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PTA ANNOUNCEMENTS

TOMORROW is the Last Day for Fall Fest Donations - $5 & $10 Gift Cards Still Needed!

Fall Fest for WMS students is this Friday. So that donations can get sorted and organized across grades, TUESDAY is the last day to drop off donations. 

Thank you to all the families who have donated or signed up to volunteer. It will be a great event for our student, thanks to your generosity! 

To see what is still needed: CLICK HERE!

Email events@wmspta.org with any questions. 

WMS Food and Toiletries Drive - Last Day to Contribute - Nov. 20

WMS invites all students, families, and staff to participate by donating nonperishable food items and/or toiletries. Every contribution—big or small—will help make a difference for our neighbors during this challenging time.

Large collection boxes are located throughout the building for your donations. All collected items will be delivered to the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) (https://afac.org/) on Friday, November 21.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and commitment to supporting our community. Together, we can make a meaningful impact

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!

Arlington Indoor Percussion 2025–26 Season Interest Meeting - TONIGHT

Date: Monday, November 3

Time: 6:00–8:00 PM

Location: Yorktown High School Band Room

Arlington Indoor Percussion will host a brief 30-minute interest meeting to learn about the upcoming season, including schedule, expectations, goals, clinics/auditions, and more.

An optional introductory clinic will follow from 6:30–8:00 PM, giving students a chance to explore instruments and meet the staff.

Can’t attend? Email the directors to express interest:

- Peter Ketcham-Colwill (peter.ketchamcolwill@apsva.us)

- Nancy Hooper (nancy.hooper@apsva.us)

YHS Dance Team Hosting Junior Dance Team Clinic - TOMORROW

Come and join the Yorktown Dance Team for a day of dancing at the Junior Dancer Clinic on Tuesday, November 4. 

Dancers will learn skills and technique as well as a mini dance routine. 

Click here to access our SquadUp page to learn more and sign up for this exciting event!

Message from Helping Hands Community Service Club of Williamsburg - Next Mtg, THIS WEDNESDAY

Helping Hands is Williamsburg Middle School’s community service club.

Helping Hands was started by WMS students in 2021, and continues to be led by students.

We will meet once/month in the library, and we will plan and execute projects to help our community. Next meeting is Nov. 5.

We welcome parent volunteers - please indicate whether you would be willing to help with a project at some point this school year! Click here if you can help out: HELPING HANDS OF WILLIAMSBURG.

Thank you!

Molly Wolff, Helping Hands sponsor

Parent of 6th grader

Molly.wolff@gmail.com

YHS Crew Winter Conditioning - Open to 8-12th Graders - Registration and Open House Info

WINTER CONDITIONING REGISTRATION ENDS NOV. 10

Registration for Yorktown Crew winter conditioning is now available through SportsEngine.

Click here to register. 

-Nov. 10: Registration for winter conditioning will close.

-Nov. 17: Winter conditioning season will begin.

Click here for more information on the Winter Conditioning Season.

YHS Crew Annual Wreath Fundraiser - Last Day to Order is Nov. 10

Support Yorktown Crew and Deck the Halls!

Support Yorktown Crew and get a jump start on decorating your home this holiday

season! Our annual wreath fundraiser is happening now!

Your generosity covers vital costs like oars, boats, and transportation, keeping rowing

affordable for all our families.

Every wreath purchase or donation directly fuels the

team's success.

Order or Donate Easily: Scan the QR codes to place your order or contribute to

our program.

Local delivery wreaths will arrive the first week of December and will be

hand delivered by our rowers.

Find Us Locally: Be on the lookout for our team at your local farmer's markets and

Election Day polling places.

Join the Excitement: Interested in learning more about crew? Come check us out and

help cheer us on at one of our spring regattas: https://www.yorktowncrew.org/

Thank you for supporting our success on and off the water!

"Growth" Speaker Series for Parents and Professionals - FREE Admission - Nov. 12

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...

Growing Up in Public - Nov. 12

Devorah Heitner, PhD, Author of Growing up in Public: Coming Of Age In A Digital World and Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World

CLICK HERE for more information and to register.

PTA Reflections Contest Deadline - Nov. 21

October is National Arts and Humanities Month.

Celebrate the arts by encouraging your Wolf to participate in the Reflections program. Learn more about this year's program.

Submit entries online by Friday, November 21.

Visit the Williamsburg PTA website for more information on how to submit artwork and student

Email ReflectionsWMSPTA@gmail.com with any questions.

