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Williamsburg Middle School PTA Newsletter
December 16, 2024
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From the Williamsburg Middle School PTA
Greetings Williamsburg Families,
We've made it to the last school week of 2024! This is our last newsletter until January, and we will announce the date for our next PTA general meeting after we return from Winter Break.
Thank you to everyone who brought in holiday treats last week, the WMS teachers and staff really enjoyed the delicious snacks during their afternoon of professional learning. The PTA would also like to thank those who brought in gift cards that will benefit the WMS families in need this holiday season of the WMS CARES program.
Finally, I know in every newsletter there is always an "ask" for your support. To date, we have raised $4,500 in No Frills donations and our goal this school year is to raise $15,000. Your donations fund programs like Classroom Grants, the Reflections Art Contest, and Teacher Appreciation Week. The WMS PTA is a 501(c)3 organization and your donation is tax-deductible. Many employers offer a "matching gift program" and this is a great way to double your contribution.
Organization: VIRGINIA CONGRESS OF PARENTS AND TEACHERS
DBA: WILLIAMSBURG MS PTA
Tax ID: 54-1557107
Address of Donation: 3600 N HARRISON ST, ARLINGTON, VA 22207-1844
PTA Contact: TERESA JONES, TREASURER ( treasurer@wmspta.org )
Wishing you and your families the very best holiday season!
As always, please feel free to contact me at president@wmspta.org.
Jill Gaspar
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Support the Williamsburg Middle School PTA
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Individual Membership, $15
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Dual/Family Membership, $30
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Class Activity Fund, beginning at $40 per student. Pay this annually and the funds will remain with your student's Class year.
Did you know the WMS PTA is a 501(c)3 organization and your donations are tax-deductible?
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WMS PTA Volunteer Open Positions
- 6th Grade Parent Activity Coordinator(s)
- 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.
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This Week is Spirit Week at WMS!
In case you missed it in the morning announcements, Williamsburg is celebrating the holidays with a SPIRIT WEEK starting today. Students and staff are encouraged to show their school spirit by dressing up for the daily themes:
Monday is Candy Cane Day — so wear red and white.
Tuesday is Snowman Day — so wear hats, scarves and gloves.
Wednesday is PJ Day — so wear best jammies.
Thursday is Holiday Bling Day — so wear festive headgear or accessories.
Friday is Tacky Sweater Day — the uglier the better.
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There's still time to order your holiday cards AND support the WMS PTA!
Make your holiday card & gift purchases count this year by shopping at Minted.com when you use the code
FUNDRAISEWMSPTA at checkout.
Please share this with friends and family. The more people shop, the more WMS PTA earns!
You’ll get a 20% discount and
Minted will donate 15% of your purchase back to us!
Minted.com link
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White House Ornaments Ready for Pick Up
Thank you for your support through purchases of the 2024 Official White House Christmas ornaments, which raised over $350 for the Williamsburg PTA!
Ornaments have arrived and are ready for pick-up from Liz Milans.
If you did not receive information on how to pay and pick up, please reach out to Liz at pehickam@yahoo.com.
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Restaurant Fundraiser - Chipotle - Jan. 14
Join us at Chipotle in the Lee Heights shopping center:
Tuesday, Jan. 14
4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Chipotle will donate 25% of the funds raised to our school!
Be sure to use this code: J339HBL
Or show the flyer.
Click here if you need help with ordering online:
Chipotle-OnlineFundraiser
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Arlington to Expand Hardened Centerlines Safety Pilot
Arlington County launched a Vision Zero safety pilot project in spring 2024 that added hardened centerlines at five intersections. Hardened centerlines are small, raised bumps placed along the yellow centerline at an intersection. They are designed to make intersections safer by encouraging drivers to make left turns at slower speeds, which improves yielding and reduces crash risk.
We collected community feedback and before/after data for this pilot this past September. Overall, the percent of respondents who reported feeling “safe” or “very safe” increased for all modes after the hardened centerlines were installed, especially for walking, biking, or scootering. We also saw a 16% increase in cars turning at speeds less than 10 mph.
The County will consider hardened centerlines a typical quick-build safety tool due to the increased safety benefits expressed by community members and observed through data collection. We are planning on adding this tool at another five intersections in late 2024/early 2025, with one of the locations being North Williamsburg Boulevard and North Harrison Street.
View the Vision Zero Safety Pilots Project Page for more information.
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A message from the Arlington Outdoor Lab
Have your students recently participated in an Outdoor Lab field trip and returned raving about their adventures? Or maybe they’re already looking forward to their spring overnight trip.
Did you know that the Outdoor Lab is supported by a non-profit, the Arlington Outdoor Education Association (AOEA)? The AOEA owns and stewards the 226 acres of land students visit during 3rd, 5th, and 7th grades. We also build and maintain the buildings – including the Animal Lab. We are thrilled that generations of Arlington students have benefitted from this strong partnership.
At the Outdoor Lab, students engage in hands-on STEM applications by applying what they learn in the traditional classroom to real life situations. The Outdoor Lab welcomes all APS families to visit and experience the Lab at our twice-yearly Open Houses.
To find out about our Spring 2025 Open House, and stay informed on other happenings and ways to support the Lab, please join our Lab Notes email list or visit www.OutdoorLab.org. See our calendar here: Calendar - Arlington Outdoor Lab.
You can also find us on Facebook (Outdoor.Lab) and Instagram (@arlingtonoutdoorlab).
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Williamsburg MS - Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) Food Bus Program - UPDATE
The WMS community has been incredibly generous with their time supporting the Food Bus to transport donated, unopened food every week to AFAC.
There are a few remaining openings to help deliver food to AFAC at the end of the week in January and in the Spring. Parent volunteers can sign up here!
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! It is SUPER easy, a great lesson for our children, and it feels good to help our community!
AFAC is located at 2708 S Nelson St, Arlington, VA 22206.
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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.
So far the group has enjoyed a meet up at Ocean Dunes, moms lunch at Lebanese Taverna, ice skating, and a mother/daughter dinner and a movie at Arlington Drafthouse (picture above)! For any mothers/daughters interested in the snow tubing trip on Wednesday, January 15 please reach out to Liz Milans at pehickam@yahoo.com for more details. Thanks!
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APS & Community Announcements and Events | |
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. | | | | |
