Weekly Bulletin

May 26 Weekly Bulletin

Good evening, Washington Middle School families!

With 25 or so days left of school, we are nearing the end of our school year. With a dance, 8th Grade Recognition, and STEM Expo, June will be a month you do not want to miss!

Monthly Health Newsletter

Family Newsletter including Sports Schedules

No School on Monday

This is a reminder there will be no school on Monday in observance of Memorial Day. School and the district office will reopen Tuesday.

Save the Date: 8th Grade Recognition

8th Grade Recognition will be on June 27th. More information to come.

6th Grade Family Welcome Night/Bridge Night on May 30th

If you are a caregiver for an incoming 6th Grade, you are invited to our Incoming 6th Grade Family Welcome Night! Come meet your scholar’s 6th Grade staff! We will have information on athletics, electives, math, science, language arts, social studies, special education, and multilingual education. Plus, our counselors will be on hand to register your student for their elective classes. Come join us on Tuesday, May 30th for food at 5:30 PM followed by the event at 6.

Donate to Mr. Martinson’s Classroom Library

Mr. Martinson’s Donors Choose Project is for more Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander books in our 6th grade classroom library. These stories will help promote diversity and representation in Language Arts class!

Yearbooks are back on sale!

The yearbook team is doing our second round of yearbook sales! Yearbooks are $25 and can be purchased in the main office during lunches! Yearbooks can also be purchased online!

Get Your Summer Fun On with HOST

Summer Camp registration will only be open for a few more weeks and spaces are limited. The first 25 students registered will earn a pizza party! Register online via Family ID or pick up your packet today. Please contact Ms. Pablo at Paula.pablo@seattle.gov for any questions.  

Have a safe Memorial Day weekend. We will see you on Tuesday!

Washington Middle School Administrative Team

Good evening, Washington Middle School families!

I’d like to give a big shout-out to our students for a successful completion of the state test for English Language Arts and Math for the 2022-23 school year. Our 8th graders will wrap it up next week for Science in their science classes. I also want to say thank you to all of our test proctors. Despite a bumpy start, they made sure they every student was cared for with whatever they needed to be successful.

Monthly Health Newsletter

Family Newsletter including Sports Schedules

Notes from Nurse Nash

Warmer weather is here. To ensure students are comfortable and are in-class learning, we encourage students to have water bottles. Please make sure to write down your student’s name in Sharpie if it ever goes missing. If you would like to donate water bottles, you can send them with your student to the nurse’s office.

6th Grade Family Welcome Night/Bridge Night

If you are a caregiver for an incoming 6th Grade, you are invited to our Incoming 6th Grade Family Welcome Night on 5/30! Come meet your scholar’s 6th Grade staff! We will have information on athletics, electives, math, science, language arts, social studies, special education, and multilingual education. Plus, our counselors will be on hand to register your student for their elective classes. Come join us for food at 5:30 PM followed by the event at 6 PM.

MAP Test Approaching!

In order to see how much students have grown since the beginning of the year, students will be taking the MAP at the end of the month. Teachers use this information to determine what a student is ready for next year and counselors use it to place students in the correct course. E-mail your Humanities and Math teacher for more information.

Yearbooks are back on sale!

The yearbook team is doing our second round of yearbook sales! If a student has not yet purchased a yearbook and purchases one by May 19th, they will receive a small prize and be entered into a raffle to win a larger prize! 

Yearbooks are $25 and can be purchased in the main office during lunches! Yearbooks can also be purchased online!

Students Succeed in Showing Up!

Congrats to Mr. Glaser’s 4th period class for having the highest attendance over 4 weeks with an average daily attendance of 94.13% and Ms. Prestis’ 3rd period class who raised their attendance by a total of 11.3% over 4 weeks! Well done, students!

Get Your Summer Fun On with HOST

Summer School PALS registration is now open. Students will be continuing to build on reading and math skills in the morning and learning new things in the afternoon during enrichment, including field trips! You can register your scholar via Family ID or pick up a paper registration (front office, HOST board or HOST office door). Spaces are limited. For more information, e-mail Ms. Pablo Paula.Pablo@seattle.gov. 

HOST Showcase Night on 5/26

Join us for our end of session HOST Showcase happening on Friday, May 26th from 5-7pm. HOST participants will showcase all the amazing work they’ve been doing in class. Show will start promptly at 5:45pm. Light snacks and refreshments available. All students must be accompanied by an adult.

Take care of yourselves and each other.

Washington Middle School Administrative Team

May 12 Weekly Bulletin

Hello, Washington Middle School families!

To our teachers, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your dedication to our junior huskies. You continue to come back from the pandemic stronger and more steadfast in your enthusiasm for your craft. Your creativity, patience, and passion for teaching are truly remarkable. Thank you for going above and beyond to provide a safe, equitable, and welcoming learning environment for all students. We are lucky to have you. A special thank you to the PTSA for providing breakfast and lunch during this week. Your generosity is a testament to the strong community we have at Washington Middle School. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

If you didn’t have a chance to sign our schoolwide padlet, please do and give a teacher a shout-out

Also, our teachers have some projects that they would like funded on DonorsChoose. I know that they would appreciate your support.

Ms. Harris

Mr. Martinson

Monthly Health Newsletter

Family Newsletter including Sports Schedules

Notes from Nurse Nash

Warmer weather is here. To ensure students are comfortable and are in-class learning, we encourage students to have water bottles. Please make sure to write down your student’s name in Sharpie if it ever goes missing. If you would like to donate water bottles you can send them with your student to the nurse’s office.

Healthy Tips for Testing Week:

• Getting enough sleep can help your child feel more alert and focused during testing week.
• Eating a balanced meal before school can provide the energy and nutrients needed for optimal performance.
• Staying hydrated can improve cognitive function and reduce stress levels, helping your child feel more calm and prepared for the test.

SBA Testing This Week

Details of each grade’s testing dates are below. Please note this has been revised:

SBA Testing 8:55-11:00

More students than ever have been participating in the Smarter Balanced Assessment. Our school does not stand to benefit from any family or guardian choosing to opt their child out of the Smarter Balanced Assessment, however, you may opt your child out if you so desire. All opt-out requests must be initiated by the parent/guardian in the form of a written communication via e-mail and should be directed to the principal kmhunt@seattleschools.org and jahesse@seattleschools.org prior to the start of testing. There is not a student initiated opt-out form or process. If a parent/guardian chooses to opt-out their student, the student is still required to attend school, however, we will not be able to offer enrichment activities during the testing times.

Food, cell phones, and other electronic devices are not permitted in the testing environment. The ELA portion of the test does require the use of headphones. We will provide headphones; however, students may bring headphones or earbuds with a standard 3.55 mm jack if they prefer to use their own.

Yearbooks are back on sale!

The yearbook team is doing our second round of yearbook sales! If a student has not yet purchased a yearbook and purchases one by May 19th, they will receive a small prize and be entered into a raffle to win a larger prize! 

Yearbooks are $25 and can be purchased in the main office during lunches! Yearbooks can also be purchased online!

Congratulations to Mr. Sundt and the Jazz Band

Congratulations to the WMS Jazz Band for winning the Bellevue High School Jazz Festival last weekend.  A special shout-out to Mr. Sundt who won the Andy Robertson Director Award!

Get Your Summer Fun On with HOST

Summer School PALS registration is now open. Students will be continuing to build on reading and math skills in the morning and learning new things in the afternoon during enrichment, including field trips! You can register your scholar via Family ID or pick up a paper registration (front office, HOST board or HOST office door). Spaces are limited. For more information, e-mail Ms. Pablo Paula.Pablo@seattle.gov.

HOST Showcase Night on 5/26

Join us for our end of session HOST Showcase happening on Friday, May 26th from 5-7pm. HOST participants will showcase all the amazing work they’ve been doing in class. Show will start promptly at 5:45pm. Light snacks and refreshments available. All students must be accompanied by an adult.

Stay cool out there and we will see you on Monday for the first day of SBA testing!

Washington Middle School Administrative Team

May 5 Weekly Bulletin

Hello, Junior Husky families!

We are gearing up for some big things here at WMS: the Smarter Balanced Assessment, incoming 6th graders, 8th grade promotion, and Teacher Appreciation Week! Read on to find out more about all of these and more!

Monthly Health Newsletter

Family Newsletter including Sports Schedules

Teacher Appreciation Week is Next Week!

Please leave a note of appreciation for our Junior Husky staff on this padlet and show them some love next week

6th Grade Bridge Night

If you are a caregiver for an incoming 6th Grade, you are invited to our Incoming 6th Grade Family Welcome Night! Come meet your scholar’s 6th Grade Teaching Staff! We will have information on athletics, electives, math, science, language arts, social studies, special education, and multilingual education. Plus, our counselors will be on hand to register your student for their elective classes. Come join us for food at 5:30 followed by the event at 6 pm.

Nurse Notes

Please encourage your student to pack a reusable water bottle for school each day.  Drinking water is important for your health and can prevent dehydration.  According to the CDC, dehydration can cause unclear thinking, result in mood change, and cause your body to overheat. 

Throughout this school year, WMS has received over 200 reusable water bottles from Communities in School partnership and private donations.  These have been distributed directly to our students.  We are currently low on our supply of reusable water bottles.  If your family would like to donate a reusable water bottle, your student can drop off donations in the Nurse’s Office.  Thank you!

