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WRMS Weekly Update 8/30/25

WRMS Weekly Update 8/30/25
WRMS Weekly Update 8/30/25
WRMS Staff

Hello West Rocks Students and Families!  

We had a fantastic opening week at West Rocks! It was great to see our hallways full of energy, excitement, and Panther Pride. Students have started to settle into their classes, meet their teachers, and learn routines and expectations that will guide them throughout the school year. Thank you for your partnership in making the first week a success. Check out a few pictures from the week above! 

2025-26 WRMS Student Handbook

This week, all students received and reviewed the 2025–26 Student Handbook. It includes schoolwide expectations, the Norwalk Public Schools Code of Conduct, the dress code, and our cell phone policy. Please take a few minutes to review these important guidelines with your child. They help ensure we have a safe, respectful, and productive learning environment. The handbook is also available on our school website.

Click Here for All Emotions Matter Video

We began our work with RULER by revisiting our schoolwide charter, which helps us define the kind of community we want to create together. Students also practiced using the Mood Meter, and teachers introduced the  Meta Moment when students returned from lunch and recess. This is a powerful tool to help us pause, reflect, and respond thoughtfully in different situations. Be sure to check out our Year 1 Transformation on our YouTube channel and social media accounts (Check out the video above).

We are looking forward to building on this positive momentum as we head into week two. Let’s continue to work together to make this a year of growth, connection, and Panther Pride!

Have a great long weekend,

Adam Reynolds

Principal, West Rocks Middle School

P.S. Monday, September 1 is Labor Day and there is no school. Don’t forget to check the district calendar for important dates throughout the school year.

THE RULER RECAP

Be on the lookout for The RULER Recap each Wednesday on Parent Square! It is a great way to stay up-to-date on our social emotional curriculum. Students are discussing emotional vocabulary each day during Morning Meeting. Students are participating in a Meta-Moment after lunch and recess, which allows them to reset and prepare for the last academic classes of the day.

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT

Middle School “Back to School Night” is Wednesday, September 10 at 6:00 pm. Please mark your calendars as this is a chance to get information about the school, meet your child’s teachers, and walk through their schedule.

PAWS AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM

It's that time of year again, West Rocks Community! Our West Rocks PAWS After-School Program begins 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 3:00-5:15 pm, 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.

CELL PHONE POLICY

Cell phones and social media use during the school day has increased significantly over the last few years. This has caused a loss of instructional time due to distraction, as well as conflicts between students as well as students with staff. There are many articles and research around the benefits of restricting access to cell phones for students. 

The Norwalk BOE's Policy 5030 (Use of Private Technology Devices by Students) restricts the use of cell phones and other personal devices when it distracts from teaching and learning as well as causes disruption. The BOE Cell Phone Policy can be viewed in its entirety using the district’s website and by using this link:  NPS BOE Cell Phone Policy 

All school staff will enforce this policy. 

Phones are expected to stay in a student’s locker during the school day and will be confiscated if they are out. Parents/guardians will need to pick up their child's device from school when this happens. There will be consequences for students that fail to comply with this school-wide expectation and district policy outlined in the Code of Conduct.  

Air pods, ear buds, Beats...etc. must also say in a student’s locker during the school day. If they are in a student’s ears, they will be confiscated, turned into the office, and a parent/guardian will need to pick them up.

As a school community, we believe that removing cell phones and air pods/ear buds as obstacles will help maintain a safe environment that promotes success and enables all students to improve academically and individually. 

Please talk with your child about this policy before the first day. Together, we can maintain our focus on learning.

ATTENDANCE

Doors open each morning at 7:55 am. Students have the opportunity to grab a quick breakfast, then they report directly to homeroom. They are dismissed from school at 2:50 pm.  

If students will not be in school, please send an email to wrmsattendance@norwalkps.org. 

If students need to be dismissed early, please send a note with your student to the main office in the morning. They will be given a pass and come to the security desk at the appropriate time. 

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.

2025-26 TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENT

We worked hard this week to get devices distributed, get them up and running, and reset passwords. Please be aware that our partnership with Verizon has come to an end. At home, families should connect the student device to their home wifi network. The mobile data plan or LTE is no longer available.

Please complete the Technology Agreement if you have not already done so. We are missing about 100 families.

  • This agreement outlines the proper use and care of school-provided devices and clarifies the family's financial responsibility in the event of damage or loss. You can access and complete the agreement online HERE.

Questions regarding devices or chargers 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.

Please review the trip details below:

  • Who: All 2025-26 7th Grade Students

  • What: A 3-day, 2-night overnight field trip

  • Where: Camp Eisner in Great Barrington, Massachusetts

  • When:Wednesday, November 5, 2025 - Friday, November 7, 2025

  • Departure: The bus will leave school at 7:15 AM on Wednesday, Nov. 5.

  • Return: The bus will arrive back at school around 3:15 PM on Friday, Nov. 7.  For more information please view this LINK.

SAVE THE DATE: 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. A meeting link will be emailed to you on that day.

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL

Morning Arrival:

Students taking the bus will enter through the doors near the bus loop. Students should be at their bus stop on time.

For students being dropped off– 

  • The following groups use the parking lot in the back of the school by the Aiken Street entrance.

    1. Grade 6 students (all)

    2. Grade 7 students with homerooms on the first and second floors

  • The following groups use the front of the school entrance on the left side of the school. These students enter the science wing door. 

    1. Grade 8 students (all)

    2. Grade 7 students with homerooms on the lower level

Please be sure to follow the directions of the traffic officer and staff members to pull all the way through the lane to help traffic flow. Traffic is always slower the first week or so – thank you for your patience. 

Afternoon Dismissal: 

Students taking the bus will report to the front of the school and load their assigned bus. There will be staff outside each day to assist. All buses will be called by announcement and leave from the front of the building – it will be staggered.

All parents/guardians picking up students must wait in the back of the school by the Aiken Street doors at dismissal. All students that are walking or are being picked up are dismissed through those doors – it will be staggered. Please notice the cones and adhere to the regular traffic pattern. 

SCHOOL COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA

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

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 also use our website for information, the school calendar, documents…and more! (https://wrms.norwalkps.org/) The school’s webmaster is our library media specialist Ms. Sandy Mackowski. If you have a question or need assistance, please email Ms. Mackowski (mackowskis@norwalkps.org).

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 

MARINE SCIENCE NEWS

We're excited to share that the Aquarium will be hosting its second annual fall Marine Science Pathway Family Night on Thursday, September 25th from 5:30-8:00pm. 

  • This free event is open to all Marine Science Pathway students, teachers, staff, and their families. This includes all of Jefferson Marine Science Elementary School, West Rocks Middle School, and Brien McMahon High School. 

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!

It's going to be a night full of fun and community–we hope to see you there! 

Your 2025-2026 PTA Events Calendar is here! 

Keep an eye out on our website, social media and Parent Square for reminders and details as each event gets closer.

Join the WRMS PTA! 

Becoming a PTA member is one of the easiest ways to support our school community. Membership is open to all parents, guardians, families, and staff—everyone is welcome! Annual dues are just $12 per person, and don't forget—memberships must be renewed each school year.

Your membership helps fund programs, events, and enrichment activities that benefit all of our students. Help as little or as much as you can. Together, we can make a difference for West Rocks! 

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!

Give us a follow and help spread the word by sharing with other Panther families! 

VISIT THE SCHOOL CALENDAR ON OUR WEBSITE

Visit our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram @wrms_ct