September 25, 2020

Dear Wareham Middle School Families,

I hope your child is settling in well. I completely understand the stresses that everyone is facing. WMS will be offering a monthly parent support group to help parents of middle schoolers cope with difficulties that they or their children may be facing as the school year starts back up. These meetings will take place virtually on the last Wednesday of the month. The first meeting will be held on September 30th from 6-7 P.M. If you would like more information or to attend this meeting, please email Mrs. Hokanson at mhokanson@wareham.k12.ma.us.

We are in day number 7 of school today. Our staff have been focusing on the topics that I explained in my Zoom meetings and posted in our back to school PowerPoints.

• First and foremost get to know their students
• Check on where they are emotionally 
• Build a trusting relationship
• Check in with parents/guardians by cohort team
• Prepare students for remote learning

And then prepare students for learning remotely with Direct instruction with explicit expectations in the use of:

• Email: Etiquette, organization, accessing and searching, submitting work (don’t use for submitting work)
• Google Classroom: Accessing, submitting work, accessing feedback on completed work
• Pearson (now SAVVAS): Accessing, viewing videos, review and remediation, submitting work
• General/Organization: Time management, routines and organizing tips, making and following a personalized schedule or routine, where to find help, internet safety and appropriate use, plagiarism 
• Structure for remote learning: Attendance, grading, participation, delivery of lessons, assignments and assessments, feedback

We will be forging deeper into our curriculum in the coming weeks. 

During the week of September 28 - October 2, students in all grades at Wareham Middle School will be taking the NWEA Map Growth in both English Language Arts and Math. Completing NWEA will count as a 100% assessment grade for ELA and math classes. It is very important that all students complete this assessment. There is a small number of special education students that will take NWEA on different days. These students will be notified directly by their special education teachers.

The purpose of MAP Growth is to determine what the student knows and is ready to learn next. MAP Growth is designed to measure student achievement in the moment and growth over time. MAP Growth can also track students' individual growth over time, wherever they are starting from and regardless of the grade they are in.

This video will also explain about the assessment  - MAP Growth Family Toolkit Video from NWEA.  Other resources can be found on the NWEA Family Tool Kit page at https://www.nwea.org/the-map-suite/family-toolkit/

As teachers, the information is used to know where to begin for students in a subject.  With the closure last spring, this information is even more important this year.  Please, at home, do not help your student on this assessment or allow them to use other resources.  It is VERY important that we know what they know and what we need to work on.  If you help them, we will assume they already understand that concept.  We will gladly share their test results with the students and with you when they are done. All teachers will discuss why this is important with their students.

The schedule for the test is as follows - Students should refer to their teachers for the times during the day for the assessment.  It takes between 45 minutes - 2 hours for most students.  They will not have other assignments on those days except for their Virtual Homeroom Attendance.  Students will be on a live Zoom call for the duration of their testing in addition to the testing website.

Our guidance counselors can also support you and your child:

Grade 5 & Grade 6 (Homeroom teachers: Andrews, Breese, Johnson, Hanson):

Mrs. Gorman  kgorman@wareham.k12.ma.us

Grade 6 (Homeroom teachers: Scott, Lasorsa, Smith, Brogioli) and Grade 7:

Mrs. Hokanson  mhokanson@wareham.k12.ma.us

PowerSchool Access Support: Mrs. Parsons bparsons@wareham.k12.ma.us

Wareham Middle School Website: https://www.warehamps.org/domain/35

Wareham Uninterrupted: https://sites.google.com/wareham.k12.ma.us/wareham-public-schools/home

Technology Request: http://thehelpdesk.warehamps.org/wps/open.php

Daily attendance - when not in the school building

• Go to Google Classroom
• Go to the Virtual Homeroom class.  
• At the top of the page click on Classwork
• Open the Virtual Homeroom Attendance Form
• Complete to form
• Click the Submit button
• Do the same thing with the same form everyday

Please email Mrs. Ponte at sponte@wareham.k12.ma.us if you have any questions or concerns about remote attendance.

You can always obtain up to date information from:

WMS Website: www.warehamps.org

Facebook: Wareham Middle

Sincerely,

Tracie Cote

Principal

September 18, 2020

Dear Wareham Middle School Families,

Thank you for being so supportive this week. We understand that supporting your child is a bit difficult with all the new technology components. We have many supports available to all our students. If you have any questions or concerns about classes and curriculum, please contact your child’s teachers directly through email. You can find all email addresses in our Wareham Uninterrupted site listed below.  

