WJJMS REPORT CARDS:
WJJMS Report Cards for quarter two are now available on PowerSchool. Please log in to your PowerSchool account and click on “Report Card” on the left hand side.
LOST & FOUND:
Be sure to have your student check out the Lost & Found rack by Gym West to see if any of the many items down there belong to them. All items remaining by February 17 (Presidents’ Day break) will be donated to a local shelter.
DIGITAL LEARNING DAY:
February 23, 5-7pm, at JJIS
This is the perfect time to learn more about the digital tools, personalized learning opportunities and the instructional technology your child is learning to use while at school! Sponsored by the PTOs, district librarians and technology teachers, there will be informational sessions, demonstrations from students and opportunities to try hands-on innovation activities, learn digital tools with your child, and explore robotics, coding, and video game design. Bring Your Own Device: any pad, pod, or internet ready device. THIS IS A FREE EVENT! Please return this RSVP to your school’s librarian. We need to have an idea of the number of sessions to hold and how much pizza to order.
PTO CARNATION SALE:
Support your Middle School PTO! Buy flowers for your friends and share your love. Sale is one day only! Valentine’s Day (February 14, 2023). Carnations available for sale during lunch waves on 2/14, please bring cash, $1 per flower. Flower Color choices/assortment - Red, Pink, White.
TEEN LEADER:
If you want to Learn how to work with kids, make a difference, if you are going into grade 8 and are 14 years old or older, if you want to spend summer with kids, if you live in Colchester and enjoy being outside…then fill out an application to be a Teen Leader at Colchester Parks and Rec Summer Day Camp and send it back by March 15. Applications are available at www.colchesterct.gov/recreation-department. Please see this flyer for more information.
MINDS MATTER:
A group for middle school students to learn skills to reduce anxiety in ways that they enjoy. They’ll create a toolbox of methods that can help anyone when they’re feeling overwhelmed. Thursdays, February 9-March30 from 2:15-4pm for grades 6-8. Please see this flyer for more information.
COLCHESTER YOUTH & SOCIAL SERVICES CALENDAR:
February 2023
BASKETBALL INTRAMURALS:
Girls and boys basketball intramurals will begin on February 7 and will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-4. It will run through March 16. The cost of the program is $45 and payment can be made by cash or check made payable to WJJMS Athletics. This permission slip and payment must be received prior to participation. The girls intramurals will be held in Gym West and the boys intramurals will be held in Gym East.
SHOWCASE YOUR STUDENT:
We are looking to showcase or spotlight our students here at WJ by recognizing achievements they have earned outside of the school day. These recognitions would take place during our whole school monthly forums. Achievements could include Boy/Girl Scouts honors, athletic awards from a team they play on, musical performances and many more. Please use this form (it can be submitted as many times and as often as needed). Please know that we will try to include all submissions, but may be unable to do so due to total received.
CAREER FAIR:
WJJMS will be holding a Career Fair on June 2, from 8:00-12:30 PM (lunch provided). We would love to have our parents and community members join us to speak about their careers. Please read this flyer for more information. If you are interested in sharing about your career, please complete this registration form.
CPR FUNDRAISER:
Join the WJJMS PTO and the American Heart Association Instructor, John Carroll, for a 2 hour class in First Aid and CPR on February 15th from 4-6pm in the WJJMS Cafe. The class is $60 per student and will include adult/child/infant First Aid & CPR training, test, and certification card. Space is limited, so only the first 15 paid sign-ups by February 10th will be accepted. Email Elizabeth Kukich at [email protected] to sign-up your student. Cash or check payments can be sent to school in an envelope addressed to WJJMS PTO.
BASKETBALL GAME RESCHEDULED VS HEBRON:
The basketball games against Hebron from 1/23/23 have been rescheduled. They will be on Monday, February 6th @ 3:30 PM.
