the weekly newsletter)
- Assistant Treasurer (backup Treasurer)
If you're interested in joining the nominating committee or would like to self-nominate, please reach out by email: nominations@yorktownptsa.org
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Volunteer Opportunity for Grades 7-12 at Central Library - Apr. 18
Central Library has volunteer opportunities for teens in Grades 7-12.
Join the Teen Adventure Corps - a monthly meeting to learn more about volunteering and work on projects.
April 18
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YHS Performing Arts Presents "The Little Mermaid" - Apr. 23-25
DIVE INTO THE MAGIC! Disney’s The Little Mermaid is coming to Yorktown High School! Join us for an unforgettable journey under the sea. Featuring incredible sets, stunning costumes, and all your favorite Disney classics.
DATES: April 23 - 25, 2026
TIMES: April 23 7:00pm, April 24 7:00 pm, April 25 2:00 and 7:00pm
LOCATION: 5200 Yorktown Blvd, Arlington VA 22207
GET YOUR TICKETS HERE
Life is the bubbles—don’t miss the show!
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Serve as a Democracy Intern with Learning Life
For kids who will be in 8th-12th grade in the fall...
- Need to complete community service hours?
- Interested in politics, government, and policymaking?
- Do you have a GPA of 3.5 or higher?
Apply to serve as a summer or fall Democracy Intern with Learning Life!
Click here for more information and to register!
About Learning Life: Learning Life is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit lab devoted to innovating education, democracy and diplomacy by spreading learning in everyday life beyond school walls. In our increasingly interconnected yet divided world, we develop inclusive learning communities in order to widen and deepen participation in democracy and diplomacy.
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WMS Food Bus to Assist AFAC
The Helping Hands club is bringing the AFAC Food Bus back! Each school day, students are encouraged to place unopened and/or unused food in the dedicated AFAC fridge or bins in the cafeteria, which is transported to AFAC in a bulk delivery at the end of the week. This partnership provides for our community's food insecure, diverts food waste, and promotes a culture of giving among the entire student body.
We need parents (and their students) to help to make this possible by collecting and transporting the food from WMS to AFAC (2708 S Nelson St, Arlington, VA 22206) at the end of the school week (usually Friday afternoons).
It is SUPER easy, a great lesson for our children, and it feels good to give!
Please consider volunteering to drive the food donations to AFAC!
CLICK HERE to sign up!
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Outdoor Lab Seeking Board Members; Summer Camp Info
Outdoor Lab Seeks Board Members: The Arlington Outdoor Education Association (AOEA), the volunteer-run nonprofit that owns and supports the Outdoor Lab in partnership with APS, is seeking new Board member candidates. We particularly need a volunteer with finance/accounting experience to serve as Treasurer. Learn more on our website and contact vp@outdoorlab.org with questions or to express interest.
Outdoor Lab Summer Camp 2026: Outdoor Lab Summer Camp 2026 is a fantastic opportunity for students who have a passion for nature, love spending time outdoors, or have an interest in animals. Our camp is hosted at the Phoebe Hall Knipling Outdoor Lab, offering a week-long immersive experience that combines fun and learning in a beautiful natural setting.
New this year, APS is offering two weeks of Outdoor Lab Summer Camp for Middle School students (current grades 6-8), the weeks of July 6-10 and July 13-17. Registration opens at 6pm on March 6 and is first-come, first-served until spaces are filled: https://www.apsva.us/curriculum/outdoor-lab/
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"Growth" Speaker Series for Parents and Professionals - FREE Admission
Parents, caregivers, teachers and therapists: if there’s a child in your life with learning differences, chances are you are seeking some advice. Discover the Lab School's popular Speaker Series! Our monthly lectures are rich with information, insights and tips that will help you nurture the opportunities—and navigate the challenges—learning differences can present. Coming up...
The Intersection of Learning Differences and Culture - May 6
May 6, 2026 | 6:00-7:00 PM
Linda Fleming McGhee, J.D., Psy.D., Clinical Psychologist, McGhee & Associates, LLC
CLICK HERE for more information and to register.
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Main Phone Line: 703-228-5450
Attendance Line: 703-228-5444
Technical support: 703-228-2570, Monday through Thursday from 7 am - 9 pm, and Friday from 7 am - 6 pm
Technical support information: click here.
ParentVue: click here.
Morning announcements: click here.
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APS & COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS
Upcoming APS Community Engagement Opportunities:
Tue, Apr. 7 APS Hosts AI and Public Education Panel. Help shape how APS approaches AI in our schools and community
6 - 7:30 pm Register today Wakefield High School Auditorium
Sat, Apr. 9 Youth Mental Health First Aid [In Spanish] designed for adults who regularly interact with adolescents (ages 12-18), hosted by APS for staff, families and community members.
9 am - 3 pm Register prior. Wakefield High, 1325 S Dinwiddie St, 22206
Tue, Apr. 14 School Board Budget Work Sessions
9am-2:45pm Watch Work Sessions Live or at Syphax Education Center, School Board Room, 2110 Washington Blvd. 22204
Tue, Apr. 14 School Board Meeting: Public Hearing on the School Board's Proposed FY 2027 Budget
7:00 pm Watch School Board meeting online, on Comcast Ch. 70, Verizon Ch. 41 or at Syphax Education Center, 2nd FL, 2110 Washington Blvd. 22204
Thu, Apr. 16 School Board Meeting: Recognition of Arab American Heritage Month and Month of the Military Child; Strategic Plan Priority – Student Academic Growth and Success (Focus on Literacy); Information on Special Education Annual Plan and Update on the Changes to Non-Traditional Secondary Programs
7:00 pm Watch School Board meeting online, on Comcast Ch. 70, Verizon Ch. 41 or at Syphax Education Center, 2nd FL, 2110 Washington Blvd. 22204
May is Asian American and Jewish American History Month - Submit a video!
More at: Community Engagement Opportunities with automatic translation into: Español Монгол አማርኛ العربية (Other languages)
Arlington Community Opportunities and Events:
Free Tax Return Preparation Help Until 4/15
Still need to file taxes? Community partners can help for free! Free tax return preparation assistance is available for households with low to moderate incomes. Details on eligibility, locations, and appointments are available at Central Library and Columbia Pike Library.
Mon, Apr. 6 Teen Drop-in Hours at Drew. Join Teen Pickleball on Monday evenings. Check out a full list of teen drop-in sport hours here.
6-9:00 pm Charles Drew Community Center, 3500 23rd St. S, 22206
Wed, Apr. 8 Teen Drop-in Hours at Drew. Join Teen Basketball drop-in every Wednesday. Check out a full list of teen drop-in sport hours here.
6-9:00 pm Charles Drew Community Center, 3500 23rd St. S 22206
Sat, Apr. 18 Clarendon FitFest - 5K Run @8 & Fitness Fair @9, a community-centered wellness event designed to promote active lifestyles, holistic health, and meaningful connections
8 am-12:30 pm Mason Square Plaza, 3351 Fairfax Drive, 22201
Tue, Apr. 28 Arlington Child and Youth Well-Being Plan Network Virtual Meeting. Arlington County invites you to help create the vision and roadmap for a vision, engagement strategy, and identify what's working (or not) for children and youth.
4:30 - 6 pm Virtual meeting. Register here to get the Zoom link.
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