CALENDAR CORRECTION There is NO school on November 22. The Community Calendar shows this day as a school day and it is not. TEST: INCLEMENT WEATHER NOTIFICATION This past Friday, a “test message” was sent out using the contact information currently in our Skylert notification system. Skylert is used by the Oconto Falls School District to inform the community about school closing, early dismissal, and late start events caused by inclement weather. If you were expecting to receive certain notifications but did not receive them, please follow the directions below: Log into Skyward Family Access.

Click on Skylert - located on the left side.

Click Edit.

Add any alternative email addresses and/or phone numbers where you would like alerts sent.

Check the boxes for each corresponding categories for all of your email addresses and phone numbers.

Click Save. OTHER KEY INFORMATION: The winter months often bring weather changes which impact student transportation. Please be aware of the following: Whenever road conditions require slow bus

travel, your children will be arriving home later than the usual time. It may be as much as a half hour past their regular time. We ask that you be patient in dealing with this situation.

Late transportation will not run when there is an early dismissal or evening cancellations due to inclement weather.

DEER HUNTING - November 20 & 21 Students planning to be absent on November 20 & 21 must complete a “Pre-Excused Absence Form” and attach a copy of their hunting license or hunter safety permit. A parent must sign the “absence form” giving permission for the student to be gone or send a handwritten note. The “absence form” notifies teachers of the student’s intention to be absent and establishes an understanding that missing assignments will be made up. If your child is struggling academically, we recommend that your child remain in school. Students can pick up the “absence forms” from the school office.

Stephanie S. Landreman, Principal Anthony J. Logue, Assistant Principal Washington Middle School November 17, 2017

Web address: www.ocontofalls.k12.wi.us/wash/

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR Washington Middle School would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to the following individuals for bringing the Scholastic Book Fair to our school: Natalie Peters, Keely Hendricks, Robin Allen, Tina Allen, Melissa Rymer, Deanne Hytinen, Rachel Collar, and Sue Landreman. We would also like to thank the parents, students, and teachers who purchased books this year. Your support is always appreciated! STUDENT COUNCIL HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE Student Council is sponsoring a Holiday Food Drive during the week of December 12. More details and a list of suggestions will be in the next Friday Notes. Only nonperishable items will be accepted. Please take note of the expiration date on any food items you wish to donate. Also, the original label must be on all canned items.

BELL RINGERS NEEDED Witt’s Piggly Wiggly is in need of volunteers to be bell ringers for the Salvation Army “red kettle” collections in Oconto Falls. Please call “The Pig” (920-846-2805) if you are interested in volunteering.

CHEER & STUNT CLINIC Parents, the OFHS cheerleaders would like to invite your child to learn how to cheer, chant, jump, stunt and dance like the OFHS cheerleaders while you finish your Christmas shopping! The Cheer Clinic is for girls and boys, ages 5-13. It will be held at Oconto Falls High School on December 2, 2017, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. A parent performance will be held at 1:30 p.m. Participating kids will get to perform at OFHS on December 5 during half time of the varsity basketball game. The cost to participate is $30 per person and includes a lunch and t-shirt. Make checks payable to OFHS Cheer. Registration forms are available in the literature rack by the office. Registrations are due by November 22. This event will be held regardless of weather conditions. THANKSGIVING BREAK - November 22-24 We wish all our deer hunters a safe and enjoyable experience. We also wish all of our Washington Middle School families a thankful, family-oriented Thanksgiving.

Web address: https://ofpanthers.com/schools/washington-middle-school

Friday Notes Page 2 Friday Notes

ART PALETTE

Congratulations to Samantha Rosselli for her winning entry to the State Capitol Commemorative Art Contest! There were over 200 contest entries from all grades. Samantha’s artwork will be on display representing the 8th Grade Level in the Capitol Rotunda and can be found on the Commission’s Facebook page. To see Samantha’s work go to https:www.facebook.com/Capitol100YearCelebration/.

Congratulations to our October Artists of the Month!

6th Grade Animal Color Scheme Paintings: Grace Aprill, Joshua Reinke, Shaun Clarmont, Amber Allen, Kyndra Staidl, Morgan Moynihan

6th Grade Linoleum Printmaking: Abigail Roskom, Alex Egan, Ashlynn Vanderheyden, Allison Remic

7th Grade Watercolor Paintings: Sydney Bell, Helen Marquardt, Madeline DeVillers, Morgan Kluth, Jesse Martinez

7th Grade Caricature Drawings: Helen Marquardt, Brookelyn Zadow

8th Grade Acrylic Pop Art Paintings: Leanna Havemeier, Danielle Darby, Isaac Raddatz, Karlie Kowalczyk, Joseph Adams

Fresco Geckos: If you are interested in helping decorate for Breakfast with Santa, please pick up your permission form in the art room. We will be decorating the St. Anthony downstairs hall after school on November 30 until late transportation. Our next club meeting is Thursday, December 14 after school.