ROBOTICS AT BACON:
We are a team of students who think robots, CAD, building and working as a team to solve problems is fun, and it is. We also are in need of people to make videos, run social media pages, and write about our team. If you are interested in joining the team next year or just want to see what we are all about come take a 30-minute tour! February 26th @ 2:00 behind the Academy. Bring your parents too!
COLCHESTER YOUTH LACROSSE REGISTRATION:
Registration is now open for Colchester Youth Lacrosse sports recreation program. This opportunity is available to all boys and girls from kindergarten to 8th grade! We accept all applicants. Our program uses positive reinforcement by developing team players and leaders. Our focus is to develop the players in a fun atmosphere and introduce them to a fast, growing easy to play sport. Visit our website at Colchesterlax.org.
WJJMS COFFEE HOUSE AUDITIONS:
Who can audition? Any/all WJJMS students.
The Coffee House/Variety Show will take place on Friday, February 24th at 6:00 PM in the WJJMS Cafeteria. We are asking for donations at the door. We will have treats and beverages for sale at the event.
All students selected to perform in the variety show must also come to the mandatory dress rehearsal on Wednesday, Feb 22nd in the band room after school from 2:10-3:30 PM.
If you are interested in auditioning for the variety show, please fill out this form and return it to Mrs. Goodwin or Mr. Morrissette by Friday, Feb 10th.
MARIJUANA EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES:
As you are probably aware, recreational cannabis dispensaries opened this week in Connecticut, so in partnership with the Colchester Youth First Prevention Coalition, we are sharing these resources with parents as a means to support your discussions with your children regarding marijuana use and sale. Please scan the QR code on the flyers for additional information.
POSTURAL SCREENINGS:
During the next couple months postural screenings will be conducted for seventh grade girls and eighth grade boys. The purpose of this program is to detect the signs of spinal curvature at its earliest stages. Early treatment can prevent the development of a severe deformity. Spinal deformities most often develop between the ages of 10 and 15 years. Nearly all cases are painless at first and are often confused with poor adolescent posture. Most cases are mild and require only ongoing observation by a doctor after first diagnosis. Others become progressively more severe as the child grows and require active treatment.
The school nurse performs each screening in the health office. The procedure for examination is a simple one, requiring less than one minute. The nurse inspects the student's spine as he or she stands and then bends forward. If a spinal problem is suspected, the student will be rechecked at a second screening. If further consultation is recommended, parents will be notified of the findings and will be asked to seek further evaluation from their own physician.
If parents would like to opt out their students then please inform the school nurse in writing as soon as possible, [email protected].
Connecticut law requires all students in grades five, seventh grade girls and eighth grade boys be screened annually in school, including this year. Students who have been screened by their doctor after 6/30/22 or have already been diagnosed with a spinal problem will be excused from school screening. Please contact me if you have any questions concerning the postural screening program.
BASKETBALL GAME SCHEDULE:
February 2023
DRUGS - WHAT TO SAY TO YOUR KIDS:
When is a good time to speak with your child about drugs? Any time you can! Looking for something to talk about during the upcoming school vacation? Here are some excellent resources about how to start a conversation with your child regarding drug use.
PERMISSION FORM TO STAY AFTER SCHOOL AND WATCH BASKETBALL GAME:
If your student would like to stay after school to watch an upcoming basketball, this permission form must be completed and returned to the coach.
YEARBOOK:
It’s time to order your 2022-2023 yearbook. The price of the yearbook is $37.00. Simply log onto Jostensyearbook.com and follow the prompts. Any questions, please email Mrs. Gallucci, yearbook advisor, at [email protected].
SCHOOL HOURS REMINDER:
The instructional day begins at 7:18 a.m. and ends at 2:00 p.m. Students should not arrive at school prior to 7:05 a.m., as they will be unsupervised. The main office is open from 6:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
On a shortened day, the day begins at the usual time, but ends at 11:40 a.m. If there is a delayed opening, school begins at 9:18 a.m. and ends at 2:00 p.m. The main office hours may change in the event of an unexpected school delay or closing.