WRMS Weekly Update 9/21/24

September 21, 2024 (Please utilize the Parent Square app for your preferred language.)

Hello West Rocks!

Thank you to everyone that came out to our first PTA meeting and SEL Family Night! It was great to see parents and students both in person and virtually. We participated in activities to learn about We just need to Recognize, Understand, Label, Express, and Regulate (RULER) then were introduced to our schoolwide charter and everyone left with a mood meter!

If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the article in the Norwalk Hour celebrating our band director, the NPS Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Nicole Jean! The video above is from one of our band classes with our new assistant instructor Mr. Gerald Myles.

Our next community event is this Wednesday, September 25! Come out to our annual PTA Panther Block Party! 5:30-7:30 pm. There will be food trucks, games, music, and a Gaga Tournament. 
Thank you to everyone for their support and ability to remain calm as our Central Office worked collaboratively with the Norwalk Police Department regarding the social media posts. As our superintendent wrote, they are following our established protocols and investigating. At West Rocks, we had a great week.  

Students will took the math portion of the Fall NWEA last week and they take the reading portion this Tuesday and Wednesday. Please be sure your student gets a good night’s sleep and brings a charged Chromebook. Just like all days, we will encourage students to eat a free breakfast from the cafeteria! 

REMINDER: Monday, September 23 is a 2-hour early dismissal for students (12:50pm). Please refer to our calendar of events on our school website for events throughout the year. 
https://wrms.norwalkps.org/

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

After School Programming

Congratulations to those student athletes that made the travel teams! Rosters were posted this week after tryouts. Good luck to our teams this season!

West Rocks Middle School Esports Team 
Our Esports team started competition this week Play VS Esports' Middle School League among thousands of other middle schools from around the country!

THE YEARBOOK STAFF! 
The few, the proud, the yearbook staff! As a member of the yearbook staff, you will have many responsibilities! It’s fun, ask any one of our returning students! We work hard and play harder!
 
Application: https://forms.gle/hDiLm7DZcZNMpv4J6

 Fill in the application and submit before Wednesday 9/18/24

• When: Before school - Tuesdays from 7:10am to 8:10am starting October 1st

• Running Club (25 max first come, first serve) – Ms. Mouland
• Drones – Dr. Alcantara 
• Flag Football Club (need a minimum of 12 students) – Mr. Buckley
• Board Games – Ms. Vazquez
• Gardening Club – Ms. Lussier
• Graphic Novel and Illustration Club – Ms. Marangos
• Book Club – Ms. Chum
• Muralist Club – Ms. Fusarelli (starting the end of October)

PAWS After-School Program is officially in full swing! 
Our PAWS After-School Program had a great first week, and we want more students to participate! Students in the PAWS program can also participate in our other after-school clubs if they complete the required sign-up. 

Registration is open through the link provided! https://app.schooldoc.com/!/dn/login?r=carverafterschool 

This is a great opportunity for students to have supervised homework time/help, as well as enrichment activities (sports, arts & crafts, etc.) with staff members from our West Rocks community. This program is funded through Norwalk's wonderful Carver Center and now have transportation! 

Please email any questions to our program director Mr. Ryan Perry at perryr@norwalkps.org

Academics, Programs, and Campaigns

Grade 7 – Nature’s Classroom Field Trip
Students are now fundraising for their Nature’s Classroom field trip! Please reach 
Nature's Classroom will be held at Camp Eisner in Great Barrington, MA from November 6-8th. We are still accepting student registration! To register your child, please fill out this GOOGLE FORM. For additional information, please refer to Miss Sabol's Parent Square email from Friday September 6th. Please reach out if you have any additional questions. 

NASA Virtual Career Day – September 28
Today’s students are the future of STEM! Even if you don’t know it just yet! 

• Verizon Innovative Learning Lab - Room 188
• Thursday, September 28th 10 am to 2:45 pm

NASA has big plans for exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond; and they’ll need more than astronauts, engineers, and scientists to accomplish their goals! Even students with a passion for psychology, a love of gardening, or an interest in social media can harness those talents to launch NASA careers.
Click on the Flyer Link for more information and registration: NASA Registration Link

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer – Team West Rocks! 
 
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 
 
All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.

School Governance Council
We have 3 parent/guardian vacancies on our School Governance Council (SGC) for the 24-25 school year. All schools in NPS have an SGC and this committee comprised of various stakeholder groups meets once a month for about an hour to advise the school on decisions. See the complete district policy  
 
If you are interested in becoming a member of the SGC, please email Dr. Reynolds (reynoldsa@norwalkps.org). If we have more than three people that are interested, we will hold an election through an online form. Our first meeting will be the last week of September. 

PTA Update and Upcoming Dates

Panther Block Party - 9/25
Save the date! Our annual back to school bash is back with a new name this year! There will be food trucks, lawn games, raffles, giveaways and more!  
 
Membership
Whether you’re looking to get involved, volunteer, or simply show your Panther pride, now is the time to join the PTA! Membership is $10/yr and allows you vote on important issues like our budget. 
Sign up here: https://westrocks.ptboard.com/formvw?store=5118&form=1
 
Upcoming PTA Events:
9/25 - Panther Block Party
 
Follow our new social media accounts!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westrockspta
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/westrockspta/ 
 
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 23 2-Hour Early Dismissal for Professional Development (12:50pm)
September 24 NWEA ELA Reading begins in homeroom
September 25 PTA’s Panther Block Party @ 5:30pm
October 1 PSAT Grade 8
October 3 No School – Rosh Hashanah
October 4 – PINK OUT FRIDAY for Breast Cancer Awareness
 
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/