Smarter Balanced Assessment

From May 15 to May 19, your student will take the Smarter Balanced Assessment tests in Math and English Language Arts.

We will be operating on an alternate bell schedule during our SBA testing. All students will start their day by reporting directly to their Advisory classes for testing. Following this time, students will attend all five of their scheduled classes. On Wednesdays, there will be no testing and we will be running our regular bell schedule.

Students in Grade 8 will take the WCAS in their science class and classes will have resumed as normal on the 22nd.

Details of each grade’s testing dates are below:

More students than ever have been participating in the Smarter Balanced Assessment. Our school does not stand to benefit from any family or guardian choosing to opt their child out of the Smarter Balanced Assessment, however, you may opt your child out if you so desire. All opt-out requests must be initiated by the parent/guardian in the form of a written communication via e-mail and should be directed to the principal prior to the start of testing. There is not a student-initiated opt-out form or process. If a parent/guardian chooses to opt-out their student, the student is still required to attend school, however, we will not be able to offer enrichment activities during the testing times.

Food, cell phones, and other electronic devices are not permitted in the testing environment. The ELA portion of the test does require the use of headphones. We will provide headphones; however, students may bring headphones or earbuds with a standard 3.55 mm jack if they prefer to use their own.

For more information visit:

Seattle Public School Smarter Balanced Assessment

To try out an online practice test

Thank you for your continuing partnership in making sure your child is successful. For any other questions, please contact Assistant Principal Jenn Hesse at jahesse@seattleschools.org.

Student-Led Conferences

Please remember that student-led conferences are required for all Washington Middle School students as we prepare them for high school and beyond. Please contact your student’s advisory teacher if your student has not had a conference.

Save the Date: 8th Grade Promotion

8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony will be on June 27th. More details to come.

STEM Expo Help

Dr. Arleatha Bryant, TAF STEM Integration Transformation Coach and Ms. Haley Lowe, TSP Coordinator will be staying after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays (beginning Tuesday, April 25th) to assist our scholars who want additional time or need additional support to work on their prototypes/product, etc. for STEM Expo. They will be in portable 11 from 4-5PM each week leading up to STEM Expo.  If you have questions regarding these offerings, please email them directly at arbryant@seattleschools.org and halowe@seattleschools.org

It’s always a great day to be a Junior Husky! See you on Monday! It’s Teacher Appreciation Week!

Washington Middle School Administrative Team

Hello, Junior Husky families!

Big thank you to all of you who came out to support our students at the Spring Music Concert. Congratulations to our Band Director Mr. Sundt and our Choir and Orchestra director Mr. Hartley for their great work. Well done, students in band, choir, and orchestra! It’s beautiful to witness a team effort.

We also had a great turn out for student-led conferences on Saturday and Thursday. Thank you for everything you do in helping your student prepare for presentations in college and career.

Athletics

All games on Saturday 4/29.

Track @ Nathan Hale HS v. Licton Springs, TOPS, Aki, Madison, Hamilton, JA, Eagle Staff, Boren, Hazel Wolf, Orca, South Shore, Salmon Bay at 10 AM (Bus leaves WMS at 9 AM.)

Varsity Volleyball @ Meany MS at 9:30 AM v. Mercer

JV Volleyball @ Meany MS at 8 AM v. Mercer

JV-C Team Volleyball @ Whitman at 2:00 PM v. Salmon Bay K-8

Varsity Soccer v. Meany @ Franklin HS at 8:30 AM

JV Soccer v. Denny @ Cleveland HS at 10 AM

Thank you to all our coaches: Ms. Lewis, Mr. Ahmed, Mr. Ritchie, Ms. Kirby, Ms. Kenerly, Ms. Smith, and Ms. Villagomez.

Free Laptop + WiFi for Completing Digital Literacy Program at Bailey-Gazhert Elementary

The Communities of Rooted Brilliance received funding to offer a digital literacy program called the Summit Program for adults (18+) living in King County. The program will support capacity building and provide participants with the opportunity to learn and build upon basic computer skills. Those who attend the classes will receive a free laptop and 6 months of free wifi. Classes will start on April 17 at Gatzert Elementary’s school library, and the instructor speaks English, Amharic, Oromo, and Tigrinya. Interested individuals may direct inquiries to Mutende mutendek@rootedbrilliance.org. Multiple adults from the same household are eligible to enroll, and individuals who have participated in similar programs before are also encouraged to enroll if they wish to further develop their computer skills. Weekend classes may be offered if there is enough interest.

Middle Schoolers Unite for Safe Schools at IMPACT! Student Leadership Conference

The IMPACT! Safe Schools Student Leadership Conference is happening on Saturday, May 13th from 10 am – 3 pm at the Centilia Cultural Center in Beacon Hill. This free conference is designed for middle school students from different schools to come together and discuss important topics related to creating a safer and more inclusive school environment. Your child will have the chance to share their thoughts and ideas with peers, while also learning valuable leadership skills. Plus, there will be food and prizes! If you’re interested in signing up your child, you can register

Student-Led Conferences

Please remember that student-led conferences are required for all Washington Middle School students as we prepare them for high school and beyond. Please contact your student’s advisory teacher if your student has not had a conference.

STEM Expo Help

Dr. Arleatha Bryant, TAF STEM Integration Transformation Coach and Ms. Haley Lowe, TSP Coordinator will be staying after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays (beginning Tuesday, April 25th) to assist our scholars who want additional time or need additional support to work on their prototypes/product, etc. for STEM Expo. They will be in portable 11 from 4-5PM each week leading up to STEM Expo.  If you have questions regarding these offerings, please email them directly at arbryant@seattleschools.org and halowe@seattleschools.org

FREE Dental, Medical & Vision Services – This Weekend at Seattle Center

Seattle/King County Clinic offers free dental, vision, and medical care to anyone in the region who struggles to access or afford healthcare. The four-day clinic, which is in its eighth year of operation, is produced each year by more than 100 community organizations and thousands of volunteers. Patients are assisted each day on a first-come, first-served basis. All services and procedures are provided free of charge by licensed healthcare professionals. Interpretation services are available, and patients do not need to show identification or proof of immigration status. April 27 – 30, 2023 at Seattle Center.

Executive Functioning Small Group for Incoming 9th Grade Students at Garfield High School

Garfield High School is offering a new orientation program for incoming ninth graders with attention, organization, or academic motivation difficulties. The program includes a one-week pre-high school orientation, ongoing weekly peer support, and monthly mentor meetings with a UW undergraduate student. Caregivers are also invited to attend orientation sessions. Due to funding restrictions, students cannot be already getting Special Education services. You can also email, call, or text the program staff at shauntal.vandreel@seattlechildrens.org or ‪971-217-8206. Please fill out this form if you are interested in learning more about the Eecutive Functioning Small Group for Incoming 9th Grade Students at Garfield High School program

Join Camp Rock for Marginalized Genders in Seattle!

Are you ready to shred on a guitar, bass, keyboard, drumkit, or microphone? Our week-long day camps in Seattle provide a safe and welcoming space for 8-17 year old girls, trans youth, and non-binary youth to receive instrument instruction and band coaching from local musicians. Campers will attend patriarchy-smashing workshops led by adults of marginalized genders. Campers will write an original song with their band and perform it at The Crocodile.

It’s always a great day to be a Junior Husky! See you on Monday!

Washington Middle School Administrative Team

Welcome back, Junior Husky families!

This week, students got back to work as we wrapped up 3rd Quarter! Shout out to the 8th Grade Science Team for learning about natural selection that left students talking. Scholars were given butterflies that they had to disguise and hide in the classroom. Later, other educators (the predators) would have ten minutes to find them! Find out from your 8th grader how they did.

Remember there is No School on Thursday for Student-Led Conferences.

Student-Led Conferences

April 22 and April 27

Advisory teachers are excited to support your student’s Student-Led Conference this Saturday or next Thursday. Please check in with your student’s advisory teacher about your scheduled date and time. Please note that this is required for all students at Washington Middle School as we prepare them for high school. There is no school on Thursday, so that families can attend Student-Led Conferences.

Spring Concert for Music

The Washington Middle School Orchestras, Bands, and Choir will be performing on Tuesday, April 25th at the Quincy Jones Performing Arts Center. Students are asked to arrive at 6:00pm, and the performance will begin at 6:30pm. The Bands will perform from 8:00pm to 9:00pm.

The Washington Middle School Orchestras, Bands, and Choir are a talented group of students who have been working hard all year to prepare for this performance. They are excited to share their music with the community, and we hope to see you there!

STEM Expo Help

Dr. Arleatha Bryant, TAF STEM Integration Transformation Coach and Ms. Haley Lowe, TSP Coordinator will be staying after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays (beginning Tuesday, April 25th) to assist our scholars who want additional time or need additional support to work on their prototypes/product, etc. for STEM Expo. They will be in portable 11 from 4-5PM each week leading up to STEM Expo.  If you have questions regarding these offerings, please email them directly at arbryant@seattleschools.org and halowe@seattleschools.org

Arab American Heritage Month Book Club

April is Arab American Heritage Month, and the library is hosting a book club featuring an Arab American author, Naomi Shihab Nye. Our new meeting date is next Wednesday, April 26th during all lunches! Come check out a copy of the book, The Turtle of Oman, or find it on Libby to listen or read online.

