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Weekly Update 1/31/26

Weekly Update 1/31/26
Weekly Update 1/31/26
WRMS Staff

Hello West Rocks!

We had an abbreviated week due to the snow, and we hope everyone was able to dig out and stay safe. With the extremely cold temperatures, we remained indoors for recess this week. Students were able to enjoy games such as UNO, Connect Four, and others after finishing lunch. The good news is next week’s forecast looks warmer, with temperatures expected to be above 30 degrees…woo hoo!

  • Please be sure students come to school with appropriate outerwear, as we will return outside for recess when weather permits. There is space for students to play on the blacktop and in the designated area of the parking lot near Aiken Street.

Black History Month and MLK Celebration
When we return, we officially kick off February and Black History Month with our rescheduled Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. On Tuesday, students from our My Brother’s Keeper and My Sister’s Keeper programs will lead a schoolwide assembly honoring Dr. King with the theme: “The Mentors Behind the Dream: Exploring the Influences That Shaped a Visionary Leader.” Our Jazz Band and Orchestra will perform, and we are honored to welcome Rev. Carlton Giles as our guest speaker.

  • West Rocks will also participate in the districtwide Black History and Heritage Festival on February 26 at Norwalk High School. Please check out the FLYER for more details.

Cell Phone Reminder
We have seen an increase in cell phone use during the school day, and we want to take a moment to remind families of our expectations. As outlined in the Student Handbook (available on our website), cell phones and AirPods/earbuds must remain in students’ lockers during the school day.

  • While we understand students may bring phones to school to communicate with family after dismissal, phones are not permitted for use during the school day. If used, devices will be confiscated by staff. Thank you for reinforcing this expectation with your student.

Student-Led Conferences Preparation
On Monday, we will hold an extended homeroom so students can continue preparing for our Student-Led Conferences in March. Students are working with their advisors to curate at least four artifacts in their digital portfolios, identifying each as either a showcase or growth piece. They will also begin reflecting on why they selected each artifact.

  • Ask your student about their progress, or even to show you their portfolio in their Google folder!

Looking Ahead
We have another busy week ahead as we move through February. 

  • Please be sure to read all of the information below for highlights of recent trips, athletics, and a reminder about NWEA ELA testing this week.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

Have a great weekend!
Adam Reynolds
Principal, West Rocks Middle School

ATTENDANCE MATTERS

Attendance Matters!
One of our continued priorities this year is making sure students attend school every day, as consistent attendance has a major impact on learning, confidence, and long-term success. The State of Connecticut defines chronic absenteeism as missing 10% or more of the school year, and even a few absences each month can add up quickly. Thank you for helping us support strong attendance habits. Families can report student absences by email to wrmsattendance@norwalkps.org.

GRADE 8 UPDATES

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 4, 2026!

Please be advised that the registration deadline for our upcoming trip to see Hamilton has been moved up to Wednesday, February 4th.

We are required to provide the Box Office with our final attendee count on this date. Unfortunately, this means that if your student is not registered by this Wednesday, we cannot secure them a ticket, and they will be unable to attend.

To secure a spot on the trip, we must receive the following by Feb. 4th:

  • a completed permission form

  • A deposit of at least $100 (The total cost of the trip is $300). A reminder that there is a fundraiser that was shared to offset this cost. Please contact me if you need help obtaining your child's fundraiser link.

As a reminder, the trip is scheduled for Tuesday, April 21st. Please let us know immediately if you have any questions.

Grade 8 Yearbook Ads

Grade 8 families are invited to purchase personalized ads for their child in the yearbook. If you are interested in doing so, please visit the Jostens website to complete the process. You will have to create and account and follow the prompts. 

NWEA TESTING

 

This week we finished up Math NWEA testing. This upcoming week, we will have two days of ELA testing on Wednesday and Thursday.  When students come to school for testing and their device is fully charged, they will have the chance to win some great prizes! Each student can earn a raffle ticket for having a Chromebook that is fully charged and ready for testing. We will choose the winners Friday, Feb. 9th.

YEARBOOK

The Yearbook Club is working hard to create an incredible keepsake for our students. Please use the link below to submit photos!

Yearbooks will be $35 for a limited time! Online Orders Only- There will be no cash sales Please use the link below to order!

VPA UPDATES

The Arts are Alive at West Rocks: A Week of Harmony and Creativity

It has been a standout week for the West Rocks Visual and Performing Arts Department, filled with first-time milestones and exciting off-campus adventures.

On Stage: A Winter Concert to Remember We want to extend a huge congratulations to our 6th Grade Beginning Band, 6th Grade Advanced Band, and the Jazz Ensemble for a spectacular Winter Concert. The auditorium was filled with music, but the night was particularly special for our 6th graders. For many, this performance marked their very first time taking the stage at West Rocks. Seeing them perform with such confidence was a proud moment for our community, and we know this is just the first of many concerts they will share with us during their time here.

