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Weekly Update 2/14/26

Weekly Update 2/14/26
Weekly Update 2/14/26
WRMS Staff

Basketball Championship Highlights

Happy Valentine’s Day West Rocks! 

I can’t believe February break is here. We made it through the stretch of cold days, snow, and ice! It was great to see students back outside for recess this week…always a welcome part of the day. I also want to extend my sincere gratitude to our custodial staff, teachers, and maintenance team for their hard work and dedication in making sure West Rocks was ready to receive students each day. As you know, given the age of our building, some days bring unique challenges and we truly appreciate their efforts.

It was wonderful to see so many members of our community supporting the boys travel basketball team on Wednesday night as they competed for the Citywide Championship! Even Rocky the Panther made an appearance! Check out the picture above! While the boys came up just short, we are incredibly proud of the way they competed, represented West Rocks, and worked together throughout the season. 

Thank you to Coaches Voytek and Stokes and our Athletic Director, Mr. Cammarota, for their leadership and commitment. Check out highlights from the game on our Instagram post using the link above and here: 

 

As we head into a break from school and classes, this is a great opportunity for students to maintain their learning momentum. Even 15-20 minutes a day of IXL practice in math and science, reading a book or current events articles, or working on their Student-Led Conference Slides can make a meaningful difference. Staying engaged over break helps students return confident and ready to build on their progress.

We continue dedicating time for students to work with their advisors to prepare for our Student-Led Conferences in March. Mrs. Amaral shared specific details on ParentSquare yesterday. 

  • Conferences will be held on March 11 and 12, and families will be able to sign up for time slots through ParentSquare. 

  • The sign-up link will be sent out when we return from break during the week of February 23.

 

February is Black History Month, and we look forward to continuing our celebrations when we return from break. We will celebrate during the day on February 26, highlighting student voice, learning, and cultural recognition. We will also participate in the districtwide Black History Month celebration that evening at Norwalk High School, and we hope many of our families will join us.

Have a wonderful and restful break, and we look forward to seeing everyone on Monday, February 23!

Adam Reynolds
Principal, West Rocks Middle School

P.S. Thank you to our wonderful PTA for hosting an Appreciation Breakfast for staff on Friday! It was the perfect way to head into break! If you’re not already a member, please consider joining and supporting their great work: https://westrocks.ptboard.com/  

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 SCIENCE IXL CHALLENGE

The IXL Science Challenge: Winners and the March Challenge. 

The Grade 8 Science IXL competition was a success. Students earned those squares and we had 13 lucky winners on Friday the 13th.

After the break, we will begin our next challenge - IXL March Madness! For every IXL assignment completed with a Proficient Score (80% or higher), students will be able to mark off a box on their individual challenge bracket. There will be raffles and the opportunity to attend a special event if the challenge is completed.

The challenge will run from Monday, March 2nd to Friday March 27th. Remember: A score of 80% is the magic number. If you're stuck on a topic, don't give up—read the explanations, learn from the mistakes, and push through to that proficient level!

Good luck, scientists! 

MATH IXL

In math classes, students use IXL to practice skills that directly align with what they are learning each day in class. Teachers may begin this work in school, and students are often expected to finish assignments at home.

Daily IXL practice helps students build confidence, receive immediate feedback, and work toward mastery. Families can support this by encouraging a consistent routine and reminding students to bring a fully charged Chromebook to school.

We need students to work toward mastery which is a SmartScore of 80.

To keep things fun, we’ve launched a school-wide “Race to Mastery” challenge! Students earn tickets for each mastered skill, which can be used to participate in our Pi Day celebration on March 13, with additional activities tied to St. Patrick’s Day.

GRADE 8 UPDATES

Calendar Fundraiser

To help offset the cost of the upcoming trips (Hamilton and Quassy), we will be organizing a calendar fundraiser. This allows sponsors to choose a date on the “calendar” and donate that amount online!

  • Student Benefit: Students participating in the fundraiser will be credited 85% of the total funds they raise directly toward the cost of their specific trips. If you complete the calendar, it will cover the cost of the two trips.

  • Funds raised cannot be given back to the student or refunded. Any funds in excess of the trip raised will be donated to the Class of 2026.

Please use this spreadsheet to access the individual link for your child.

This information is also on Google Classroom. 

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. 

Grade 8 Year-End Events - Volunteers NEEDED!

We are looking to form a committee of family members that want to get involved with year-end events, specifically the Grade 8 Semi-Formal Dance in May and Promotion events in June. If you are interested, please contact Dr. Golding at goldings@norwalkps.org. 

SAVE THE DATE: The Class of 2026 will sponsor our annual March Madness Staff vs. Student Basketball on Thursday, March 5th. 

All are welcome to attend! Our Grade 8 travel team members will challenge the staff! We are in need of donations for our concession stand. Please use this sign-up to donate an item. All funds raised support our Promotion activities. 

TRAFFIC AND DISMISSAL REMINDER

Recent snow has impacted our dismissal traffic flow. All students who are picked up or walking home are dismissed through the Aiken Street doors. 

  • Families should park in the Aiken Street lot first; once full, please wait in the turf lot. 

  • Please do not wait or idle on Aiken Street, as this creates congestion and safety concerns. 

Once the snow melts, cones will be replaced to support smoother traffic flow. Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping dismissal safe and efficient for everyone.

READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY (MARCH 2ND)

Read Across America Day (RAAD) is coming up on Monday, March 2nd at West Rocks!

RAAD was launched in 1998 by the National Education Association (NEA) to promote reading and literacy development in children.  On this day, classes will be visiting the Library Learning Commons to hear a great story read by a guest speaker.

There will also be a whole school Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) time for students and staff to enjoy their favorite book in school.

YEARBOOK

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

https://photos.jostens.com/3CUHTK

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

https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/1037145/West-Rocks-Middle-School/2026-Yearbook/20251008081516063150/CATALOG_SHOP/

VPA UPDATES

Drama Club

The Drama Club is sponsoring a Spring Candy Sale. Please consider ordering some treats that will be delivered directly to customers. Feel free to share the link with family and friends near and far! The Drama Club receives a percentage of all sales.

Candy Fundraiser

Save the Date! Tickets for Drama Club’s March production of The Little Mermaid will go on sale on Monday, February 23rd at 10am!

All-City Choir Festival

This week, our 8th-grade chorus members took a step into their future, spending the day at Norwalk High School for a district-wide choral collaboration. It was a day of connection and crescendo, as our students made music alongside peers from across the district's middle and high schools. Beyond the notes, our 8th graders got a valuable glimpse into the musical opportunities that await them in high school. The day culminated in a powerful finale, with hundreds of students performing a single piece together—a stunning reminder of the community we build through the arts.

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. The event for middle school students on Feb. 20th is FREE. It is a great opportunity for something to do during break, and lunch is included! 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

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