Deborah Romeo, Principal Courtney Rowley, Assistant Principal Rebecca Speicher, Assistant Principal of Student Services |
Greetings Wayland Middle School Caregivers,
Together, we made it through last week’s storm and its aftermath, and we thankfully were not affected by an additional storm last evening. We hope you are staying warm in this frigid February weather!
We hope the following Bright Sides will be a source of warmth for you!
We thank our 8th graders who continue to show us, whether at WMS or in the larger community, their respect for themselves and the respect they have as representatives of the WMS community. During last week’s Boda Borg trip, students worked in “questing teams” to apply three important strategies for success in questing and success in life: determination, creativity, and positive talk. Our teachers reminded our students that determination looks like trying again, and again, and again. Creativity means keeping one’s mind fresh by mixing up one’s approach and seeking a new perspective from other members of the group. Positive talk sounds like looking for and naming what you and your teammates are doing right. They did all of these things and had a great day! We thank 8th grade House Leaders Ms. Peirce, Mr. Kotin, Ms. Posner, Mr. Farley for their leadership in these trips.
When reviewing this week’s newsletter, please review the sections below that are entitled “We Need Your Help”. We value your partnership in the work of ensuring safety for all of our students and guiding our students to make good decisions through their middle school years. As always, our doors are open. Whether you have questions, concerns, or simply want to share in the excitement of the school year, we encourage you to reach out.
Deborah, Courtney, and Rebecca |
- Monday, February 2nd and Tuesday, February 3rd: 6th grade skiing field trip -Henry Cluster and Thoreau Cluster respectively
- Thursday, February 5th, Friday, February 6th, and Saturday, February 7th: Peter Pan 7:00PM (Thursday and Friday) and 11:00AM (Saturday) at WMS
- Thursday, February 12th: WMS/WHS Jazz Night 7:00 PM at WMS
- Monday, February 16th - Friday, February 20th: February Break NO SCHOOL
- Tuesday, February 24th: Virtual PTO Community Meeting 6:30-7:30 and EndTab Caregiver Presentation on Digital Safety 7:30-8:30.
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It has come to our attention that students are selling snacks to other students during the school day. Buying and selling snacks between students is not permitted; this practice can cause tension between students which serve as a distraction to their learning and can disrupt their sense of well being.
It would, again, be very helpful if you would review with your student that they should not buy snacks from another student nor sell snacks to another student during the school day or at after school activities. As we are a learning community, it is important to ensure a sense of belonging and equity for all students and a system in which students are profiting from one another is counter to those values. |
Families, staff and administrators have noted an increase in challenges to our drop off/pick up protocols since the arrival of the cold weather compounded by the recent snow storm. Safety is the number one priority in the drop-off/pick-up circle.
In these times when more students are being driven to school due to the inclement weather, it is critical that everyone follow the procedures outlined below.
- Students may only exit/enter cars at the sidewalk (anywhere along the west side of the building -- from the gym to the stop sign).
- Students must be picked up on the sidewalk next to the gym, and may not meet rides in the DPW parking lot or on the drive leading to the school. Students cannot cross the traffic circle in the drop off/pick up area to be picked up on the other side.
- Do not jump the line when spaces appear. Be patient as drivers in front of you pull forward.
- Do not pull a U-Turn at any time.
- Once you have dropped-off/picked-up your student, you may cautiously pull out, away from the curb and around waiting cars to exit. Please drive slowly.
Thank you very much for your partnership in maintaining the safety of our students as they arrive at and depart from WMS.
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When: 7-8:30 pm, February 10, March 10, April 14, and May 12, 2026
Where: First Parish, 225 Boston Post Road, Wayland – in person only
Who: For parents and other adults who live, work, worship or send their child(ren) to school in Wayland.
Cost: Free
Registration: Registration is required. Attendance at all four sessions is encouraged but not required. REGISTER
About: Ever find yourself avoiding a conversation because it feels too awkward, too charged, or too likely to go sideways? This four-session workshop is an invitation to do the opposite—with skill, confidence, and care.
Together, we’ll build practical tools for real-life and online conversations, especially with people whose experiences or perspectives differ from our own. In a supportive, low-stakes setting, you’ll practice showing up with curiosity, self-awareness, and empathy—even when things feel uncomfortable or you don’t agree.