Our guidance counselors can also support you and your child:

• Grade 5 & Grade 6 (Homeroom teachers: Andrews, Breese, Johnson, Hanson):
• Mrs. Gorman  kgorman@wareham.k12.ma.us
• Grade 6 (Homeroom teachers: Scott, Lasorsa, Smith, Brogioli) and Grade 7:
• Mrs. Hokanson  mhokanson@wareham.k12.ma.us

PowerSchool Access Support: Mrs. Parsons bparsons@wareham.k12.ma.us

Wareham Middle School Website: https://www.warehamps.org/domain/35

Wareham Uninterrupted: https://sites.google.com/wareham.k12.ma.us/wareham-public-schools/home

Technology Request: http://thehelpdesk.warehamps.org/wps/open.php

Daily attendance - when not in the school building

• Go to Google Classroom
• Go to the Virtual Homeroom class.  
• At the top of the page click on Classwork
• Open the Virtual Homeroom Attendance Form
• Complete to form
• Click the Submit button
• Do the same thing with the same form everyday

Please email Mrs. Ponte at sponte@wareham.k12.ma.us if you have any questions or concerns about remote attendance.

September 4, 2020

Dear Wareham Middle School Families,

Our staff have been busy this week planning a great school year! Letters were mailed home to all WMS families today. The letters will have students’ schedules as well as in-person days for hybrid learners. The district is splitting last names for cohorts this way:

A-K Mondays and Tuesdays

L-Z Thursdays and Fridays

There are some exceptions to this split. The district has accommodated families that have children with different last names so that they are on the same cohort days. We also needed to make a few changes due to some services that need to be provided. We have called all families that do not follow the normal last name split.

Chromebook and charger pick-up day will be September 9th from 8 A.M.-11 A.M. and 

1 P.M.-4 P.M. at Wareham Middle School. You will receive a Student Technology Guidelines and Procedures Form via email that has to be signed and returned before your child receives any technology. Please note that the first day of school for all students is Wednesday, September 16, 2020. This will be a remote learning day for all students in the district. Remote learning will continue until at least October 5, 2020. A decision as to whether or not we start in-person on October 5th will be determined based on safety metrics at that time. 

When we get closer to October 5th, I will send out information about hybrid learning.  Hybrid learning is a combination of in-person and online learning. Students will be divided into two cohort groups. Cohort A will attend school on Mondays and Tuesdays and will participate in online learning Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Cohort B will attend school on Thursdays and Fridays and will participate in online learning on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The in-person days will be four hour days.

Attendance in school is required by law for children under the age of 16. The only absences that are excused are those necessary for personal illness (doctor’s note required), religious holidays, court appearances and bereavement. We expect students to participate daily in remote and/or in-person learning. Participation in learning is not optional. Our remote and hybrid learning plans are comprehensive. I will send our expectations to you when schedules are mailed home. 

If your child is participating in hybrid learning, please do not purchase many supplies. Our teachers are training and collaborating the next few weeks. They will compile a supply list that may be helpful for your child to bring to school. This list will be much shorter this year. Much of your child’s school work will be completed through Google Classroom for remote and in-person learning. 

Face masks will be required for all in-person learning. No bandanas, gators or masks with values please.

Zooms Available for Parents:

Grade 5 Hybrid Learners 9/10/20 at 6:00 P.M.: Zoom

Grade 5 Remote Learners 9/10/20 at 7:00 P.M.:  Zoom

Grade 6 and 7 Students 9/09/20 at 5:30 P.M.: Zoom

School Council Members are needed. All schools are required to have a school council. WMS school council typically meets on Thursday once a month at 5:30 and will be held online for at least the beginning of this school year. Please email Principal Cote at tcote@wareham.k12.ma.us if you are interested in being on our council.

PTA Email: WarehamPTA@gmail.com

Facebook: Wareham PTA

Upcoming Dates:

9/16 First day of school: Remote for ALL students

You can always obtain up to date information from:

WMS Website: www.warehamps.org

Facebook: Wareham Middle

Sincerely,

Tracie Cote

Principal

August 26, 2020

Dear Wareham Middle School Families,

Our staff is so excited for the start of school! I hope all our WMS families are well. Thank you for filling out the enrollment form. We are in the process of creating hybrid or remote schedules for all our students. I understand that the schedule for this school year is confusing and there are still some unanswered questions. I will be updating you as often as I can with as much information as I have. 

Chromebook and charger pick-up day will be September 9th from 8 A.M.-11 A.M. and 1 P.M.-4 P.M. at Wareham Middle School. You will receive a Student Technology Guidelines and Procedures Form via email that has to be signed and returned before your child receives any technology. Please note that the first day of school for all students is Wednesday, September 16, 2020. This will be a remote learning day for all students in the district. Remote learning will continue until at least October 5, 2020. A decision as to whether or not we start in-person on October 5th will be determined based on safety metrics at that time. 

Students that will participate in hybrid substantially separate special education programs will be contacted once a specific plan has been finalized for their in-person return. Until then all students will participate in remote learning starting September 16th.

When we get closer to October 5th, I will send out information about hybrid learning.  Hybrid learning is a combination of in-person and online learning. Students will be divided into two cohort groups. Cohort A will attend school on Mondays and Tuesdays and will participate in online learning Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Cohort B will attend school on Thursdays and Fridays and will participate in online learning on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The in-person days will be four hour days.