WMS Podcast

Washington Middle School has started a podcast and is looking for students interested in recording an episode. It could be a current event, an expose, an interview, the results of your STEM Expo project, a story or poem that you have written, etc.

You will need to write up a script, because planning ahead is easier than editing after, and fill out this form.

Check out the WMS Podcast trailer.

If you have questions, check in with Ms. Harris or email her at echarris@seattleschools.org.

DonorsChoose Continues to Support Library Transformation

The library is continuing to undergo an exciting transformation, adding over 1,000 new books, couches, flexible seating, and a podcast studio. We would love your support to continue this exciting trajectory!

Please consider donating to one of our DonorsChoose projects

Free Dental, Medical & Vision Services

April 27-30, 2023 at Seattle Center

Seattle/King County Clinic offers free dental, vision, and medical care to anyone in the region who struggles to access or afford healthcare. The four-day clinic, which is in its eighth year of operation, is produced each year by more than 100 community organizations and thousands of volunteers. Patients are assisted each day on a first-come, first-served basis. All services and procedures are provided free of charge by licensed healthcare professionals. Interpretation services are available, and patients do not need to show identification or proof of immigration status.

Learn more about free dental, medical, and vision services

Incoming 9th Grade Students at Garfield High School

Executive Functioning Small Group for Incoming 9th Grade Students at Garfield High School

Garfield High School is offering a new orientation program through Seattle Children’s Hospital for incoming ninth graders with attention, organization, or academic motivation difficulties.

The program includes a one-week pre-high school orientation, ongoing weekly peer support, and monthly mentor meetings with a UW undergraduate student. All students participating will receive free school supplies. Parents or guardians are also invited to attend orientation sessions. Due to funding restrictions, students cannot be already receiving Special Education services.

Please fill out this form if you are interested in learning more about this program

You can also email, call, or text the program staff at shauntal.vandreel@seattlechildrens.org or 971-217-8206.

It’s always a great day to be a Junior Husky! Take care of yourself, our Earth, and each other and we will see some of you in-person this Saturday and the rest of you on Thursday!

Washington Middle School Administrative Team

Good morning, WMS caregivers! 

A thank you goes out to our Assistant Principals Ms. Hesse and Mr. Manriquez for National Assistant Principals Week as well as our House Administrator Ms. Acquino. We are thankful for all the work that you do to help keep our school running. We also did a special thank you to Mr. Wright, our security specialist. Truly top notch, he always aims to build relationships first with all our students!

We made it to Spring Break, but before we go – just a few announcements: 

Spring Break 

Spring Break is next week from April 10-14!  

Correction: Garfield Course Registration for Rising 9th Graders Due 4/26 

Garfield will be hosting an Virtual Registration Help Session for Students and Families on Wednesday, April 19 from 3-4:30 p.m.

To register, email Garfield Counselor, Kandace Alston kalston@seattleschools.org.

Registration closes for the Virtual Help Session on Tuesday, April 18 at 4 PM. However, all registration for rising 9th graders students is due on 4/26.

Learn more about Garfield Course Registration 

Important Medication Reminders  

If your student needs medication at any time during the school day, we must have a Medication Authorization Form signed by a Parent/Guardian and a Medical Provider.  This includes over-the-counter medications such as Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Benadryl etc.   

If your student is going on an overnight field trip, then we must have a Medication Authorization for any medication they will need to take on the overnight field trip. 

Please reach out to Nurse Nash for assistance at 206-252-2607 or sanash@seattleschools.org 

Spring Student-Led Conferences 

Washington Middle School is thrilled to invite families to our upcoming Student Led Conferences taking place during the last two weeks of April. This is an incredible opportunity for students to take ownership of their learning by showcasing their progress and setting goals for the rest of the school year. There will be no school on April 27, so that you can attend your SLC. Advisory teachers will be reaching out to schedule a specific time for your family’s conference. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact them. We look forward to seeing you at the conference! 

Congratulations to the Global Reading Challenge Winners!  

6th Graders Harper, Gabrianna, Fiona, Lucille, and Charlotte won the first South End Middle School Global Reading Challenge! High five to all participants! 

Congratulations to the Yearbook Class! 

Miss Lewis would like to celebrate all the students on the yearbook team! They have worked very hard to get our book done as we have moved toward our final deadline! They have created a beautiful book that is 100% theirs! They will be $25 dollars when they arrive. 

3rd Quarter Ending Soon! 

This is a reminder that the 3rd Quarter ends about a week after Spring Break. Please make sure that you are checking in with your student to make sure that your student is completing their assignments. Grades will be finalized soon.  

SBA and WCAS Schedule 

It is almost time to show what you know on the state assessment! We will take the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) for Language Arts and Math for all grades from May 15-26 and all 8th graders will take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment for Science (WCAS) during those two weeks too. If your student qualifies for Special Education services, your case manager will reach out to you individually. More information to come. 

Have a safe and restful Spring Break! 

WMS Administrative Team 

Good evening, Junior Husky caregivers — 

As the principal of this school, I am writing to you in regards to the budget for next year. March is budget time in Seattle Public Schools and we are aware of the frustrations and concerns that have been raised. We share in your frustration and as an administrative team, we appreciate your concerns regarding budget and staffing.

We understand that you have a personal connection to particular classes, but even with the limited budget, we are pleased to offer all three music disciplines: band, choir, and orchestra at Washington Middle School. We also recognize that not all students aspire to become musicians. Some students dream of being writers, photographers, sculptors, world travelers, and athletes. For this reason, we are also able to provide art class, high school credit-bearing Spanish 1, and PE. However, it is important to remember that when we make decisions about the budget, we take into account the needs of the entire school community, rather than focusing solely on individual teachers or programs.

As a school, we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable learning environment for all students, including those from students furthest from educational justice. We know that students of color may have unique experiences and needs that must be taken into account when making decisions about staffing and resource allocation. 

We would like to remind you that as a school community, we need to think beyond our own individual experiences and consider the needs of the entire student population. We appreciate your feedback, and we encourage you to engage in conversations that are centered around equity and inclusion. This will help us ensure that our decisions are guided by the needs of all students, and not just a select few. 

We appreciate your engagement in this important conversation. 

Global Reading Challenge Winners 

This past week, students participated in the first round of the Global Reading Challenge competition against teams in our building. On Thursday after school, all teams are invited to compete in the final district-wide competition against teams from other schools from 3:45 to 5:00. We will meet in the library at Washington and compete using Kahoot and Microsoft Teams. Students will need to arrange to get home afterwards. 

6th Grade Winners: The Cliffhangers – Harper, Gabrianna, Lucille, Fiona, Charlotte 

7th Grade Winners: The Legendary Princess Night Turtles of Persepolis – Juniper, Miranda, Julie 

8th Grade Winners: We Like Big Books – Jasper, Thomas, Olive 

Athletics 

For more Athletics Spring Schedule information

Check out our new podcast! 

Find out what’s happening at the school from the students themselves, sponsored by the WMS PTSA and our Library Resource Center. Listen to the Husky Howl.

Reading Partners 

Reading Partners Seattle and Communities in Schools of Seattle will begin collecting K-5th grade level book donations on April 3rd. Donation bins can be found in the library and will remain up until the school-wide book swap event on April 25th. 

Garfield Registration Help Session for Current 8th Graders 

Garfield will be hosting an Virtual Registration Help Session for Students and Families on Wednesday, April 19th from 3-4:30 PM. You can register by e-mailing kalston@seattleschools.org. Registration closes Tuesday, April 18 at 4 PM. More about Garfield Registration Help Session for Current 8th Graders.

Lunchtime Tutoring Has Started! 

Lunchtime Drop-In Tutoring Tuesday and Thursdays. Seattle University mentors will get scholars in the lunchroom during each lunch and go to the library to work on schoolwork. Students can even earn a Best Buck for catching up on their studies during lunch! 

WMS Class of 2027 Picture This Wednesday

8th Graders, please wear your best purple and gold on Wednesday, April 5th! We will be taking an all 8th grade photo!  

Stay safe, have a restful weekend, and we will see you on Monday.

Good evening, Washington Middle School caregivers!

A big shout-out goes out to our community partners for some great events this week: PTSA hosted an expert panel to talk about raising a teen in the 21st century and we had the makerspace open for families to make some cool keychains. Hope someone made me one! Finally, we had 6th grader Mike from Mr. Spiess’s class read a poem in front of award-winning author, Jason Reynolds. Truly a wonderful week to be a Junior Husky!

Keep Track of Your Student’s Zum Bus Ride with WMS’s New Program

WMS is launching a new program for students who ride Zum buses, which will allow caregivers to track their student’s location while they are in route to their destination. The program will use a personal ZUM RFDI card, which students will tap when entering and exiting the bus, to track their location.

Caregivers will also be able to cancel their student’s ride for the day if needed, and this information will be sent directly to Zum, SPS Transportation Services, the bus driver, and WMS, providing an extra layer of safety. Overall, the program is designed to provide peace of mind for caregivers and ensure the safety of student riders.

