1. education
2. school

WDMS
October 2014
WDMS NEWS
• On Monday, October 6, WDMS excitedly welcomed back 7th grader Ariyona
Blake! In honor of her return, WDMS will have ARIYONA BLAKE DAY on
Friday, October 10th. Students are encouraged to wear Ariyona’s favorite color
TEAL GREEN to show their support.
• Thank you to all the families who assisted in WDMS’s “Put Me in Coach”
Fundraising! Through fundraising, we collected a whopping $1,804. Thank you
to Chic-Fil-A, Five Guys, Wendy’s, and Pat’s Pizzeria.
• Reminder- please be sure students charge their laptops every night and bring
them every day. Thank you for your support of the district’s 1:1 laptop
initiative.
TEAM LEADER UPDATES
5th Grade
As we come to the end of our first month of school, we are happy say fifth graders have adjusted well to the
middle school. Students are settling into daily classroom routines and building expectations. Fifth graders just
love second period when they get to experience special area classes such as Physical Education, STEM and
Art. Now, the 5th graders are experiencing having lockers. They are so excited at having a place of their own.
We're looking forward to a great October!
Team 6A:
Students enriched their learning of ecosystems through their outdoor education at Camp Mason collaboration
and ecosystems. Parents you are encouraged to check up on your students grades when using Power Parent
and reach out to your child’s teachers with questions and concerns. Team 6A has homework posted nightly
on their team leader’s website. We will have veterans visiting the classroom in November.
Team 6B:
Team 6B embarked on their Camp Mason adventure on Monday, October 6!! We had an amazing time in the
woods and made ! Literacy classes have started off the year reading the classic "Old Yeller." This timeless
book encouraged 6B students to research how dogs impact our lives beyond companionship. Students
reported on several types of service dogs and their daily contributions to the lives of the people they assist.
Where would we be without our canine buddies? 6B is planning our Veterans' Day celebration for
November 11, when we will learn more about what so many in our extended WD family have done to enable
us to live in freedom.
Team 7A:
Team 7A is off to a very successful start and here's what's happening! Mr. Baker's classes are about to start
two exciting activities, their first classroom novel and writing picture memoirs. His classes will begin reading
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton, a classic that is always a hit with students because of its intensity, emotion, and
easy reliability for teens. Also in the works is writing a personal narrative using a picture from their past and
the memories involved as the inspiration for this full process writing piece. Mrs. Heniss’ class is using
ClassDojo, a computer based classroom management system that awards students with points for specific
behaviors, learning habits, and accomplishments in class. The students enjoy tracking their own personal
points, as well as total class points. Her classes even compete for a monthly pizza party! Additionally, parents
are thrilled with the weekly emails informing them of their child’s progress. In Mrs. Weber's Science classes
students are learning about "Good Experimental Design" through writing and conducting their own
experiments. In Mrs. Ward's Social Studies classes students are studying the Renaissance & Reformation. They
have been comparing and contrasting the lives, works, interests and inventions of some of the greats of this
time period. Students will also get to experience the rigorous challenge that Michelangelo faced as he painted
the Sistine Chapel!
Ms. Purul's Math classes are beginning the Number System Unit. They will be exploring rational numbers and
perform numerous operations using them. Did you know that not all numbers are rational? Some are
irrational! They will take all this wonderful newly acquired knowledge and apply it to real world situations.
Lastly, stay in the Team 7A loop - sign up for Remind 101! It's quick and easy to do and the directions can be
found on Mrs. Ward's website.
Team 7B:
Team 7B’s first team meeting ended in a chant led by Steve Jakubowski: “I believe in 7B—ALL IN!!!” It took
no time at all for Team 7B to prove they were ALL IN when a teammate was taken to the hospital for
emergency surgery the second week of school. Students rushed to make posters and took them to the lunch
room so classmates could sign them and write encouraging messages. It was truly heartwarming watching
these 7th graders spin into action the moment they knew one of their own was down. Their actions spoke
louder than words demonstrating the character of this year’s Team 7B!
Team 8A
September was a successful month for Team 8A. We began the year participating in the inaugural Eagle
Launch. As a team, we were able to learn more about our students, and the students learned more about
their teachers. Moving into October, there will be an emphasis on team-building activities. Our first will
occur on October 17th. All 8th grade students will be reading the same novella, Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman,
during their reading homeroom. Each subject will be tying together lessons from the book – respect,
responsibility, and doing the right thing.
Team 8B
To build team unity, Team 8B came together during the Eagle Launch to discuss the Three R’s: Respect,
Responsibility and Doing the Right Thing. In addition, Team 8B worked together to create slogans of which
five were selected and one is posted above each 8B teacher’s door. The five slogans that were selected and
posted were the following:
#Team 8B believes in me.
#Team 8B begins with me.
#Team 8B be respectful.
#Team 8B do your best, be your best.
#Team 8B B the best you can B.
The teachers of Team 8B are proud of the students thus far and are looking forward to a great year!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Monday, October 13 – Columbus Day: School Closed
Thursday, October 16 – Wear Pink
Student Council will be selling bracelets for $3 during homeroom in support of Susan G. Komen foundation.
Friday, October 17 – ½ In-Service Day
Students will participate in team Character Education lessons and will be dismissed at 12:29 pm for teacher in-service.
Tuesday, October 21 – Rachel’s Challenge Assemblies
(Rachel’s Challenge Family Night at WDHS on 10/22 at 7pm)
Wednesday, October 22 – Unity Day
Wear orange and unite against bullying!
Monday, October 27 – Friday, October 31 – Red Ribbon Week
All week during lunch: Guess the weight of the giant pumpkin for $0.25 a guess. The winner gets the pumpkin!
Monday – Hats off to Drug-Free Living! Wear your favorite hat!!
Tuesday – Team Up Against Drugs! Wear your favorite sports team apparel!
Wednesday – Crazy Sock Wednesday! “Socking it to Drugs!
Thursday – Wear Red to promote living a drug-free life!
Friday – Halloween Dress Up Day! (Faces cannot be covered and students may not bring costume accessories ie: hockey
sticks, basketballs, weapons)
Thursday, October 30th: GCIT Presentation for interested 8th graders
GCIT will visit WDMS to present their high school program to interested 8th grade students during 8th period. If you
would like your child to attend, you must contact Ms. Nancy Beck at ext. 3202 or nbeck@wdeptford.k12.nj.us. Once
approval is received from you, Ms. Beck will invite your child to attend the presentation
FALL SPORTS:
WDMS FIELD HOCKEY
10/10
10/14
10/16
10/21
10/23
4pm
4pm
4pm
3:45pm
4:00pm
vs. Audubon (H)
vs. Kingsway (H)
vs. Haddonfield (A)
vs. Gateway (A)
vs. Lindenwold (A)
WDMS Cross Country
10/14
10/16
10/20
10/22
4:30pm
4:00pm
4:00pm
4:00pm
vs. Haddonfield, Haddon Hts. @ WD Park
vs. Delsea @ Delsea
Frosh/Soph Meet @ GCC
Colonial Conference MS Championship