Important News

Newsletter 10/24/24

WLMS Newsletter 10/24/24 Hello Tigershark Families, Thank you to all the families who placed an order for our Gifts and Things/Yankee Candle Fundraiser. We greatly appreciate your support. Our monthly PTSA meeting will take place at WLMS in room B29 tonight at 7pm. If you are unable to attend in person, please join us virtually Any questions, contact us at wildelakemiddleschoolptsa@gmail.com. As a reminder on November 1st we will be asking all students in Grade 7 and 8 to take a brief survey to tell us about their social-emotional skills and access to supportive relationships. A communication was sent home in paper form last week with additional information and the opportunity to opt out. This communication can be accessed through this link: Copy of Family Survey Notification Letter (English) - Spring 2024 If you have any questions about the survey administration, please don’t hesitate to contact Ms. Keck. Make-up sessions will be provided as needed School Store: Thank you for your generosity. We have received several items from our School Store Wishlist. We greatly appreciate your kindness. We are gearing up for our next School Store on Wednesday, November 6th Interested in volunteering for the School Store? Interested in volunteering or chaperoning on a field trip? Please complete the Volunteer training and send a copy either via email to Heather_Godwin@hcpss.org or send in hard copy with your students. Upcoming dates: HCPSS Calendar WLMS Calendar October 24th- PTSA Meeting B29 7pm October 30th- End of 1st Marking Period October 31st- Schools Closed for Professional Work and Development Day November 1st- Club Day for Students November 5th- Schools Closed for Election Day November 8th- Report cards on HCPSS Connect November 11th- Boosters Fundraiser at MOD Pizza November 15th- 8th Grade Lock in More details coming from Ms. Drakes November 25-26- Schools close 3 hour early for PT conferences November 27th- School Closed for PT Conferences November 28th-29th- Schools Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday HCPSS FREE STUDENT RTA BUS PASS PROGRAM Thanks to a continued partnership between HCPSS, Howard County Government, and Regional Transportation Agency (RTA), all HCPSS middle and high school students have access to free RTA bus passes through summer 2025. Students have full access to the RTA system and are not limited to transportation to and from schools or to school-related activities. If your child is interested, they can visit our front office to request a free pass. UPDATE FAMILY FILE TODAY! We are only at 81 % completion. All families must update their emergency contact information annually. While we recognize many of you may not have any changes, you must transition through each screen and click submit at the end for this task to be completed. The completion of the Family File is essential to your student’s participation in field trips, dances, and other fun activities throughout the year. Please visit HCPSS Connect today and click submit on the final screen! Family File Directions: FAMILY FILE USER GUIDE (ENGLISH) FAMILY FILE USER GUIDE (SPANISH) APPLY FOR FREE AND REDUCED MEALS-DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 31 Please visit https://www.hcpss.org/food-services/farms/ to apply for Free and Reduced Meals. Families must submit a new application every school year. If you have additional questions regarding the FARMs program, please review the FAQ Section or email foodsvc@hcpss.org. Participation in FARMs qualifies students for a wide range of opportunities and resources beyond breakfast and lunch, including free college applications, free or reduced JumpStart tuition, discounted internet through the Comcast Internet Essentials program, and more. Student Services and Administration: Our Counselors and Administration are actively involved in classroom lessons and taking care of the needs of our students and staff during the school day. Should a need arise and you need to speak with your student's counselor, please contact Nakia_Hill@hcpss.org (Student Services Secretary) or call 410-313-6960 to make an appointment. Student services staff and administration may not be available for pop up visits. Please keep this in mind when visiting the school. To schedule an appointment with Administration, please contact Heather_Godwin@hcpss.org. Spiritwear is available year round! WLMS will have a year round fundraiser with Spiritwear Direct. Orders will be delivered directly to your home. https://www.wildelakespiritwear.com/ The WLMS Boosters: One of the things that makes WLMS such a great place for our kids is the amazing performing arts program. Whether your kiddo is enrolled in Band, Orchestra, Theatre, Chorus or Dance, the Boosters make sure they have what they need and get those extra resources that make the programs thrive. The Boosters help arrange and pay for everything from the WLMS afterschool theatre program, to purchasing dance shoes, costumes, and instruments, to bringing in actors and musicians to work with the students. But to do this, we need your support! Please become a member of the Boosters today! Just go to our sign up page at this link (https://form.jotform.com/242294952012150). We welcome all parents, guardians, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends to join us in supporting our performing artists! Mark your calendars! In addition to membership, we have an exciting Restaurant Night coming up, where a portion of the proceeds will go directly to supporting our performing arts programs. These events are a fantastic way to enjoy a meal with family and friends while helping us raise much-needed funds. Here are the details: Mod Pizza: @ Columbia Mall Date: November 19th all day. Location: 10000 Town Center Ave C, Columbia, MD 21044 Details: Mention Wilde Lake Middle School Boosters when you check out so that we receive a portion of the proceeds. Interested in learning more or volunteering? Email us at wlmsartsboosters@gmail.com Spring Break 2026 Are you interested in traveling to Spain for Spring Break 2026? All WLMS students and their families are invited on this amazing trip. Join some Wilde Lake teachers and your friends as you visit Madrid, Granada, Seville, Toledo, and Barcelona. If you missed the informational meeting, don't worry. Here is the presentation I shared. Review it and email me with questions at cheryl_gwynn-haymes@hcpss.org. Explorica is the party organizing and responsible for this trip. This trip is NOT a Howard County Public School System, Wilde Lake Middle School, or PTSA sponsored trip, and the individuals chaperoning the trip are not acting as agents for the Howard County Public School System.