Please read the email and FAQ below for more information about the program:

Email and FAQ from Zum to Parents

Hello Washington Middle School Families,

Zūm is thrilled to partner with Seattle Public Schools District (SPS) as your transportation provider for the 2022/23 school year. In order to make students’ daily rides safer and more efficient, we are excited to introduce the Zūm Bus Card.

Starting March 22, your student(s) will be able to use the Zūm Bus Card when boarding and getting off their bus. Zūm is partnering with your school site to distribute the cards to students between March 15-21.

Benefits of using a Zūm Bus Card:

• Enhanced efficiency
  • Students can easily swipe on and off their bus, and spend less time waiting to board.
• Improved safety
  • Parents can more accurately track their students’ rides.
  • Drivers know that the correct students are boarding their bus, and that students are getting off at the correct stops.
• Increased transparency
  • School Administrators can track attendance and know which students are utilizing transportation services.

How can you help make this successful?

Make sure your student has their card ready to board the bus each morning. If they lose their card, your student can request a replacement from your school administrator.

FAQs:

Q: How can I see my student’s ride?

A: You can download the Zum App to view your student’s upcoming rides, get real time location information, cancel rides, view your driver’s profile and information, and more. Download the Zum app.

Learn more about the Zum app

Q: Have schools been informed?

A: Yes, your school administrator has been informed about the cards and will be distributing your student’s card.

Q: How should my student use their Zūm card?

A: Once received, your student should use their card for each ride to swipe-on and swipe-off the bus – a quick tap on the reader and they’re on their way. It’s as simple as that.

*Please note, your student(s) CAN ride the bus in the event their card is misplaced, lost, or forgotten and the replacement is being processed.

Q: What should I do if my student loses their Zūm card?

A: If their card is lost, your student or you can request a replacement card from your  school administrator. A new card will be delivered to your school site within 3-5 business days, after which your school administrator will deliver it to your student.

Warmly,

Zūm
Seattle Public School’s partner in safe, sustainable transportation for all students.

Athletics

Last Call for WMS Spring sports!  Students must have all paperwork and physicals turned in to their Coach or Athletic Director Mr. Townsend by March 30 to participate in spring seasons.

Coach Townsend—Room 7, tmtownsend@seattleschools.org

Spring sports practice schedule

That’s it for the week! Take care of yourselves and each other. See you on Monday.

Washington Middle School Administrative Team

Good evening, Washington Middle School caregivers!

Monthly Newsletter: Washington MS March 2023 Newsletter

WMS Kaiser Wellness Teen Health Newsletter: Washington Wellness Center News March 2023

Get Ready for the Global Reading Challenge Competitions!

Students involved in the Global Reading Challenge have been reading their books and meeting with their teams during lunches for the past few weeks. The in-school competition will be held on March 28th during 3rd period/lunches. Students will compete against other schools on April 6th right after school, from 3:45 to about 4:30 PM.

Please feel free to reach out to Ms. Harris with any questions: echarris@seattleschools.org.

Prepare for College Success: Family College & Career Night at Seattle University

Join us for Family College & Career Preparation Night on Tuesday, March 28th from 5:30-7:00 PM. Meet representatives from Seattle University Admissions, College Bound Scholarship, and Seattle Colleges to learn how to prepare for college while in high school. Enjoy dinner from 5:30-6:00 PM followed by informative presentations from 6:00-7:00 PM. For registration or language support requests, please contact Ms. NaKiya Baker at bakern3@seattleu.edu or 206-252-2643. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to jumpstart your college journey!

Staff Changes at Washington MS

We would like to announce that Mr. Ole Carlson will be leaving Washington Middle School as of March 16, 2023. We wish Mr. Carlson well in his future endeavors. We welcome Ms. Norma Henry as a long-term substitute to finish out the year and we will be opening up the position for permanent hire in the coming weeks.

Boost Your Grades with Lunchtime Tutoring from Seattle University Mentors

Seattle University mentors will be offering Drop-In Tutoring every Tuesday and Thursday, starting on March 30th. As part of the CCE program, the mentors will meet scholars in the lunchroom and provide homework and studying help in the library. Their goal is to create an enjoyable environment for students to be involved in outside of class hours and to help them succeed both in and out of the classroom.

Volleyball Tryouts Start on Monday! 

Next Week’s Schedule: 

• Monday: 4:00 to 5:45 pm
• Tuesday: 4:00 to 5:45 pm
• Thursday 4:00 to 5:45 pm

Students need to have all paperwork in and be fully cleared to try out! Players need to come to tryouts prepared in comfortable clothes and athletic shoes. Email halewis@seattleschools.org for more information.

Washington Students Preparing for Ramadan 

As we approach Ramadan, we want to remind you that this is an important time for many of our students, families, and community partners who observe this spiritual month. Ramadan is a time for fasting, prayer, and giving back to the community.

As part of Seattle Public Schools, we affirm and support our students and staff from all faith backgrounds.

If you have any questions or concerns about how we can best support your child during Ramadan, please reach out to your child’s teacher or school counselor. We are here to help ensure that all students feel supported and included.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we honor and respect the religious practices of our Muslim neighbors.

Get Ready to Rock Your Summer at Summer String Academy Orchestra Camp

The Summer String Academy Orchestra Camp is a summer camp that takes place from July 23-28, 2023. This summer camp will include classic camp activities like archery, zipline, rock-climbing, and students will also have over 35 hours of orchestral rehearsals. These rehearsals will include small groups, duets/quartets, and full orchestra ensemble playing. Scholarships are available. Talk to Mr. Hartley lbhartley@seattleschools.org.

More information and registration Summer String Academy Orchestra Camp

Family Income Survey

It’s important that all families at WMS complete the Family Income Survey. Your participation will help secure FREE breakfast and lunch for our students next school year. Take the Family Income Survey now

Take care of yourselves and each other and see you on Monday,

Washington Middle School Administrative Team

Good evening, Washington Middle School caregivers!

It was a busy week here! Students had ASB elections for the first time since the 2020 shutdown and it was beautiful reminding them the importance of democracy, civility, and integrity. We were also having too much fun at the Staff vs. Student Soccer Game! Find out from your student how the game was! Special shout-out to the Leadership Class for putting together a great Spirit Week as well.

March Newsletter

March Monthly Newsletter is here! The newsletter includes a calendar of current events and stories about great things happening at WMS.

March 2023 Newsletter

Phones Away for the Day

We want to remind you personal electronic devices brought to school are at your own risk. Please note that the school is not responsible for looking for lost or stolen personal electronic devices.

We strongly encourage our students to use the school-provided laptops and leave their personal electronic devices at home to avoid distractions and disruptions to the learning environment.

Please note that our school policy prohibits the use of personal electronic devices during instructional time, except when used for educational purposes with teacher permission. We encourage our students to follow this policy and use their school-provided laptop for their academic needs.

Spring Sports

Remember that all students must have their physical and paperwork complete by March 29. Otherwise, they will be ineligible to compete for the season. Kaiser Wellness Center has many spots available for an on-campus appointment to get a physical complete.

Thank you for entrusting us with your students every day. Be BEST and we will see you on Monday.

WMS Administration

Good evening, families —

As I’m sure you know, SPS will be unable to support the TAF model next year. Due to lower enrollment, SPS is facing a district-wide deficit. Central Office is reviewing every program and position with the best interests of our students in mind, while also being fiscally responsible. We are thankful for their service. Washington Middle School will still be here and we will continue to serve students this year and every year the BEST way we know how: by being brave in our deeds, being empathetic with those around us, maintaining a safe environment, and being tenacious in facing challenges. Thank you for being understanding in this challenging time for our school community.

For more information, see the letter posted on our website here: TAF Update for Washington Middle School – Washington Middle School (seattleschools.org)

Attendance Policy Reminder

We urge you to report any absences for your student promptly, in accordance with the district policy. This will help us maintain accurate attendance records and avoid any confusion. Our Attendance Specialist cannot change any attendance records without valid reasons or prior notice. If you have any questions or concerns about your student’s attendance, please contact us at 206-252-2604 or washingtonms.attendance@seattleschools.org. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

Spirit Week Next Week

Students are encouraged to represent their spirit by dressing up for each of the designated days. There will also be a student v. staff soccer game on Friday, March 10.  Go Jr. Huskies!

• Monday – PJ Day
• Tuesday – Squad Day (Dress up with some friends or teachers or anyone else.)
• Wednesday – Anything But A Backpack Day (Bring all your stuff from school in something other than a backpack – a fishbowl, a shopping bag, a moving box! No people, please.)
• Thursday – Culture Day (Come to school representing your family’s heritage!)
• Friday – WMS School Spirit/Purple and Gold Day

Spring Sports Frequently Asked Questions

• What do I do to join?
  • Get a packet and fill out the paperwork and physical. Return them to your coach or Mr. Townsend in Room 7.
• Can I practice without paperwork or physical?
  • NO. You may not attend or watch any practice until your paperwork and physical are with your coach or Athletic Director.
• When do practices start?
  • Track: March 17
  • Volleyball: March 20
  • Boys Soccer: March 21
• Who are the coaches?
  • Mr. Ritchie, Room 121 (Track)
  • Mr Ahmed, Room 132 (Boys Soccer)
  • Ms Lewis, Room 125 (Volleyball)
  • Mr. Townsend, Room 7 (Athletic Director)
• Can I join late?
  • March 29 is the last day for any new players to be considered.
• Where can I get my physical at school?
  • You can get a physical in our Kaiser Health Center as soon as possible. You can
• What about Ultimate Frisbee?
  • Ultimate Frisbee is run by HOST with Coach Xtehn and you can contact him at xtehnt@gmail.com.

