WMS PTA

Ann Dolin, M.Ed. of Educational Connections is excited to present a parent webinar for Williamsburg Middle School.

TITLE: No More Late Nights: Overcoming Procrastination in Middle School Students

DATE:  March 12

TIME: 7:15 PM ET

REGISTRATION LINK:  https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1317079321602/WN_YoizhHWAQPOoof6M2naArQ

WEBINAR SUMMARY:

No More Late Nights: Overcoming Procrastination in Middle School Students
As a parent of a middle schooler, you likely know the pain of getting to the end of a long day only to realize your child never completed a project or studied for a test that’s… tomorrow?! 

 When kids procrastinate on schoolwork, it leads to less sleep and more stress for the entire family. This unhealthy habit doesn’t do their grades any favors either! Fortunately, procrastination is a habit your child can unlearn, and we’re here to share practical strategies you can start implementing this school year. 

Join Ann Dolin, M.Ed., Founder and President of Educational Connections, at this free virtual event on March 5th for insights on: 
 ✓ The real reason kids procrastinate (It’s not what you think!)  

✓ How to get your child to start early on assignments  

✓ Simple rewards to correct this frustrating tendency  

✓ Ways to stop the late nights and high stress caused by procrastination  

✓ Smart study strategies for helping your child recall more and improve their grades 

Procrastination might be common, but that doesn’t mean it’s unavoidable. Let this be the year when procrastination and stress come to an end in your household! 

You must register in advance so we may send you the Zoom link. Please feel free to invite a friend to join you. We look forward to seeing you there!

This year’s Book Fair is going to be epic! More Books. More Choices.

Please help – we need more volunteers for the WMS Book Fair!  (Must be RAPTOR approved but it’s a quick and easy process: https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/MjQyMDplbi1VUw==)

Sign up here:  https://www.signupgenius.com/…/10C0445ADAF2FA13…

WMS Virtual Book Fair:  https://bookfairs-content.scholastic.com/…/williamsburg…

E-Wallet Set Up:  https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/…/how-ewallet-works…

The Scholastic Book Fair will be open in the library from December 6 – December 13. Students will come with their English or Reading classes. They will also have opportunities to come on their own before and after school and during TA and lunch. Additionally, the book fair will be open before and after all of the winter concerts.

Preview some of the books available via the Digital Flyer.

Book fair items may be purchased with cash, credit card, checks made out to WMS, or e-wallet. With e-wallet, adults can set up an account to allow for cashless payment by their child at the fair. Sign up by scrolling to the e-wallet section of the WMS Book Fair Website.

Purchases may also be made online at WMS Book Fair from December 5 – December 18. Purchases are delivered to the school and distributed to students through their TA teacher.

Book fair HOURS:

• Wednesday, Dec. 6 – 7:30 am – 12:30 pm and 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm & 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• Thursday, Dec. 7 – 7:30 am – 4:30 pm
• Friday, Dec. 8 – 7:30 am – 2:30
• Monday, Dec. 11 – 7:30 am – 2:30 and 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm & 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• Tuesday, Dec. 12 – 7:30 am – 2:30 and 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm & 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• Wednesday Dec. 13 – packed up by 11:00am

National PTA’s 50+ year Reflections program provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts which boost student confidence and success in the arts and in life. Every year, over 300,000 students participate in the program, advancing from the local to the state to the national level, earning recognition and prizes for their talents.The student-created theme for the 2023-2024 Reflections program is I AM HOPEFUL BECAUSE…

Students of all grades and abilities are encouraged to participate and submit entries and student entry forms online by Tuesday, November 21, 2023. Instructions are as follows:

1. CREATE original works of art in the following categories and enter under their grade-level (Middle School) division. (students can submit one piece in each of the 6 arts categories)

• Visual Arts (guidelines)
• Dance Choreography (guidelines)
• Film Production (guidelines)
• Literature (guidelines)
• Music Composition (guidelines)
• Photography (guidelines)
• Special Artist division (guidelines) – for students with disabilities who receive services under IDEA or ADA: Section 504

2. Save and upload a file of the student artwork (photos of the Visual Arts pieces will be accepted) to the Google Drive under the appropriate category with the following title:

Student First and Last Name_Grade_Arts Category_Title of Work

e.g. Amy Weinberg_Grade 6_Dance Choreography_World Peace

3. Download, complete and upload the completed 2023 Student Entry Form, including a student-written artist statement and typed student and parent/guardian signatures, to the WMS Google Drive under the appropriate category with the following title:

Student First and Last Name_Grade_Arts Category_Title of Work_ Student Entry Form

e.g. Amy Weinberg_Grade 6_Dance Choreography_World Peace_Student Entry Form

*All pieces must be uploaded to the Google Drive by Tuesday, November 21, 2023 with a complete Student Entry Form to be considered*

4. Save your artwork and stay tuned! Student entries will be judged by professional artists in three areas: interpretation of the theme (I Am Hopeful Because…), originality and technique. Winners will be announced and awards, prizes and celebrations will follow in the winter. Students who are awarded top honors will advance to the county level and then have the chance to advance to the district, state and national level for awards and prizes. The pieces that advance will be physically collected, so be sure to save and carefully store your artwork!

We hope all WMS students will participate and make this the best Reflections year ever!

Quick Links

• 2023 Student Entry Form
• Visit Virginia PTA’s Reflections and National PTA’s Reflections websites for more information about the program and awards.

Questions? Read these FAQs and feel free to email Amy Weinberg or Sara Crummett, WMS Reflections Chairs, at ReflectionsWMSPTA@gmail.com.

Order your 2023-2024 School Supplies Now – Deadline is July 11, 2023!

School Website to Order Supply Kits: https://sproutsupplies.com/order
School Code: WMS002
Order Deadline: JULY 11, 2023

Calling all Gardeners, Want-to-be Gardeners, and those who like to work in the dirt: The WMS Courtyard Needs Your Help!

The Williamsburg 7th Grade Life Science and the Extended Day teachers are working together with the Arlington Master Gardeners to improve the WMS Courtyard to make it a rich, engaging learning environment for our students. We cannot do itnalone, we need your help! Please see below for opportunities to make a difference. Signing up in advance is not necessary but it does help us plan.

Opportunity 1 – May 13, 2023 8:00 am-12:00 pm

1. Help clean out and prepare the flower beds for new soil and new plants.
2. Help move a delivery of soil into the courtyard.
3. If time and resources allow, begin planting.
4. Please bring your own gardening gloves and tools if possible.

Link to sign-up (optional but helpful for planning)

Opportunity 2 – Native Plant Donations:
Our goal is to stock the courtyard with native plants. If you have, or know of anyone who has native Virginia plants that can be split or transplanted (see list below), we welcome donations.

Native Plant List:

• Wild or Eastern Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
• Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
• Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
• Blue Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis)
• Yellow Wild Indigo (Baptisia tinctoria)
• Whorled or Threadleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata)
• Joe-pye Weed (Eutrochium fistulosum)
• Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)
• Narrow-leaved Sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius)
• Large or Eastern Blazing Star (Liatris scariosa)
• Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
• Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma)
• Eastern Prickly-pear (Opuntia humifusa)
• Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea)
• Narrow-leaf Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium)
• Zig-Zag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)
• Narrow-leaved Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium)
• New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
• New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis)
• Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)
• Purple Love Grass (Ergrostis spectabilis)
• Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
• Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
• Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
• Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
• Northern Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
• Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
• Common Elderberry (Sambucus candensis)
• Early Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccnium pallidum)

Click here for the informational flyer.