Williamsburg Middle School PTA Newsletter

September 9, 2024

IN THIS ISSUE

- Upcoming events

- PTA Message

- Support the PTA

- PTA announcements

- WMS Announcements

- APS & Community Announcements and Events

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sept. 9: PTA Restaurant Fundraiser - Pie-Tanza

Sept. 17: PTA Restaurant Fundraiser - Lebanese Taverna

Sept. 18: Back to School Night

Sept. 18: Back to School Night PTA Teacher Dinner - Pls Sign Up

Sept. 24: WMS PTA Meeting

Sept 25: PTA Restaurant Fundraiser - Old Dominion Pizza

Oct 3: No School - Rosh Hashanah

Oct. 15-16: School Picture Day

Find the APS school calendar here!

From the Williamsburg Middle School PTA

Greetings Williamsburg Families,

Today is the first WMS restaurant fundraiser with Pie-Tanza, and it is an easy and great way to support the PTA. Please tell your server or cashier you are supporting the "WMS PTA Fundraiser" when you order and they will donate 15% of your check to us.

Mark your calendars, School Picture Day will be October 15-16, and we will keep you posted when online ordering is live.

Thank you to everyone who has signed up to contribute to the Back to School Teacher Dinner on Wed. 9/18. There are still a few available slots if you'd like to sign up and help.

As always, please feel free to contact me at president@wmspta.org.

Jill Gaspar

Support the Williamsburg Middle School PTA

Join the PTA:

Individual Membership, $15
Dual/Family Membership, $30

Student Activity Fee, beginning at $40 per student. Pay this fee annually and the funds will remain with your student's grade (e.g., Class of 2025, 2026, 2027)

No Frills Donation, our goal is to raise $15,000 this school year.

Visit our Givebacks Store

PTA Announcements

Volunteers needed for PTA Back to School Teacher Dinner

Please click on the sign up link below to contribute.

Back to School Night Teacher Dinner

6th and 7th Grade Parents!

Hello Parents!

We are seeking 6th and 7th Grade Parents volunteers for our Graduation Hospitality Committee.

This is a one time volunteer event and can be shared with other parent volunteers. The 2-3 person committee will organize and manage a sign up to arrange for food donations, and volunteers to provide light refreshments outside the main entrance following the 8th grade promotion ceremony.

-8th Grade Activity Committee, Kelly, Leigh, Melanie and Courtney

If interested, please email 8thactivities@wmspta.org.

WMS PTA Volunteer Open Positions

6th Grade Parent Activity Coordinator(s)
Fundraising Coordinator(s)
CCPTA Liaison
Teacher Appreciation Week Co-Chair(s)
Book Fair Coordinator
Website Administrator
Volunteer Coordinator

If you would like to volunteer please email president@wmspta.org.

National PTA's Reflections

Start creating your Reflections entry in response to the 2024-2025 program theme, Accepting Imperfection! Think about what the theme means to you and respond - Draw or paint a picture, take a photo, make music, make a movie, create a dance, write a story or poem – the choice is yours! Visit https://wmspta.org/national-pta-reflections/ get started today!

Students of all grades and abilities are encouraged to participate and submit entries and student entry forms online by Friday, November 22, 2024.

Quick Links

2024 Student Entry Form
Visit Virginia PTA’s Reflections and National PTA’s Reflections websites for more information about the program and awards.

Questions? Please contact Amy Weinberg, WMS Reflections Chair, at ReflectionsWMSPTA@gmail.com or 443-927-6638.

Williamsburg MS - Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) Food Bus Program

WMS's AFAC Food Bus program is back, and we need lots of student and parent help! Each school day, students are asked to place unopened and/or unused food in a dedicated AFAC fridge or bins in the cafeteria, which is transported to AFAC (by parent volunteers - sign up here!) 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. Last school year, we donated more than 1,500 lbs of food to AFAC that would have otherwise been thrown away!

We need parents to help by transporting the food from WMS to AFAC (2708 S Nelson St, Arlington, VA 22206) at the end of the school week (usually Friday afternoons). In case you missed the Sign Up Genius above, here is the link again! It is SUPER easy, a great lesson for our children, and it feels good to help our community!

WMS Announcements

APS Volunteer/Chaperone Application

Welcome back to school, WMS parents! We look forward to partnering with you this year to support and enhance your student’s learning experience. If you are interested in Volunteering or Chaperoning this year, please see the information below.

Volunteers:

- help enrich education programs by mentoring students or assisting with activities that enhance instruction and promote learning.

-are unpaid individuals who donate time on an ongoing basis.

