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Weekly Update 9/6/25

Weekly Update 9/6/25
Weekly Update 9/6/25
WRMS Staff

 

Hello West Rocks Students and Families,

We had a great first full week at West Rocks as our students began to settle into routines and dive into content across all classes. Each morning kicks off with our student-run Panther News, a tradition that brings energy and community to the start of our day. Check out a couple of pictures above from Friday’s broadcast! 

Be sure to like our YouTube Channel! You can view Panther News Each morning at 8:15am. It is a great way to stay informed about the events happening in the school community.

Academic Updates: ELA classes have started or will soon begin their core texts: Grade 6: Hatchet by Gary Paulse, Grade 7: Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, Grade 8: The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe. Students should be reading 20 minutes every day! In math and science, students have launched their first units. As part of this work, students will also be completing assignments in IXL at home, which will count toward their grades in PowerSchool.

Morning Meetings & Social-Emotional Learning: Our morning meetings have been a success as students practice our schoolwide charter using the acronym PAWS: Positive Interactions, Accountability, Willingness, and Safety. Next week, students will focus on the Mood Meter and building emotional vocabulary. 

This was also the second week of practicing our second RULER tool, the Meta Moment. After lunch and recess, students re-enter their classrooms, pause, and imagine their best selves before engaging in afternoon learning. It has been a powerful way to reset and refocus for the rest of the day. Ask your student how it is going! 

Back to School Night: Please mark your calendars! Middle School Back to School Night will be held on Wednesday, September 10, from 6:00-8:00 PM. This evening is a chance for families to hear about the school year, meet teachers, and walk through their child’s schedule. Parents and guardians should report directly to their child’s homeroom, where you’ll receive a schedule for the night. Homeroom information is available in PowerSchool, or your child can share it with you. 

  • See the schedule for the night here.

Student Early Dismissals: Just a reminder that In the interest of student safety and to ensure an orderly school-wide dismissal procedure, the deadline for requesting an early dismissal is 2:30 PM. No students will be called from their classrooms for dismissal after this time. We appreciate your cooperation in helping our dismissal process run safely and efficiently.

We are proud of the positive momentum we’ve built in these first two weeks and look forward to continuing to grow together as a school community.

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

P.S. We now have two full weeks of school behind us! Our next holiday is Rosh Hashanah on September 23. Don’t forget to check the district calendar for important dates throughout the school year.

PAWS Afterschool Program

It's that time of year again, West Rocks Community! Our West Rocks PAWS After-School Program begins this Monday, September 8th and runs through June 15th. This program is a fantastic opportunity for your student to have access to homework/classwork help as well as to engage in a number of student-driven activities and trips (such as sports, arts & crafts, game programming, cooking, etc.). This program is a FANTASTIC value - as the $210 registration fee works out to only a couple dollars a day! Our program runs from 3:00-5:15pm, Monday-Thursday and transportation home by bus is available when registering. 

  • If you are interested please register using the this link or email Program Lead Mr. Ryan Perry (perryr@noralkps.org) with any questions!

AFTERSCHOOL CLUBS AND SPORTS

E-Sports

The Esports Club meets afterschool starting on Thursday September 25th

  • When: After school from 3 to 5pm on Tuesday and/or Thursdays

  • Where: Verizon Innovative Learning Lab - Room 188

  • Contact: Dr. Fox - Verizon Innovative Learning Lab Instructor & Senior Lab Mentor

  • Permission Slip Link (to be completed by parents/guardians): https://forms.gle/jMJdjfHC2Je4BMVx5

We will be competing using the Minecraft Education Esports Program this year. Students will unleash their creativity in ready-made immersive Minecraft worlds designed to support learning through team build battles and role-based strategy games. Each of these inspiring worlds is designed to encourage team-building skills, such as collaboration, problem-solving, and communication skills, through STEM-based competitions.

Running Club

The West Rocks Running Club will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school from 3-4pm with Ms. Mouland. All running levels are welcome. There is a 25 students limit on a first come first serve basis. Running Club will begin on September 16th. 

Travel Girls Indoor Field Hockey and Boys Touch Football

Tryouts for Travel Girls Indoor Field Hockey and Boys Touch Football will be held on September 16th, 17th, and 18th. Students must tryout and be selected to participate on these teams. These teams compete against the other middle schools in Norwalk. 

