WRMS Weekly Update 3/9/25

Hello West Rocks!

We have officially sprung ahead! Clocks moved forward one hour this morning, so we will see brighter mornings!   There were multiple events this week including Read Across America Day on Monday. We had activities throughout the school and at 9:45am, we “dropped everything and read.” There are a few pictures above.  On Tuesday, students in our gifted and talented program competed in our Future Cities Competition in the library learning commons. Students designed and created cities in the future using specific criteria. West Rocks staff were judges. Check out a few of the pictures below.

Our annual Panorama Survey window opens tomorrow. Stay tuned for separate communication regarding student survey dates and directions for families to complete the brief survey. The Panorama provides valuable feedback on school climate, communication, and family engagement.

There is a lot of information in this Post, so please read through to the bottom!

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

PS. Students have a 2-hour early dismissal this Thursday, March 13 (12:50pm). Elementary schools have conferences and secondary schools have professional development for staff. Please continue to refer to the district calendar throughout the month for important dates. (https://www.norwalkps.org/about/district-overview/official-district-calendar)

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND NATIONAL SOCIAL WORKER MONTH

March is another month full of important recognitions – as we celebrated International Women’s Day yesterday, March is also
Women’s History Month and National Social Worker’s Month.

Women's History Month is a vital opportunity for our school community to honor the contributions, achievements, and resilience of women throughout history while inspiring our students to pursue their own potential. 

Also, thank you to our West Rocks Social Workers Ms. Wendy Chum and Ms. Briee Preston! We appreciate the invaluable contributions of school social workers, whose dedication to supporting students' well-being, mental health, and success strengthens our entire school community.

SHREK JR.

Don’t miss out on the hilarious and heartwarming adventure of Shrek Jr.: The Musical! With unforgettable characters, catchy songs, and a fun-filled storyline, this family-friendly show is perfect for all ages. Join Shrek, Donkey, and Princess Fiona as they embark on a journey that will leave you smiling and laughing from start to finish. 

Purchase tickets online for the best seats.

https://cur8.com/21856/project/129640 

MARCH MADNESS - STAFF VS. STUDENTS BASKETBALL GAME

Congratulations to the Staff on another win over the students! Thank you to all who donated snacks and came out to support the 8th Grade Class of 2025. A special thanks to the staff members who played, announced and kept score, and helped behind the scenes with tickets and concessions!

Check out a quick 2 min video of the highlights: 2025 March Madness Staff v Students Highlights

FAMILY STEAM NIGHT - MARCH 26 @ 5 PM

Family STEAM Night Join us in celebrating Celtic Culture and Heritage Hands on Fun for the Whole Family! Wednesday, March 26th - 5 to 6:30 pm, Verizon Innovative Learning Lab - Room 188 

EVENT FLYER

Google Form Sign Up:https://forms.gle/RMpjQzQYAcNvKTNz5.  Questions? Contact Dr. Maria Fox (foxm@norwalkps.org)

ATTENDANCE COMMUNICATION

wrmsattendance@norwalkps.org

We are excited to introduce a new way to report student absences and early dismissals! To make the process more convenient, we encourage you to use our dedicated attendance email: wrmsattendance@norwalkps.org
 
This email should be used for:

• Informing the main office when your child will be absent due to illness

• Notifying the office of an early dismissal (please note that early dismissals must be completed by 2:00 PM)

• Directing any attendance-related questions to our staff

Using email rather than calling the main office in the morning will help us streamline communication and ensure all attendance records are updated efficiently.

Thank you for your cooperation in making our attendance process smoother for everyone!

NHS BOYS SOCCER CLINIC

Norwalk High Soccer is hosting a Boys Soccer Clinic at West Rocks on Monday, March 17th from 3-4:30pm. Students that want to participate must fill out and submit a permission slip. Slips can be found in the gym. The clinic is limited to the first 40 students that submit their permission slip to Ms. Cammarota. Any questions, please contact Coach Canahui at canahuij@norwalkps.org.

RUNNING CLUB

Running Club will begin meeting on Tuesday, March 25th. Running Club will meet on Tuesdays and Thursday throughout the Spring. If you would like to join, please submit a permission slip via Google Form. Running Club is limited to the first 25 students that sign up. 

https://forms.gle/eDTpbHygfn17BUxa7

GRADE 8 ELA UPDATE

Grade 8 students kicked off a new nonfiction unit in their ELA classes this week, titled Pandemics: Societal Consequences of Widespread Disease. In this unit, students will examine how humans have sought to explain, adapt to, and control their environments throughout history by exploring the impact of pandemics and the lasting changes they have brought to society.

Through the study of historical texts and artwork, students will analyze three major pandemics: The Black Death: How the Bubonic Plague Impacted Medieval Europe, The Masque of the Red Death, and The AIDS Crisis in the United States. Using metacognitive strategies, they will identify overarching themes across these events, engage with informational texts, and develop thoughtful responses that connect past and present.

 It has been wonderful to see our students engaged in discourse, collaboration, and deep conversations.

YEARBOOKS

Supplies are Limited!

The yearbook staff has placed their final yearbook order and there is now a limited supply of yearbooks available for order. Time is running out, so make sure to order TODAY to guarantee you’ll have a yearbook this Spring.

 To order go to:
 http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A01068840

PTA UPDATE AND UPCOMING DATES

📅 Next PTA Meeting – Wednesday, March 12th at 6:30 PM.
Our next PTA meeting will be held this Wednesday, March 12th at 6:30 PM. We’ll be discussing upcoming events, including the Spring Raffle, Staff Appreciation Week, and the 8th Grade Dance. We’d love to see you there—come be part of the conversation!
 
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81450626816?pwd=p7X3oAI2oJTZYaSFJvkH4U4SMX6NUG.1

Spirit Wear is Still Available!  
We still have T-shirts ($20) and Hoodies ($40) in stock, ready to be delivered to your student’s homeroom teacher’s mailbox within 72 hours! Order here: https://westrocks.ptboard.com/formvw?store=5118&form=2 
 
Want more options? Check out our NEW online store where you can shop a variety of T-shirts, long sleeve shirts, pajama bottoms, sweaters, and more!  Check it out here: https://spirithero.com/collections/west-23 
 
🍽️ Upcoming Restaurant Nights
We’re working on scheduling more restaurant nights—stay tuned to our Facebook & Instagram for details!
 
🎓 8th Grade Semi-Formal
Planning is starting soon! If you’d like to help or know a business interested in supporting this event, email us at WestRocksPTA@gmail.com.
 
Become a member here: https://westrocks.ptboard.com/formvw?store=5118&form=1
PTA Website:westrocks.ptboard.com
PTA Email:westrockspta@gmail.com

Social Media Links:
Facebook -https://www.facebook.com/westrockspta
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/westrockspta/
 
Upcoming Dates
March 11 Panorama for students (SEL) in homeroom
March 12 PTA Meeting @ 6:30pm
March 13 2-hour early dismissal for students (12:50pm)
March 14 Visit to Grade 5 classes at Tracey
 
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/