Following is a Compilation of Tips for Parents with Children Who will be Attending Middle School Compiled by WMS Parents and the PTO

Welcome to Whitewater Middle School, a terrific school with outstanding teachers and staff!

As hard as it is, let them struggle and let them be held accountable for the things they need to be responsible for.

Just like we want the teachers to take the time to get to know each student with an open mind - the same goes for students being open-minded about the teachers. Just because a sibling or family friend may have a certain opinion about a particular teacher, doesn't mean that your child will have that same opinion or experience.

There are many great opportunities with after-school clubs/sports and other after-school activities - encourage your child to be involved and maybe try something new, it can be a great way to make new friends. (It's important to keep a balance between school and activities - and each child is different about how much they can juggle - so don't over-load - but encourage involvement of some type).

Campus Portal – This is important – Following are comments from a variety of parents:

Learn how to use the parent grade portal to check grades, homework, extra credit and for study tools as well as messages from the district and lunch money. Also, check teacher web pages.

You need a password to get into your child’s portal – check with the WMS office.

Use the portal; it is a great tool to help your child early if they are having difficulty.

At first, I checked Campus Portal daily, but I found out that for my son it was better to check it weekly. This is a great tool and will often list missing assignments. Most of the teachers use it, but sometimes there is a delay in updating it or their computers are down, so don’t panic if it says a missed assignment. Check with your child and you can always email the teacher if you have questions – they are receptive to emails from parents.

Campus portal also keeps track of your hot lunch money so you know when to replenish it.

Assignment Book

Check their assignment notebook on a regular basis and if you have a Smartphone the Infinite Campus app is great!!!

Strongly encourage, if not require, use of the assignment notebook, it is an important habit to get into.

Take Advantage of Programs offered like Homework Zone

There is after-school homework zone which is a great place for your child to get help with homework (and bus transportation is available if your student is a bus student).

Band and Choir

We have a terrific music department. If your child likes music, these programs are highly recommended and a great way to add the arts into your child’s life. They are electives and we are glad we chose them – they have been some of the best experiences for my child.

Band Lessons are not at the same time as Band

Make sure you understand how things like band lessons work (they are required for band students). Kids have lessons scheduled at different times during the day. Communication is the key – let Ms. Elliott know if there will be a missed lesson so it can be rescheduled. She is very approachable.

Mr. Kamp sets band lessons throughout the week, and kids need to keep track. If they cannot miss a core class to make a band lesson he is happy to reschedule as long as kids contact him.

Activity Night

You can't hold their hand forever and middle school is the time to start letting them have a little bit more freedom. Activity nights are great for them to feel a little bit of this freedom in a safe environment.

Activity Nights take place at WMS, and are typically 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on a few Fridays a year. The cost is $5 and it is a PTO fundraiser. It also is fun for the kids and in the past has featured a DJ with music; bingo; basketball; minecraft; time in the Fitness Room; and movies. We also have foods like pizza and snacks for kids to purchase. Parents chaperone the evening and it is a fun time for the kids to socialize in a safe environment. Tickets are sold during lunch the Thursday and Friday of the Activity Night and require a permission form. Students will need to pick up the form at the office or it can be accessed on the Whitewater Middle School PTO site.

Library Books

Remind your child to keep track of their overdue library books. It is important to return them on time. Language Arts teachers take students to the library once a week to check out and to return or renew items. If they need library access at another time, the library is open before school.

Locker and Schedule and Organization

After the ‘grace period’ that teachers give, some of them do not allow students to go back to their locker if they forgot to bring their assignment to class, which may result in a lower grade on that assignment.

Kids need to be organized so that they can carry items for two or three classes at a time – they are not allowed to go back to their locker after each class.

Get a locker-organizer for your child – they give an extra shelf on the bottom for all of the books and such.

My son has a sweatshirt with a middle pocket so he can carry a pencil with him at all times – then he won’t forget to bring it to class.

Another good item to have is a larger 3-ring zippered-portfolio (most of which have a handle attached) - it is very handy to house all of their class folders/notebooks/extra pens/pencils/student planner all into one. Then all they have to grab is this portfolio and their corresponding class book. (Sometimes that even fits in the binder as well such as their Spanish or French book)

Contacting/Communication with and from Teachers

Email your teachers if your child has a question about school, homework, missing assignments, etc. – they are receptive to communications and in my experience return emails quickly and kindly. Do not be afraid to contact the teachers – be an advocate for your child.

Make a point to meet the principal, office staff, guidance counselor, and as many teachers as possible.

Most teachers in the building post their daily assignments, upcoming projects, test dates, etc. on their web page. Some also upload any PowerPoint presentations or handouts if they have a digital copy. Many teachers also have links to educational websites that tie into their curriculum and online flashcards posted as well.

Math Placements

There are three math levels: regular, accelerated and pre-algebra (there are higher ones too that some kids are placed into). Placements usually go by MAP test scores. If you and your child think your child should be in a different math class let the teachers know as soon as possible.