-are required to complete APS online application and Safe Schools training.

Chaperones:

-are parents or family members who provide support for field trips at their child’s school but aren’t looking for longer-term volunteer opportunities.

-are required to complete APS online application and Safe Schools training.

One-Time Visitors:

-Participate once in school activities and events such as Career Day, Science Fair, Voter Registration, Guest Speaker, etc.

-are not required to complete application or Safe Schools training.

ALL Volunteers and Chaperones MUST complete online Raptor APS Volunteer Application:

English Application

Spanish Application

You will receive a link to online training after the volunteer application is submitted.

Approval is valid in Raptor for 3 years. Be sure to sign in at WMS Front Office during school hours prior to Visiting, Volunteering or Chaperoning.

Any questions, contact Ms. Daisy Portillo Garcia

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 be found at

https://williamsburg.apsva.us/edtech/staff-tech-help/

ParentVue Access

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

Morning Announcements Blog

here

WMS School Picture Day

Stay tuned for dates!

WMS Year Books on Sale Now!

Start the school year off right by ordering the 2024-2025 Williamsburg Middle School yearbook. Click here to buy

APS & Community Announcements and Events

School Board Meeting, September 19 @ 7p.m.

Upcoming APS Community Engagement Opportunities:

School Board Accepting Applications for Advisory Councils for the 2024-25 School Year

The School Board Advisory Councils and Committees provide input and feedback on APS instructional and support programs, facilities, and operations. We value input from parents and community members as part of the APS decision-making process. Click here to learn more.

Fri, Sep. 13 Monthly Youth Mental Health Training, for staff, families and the community. Participants learn how to recognize and respond to mental health needs or help a young person who is experiencing distress. Learn more and register.

Thu, Sep. 19 School Board Meeting: Recognition of the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) Principal and Student of the Year; National Neighborhood Day; Appointments to School Board Advisory Committees; Academic Data Update; Action on FY 2024-25 Internal Audit Work Plan

7:00 pm Watch School Board meeting online, on Comcast Ch. 70, Verizon Ch. 41 or at Syphax Education Center, 2110 Washington Blvd. 22204

Tue, Sep. 24 School Board Work Sessions on Planning Factors, Instructional Technology, Career Center Programming, and Partnerships

9 am – 4:15 pm Watch Work Sessions online, on Comcast Ch. 70, Verizon Ch. 41 or at Syphax Education Center, 2110 Washington Blvd. 22204

Thu, Oct. 17 School Board Meeting: Recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month Latino Student Leaders; Student Services Update on Chronic Absenteeism; Information on School Board FY 2026 Budget Direction and School Board Legislative Package

7:00 pm Watch School Board meeting online, on Comcast Ch. 70, Verizon Ch. 41 or at Syphax Education Center, 2110 Washington Blvd. 22204

Arlington Community Events:

Wed, Sep. 11 Elections 2024: Quiz the Candidates Night, hosted by Advance Arlington

7 – 8:30 pm Register here for virtual or in-person, Lubber Run Community Center, Oak Room, 300 North Park Road, 22203

Sat, Sep. 14 Teen Nights | Hosted by Arlington Parks & Recreation (also Sept 21, 28)

7-10:00 pm Info & Registration | Lubber Run Community Center, 300 N Park Dr, 22203

Sun, Sep. 22 VACOLAO 2024 Latino Summit. Join Latino activists and leaders from around the state for networking, workshops, and more.

8:30am-6pm Register here. George Mason University, Fairfax campus

Fri, Sep. 27 Festival Latinoamericano, hosted by Arlington Parks & Recreation

5-9:00 pm Info & Registration | Arlington Mill Community Center, 909 S Dinwiddie St, 22204

Sat, Sep. 28 2024 STEAM PLUS 2-Day Seminar for 6^th-12^th grade students from Arlington & Alexandria, hosted by The Links, Inc.

11 am – 2 pm Register here. Nannie Lee Rec Center, 1108 Jefferson Street Alexandria

Arlington’s VA250 events can be found on the Arlington Historical Society home page.

COVID-19 Vaccines

Visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments link for more information on locations and scheduling

Note: APS Community Engagement Opportunities can be found online with translations into: Español Монгол አማርኛ العربية (Other languages)

PTA Executive Board

President: Jill Gaspar

Vice President: Michael O'Leary

VP Communications: Cristina Marcus

VP Administration: Bryan Boykin

Secretary: Rena Cutlip-Mason

Treasurer: Teresa Jones

Website Administrator: VACANT

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