Newsletter 9/27

Upcoming dates: HCPSS Calendar WLMS Calendar September 30- October 1st- MAP ELA October 2nd- 6th Grade Mash up-More details to follow October 7th-10th-Performing Arts Boosters Fundraiser https://deliver.taharkabrothers.com/ Use code WLMSBOOSTERS October 16th- Flu Clinic: Sign up here October 17th- Picture Retake Day October 17th- 6th and 7th Grade Socials Permission slips will be coming home soon October 24th- PTSA Meeting B29 7pm Thank you for your generosity. We have received several items from our School Store Wishlist. We greatly appreciate your kindness. We are gearing up for our next School Store on Wednesday, October 9th. Interested in volunteering for the School Store? Interested in volunteering or chaperoning on a field trip? Please complete the Volunteer training and send a copy either via email to Heather_Godwin@hcpss.org or send in hard copy with your students. This is just a reminder that September 30th is the last day to withdraw from a Full Year high school credited course without penalty. TODAY-September 27th is the last day to enroll in the CA Points Program! CA POINTS PROGRAM- Must apply every year if you wish to participate in CA program. The CA (Columbia Association) Points Program is offered to students in grades 3-12 enrolled in the Free and Reduced Meals (FARMS) program at participating schools. Students can earn a free CA membership for themselves and their immediate family through their grades and attendance. To enroll your student, please complete the CA Points Enrollment Form. Online enrollment will close on Friday, September 27, 2024. For more information, visit CA Points Program or email CAPoints@ColumbiaAssociation.org. Family File: Be sure to update your student/s family file (emergency card) . Your student will not be able to attend field trips without this form completed. We need to be able to reach our families especially in emergency situations. We still have 192 students without updated emergency contact information! Having issues logging in to HCPSS Connect? Connect Issues Family File Instructions Free and Reduced Meals: The 30 Grace period is almost up. Be sure to apply today, if you wish to continue receiving free and reduced-priced meals. FARMS Application: Families must submit a new application every school year During the first 30 school days, students with free and reduced-price meal eligibility from the prior school year will be carried over. Any student who has not filled out an application up to the 30th school day will have their prior year status changed to full pay status until a new application is received. Parents / guardians are highly encouraged to fill out the applications as soon as possible. Also, it is very important that applications are filled out correctly. School Improvement Plan The attached SIP Snapshot is a summary of this year's WLMS School Improvement Plan 24/25 WLMS SIP AT A GLANCE Student Services and Administration: Our Counselors and Administration are actively involved in classroom lessons and taking care of the needs of our students and staff during the school day. Should a need arise and you need to speak with your student's counselor, please contact Nakia_Hill@hcpss.org (Student Services Secretary) or call 410-313-6960 to make an appointment. Student services staff and administration may not be available for pop up visits. Please keep this in mind when visiting the school. To schedule an appointment with Administration, please contact Heather_Godwin@hcpss.org. Message from the Health Suite: The Flu/COVID Vaccine clinic at Wilde Lake Middle School will be held on October 16th, during school hours. If you would like your child to be vaccinated against the flu and/or COVID at this clinic, please register at this link: https://www.marylandvax.org/appointment/en/reg/1760122952 You are not required to provide your child’s insurance information. If you have any questions and/or concerns about the new COVID-19 vaccine, you are advised to speak with your child’s pediatrician. All in-school clinics will be closed to registration one week before the clinic date to allow our health room staff time to review and prepare the consent and make sure enough vaccines are ordered. If you wish to cancel your child’s appointment after then, please call the nurse at your child’s school. If you have any questions, please call your school’s health room @ 410-313-8940. Dear WILDE LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL Parents, On October 1st we are kicking off our largest annual fundraiser and we are counting on your support! This is our first time running this program 100% online and need your help to make it a huge success! WHY: To help fund our programs and school functions. GOAL: For our students to participate and sell 10 items. Helping us reach our goal is Fun and EASY. We have partnered with Gifts 'N Things to make it happen! With over 100's of gift ideas, including gift wrap, gourmet kitchen essentials, tasty food items & more. Shop Online and Share with Family and Friends: Email, Text & Post to Social Media! TO REGISTER: Visit: SupportMySchool.org or Text: ‘Register’ to 636-202-1400 School ID: 136958 Student ID: Enter the last 7 digits of your phone number. (If you are registering more than one student, just change the last number of your phone number to create a second Student ID) The more email invites you send, the more supporters we will get! So, break out your email contact list, share on social media, and help spread the word! Share with Family, Friends & Co-Workers Thank you so much for your support! WILDE LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL Questions about registration? Call Gifts 'N Things at 800-468-7511 Registration for BSAP Saturday Math Academy The HCPSS Black Student Achievement Program Saturday Math Academy Fall Session is approaching! The BSAP Saturday Math Academy will offer an in-person enrichment program for Howard County Public School System students in all levels of math for grades 3-12 based on course availability. Registration will take place online Saturday, September 28, 2024, from 9:00 a.m.- until capacity is reached. Class space is limited. Families can register by accessing the HCPSS Connect Website on the registration date. For more information, please visit: https://news.hcpss.org/news-posts/2021/09/bsap-saturday-math-academy-virtual-fall-2021-program/ Join The Club at Howard Community College! We are opening a Club for middle and high school members after school at Howard Community College. Starting August 26, we will be open after school until 6:30 pm, Monday through Friday. We will have programs from STEM, sports, workforce development, cooking, arts, and more! Enroll for free today, and please reach out to JLawrence@bgcmetrobaltimore.org if you have specific transportation barriers. To apply: Visit https://mchmetrobaltimore.my.site.com/portal/s/login/?ec=302&startURL=%2Fportal%2Fs%2F and select "Need a login?" You will be prompted to make an account and can select "Howard Community College School Year Membership" from the membership options. Location 6040 Scholarship Drive Columbia, MD 21044 United States WLMS PTSA: Next scheduled PTSA meeting is October 24th at 7:00PM. The WLMS Boosters: One of the things that makes WLMS such a great place for our kids is the amazing performing arts program. Whether your kiddo is enrolled in Band, Orchestra, Theatre, Chorus or Dance, the Boosters make sure they have what they need and get those extra resources that make the programs thrive. The Boosters help arrange and pay for everything from the WLMS afterschool theatre program, to purchasing dance shoes, costumes, and instruments, to bringing in actors and musicians to work with the students. But to do this, we need your support! Please become a member of the Boosters today! Just go to our sign up page at this link (https://form.jotform.com/242294952012150). We welcome all parents, guardians, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends to join us in supporting our performing artists! Mark your calendars! In addition to membership, we have three exciting Restaurant Nights coming up, where a portion of the proceeds will go directly to supporting our performing arts programs. These events are a fantastic way to enjoy a meal with family and friends while helping us raise much-needed funds. Here are the details: Taharka Brothers Ice Cream Date: Order by October 7th and they will deliver on October 10th to your house! Details: Order at https://deliver.taharkabrothers.com/ Use code WLMSBOOSTERS when you order so that we receive a portion of the proceeds. Mod Pizza: @ Columbia Mall Date: November 19th all day. Location: 10000 Town Center Ave C, Columbia, MD 21044 Details: Mention Wilde Lake Middle School Boosters when you check out so that we receive a portion of the proceeds. Interested in learning more or volunteering? Email us at wlmsartsboosters@gmail.com