EMAIL UPDATE -- WEEK OF DECEMBER 18 -- WHEELER MIDDLE SCHOOL

                                              ********** . Please let me know if you've moved and no longer need to receive these emails!  **********

Our Jersey Mike's fundraiser is still happening -- until this Wednesday, December 20. Coupons are attached (and all you need to do is show the coupon on your phone, so they can see the code). Our school earns $3 for each redeemed coupon! Thanks so much for the support shown so far!

Donations are still being accepted for Mrs. Morimoto's Leadership class! They have been collecting toiletries to give to the homeless -- if you'd still like to donate, please drop off items in Room B1. Thank you to those who have already donated items! A few more items would be greatly appreciated!

Just a reminder: PTSO still sells school t-shirts ($10) and sweatshirts ($25). With the chilly weather we've been having, a WMS sweatshirt might make a cool Christmas gift for your child! They can be purchased in Room P-7.

WEDNESDAY, DEC 20:  This is an EVEN day; students go to their even-numbered periods, plus Homeroom and Advisory.  Students will be dismissed at 1:27.

THURSDAY, DEC 21:  End of second quarter and Activity Day:  students will be dismissed at 1:27.  Please make sure your students' dues are paid, so they may participate in all of the fun activities planned!

FRIDAY, DEC 22 - MONDAY, JAN 8:  Winter Break!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

TUESDAY, JAN 9:  Students return to school; third quarter begins.  New bell schedule takes effect.  Students will begin their day with Period 5 (see attached new bell schedule).

TUESDAY, JAN 9:  PTSO meeting at 3:00 pm in the IRC (Library).

FRIDAY, JAN 19:  Parent Engagement Workshop, 9-4, at the Hawaii Convention Center.  This workshop, sponsored by "Parents for Public Schools Hawaii," will provide training and tools to support parental involvement in schools and give parents a voice in education issues.

Please take a look at the attached Parents for Public Schools info and flyers.   Information from the Parents for Public School Hawaii website: "Parents for Public Schools Hawaii ("PPS-HI") is a non-profit 501(c)(3) coalition of parents, community members, and educators who are committed to ensuring all children in Hawai`i have access to a quality public education. We strive to increase family and community engagement through programs, events, and other activities. We also work with key decision makers to advocate for policies that increase educational opportunities for parents, families, and children".  For more information on Parents for Public Schools Hawaii, please visit their website: ppshi.org

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to email me and I'll do my best to get you an answer!

Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!   My next email will go out on January 9th!

Mary

--

Mary Rice

Parent Community Networking Center (PCNC) Facilitator

Wheeler Middle School

808-305-9032

ADDITION TO WEEKLY EMAIL -- WEEK OF DECEMBER 11 -- WHEELER MIDDLE SCHOOL

Good morning!  Here's an addition to my weekly email:

7th graders in Mrs. Morimoto's Leadership class have chosen to collect toiletry items for the homeless as their project for this quarter.  If you'd like to help, donations are being accepted through next Monday, December 18.  Personal hygiene items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, soap, shampoo, etc, would be greatly appreciated.  Students can drop off donations in Room B1.

'Tis the season!

Mary

--

Mary Rice

Parent Community Networking Center (PCNC) Facilitator

Wheeler Middle School

808-305-9032

EMAIL UPDATE -- WEEK OF DECEMBER 11 -- WHEELER MIDDLE SCHOOL

                                     ********** . Please let me know if you've moved and no longer need to receive these emails!  **********

Happy Sunday everyone!   Sending out this email a bit early this week -- lots to share with you!

Thank you to our military partner unit (3-25 Aviation Regiment) for their help in securing 400+ chairs for our band's winter concert last weekend!  In spite of their own scheduled event, they were able to make the time to assist us in setting up for the concert and again by picking up the chairs a couple of days later.   Wheeler Middle School is so appreciative of our military partners -- they always come through when needed!

Thank you to our awesome students, parents, and school staff for your support of our Scholastic Book Fair!  

Did you hear? Jersey Mike's is opening at the PX on Monday, December 11! Wheeler Middle School is hosting a fundraiser in honor of their GRAND OPENING! Jersey Mike's has provided coupons for us to share with you -- present the coupon (paper or show the image on your phone) and WMS will receive $3 for each coupon redeemed! Please make sure the code in the lower right corner of the coupon is visible to the cashier, in order for our school to be credited. Coupons are only good from Monday, Dec 11 until Wednesday, Dec 20, at the Schofield Exchange location. Please see attached flyer with coupons! (Coupons were also sent home on Thursday).

Just a reminder: PTSO still sells school t-shirts ($10) and sweatshirts ($25). With the chilly weather we've been having, a WMS sweatshirt might make a cool Christmas gift for your child! They can be purchased in Room P-7.

