WMS PTO NEWSLETTER

Week of 1/8 - 1/12

Hello everyone!

Wednesday is an early release day and school will be closed at 11:21am for a staff meeting. All of the upcoming news and events for WMS can be found below.

NOTE: Next Monday (January 15th) is Martin Luther King Day and we have no school. Enjoy your three day weekend coming up!

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

Donate to WMS PTO

WMS THIS WEEK

Monday 1/8: Day 2
Tuesday 1/9: Day 3
Winter Jazz Concert
Wednesday 1/10: Day 4
District-wide Early Release
WMS Spirit Wear Store Open
Thursday 1/11: Day 5
Grade 8 Choral Concert
Friday 1/12: Day 6

*Reminder: No School Monday 1/15: MLK, Jr. Day

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: WMS Winter Jazz Concert

7pm in the WMS Auditorium
All are welcome to hear our fabulous musicians!

WEDNESDAY: District-Wide Early Release

The first early release of 2024 will be on Wednesday, January 10th.
Dismissal is at 11:21am.

Spirit Wear Store Open 11:30am - Noon

WMS Spirit Wear makes a great gift to keep your middle schooler motivated for a spectacular second half of the year. Contact wmspto.spiritwear@gmail.com with any questions and check out the merchandise pictured HERE. The Spirit Wear Team looks forward to meeting you at the storefront right by the Donizetti Doors on Wednesday.

THURSDAY: Grade 8 Winter Choral Concert

7pm in the WMS Auditorium

WMS SAVE THE DATES

Winter Concerts

Tuesday, January 9th WMS Winter Jazz Concert, 7pm WMS Auditorium
Thursday, January 11th WMS Grade 8 Choral Concert, 7pm WMS Auditorium
Thursday, January 19th WMS Grades 6 & 7 Choral Concert, 7pm WMS Auditorium

Study Skills Webinar & Course Selection Information: January 29th @7:00pm

We are happy to see 97 registrants for our third PTO meeting of the year coming up later this month.

NEW UPDATE: From 7:00-7:10pm we will start with a brief overview of Course Selection for the 2024-2025 school year, led by Kate Mahoney, Department Head of School Counseling and Lizz Gentes, Math Department Head.

Kate and Lizz will provide a preview of course selection dates and course choices for students. This will be followed by a webinar on executive function skills such as effective study habits and organization skills for middle school aged children. Please join us for as much as you can on Monday evening, January 29th from 7:00-8:15pm over Zoom.

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 and good study habits, this webinar is for you!

Lunar New Year Event: February 13th @2:30pm

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ~ 14th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration, Tuesday, February 13, 2:30-3:30 pm ~ Please join us in helping with this wonderful cultural event hosted by our WMS Chinese language classes. This event takes place in the WMS Cafeteria and is attended each year by about 350 WMS students where they enjoy dumplings, a traditional Asian cuisine favorite, entertainment, and games. All WMS students and faculty are welcome!

If you would like to volunteer and /or donate, please click here

We appreciate your participation and support! Many thanks on behalf of Min Zhou, Chinese Mandarin Language Teacher ~ Warisa Angsupanich, Vanessa Bhang, Kara Reinhardt Block, Becca Cahaly, Ceida Chan, Jim Chen, Lara Cohen, Michelle Fang, Jennifer Mong Lee, Douglas Ling, Sharon Nguyen, Regina Ong, Cherry Poulicakos, and Maggie Tushman ~ Lunar New Year Celebration Committee

If you would like to share your family's Lunar New Year tradition at the WMS Lunar New Year Celebration (with food, performance, games, etc.), please contact Min Zhou (zhoum@wellesleyps.org), Chinese Mandarin Language Teacher or/and Ms. Jennifer Hannon (hannonj@wellesleyps.org), ELL Teacher.

PTO ANNOUNCEMENTS

Upcoming Author Visits: Kelly Yang & Jared Krocszka

Thanks to your generous PTO donations, ELA Department Head, Ehrin Johnson, and parent coordinator, Tanya Auger, we are welcoming these two visiting authors soon:

Kelly Yang, February 27th, 6th grade
Author of “Finally Heard”, copies of which will be distributed across all grade 6 classrooms that day.

Jarrett Krosoczka, March 8th, 7th grade
Author and illustrator of the “Lunch Lady” graphic novel series and “Hey, Kiddo”, among others.

If you have ideas for a great 8th grade author visit, please email Katie Sullivan at wmsptoinfo@gmail.com

Guest Speaker: Mykee Fowlin, March 5th

Dr. Michael Fowlin will speak to the student body during an assembly on March 5th during the school day. The topic is on diversity, equity and inclusion and this special presentation for students is funded by the PTO Creative Arts budget and booked by Dr. Ito and his assistant, Patty Chong.

Learn more about keynote speaker Mykee Fowlin here: https://mykeefowlin.com/

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!

Lost & Found

Looking for something? Check out the lost and found table at the main entrance the next time you pick up or drop off your child. It’s right inside the main door on Kingsbury Street.

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

World of Wellesley MLK, Jr Breakfast & Family Celebration

The World of Wellesley will hold its Twenty-Fourth Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast and Family Celebration on Monday, January 15, 2024 at Wellesley College. We hope you will join us in celebrating Martin Luther King Day with a unique program that delves beyond the familiar narrative, shedding light on the lesser-known facets of MLK's impactful legacy.

This inspiring event is proudly led by The World of Wellesley, a non-profit educational organization dedicated to making Wellesley a welcoming place and committed to community empowerment through initiatives focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, accountability, justice, and anti-racism.

We are proud to have Dr. Jennifer Yanco, a racial justice educator-activist, scholar, and author as this year’s keynote speaker. Dr. Yanco’s book Misremembering Dr. King: Revisiting the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. invites us to reconsider how Dr. King is remembered and to revisit the radicalism of his work and legacy. Copies of her book will be available for purchase.

The program consists of two parts, a ticketed breakfast and discussion from 8 AM to 10:30 AM followed by a family program with free admission from 10:30 AM to 12 PM. The family program will feature interactive MLK-themed activities for children and all ages are welcome.

Please click here to purchase tickets. For each purchase made, a percentage of available seats will be reserved for community members who qualify for financial assistance. Community members with financial constraints, please email WOW at info@worldofwellesley.org. For more information about the program goto: WOW.org.

We hope you will consider purchasing a table or seats and help us bring these impactful programs to our community. For more information on either of the Martin Luther King celebrations, email info@worldofwellesley.org.

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

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

Click here to donate to WMS PTO