Students who were in Quint 1 Art Class may receive a replacement sketchbook if the old sketchbook is returned to Mrs. Knoerzer. WMS was sent a defective batch of sketchbooks and many of them fell apart during art class.

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Counselor’s Corner Mrs. Schneider, Washington Middle School Counselor

TIME MANAGEMENT A very important study skill is time management. By developing good time management skills, students will have time to do their homework, chores, practices, and still have plenty of time left for fun. Good time management needs to become a habit in order to be effective. Here are some ideas for good time management.

Make a list of all the things you need to get done. Your agenda is a good place to write your list. Look at your schedule the night before, so you can plan for the next day. There is no time like the present to get in the habit of writing down appointments, practices, and assignments in your agenda.

Use class time and study halls wisely. Always use the time your teachers give you in class to start on homework. This is a great time to ask questions/ask for help, so work at home is a “piece of cake.”

Create a study plan. Your study plan needs to be based on what ’s going to work for you, and might vary a little from day to day. Always save a good amount of time each day for school work. If you don’t have any homework, use the time to review notes, do flashcards, or work on long-term projects.

Prepare for distractions. Identify anything that could interrupt your study time and figure out how to eliminate or avoid it. For example, study in a quiet area.

Parents: Your son or daughter might need some monitoring in order for good time management to become a habit.

Family Activity Every other month in Life Skills class, a Family Activity is handed out called "Family Wisdom". This is an activity for you and your child to do together. The activity focuses on the Character Trait of the Month and is a sheet of conversation starters, activities and thought provoking questions that provide a very important opportunity to discuss extremely important issues with your child. Please sign the bottom of the sheet, cut on the dotted line, and have your child return it to Mrs. Schneider for a treat and a chance to be drawn for a prize each quarter. At the end of the year, there will be a grand prize for the child that returns the most Family Wisdom sheets with parent signature.

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BREAKFAST ANYONE? Mornings can be really hectic but we have good news for you. Breakfast is available at school! Take advantage of this option to ensure your child eats a nutritious breakfast. Recent studies show a link between nutrition and learning. A nutritious breakfast helps students be more alert so they can actively participate in class. Breakfast has vitamins and nutrients for a strong and healthy body.

Breakfast at school is affordable, too. A full breakfast costs less than convenience store items. Breakfast at school is only $1.95. If you qualify for free and reduced price meals, you also qualify for free or reduced price breakfast with no additional paperwork. Reduced breakfast is only $.30 per day! Nowhere else will you find a balanced breakfast at such a low cost. So take advantage of this opportunity to start the day on the right foot. Also a reminder that Free and Reduced Meal applications can be filled out anytime throughout the school year. If you think you may qualify or had a loss in income, feel free to fill one out. It not only benefits the child but also benefits many school programs. If you have questions regarding an application, questions about food service or your family’s account, please feel free to call me, Amanda Sonnenburg, Food Service Secretary, 920-848-4466 ext. 3, or email me at amanda.sonnenburg@of-ps.org.

BAND CONCERT WMS Bands will perform their annual holiday concert on Tuesday, December 19, at 6:30 p.m. in the Falls Area PAC. Students must be at the high school band room by 6:00 p.m. but not before since the practice rooms and the PAC will not be open until then. Students are reminded to wear appropriate concert attire. CHOIR CONCERT WMS Choirs will perform their winter concert on Tuesday, December 12, at 6:30 p.m. in the Falls Area PAC. Students will need to arrive by 6:00 p.m. and report to the band, choir, and music lab rooms for attendance and warmups. Students will leave their coats in these rooms during the concert. If you have any questions, please email Mrs. McCully at rachel.mccully@of-ps.org.

FFA HAPPENINGS The FFA Fruit Sale has started! If you wish to purchase any fruit, meat, cheese, or mustard, please

contact any Washington Middle School FFA member or contact Mrs. Markhardt at mariah.markhardt@of-ps.org. Orders are due by November 24 and delivery is expected to be the 2nd week in December.

If your student needs more Fruit Sale order forms, they are located in the office, on the FFA Bulletin Board or in the Agriculture Room.

The next after school FFA meeting is scheduled to be held in the WMS Agriculture room on December 14 from 3:30 to 5:15 pm. We will be having the chapter's holiday party with cookie decorating and more! If your student wishes to participate in the White Elephant Gift exchange, they can bring a wrapped item to the meeting.

It is still not too late to join FFA! If your student wishes to join FFA, they can complete and return an FFA membership form before December 1.