The series will be led by jamele adams, a gifted educator, facilitator, and community peacemaker. Across four in-person sessions, participants will practice empathetic listening, learn from one another, and build trust and connection. Participants will also help shape the series by choosing the discussion topic for each session, ensuring the conversations reflect what matters most to the group.
By the end of the workshop, you’ll walk away with concrete, usable tools for engaging across differences—without losing connection or respect. Whether you’re deeply experienced in these conversations or just beginning, you’ll find a welcoming space to learn, reflect, and grow together—and to strengthen the fabric of the Wayland community.
This program is sponsored by the Wayland Public Schools and the Wayland Human Rights, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee (HRDEIC) and is made possible through the generous support of the Lydia Maria Child Fund of First Parish in Wayland.
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In so many ways, the lives of children have gone digital. While some of these changes can be positive - we also know that technology amplifies familiar challenges and harms they experience. Today, understanding how to protect ourselves and others when exposed to unhealthy or unsafe situations online is critical. Luckily, we needn’t be tech experts to support and empower our children in the Age of AI. When we start treating digital safety like we treat our physical safety, good things happen.
From this perspective, we will explore how any parent can quickly and effectively help their child navigate, anticipate and respond to emerging challenges in the digital age. These include AI-Generated Explicit Images, AI-powered Scams, AI Companions (romantic and platonic) and more.
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Please see the following message and opportunities for parents and caregivers shared by Superintendent David Fleishman in his January Update.
“As we ponder the future of education in Wayland, AI and future technological advances that we are not yet aware of will likely have a major impact on the futures of our students. As a result, we think it is an opportune time to engage in a district and community-wide Portrait(s) of a Learner exercise to determine the most important skills, knowledge, and experiences students need for learning and success beyond school. We hope that it will help us sharpen our focus around what students most need and provide a blueprint for our strategy to prepare them for the changing realities of the world.” |
The three-part series will bring together educators, parents and community members to co-create Wayland’s Portrait(s) of a Learner. Below is a calendar of the process/meetings.
- Session 1: Monday, February 9, 4:00-6:00 pm
Identify 4-6 core draft traits based on a series of focus groups with students, recent graduates, and parents/caregivers
- Session 2: Monday, March 9, 4:00-6:00
Build narrative learner archetypes that reflect the range of Wayland learners
- Session 3: Monday, March 30th- 4:00-5:00
Revise and finalize the Portrait(s) as we prepare to launch.
Participants are required to attend all three sessions as each session builds on the previous one. Please click on the button below to fill out the Google Form here if you are interested in participating.”
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The time has come once again to capture all those Middle School memories in the Yearbook. Josten's has all the information to make the yearbook extra special with things like personalization and signature pages. Please see website or QR code for more details. |
We are pleased to host a presentation from EndTAB, a leading organization focused on digital safety and online well-being.
We hope you can join us for the PTO Community Meeting followed by this presentation. This presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, February 24th at 7:30PM.
Caregivers will learn practical strategies to help young people navigate technology safely and support their mental health in an online world. This session will offer actionable guidance and meaningful insights to help families stay informed and empowered. |
Thank you to all that have donated books for the book swap! Although the drive has ended, any books that would like another home at the middle school, continued donations are always welcome. |
Artist: Red Cali Grade: 7 Medium: Plaster & Spray Paint |
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Contact: Andrea Winkler - PTO President |
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In addition to the grants we have awarded this school year, below are the other ways we are putting your donations to work.
- 6th grade Night of Plenty
- 6th grade Math Night
- 7th grade Thanksgiving Helpers
- 8th grade Dance
- Carnival/Field Day
- Cultural enrichment programs
- Parent enrichment workshops
- Staff appreciation events
- Field trip funding
- Student TAG (teacher advisory group) homeroom activities
❤️Thank you to the families that have generously donated to the WMS Gift Your Child fundraiser.
🔥We are so close to reaching our fundraising goal with just $1,400 left to go! Please consider a donation in any amount so we can continue to fund these activities.
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Stay up to date on school news, events and helpful reminders. Look for “Wayland MS PTO” and request to join. |
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