Deborah Romeo, Principal
Courtney Rowley, Assistant Principal
Rebecca Speicher, Assistant Principal of Student Services
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Greetings Wayland Middle School Caregivers,
Welcome to World Language Week at Wayland Middle School. In recognition of this week, students are invited to wear red on Tuesday (Chinese), blue on Wednesday (French), yellow on Thursday (Spanish) and purple on Friday (Latin) in recognition and celebration of the languages that are studied at WMS. We will also enjoy our performing arts district wide events, String Jam, Band Fest, and Wayland Sings which will take place on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings this week at WHS Field House.
Our Bright Side this week is brought to us by our 8th graders. Our school, town hall, and classrooms have been abuzz with questions, surveys, interviews, and research related to our 8th graders’ Civics Projects. In their efforts, students wrote emails, created power points and interviewed relevant stakeholders and decision makers. While they were passionate about their topics, they understood that civic action takes time, and they might only be able to plant seeds for future change. Many thanks to Mr. McCormack, Mr. Montweiler, Ms. Prasad, and Ms. Reynolds for inspiring and guiding our 8th grade students. Many thanks to WMS staff members, WPS district staff, Wayland town hall staff and town committees members who supported our students in this endeavor.
The WMS staff and I are thankful for your unwavering support of our students and of our school community. We hope to see you in the upcoming weeks whether it be at Caregiver Conferences or at one of the many performing arts opportunities that will take place in the month of March. As always, our doors are always 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
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Monday, March 9th: String Jam 7:00 PM WHS Field House
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Monday, March 9th - Friday, March 13: World Language Week
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Tuesday, March 10th: Band Fest 7:00 PM WHS Field House
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Wednesday, March 11th: Wayland Sings 7:00 PM WHS Field House
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Wednesday, March 18th: Caregiver Conferences 2:30-5:10 PM
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Friday, March 20th: 6th Grade Field Trip to Museum of Science
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Monday, March 23rd: Sports Registration Closes (see below WMS Spring Sports are Here)
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Monday, March 23rd - Friday, March 27th: WMS Spirit Week
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Wednesday, March 25th: Caregiver Conferences 2:30-5:10 PM
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Friday, April 3rd: Good Friday NO SCHOOL
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Monday, April 20th - Friday, April 24th: Spring Break NO SCHOOL
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When picking up and dropping off your student(s), please do not enter the staff parking area.
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Every year in the month of March, Wayland Middle School celebrates World Language Week, a week dedicated to exposing students to the linguistic and cultural diversity of our community and the world. Each day of World Language Week will be dedicated as follows:
Monday, March 9: “Where you’re from, where you’ve been, and where you’d like to go”
Tuesday, March 10: Chinese Day
Wednesday, March 11: French Day
Thursday, March 12: Spanish Day
Friday, March 13: Latin Day
We are grateful to Ms. Sands, World Language Curriculum Leader, and to Ms. Brown, Ms. Bujak, Ms. Chammas, Dr. Chang, Ms. Espinoza, Ms. De Lima, Dr. Leffell, Ms. Prasad, and Ms. Williams for their hard work, creativity, and leadership in this celebratory and educational experience for our staff and students.
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Coaches:
Baseball coach: Dante Parseghian - dante_parseghian@waylandps.org
Softball coach: Hip Rivera - hipolito_rivera@waylandps.org
Volleyball coach: Pam Kainz - pam_kainz@waylandps.org
Track & Field coaches: Ingride Francoeur - ingride_francoeur@waylandps.org and Jake Haspel - jacob_haspel@waylandps.org
Joining the team:
2. Submit a current physical to the school nurse or SNAP Portal.
3. Athletic fees ($125) are not due until tryouts are completed. (Track and Field does not have tryouts - fees should be paid at the time of registration).
4. Registration will close on March 23, 2026. Please make sure registration is complete and physicals are submitted in a timely fashion.
Tryouts
Tryouts for volleyball will begin on Monday 3/16 & 3/17. ** Info. session on 3/11 @2:45 in the wellness classroom (rm 111) **
Baseball, softball and track and field will begin on Monday 4/2
Tryouts for baseball and softball are tentatively scheduled to start on 4/2 - will depend on field conditions.
Please read below for more detailed information related to practice times, “game day” expectations, and transportation.
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The Day the Internet Died
By Ian McWethy and Jason Pizzarello
On a sunny day in the town of Bloomington, a devastating occurrence happens. No, it’s not famine, or floods, or loss of your basic rights. The internet has gone down! And it will continue to be down! For a week! A whole week! Pandemonium! In a world that is so dependent on the internet for shopping, mailing, and posting pictures of cute babies, how will society function? Not well as it turns out...
