LINK: WRMS Staff v Students Soccer Game Highlights
Hello West Rocks!
What a great week! We had our first ever Staff v Student Soccer Game, Hispanic Heritage dinner put on by our dual language program, a RULER SEL lesson for our 8th graders, and had a pink out Friday in support of breast cancer awareness! Check out the video from the soccer game to see highlights using the link above!
The focus of this year has been on academic and emotional engagement. Teachers are planning tasks and learning activities during classes that require students to think critically, talk with their peers, and enable all students to access grade level content. Within the lesson they are also having students apply their emotional vocabulary from the mood meter, using the Charter to reinforce expectations, and beginning to have students visualize their best selves with the “meta moment.” These are tools from RULER Approach.
Thank you to everyone that wore pink yesterday on the second Friday of October! Each Friday, we will wear pink to raise awareness for the fight against breast cancer. Looking forward to seeing students, staff, and families at Sherwood Island for the Making Strides Walk Against Breast Cancer on Sunday, October 20! You are invited to join the West Rocks team! More information below.
Every two years, each school in Norwalk Public Schools participates in a School Quality Review (SQR). A reviewer from the district office spends two days in the school visiting classrooms, meeting with staff, parents, and students, analyzing evidence and artifacts, then creates ratings according to a rubric with 10 components.
One part of the review is a family survey that was sent out electronically. This is an anonymous survey that provides the reviewer with more information from the perspective of the families. If you have not done so already, please take a few minutes to complete it. The survey will close on October 18. Our SQR will take place on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
Have a great weekend,
Adam Reynolds
Principal, West Rocks Middle School
PS. There is no school on Monday October 14 in observance of Indigenous Peoples Day. There is no school for students on Tuesday, October 15. Teachers and staff have professional development. Please refer to the district calendar for holidays throughout the year.
https://www.norwalkps.org/about/district-overview/official-district-calendar
STUDENT SURVEYS
DESSA - SSR
As you know, we have focused on emotional engagement with all our students using Yale’s RULER Approach. To screen our students’ progress with SEL skills, we are using an SEL self-report survey called the Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA – SSR). The DESSA-SSR targets 8 key social emotional areas. Students complete the DESSA-SSR on their own, and immediately get feedback on their strengths and their areas for growth. Then, students can use the feedback to choose the skills they want to improve and to set goals for themselves. The goal is for students to learn new strategies that will help them be successful. We will do this 3 times this year.
The DESSA-SSR is not about getting a score. It is about helping our students better understand their own social and emotional skills and then improving the skills that will help them be successful and happy.
Sample DESSA-SSR questions include:
- How often did you take steps to reach a goal?
- How often did you think about positive things?
- How often did you take an active role in your learning?
- How often did you show good judgment?
Please be on the lookout for more information and how this supports our work with RULER.
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2024 Norwalk Youth Survey
Before the end of October, students will complete the 2024 Norwalk Youth Survey, which has been authorized by the Board of Education (BOE). The survey will be given to 7th through 12th graders and is planned for the last week of October.
Why Survey Our Youth? This will be the fourth time Norwalk has conducted this biannual survey of our middle and high school students. The survey allows students to share their beliefs and experiences on matters beyond academics that impact their learning and their lives. The information is used to guide community, municipal, and school initiatives to support our youth and address issues they experience.
Please be on the lookout for a separate communication with more details and the date of the survey.
GRADE LEVEL EVENTS
THE GRADE 7 FIELD TRIP IS COMING! We have had a lot of families complete the Nature's Classroom Interest Form.
We will be accepting interest forms and payments until Friday October 18. In addition, there is still time to sell popcorn to offset the cost of the trip. Please see all the information below.
Nature's Classroom Information:
- To register your child, please fill out this GOOGLE FORM
- Once you have filled out this form, please send in your deposit of $100(or full amount) to secure your spot. Please send in cash or a check made payable to West Rocks Middle School. If you request financial aid, a deposit of $100 is still required to secure your spot. Also, anyone that requests financial aid must participate in the Poppin Popcorn fundraiser below.
- For more information please view this INFORMATIONAL LETTER. and SLIDEDECK PRESENTATION from the parent meeting.