And speaking of colder weather, a big MAHALO to two of our teachers, Ms. Cheryl Lee and Mrs. Shei Kato (Murata) -- they treated students to hot cocoa during lunch on one of the cooler days last week!

TUESDAY, DEC 12:  PTSO meeting at 3:00 pm, in the IRC (Library).  You don't need to be a member to attend!  Everyone is welcome!

WEDNESDAY, DEC 13:  This is an ODD day; students go to their odd-numbered periods, plus Homeroom and Advisory.

WEDNESDAY, DEC 13:  Please be sure your child's registration forms (for school year 2018-19) are turned in by this Wednesday!

WEDNESDAY, DEC 13:  Our last SPIRIT DAY of the quarter!   This will be a THROWBACK (or Retro/Flashback) DAY!  Students can earn spirit points for their homeroom by wearing clothes and/or accessories from past eras!  

WEDNESDAY, DEC 13:  Portraits of Hawaii has agreed to come back one more time to retake school pictures!  If any of your children are new or just missed picture days, they will have one more opportunity to have school pictures taken -- on Wednesday, December 13!  Order forms will be sent home with those students who are missing school pictures -- even if you do not want to order any pictures, please ask your child to have his/her picture taken for the yearbook!

SATURDAY, DEC 16:  Come cheer on our basketball players, coaches, and cheerleaders, as they play against Wahiawa Middle School!  Games will be held at Leilehua High School; 7th grade girls play at 8:00 am, followed by 7th grade boys at 8:30, 8th grade girls at 9:00, and 8th grade boys at 9:30.

SATURDAY, DEC 16 - THURSDAY, DEC 21:  Barnes & Noble is supporting "Parents for Public Schools Hawaii" (more info on this group below) and is hosting a book fair in the Ala Moana Center.  You may also go to their website at BN.com/bookfairs and enter 12271128 as the fair ID number.

WEDNESDAY, DEC 20:  CORRECTED INFORMATION:  This is an EVEN day; students go to their even-numbered periods, plus Homeroom and Advisory.  I previously put out that it would be a regular school day, with school ending at 2:40 -- please note that we will follow our regular Wednesday schedule instead and students will be dismissed at 1:27 pm.

THURSDAY, DEC 21:  End of second quarter and Activity Day:  students will be dismissed at 1:27.  Please make sure your students' dues are paid, so they may participate in all of the fun activities planned!

FRIDAY, DEC 22 - MONDAY, JAN 8:  Winter Break!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

TUESDAY, JAN 9:  Students return to school; third quarter begins.  New bell schedule takes effect.  Students will begin their day with Period 5 (I'll attach a new schedule in a later email).

FRIDAY, JAN 19:  Parent Engagement Workshop, 9-4, at the Hawaii Convention Center.  This workshop, sponsored by "Parents for Public Schools Hawaii," will provide training and tools to support parental involvement in schools and give parents a voice in education issues.

Please take a look at the attached Parents for Public Schools info and flyers.   Information from the Parents for Public School Hawaii website: "Parents for Public Schools Hawaii ("PPS-HI") is a non-profit 501(c)(3) coalition of parents, community members, and educators who are committed to ensuring all children in Hawai`i have access to a quality public education. We strive to increase family and community engagement through programs, events, and other activities. We also work with key decision makers to advocate for policies that increase educational opportunities for parents, families, and children".  For more information on Parents for Public Schools Hawaii, please visit their website: ppshi.org

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to email me and I'll do my best to get you an answer!

Mary

--

Mary Rice

Parent Community Networking Center (PCNC) Facilitator

Wheeler Middle School

808-305-9032

EMAIL UPDATE -- WEEK OF DECEMBER 3 -- WHEELER MIDDLE SCHOOL

                                  ********  Please let me know if you have recently moved and no longer need to receive these emails! ********

Please scroll down to see this week's updates!   I've extended my information to include holiday dates as well (to help with your travel plans, if any!).

I've copied an excerpt from an article that appeared in the Hawaii Army Weekly and thought it worth sharing.  Our 7th grade students participated in a walk-a-thon back in October, to raise awareness and money for a school in Sierra Leone.  The 7th graders raised a total of $833.66.  The walk-a-thon was a culminating activity, based on a novel they read during first quarter.   Here is the excerpt and link to the article:  

http://www.hawaiiarmyweekly.com/2017/11/24/wheeler-middle-schoolers-walk-in-support-of-orphans/

WHEELER ARMY AIRFIELD — On a recent cloudy Thursday morning, seventh grade students at Wheeler Middle School spent a class period walking around the school field.