Attend the Parent Orientation, Registration and Open House

Make sure to go to the parent orientation – it really helps you feel more at ease as a parent new to the WMS. This is a terrific school, and the orientation is great.

Make sure to take your child to the registration and open house. For sure at the open house (and often at registration), incoming 6th grade students can go see their locker and try it out – this gives great confidence and extra time to get used to it. Also, you can bring supplies at Open House and this helps a lot in making your child feel ready for school.

Computerized textbooks

Books are heavy and some of them can be found using the computer so your child doesn't have to take them home with them.

Mrs. Shinkay-Astin, School Counselor

WMS is lucky to have a terrific school counselor, who works hard to help the kids adjust and feel at home and enjoy school. Your child can always talk to her if they are feeling anxious, stressed and have things they need to talk about with a caring adult.

Time

Adjusting to Middle School will take some time. From having a locker, to being organized around a schedule, to making sure homework is completed…..it all will take time for your child to adjust. The teachers give a grace period for the incoming 6th grade students to get used to it.

Microwaves in the lunchroom

There are microwaves in the lunch room to warm up students’ food.

The World of Grades/Studying

Our students are not used to an A,B,C….grading schedule. This can be shocking as all items are graded and posted on Campus Portal (you need a password to see them). Assignments, quizzes and tests are all graded.

Studying is not something most of our kids have had to do…..this is a good time to get them into studying habits. Have them do problems not assigned in the book (some of the books put answers in the back to check them). This is a good time to learn about studying.

Paperwork

Paperwork is not always automatically sent home with your children – Flyers/permission forms about Activity Night are put by the office and students are expected to pick them up on their own. They are not hand-delivered to each student to give to parents (at Lincoln everything went home in a Wednesday folder – well not any more). They need to listen to announcements and stop at the office to pick up flyers regarding activities they are interested in.

Water Bottles

Many of the teachers (depending on the subject) allow students to bring water bottles to class as long as they are clear (so they can see that your child is drinking just water). There are also water fountain bottle refill stations scattered throughout the building. It is important to keep hydrated.

Get involved in the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and other School Activities

Attend School functions

Encourage your child to participate in after-school clubs and activities

Of course we had to add a pitch to have your help with the Parent Teacher Organization! There are lots of ways to be involved, including chaperoning at Activity Night, making food for the teachers during conferences and teacher appreciation week, helping out at the book fair, calling for volunteers, and more.

I found volunteering very helpful, as I could see how kids interact and learn more about my child’s school.

All Activity Night chaperones need a background check. The form is on the Whitewater Middle School Web Site (pull down on Discover WMS to the PTO site and click on Volunteer Background Check).

Please share your email so that we can communicate with you (this is separate from the school’s email). We will only use your email for the PTO and WMS communication. Please email ww.wms.pto@gmail.com and we will add you to the contact list.

Conferences

One of your child’s academic teachers will contact you to meet for conferences - that person will meet with the other teachers to gather information from them so he or she can report to you how your child is doing. If you would like to meet with the other academic teachers they would most likely be willing to meet, but you would need to set it up yourself separately. The teachers for Specials (band, choir, computer, French, Spanish, Health, gym, etc.) often set up in the library so that you can visit all of them before or after your academic conference.

Drop off and Pick up

Parents are encouraged to pick up students on Elizabeth Street in front of the school. They can drop off either on Elizabeth or in the circle drive. WMS requests that people do not park in the circle drive because the buses will come through.

Tips from the Office

I think it is IMPORTANT to encourage kids to listen to all announcements. From time to time events or activities are canceled at a moment’s notice; coaches and advisors have families, too and everyone gets sick at some point. If an event is canceled we will announce it. We will not personally let everyone know.

Also it is important if you call the office with an alternate after-school plan, that they listen to announcements - the office cannot always monitor who has picked up their message and who hasn't. The last 15 minutes of the day is a mad-house in the office with calls, bus issues and behavioral follow-ups.

Cellphone Use

As more and more kids are getting smart phones earlier and earlier parents should be aware that students are not to use them during the school day...especially at lunch. I believe this is written in the student calendar/organizer given out at the beginning of the school year, but usually goes unnoticed or ignored.

Please let us know if you have any questions or would like more information about the Middle School Parent Teacher Organization. Sending an email to ww.wms.pto@gmail.com is the best way to reach out.

On behalf of the PTO team

How can you learn more about PTO? Look us up!

Email: ww.wms.pto@gmail.com

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1780806452047928 

Website: https://sites.google.com/wwusd.org/wmspto

The mission of the Whitewater Middle School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is to support student activities, promote staff/family relationships, allow families and students to cultivate new friendships, develop a sense of community, and promote communication and guidance through the middle school years. We do this through volunteer and financial support.

PTO TIPS Revised April 2025