Students’ schedules with teachers’ names will be mailed home once our remote and hybrid schedules are complete; hopefully within the next couple of weeks. You will also receive information about which cohort your child will be in for hybrid learning.

Attendance in school is required by law for children under the age of 16. The only absences that are excused are those necessary for personal illness (doctor’s note required), religious holidays, court appearances and bereavement. We expect students to participate daily in remote and/or in-person learning. Participation in learning is not optional. Our remote and hybrid learning plans are comprehensive. I will send our expectations to you when schedules are mailed home. 

If your child is participating in hybrid learning, please do not purchase many supplies. Our teachers are training and collaborating the next few weeks. They will compile a supply list that may be helpful for your child to bring to school. This list will be much shorter this year. Much of your child’s school work will be completed through Google Classroom for remote and in-person learning. 

Face masks will be required for all in-person learning. I’ve attached a flyer about what types of masks are appropriate for school. Please make sure students come to school each day with a mask on. 

Transportation applications deadline is September 1, 2020. Please go to https://www.warehamps.org/.

School Council Members are needed. All schools are required to have a school council. WMS school council typically meets on Thursday once a month at 5:30 and will be held online for at least the beginning of this school year. Please email Principal Cote at tcote@wareham.k12.ma.us if you are interested in being on our council.

PTA Email: WarehamPTA@gmail.com

Facebook: Wareham PTA

Upcoming Dates:

9/16 First day of school: Remote for ALL students

You can always obtain up to date information from:

WMS Website: www.warehamps.org

Facebook: Wareham Middle

Sincerely,

Tracie Cote

Principal

June 15, 2020

Hello Wareham Middle School Families,

I hope this finds you and your family healthy and safe.

Reports cards will be mailed home at the end of this week. We will also include end of the year awards.

If you were unable to return Chromebooks, hotspots, and/or books, you will receive a bill in the mail for all items not returned. If you have any items that belong to WMS, please drop them off this week at the main office and make sure your child’s name is on the items.

Yearbooks will be mailed to WMS when they are finished. The company was closed for a bit and is behind. Once we receive them, we will call you if you have purchased one.

We have a special meeting with grade 7 students, Monday, June 15th at 1:00 P.M. Please have your 7th grade child log in to the Google Meet site that teachers have given them.

This certainly was not the ending that we had hoped for. We miss our students so very much! We appreciate all the support that families have provided children during remote learning. I do not know the full requirements or guidelines for reopening school in September. Once the district has finalized plans, I will communicate those plans with you. I know we will be able to work through this and make the best possible environment for teaching and learning given the circumstances.

You can always obtain up to date information from:

WMS Website: www.warehamps.org

Facebook: Wareham Middle

Sincerely,

Tracie Cote

tcote@wareham.k12.ma.us

Principal

May 11, 2020

Hello Wareham Middle School Families,

I hope this finds you and your family healthy and safe.

Most of our students are doing a great job with remote learning. Thank you for all of your support!

We are almost at the middle of term 4. Progress reports for term 4 will NOT be mailed home. Please look at your child’s PowerSchool to view their current grades for term 4 on Tuesday, May 19th. This will give you a good indication of how often your child is signing in and completing weekly assignments. If you need your PowerSchool access, please email Mrs. Parsons at bparsons@wareham.k12.ma.us.

Please remember that teachers are grading attendance and assignments turned in and you can see the grades in PowerSchool under term 4 for all classes. Teachers take attendance in every class Monday through Thursday. Teachers are posting assignments and available to students Monday-Thursday, unless there is a holiday. Fridays are a catch-up day for students to finish any work they were unable to get to throughout the week.

Many teachers are posting a Do Now or question from which they are taking attendance. If your child does not complete the attendance requirement for a class, they will receive a 60% (F) in PowerSchool. If your child does the required attendance in each class, they will receive a 100% (A+). Up to two weekly assignments will be graded in each class. If no assignment is turned in, in PowerSchool you will see a 60% (F). All attendance and assignments are due at the end of each week by Friday at 2 PM. Some teachers may accept late work, but we are not requiring this from our staff after Friday at 2 PM.

Term 3 did not close out for WMS students. Half of term 3 was completed and graded at progress report time. Thus moving forward this is our plan. All students’ final term 3 grade in every class will be the average of term 1, term 2, and term 4 or the term 3 grade at progress report time, whichever is higher.

Final grades for term 3 and term 4 will end on June 16th, the last day of school. Report cards will be mailed home with term grades and year long grades after the last day of school.

You can always obtain up to date information from:

WMS Website: www.warehamps.org

Facebook: Wareham Middle

Sincerely,

Tracie Cote

tcote@wareham.k12.ma.us

Principal

WMS CoronaVirus Information during school closure.