Make it a great weekend and we will see you on Monday.

Washington Middle School Administrative Team

Good evening, Washington Middle School caregivers!

Today, we had a great student-led Black History Month assembly with inspiring poetry and music performances by our Jazz Band and Orchestra. Thank you to our talented students and the Black Student Union of WMS for organizing the event, and to Ms. Tinsley and Ms. McKinney for their valuable support. Let’s commit to celebrating Black Joy and Black Excellence every month!

Mid-Winter Break. This is a reminder that there will be no school Feb. 20-24 for Presidents Day and mid-winter break. Have a restful break!

Monthly Newsletter

Basketball Game Schedule

Encouraging Positive Online Behavior Among Students. We’ve noticed an increase in cyberbullying among students. As a community, it’s our collective responsibility to help our students. As many students have social media accounts that caregivers may not know about, we encourage you to actively monitor their online activities.

When we return from break, we will remind students of being BEST (brave, empathic, safe, tenacious) both in-person and online. In the meantime, we recommend the following actions for caregivers during break:

1. Consider creating a social media account as a caregiver and following your child online. This will allow you to monitor their activities and guide their behavior. (Your student may even be excited to show you how to use it!)
2. Use the parental controls on iOS or parental controls on Android phones limit your child’s access to inappropriate content and monitor their usage.
3. Have conversations with your child about the impact of online activities on their future, and the permanence of online activities.

Together, we can make our Junior Huskies the BEST. 

Spring Sports. Are you playing a spring sport?  Make sure you get your physical as soon as you can!  You can make appts to get yours done at Kaiser (located in Washington Middle) but you need to plan to get yours done before March 13, so you don’t miss any practice. Stop in Room 7 to ask Mr. Townsend, our Athletic Director. You can also ask any of our Head Coaches: Mr. Ritchie (Track), Mr. Ahmed (Soccer), Ms. Lewis (Volleyball). No paperwork or physical = no practice.

School Choice Forms. School Choice Forms are now available. Per SPS policy, students will be assigned to their designated neighborhood school unless a School Choice Form has been submitted for consideration of attendance at another school. The deadline for Priority Consideration is February 28th.

We highly encourage you to visit the Enrollment Office’s website at https://www.seattleschools.org/enroll/enrollment-help/contact-us/ for further clarification and detailed information on the school choice process. Additionally, if you have any questions, you may contact the Enrollment Office directly via phone at 206-252-0760.

Family Income Survey. It’s important that all families at Washington Middle School complete the Family Income Survey. Your participation will help secure FREE breakfast and lunch for our students next school year. Don’t miss this opportunity to support us. Take the Family Income Survey

Yearbook Pre-Sale Ends Today. Go “Behind the Scenes” of our year at WMS and purchase the 22-23 yearbook. The exclusive, limited-time presale ends tonight! Until midnight tonight, you can purchase a yearbook for $20! After this time, the price will raise progressively until the end of the year. Please consider donating an additional $20 to purchase a yearbook for a family in need. You can purchase online using SchoolPay

Stay safe and have a wonderful break!

Washington Middle School Administrative Team

Good evening, Washington families!

This week was School Counselor Appreciation Week and I am daily reminded of how much our school counselors care for our students. They help students develop executive functioning skills, connect students and families to resources, and support them through the challenges of growing up with social media and more. We are grateful for Ms. McKinney, Ms. Pan, Ms. Weber, and Ms. Baker for their support!

Monthly Newsletter

Basketball Game Schedule

Mystery Solved! Congrats to Mr. Ritchie’s Theatre Class for their three performances of Law & Order: Nursery Rhyme Unit! I’ve heard rumors they are going to be on Broadway next year! (Kidding.) Great job, all!

Fan Behavior at Games. It is of utmost importance that parents and other adult attendees exhibit their best behavior and contribute to creating a positive atmosphere at our athletic contests. Please be mindful that there may be a shortage of referees at certain games, and it is important that you do not engage in negative interactions with coaches or other game personnel. Remember, our athletes are participating in these events to learn the sport, have fun, and build school pride.

Buen Trabajo. Spanish students completed the Duolingo “Classroom Quest” from September 2022 to November 2022. The four classroom periods had a weekly goal of earning a certain amount of XP points together to earn classroom swag. All four classrooms successfully reached their goals and received their swag from Duolingo! Students also received certificates on their individual achievements of their learning.

¡Muchas felicidades chicos! ¡Estoy muy orgullosa de ustedes! – Profe. Martínez López 

HOST Night Tonight. HOST night is this Friday from 5-7 PM. Meet instructors and register for both mid-winter break camp and Session 2 after-school programs.

Session 2 HOST afterschool programs will begin on March 1st online registration via Family ID will open on February 11th. Students are also able to pick up forms in the main office and on the HOST board at school.

HOST = After School Programs. HOST, in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation and Seattle Public Schools, provides free after-school programs for Washington Middle School students, supporting academics and offering enrichment activities such as Hip-Hop Dance, mentoring, and Soccer. The programs run from October to January, during mid-winter break, March to June, and for 4 weeks in the summer, typically after 4th of July. The programs follow the school schedule, and are held on Mon, Tue, and Thu from 3:45-5:15pm and on Wed from 2:30-4pm. Snacks are provided and registration is required through HOST, either at the school’s main office, on the HOST board, or online at Family ID. Contact paula.pablo@seattle.gov for any questions.

TAF@WMS Industry Week. From February 13-17 professionals will connect with students to share their expertise in community organizations, arts, STEM, and humanities.

School Choice Forms. School Choice Forms are now available. Per SPS policy, students will be assigned to their designated neighborhood school unless a School Choice Form has been submitted for consideration of attendance at another school.

For instance, if you reside in the Garfield High School neighborhood zone, your student will be assigned to attend GHS. However, if you would like to explore other options, you may submit a School Choice Form for consideration at other high schools, such as Cleveland STEM, Center School, or Middle College.

We highly encourage you to visit the SPS Enrollment Office’s website at for further clarification and detailed information on the school choice process. Additionally, if you have any questions, you may contact the Enrollment Office directly via phone at 206-252-0760.

We hope to see you at HOST Night from 5-7 PM tonight! Make it a great weekend.

Washington Middle School Administrative Team

Weekly Bulleting February 2023

Good evening, Washington Middle School community!

This week is the last week of Semester 1. You should be expecting grades to be sent home after our teaching staff have put in the remaining assignments for the semester. We are almost halfway done! Wow!

Basketball Schedule. Basketball game schedule

Important Safety Reminder. Students who are injured or not feeling well at school must be checked out through the Nurse Office.  Students should not call home for pickup from their personal phones in classrooms. Please notify the Attendance Office if your student is going to be out sick or if your student needs an early dismissal for an appointment or any other reason.  washingtonms.attendance@seattleschools.org or 206-252-2604.

Washington’s Got Talent! Huge Shoutout to Mr. Ritchie and the NRU (Nursery Rhyme Unit). Their play was equal parts witty and captivating! It is clear a lot of thought, prep, practice, and patience went into this production. Thank you for providing our students with a heathy outlet to express creativity with a heavy dose of fun!

Congrats to the wonderful Winter Concert from our music department! It was beautiful seeing all the musicians making magic happen together.

Parent Volunteers Needed for Building Leadership Team. WMS PTSA is seeking antiracist, equity-focused, and solutions-oriented volunteers to represent the PTSA Board at monthly WMS BLT meetings. By participating, you will gain insight into district and school updates and provide a parent voice. Meetings take place on Microsoft Teams from 7:40-8:40 AM. Contact info@wmsptsa.com for more information.

Yearbook Presale. Go “Behind the Scenes” of our year at WMS and purchase the 22-23 Yearbook! The exclusive, limited time pre-sale is from February 6th – 17th. During this time, you can purchase a yearbook for $20. After this time, the price will raise progressively until the end of the year. Please consider donating an additional $20 to purchase a yearbook for a family in need. Contact halewis@seattleschools.org with any questions! 

Family Income Survey. It’s important that all families at Washington Middle School complete the Family Income Survey. Your participation will help secure free breakfast and lunch for students next school year. Don’t miss this opportunity to support your school. Take the Family Incolme Survey

Reminder: Inclusion at Washington Middle School. Washington Middle School and SPS have an official placement policy for the 2022-2023 academic year and beyond. This policy is based on a commitment to providing equitable opportunities for student success and growth.

In accordance with the policy, all students will be placed in courses based solely on the next sequential course. For instance, a student enrolled in Math 5 will progress to Math 6 in the following academic year. This placement procedure applies to all students without discrimination, regardless of their abilities or designations.

Washington Middle School supports the district’s philosophy of targeted universalism and inclusionary practices. This approach aims to provide additional support to students who are in need, thereby benefiting all students and enhancing their overall achievement.

In line with this philosophy, we dedicated to creating classrooms where students receive differentiated instruction. Our goal is to prepare students for the demands of the 21st century, by providing them with a learning environment that mirrors the diversity and inclusiveness they will encounter in their future careers.

