Weekly Update 9/29/24

 

September 29, 2024 (Please download the Parent Square app for your preferred language.)

Hello West Rocks!
Thank you to everyone that came out for our annual PTA Panther Block Party! It was great to see all members of our community coming together having an amazing time! Thank you to our PTA for organizing! 

Our PAWS After-School Program could not have “picked” (pun-intended) a better day to go apple picking! Led by director Mr. Ryan Perry, the group of student and parents had fun picking Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Honeycrisp, McIntosh, and Macoun apples at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield. Check out the picture above! 

There are still spots available in the PAWS After-School Program. Complete the application using the link below and contact Mr. Perry with questions (perryr@norwalkps.org).
https://app.schooldoc.com/!/dn/login?r=carverafterschool 

We will have a lockdown drill on Monday morning. Our Dean of Students, Mr. Rodgers will announce the drill on Panther News, review the expectations, and our School Resource Officer will accompany school administration during the drill to assess and provide feedback. Please discuss the importance of this with your student. 

REMINDER: Now that we are a month into the school year, please remember our MORNING DROP OFF procedure: 

• Aiken Street doors (back of school): ALL grade 6 students, grade 7 students with homerooms on the first and second floors
• Front of the school entrance on the left side/science wing: ALL grade 8 students, grade 7 students with homerooms on the lower level

There is no school on Thursday, October 3 in observance of Rosh Hashana. Please refer to the district calendar for holidays throughout the year. 

https://www.norwalkps.org/about/district-overview/official-district-calendar 

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

PS. Don’t forget to wear pink this Friday (and every Friday) in October! 

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

September 15 – October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month!
SAVE THE DATE: The Dual Language Program is hosting our Hispanic Heritage Celebration on October 10th. We will be having a Staff-Student Soccer game from 4-5pm followed by a special dinner in the Cafeteria from 5:30-7pm. All families are welcomed to join.

We will also participate in the district wide celebration on October 24 at BMHS.

ACADEMICS, PROGRAMS, AND CAMPAIGNS

During the month of October each year West Rocks brings awareness to Breast Cancer by wearing pink each Friday and then participating in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk of Fairfield County on October 20th at Sherwood Island. If you and your child would like to join the WRMS Pink Panthers or make a donation to our school team please use the link: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/bethamaral

PSAT October 1
All grade 8 students will be participating in the PSATs on Tuesday, October 1. PSATs are administered each year to help establish a baseline for students as they enter high school and begin preparing for college and career. Please remind your student to charge their Chromebook at home the night before, get plenty of sleep, and eat breakfast that morning.

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING

After school clubs will begin meeting this week.
There is still space available in all our clubs for students to sign up and participate. If your child is interested in participating, please use the link to the Google Form to submit a permission slip. https://forms.gle/wL6mRKrPqMk6Fw738

PAWS After-School Program is officially in full swing! 
Our PAWS After-School Program had a great first week, and we want more students to participate! Students in the PAWS program can also participate in our other after-school clubs if they complete the required sign-up. 

Registration is open through the link provided! https://app.schooldoc.com/!/dn/login?r=carverafterschool 

This is a great opportunity for students to have supervised homework time/help, as well as enrichment activities (sports, arts & crafts, etc.) with staff members from our West Rocks community. This program is funded through Norwalk's wonderful Carver Center and now have transportation! 

Please email any questions to our program director Mr. Ryan Perry at perryr@norwalkps.org

Yearbook Sales
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/

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

PTA UPDATES AND UPCOMING DATES

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Panther Block Party! It was a blast seeing our Panther families come together to enjoy the food trucks, games, and giveaways. We loved watching everyone connect and kick off the school year in such a fun way! 

Be sure to check out pictures from the event on our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/westrockspta/videos/1220719432506515 
 
Volunteer Opportunities
 
We need a few volunteers to help our fundraising chair, Daisy Sebastian, follow up on donation requests. Most places have already been contacted and just need a quick follow-up call. Your help is key in making our winter auction a success! If you’re interested in lending a hand, please reach out to Daisy directly at DaisyESebastian@gmail.com

Our Halloween Dance is coming up on Friday, October 18th.  We are looking for concession donations and volunteers to help set up and decorate, as well as chaperone. If you are interested in helping out, please sign up here: https://westrocks.ptboard.com/sgnvw?group=&signup=1eec927c-6212-4e4c-92a7-f9a68a65478d~s.9223370309472938352 

Our next Ice Cream Giveback Night is at Sunny Daes on Wednesday, October 2nd. Make sure to mention West Rocks when you order so that 20% of your purchase goes back to our PTA. It’s a delicious way to support our school—bring your family and friends for some ice cream fun!

Our next PTA meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 8th at 6:30pm. Everyone is invited to attend!
 
Other upcoming events:
10/18 - Halloween Dance
10/21-23 - Don Carmelo’s Giveback Night
11/5 - Election Day Bake Sale
 
There’s still time to become a PTA Member! Membership fee is only $10/year! Sign up here: https://westrocks.ptboard.com/formvw?store=5118&form=1 
 
Spirit Wear is available! T-Shirts will be delivered to the your student’s homeroom teacher’s mailbox within 72 hours of ordering. Hoodies are available for pre-order and should be delivered the second or third week of October. Order here: https://westrocks.ptboard.com/formvw?store=5118&form=2 

Upcoming Dates
September 30 Lockdown Drill
October 1 PSAT Grade 8
October 3 No School – Rosh Hashanah
October 4 – PINK OUT FRIDAY for Breast Cancer Awareness
October 8 PTA Meeting @ 6:30pm
October 9 Middle School Choice Fair @ BMHS
October 10 Student-Teacher Soccer Game for Hispanic Heritage Month
October 11 – PINK OUT FRIDAY for Breast Cancer Awareness

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/