Williamsburg Middle School PTA Newsletter

January 5, 2026

UPCOMING EVENTS

Jan. 12: PTA Meeting via Zoom at 7PM

Jan. 13: Science Fair

Jan. 14: Early Release

Jan. 19: No School - MLK Jr. Holiday

Jan. 24: Parent Trivia Night at Four Provinces at 6PM

Jan. 28: PTA Restaurant Fundraiser - Dogwood Tavern

Jan. 30: No School for Students

Feb. 11: Early Release

Feb. 16: No School - Presidents Day Holiday

Mar. 12: Early Release - Parent/Teacher Conferences

Mar. 13: No School for Students - Parent/Teacher Conferences

Mar. 20: No School - Eid Holiday

Mar. 30-Apr. 3: Spring Break

To access the APS school calendar, click here.

THIS WEEK'S HEADLINES

Next PTA Meeting via Zoom - Jan. 12 at 7PM

Please join us for the next WMS PTA meeting on Monday, Jan. 12. We will meet online via Zoom at 7 PM.

Parent Trivia Night at Four Provinces - Jan. 24 at 6PM

The WMS PTA is in the process of planning our first Parent Trivia Night on Saturday, January 24 at 6PM at Ireland's Four Provinces in Falls Church. The event will be an opportunity for WMS parents to have a chance to connect with one another in a fun and informal environment while testing their trivia knowledge--or even just admiring the trivia knowledge of others. We are still in the process of finalizing the details, but if you are interested in helping to organize and/or assisting with the event, please send an email to president@wmspta.org.

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!

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!

Future WMS PTA Meetings - Guest Speakers Welcome!

We are trying to identify potential speakers for future meetings - if you are or know of a potential speaker who could present on topics that might be of interest to our membership, please reach out to vpinternal@wmspta.org.

Our PTA cannot carry out its programs and support for our students.

Please consider making a donation today!

Click here to DONATE to the WMS PTA

PTA ANNOUNCEMENTS

Science Fair - Need Volunteer Judges - Jan. 13

The WMS Science Department is in need of parent volunteers for judging the WMS Science Fair on Tuesday, January 13th from 5:30-8:00pm in the WMS cafeteria.

Part of what makes the WMS science fair so successful is parental involvement! No science or judging experience necessary. All judges will be given a tutorial and rubric to help support the judging of the projects.

If you have any questions, please contact either of the Science Fair Directors: Christy Zarro (Christy.Zarro@apsva.us) or Logan Thompson (Logan.Thompson@apsva.us).

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, January 13th!

Link to Science Fair Judging: HERE

Parent Trivia Night at Four Provinces - Jan. 24 at 6 PM

The WMS PTA is hosting our first Parent Trivia Night at Ireland's Four Provinces in Falls Church!

Saturday, Jan. 24
6 PM
Ireland's Four Provinces in Falls Church

Join us for an opportunity to connect with other WMS parents in a fun and informal environment while testing your trivia knowledge - or even just admiring the trivia knowledge of others!

If you are interested in helping to organize and/or assisting with the event, please send an email to president@wmspta.org.

2025-2026 PTA Volunteer Vacancies

The WMS PTA has several openings for the upcoming school year. Please consider signing up (with a fellow parent if you'd like!) to ensure we can support these programs and events.

Our PTA cannot function without you. Even if the none of the roles below appeal to you but you are otherwise interested in getting more involved, please reach out to our PTA President at president@wmspta.org. We would love to hear from you!

ADVOCACY AND OUTEACH ROLES

SEPTA Representative

Special Education PTA facilitates events and resourcing related to Special Education and provides advocacy and awareness for students with disabilities and special needs. Coordinates with the President and Communications VP. Meets monthly for 1-2 hours.

HOSPITALITY ROLES

Most of these roles are one time events that require 2-4 hours to plan and organize.

Winter Teacher Luncheon Coordinator

Plans the Winter Luncheon that typically occurs during Parent/ Teacher conferences. Creates and manages a sign up for volunteers and donations.

Teacher Appreciation Week Committee

This committee consists of 2-3 parent volunteers to help plan and support TAW events.

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!

"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...

"Bounce Back Stronger: Proven Tactics to Build Resilience in Your Child" - Jan. 28

January 28, 2026 | 6:00-7:00 PM

Nina Shiffrin, PhD, Psychologist and Director of Research, Alvord Baker

"Executive Functioning and Dysregulation: Understanding and Supporting Neurodiverse Students" - Feb. 18

February 18, 2026 | 6:00-7:00 PM

David Black, PhD, Pediatric Neuropsychologist and Director, Center for Assessment & Treatment (CAAT)

CLICK HERE for more information and to register.

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:

Tue, Jan. 6 Secondary World Languages Information Night. Learn about course options, AP, IB, Dual Enrollment, Seal of Biliteracy & more.

7 - 8:00 pm Virtual Meeting Link

Tue, Jan. 20 School Board Work Session #1 with the Advisory Council on Teaching and Learning (ACTL). Agendas, background information, and minutes are posted, when available, on BoardDocs.

6:30 pm Watch Work Sessions Live or at Syphax Education Center, School Board Room, 2110 Washington Blvd. 22204

Thu, Jan. 22 School Board Meeting: New Board Member Welcome and National Board Certified Teachers (NCBT); Strategic Plan Priority - Student-Centered Workforce (Focus on Human Resources and Audit Update)

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

Fri, Jan. 30 2026 Teen Health Fair hosted by APS

1 - 4:00 pm Register here. Wakefield High School, 1325 S Dinwiddie St. 22206

Explore School Options for the 2026-27 School Year

Learn about APS Neighborhood Schools, Option Schools and Programs. Information Video About the Application Process is available online and especially helpful for families with rising Kindergarten, 6th, or 9th graders.

Key dates:

Nov. 10 – Jan.10, 2026: Option School Info Sessions
Nov. 10 – Jan. 16, 2026: Apply Online
Feb. 6, 2026: Live lottery & Seat Offers

Arlington Community Opportunities and Events:

Resources for local food assistance from the Arlington County Department of Human Services.

Dream Project scholarships for 2/4 year College/University & Technical Education (CTE) are open. Details on eligibility criteria for each scholarship are listed here. Due Feb. 2 at 5pm!

Arlington County’s Child and Family Services Division of DHS is excited to announce the launch of Parent Coaching Services. Email lespina@arlingtonva.us or call 571-400-8855.

Wed, Jan. 14 Right to Work: What it Means for Workers, Business and Our Economy

6:45 pm Bean Kinney & Korman, 2311 Wilson Blvd, Suite 500, 22201 or Virtual via Zoom

Sun, Jan. 18 2026 Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. hosted by Arlington Parks and Recreation

5-6:30 pm Wakefield High School , 1325 S Dinwiddie St. 22206

Mon, Jan. 19 Annual MLK Day of Service honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. connecting individuals of all ages across Arlington in meaningful service.

Tue, Jan. 20 Child and Youth Well-Being Network Meeting. We welcome ideas and thoughts and are also looking for groups to host conversations.

4:30-6:00 pm Register to join this virtual meeting.

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. Apply by Jan. 31, 2026

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.