That’s it for this week. See you on Monday. Take care of yourself and each other.

Washington Middle School Administrative Team

Good evening, families of Junior Huskies!

Find our January Newsletter

Today, we said goodbye to Interim Principal Williams. He got a card and lovely banner from students. He will continue to support Seattle Schools at Ingraham High School in an unspecified role at this time. We wish him the best.

On Monday, we welcome back Principal Hunt! She is excited to hit the ground running and continue the work that has already been started.

Apologies for the misprint: Theatre Class is performing Law & Order: Nursery Rhyme Unit NEXT week during 1st and 2nd period. For more information, you can contact Mr. Ritchie at rlritchie@seattleschools.org. Good luck, thespians!

Students have started signing up for the Global Reading Challenge! We will form groups and start distributing books next week. If students would like to sign up, they can stop by the library between classes or get a pass from a teacher to come during class time.

The No-Stress Book Club every Tuesday is going strong! Students can sign up to be invited to talk about books, get and give recommendations, and play reading/writing games. Sign up between classes or get a pass during class time to come to the library.

STEM Industry Week is from February 13-17. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Dr. Bryant at arbryant@seattleschools.org.

Shoutout to Mr. Carlo from Ms. Irish-Jones, who is currently working in the Distinct classroom. He brings light heartedness, humor, and his musical talents each day! Did you know that can play just about anything on the guitar? Most popular student request: All About That Bass by Megan Trainer!

As noted in our student handbook, students are not to have food delivered to the building (e.g., UberEats, DoorDash, PostMates). It is a safety issue as it leaves our building vulnerable to students opening doors and not allowing us to monitor who is in and out. We will not accept food delivery orders for students.

Thank you for helping us make every day a great day to be a Junior Husky. Have a safe and healthy weekend.

Washington Middle School Administrative Team

Good evening, WMS caregivers — 

A big congrats to all of our scholars who used some big brain power and worked hard on their MAP testing. Our instructional coach had the chance to look at the some of the preliminary scores and there are students who went up two to three grade levels. Well done, Junior Huskies! Way to be tenacious!

Who Murdered Humpty Dumpty?

Don’t worry, Mr. Ritchie’s Theatre Class is on the case! Next week, Room 121’s will be performing Law & Order: Nursery Rhyme Edition! Students have had the opportunity to buy tickets with their BEST bucks and performances are next week! Good luck, thesbians!

Cell Phone Use and Self-Reporting Illness

Families, we have noticed an increase in the number of students who are calling home to report illness during class time. This not only poses a safety concern, but it also goes against our school-wide policy of no cell phone use in the classroom. In the event that your child is feeling unwell, they should go to the nurse’s office. The nurse will then contact you, if necessary. This policy is in place to ensure the safety of all students.

Did you miss our monthly school newsletter? Here it is! 

Find out more about what is happening in the Health Center

Athletics

Come one, come all!  There is a smorgasbord of WMS Basketball games tomorrow, 1.21.23 at Chief Sealth High School. Five games in all, come check them out!  Three of the games are at the same time:

Washington JV Boys vs Denny, 10:00 A.M, Court 3 @ Chief Sealth HS

Washington JV C Boys vs Denny, 11:30 AM,  Court 3 @ Chief Sealth HS

Washington VARSITY Boys vs Madison, 11:30 AM, Court 1 @ Chief Sealth HS

WashingtonVARSITY Girls vs Madison, 11:30 AM, Court 2 @ Chief Sealth HS

Washington JV GIRLS vs Denny, 1:00 PM, Court 3 @ Chief Sealth HS

We would like to extend a special thank you to our dedicated in-building coaches. They have all made a significant impact on our student-athletes. When we have in-building coaches, it allows for coaches to serve as mentors as well as trusted adults whom teachers can get support from: 

• Isabell Boyd (Head Coach Varsity)
• Nakiya Baker (Assistant Girls and JV)
• Jon Beatima (Assistant Boys/JV and JVC Coach)
• Elijah Hardy (Assistant Boys/JV and JVC Coach)

They have all made a significant impact on our student-athletes. When we have in-building coaches, it allows for coaches to serve as mentors as well as trusted adults whom teachers and students can get support from (often immediately). 

We are also grateful for the contributions of our out-of-building coaches who are WMS alumni, Rob Brown (Boys Head Coach) and Meng Saechao (Boys Assistant Coach). Thank you for your commitment and dedication to our athletes. When community members continue to help our students, they serve as role models for how kids can continue to help post-middle school.

Help Finding Medical Insurance and/or a Medical Clinic

If your student does not have a medical clinic or you need help to locate a vaccine, Community Health Access Program from Public Health Seattle-King County has staff who can assist families in all languages to get insurance and to find a medical home. Call at 1-800-756-5437 or email us at: chap@kingcounty.gov

Upcoming District-wide Immunization Compliance clinics

Wing Luke Elementary School

Date: February 1, 2023 Registration closes on 1/25.

Time: 1:30-5:00 pm

Medical Provider: Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic

Clinic open to all SPS students (ages 5-18) regardless of immigration status.

Vaccines offered: Tdap/Td/Dtap, IPV, MMR, Var, Hep B, Hep A, MCV, HPV, flu, Pfizer Bivalent Booster 5-11, 12-19

Please pre-register for immunization clinic

 Registration closes on 1/25.

Legal guardian must be present at the time of vaccination. Please bring any vaccine records with you and be prepared to wait as it is a walk-in clinic.

Questions? Email OBCCsafety@seattlechildrens.org

As always, thank you for letting us care for your middle school student where it’s always a great day to be a Junior Husky! Have a safe weekend.

Washington Middle School Administrative Team

Good evening, Washington Middle School caregivers! 

This week, we got to celebrate the Amistad House for ensuring that they were prioritizing being in the classroom. Well done, Amistad! You really are living up to your ‘friendship’ motto.

We received both happy and bittersweet news recently. We found out Interim Principal Williams will be leaving Washington MS at the end of January. We are grateful for the dedication and leadership he brought to our school. He came to us from Missouri with a mission to keep us on track, and he succeeded in helping us navigate a smooth start to the school year. Thank you, Mr. Williams, for your contributions and for your support.

On the bright side, we are thrilled to announce that Principal Hunt will be returning from leave! We have had an amazing start to the school year, and we know that Ms. Hunt will be the perfect leader to guide us through the rest of the year with her strong leadership and enthusiastic spirit. We are looking forward to her return!

Athletics

This Saturday (1-14-22), we have 5 Basketball Teams playing!

Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball teams play Jane Addams @ Ingraham HS at 2 PM

Boys C team plays Whitman @ Franklin High School at 11:30 AM

Boys JV team Whitman @ Franklin High School at 1 PM 

Girls JV team plays Mercer @ Jane Addams Middle School at 2:30 PM

WMS Winter Concert

Mike Sundt and Mr. Hartley are excited to present WMS’s Winter Concert on Jan. 31st. 

Our Winter Concert will take place in the WMS gym at 7pm on Jan. 31st. This concert will feature every performing ensemble at WMS so it will be a terrific opportunity to hear all the wonderful music that our students have created this semester. 

Sexual Health Education (SHE)

Starting Monday, February 6th, all students will be beginning the state-mandated Sexual Health Education unit in their science classes.  If you have any questions or if you would like to preview the materials, please reach out to your student’s science teacher or Hannah Lewis halewis@seattleschools.org

Free Vaccine Clinic this Weekend

Date: Saturday, January 14, 2023

Time: 9:00 am-3:00 pm

Interagency Columbia School

Address: 3528 S Ferdinand St, Seattle, WA 98118

Medical Provider: Kaiser Permanente

Vaccines Offered: Tdap/Td/DtaP, IPV, MMR, Var, Hep B, Hep A, MCV, HPV, flu, Pfizer Bivalent Booster 5-11, 12+

Clinic open to all SPS students (ages 5-19) regardless of immigration status. Students must be accompanied by parent or guardian.

Bring Immunization record if available.

MAP Test Next Two Weeks

MAP testing is occurring Tuesday – Friday.  Please ensure your student comes to school with a fully charged laptop ready to show what they have learned so far this year.

The test is a smart test which means the more questions a student gets right, the tougher the assessment gets. Conversely, when students get questions wrong, the test adjusts to find the right level for them. As a school, we seek to be data-driven in our work to ensure that we know every student by story, strength, and need. The MAP is just one data point that helps our faculty and staff ensure that your student gets the resources they need to be ready for high school.

You will be able to see your students’ scores on The Source when testing has wrapped up at the end of next week.

If you have any questions, please contact Assistant Principal Jenn Hesse at jahesse@seattleschools.org.

Global Reading Challenge is Coming to South-End Middle Schools

Washington Middle School is excited to announce that we will be participating in the South-end Global Reading Challenge, organized by our school librarians at Aki Kurose, Mercer, Denny, Meany, and Washington. Our school, along with other South-end schools, will be hosting our own competition with diverse, award-winning titles. Teams will be formed in early February and the competition will take place shortly after. Winners will have the opportunity to compete against other South-end schools. For more information, please contact Ms. Harris at echarris@seattleschools.org.

There is a lot happening at Washington Middle School! Why? Because it’s a great day to be a Junior Husky, all day, every day.

Washington Middle School Administrative Team

Welcome back to school, Junior Huskies!

