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Williamsburg Middle School PTA Newsletter
March 24, 2025
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From the Williamsburg Middle School PTA
Greetings Williamsburg Families,
Thank you to everyone who attended last week's PTA meeting. Mr. Boykin shared an exciting update about some of the great achievements of our WMS students and upcoming school events.
We are quickly approaching April and seeking 3-4 volunteers for our Nominating Committee to help find candidates for the upcoming PTA Board vacancies.
As always, please feel free to contact me at president@wmspta.org.
Jill Gaspar
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Support the Williamsburg Middle School PTA
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Individual Membership, $15
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Dual/Family Membership, $30
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Class Activity Fund, beginning at $40 per student. Pay this annually and the funds will remain with your student's Class year.
Did you know the WMS PTA is a 501(c)3 organization and your donations are tax-deductible?
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Order Your Yearbook Today!
If a picture is worth a thousand words — then the WMS Yearbook is absolutely PRICELESS!
The 2025 Yearbook is on sale NOW! It’s just $47 to buy — CLICK HERE to order.
Don’t miss out on the memories!
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WMS Choir to Perform at Wizards Game - Apr. 3
Join the Williamsburg Middle School Choir as we perform the national anthem before the Wizards game on April 3. A portion of each ticket will be donated back to the choral program.
For questions or groups of ten or more tickets, please contact Ashley Miller at amiller@monumentalsports.com.
If you would like to attend, tickets can be purchased HERE.
Please join us next Thursday!!
Thank you in advance and Go Wolves!!
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"Turning Setbacks Into Success: Helping Kids Thrive Through Challenges" - Author Michelle Icard - McLean Community Center - Apr. 23
Every kid makes mistakes. The trick is to turn these missteps into character-building moments for your child.
Join SCC on April 23 at 7pm at MCC’s Alden Theatre for "Turning Setbacks into Success" with author Michelle Icard.
Based on "8 Setbacks That Can Make a Child a Success," the talk helps parents know when to step in or step back as kids navigate challenges like friendship struggles, rule-breaking, and self-doubt.
With 20+ years in education and parenting research, Icard shares insights with humor and empathy. Ideal for parents & caregivers of kids in grades 3–12.
Tickets: $15 pre-sale / $20 at the door.
CLICK HERE for more information.
CLICK HERE to purchase.
Proceeds benefit McLean's Safe Community Coalition.
Location: McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean, VA 22101
Date and time: Wed, Apr 23, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Book signing follows.
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A Message for 8th Grade Families
Hello 8th Grade Parents!
This year is flying by and our kids will be moving onto high school before we know it!
Please SAVE-THE-DATES on your calendars for the following 8th Grade events:
- Boardwalk Beach Carnival at WMS - Friday, June 6, 2025, from 6 pm – 8 pm, parents to drop off/pick up at the school, children to dress in boardwalk/beach attire (no swimsuits);
- Kings Dominion Day Trip - Thursday, June 12, 2025, from 8 am - 6 pm, buses transport children to/from school;
- Graduation/Promotion Rehearsal at WMS - Monday, June 16, 2025 at 7:50 am, parents to drop off at school; and,
- Graduation/Promotion Ceremony at WMS - Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 8:15 am, parents to attend. Families receive 2 tickets only!
For our 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!
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
8th Grade Activity Coordinators,
Kelly Jones, Leigh Taylor, Courtney Holmes, Melanie Mickelson
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Sneaker Recycling Program - "Got Sneakers!"
As part of our school’s commitment to sustainability, Williamsburg is supporting a Sneaker Recycling Program called “Got Sneakers!!”
So if you have any old shoes lying around, don’t throw them away!!
Instead, from now until the end of the year, please donate them to “Got Sneakers” by dropping them off in room 233.
Again, bring your old shoes to room 233.
Students can see Mr. Sundwick with any questions.
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Youth Ultimate League of Arlington (YULA) - Middle School League - Spring
This program is open to Arlington middle schoolers of all ability levels. Spring league will aim to teach Ultimate to new players and enhance the skills of returning players.
- Play on a team of 12-14 players
- Teams formed based on the middle school you attend
- Open to middle schoolers of all ability levels
- Games on Sundays: March 16 to June 15
- Practices on weekday evenings
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A message from the Arlington Outdoor Lab
Have your students recently participated in an Outdoor Lab field trip and returned raving about their adventures? Or maybe they’re already looking forward to their spring overnight trip.
