Williamsburg Middle School PTA Newsletter

October 20, 2025


UPCOMING EVENTS

Oct. 20: Unity Day - Wear Orange

Oct. 22: Girls Soccer Tryouts Begin

Oct. 23-31: DEA Red Ribbon Week

Oct. 27: Next PTA Meeting - Via Zoom

Oct. 28: Red Ribbon Activities During Lunch

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. 3: Arlington Indoor Percussion Interest Meeting for 7-12th Graders

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 this upcoming restaurant fundraiser to support WMS:

  • Nov. 12 at Chipotle


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!



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.


Next PTA Meeting - Monday, Oct. 27, at 7 PM - Via Zoom

Join us for the next PTA Meeting, which will take place on Monday, Oct. 27, via Zoom. We will send the link for the meeting closer to the date.


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.  


Sign up for the 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.


Morning Announcements

Keep up with the latest news that your kids are getting each morning.

Click here for the WMS Morning Announcements!


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. 


Williamsburg Food Bus to Assist AFA


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!


Arlington Indoor Percussion 2025–26 Season Interest Meeting - Nov. 3


Date: Monday, November 3

Time: 6:00–8:00 PM

Location: Yorktown High School Band Room


Arlington Indoor Percussion will host a brief 30-minute interest meeting to learn about the upcoming season, including schedule, expectations, goals, clinics/auditions, and more.


An optional introductory clinic will follow from 6:30–8:00 PM, giving students a chance to explore instruments and meet the staff.


Can’t attend? Email the directors to express interest:


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. Next meeting is Nov. 5.


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 - 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...


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:


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:


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)


Message from the Cherrydale Farmers Market:


Cherrydale Farmers Market is hosting its second annual Jack O'Looza. Kids and families are invited to carve and decorate pumpkins at the market, on the morning of Oct. 25 in the courtyard overlooking the soccer field at the Dorothy Hamm Middle School. We would like to invite your families and kids to come out and decorate pumpkins with us. Kids under 13 should be accompanied by a trusted adult. ere is our Facebook Event Page.


Pumpkins are available for purchase from the farmers, but if you already have yours, please feel free to bring your pumpkin from home.

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.