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WRMS Weekly Update 8/31/24

WRMS Weekly Update 8/31/24
WRMS Weekly Update 8/31/24
WRMS Staff

August 31, 2024 (Please download the Parent Square app to select your preferred language.)

Hello West Rocks!
We officially completed the first week of the 2024-2025 school year! Thank you to all our students, staff, and families for making these 5 days great!  

Over the first few days of school, students got to know their teachers, classmates, schoolwide expectations, they were assigned a locker…and applied our first 4 emotional vocabulary words from the Charter! Grateful, proud, motivated, and calm were announced and incorporated into each day throughout the week. Please be on the lookout for a RULER SEL update at the start of each week from a member of our West Rocks SEL Team! SAVE THE DATE: SEL FAMILY NIGHT, Wednesday, September 18 after the PTA Meeting @ West Rocks!

Our math classes are focusing on “building thinking classrooms” in utilizing our curriculum and engagement strategies that prioritize problem solving. Check out a few pictures from the first week above! Our students are presented with a problem, put into groups and required to create solutions while at white boards posted on the walls around the room. Ask your student about their experience so far this week! 

Throughout the year, any change in schedule due to weather or other circumstances (delays, early dismissals…etc.) will be communicated directly from the district just like Wednesday’s early dismissal due to extreme heat that was announced through Parent Square. 

Enjoy the long weekend,
Adam Reynolds
Principal, West Rocks Middle School

PS. We do not have school this Monday, September 2 in recognition of Labor Day. Labor Day is observed to honor and recognize the contributions of workers, giving them a day of rest and celebrating their role in building the nation.

Please utilize the district wide calendar throughout the year for holidays, professional development days, and other planned events such as early dismissals. (https://www.norwalkps.org/about/district-overview/official-district-calendar)

EVENTS AND GROUPS

Drop off and Pick up
After heavy traffic on Monday and Tuesday, we saw a developing traffic pattern by the end of the week during morning drop off and afternoon pick up. A shout out to the NPD for their help with traffic control! Thank you to our drivers for being patient as our new families learn the pattern. We anticipate a smooth week as more students take the bus and drivers learn the routes.
As a reminder, please see the drop off and pick up locations below.

  • MORNING DROP OFF: The following groups use the parking lot in the back of the school by the Aiken Street doors.
    1. Aiken Street doors (back of school): ALL grade 6 students, grade 7 students with homerooms on the first and second floors
    2. Front of the school entrance on the left side/science wing: ALL grade 8 students, 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.

  • AFTERNOON PICK UP: All students that are walking or being picked up will be dismissed through the back of the school through the Aiken Street doors.

Chromebooks
Our 7th and 8th Grade students received their devices this week. Every student was issued a Chromebook and a charger. Please complete the USER AGREEMENT in order to maintain the use of the Verizon device and data plan. This year, damages and lost items will be the financial responsibility of students and families.

Chargers should remain at home for charging each night. 6th Grade will receive devices when we return on Tuesday. There are still some devices that are out for repair. In those cases, all students received a loaner device until theirs is returned.

Direct questions to our Instructional Coach for Digital Learning Dr. Sara Golding (goldings@norwalkps.org).

GRADE 7

Field Trip Registration
Our 7th grade will be attending Nature's Classroom from Wednesday November 6-Friday November 8th in Great Barrington, MA. For more information please view this INFORMATIONAL LETTER. If you would like to register your child online, please fill out this GOOGLE FORM.

Virtual Meeting (Wednesday, Sept 4 @ 7pm)
There will be a virtual informational Nature's Classroom meeting on Wednesday September 4th at 7pm. Please join the zoom to learn more about this upcoming educational experience for our 7th graders that will take place in November. Specific information will be shared about the trip and payment information. Please use this zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/95785933361

Fundraising for Trip
Please support our Grade 7 fundraiser at Garden Catering from 2pm-9pm on Wednesday September 18th! All proceeds will help benefit our Nature’s Classroom field trip! Order takeout for the family before you attend our SEL Night and PTA Meeting! The code for the night is WR24. Any online/app orders MUST use this code. Anyone calling in or ordering in person MUST mention they are there to support the organization. Only those sales will count toward money earned. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Here is the link to the flyer: Garden Catering Fundraiser

Grade 7 Counselor for 2024-2025
Please join me in welcoming our grade 7 counselor for the 2024-2025 school year…Ms. Ambergina Derosa-Grover! She has been meeting with our students and working with our families! Grade 7 families should direct questions to Ms. Derosa-Grover (derosagrovera@norwalkps.org).

ACADEMICS, PROGRAMS, AND CAMPAIGNS

Esports 24-25 – JOIN OUR TEAM! 
West Rocks Middle School Esports Team: We will be playing in the Generation Esports' Middle School League among thousands of other middle schools from around the country!

  • After school: Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays from 3 to 5pm.
  • Click on the attached Google Form to get more information and to Sign up for a Team Meeting and Tryouts! https://forms.gle/88r1JUkgyqtcyan79
  • Direct questions to our coach Dr. Maria Fox (foxm@norwalkps.org)

PAWS Card TURN IN Before NEW CHARTER CHAMPIONS! (Grades 7 and 8)
Attention grade 7 and 8 students! If you still have last year’s WHITE PAWS cards…you have one more chance to use them! 

As we transition to a focus that combines behavioral expectations with emotions we are providing a last opportunity for students to "turn in" their PAWS cards. There will be a raffle with Air Pods, Beats Solo Headphones, gift cards, soccer ball, Stanley reusable water bottle, backpacks...and more! Students can turn in the cards during lunch waves throughout the week during lunch waves. The drawing will be live on Friday afternoon! 

From the Nurse’s Office 
Students that require medication to be administered during the school day or be available in the nurse’s office needs to be turned into the nurse in its original box with orders from the doctor. The form and required paperwork also must be completed by the parent or guardian. All questions should be directed to our nurse Michelle Rybnick (rybnickm@norwalkps.org). You can also call the main office at West Rocks and our secretaries will direct your call. 

Yearbook Club
THE PROUD, THE FEW, THE YEARBOOK STAFF! As a Yearbook Club Volunteer, you will wear many hats! It’s fun, ask any Yearbook Club Member. We work hard and play harder!
 
Fill in the application and submit before Wednesday 9/18/24 

  • When: Before school
  • Tuesdays from 7:10am to 8:10am starting October 1st 
  • Where: Verizon Innovative Learning Lab - Room 188
  • Once all the applications are collected, Dr Fox will invite you to an informational meeting before the Yearbook Club starts meeting. https://forms.gle/hDiLm7DZcZNMpv4J6
  • Questions? Dr. Fox (foxm@norwalkps.org)

PTA UPDATE AND UPCOMING EVENTS

Membership is now open for the 2024-2025 school year! 
Fee is $10. First 50 people who sign up for the PTA will get a 90 minute jump pass for SkyZone. We are more than halfway to 50 already, so don’t delay in signing up! Join here: https://westrocks.ptboard.com/formvw?store=5118&form=1
 
New Spirit Wear arriving soon! Stay tuned!
 
Upcoming PTA Events: 9/18 - PTA Meeting, 9/19 - Sweet Ashley’s Giveback Night, 9/25 - Panther Block Party
 
Follow our new social media accounts! Have a question or want to share an idea with the PTA? Contact us at WestRocksPTA@gmail.com. Or check out our website at WestRocks.PTBoard.com.

Upcoming Dates
September 3 Grade 6 Chromebook Distribution
September 4 Grade 7 Nature’s Classroom Virtual Meeting @ 7pm (https://zoom.us/j/95785933361)
September 11 Back to School Night 6-8pm

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/