Annual Jennifer Bush-Lawson Foundation 5K & Carnival - Community Event - Nov. 22

Each year, the Jennifer Bush-Lawson Foundation event brings together families from across Arlington to celebrate, connect, and make a real difference for local moms and babies. Over the past decade, JBLF has helped hundreds of economically vulnerable moms and babies in our community—providing essentials like prenatal care, ride vouchers for medical visits, car seats, and newborn supplies. Every step we take together helps another family get the start they deserve.

Here’s how you can join in:

- Volunteer: Opportunities for adults and teens, both on race day and in the days leading up. Volunteer here. 

- Register: Run the 5K at 9:00 a.m., cheer on the kids’ fun run around 10:00/10:30 a.m., or just stop by for the carnival (open until 1:00 p.m.). Register here. 

- Amplify: Share this event with your school community. 

- Celebrate: Enjoy inflatables, games, face painting, balloon artists, laser tag, a bungee jumper, music, and so much more!

- Eat & Drink: Free beer and mimosas in the Beer Garden, plus delicious bites from Knights, Duck Donuts, and Timber Pizza.

- Bid: Our Silent Auction will be packed with getaways, signed sports memorabilia, and local business favorites.

- Donate: Can’t make it? Your support still makes a big difference.

Learn more at www.jb-lf.org.

WMS GENERAL INFORMATION

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.

APS & COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS

Upcoming APS Community Engagement Opportunities:

Sat. Nov. 8 Youth Mental Health First Aid, [Spanish language session], designed for adults who regularly interact with adolescents (age 12-18), hosted by APS for staff, families and community members.

9 am – 3 pm      Register prior. Wakefield High, 1325 S Dinwiddie St. 22206

Thu, Nov. 13 School Board Meeting: Native American Heritage Month recognition; Strategic Plan Priority - Student Academic Growth and Success (Focus on Chronic Absenteeism); Action on the Proposed Revisions to the 2025-26 School Year Calendar and School Board Direction on the Superintendent’s Proposed Capital Improvement Plan (CIP); Information on the Revisions to School Policy E-5.1.2 School Start Times, J-5.3.32 Administrative Placements, and J-13 Physical Interventions; Middle and High School Programs of Studies; and Final Fiscal Close-Out Status Report and the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Quarterly Report

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

Tue, Nov. 18 School Board Work Sessions on the Advisory Committee Working Group; Non-Traditional Secondary Program; Grace Hopper Center Programming; and High School Schedules. Agendas, background information, and minutes are posted, when available, on BoardDocs.

9 am-2:45 pm   Watch Work Sessions Live  or at Syphax Education Center, School Board Room, 2110 Washington Blvd. 22204

School Board Accepting Applications for Advisory Councils 

The School Board Advisory Councils and Committees provide valuable input on the APS decision-making process. Click here to learn more.

Arlington Community Events:

Nominate a Teacher of the Year by Nov. 14 - Deadline extended!

Each year, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) selects elementary, middle, and high school teachers to participate in the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher program. Complete the 2025-2026 entry form and brochure to nominate a teacher and mail to VFW Post 3150 by Nov. 14.

Scholarship opportunity for Spanish students 12-18 years of age

The 1st Carlos V Education Spanish Contest encourages language learners to submit their creative works, including short stories, short essays, posters, and podcasts. Winners attend a summer session in Spain, as well as a week of professional development for their teachers. Click here for details. Applications are due Jan. 31, 2026

Sat. Nov. 1  Resource and Legal Fair, hosted by the Arlington Sister City Association San Miguel Committee 

10 am - 2 pm Kenmore Middle School, 200 S Carlin Springs Rd. 22204 (for questions contact plawash703@gmail.com)

Thu, Nov. 6   Arlington Reads season finale hosts NYT bestselling authors Nicola and David Yoon as they discuss all things romance for people of color!

6:30-8 pm Online or in-person. Dorothy Hamm Middle School, 4100 Vacation Ln, 22207

Thu, Nov. 20 Hiawatha in History, Legend and Poetry, a talk on a famous literary Native American hero! Hosted by Arlington Public Library

6:30-7:30 pm Registration recommended. Columbia Pike Library, 816 South Walter Reed Drive, 22204

More at: Community Engagement Opportunities with automatic translation into: Español  Монгол  አማርኛ   العربية  (Other languages)

APS Extended Day in Hiring!

​

Extended Day provides students a safe, enriching, and fun environment before and after school. Learn more and apply here to be an aide, trainees or program supervisor. 

More at: Community Engagement Opportunities with automatic translation into: Español  Монгол  አማርኛ   العربية  (Other languages)

Have content for a future PTA Newsletter? Send it to our Communications VP by Thursday and we will include it in the following week's newsletter.