Weekly Update 10/27/24

October 27, 2024 (Please download the Parent Square app to select your preferred language.)

Hello West Rocks!

Another packed week as we are getting close to the end of the first quarter of the 2024-2025 school year! Last Sunday, we had our team of West Rocks Pink Panthers participate in our annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Event at Sherwood Island. Check out the picture above! Thank you to everyone that wore pink each Friday, donated to our page for the American Cancer Society, and those that walked! Special shout-out to Mrs. Amaral for her hard work and coordinating all our efforts in October.

On Thursday, our grade 8 band participated in the districtwide Hispanic Heritage Festival and represented as always! We also had two student speakers on stage during the event. Congrats to our travel football and hockey teams for their continued great performances. They are both looking to qualify for the championship game in the beginning of November. 

We also had a successful movie night hosted by grade 6! Shout out to Dr. Walters and Mr. Frajndlich for their efforts in organizing such a fun night! 

We kicked off our annual Sport-a-thon on Friday! This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and so much fun for all of our students! We have a goal to raise $15,000 and celebrate with the event happening on November 15! Dr. Golding send out a separate post this week and there is more information below. Register online: https://getmovinfundhub.com/register?school_uuid=5d9226f7220f4

This week we have a relocation safety drill with grade 6 on Tuesday morning. Please continue to use the calendar on our school website to keep track of upcoming events. 

Have a great Sunday,
Adam Reynolds
Principal, West Rocks Middle School

PS. Picture Day is Thursday, October 31! See information below on how to order. 

PICTURE DAY!

School Picture Day is Thursday, October 31

West Rocks Middle School's Picture Day is coming on Thursday, October 31!  

 ALL students will take their picture that day since we use that photo for PowerSchool and student IDs.  If you would like to purchase a photo package, you can place your order on mylifetouch.com using your Picture Day ID: EVTSNSTTJ. 

Order before midnight on Picture Day to get FREE shipping!

Your child can also bring their completed flyer that was distributed in homeroom earlier this week with cash or check on Picture Day.

SPORT-A-THON IS HERE!

Our annual campaign to raise funds for our school is beginning! The WRMS Sport-a-thon is our version of a walk-a-thon. Sport-a-thon is our Fall fundraising campaign that begins in October and ends with our Sport-a-thon event on Friday, November 15th. 

Every student in the school will participate in the Sport-a-thon; however, if you raise at least $10, you will earn extra time outside using the Grit Ninja course, sporting events, and inflatables.
 

• Pledge Sheets: Students will be given paper pledge sheets on Monday during Homeroom. Students can collect cash or check donations that can be added under their name.

• Online Donations: We use a platform called GetMovin. Once you register your child, you receive a customized link to share with family and friends. Students can compete for PRIZES! 
  • Register your student using this link: https://getmovinfundhub.com/register?school_uuid=5d9226f7220f4
• Prizes and more! There are prizes for the top earners: Ipads, Beats headphones, and more. Students will also be eligible to participate in weekly raffles if they have donations on the next two Fridays. We are competing by grade levels and there is a prize for the top grade!

Please direct questions to Dr. Golding (goldings@norwalkps.org) or Dr. Reynolds (reynoldsa@norewalkps.org).

NORWALK STUDENT SURVEY

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.

More information here: ENGLISH ESPANOL

END OF Q1

The first quarter ends this Friday, November 1, 2024. Please use PowerSchool to review your student’s grades and assignments. Please reach out to the teacher with any questions. 

ATTENDANCE MATTERS

Students need to be in school every day. Homeroom teachers mark daily attendance at 8:15 am, then we start the day with Panther News. Research shows most students with good attendance make expected academic growth each year. Chronic absenteeism (10% of total school days or more) is linked to poor academic performance. 
 
Letters will be sent out this week to notify families of student absences to this point in the year. 
 
Please note, after multiple interventions, schools are required to involve the State of Connecticut when students are considered chronically absent. Unexcused and excused absences both count toward the total number of absences – vacations count as well.

EVERYTHING YEARBOOK!

Baby Pictures
It's Baby Photo Time for 8th Grade Students! The yearbook staff is hard at work on the 2025 yearbook. We are ready for you to submit your Baby Photo to be included in the yearbook. Baby photos must be submitted using this form.

PLEASE name your image file using LASTNAME FIRSTNAME before you upload your image. This will make it much easier for us to get your name right with the baby photo.

We cannot accept pictures after the deadline due to printing deadlines.
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO IS DECEMBER 20th, 2024. https://forms.gle/UfHCQj58AU8FaK899
 
West Rocks Middle School Yearbook Cover Contest
Entries due by: Friday December 6th, 2024

We are inviting all West Rocks Middle School 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

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/
Share your Photos with us! We want more of you and your friends in the yearbook. Please consider sharing for consideration in the yearbook using the QR Code.

Direct questions to our adviser Dr. Maria Fox (foxm@norwalkps.org)

PTA UPDATE AND UPCOMING EVENTS

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. You can sign up to donate baked goods or volunteer to work the table here: https://westrocks.ptboard.com/sgnvw?signup=1eec927c-6212-4e4c-92a7-f9a68a65478d~s.9223370307640127014 

Next PTA Meeting - 11/13
Save the date! Members and non-members are invited to attend. It’s not too late to become a PTA Member! Sign up here: https://westrocks.ptboard.com/formvw?store=5118&form=1

Spirit Wear
T-shirts and Hoodies are now all in stock! Orders will be delivered to teacher mailboxes within 72 hours of ordering. Place your order here: https://westrocks.ptboard.com/formvw?store=5118&form=2 
 
PTA Website: westrocks.ptboard.com
PTA Email: westrockspta@gmail.com

 Social Media Links:
 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/westrockspta 
 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/westrockspta/

Upcoming Dates
October 28 Sport-a-thon pledge sheets in homeroom
October 29 Grade 6 Relocation Drill; Intramural home game with concessions
October 30 Intramural home game with concessions
October 31 Picture Day! (Happy Halloween!)
November 1 Last day in Q1
November 5 Election Day! No school for students; Professional Development for staff
November 6-8 Nature’s Classroom for grade 7!

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/