Did you know that the Outdoor Lab is supported by a non-profit, the Arlington Outdoor Education Association (AOEA)? The AOEA owns and stewards the 226 acres of land students visit during 3rd, 5th, and 7th grades. We also build and maintain the buildings – including the Animal Lab. We are thrilled that generations of Arlington students have benefitted from this strong partnership.
At the Outdoor Lab, students engage in hands-on STEM applications by applying what they learn in the traditional classroom to real life situations. The Outdoor Lab welcomes all APS families to visit and experience the Lab at our twice-yearly Open Houses.
To find out about our Spring 2025 Open House, and stay informed on other happenings and ways to support the Lab, please join our Lab Notes email list or visit www.OutdoorLab.org. See our calendar here: Calendar - Arlington Outdoor Lab.
You can also find us on Facebook (Outdoor.Lab) and Instagram (@arlingtonoutdoorlab).
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Williamsburg MS - Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) Food Bus Program - UPDATE
The WMS community has been incredibly generous with their time supporting the Food Bus to transport donated, unopened food every week to AFAC.
There are a few remaining openings to help deliver food to AFAC at the end of the week in January and in the Spring. Parent volunteers can sign up here!
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! It is SUPER easy, a great lesson for our children, and it feels good to help our community!
AFAC is located at 2708 S Nelson St, Arlington, VA 22206.
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Sixth Grade Families
Sixth grade parents have been coordinating get togethers for the sixth graders and their parents and would love to connect with any additional parents of sixth graders. If you have a sixth grader but are not currently on the google spreadsheet directory, please reach out to Liz Milans at pehickam@yahoo.com to be added. The spreadsheet is used to send the communications about upcoming gatherings.
So far the group has enjoyed a meet up at Ocean Dunes, moms lunch at Lebanese Taverna, ice skating, a mother/daughter dinner and a movie at Arlington Drafthouse, and a girls snow tubing trip (picture above)! We look forward to the next activity! Thanks!
| | APS & Community Announcements and Events | | |
2025 Honored Citizens
Nominate a deserving volunteer in our school community! Each year, the School Board acknowledges volunteers who have made exceptional contributions, devoting significant time and energy to a broad range of volunteer activities within the Arlington school community. For more information, visit the APS Honored Citizens webpage. Nominations are due Fri, March 28.
Upcoming APS Community Engagement Opportunities:
Tue, Mar. 25 School Board Work Sessions: Budget Work Session #1
1 – 2:30 p.m. School Board Room. Watch Work Sessions Live here.
Tue, Mar. 25 School Board Work Sessions: Budget Work Session #2
2:45 – 4:15 pm School Board Room. Watch Work Sessions Live here.
Thu, Mar. 27 School Board Meeting: March is Arts in the Schools Month; Audit report – Human Resources and Overtime; Information on the Arlington Career Center (Grace Hopper Center)
7:00 pm Watch School Board meeting online, on Comcast Ch. 70, Verizon Ch. 41 or at Syphax Education Center, 2110 Washington Blvd. 22204
More at: Community Engagement Opportunities with automatic translation into: EspañolМонголአማርኛالعربية (Other languages)
Arlington Community Events:
Tax Help for Low- and Moderate-Income Households
Need help with tax preparation? Clinics are open around Arlington and neighboring communities
Sat, Mar. 29 Arlington Teen Summer Job Fair for 14 to 18 year-olds
10am – 1 pm Thomas Jefferson Community & Fitness Center, 3501 S 2nd St, 22204
More at: Community Engagement Opportunities with automatic translation into: EspañolМонголአማርኛالعربية (Other languages)
Registration Now Open:
Mar 12-Apr 30 Strengthening Families Program Free parenting classes in English and Spanish, designed for families with children ages 10-14.
6-8:30 pm More info & Register here. Alice West Fleet Elementary, 115 S Old Glebe Rd, 22204
Summer Camp Registration is Now Open for eligible families
Check out the Arlington Parks & Recreation Summer Activities Webpage for a variety of options to keep kids engaged and active.
COVID-19 Vaccines
Visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments link for more information on locations and scheduling.
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