As students completed laps, teachers cheered them on in their efforts to raise awareness and money for a school in Sierra Leone.

Sierra International Academy seeks to provide equal access and quality education to orphans from the Ebola outbreak in 2014.

Learning endeavor
Students began learning about the day-to-day struggles that children around the world endure through their first quarter novel, A Long Walk to Water, by Linda Sue Park. The historical fiction depicts the stories of two characters living in Southern Sudan.

One story describes the hardships of Salva, a real life character who struggles to find survival during Sudan's Civil War. The second story is about Nya, a fictional character, who spends eight hours a day walking to a well to collect water for her family. Although the two accounts portray different experiences of adversity, both center on the theme of perseverance and determination.

Prior to the walk-a-thon that took place in October, students raised money through flat donations. Trevor Gust, a seventh grade student, donated his personal piggy bank collection for the cause.

Students gathered money with the understanding that, regardless of the amount of money raised, collective action has the power to invoke dialogue and beget sustainable solutions for our communities. Through the project-curriculum approach, students are making learning meaningful by transferring the knowledge and skills they acquire to spaces outside of the classroom.

Gratitude and encouragement
The walk-a-thon was symbolic for the daily struggles that children around the world must endure to provide for basic needs. The seventh grade student body raised a total of $833.66. Students from Wheeler Middle and Sierra International Academy reciprocated gratitude and encouragement by exchanging poster-sized messages that they created together in groups.

MONDAY, DEC 4 - THURSDAY, DEC 7:  Last few days of our Scholastic Book Fair, hosted by PTSO.  Online shopping (at http://www.scholastic.com/bf/wheelermiddleschool) began November 18.  Book fair is located in Portable 7.  Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.  Even if you've already shopped at the Book Fair, stop by again!  We are receiving new items every day!  Check out our supply of tee shirts, blankets, travel mugs, back packs, sports water bottles, tumblers with lids, and more!  It's a great place to get some Christmas shopping done!

WEDNESDAY, DEC 6:  This is an EVEN day; students go to their even-numbered periods, plus Homeroom and Advisory.

THURSDAY, DEC 7:   Talent Show auditions will be held after school on Thursday, December 7, from 2:45-4:00 pm.  The Talent Show will be held on December 21.  All interested students must sign up with Mrs. Wada-Goode, in Room C7, during recess, from November 27 - December 6. 

SATURDAY, DEC 9:  Come cheer on our basketball players, coaches, and cheerleaders as they play their first game of the season at Aiea High School!   Our teams will play against Aliamanu Middle School; games begin at 11:00 (7th grade boys), followed by 8th grade girls at 11:30, and 8th grade boys at 12:00.  Our 7th grade girls will play against Mililani Middle School at 12:30.  Please see our updated games schedule (attached).

TUESDAY, DEC 12:  PTSO meeting at 3:00 pm, in the IRC (Library). 

WEDNESDAY, DEC 13:  This is an ODD day; students go to their odd-numbered periods, plus Homeroom and Advisory.

WEDNESDAY, DEC 13:  Our last SPIRIT DAY of the quarter!   This will be a THROWBACK (or Retro/Flashback) DAY!  Students can earn spirit points for their homeroom by wearing clothes and/or accessories from past eras!  

WEDNESDAY, DEC 13:  Portraits of Hawaii has agreed to come back one more time to retake school pictures!  If any of your children are new or just missed picture days, they will have one more opportunity to have school pictures taken -- on Wednesday, December 13!  Order forms will be sent home with those students who are missing school pictures -- even if you do not want to order any pictures, please ask your child to have his/her picture taken for the yearbook!

SATURDAY, DEC 16:  Come cheer on our basketball players, coaches, and cheerleaders, as they play against Wahiawa Middle School!  Games will be held at Leilehua High School; 7th grade girls play at 8:00 am, followed by 7th grade boys at 8:30, 8th grade girls at 9:00, and 8th grade boys at 9:30.

WEDNESDAY, DEC 20:  This will be a regular school day -- students will be dismissed at 2:40 (instead of 1:27).

THURSDAY, DEC 21:  End of second quarter and Activity Day:  students will be dismissed at 1:27.  Please make sure your students' dues are paid, so they may participate in all of the fun activities planned!

FRIDAY, DEC 22 - MONDAY, JAN 8:  Winter Break!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

TUESDAY, JAN 9:  Students return to school; third quarter begins.  New bell schedule takes effect.  Students will begin their day with Period 5 (I'll attach a new schedule in a later email).

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to email me and I'll do my best to get you an answer!

Mary

--

Mary Rice

Parent Community Networking Center (PCNC) Facilitator

Wheeler Middle School

808-305-9032