In the Studio: A Visit to Art Monster Meanwhile, our visual arts students stepped out of the classroom and into the professional world. They had the unique opportunity to visit Art Monster Studio, where they studied under the guidance of local artist Five Fingaz and his talented staff. The students dove into the energetic worlds of cartoon illustration and graffiti art. It was incredible to see how much "cool" and creative artwork they produced in such a short amount of time. The trip was a resounding success, and we are already looking forward to future collaborations with the studio.

Stay tuned to our social media accounts for more photos of the events. Make sure to follow our VPA program on Instagram at @westrocks_vpa

DUAL LANGUAGE UPDATES

Discovery Museum Field Trip for 6th Grade Dual Language / SLA / MLL Students

We are excited to announce our upcoming Discovery Museum Trip, Friday, February 27, 2026! This is a great opportunity to experience in real life what you have been learning in class through fun, hands-on exhibits and activities. If you are interested in attending, please fill out the permission form as soon as possible.

  • Cost: $25.00 per student

  • Time:: 9:15 am - 1:30 pm

  • Lunch will be provided.

All forms and payments must be turned in by Friday, February 6, 2026. Please reach out to your SLA Teacher or Ms. Siciliano if you have any questions.

Field Trip Discovery Museum - permission slip 

WEST ROCKS ATHLETICS

Our teams are headed into the last week of the regular season! Join us for our last home game this Thursday, Feb. 5th. Both teams are fighting for a spot in the middle school championships. For official game highlights and score updates throughout the season, be sure to follow our social media channels!

RYTE FAMILY WORKOUT PROGRAM

Check out the great family events sponsored by the Reaching Youth Through Exercise Program (RYTE) that is the work of EJ’s H.E.A.R.T. Inc. Spots are limited. Be sure to register HERE.

MATH BOOSTERS! AFTER-SCHOOL

Failing to Nail Math? Stop the Struggle and Start Succeeding!

Is your student stuck in math confusion? Our flexible Math Booster Sessions are the turbo-boost they need to crush their next test and own the material! Students can attend for the full hour and a half across all three days or just drop by for targeted help. We meet in the Coaches' Room (195). Quick Reminder: Students must bring their own snack/fuel and have their own transportation sorted.

Ready for a grade-level glow-up? 

Check out all the information: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GiIQsHRHDvMUT9xEdYas_sGzwMkMKDlB/view?usp=sharing 

Register: Sign up Google form

SCHOOL COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow West Rocks on Instagram: wrms_ct

Follow West Rocks on Facebook

PTA

❄️ Winter Dance - Friday, February 6th! ❄️

Our Winter Dance is NEXT WEEK! Students can pick up a permission form at the PTA table in the cafeteria during their lunch waves, or families can email the PTA to request a copy. 

Tickets can be purchased in person during lunch (with a permission form) or online here. 

Want to help make the night a success?

There are a few easy ways to get involved. 
1️⃣ Sign up to sell tickets during lunch next week. 
2️⃣ Donate concession items or contribute funds to help us purchase them. (Venmo: @WestRocksPTA | PayPal: @WRMSPTA)
3️⃣ Volunteer to help with setup and/or chaperone the dance.

To donate concessions or to volunteer to set up/chaperone, sign up here. 

Every bit of help makes a big difference, and we're so grateful for your support that makes events like this possible!

🗓️ Save the Date!

Join us for our next PTA meeting on Wednesday, February 11th at 6:30pm. We'll be sharing updates and discussing upcoming events and fundraisers. 

🐾 Open to everyone!🐾 Attend in person or via Zoom!🐾 Not a member yet? It's not too late to join! Join here!

We hope to see you there!

Hat Day Fundraiser 🧢Wear Your Hat. Support Our School!

🧢 Baseball hats🧢 Beanies🧢 Fun, school-appropriate styles welcome!

For just $2, students can wear a hat to school all day on Friday, February 13th, while helping support our PTA!

How to pay: Students will give $2 to their homeroom teacher that morning. They will receive a sticker showing that they paid to wear their hat all day. 

Every dollar raised will help support school programs and events!

 

Save the Date — Giveback Night at Outback! 🥩

Mark your calendars! Join us for a Giveback Night at Outback, where a portion of your meal will support our PTA.

Date: Thursday, February 26th
Location: Outback Steakhouse, 14 Danbury Rd (Wilton)
Dine in or take out from 4-8PM

We hope you can join us!

Spirit Wear

T-Shirts & Hoodies → Available now! Orders will be delivered to your child’s homeroom teacher’s mailbox within 72 hours.

Order here: https://westrocks.ptboard.com/formvw?store=7084&form=2

Looking for more options? Shop through our on-demand vendor. Orders ship directly to you in about 3 weeks. 

Shop here: https://spirithero.com/collections/west-23 

📲 Stay Connected

Don’t miss out on updates, events, and ways to get involved—follow us on social media!

VISIT THE SCHOOL CALENDAR ON OUR WEBSITE

Visit our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram @wrms_ct