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Weekly Update 3/16/24

Weekly Update 3/16/24
Weekly Update 3/16/24
WRMS Staff

Hello West Rocks!

I can’t believe we are halfway through March! The end of the 3rd quarter is April 3. That means in a little over two weeks, we are 75% through the 2023-2024 school year! Please continue to check PowerSchool for updated grades and attendance information.

Each content area is working hard on their unit of study. Our ELA classes are finishing up rough drafts of their argumentative essays. The pictures above are of some of our grade 6 students writing individually and in small groups using the novel, Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis. Please ask your student how they are doing on their essay. Maybe even read their rough draft! (If they will let you…😊)

We are also excited to share that in addition to the work we have done with our advisory lessons throughout the year, we are embarking on social emotional learning training and programming utilizing the RULER Approach through Yale University. We have developed subcommittees within the staff to support our climate and culture and have a Family Night scheduled for April 11. Save the date!

As a result of the efforts of our students and staff through community building events as well as group activities during and outside of the school day, students are reporting an increased sense of belonging! We want to keep that ball rolling!

Have a great rest of the weekend,
Adam Reynolds
Principal, West Rocks Middle School

PS. There are different schedules throughout the month including another 90-minute early dismissal on March 21 then a 2-hour early dismissal on March 25. Please continue to refer to the district’s calendar as you plan accordingly (https://www.norwalkps.org/about/district-overview/official-district-calendar)

EVENTS AND GROUPS


Solar Eclipse Event on Monday, April 8! 
Our grade 6 and 7 students have had exclusive opportunities in our Verizon Lab this year…now it is grade 8’s turn! The Verizon Lab Solar Eclipse Celestial Event on Monday April 8th is a special event for 8th grade students!

Students will learn about and experience Solar Eclipses by participating in a special Virtual Reality Event in the Verizon Lab during the school day. Utilizing our class virtual reality (VR), students will be transported to various locations around the world to view solar eclipses in various stages.
 
Door Prize: Free Solar Eclipse Glasses to all attendees to watch the live event by themselves or with their families safely afterschool around 3:30 pm on 4/8/24 (weather dependent).

https://www.canva.com/design/DAF-jqvDcJc/jEuLmnd-2pMRgUyGYJGynA/view?utm_content=DAF-jqvDcJc&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor.

Black History Month Door Decorating!
We finished our Black History Month door decorating! To follow the theme of African Americans and the Arts, homerooms identified a person in Black History that contributed to the Arts.

Please look at some of the finished products using the link below:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZLzJtPyyyaa0IIeU0YblQrpf2vozMKAb?usp=sharing

Yearbooks
While Supplies Last! Our final order for Yearbooks has been placed! The West Rocks Middle School yearbook is still on sale online until the extra books ordered are all gone!
 Order today so you are guaranteed a book in May/June. There is NO guarantee there will be extra books at that time! 

Family Tech Night – April 4, 2024 

ACADEMICS, PROGRAMS, AND CAMPAIGNS

Beauty and the Beast Jr @ WRMS! 
our upcoming production, Beauty and the Beast Jr.  We are excited to be presenting our annual full-length musical.

The production features 55 students in Grades 6-8.  The story follows the plot of the classic movie and Broadway show - a reminder that true beauty lies within.

We have 3 performances:  

News from Nurse Michelle! 
Cardiac Screenings
NPS is having cardiac screenings on April 2. Please review the documents below for registration information.

Grade 6 Physicals 
The state of Connecticut requires that all current 6th and 9th grade students submit a current physical and list of updated immunizations, performed on 7/1/23 or after. These must be on the state of Connecticut Health Assessment Record forms found here. In addition to the physical, all 6th grade students must receive the TDAP and Meningococcal vaccines. All students must be compliant with these requirements, or they may not attend school in August 2024. Please provide these documents to the school nurse now or as soon as possible to avoid disruption to your child's school year- do not wait!
 
Thank you to those who have already provided this documentation. Please contact Nurse Michelle Rybnick (rybnickm@norwalkps.org) with any questions.

IXL Scoreboard
The IXL schoolwide competition is in full effect as we are halfway through March! Look for a separate Parent Square post with a scoreboard update! This month’s class winners will earn ice cream! 

PTA UPDATE AND UPCOMING DATES

Thank you to all the parents and families that continue to attend our PTA meetings! This year, we have seen a HUGE INCREASE IN PARENT INVOLVEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT! THANK YOU! 
 
Please consider running for a position on the PTA Board. The information and position were sent out in a separate Parent Square post. If you are interested in running for a position or would like more information, please email the PTA President Daisy Sebastian using the PTA’s email address: WestRocksPTA@gmail.com by Monday, April 22, 2024.

Upcoming Dates
March 19 Marine Science field trip for grade 7
March 20 Advisory Lesson: Feelings Barometers (emotional regulation)
March 21 90-min early dismissal (1:20pm) for students; Beauty and the Beast Jr Production in afternoon; QDOBA Fundraiser for grade 8 (4-8pm)
March 22 Beauty and the Beast Jr in school assembly @ 9:45am, evening performance 7:00 pm
March 23 Beauty and the Beast Jr 2:00pm and 7:00pm
March 25 2-hour early dismissal (12:50pm) for students
March 26 School visits to grade 5 students in Silvermine and Tracey

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Follow West Rocks on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/West-Rocks-Middle-School-100076430403630/