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Williamsburg Middle School PTA Newsletter
April 20, 2026
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THIS WEEK'S HEADLINES
Wolfchella Food and Music Festival at WMS - 5:00-8:00 PM, THIS THURSDAY - NEED VOLUNTEERS!
You're Invited to Wolfchella 2026 at Williamsburg Middle School! Join us for an exciting evening of live music, food trucks, and fun at Wolfchella, our annual Music and food festival on April 23, from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Williamsburg Middle School! Want to volunteer? Sign up here.
Teacher Appreciation Week - May 11-15 - NEED CONTRIBUTIONS!
Whether it’s a small contribution or a larger gift, every donation makes a difference and helps us say “thank you” in a meaningful way. Let’s come together as a community to show our WMS teachers and staff how much they are appreciated! Click here to donate: WMS Teacher Appreciation Week GiveBacks site
PTA Meeting - Recap
Thank you to all who joined us for the PTA meeting last week. In addition to general PTA business, we also had a guest speaker from Code Ninjas of Arlington on "AI Fluency and Responsible Usage for Middle Schoolers and Rising High School Students." The slide presentation is available here. Please see their camp offerings information below.
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!
Volunteer for Next Year's PTA Board
We are looking for volunteers to serve on next year's PTA Board. If you are interested or would like to learn more, please email president@wmspta.org.
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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*** The PTA provides support to the WMS community in many different ways, including helping with events like PALS days, funding Wolf Paw prizes and classroom grants, providing recognition for our teachers, and more. We can only continue to do so with your support. Please consider donating to the PTA to support our activities for the remainder of this school year and into the next. ***
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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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Wolfchella 2026 Music and Food Festival is COMING to WMS! - THIS THURSDAY
Join us for an exciting evening of music, food, and fun at Wolfchella, our annual Music Festival on April 23, from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Williamsburg Middle School!
This family friendly event is the perfect way to kick off the spring season.
What to Expect:
- Live music featuring Bach to Rock McLean and the WMS bands
- Food trucks serving dinner and dessert, including: A Todo Madre, Oh K Dog, Old Dominion Pizza, Haagen-Dazs Washington DC, and King of Pops!
Bring a blanket or chair to sit back, relax, and enjoy the music! Our food truck vendors are each donating a portion of their proceeds to the WMS PTA, so please consider coming out to support our vendors and our PTA!
Whether you are a current WMS student, a rising 6th grader, or a family member, there is something for everyone at Wolfchella. It is a wonderful opportunity to connect with friends, meet future classmates, and enjoy a vibrant evening of community spirit.
We cannot wait to see you there for an evening filled with music, food, and memories!
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!
If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up here!
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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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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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Teacher Appreciation Week - May 11-15 - Need Contributions!
Help us celebrate our incredible middle school teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week!
Our PTA is planning a week full of treats and surprises to show just how much we value their hard work, dedication, and impact on our students every day.
We’re asking for your support to make this celebration truly memorable. The amount we’re able to raise through donations will directly determine the variety and quality of treats and appreciation events we can provide for our teachers and staff throughout the week.
Whether it’s a small contribution or a larger gift, every donation makes a difference and helps us say “thank you” in a meaningful way. Let’s come together as a community to show our WMS teachers and staff how much they are appreciated!
To donate, please visit here:
WMS Teacher Appreciation Week GiveBacks site
Thank you for your generosity and support!
For questions, or to volunteer to help with this special week, please contact Ingrid Gust at ingrid.gust@outlook.com.
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8th Grade Parents - Sign Up for YHS PTSA Newsletter!
Hi Future Patriot Parents!
We'd like to welcome you to Yorktown High School for the Fall of 2026. Do you have a rising 9th grader? Please subscribe to our PTSA newsletter. We're excited to have you be a part of our community.
CLICK HERE to join: https://site.yorktownptsa.org/newsletter
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8th Grade Families - Please Consider Donating
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 would like to self-nominate, please reach out by email: nominations@yorktownptsa.org
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Code Ninjas of Arlington - Summer Camp Offerings
Please see the summer camp offerings from Code Ninjas of Arlington.
They recently attended our PTA meeting to speak on "AI Fluency and Responsible Usage for Middle Schoolers and Rising High School Students."
Click here to see their camp offerings.
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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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Summer Learn-to-Row Camp at W-L
Are you thinking about rowing in high school?
Rowing is one of the few sports that you can start in high school and become successful with very quickly!
W-L Crew's Summer Learn to Row camps are perfect for rising 7th, 8th, and 9th graders who want to give rowing a try!
Or join us for Green Days next fall!
Learn more about both on our website: www.w-lcrewboosters.org.
W-L Crew now rows out of Columbia Island Marina, which is very conveniently located on the Virginia side of the Potomac River near the Pentagon.
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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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