SOAR with WRMS August Newsletter |
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AUGUST
8/22 - Back to School Night - 6:00pm - 7:35pm 8/29 - Ed Fund Meeting - 4:15pm (via Google Meet)
SEPTEMBER 9/2 - Labor Day - NO SCHOOL 9/4 - 9/18 - Coins for a Cure Fundraiser 9/5 - Family Picnic - During both 6th & 7th/8th Lunches 9/16 - Picture Make-ups - During the school day
9/16 - PTSA Meeting - 7:00pm 9/19 - Ed Fund Meeting - 4:15pm (via Google Meet) 9/20 - Welcome Back Dance (WRMS Students Only) 2:45pm - 4:45pm
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Welcome Back, Falcons!
I’m so excited to be back on campus with you all. I already saw some of you at Registration, at WEB Day, and I even saw some of you around town this past week. From what I’ve been hearing, summer was a good one for most of you. And I also heard that some of you couldn’t wait to be back on campus with your friends and be back in the classroom. We have a lot of new faces on campus this year, and one of those is Ms. Stephanie Davenport, our new Assistant Principal! You will also be happy to hear that Ms. Christine Helmer will be returning as Assistant Principal :)
As we begin the 24-25 school year, we are building upon what we started 19 years ago all the way up to last school year. Academic awards and accolades are a point of pride for WRMS, and just as important as that is the pride we carry in knowing how far we’ve come in building an empathetic and inclusive community that prioritizes the learning of every single student. A lot of work was done these past years throughout the district in understanding what our global community and what the future workforce is looking for; and it is clear that our students must build upon their content knowledge and become stronger critical thinkers, collaborators, and lifelong learners. As a staff and in Community Conversations, we discussed what this would mean for our students and how we serve them, resulting in a new school vision - At Windemere Ranch Middle, we cultivate a community of empathetic critical thinkers, building upon our strengths as lifelong learners.
With your continued support, this vision is a reality. Your donations to the WRMS Education Foundation allow us to provide smaller class size averages, more elective offerings, the after school Windemere Workspace, support a more inclusive school community, opportunities for all students to dive into deeper learning, and added support for teachers and staff to be their best for your children and our school community every day. Classroom and program-specific donations go directly to the rooms in which your children will be learning every day - classroom libraries, daily supplies, engaging and updated curriculum, musical performances, and after school sports and clubs are possible because of your amazing generosity. Through PTSA, you help fund school wide events that are available for all students such as Heritage Night, the AMC Math Contest, Family Picnics, Wellness Days, lunchtime play equipment, teacher appreciation and staff support, and supporting our Sister School. When you donate your time and when you are on campus with the students in the classrooms and in the courtyard, the students are smiling from ear to ear and beaming with pride. Your donations of time and finances have and will continue to elevate the learning experience at WRMS; if you haven’t already donated, you can still do that here.
Please always remember - in community and for our community - that’s how every Falcon will become the empathetic critical thinker that our global community, and our own school community, needs in order to be better.
Welcome back, Falcons. Let’s make 24-25 the best year yet! Ms. Baltazar |
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Important Back to School Night Information |
This Thursday, 8/22/24, from 6:00pm-7:35pm, is our annual Back to School Night! Be sure to arrive early as parking is very limited. Parents/caregivers will head to their child’s 1st period class for a message from Ms. Baltazar that starts promptly at 6:00pm. From there, parents/caregivers will follow their child’s schedule and visit each classroom for a 7 minute presentation from our teachers. Don’t worry - you will have 5 minutes between each period to get to the next class! Your child will be bringing home with them a BTSN schedule handout that should be filled out with each of their teacher names and classroom number. You can also click here to download and print the form at home so you can fill it out together.
As a reminder, this evening is meant for all families to receive important information about your child’s classes. If you need to talk with the teachers about specific concerns or questions about your own child, please schedule a conference for another evening. |
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| Greetings, Windemere Ranch Middle School Families!
I hope this message finds you well. This newsletter includes important updates on how to use Google Classroom and Infinite Campus, as well as information about purchasing insurance for your student’s Chromebook. Please take a moment to read through these details. Google Classroom as Our New Learning Management System
Our district is now using Google Classroom for managing digital assignments. Students will use this platform to submit their work, view upcoming and missing assignments, and stay organized with a “To Do” list. On Thursday, students will watch this video in their advisory class explaining how to navigate Google Classroom. I highly recommend watching the video with your child and discussing how they can effectively use this tool.
If you’d like to receive weekly updates on your child’s assignments, you should have received an email titled “Join Google Classroom as a Guardian” (please check your Spam folder). If you did not receive this email, you can request assistance by submitting an IT ticket here.
Checking Grades on Infinite Campus To monitor your child’s grades, please use Infinite Campus. Students will watch a tutorial video on Thursday to help them navigate this platform. I encourage you to watch the video together with your child.
Chromebook Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing Chromebook insurance through the district for $40. With new policies in place, families will be charged for Chromebook repairs: $100 for the first repair, $200 for the second, and $400-$500 for the third. WRMS has one of the highest rates of Chromebook damage in the district, largely due to student misuse. You can use the QR code or this LINK to sign up for insurance.