After-School Clubs and Activities

After-School Clubs will begin meeting the week of September 15th. Students that participate in after-school clubs must have a ride home or be given permission to walk at 4pm. Please use the link to the Google Form to find the Fall Clubs that will be offered and to complete the permission slip. There is a minimum number of participants to run each club. 

GRADE 8 NEWS

The Grade 8 Class of 2026 is hosting a fundraiser this coming Wednesday at Chipotle (near TJ Maxx and Michaels). Stop by before or after Back to School Night. Please be sure to use the code 384BVKG

Questions may be directed to Dr. Golding at goldings@norwalkps.org. 

GRADE 7

We are excited to announce the annual 7th-grade overnight field trip to the Outdoor Classroom at Camp Eisner! This trip is a fantastic opportunity for students to engage in hands-on science and nature learning while building lasting memories with their peers. It is consistently remembered as a favorite middle school experience.

You are invited to a virtual informational meeting about the Outdoor Classroom trip on Monday, September 8th, at 7:00 PM. Please join us on Zoom to learn more about the trip, discuss the next steps, and get all your questions answered.

CHROMEBOOKS AND INTERNET CONNECTIVITY

We got devices out and passwords changed! If a student has issues with their Chromebook or charger, it is the responsibility of the student to see Dr. Golding during Technology Office Hours each day from 8:45-9:15am. Students should ask their teacher for a pass to attend. Dr. Golding will troubleshoot or refer repairs to our IT Technician. Students will have access to a loaner device if their assigned device is under repair. We do not issue daily loaner Chromebooks for students who forgot devices at home. Each classroom has a loaner device that stays in that room. Students who forget their device should rely on using each teacher’s classroom loaner.

A friendly reminder that we are no longer participating in the partnership with Verizon. Student Chromebooks do not have access to the mobile data/Wifi. Chromebooks can be connected to home wifi networks or public ones, such as the library. Please reach out to Dr. Golding if your child’s device is unable to connect to your home network. Thank you to all the families who have completed the Technology Agreement!

SCHOOL COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA

We are maintaining our commitment to ensure ongoing communication between the school and families. The majority of information will be shared through the Parent Square app which can be downloaded in the App store and Google Play. As long as your email address is in our system and the information in PowerSchool is accurate, you will receive notifications, messages, as well as emails. Please contact the main office if you believe you are not receiving information. 

Please utilize the PowerSchool Parent Portal to monitor grades, attendance, and contact information for teachers. Access is available through the NPS website’s main page.  

Follow West Rocks on Instagram: wrms_ct

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

FOOD SERVICE

The Norwalk Public Schools Food Services website provides families with important information about school meals and nutrition programs. It serves as a central hub for resources, forms, and updates related to student food services across the district.

  • This year, families will need to complete an application to be eligible for free and reduced cost meals. The State has provided time for this to occur, so students will be able to get meals at no charge through September. 

  • For assistance, please feel free to reach out to the main office at West Rocks (203) 899-2970.

https://www.norwalkps.org/departments/food-services 

PTA

Panther Block Party - September 17th 

Join us for an evening of fun, food and Panther pride at our annual Panther Block Party—Wednesday, September 17th from 5:30-7:30pm at West Rocks Middle School. 

  • This FREE family event will feature:

  •  Music

  •  Food Trucks (*food for purchase)

  •  Lawn games & a Gaga Tournament

  •  FREE Giveaways & Raffle prizes

  •  A chance to meet other West Rocks families!

Panther Spirit Wear – Order Now! 

Show your Panther Pride with our latest spirit wear!

T-Shirts → Available now for same-week delivery ($20)

Hoodies → Pre-order today! They’ll arrive mid-September ($40)

Bundle & Save → Hoodie + T-Shirt for just $55

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

Online Store → 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 

Join the PTA – Show Your Support! 


Becoming a PTA member is simple—membership alone shows your support for our students and school. There are no requirements to volunteer or attend meetings.

PTA Membership is only $12—and comes with some perks!

  •  Voting rights on the PTA budget and executive board

  •  Early access to volunteer opportunities (if you want to help out) 

  •  Convenient meetings offered in person and on Zoom

  •  A 90-minute SkyZone jump pass (first 50 families only!)

  • SkyZone passes can be picked up at Back to School Night on 9/10 or the Panther Block Party on 9/17.

Join Here: https://westrocks.ptboard.com/formvw?store=7084&form=1

Our first PTA Meeting of the year will be: Tuesday, October 7th @ 6:30PM.

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