Williamsburg Middle School PTA Newsletter

October 6, 2025

UPCOMING EVENTS

Oct. 6-9: Arlington Travel Basketball Tryouts

Oct. 7: Model UN Club Kick Off Meeting

Oct. 7: Silver Knights Chess Begins

Oct. 9: Parent/Teacher Conferences

Oct. 10: Early Release - Parent/Teacher Conferences

Oct. 13: No School for Students

Oct. 14: Boys Basketball Tryouts Begin

Oct. 15: Restaurant Fundraiser - Sloppy Mama's

Oct. 16-17: School Picture Days

Oct. 16: Girls Soccer Interest Meeting

Oct. 17: Open Gym

Oct. 17: WMS Best Buddies Club Meeting During TA

Oct. 20: No School - Diwali

Oct. 22: Girls Soccer Tryouts Begin

Oct. 29: Early Release - Professional Learning for Staff

Oct. 30: APS Band Showcase

Oct. 30: Pink Out Day

Oct. 30: Teachers to be Pied - Fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness

Nov. 4: No School for Students - Grade Preparation Day

Nov. 4: YHS Dance Team Hosting Junior Dance Team Clinic

Nov. 7: Fall Fest

Nov. 11: No School - Veterans Day

Nov. 12: Restaurant Fundraiser - Chipotle, Cherry Hill Location

Nov. 21: PTA Reflections Contest Deadline for "I Belong"

Nov. 26-28: No School - Thanksgiving Break

To access the APS school calendar, click here.

THIS WEEK'S HEADLINES

Restaurant Fundraisers

Mark your calendars for these upcoming restaurant fundraisers to support WMS:

Oct. 15 at Sloppy Mama's
Nov. 12 at Chipotle

7th Grade Parent Coordinators for Fall Fest & Spring Courtyard Chaos! URGENT NEED

2-3 parents from the 7th grade class are needed to help plan and support grade level social events like the Fall Fest (Nov 7) and Spring Courtyard Chaos. Please reach out to president@wmspta.org if you can help coordinate these fun activities for our kids!

Other Volunteer Needs

Please see the complete list of volunteer vacancies below. If you don't see a vacancy that is a perfect match for you, but you still want to help out, please reach out to us at president@wmspta.org.

Future 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.

Join the 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.

Click here to DONATE to the WMS PTA

PTA ANNOUNCEMENTS

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.

Volunteer Coordinator

Helps fill Volunteer positions and reports any volunteer needs. This role is busiest at the beginning of the school year.

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.

GRADE-LEVEL EVENT COORDINATORS

These committees may require volunteer support throughout the school year.

URGENT NEED FOR 7th GRADE - 7th Grade-Level Parent Coordinators needed for Fall Fest and Spring Courtyard Chaos

2-3 parents from the 7th grade class are needed to help plan and support grade level social events like the Fall Fest (Nov 7) and Spring Courtyard Chaos.

Help prepare and plan Fall Fest and Spring Courtyard Chaos, which are largely plug and play. Volunteer requirements include facilitating sign-up genius, collecting and organizing donations from families, and being onsite the day of the event from 10am until 1pm.

STILL NEEDED - 7th Grade Parents to assist with 8th Grade Promotion

2-3 7th Grade parents host the 8th Grade graduation morning reception and help with decorations for graduation. Sixth grade parents are also welcome to volunteer.

STILL NEEDED - 8th Grade Graduation Boardwalk Beach Carnival Committee

8th grade parents needed to plan and execute a fun evening of games, food, a DJ, etc. for 8th grade students prior to graduation. UPDATE: 2 Chairs have already stepped forward and just a few volunteers are needed to help plan.

WMS Best Buddies Club - First Meeting - Oct. 17

The WMS Best Buddies Club is preparing for a new year! This inspirational club promotes inclusion and connection between students with and without disabilities. And you can make some GREAT new friends in the process.

The first Best Buddies meeting will be on Friday, October 17th during TA in the cafeteria. To participate, please write your name, grade, and TA teacher on a piece of paper and place it in the box now located in the cafeteria. Thanks, Buddy!

Arlington Travel Basketball Tryouts - Oct. 6-9

Arlington Travel Basketball tryouts are happening this week!

See the flyer for details on tryout dates and locations of the various grades, for boys and girls.

Click here for more information and to register.

Silver Knights Chess - Starting Oct. 7

Is your scholar interested in chess? If so, there’s still time to register them for Silver Knights Chess! (Late buses will be provided.)

Open Gym Night - Oct. 17

Williamsburg will be hosting Open Gym twice a month after school from 2:40 PM to 3:30 PM.

Please note: There are no late buses on Fridays, so students will need to arrange their own transportation home.

We will kick off the first Open Gym on Friday, October 17th with Mr. Schutz.

YHS Dance Team Hosting Junior Dance Team Clinic - Nov. 4

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, Nov. 5

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.

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

"Growth" Speaker Series for Parents and Professionals - FREE Admission - Oct. 14 and 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...

Sharing the Diagnosis: Talking to Your Child About Their Neurodiversity - Oct. 14

Katia Fredriksen, PhD, Pediatric Neuropsychologist, Director of Training, The Stixrud Group and co-author of Different Thinkers

Yael Rothman, PhD, Pediatric Neuropsychologist and co-author of Different Thinkers

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.

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:

Wed, Oct. 8 Virtual Parent Town Hall: Empowered AI Learning

7 – 8:00 pm Zoom link for attendees

Thu, Oct. 9 School Board Meeting: Strategic Plan Priority - Student, Family and Community Partnerships (Volunteers and Community Partnerships); Action on Dominion Energy’s Right of Way Agreement Request at the Grace Hopper Center and School Board FY 2027 Budget Direction; Information on School Board Legislative Package; Revisions to School Board Policy J-8.3.8.30 Food and Nutrition Services-Unpaid Meal Charges and new School Board Policy D-2.37 Financial Management-Other Post-Employment Benefits Fund; and School Board Direction on the Superintendent’s Proposed Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)

7:00 pm Watch School Board meeting online, on Comcast Ch. 70, Verizon Ch. 41 or at Syphax Education Center, 2110 Washington Blvd. 22204

Thu, Oct. 23 School Board Meeting: Strategic Plan Priority - Student Academic Growth and Success (Science/Math); Action on School Board Legislative Package and School Board Direction on the Superintendent’s Proposed Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)

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. 24 Youth Mental Health First Aid, designed for adults who regularly interact with adolescents (age 12-18), hosted by the APS Office of Student Services for staff, families and community members.

9 am – 3 pm Register prior. Syphax Education Center, 2110 Washington Blvd. 22204

School Board Accepting Applications for Advisory Councils for the 2025-26 School Year

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

Arlington Community Events:

Tue, Oct. 7 Cocktails and Causes: Education, hosted by Volunteer Arlington

5:30 - 7 pm Register here. Westin Crystal City at Reagan National Airport, 1800 Richmond Hwy, 22202

Sat, Oct. 18 2nd Annual Arlington Community Health Fair, providing preventative healthcare screenings to the low income/uninsured population of Arlington, both children and adults, hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Arlington & the VHC Health Professional Development Council

11am - 3 pm Carlin Springs Elementary, 5995 5th Rd. S. 22204

Sat., Oct 18 Pike Fest 2025! Enjoy local food & drink, music, family‑friendly fun, and more

12 - 5 pm Penrose Square, 2597 Columbia Pike, 22204

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.