Deborah Romeo, Principal
Courtney Rowley, Assistant Principal
Rebecca Speicher, Assistant Principal of Student Services
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Greetings Wayland Middle School Caregivers,
We had an extremely busy week at WMS last week!
We celebrated the thirty-seven different languages spoken by the students and teachers in our school community during World Language Week. We welcomed 21 community volunteers who shared their experiences, languages, and cultures with our students through interactive workshops. We are grateful to all the workshop facilitators including three of whom were our very own Ms. Francoeur (Haiti), Ms. Coates (Wildlife Preservation in Peru), and Ms. Williams (Helen Keller and Unspoken Languages).
We thank Ms. Sands, World Language Curriculum Leader, 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 the celebratory and educational experiences they provided for our staff and students during World Language Week. Special thanks to our cafeteria staff who executed a more complicated menu during the week and also to the many members of the WPS community who came to help serve lunch to our students. And, finally, many thanks to the PTO who brought the Capoeira performers to WMS!
Congratulations to Ms. Tandon, Mr. Benson, and Ms. Vanaria on a wonderful week of music and community! On Monday, all WPS students grades 4-12 transformed the WHS Field House into Wayland’s version of symphony hall during the String Jamboree. Bandfest, on Tuesday evening, brought our most novice players alongside their more experienced peers from the Class of 2026 for a joyful evening of music making. Wednesday’s Wayland Sings reminded us of the powerful healing properties of music, specifically through our 7th and 8th graders rendition of Musica Dei (The Gift of Music). From Musica Dei:
Fill your life with music.
Melodies are in the air.
Celebrate the sounds around you, anytime, anywhere…
[Music] renews my spirit, brings me peace.
Music makes me whole.
The WMS staff and I are thankful for your unwavering support of the performing arts in our school community. We hope to see you in the upcoming weeks at Caregiver Conferences. 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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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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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.
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...
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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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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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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When: 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: Zaila Farster-Degenhardt
Grade: 7
Medium: Mixed
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Contact:
Andrea Winkler - PTO President
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We still need your help! 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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This past week students enjoyed watching and participating in a program put on by Copoeira. The show incorporated elements of Brazilian martial arts, dance, music and language.
The PTO would like to thank our cultural enrichment committee; Larina Mehta, Jen Lux and Emily Weintraub for bringing important programs like this to WMS.
We would also like to thank those families that have donated to our Gift Your Child fundraiser. Without you, we would not be able to continue to deliver programs like Copoeira to our students.
It is not too late to donate to our fundraiser. We have still not reached our fundraising goal this year. Please consider a donation in any amount so we can continue to fund important programs like this. Thank you.
Donate here
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The PTO hosted a community meeting in late February to review results of the Spring 2025 Caregiver Survey and share what improvements are being made at WMS. Thank you to Heather Grimmett, Andrea Winkler and Dr. Romeo for preparing and presenting the results. Please see the presentation below.
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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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