- Chaperones- We are still in need of chaperones. Please let me know if you would be interested in chaperoning for 1 or 2 of the days.
For additional information, please reach out to Miss Sabol (sabolr@norwalkps.org).
There is a mandatory meeting for parents and students that are registered on TUESDAY October 22 at 7pm at West Rocks.
Movie Night! October 25 @ 6pm
The 6th Grade Class will sponsor a Movie Night on Friday, October 25th at 6:00 pm. All West Rocks Students are invited to attend. Students should complete a permission slip and return with $10 to purchase a ticket. The permission slips will be sent out next week and will be available during lunch the week of 10/21. Refreshments will be served. Grade 6 families will be contacted to donate food and drink items for sale.
2024-25 YEARBOOK
Yearbook Cover Contest!
Entries due by: Friday December 6th, 2024
Each year, the cover of the WRMS yearbook is designed by a student! We are inviting all our students to design the front cover of our 2024-25 yearbook. The winner will be selected by a panel of judges.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ciU2pRxyJgcDj6LkZ6r5v8lBs2g1ztje/view?usp=sharing
Yearbook Sales
It’s time to order the 2025 yearbook! The yearbook is on sale right now at the lowest price of the year! Don’t miss out on all the memories. https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/1037145/West-Rocks-Middle-School/2025-Yearbook/2024073104235294363/CATALOG_SHOP/
Celebrate your graduating student with a yearbook ad! The yearbook ads for graduates are on sale right now at the lowest price of the year! Let your student know you are proud of their accomplishments with a yearbook ad.
https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/ybAdDesigner/1037145/WEST-ROCKS-MIDDLE-SCHOOL/2024082214153279092/CATALOG_SHOP/
Direct questions to our adviser Dr. Maria Fox (foxm@norwalkps.org)
ACADEMICS, PROGRAMS, AND CAMPAIGNS
Breast Cancer Awareness – October
During the month of October each year West Rocks brings awareness to Breast Cancer by wearing pink each Friday and then participating in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk of Fairfield County on October 20 at Sherwood Island. If you and your child would like to join the WRMS Pink Panthers or make a donation to our school team please use the link: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/bethamaral
PTA UPDATE AND UPCOMING DATES
Halloween Dance -10/18
Our annual Halloween Dance is this upcoming Friday, October 18th from 7-9pm. Costumes are OPTIONAL and NOT REQUIRED! Tickets are $5 and can be purchased during lunch or online: https://westrocks.ptboard.com/formvw/store?store=5118
A signed permission slip MUST be turned in to purchase a ticket.
We are still in need of volunteers to help set up and chaperone the dance. We are also still looking for concessions donations. Please sign up here: https://westrocks.ptboard.com/sgnvw?group=&signup=1eec927c-6212-4e4c-92a7-f9a68a65478d~s.9223370309472938352
Don Carmelo’s Giveback Night - 10/21 to 10/23
Take a break from cooking dinner on 10/21, 10/22 or 10/23 and grab dinner from Don Carmelo’s Mexican Grill! Mention West Rocks and a portion of your food order will be donated back to the WRMS PTA! Don Carmelo’s is located at: 7 Winfield Street, Norwalk.
Election Day Bake Sale - 11/5
This is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year and we need your help! We will need LOTS of homemade breads, muffins, cookies, brownies, etc for our bake sale. We will also need volunteers to help man the table from 6am - 8pm. Be on the look out for a sign up sheet soon!
WRMS Spirit Wear
All pre-orders will be delivered to homeroom teacher mailboxes this week!
If you haven’t ordered yours yet, it’s not too late! Order yours today!
Next PTA Meeting: Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Upcoming Dates: |
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October 14 No School for Indigenous Peoples Day
October 15 No School for Students – Staff Professional Development
October 16 School Quality Review (SQR)
October 17 School Quality Review (SQR); Hockey and Football Home Game!
October 18 Pink Out Friday! Halloween Dance 7-9pm
October 20 Making Strides Walk @ Sherwood Island
Please utilize our calendar on our school website: https://wrms.norwalkps.org/
Follow West Rocks on Instagram: wrms_ct
Follow West Rocks on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/West-Rocks-Middle-School-100076430403630/
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