From the Williamsburg Middle School PTA

Happy New Year Williamsburg Families!

I hope everyone had a relaxing holiday season with friends and loved ones.

We would like to thank everyone who donated to the WMS Cares gift card drive last month. We were able to provide nearly $140 to each family in need.

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

Jill Gaspar



PTA Announcements

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.

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

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. 

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).

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

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!  

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:

SAVE-THE-DATE

Wed. Jan. 15      APS Summer Activities Fair. Get ready for summer by exploring available programs, camps, and activities for children of all ages. 

6 - 7:30 p.m.     Kenmore Middle School, 200 S Carlin Springs Rd. 22204

Additional events can be found online at: Community Engagement Opportunities with automatic translation into: Español  Монгол   አማርኛ   العربية  (Other languages)

Arlington Community Events: 

Thu. Jan. 16      School Board Meeting 7-10 p.m. Click to live stream.

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.