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Williamsburg Middle School PTA Newsletter
September 30, 2024
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From the Williamsburg Middle School PTA
Greetings Williamsburg Families,
Thank you to everyone who attended the first PTA meeting last week! Amy W., Reflections Coordinator, spoke briefly about this year's theme "Accepting Imperfections". Please encourage your student to submit their original art piece before Friday 11/22. The program also offers an Accessible Arts division for students with disabilities.
Mr. Boykin also presented an update on student academic performance and the school action plan.
Reminder, this Thursday is an APS school holiday in observance of Rosh Hashanah.
As always, please feel free to contact me at president@wmspta.org.
Jill Gaspar
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WMS PTA Volunteer Open Positions
- 6th Grade Parent Activity Coordinator(s)
- Fundraising Coordinator(s)
- Teacher Appreciation Week Co-Chair(s)
- Book Fair Coordinator
- Website Administrator
- Volunteer Coordinator
If you would like to volunteer please email president@wmspta.org.
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BSA All-Girl Troop Inviting Girls Ages 11-17 to Learn About Troop 163 - TONIGHT
Looking for an activity this fall? Troop 163, a Scouts BSA all-girl troop, is inviting girls aged 11-17 who want to learn more, to join us TONIGHT.
Troop 163 is a vibrant, well-equipped troop with a year-round program designed to build character, citizenship, and personal fitness through outdoor skills/ camping and scout-led leadership with the counsel of trained adults. Girls explore and improve their interests in a variety of skills and can work toward Scouting’s highest rank- Eagle.
Den leaders, parents and girls, come learn about all the exciting events the scouts have planned for the new school year:
Mon, Sept. 30, 7:30-8:30pm at Westover Baptist Church, 1125 Patrick Henry Dr Arlington, VA 22205 (in the parking lot closest to Washington Blvd).
For more information, please email the Scoutmaster - scoutmaster163@gmail.com or visit the website www.troop163scoutsbsa.com
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Join us on Saturday, October 5 for QA2: Queer or Questioning, Awareness and Acceptance!
This exciting event will bring LGBTQIA+ youth, families, and allies together for a morning of workshops, resources, and connections with over 30 local organizations and vendors. Whether you’re looking for support, advocacy, or a sense of community, QA2 is the place to be!
When: Saturday, October 5th, 9 AM - 12 PM
Where: UUCA, 4444 Arlington Blvd., Arlington, VA
Register here: https://qa2-2024.eventbrite.com
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Spin with the Patriots 2024 - Oct. 8 and 10
Do you want to be a part of the YHS Marching Band Halftime Show?
The YHS Colorguard invites all 4th through 8th graders to join the Band for an exciting halftime performance! All participants receive a free t-shirt.
- Rehearsal: Tuesday, 10/8, 7-8:30pm
- Game & Performance: Thursday, 10/10, 5pm-halftime
Sign up and more info at https://bit.ly/yhsSPIN24
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Yorktown Spirit Program
Hosting Sports and Games Clinic
Monday, Oct. 14
(No school for Indigenous People/Columbus Day)
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Yorktown Dance Team
Hosting Junior Dancer Clinic
Tuesday, Nov. 5
(No school for election day)
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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
Questions? Please contact Amy Weinberg, WMS Reflections Chair, at ReflectionsWMSPTA@gmail.com or 443-927-6638.
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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!
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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
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School Picture Day is Coming!
Date: Tuesday October 15 & Wednesday October 16
- Pictures will be taken during your student’s PE class
- Stay Tuned for a makeup date
Pictures Available: Approximately two weeks after photo day
Pre-order Online: https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001136425#login
A portion of all picture sales goes to the PTA, so thanks for supporting WMS.
Questions about Ordering? Email us at underclass@vosphoto.com
Other Questions? Email Penne Kirkpatrick at pennekirkpatrick@gmail.com
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Social Networking Opportunities
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.
Last Friday, September 27 sixth grade reserved private ice time at Medstar Iceplex in Ballston Quarter for skating from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
A couple of weeks ago, a group of sixth grade moms met at Lebanese Taverna for lunch in support of the WMS fundraiser and to get to know each other more. Thank you to Nicole Hobbs for coordinating and we look forward to more restaurant gatherings.
On August 22 a group of sixth graders met up at Ocean Dunes to kick off the school year and meet new classmates.
We look forward to connecting with you! Please contact Liz Milans for more information about events.
FOREIGN SERVICE FAMILIES
Are you a State Department Foreign Service family? Recently moved into the Williamsburg School District! I would love to meet other families and children like us who have settled in Arlington for a time.
I would love to host a gathering at our house to get acquainted this fall.
Please contact Michael Newbill, WMS 6th Grade Parent at m_newbill@hotmail.com for more information.
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APS & Community Announcements and Events | |
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Upcoming APS Community Engagement Opportunities:
Yorktown High School is looking for contributions and chaperones for the Homecoming Dance on Oct. 5.
Come be a part of the fun of the Homecoming Dance! Chaperone, help with refreshments, or donate something. Help make the dance fun and safe for our kids. Sign up with friends!
Please drop off donations Friday 10/04 between 9am and 1pm in the office, or Saturday 10/05 between 11am and 1pm.
If you don’t have time to shop and drop off, send $$ for what you’d like to provide and we will pick it up for you!
Click here to sign up!
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.
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:
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)
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