We started with a great week of learning, but the second semester will be here before you know it! Here are some notes from our School Counseling team:

• All students have been preassigned a second semester schedule.
• On the first day of the semester, students will receive:
  • A printed copy of their schedule
  • One schedule change request form 
• Students will have until February 17th to make one schedule change request of their electives.
• Completed schedule change requests forms can be dropped off in the counseling office (Rm. 134) beginning the second day of the semester (Feb. 10th).
• Pending submitted schedule requests, students are to remain in their current scheduled classes. 
• If the requested change is made, students will be hand delivered an updated schedule. 

Please note that we do our best to place students where they would like to be, but schedule changes are NOT guaranteed.

You can see elective 2nd Semester offerings

2nd Semester Information Sheet

Congrats to Mr. Crum’s 4th Period Math Empowerment class and Mr. Martinson’s 3rd Period Reading Enrichment class for showing the most growth on IXL! These classes will be receiving a special reward! Keep up the great work!

Make it a great weekend and remember that it’s always a great day to be a Washington Junior Husky! 

WMS Administration Team

Good evening, caregivers!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for our scholars, faculty, and staff — Winter Break! We have had some really awesome things happen this school year already and we know that 2023 will be even better. 

Winter Break

Remember that Winter Break is from December 17 to January 2. We will see you back here on January 3! 

Lunch in the Library 

The Winter Break Library Lunchtime Activities went very well: Kwanzaa Bingo, a dreidel competition, and cookie decorating, and more! Take a look at some of the pictures and be sure to check with your student and see if they signed up for the December Reading Challenge to win something.

Holiday Event Pics December Challenge 12/15 Library Update 

Get Covid Tests sent home for free!

Washington State resource for COVID tests

Every U.S. household is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-⁠19 tests 

Vaccines Available Through Kaiser Wellness Center 

Washington Middle School Kaiser Wellness Center provides free health care including immunizations to all students regardless of student’s insurance or ability to pay. Vaccines will be available in January!

For more information about the Kaiser Wellness Center and a link to online registration.

Upcoming District-wide Immunization Compliance Clinics

Nathan Hale High School

10750 30 Ave NE, Seattle WA 98125
Date: Saturday, January 7, 2023 
Time: 9:00 am-3:00 pm
Medical Provider: Kaiser Permanente
Vaccines Offered: Tdap/Td/DtaP, IPV, MMR, Var, Hep B, Hep A, MCV, HPV, flu, Pfizer Bivalent Booster 5-11, 12+
Clinic open to all SPS students (ages 5-19) regardless of immigration status. Students must be accompanied by parent or guardian.
Please bring: immunization records if available

Interagency Columbia School

Address: 3528 S Ferdinand St, Seattle, WA 98118
Date: Saturday January 7 and January 14, 2023
Time: 9:00 am-3:00 pm
Medical Provider: Kaiser Permanente
Vaccines Offered: Tdap/Td/DtaP, IPV, MMR, Var, Hep B, Hep A, MCV, HPV, flu, Pfizer Bivalent Booster 5-11, 12+
Clinic open to all SPS students (ages 5-19)  regardless of immigration status. Students must be accompanied by parent or guardian.
Bring an Immunization record if available.

Interagency Columbia School

Address: 3528 S Ferdinand St, Seattle, WA 98118
Date: Any day, Monday-Friday from 9:00-4:00 pm by appointment. Evening appointment by request.
Contact 206-326-2162 
Clinic open to all SPS students (ages 5-19)  regardless of immigration status. Students must be accompanied by family member.
Vaccines Offered: Tdap/Td/DtaP, IPV, MMR, Var, Hep B, Hep A, MCV, HPV, flu, Pfizer Bivalent Booster 5-11, 12+
Please bring: immunization records

Thank you for being a part of the Junior Husky family with us this year. We continue to celebrate the great things we’ve done, the great things we are doing, and the great things we are going to do with your students. Have a safe and warm break. Take care of yourself and each other.

In Partnership,

Washington Middle School Administration Team

Good evening, families!

The BEST Buck Store was open today and it was great! We had lots of students excited to use their BEST Bucks to buy chips, cookies, or snacks for making sure they are ready to learn when the bell rings. We are excited to see students keep up the good work!

December Newsletter

The December Newsletter is out.

Robotics Club

First Lego League Club has its first competition at Evergreen Middle School in Everett this Sunday 12/11.

How to Arrange Early Dismissals 

Please notify the Attendance Office if your student is going to be out sick or if your student needs an early dismissal for an appointment or any other reason: 

Email – washingtonms.attendance@seattleschools.org 

Phone – 206-252-2604

Important – Students who are not feeling well at school must be checked out through the Nurse’s Office.  Students should not call home for pickup from their personal phones in classrooms. 

Immunization Exclusion is Coming

Seattle Public Schools requires students to be in compliance with their required immunizations to attend school. Immunization exclusion will start on February 9, 2023.  This month, SPS is mailing out notifications to students who are eligible for exclusion on February 9, 2023.  Nurse Nash will also be contacting families on this list.  Please contact Nurse Nash with questions or concerns:

Email –  sanash@seattleschools.org 

Phone – 206-252-2607

Vaccines Available Through Kaiser Wellness Center 

Washington Middle School Kaiser Wellness Center provides free health care including immunizations to all students regardless of student’s insurance or ability to pay. Vaccines will be available in January! More information about the Kaiser Wellness Center and online registration

Stay warm and cozy. Only one week left!

In Partnership,

Washington Middle School Administrative Team

Hello families!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful! We hope you are staying warm in these cold temperatures.

Book Club and December Reading Challenge

Students can sign-up for the No Stress Book Club with our teacher librarian during lunchtime. They can also win a prize for completing their December Reading Challenge card. 

Hour of Code with Amazon!

STEM Modeling is participating in Hour of Code next week and will be having volunteers from Amazon working with students on Monday for their Hour of Code.

Athletics

Winter Sports (Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball) are starting to begin. Please note that students can get sports physicals at the Kaiser Wellness Center. Make sure that your student is signed up!

1st Quarter Grades Complete

First-quarter grades have been completed and sent home. Please check your mail to see how your student is doing in class.

Sollevare wins the first House Competition of the year!

The 7th Grade House of Sollevare (SOLL-eh-VAHR-eh) just won the first schoolwide competition for prioritizing learning and staying out of the halls! They won an ice cream social. We are proud of you!

December Health Center Newsletter

You can find out more about RSV, Covid, and Flu as well as mindful eating in preparation for the holidays and much more.

As always, be sure to check the news for school closures and/or delays. See you on Monday!

In Partnership,

WMS Administrative Team

No-Stress Book Club Info 

December Reading Challenge 

Good evening, families!

Thank you for coming to family-teacher conferences. It was a lot of fun to have everyone back in the building smiling and talking about ways to build in more learning for our scholars.

Conferences Feedback Form

If you came to conferences, we would love your feedback.

Flu & Covid Vaccine Opportunity

Stevens Elementary School 
1242 18th Ave E Seattle WA 98112 
Date: Tuesday Dec 6 
Time: 2:30-5:00 
Vaccine Offered: Pfizer Bivalent Booster 5-11 and 12+, Pfizer Dose 1,2,: Moderna Bivalent Booster 6+; Flu 

Medical Provider: Safeway 

Register for the Flu and COVID vaccine clinic

Grades

1st Quarter Grades will be posted and sent home next week. You can always check your student’s grades online on The Source.

Sign-up for the Source 

Basketball Team Open Gym

Basketball Team Tryouts

December 5th to 8th; times to be announced.

Being On Time for Class

One of the biggest reasons youth are fired from jobs is that they are late to work. It is important for students to arrive on-time and in their seats when the bell rings at 8:55 and they get to each class period in a timely manner. To support this, students who receive 7 or more tardies in a week will be assigned an after school detention on Thursdays from 4 – 5 pm. Please discuss with your scholar the importance of getting to class!

No School 

There is no school on Thursday and Friday of this week (November 24th and 25th) for Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Day. We will resume on Monday with a regular schedule.

Field Trip

The second part of the 7th Grade House of Sollevare (House 2) field trip is happening on Wednesday, November 30th. Students that are going should come to school dressed warmly. Please reach out to Miss Lewis with questions. 

We are grateful for all of you and we are thankful for the privilege to care for your students. Take care of yourselves and each other. Be sure to leave some feedback about how conferences went for you

In Partnership,

WMS Administrative Team

Good afternoon, caregivers!

We’ve had an incredible week here at Washington. Our 7th graders went on field trips to learn more about water while our Astronomy and Flight & Space classes went to the Museum of Flight. Meanwhile, the teachers won in our first Staff versus Student Basketball Game.

Family-Teacher Conferences

Arena-Style Conferences will be November 21st (Monday) from 5 PM to 7:30 PM. All families are able to visit for the drop-in. Throughout the cafeteria (Math, Science, Humanities) and the library (electives), families can find their students’ teachers and get a quick picture of what their student is like in classes. Please note that these conferences will be about 10 minutes in length per teacher. You are welcome to speak to every teacher of your student or just a couple. There will also be resources available from counselors, the library, after school programs, and PTSA.

Some questions you may want to ask:

• What is my child doing well? What could they work on?
• Is my child above grade level, on track, or in need of support?
• How can I help with their learning at home?

