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Originally delivered on 12/17/2023 7:01 am

SUBJECT: Happening This Week at WMS: Week of 12/18

WMS PTO NEWSLETTER

Week of 12/18 - 12/22

This is the last week of school before Winter Break and we wish everyone "Happy Holidays" if your family celebrates Hanukkah, Christmas, or Kwanzaa this month.

The newsletter will skip next week for school break and pick back up on January 1st with everything you need to know about WMS for 2024. School is back in session on Tuesday, January 2nd. Enjoy the time off!

All the best,
Your 2023-2024 PTO Presidents
Katie Sullivan & Annie Oh

Donate to WMS PTO

WMS THIS WEEK

Monday 12/18: Day 5
Tuesday 12/19: Day 6
Winter Orchestra Concert, 7pm WMS Auditorium
Wednesday 12/20: Day 1
Picture Retakes
Thursday 12/21: Day 2
Friday 12/22: Day 3

**Reminder: There is no school Monday, December 25th through Monday, January 1st for winter break. School will re-open on Tuesday, January 2nd. The next edition of the WMS PTO Newsletter will be sent on Monday, January 1st.

Links for information on dates and events that are further out:

LINK to Wellesley Middle School Events Calendar

LINK to Wellesley Public School Events Calendar

Tuesday: Winter Orchestra Concert @7:00PM

Please join us in the WMS Auditorium on Tuesday night (12/19) for the Winter Orchestra Concert from 7:00-8:00pm. Our students have been working hard and we look forward to hearing them perform. The winter concerts for students and staff are below:

12/21 (Thursday): Grade 8 Winter Concert for students and staff during the school day
12/22 (Friday): Grade 6 & 7 Winter Concert for students and staff during the school day

Wednesday: Picture Retake Day

If you are not completely satisfied with your child's student portrait and would like another try, you have the opportunity for a retake on Wednesday, December 20th during the school day.

Please have your student return the undamaged portrait package to the Coffee Pond photographer on Retake Day. If you have specific instructions for the photographer, please jot them down so they show through the envelope window and can be easily spotted.

Retake photo packages will be distributed by the school approximately 3-5 weeks following Picture Retake Day. Click here for more information

WMS SAVE THE DATES

Study Skills Webinar - January 29th @7:00pm

Our third PTO meeting will be a webinar over zoom on Monday evening, January 29th. Join the tutoring company, Engaging Minds of Newton, to hear about some good ways to help middle school students with executive function skills such as organization and study habits. The WMS PTO has vetted this webinar and found it very valuable.

Please mark your calendars for Monday, January 29th from 7:00-8:15pm for this online event. Learn more about Engaging Minds here.

Click here to read more details and register in advance. Note: The recording will be emailed to all registrants after the webinar and the link will remain live for one week. If your student struggles with organization skills and effective study habits, this webinar is for you!

We are excited to see 66 parents signed up so far. Thank you for your participation!

PTO ANNOUNCEMENTS

Crossing Guard Gratitude

Does your child walk to school? We have two crossing guards employed through the town who help WMS students cross Route 9 and Kingsbury Street. Please show them a little gratitude this month with a holiday card, handwritten note, or just a simple “Happy Holidays”. Crossing guards have been hard to find recently and a little gesture goes a long way. Please thank thoughtful parent, Rose Nolan, for this wonderful idea!

Now Available: Spirit Wear Gift Certificates

Are you wondering what to buy your middle schooler for the holidays? Contact wmspto.spiritwear@gmail.com to purchase a gift certificate and your middle schooler may choose whatever they like from the merch pictured HERE. The WMS Spirit Team of Cathy Tai, Sharon Clarke-Levin and Sue Gibbons wishes you Happy Holidays!

P.S. - If you ordered something online last month and have not received it yet, it is waiting for you in the WMS Main Office. We would appreciate a pick up this week please.

Composting Helpers Needed

We are still looking for a few parents to join the lunch blocks from 11:20-1:00pm and be by the composting stations to help kids dispose of their trash properly. Check out the sign up here!

Junior Moving Company

If you like to dance or want to learn, then the Junior Moving Company is for you. Students in JMC will participate in dance classes and learn choreography that will culminate in a dance performance at the Wellesley High School Footnotes production in April. Students of all dance levels and experience are invited to participate. There will be an informational meeting tomorrow, Monday 12/18 at 2:30pm in the WMS cafeteria. Any questions please see Mr. Johnson.

Yearbook Orders

Don’t forget to order your yearbook at CoffeePond.com. Go to “Order Online” and “Yearbooks”, then enter the password “Raiders”. Yearbooks are $33 and the last day to order is April 5th.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

WGS Green Tip of the Month

Did you know that between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, household waste increases by more than 25% - over 1,000,000 tons per week? Make your holiday celebrations as Green as possible with the help of our own RDF's Holiday Waste Guide. Remember; wrapping paper is not recyclable so consider re-usable gift bags or Furoshiki wrapping (scarves work too)! Kids love it! It's never too early to start Green traditions.

Wellesley Blood Drive

Chief Jack Pilecki and the Wellesley Police Department, with the support of Dr. Lussier and the Wellesley Public Schools, will be hosting the 3^rd Annual Winter Holiday Blood Drive at Wellesley High School on December 28^th from 9am-2:45pm during winter break.

Blood is a perishable product and only volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in our community. The need for blood is constant. Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds and most of us will need blood in our lifetime. Sign up to donate today and help ensure that patients in local hospitals have a supply of blood ready and waiting before an emergency occurs. There’s no better feeling than knowing that your blood donation may give someone a second chance at life.

Click here to make an appointment

Welcome to Wellesley TOPS Basketball

TOPS Basketball is a program for individuals with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities in grades K-8. Carefully adapted activities include warm-up, station work, and small-sided games. These activities allow players to learn the skills necessary for passing, dribbling and shooting.

The interactive game play allows both technical and social skills to be developed. Each athlete is paired with a peer buddy. The peer buddy assists with skill development while also providing support and encouragement both on and off the court. We will offer 2 sessions: K-4 and 5-8 (see below for times).

WHEN: Sundays: January 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, February 4th and 11th
WHERE: Wellesley Middle School in the lower Gym B

K-4th: 12:30-1:30
5th-8th: 1:45-2:45

COST: $65
To Register: https://wellesleybasketball.sportngin.com/register/form/088578655
For more information please email: Ken Johnson at jrkjkc@gmail.com

PlayRox! 3v3 Hoops @WMS

NO FEE! Fridays 2:30-3:20pm WMS Gym B

Our popular 3v3 Hoops Rocks On! WHS Student DJs & Coaches bring Tunes, Energy & Fun for students to UnPlug & Play after school! Enjoy open gym, free play & relaxed action packed 3v3 games. We are pleased to offer no fee, but space is limited & pre-registration is required.

Offered by Community Investors, a Wellesley-based nonprofit supporting Physical, Social & Emotional Wellness. PlayRox programs are inspired & supported by Terriers Sports to EmPower Happy & Healthy Students ROCKING The Power of Play!

Click below to donate:
Support Us communityinvestors.net

Planned Dates are:
December 22nd
January 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
February 2nd, 9th, 16th
March 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd
April 5th, 12th

Click here to donate to WMS PTO