Monday, March 9th, 3:15 - 5:00
Tuesday, March 10th, 3:15 - 5:00
REHEARSALS:
M, T, Th & F 3:15 - 5:00, Last 2 weeks everyday until 5:30 pm
PERFORMANCES:
Friday, May 1st @ 7:00 PM
Wednesday, May 6th @ 3:30 PM
Saturday, May 9th All Day @ Stoughton MA
Part of the Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guilds' Middle School Festival
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Sarah Ward — March 24, 7:30 p.m.
Wayland High School Auditorium - Register for this event HERE
Wayland PTO and SEPAC are proud to host Sarah Ward, an internationally recognized expert in executive function. With more than 25 years of experience supporting individuals with ADHD, autism, and other learning differences, she has consulted with over 2,000 schools worldwide, serves as adjunct faculty at the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions, and has provided EF training to Wayland Public Schools teachers and staff over the past year.
Attendees will leave with practical, proven strategies to help students strengthen executive functioning skills such as organization, planning, and independence.
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The purpose of spring conferences this year is to discuss student skills across content areas and to celebrate student learning. Conferences will be driven by a reflection completed by each student related to specific student skills as well as the sharing of a “memorable piece of work”.
Student skills are critical to the development of successful and increasingly independent learners and as such, students benefit when educators and caregivers discuss students’ strengths and areas for growth in these skill areas. Student choice and reflection on a “memorable piece of work” creates a window into what motivates a student and what makes a student feel successful at school in an authentic way. It is important to note that “work” is broadly defined as a performance (in PE, drama, chorus, band, or orchestra) or a piece of work (an artistic creation, an assessment, a piece of writing, a project, etc) in order to honor all learning at school.
Conferences for caregivers will occur after school on March 18th and March 25th with conference time slots beginning at 2:30 and ending at 5:00 on both days.
By noon on Thursday, March 12th, caregivers will receive a link to their student’s homeroom appointment calendar to sign up for one, ten-minute conference with their student’s homeroom partners on either March 18th or March 25th. Parents and caregivers will also have the option to have the conference in-person or virtually; if possible, we would love to see you at the middles school. All appointments and any changes must be done before 12pm on March 17th.
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In late February, all of our students participated in a lesson on Artificial Intelligence (AI). In it, we shared the following nuanced message about AI. “As we integrate new technologies into our classrooms, we recognize that artificial intelligence can be a powerful tool for learning, creativity, and efficiency. However, responsible use of AI is essential to ensure academic integrity, critical thinking, and meaningful learning experiences.”
We also shared the following expectations related to AI use at WMS:
Academic Integrity Matters – Any work you submit must be your own. Using Artificial Intelligence to complete assignments without teacher approval is considered academic dishonesty.
Subject-Area Guidance is Key – Different subjects may have different rules for AI use. Always follow your teacher’s instructions regarding when and how AI can be used. If no instructions are provided, assume that AI is not to be used for your work.
We emphasized that our students have the right to grow as thinkers, writers, and ethical decision makers. Specifically, we shared that they have a right to:
🧠 Strengthen Their Critical Thinking Skills.
🗣️ Develop Their Genuine Voice
💪🏾 Build Their Academic Resilience
✍🏽 Deepen Their Memory Retention
🛡️ Protect Their Integrity
We encourage you to discuss with your student(s) what they learned from the AI lesson.
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When: 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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WaylandCAN is thrilled to invite you to a night with viral TED speaker and Ted Lasso writer, Dylan Marron!
Dylan is the creator and host of the acclaimed podcast Conversations with People Who Hate Me, a Webby Award–winning series praised by USA Today, The Guardian, Fast Company, and the Associated Press for its powerful exploration of empathy and human connection. His TED Talk, “Empathy Is Not Endorsement,” has been viewed millions of times worldwide, and he is currently a writer on the critically acclaimed series Ted Lasso.
This free, community-wide talk focuses on connecting across differences.
It will take place on March 30th at 7PM in the Wayland High School auditorium.
It's is open to all ages 11+ and will include **30 minutes of audience Q&A**.
****This is opportunity is being shared with the Greater Boston area and space is limited! **Sign up here and bring your middle and high school children - we're all in this together!****
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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: Penn Parseghian & Adrian Rideau
Grade: 7
Medium: Mixed
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Contact:
Andrea Winkler - PTO President
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The WMS PTO is setting up March Madness-inspired snacks and trivia to keep staff fueled between back-to-back caregiver conferences on 3/18 and 3/25. Please sign-up here if you can contribute any food or prize items to help. (Who knew that round/orange food could be so fun?)
Nonperishable items can be sent via our Amazon.com wish list or dropped off at the following locations by Tues 3/17: Grimmett House (38 Standish Rd), Baston House (8 Brackett Rd), WMS front office.
Please drop perishable items off at WMS by 12pm on the designated days (3/18 or 3/25).
Thank you!
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Late February, the PTO hosted a session for caregivers called Parenting in the AI Age. EndTab has graciously shared the slide deck. Please note there are two slides (11 & 12) where hypersexualized images are used. This was to support content on AI companion apps and illustrate how realistic characters appear and how teens are targeted.
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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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