Weekly Update 2/28/26

WRMS Staff

Mar 1 2026 1:04 PM

Hello West Rocks!

I hope you are enjoying a sunny, snow-free weekend! I think many of us are ready to turn the page on winter. Thank you for your flexibility and positivity through a challenging stretch of weather-related schedule changes. As a result of the snow days, the district anticipates the last day of school will now be June 24, 2026. We will confirm the date of our Grade 8 Promotion Ceremony in April.

Congratulations to our Jazz Band and Mrs. Jean for representing West Rocks at the district-wide Black History Month Celebration at Norwalk High School on Thursday evening. They rocked Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and made us proud!

Read Across America Day (RAAD) is Monday, March 2. Classes will visit the Library Learning Commons to hear a guest reader, and we will hold a whole school Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) time to celebrate literacy. We look forward to a joyful day centered on reading.

Due to recent schedule shifts, our Student-Led Conferences (SLCs) have been rescheduled to March 17, 18, and 19 during the school day. Each grade level will have designated time slots across the three days.

Please look for a separate ParentSquare message with sign-up information.
Students have been working hard on their Slides presentations, identifying celebrations and areas for growth. Ask your child to share their progress with you.

Academically, we continue to focus on both growth and engagement. Please encourage your student to complete assigned IXL practice (Math and Science) at home, as well as ongoing reading and writing in ELA and Social Studies. In addition, students are continuing their work in our RULER curriculum during Morning Meeting and practicing their Meta-Moment strategies after lunch each day.

We have a lot of great community events coming up as well! Please be sure to read all of the important information below!

Have a nice rest of your weekend,

Adam Reynolds

Principal, West Rocks Middle School

PS. Check out a few of the pictures from our PAWS After-School Program’s community night at Bowlero in Norwalk. The program director Mr. Perry said, “ We built strong community bonds and just had a blast together!”

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.

PAWS AWARDS

This upcoming week, we are thrilled to host the PAWS Awards for all grade levels! These ceremonies are a special time for us to pause and celebrate the students who truly embody the spirit of our School Charter. The PAWS framework recognizes students who consistently demonstrate:

Positive Interactions: Building community through kindness and respect.
Accountability: Taking ownership of their actions and their learning.
Willingness: Approaching every challenge with a growth mindset.
Safety: Ensuring a secure and supportive environment for everyone.

We would love to see our community come together to cheer on these exceptional students. Please join us in the auditorium at the following times:

Grade 8: Thursday, March 5th @ 8:30 AM
Grade 7: Friday, March 6th @ 8:30 AM
Grade 6: Friday, March 6th @ 9:30 AM

A Quick Note for Families: While Grade Level Leaders will reach out directly to the families of students receiving an award, all families are welcome and encouraged to attend. Let’s fill the room with support for our students' hard work and integrity!

MARCH MADNESS STAFF VS. STUDENT BASKETBALL GAME

Get ready for the most anticipated game of the year! West Rocks Middle School is bringing the heat with our 2026 March Madness basketball game. It’s the ultimate battle for bragging rights as our very own students take on the WRMS staff on the hardwood.

Will the students' speed outrun the teachers' experience? There’s only one way to find out!

Event Details:

When: Thursday, March 5, 2026
Where: West Rocks Middle School Gym
Doors Open: 6:00 PM
Tip-Off: 6:30 PM
Admission: $10 per person

Beyond the epic crossovers and (likely) questionable refereeing, this event is all about community. All proceeds from the night go directly toward supporting the Grade 8 Class of 2026, helping fund their end-of-year celebrations and legacy projects.

Grab your friends, wear your school colors, and come ready to cheer! Whether you're rooting for the youth or the "vets," it’s going to be a night to remember.

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

March Madness HELP NEEDED!

The event is sponsored by Grade 8, so we need our Class of 2026 families to help out. We are in need of donations for our concession stand. Please sign-up here. Even a donation of one item is greatly appreciated. Gatorade, chips, and candy bars are our hottest items. If you cannot shop, but would like to make a monetary donation, please contact Dr. Golding.

Hamilton Trip

Students attending the trip should submit another payment by March 13th. The trip must be paid in full by April 1st. If you need assistance with your child’s balance, please contact Dr. Golding directly.

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.

TRAFFIC & 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.

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/

DRAMA CLUB'S THE LITTLE MERMAID JR.

Drama Club

Dive under the sea with the West Rocks Middle School Drama Club as they proudly present their production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR.! Based on the classic Hans Christian Andersen story and the beloved Disney film, this musical features the iconic music of Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater.

Showtimes & Performances

Don’t miss your chance to see Ariel, Sebastian, and the whole cast bring this magical world to life on the WRMS stage:

Thursday, March 26, 2026 – 7:00 PM
Friday, March 27, 2026 – 7:00 PM
Saturday, March 28, 2026 – 2:00 PM (Matinee)
Saturday, March 28, 2026 – 7:00 PM
Monday, March 30, 2026 - 1:00 PM - Special Performance

Ticket Information

Tickets are available now! You can secure your seats by purchasing them online Be sure to grab yours early, as these performances are expected to make a splash!

The Drama Club is also 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

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