Additional conferences for specific families will be hosted on Tuesday evening (November 22nd). These caregivers will receive a call or text to schedule their conference.

COVID Vaccine Clinics in Our Area

Leschi Elementary
135 32nd Ave. Seattle WA 98122
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 15
Time: 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Vaccine offered: flu, Pfizer Bivalent Booster 5-11 and 12+
Medical Provider: Othello Station Pharmacy
Please register before the COVID Othellow Station vaccine clinic

Wing Luke Elementary
3701 S Kenyon St., Seattle, WA 98118
Date: Saturday, Nov. 19
Time: 9 a.m. – 1p.m.
Vaccine Provided: Pfizer Bivalent Booster 5-11 and 12+, Pfizer Dose 1,2,: Moderna Bivalent Booster 6+; Flu
Medical Provider: Safeway
Please register before the Safeway COVID vaccine clinic

John Muir Elementary
3301 S Horton St., Seattle WA 98144
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 16
Time: 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Vaccine Offered: Pfizer Bivalent Booster 5-11, 12+, flu with separate registration
Medical Provider: Othello Station Pharmacy
Please register before the Othello Station COVID vaccine clinic

Washington Middle School
2101 S Jackson St. Seattle, WA 98144
Date: Sunday, Nov. 20
Time: 9 a.m. – 1p.m.
Vaccine offered: Pfizer Bivalent Booster 5-11 and 12+
Medical Provider: Seattle Visiting Nurse Association
Please register before the Seattle Visiting Nurse Association clinic

Winter Warm Jacket and Hat Roundup

Please drop off coats, jackets, and warm hats to our Jacket and Hat Drive donation box in the main office at Washington Middle School. The box is open for donations until December 2nd, 2022.

Athletics

Winter Sports (Girls and Boys Basketball) are starting to begin. Please note that students can get sports physicals at the Kaiser Wellness Center. Make sure that your student is signed up!

Thank you for allowing us to care for your children. If you have any questions or concerns (or celebrations), please don’t hesitate to contact us. We hope to see you at Family-Teacher Conferences!

In Partnership,

WAMS Administrative Team

Good afternoon, caregivers!

This weekend, we say thank you to all our veterans who have served to keep us all safe. At Washington, we are grateful for Mr. Ritchie (8th Grade Humanities and Drama Teacher) who served in the Navy.

We also want to say thank all of you who came out to learn about adolescent suicide prevention at PTSA’s first in-person event. If you are still interested in learning more about PTSA, you can join for free!

Conferences

Arena-Style Conferences will be November 21st (Monday) from 5 PM to 7:30 PM. All families are able to visit for the drop-in. Throughout the cafeteria (Math, Science, Humanities) and the library (electives), families can find their students’ teachers and get a quick picture of what their student is like in classes. Please note that these conferences will be about 10 minutes in length per teacher. You are welcome to speak to every teacher of your student or just a couple. There will also be resources available from counselors, the library, after school programs, and PTSA. Some questions you may want to ask:

• What is my child doing well? What could they work on?
• Is my child above grade-level, on track, or in need of support?
• How can I help with their learning at home?

Additional conferences for specific families will be hosted on Tuesday evening (November 22nd). These caregivers will receive a call or text to schedule their conference.

COVID Vaccine Clinic

SPS has COVID bivalent booster vaccine clinics for ages 5-11, 12+ this weekend. All children and adults are welcome to Washington Middle School (Nov 12) and South Shore K-8 (Nov 13). Both are from 9 am-1 pm. Register for the COVID vaccine clinic

Field Trips

7th Grade House of Sollevare is going on a field trip to the Renton Wastewater Treatment Plant on November 18th.  7th grade families should be on the lookout for permission slips and can reach out to Miss Lewis or Ms. Kirby if they would like to chaperone!

6th Graders will be going to work at St. Mary’s Food Bank as they learn about food justice and ways that communities can come together help those who are food insecure.

Winter Warm Jacket and Hat Roundup

Please drop off coats, jackets, and warm hats to our Jacket and Hat Drive donation box in the main office at Washington Middle School. The box is open for donations until December 2nd, 2022.

Picture Day Retakes

Picture Day retakes will be on November 14. For questions, please contact customerservice@yuenluischools.com.

Athletics

“Our ultimate frisbee teams are heading into playoffs this Saturday – let’s wish them luck! … Also, shout out to A team captains Sonia and August as well as B team captains Nora and Nes. They are top players on the team, and they bring out the best in their teammates!” says Coach Xtehn.

Saturday Games

• 7th/8th Grade Ultimate v. Hawks @ Garfield at 11:30 AM
• 6th Grade Ultimate v. Whitman @ Jane Addams at 1 PM

Thank you for allowing us to care for your children. If you have any questions or concerns (or celebrations), please don’t hesitate to contact us. Stay well and wash those hands!

In Partnership,

WAMS Administrative Team

Good evening, caregivers! 

November is Gratitude Month and we are thankful daily to have your students in our care. As it is National Native American Month, it is important that we always acknowledge that we are on the indigenous lands of the Duwamish people and we thank them and other indigenous peoples who have stewarded the lands on which we learn, work, and play since time immemorial.

Washington Remembers Our Ancestors

Día de Muertos is a traditional Mexican celebration that honors the life of our departed loved ones. At Washington Middle School, we created an altar in honor of our deceased. The Spanish teacher Profesora Martínez López and bilingual Spanish assistant Gabriel Avelar, together, made an altar and invited the school to bring a photo of a deceased loved one, along with a fruit or drink as an offering.  

Students in Spanish 1 learned about the history of Día de Muertos and created beautiful and colorful mini altares. They presented their projects to their class in Spanish. Profe. Martínez López is very proud of all their hard work! The mini altares will be displayed in the library for the school to get a chance to look at. Thank you to Ms. Harris for allowing the students to showcase their projects in the library!  

Field Trips

7th Grade House of Sollevare is going on a field trip to the Renton Wastewater Treatment Plant on November 18th.  7th grade families should be on the lookout for permission slips and can reach out to Miss Lewis or Ms. Kirby if they would like to chaperone!

6th Graders will be going to work at St. Mary’s Food Bank as they learn about food justice and ways that communities can come together help those who are food insecure.

Winter Warm Jacket and Hat Roundup

Please drop off coats, jackets, and warm hats to our Jacket and Hat Drive donation box in the main office at Washington Middle School. The box is open for donations until December 2nd, 2022.

Wellness Center News Bulletin

November 2022 Wellness Center Newsletter

Picture Day Retakes

Picture Day retakes will be on November 14. For questions, please contact customerservice@yuenluischools.com.

PTSA Community Meeting

The first Washington Middle School PTSA Community Meeting of the year will occur Wednesday, November 9. Geoffrey Thomas from Southeast Youth and Family Services will give a presentation titled: “Mental Health and Wellness: Adolescent Suicide”. The meeting will be held in the WMS library (in person only) from 6pm-8pm. Sign in/Food will being at 5:45 pm.

Mea Culpa

Last week, we forgot to include Ms. Brynne Veitengruber, as our amazing assistant coach! We love ALL our coaches! Also, a couple weeks ago, we misspelled Ms. Jungblom’s name. Sorry about that.

Take care of yourselves and each other.

In Partnership, 

Washington Middle School Administrative Team

Good evening, caregivers! 

We are almost a full month into the school year. It’s an exciting time here at Washington.

El Día de Los Muertos Remembrance and Decorations

Grupo Cultural Latino Students are dressing up their skeletons for Día de Los Muertos, a traditional activity-decoration that is done in schools in Mexico. Students are also invited to bring in a photo of a relative that has died to remember and celebrate them on our cultural display for El Día de Los Muertos. They may also bring something that reminds them of that person and leave it there as well.

STEM Modeling Builds Boot

Students in STEM modeling recently made an orthotics boot for a client and our classes will have a guest presentation from Katherine Davis who is a Clinical Prosthetic Resident and Orthotist November 9 to make career connections and see their designs.  

Medications at School

If Nurse Nash has reached out to you and/or your student requires any medications at school (even other the counter), please contact Nurse Nash as soon as possible at sanash@seattleschools.org or 206-252-2607.  If your student is listed as having a Life-Threatening Condition we must have their emergency medications at school.  Nurse Nash is happy to assist families with this process.

Athletics

Both co-ed Ultimate Frisbee teams play this Saturday, October 29!

• 6th Grade Game at 10:30am vs Orca K-8 Middle School @ Rainier Playfield #2 in Columbia City.
• 7th & 8th Grade Game at 1:30pm vs. Aki Kurose MS @ Rainier Playfield #1 in Columbia City.

Come watch our hardworking coaches, Jessica Kronstad and assistant Hannah Lewis with their young, but determined squad of Lady Jr. Huskies for Girls Soccer.

• 9:30 AM at Garfield HS vs Jane Addams Middle School

Concert Performance

Congrats to the Concert Orchestra for a performance well done! That scream was horrifying!

Picture Day Retakes

Picture Day retakes will be on November 14. For questions, please contact customerservice@yuenluischools.com.

Costumes

Students may wear costumes on October 31st, but they may not have weapons or masks that cover the face, including face painting.

Remember to choose kind and it’s always a great day to be a Junior Husky!

In Partnership, 

Washington Middle School Administrative Team