WRMS Weekly Update 10/5/24

October 5, 2024 (Please download the Parent Square app to select your preferred language.)

Hello West Rocks! I hope everyone had a great week and those that celebrated Rosh Hashanah had a great New Year on Thursday!  If did not see it on our Facebook page, our students visited Verizon Innovative Learning Lab to participate in a Live Virtual Career Day with NASA. This amazing opportunity connected students to a wide variety of career options at NASA. Our students were able to engage directly with NASA employees, ask questions and gain access to NASA resources and opportunities to support their STEM journeys. Check out the picture above! There is more information on NASA’s internships the Facebook post!  Congratulations to our travel football and hockey travel teams for a great start to the season! After 2 games, the football team is 2-0 and has not given up a point yet! The hockey team is 1-0-1 with a dominating performance on Wednesday!  Our grade 8 students took the PSAT on Tuesday. This was their first experience with this type of test and most reported they felt it went well!  Thank you to everyone that wore pink yesterday on the first Friday of October! Each Friday, we will wear pink to raise awareness for the fight against breast cancer. Please see more information in the post below about our efforts.  We have a full week of school with no school coming up on Monday, October 14 and no school for students on Tuesday, October 15. Please refer to the district calendar for holidays throughout the year.  https://www.norwalkps.org/about/district-overview/official-district-calendar  Have a great weekend, Adam Reynolds Principal, West Rocks Middle School PS. Please continue to look for our RULER updates each Tuesday from a member of our SEL Team! We are building our emotional vocabulary each day during our morning meeting. Thank you for your support of the mood meter and emotional vocabulary!

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

September 15 – October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month!

West Rocks Dual Language Department is hosting our first ever Students vs Staff Soccer Match on Thursday, October 10th starting at 4pm.  

• Join us for dinner after the game in the Cafeteria at 5:45pm for $10 per person.  
• ALL are welcome to join us for an afternoon of fun!

PLEASE use the QR Code on the FLYER to RSVP for dinner so we can plan accordingly with our food order.

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

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS - OCTOBER 

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

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING

Check out THIS short video of Dr. Alcantara flying a drone in the cafeteria! 
This week, all our after-school clubs began. There is still space in all our clubs for students interested in participating to join (Running Club is almost full!). 
 
The following clubs are meeting one or two days per week after school from 3-4pm. 

• Running Club with Ms. Mouland -- Tuesdays and Thursdays (25 student max)
• Flag Football Club with Mr. Buckley – Wednesdays
• Board Games Club with Ms. Vazquez – Tuesdays
• Graphic Novel and Illustrations Club with Ms. Marangos – Tuesdays
• Book Club with Ms. Chum (books will be provided) – Tuesdays
• Drone Club with Dr. Alcantara – Thursdays

If your student is interested in participating in any of these clubs, please use the link to the Google Form below to submit a permission slip or see Ms. Cammarota in the gym for a paper copy. Direct questions to our athletic director Ms. Holly Cammarota (cammarotah@norwalkps.org).
 
https://forms.gle/D56CJYLcAZgqHLoE6

NATURE'S CLASSROOM - GRADE 7

We have had a lot of families complete the Nature's Classroom Interest Form. We will be accepting interest forms and payments until Friday October 18th. In addition, there is still time to sell popcorn to offset the cost of the trip. Please see all the information below. 
 
 Nature's Classroom Information: 

1. To register your child, please fill out this GOOGLE FORM
2. Once you have filled out this form, please send in your deposit of $100(or full amount) to secure your spot. Please send in cash or a check made payable to West Rocks Middle School. If you request financial aid, a deposit of $100 is still required to secure your spot. Also, anyone that requests financial aid must participate in the Poppin Popcorn fundraiser below. 
3. For more information please view this INFORMATIONAL LETTER.  and SLIDEDECK PRESENTATION from the parent meeting.
4. Chaperones- We are still in need of chaperones. Please let me know if you would be interested in chaperoning for 1 or 2 of the days.

For additional information, please refer to Miss Sabol's Parent Square email from Friday October 4th. Please contact Miss Sabol (sabolr@norwalkps.org) if you have any additional questions.

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 UPDATE AND UPCOMING DATES

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 PTA meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 8th at 6:30pm. Everyone is invited to attend!
 
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.
 
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
October 8 PTA Meeting @ 6:30pm
October 9 Middle School Choice Fair @ BMHS
October 10 Student-Teacher Soccer Game and DINNER for Hispanic Heritage Month
October 11 – PINK OUT FRIDAY for Breast Cancer Awareness
October 14 No School for Indigenous Peoples Day
October 15 No School for Students – Staff Professional Development
 
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/