Dear WLMS Families,
Congratulations on making it through a full five-day week of school! As we head into the weekend, we encourage you to take time to ask your students about their week—the highs, the lows, friendships, what they are most excited about, and things that may need support. Middle school is a unique stage where students may seem like they don’t need as much guidance, but in reality, they need caring adults checking in more than ever. Talking with your child every day makes a difference.
We also ask that you continue monitoring technology use, including cell phones and Chromebooks. Social media activity often increases over the weekend. This leads to conflicts online that can carry over into school. Please check phones and accounts regularly. Don’t hesitate to give us a heads-up if you believe a negative interaction between students might surface at school.
Thank you for your partnership in supporting our students both at home and in the classroom.
Rashmi Bury, Principal
Sabrina Cunningham, Assistant Principal Kathleen Keck, Assistant Principal
TIGER SHARK BITES- THIS JUST IN!
Tuesday, September 16 Fall Picture Day www.Schoolpix.com Online Order Code WLMSF25
Tuesday, September 16 First PTSA meeting of the 25/26 SY. 7:00PM at WLMS
Tuesday, September 16 Performing Arts Fundraiser 5-9pm Chipotle at 9851 Broken Land Parkway. Enter code LWWDM3K In person: Show the official flyer at checkout. (Spanish or English)
Wednesday, September 17 3Hr. Early Dismissal for students. Professional Work and Wellness Day
Tuesday, September 23 Schools and Offices Closed Rosh Hashanah
Policy 9400 Notification The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is committed to providing a safe, engaging, and supportive school environment that fosters the social and emotional safety, dignity, and well-being of all students. HCPSS acknowledges the need for employees
- to use an array of research-based positive behavior interventions, strategies, and a tiered system of supports to address student behaviors and keep students safe and free of harm
- to minimize the practice of exclusion from the classroom environment
- to minimize the use of physical restraint (which may only be used when necessary to protect a student or other person from imminent, serious, physical harm and only after other less intrusive, nonphysical interventions have failed or been determined inappropriate).
It is the expectation of the Board that HCPSS employees will be knowledgeable of and implement proactive positive behavior interventions in an effort to reduce the need for exclusion or physical restraint.
Additional information can be found at HCPSS Policy 9400 - Student Behavior Intervention. If you have any questions regarding this policy or its implementation, please contact a school administrator.
Message from Wilde Lake High School Athletics Dept.
We absolutely love to have our Future Wildecats come to games to support our teams and see where they will be in a few years! We even have some team-sponsored Future Wildecat Nights planned for the fall to give them a special taste of the high school athletics experience! Boys Soccer is on September 30 vs. Oakland Mills — the rest are still being decided.
However, we've also had some of our Future Wildecats arrive, without a parent/guardian, and have had to either deny them entry or ask them to leave. It's particularly tough with the large crowds on football game nights, when we are trying to keep the environment as controlled as possible.
In an effort to make sure we are welcoming in our Future Wildecats and their families, but also doing it with HCPSS policies in mind, we created these Spectator Rules & Guidelines. Thanks for your partnership in helping to make these great events for all involved!
SHARK BITES THAT STILL MATTER!
Please remember, you need to fill out a new FARMS form each year. You can pick up a hard copy in the front office or here is the online link: https://www.hcpss.org/food-services/farms/
CA Points Program: DUE BY 9/25/25
https://wlms.hcpss.org/news/2022/2022-07/farms-applications-ca-points-program
Tips for Transportation Readiness
Families whose students receive transportation should consult the online bus locator to confirm bus stop locations, pickup and drop-off times. Students should arrive at a bus stop at least five minutes prior to the established pick-up time as buses will not wait at a stop if they arrive within five minutes of the scheduled pick-up time. View more tips for transportation readiness.
Cell Phones
As a reminder, we will follow the HCPSS Student Personal Device Use Policy. Please review the guidelines at hcpss.org/student-personal-device-use. Per policy, below are the consequences for policy violations:
- First Incident: The personal technology device is confiscated until the end of the student day. Students should turn off or lock devices prior to confiscation. A device that is confiscated during the final period of the student day will be confiscated for the entire next student day. The student may retrieve the device at the end of the day it was originally confiscated to take home, but must provide it to the front office upon arrival on the next student day.
- Second Incident & Beyond: The personal technology device is confiscated until it is retrieved by a parent/guardian. Students should turn off or lock devices prior to confiscation.
Food Deliveries During the School Day: All students are to refrain from having food delivered during the instructional school day (8:30-3:15 PM). Deliveries will be declined. If you need to drop off food or forgotten items for your student, we have a cart in our front entryway where you can label the item and our front office staff will make sure we get it to your child.
WLMS Breakfast Program - No Outside Food permitted. ALL WLMS students are given the option of free breakfast every day in their period 1 class. Outside food and drinks from Starbucks, 7-11, home, etc. must be consumed prior to a student entering the building or saved for the student’s assigned lunch time. If students do not plan on eating the free breakfast, please make sure they eat prior to entering school.
Student Dress Code Reminder
Clothing items that obscure a student’s face, such as a ski mask or similar headgear, will not be permitted in order to allow students to focus on learning. Policy 9210 Student Dress Code states that attire that causes or is likely to cause a material disruption, a substantial disorder to school activities or the orderly operation of the school, or an invasion of the rights of others is prohibited. A copy of the HCPSS student dress code may be found here. Exceptions will be made for religious observance and documented medical needs.
PTSA Updates Please join the PTSA! Our membership drive at the start of each school year forms the backbone of our budget! Your membership fees & donations go directly to supporting students and to staff appreciation! Join here: https://tigersharks.givebacks.com/shop Joining as a member does not obligate you to volunteer for anything! It simply keeps you in the loop of all things PTSA.
Our first PTSA meeting to kick off the school year is coming up next Tuesday September 16th! All are most welcome! 7pm in the WLMS Media Center or join us online at this hybrid meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8937435703?pwd=cnRiRkNGYXY0SkNKeFVPMzJQUGg0Zz09
Come and hear about PTSA events and activities planned for the year and find out how you can volunteer or get involved. Hope to see you there!
WLMS Performing Arts 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 WLMS Booster member today: https://form.jotform.com/242294952012150
- Performing Arts Booster Fundraisers
- September 16, 5-9pm Chipotle at 9851 Broken Land Parkway. Enter code LWWDM3K if ordering online or present flyer in person
- October 15-22: Taharka Brothers Ice Cream Order between Oct 15th (6am) and Oct 22 (11pm) - delivered to your home October 24th. Order at https://deliver.taharkabrothers.com/ Use code WLMSBOOSTERS25
- December 6th Barnes & Noble Bookstore at10300 Little Patuxent Pkwy (at the mall) Present the flyer at check out or visit bn.com/bookfairs to support us online from 12/06/24 to 12/11/24 by entering Bookfair ID12885786 at checkout. We do receive a larger donation for in person purchases
- Buy a shirt from our spirit wear sale! The shirts are gorgeous (and designed by our very own art teacher, Mr. Tullis) and super comfortable. Get one for yourself and your student today!
- https://www.customink.com/fundraising/wlms-performing-arts-boosters-8206