SUCCESS TUTORING Washington Middle School will be offering an after-school tutoring program twice a week, Mondays and Thursdays, from 3:20-5:15 p.m. Students will learn organization strategies and study skill strategies and will also have time to complete homework. The next sessions are scheduled on November 20, November 27, November 30, December 4 , and December 7. (Late transportation is an option for $1.) INTERNATIONAL CLUB International club is an opportunity to hang out with others who enjoy learning about cultures around the world. Our next event will be on Tuesday, November 21. We’ll be cooking up some fun, so please join us in room 808 at 3:20 p.m. ACES ACTIVITIES The Washington Middle School ACES have the following activities planned:

December 7 - Cosmic Bowling at The Gutter on Lineville - 3:30-6:30 p.m.

January 19 - Kroc Center (swimming, waterslides, gym time)

February 5 - Ski trip to Ski Brule

March - Dodgeball tournament (teams of 5 open to everyone in school) held at WMS.

Friday Notes

Friday Notes Page 2 Page 4

Monday 20 MS Wrestling Parent Meeting - Central St. Gym - Mr. Bramer SUCCESS Tutoring - Room 807 - Miss O’Neil & Mrs. Schneider Adult Basketball - Washington St. Gym - Mr. Wheeler

6:00-7:30 3:20-5:15 6:00-10:00

Tuesday 21 Grade 6 Field Trip - Movie & NEW Zoo 7th Grade Boys’ Basketball - HOME - Freedom 8th Grade Boys’ Basketball - AWAY - Freedom, Bus departs 2:45 6th Grade Hoops Club - Washington St. Gym - Mr. Raddatz International Club - Rm 808 & Central St. Gym - Mrs. Loew & Mrs. Schroeder

8:20-2:45 4:15 4:15 6:00-7:30 3:20-5:30

Wednesday- Friday Saturday

22-24

25

THANKSGIVING BREAK Avenue of Lights Ceremony - East Side Beach

6:00

Monday 27 7th & 8th Grade Boys’ Basketball - HOME - Marinette SUCCESS Tutoring - Room 807 - Miss O’Neil & Mrs. Schneider St. Anthony Basketball - Washington St. Gym - Mrs. Kurek

4:30 & 5:30 3:20-5:15 6:30-8:00

Tuesday 28 7th Grade Boys’ Basketball - AWAY - Seymour, Bus departs 2:45 8th Grade Boys’ Basketball - HOME - Seymour Tae Kwon Do - Central St. Gym - Sherry Czarapata 6th Grade Hoops Club - Washington St. Gym - Mr. Raddatz Environmental Club - Rm 639 - Mrs. Koller

4:15 4:15 5:30-8:30 6:00-7:30 3:30-5:00

Wednesday 29 St. Anthony Basketball - Washington St. Gym - Mrs. Kurek 6:00-8:00

Thursday 30 7th Grade Boys’ Basketball - AWAY - Freedom, Bus departs 2:45 8th Grade Boys’ Basketball - HOME - Freedom SUCCESS Tutoring - Room 807 - Miss O’Neil & Mrs. Schneider 6th Grade Hoops Club - Washington St. Gym - Mr. Raddatz

4:15 4:15 3:20-5:15 6:00-7:30

Monday 4 SUCCESS Tutoring - Room 807 - Miss O’Neil & Mrs. Schneider 7th Grade Boys’ Basketball - AWAY - Shawano, Bus departs 3:15 8th Grade Boys’ Basketball - HOME - Shawano Adult Basketball - Washington St. Gym - Casey Williams MS Panther Dance Club - Central St. Gym - Laura Beschta

3:20-5:15 4:15 4:15 6:00-10:00 3:30-5:30

Tuesday 5 7th Grade Boys’ Basketball - HOME - Shawano, Bus departs 2:45 8th Grade Boys’ Basketball - AWAY - Shawano Tae Kwon Do - Central St. Gym - Sherry Czarapata 6th Grade Hoops Club - Washington St. Gym - Mr. Raddatz MS Panther Dance Club - Central St. Gym - Laura Beschta

4:15 4:15 5:30-8:30 6:00-7:30 3:30-5:30

Wednesday 6 MS Panther Dance Club - Central St. Gym - Laura Beschta 3:30-5:30

Thursday 7 7th Grade Boys’ Basketball - AWAY - Clintonville, Bus departs 2:30 8th Grade Boys’ Basketball - HOME - Clintonville SUCCESS Tutoring - Room 807 - Miss O’Neil & Mrs. Schneider 6th Grade Hoops Club - Washington St. Gym - Mr. Raddatz ACES Cosmic Bowling - The Gutter on Lineville - Mrs. Schwantes

4:15 4:15 3:20-5:15 6:00-7:30 3:30-6:30

Friday 8 Friday Notes go home.

Mark Your Calendar November

Avenue of Lights Lighting Ceremony - Saturday, November 25

East Side Beach on Hwy 22 in Oconto Falls

Musical entertainment will begin at 6:00 p.m., Avenue Lighting at 6:30 p.m.

Santa will be handing out candy canes to the children!

Cookies & hot cocoa will be served.

(Note: Student Council at WMS has decorated a tree for this display.)

December