Weekly Family Message

The family messages is sent out weekly to update the community on important events, dates, and happenings at Walton Middle School. 

This Week's Message

WMS Family Message 3-24-24

Note that there will be no Family Message this coming week due to Spring Break. The next message will be on April 7. 

 

Please Join Us for the Science Showcase on March 26!

Walton Middle School’s Science department is breaking the mold of a traditional science fair. Instead of experiments done at home and pre-made demonstrations, Walton has an interactive evening of science planned for you! Join us on Tuesday, March 26th from 5:00-7:00 pm for an evening of “Science in Our Lives.” You can: 

  • Participate in student-led live experiments

  • Watch student-led live demonstrations

  • Win prizes by answering Science Bee questions

  • Make a solar eclipse craft to use on April 8th

  • Enjoy mini TED talks by WMS family volunteers

  • Visit info tables set up by locals that explain how science features in their organizations

  • Have dinner on us!

  • This is a come-and-go event, meaning you can arrive and leave any time from 5:00-7:00 p.m. 

All ages are welcome to this interactive, family-friendly event! Go to www.bit.ly/SciencePizza to let us know you’re coming. That way, we’ll have enough dinner for everyone! There’s still time to contact Kate Durkee (kdurkee@k12albemarle.org) or Natalie M. Capps (ncapps@k12albemarle.org) to volunteer for a mini TED talk or to request a table for your community organization or group. We’d love to have you join us!

Date Update for 6th Grade Watershed Field Trip-Now April 9 and 10

Please note that the dates have changed for the Watershed field trip for 6th graders. Students in Blue Day science will attend on April 9 and students in Gold Day science will attend on April 10. Students are reminded to wear clothes that they don’t mind getting dirty on this day. Additionally, they may wish to bring a change of clothes. 

 

Eclipse Event on April 8

If you have not heard we have a historic astronomical event occurring on April 8 with a total solar eclipse. While we are not in the zone of totality, we will experience about an 85% eclipse. The next time an eclipse of the sun like this occurs is in another 20 years in 2044. We are going to make the most of it and have all of our students and staff participate in viewing and experiencing the eclipse. We will be providing safe (NASA approved) glasses for eye protection and will be doing some lessons leading up to the eclipse. 

 

Calling All Swifties! Taylor Swift Dance Party-April 12

At our last dance some students suggested doing a Taylor Swift Dance Party and then began organizing. Thanks to some enthusiastic staff, we will be hosting this on April 12 from 4:05-5:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. It is just a dance party, so there is NO OPEN GYM. Feel free to dress as one of her albums, wear any T-Swift gear, or rock some fabulous bracelets. Mrs. Cooper-Simpson will DJ and Mrs. Collier will offer concessions. Thanks to Ms. Graham and Ms. O’Neill for organizing this event!

 

Quarter 3 Assessments

We will be conducting Quarter 3 Assessments with students in Science, Reading, and Math. The schedule is below. Please note that 7th graders will take their science assessment in class prior to Spring Break due to the Wildrock field trip on March 26 and 27. We will use this schedule on these days: 2023-24 Short SOL Assessment Bell Schedule WMS 

  • March 25-Math Q3 Assessment 

  • March 26-6th and 8th Grade Science Q3 Assessment, 7th Grade Reading Q3 Assessment

  • March 27-Reading Q3 Assessment

 

STAMP Test – April 22 and 23 (NEW DATES)

The STAMP test will be available for any eighth grader currently or previously enrolled in  Spanish immersion. If there are any 8th grade heritage Spanish speakers or any French 1 or Spanish 1 students who would also like to take it, please let the school know as soon as possible by emailing Josh Walton at jwalton@k12albemarle.org 

Spring Pictures

Spring Pictures are coming! We will host Spring Pictures on March 27. Spring Pictures are optional and we only take pictures of students who bring in packets or have pre-registered. Picture information is coming home soon and online registration is at: https://www.strawbridge.net/ with code: FM430191

 

Purchase Your WMS Yearbook!

WMS Yearbooks are on sale now for $20. All yearbook orders are due by April 30, 2024 and can be pre-ordered with cash or check (Made to Walton Middle School), which can be paid in the Main Office. 

 

Albemarle County Indoor Percussion-Community Night-March 28 at 6:00 p.m. 

Albemarle County Indoor Percussion will be hosting a Community Night on March 28th, in the Main Gym at Monticello High School. This is a chance to showcase the hard work of the members of ACIP as well as a few other groups from the Indoor Performing Arts Community. The performers are very excited to share what they do with the community.

Doors will open at 6:00PM and the event will start at 6:15PM. 

Admission for this event is free. Donations are welcome and there will be raffles throughout the event. All money raised will go towards helping fund ACIP's trip to Dayton, OH for the 2024 WGI Percussion World Championships April 17th-21st.

Spring Panorama and DESSA Surveys in April

Please read the Spring Survey Information WMS 23-24 Letter about upcoming climate and social emotional learning surveys. These surveys will be administered to students in late March and April. 

 

2023-2024 WMS Blue Gold Rotation Calendar

 

This Coming Week

Monday, March 25-GOLD DAY DAY

  • Math Q3 Assessment

Tuesday, March 26-BLUE DAY

  • 6th and 8th Grade Science Q3 Assessment, 7th Grade Reading Q3 Assessment

  • Science Showcase 5:00-7:00 p.m. 

Wednesday, March 27-GOLD DAY

  • Reading Q3 Assessment

Thursday, March 28-BLUE DAY

  • Student vs. Staff Volleyball Game at 3:30 p.m. 

Friday, March 29-Teacher Workday-No School for Students

Spring Break-March 30-April 7

 

Coming Up

April 8-Return from Spring Break

April 9-10-6th Grade Field Trip to Walnut Creek for Watershed Study (half of the grade each day)

April 12-Taylor Swift Dance Party from 4:05-5:00 p.m. 

April 17-7th Grade Field Trip to Moton Museum

April 18-Visit from Rising Sixth Graders During the School Day

April 25-Integrated Reading and Writing SOL Test for 8th Graders

  • Exploratory Expo 5:30-7:00 p.m. & Rising 6th Grade Orientation 6:00-7:00 p.m. 

May 3-6th Grade Field Trip to Montpelier

May 14-Reading SOL Test (WMS SOL Testing Schedule

May 16-Civics SOL Test (Short SOL Bell Schedule)

May 21-Math SOL Test (WMS SOL Testing Schedule

May 23-Science SOL Test (Short SOL Bell Schedule)

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