Williamsburg Middle School PTA Newsletter

October 7, 2024

IN THIS ISSUE

- Upcoming events

- PTA Message

- Support the PTA

- PTA announcements

- WMS Announcements

- Social Networking Opportunities

- APS & Community Announcements and Events

UPCOMING EVENTS

Oct. 7, 9, 10: Arlington Travel Basketball Tryouts

Oct. 8, 10: YHS Spin with the Patriots

Oct. 10, 11: Parent-Teacher Conferences

Oct. 11: No School

Oct. 14: No School - Indigenous People/Columbus Day

Oct. 14: YHS Spirit Program's Sports and Games Clinic

Oct. 15, 16: School Picture Day

Oct. 30: Early Release

Nov. 1: No School - Diwali

Nov. 4: No School

Nov. 5: No School - Election Day

Nov. 5: YHS Dance Team's Junior Dancer Clinic

Jan. 14: Science Fair - Judges Needed - Sign Up Coming Soon

Find the APS school calendar here!

From the Williamsburg Middle School PTA

Greetings Williamsburg Families,

Thank you to everyone who has donated to our No Frills fundraiser - we have reached 25% of our goal for the year! These funds help support the Classroom Grants program, and WMS teachers will begin submitting their applications this month. We would love to have one more parent volunteer to help review grant applications in November.

This Thursday, 4:30-7:30 p.m. and Friday. 8:00-11:30 a.m., Parent/Teacher conferences will be conducted arena style in the WMS cafeteria for 6th graders and in the gym for 7th and 8th graders.

As always, please feel free to contact me at president@wmspta.org.

Jill Gaspar

Support the Williamsburg Middle School PTA

Join the PTA:

Individual Membership, $15
Dual/Family Membership, $30

Class Activity Fee, beginning at $40 per student. Pay this fee annually and the funds will remain with your student's Class year.

No Frills Donation, our goal is to raise $15,000 this school year.

Visit our Givebacks Store

PTA Announcements

WMS PTA Volunteer Open Positions

6th Grade Parent Activity Coordinator(s)
Book Fair Co-Coordinator (1 more volunteer needed)
Restaurant Night Fundraiser Coordinator
Teacher Appreciation Week Co-Chair(s)
Website Coordinator
Volunteer Coordinator

If you would like to volunteer please email president@wmspta.org.

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

Arlington Travel Basketball Tryouts - 5th through 8th Grades - Oct. 7, 9, and 10

Arlington Travel Basketball tryouts start today!

Click here for more information and to register:

Yorktown Spirit Program

Hosting Sports and Games Clinic

Monday, Oct. 14

(No school for Indigenous People/Columbus Day)

Yorktown Dance Team

Hosting Junior Dancer Clinic

Tuesday, Nov. 5

(No school for election day)

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

2024 Student Entry Form
Visit Virginia PTA’s Reflections and National PTA’s Reflections websites for more information about the program and awards.

Questions? Please contact Amy Weinberg, WMS Reflections Chair, at ReflectionsWMSPTA@gmail.com or 443-927-6638.

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!

WMS Announcements

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

IMPORTANT INFO

Main Phone Line: 703-228-5450

Attendance Line: 703-228-5444

TECH SUPPORT

For technical support, call the Family Technology Call Center at 703-228-2570, Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Friday from 7 am - 6 pm

Parent tech help can be found at

https://williamsburg.apsva.us/edtech/staff-tech-help/

ParentVue Access

https://va-arl-psv.edupoint.com/PXP2_Login.aspx

Morning Announcements Blog

here

WMS School Picture Day

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 pennekirkpa trick@gmail.com

WMS Year Books on Sale Now!

Start the school year off right by ordering the 2024-2025 Williamsburg Middle School yearbook. Click here to buy

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.

The sixth graders had a great time ice skating at Medstar Iceplex on Friday, September 27. Thanks to everyone who could attend and we look forward to planning another event soon!

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.

APS & Community Announcements and Events

A reminder that APS Community Engagement Opportunities are available online with automatic translation into: Español Монгол አማርኛ العربية (Other languages)

Events are updated online throughout the month so check our website for the most updated information.

Upcoming APS Community Engagement Opportunities:

APS is celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15). Visit the Hispanic Heritage Month webpage for information about our student honorees and a list of activities in the region.

Mon, Oct. 7 Beyond APS: Career and College Fair 2024. Join over 140 representatives from colleges, universities, and trade schools. Exhibitors will be available to answer questions on admissions, academics, campus life, student population, and more. Local community and scholarship organizations will also be present.

6 - 8:00 pm Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 2nd St. S 22204

Thu, Oct. 17 School Board Meeting: Recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month Latino Student Leaders and the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) Principal and Student of the Year; Student Services Update; 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

Fri, Oct. 18 Monthly Youth Mental Health Training, for staff, families and the community. Participants learn how to recognize and respond to mental health needs or help a young person who is experiencing distress. Learn more and register.

Additional events online at: Community Engagement Opportunities

Arlington Community Events:

Hispanic Heritage Month events at the Smithsonian Institution and Latin Dance Lessons at Arlington Libraries thru Oct.10.

Sat. Oct. 26 Freedom Fund Banquet: Passing the Baton: a celebration of youth, culture & community, hosted by the NAACP

7 – 9:00 pm Tickets required. George Mason University - Mason Square, 3351 Fairfax Dr. 22201

Arlington’s VA250 events can be found on the Arlington Historical Society home page.

Mon. Oct. 28 North Glebe Road Bridge Replacement - In-Person Public Hearing at Discovery Elementary School on Monday, October 28 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. The Virginia Department of Transportation is hosting a public hearing on the North Old Glebe Road bridge over North Glebe Road (Route 120). Review the project information online here.

COVID-19 Vaccines

Visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments link for more information on locations and scheduling.

PTA Executive Board

Principal: Bryan Boykin

President: Jill Gaspar

Vice President: Michael O'Leary

VP Communications: Cristina Marcus

Secretary: Rena Cutlip-Mason

Treasurer: Teresa Jones

Website Administrator: VACANT

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