Technology Support and Parent Education Night We understand there are several changes this year regarding technology. We’re here to support you! Stay tuned for details about an upcoming parent education night where we’ll provide more guidance. Thank you for your ongoing support. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.
Best regards,
Christine Helmer
Assistant Principal, Windemere Ranch Middle School |
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Hello Windemere Ranch Middle School Families!
I am honored to introduce myself as the newly appointed Assistant Principal of both Gale Ranch and Windemere Ranch Middle Schools. I have had the warmest welcome joining this incredible school community, and I look forward to contributing to the success and well-being of our students, staff, and community.
Most recently, I taught Core 7 at Pine Valley Middle School. Prior to that, I taught Core 7, Leadership, AVID, and Wheel at Charlotte Wood Middle School for nine years. My teaching journey began teaching 3rd grade for two years.
I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and look forward to getting to know each of you. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions, concerns, or ideas you may have. My door is always open! I look forward to working together to ensure that Windemere Ranch continues to be a place where every student thrives academically and emotionally.
Thank you for welcoming me into your community. It’s going to be a wonderful year, and I can’t wait to celebrate our collective successes. Go Falcons! Best, Ms. Stephanie Davenport Assistant Principal, Windemere Ranch Middle School |
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Arriving late to school: Students arriving to school after the bell rings to their first class period must sign in at the attendance office before going to class. If a student arrives to school 30 minutes after their school day has started, a parent note or phone call is required (p. 11, WRMS Student Handbook). Leaving during the day: If a student must be dismissed before the end of the school day, an email, a phone call or note must be given to the attendance office in advance.
The parent or guardian must come to the attendance window to sign the student out. Additional information on leaving early can be found on page 11 of the Student Handbook. |
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Advisory / Tutorials Students are responsible for signing up in advance for Monday and Thursday Tutorials. Tutorials will start on September 5.
Students should check their schedule in the Student Portal everyday to ensure they are attending the correct Tutorial. If the student does not attend their assigned tutorial they will be marked absent. If they have gone to a class other than their assigned tutorial, it is the student's responsibility to have that teacher email school attendance. Parents are not able to clear these absences. |
Tardies: Students who arrive to class after the bell rings for any of their class periods will be considered and marked tardy for that class. Accumulated tardies within the quarter will receive the following consequences:
The 5th tardy will result in a lunch detention The 8th tardy will result in an after school detention 10 tardies or more may result in a Saturday School
Please see the WRMS Student Handbook/Planner (p. 10-11) for more information regarding our tardy policy. Please remember that the only absences that are excused are illnesses and medical/dental appointments.
To report an absence, please call the 24 Hour Hotline or send an email with student first & last name, student ID # and reason for absence.
925-479-7470 / wrattend@srvusd.net |
WRMS Staff Lounge Wish List |
If you would like to show our teachers and staff some appreciation, this is an easy way to do so. Our school health room can also use some snacks and other various supplies when students are ill. Thank you for your continuous support for our staff, students, and community. Sign Up Genius |
Picture Make Up Day / Order School Portraits |
Did your student miss the August 5 picture day? They will have the opportunity to take their photo on September 16 during their PE class. Students will not be changing into their PE uniform until after their picture has been taken. You can order school portraits, band photos, or even photos from previous years by visiting the Creative Imaging Website. You will need your student's ID number to locate their photographs. https://www.ciphotoca.com/windemere |
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The library is excited to see all of our students back. So far we have checked out 1167 books to our students. Our first theme of the year is 'Welcome to our reading era'. Please follow @WRMSinsta on Instagram to hear more about the WRMS campus. |
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Important Elective Change Request Information: WRMS students will have an opportunity to make one elective change request on Monday, August 19th after 3pm. Forms will be available in the Counseling Office and due back to the Counseling Office by Friday, August 23rd at 3pm. Late forms will not be accepted. No exceptions. Due to class capacity, we may not be able to honor all elective change requests.
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We love parent volunteers! All volunteers must apply through Be A Mentor. All information and details as well as links to apply can be found HERE on the District Website.
*If you are already cleared through Be A Mentor, be sure to log into your account Dashboard and add Windemere Ranch as your student's school. Please note, you must provide proof of TB clearance every 4 years. |
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Join me in welcoming our new PTSA president La Vonda Harts. She comes from Bella Vista with PTSA experience and she is excited to be serving our Windemere Staff and Community. Join PTSA today!
Please sign up for the PTSA Newsletter to stay in the know! Membership is not required to receive the newsletter. |
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Digital Classroom Support |
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You will find a lot of great information in your student's planner. Please take a minute and read the School Rules section with your student.
- If your student has forgotten their lunch at home, you may drop it off outside the main office on the grade level lunch carts.
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Please do not have a meal delivery service (Uber Eats, Door Dash, etc.) deliver lunch to your student. If you choose to bring your student food from a restaurant, please place the food in a distinguishable lunch box or plain bag labeled with student name, rather than the restaurant bag to avoid any mix-ups.
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If your student forgets something at home, you may bring it into the office. Students may pick it up only during passing period, break or lunchtime.
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Windemere Ranch Middle
11611 East Branch Pkwy., San Ramon, CA 94582
(925) 479-7400 |
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