Dear Weston Middle School Community, Happy Friday! It's a short, four day week for students with no school on Friday. Whether you are traveling or relaxing at home, we wish you a peaceful, fun winter break. Students recently received their report cards for the second quarter. We would encourage you to speak with your child about how they did. Here are a few tips to help keep those conversations positive and productive: 1) Start with curiosity. Before reacting to grades, invite your child to share their perspective. Asking questions like “How do you feel about this report card?” or “Which class feels easiest or hardest right now?” helps students feel heard and opens the door to honest conversation. 2) Focus on habits, not just grades. Grades are feedback—not necessarily a measure of a student’s intelligence or potential. Talking about organization, study strategies, effort, and time management helps students understand what they can control and improve. 3) Keep it manageable. Rather than trying to fix multiple things at once, focus on one or two realistic goals for the second half of the year—such as turning in assignments on time or asking for help earlier. 4) Problem-solve together. Middle schoolers benefit from having ownership. Ask what they think would help and who might support them (a teacher, counselor, or family member). When students help choose the next steps, they’re more likely to follow through. 5) Remember the big picture. This is the midpoint of the year, not the finish line. Growth takes time, and learning how to reflect and adjust is an important skill in itself. 6) End with reassurance. Make sure your child knows you’re proud of their effort, believe in their ability to grow, and are on their team. Have a great break! Important Upcoming Dates February 11 - Coffee with the WMS Counselors on Wednesday, February 11th from 9:00–10:00am in the WMS Think Tank February 10 and 12 - Grade Level Assemblies, Black History Month February 13 - No School, Professional Development Day for Staff February 16-20 - Winter Break, No School February 24 - No Place for Hate, Activity 2 March 2-6 - Read Across America Week Short Wharf Theatre - The Addams Family A huge shout out to the company and crew of the Short Wharf Theatre's recent production of The Addams Family. It was funny, playful, and an awesome showcase for our talented WMS performers. Bravo! Congratulations to WMS's Math Counts Competitors This past weekend our team competed at Fairfield University. Congratulations to Dex, Winston, Stephen, Andy, Evan, and Chris for their hard work and dedication. A special congratulations to Winston, Evan, Ari, and Andy for advancing to the Connecticut State Competition in March at Yale. Well done! Author Visit We are excited to welcome author Tami Charles to Weston Middle School on Friday, March 6th as a culmination of Read Across America week and a celebration of the power of literacy. A special thank you to the PTO for sponsoring this event. Ms. Charles will be presenting to all three grades. Ninth Grade Transition Information The following LINK contains information from WMS administration to eighth grade parents about the transition process. It contains important dates and a timeline of the process. Here is a LETTER from WMS Principal Meghan Conetta with information about the upcoming Eighth Grade Transition Night for Students and Parents on February 4th. Coffee with the Counselors - Save the Date - February 11 Open to all 6th–8th grade WMS parents, this informal gathering is a chance to connect with school counselors Lauren Davi, Jen Doyle, and Ande Ogden. We’ll spend time talking about the emotional lives of middle schoolers and how we can best support them, both at school and at home, in the new year. We'll have coffee, but bring your questions and join us for conversation and connection. WMS Student Newspaper Our newspaper staff has been hard at work on the first edition of the Warrior News. It is linked HERE. Enjoy. One School, One Book - Coming in March We are excited to read a book as a school community. It's a great opportunity to engage in a common experience and talk about the characters, issues, and themes in the story. Every student will get their own copy. The title is a secret but stay tuned!. Bricks and Mortar Bricks and Mortar is a newsletter from Superintendent Erica Forti that contains updates and important information about Weston's facilities. Team Landing Pages This link is to team landing pages for each of our six teams. It is a great hub for team based information about homework and team news. Reminders Chromebooks We will not be loaning out Chromebooks to students who forget their Chromebook at home anymore. This is due to a lack of extra Chromebooks. Please remind your child that they should be bringing their Chromebook back and forth between school and home every day and should be fully charging their Chromebook each night. Drop Off / Pick Up Please remember to use the drop off/pick up line in the back of the school at arrival and dismissal. Please avoid using the front of the school for drop off when busses are unloading students. Also, the parking lot across the street from the front of WMS is for juniors at the high school to park. Flu and Fever Season As we enter the peak of the flu season, we are seeing an increase in illness within our school community. To ensure our classrooms remain a safe and healthy environment, we need your help. We kindly ask that you monitor your child daily for symptoms of illness before sending them to school. Please keep your child home if they exhibit any of the following: Fever: Students should be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication before returning. Persistent Cough Stomach Issues: Vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours. Thanks for helping us keep our school healthy. Jason Bluestein's picture Jason Bluestein Jason is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters