Westbrook Middle School

The Intercultural Community Center's FREE after school program is open for more registrations. Don't miss this active, free, fun, after school program!

Here is a link to our Positive News Bulletin. We share this over the intercom every Friday in addition to our PBIS raffle drawing. It's great to hear about the exciting things happening in our school! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XfqxB87zsPOGRGzWqKNcdm2Lwt75ByR3iUNawAYMEu4/edit?usp=sharing

On Monday, September 16th the 6th grade science classes got out into the WMS garden to do some hands-on science. Ms. Inkpen and Mr. Crosby’s science students spent their class time weighting, measuring, and counting the harvest that came out of 4 experimental garden beds. This project was begun by Ms. Hanna’s 5th grade science class in the spring. These students learned about experimental designs and then created their own using garden beds and growing vegetables in their designs. One experiment had cucumbers growing in two garden beds, one bed receiving weeding on a schedule and the other not getting any weeding care. The other experiment had potatoes growing, with one bed receiving water on a schedule and the other only getting rain water. The returning 6th graders completed the harvest, collected their results, and will spend time back in class compiling the results of their experiments. This lesson was bolstered by support from the Nell at the Wild Seed Project who will be working with WMS educators all year through the Climate Education and Professional Development Grant that was awarded to WMS this year.

Westbrook Middle School proudly hosted a n important event for our State, the Maine launch of the Pine Project, which has brought culturally inclusive picture books to Maine School libraries. During the event, 10 students beautifully read the book, I'm An American by Darshana Khiani, which honors some of the diverse cultures that make up American people., and their experiences. Our 5th grade class were invited to watch the event, and a copy of one of the books from the project was gifted to each 5th grade class. Our student readers were a highlight of the event!

From the Intercultural Community Center about their summer program: 2024’s Power Summer program was a raging success! Summer was kicked off by ICC’s first Power Summer open house, an event which served to educate families about the program. Through collaboration with Adult Program ESL teacher Kareem Djerdjouri who acted as the event’s interpreter, ICC was able to welcome and get to know eight families prior to the program beginning. With fifty-four registrants, and an average of about thirty students a day, this summer we saw an unprecedented amount of new faces. Twenty-two of those fifty-four students were brand new to the ICC community. By way of the theme, “Future Foodies,” students spent the summer immersed in Maine’s culinary scene. With the Portland Farmers’ Market and WisMaine farm serving as weekly outdoor classrooms, Power Summer students had the opportunity to step into the experiences of both the farmer and the patron. Activities in these spaces were largely student driven; at the farm some students chose to spend their time weeding garden beds while listening to music, while others were drawn towards tending hatchling chicks and collecting fresh eggs. At the market, groups of students were tasked with shopping for fresh produce they would later use to develop their own recipes. Indoors, students strengthened their English Language Acquisition (ELA) and Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) skills prior to the school year through twice weekly class sessions. Projects here included practicing math “mad minutes,” creating solar ovens, exploring the Westbrook Middle School library, and making their own zines. This summer’s field trips prioritized time spent outdoors, and expanding knowledge about environmental sustainability. Some of the most popular outings included river exploration and fly fishing with the Confluence Collective, learning about the history and occupations of lobstering in Maine with Lucky Catch tours, and canoeing with Friends of Presumpscot River. The thirty-five day program ended with a family celebration held at Walker St. Park. The thirty-five students and their families in attendance enjoyed breakfast sandwiches, obstacle courses, soccer, and lacrosse. Participating partners included Help Me Grow, Back Bay Lacrosse, Locker Project and Portland Public Health.

Don't miss out on our Open House for Grades 6-8 on September 19th from 6 to 7 p.m. In addition to your child's core content teachers, you can visit with our Unified Arts staff and see some of the things they do with students in the UA classes. We look forward to seeing you on the 19th!

This morning, WMS was placed in a brief HOLD which means that the hallways were cleared and students stayed in their classrooms while there was a response to a situation in order to protect the privacy of those involved. It was reported and discovered that a student had brought a small pocket knife to school. There is no evidence to suggest that the student had intentions of using the knife to cause harm. School administration and Westbrook Police intervened immediately and appropriate action was taken. The situation was resolved quickly. All students and staff were safe and no one was harmed.

7th and 8th graders had a great time today getting to know their homerooms and building a healthy rivalry with each other. 5th and 6th graders did the same yesterday. It was great to have the students back and we're looking forward to a great year together!

This morning, WMS was placed in a brief HOLD which means that the hallways were cleared and students stayed in their classrooms while there was a response to a situation in order to protect the privacy of those involved. It was reported and discovered that a student had brought a knife to school. There is no evidence to suggest that the student had intentions of using the knife to cause harm. School administration and Westbrook Police intervened immediately and the situation was resolved quickly. All students and staff were safe and no one was harmed.

Please read the Back to School special edition of the Westbrook Schools newsletter. See you when school begins next week! https://westbrooksdme.edurooms.com/engage/westbrook-school-department/newsletters/back-to-school-2024

Hello to all our Westbrook Middle School families! We are busy getting ready for the start of the school year and I wanted to share a few important reminders. 5th and 6th graders' first day of school is next Wednesday, August 28th. They will then be home for a 5 day weekend. 7th and 8th graders' first day of school is next Thursday, August 29th. They will then be home for a 4 day weekend. All students return to school on Tuesday, September 3rd. The school day starts at 7:30 a.m. and dismissal begins at 2:15 p.m. (Please note: buses are often late in the first few days of school as drivers and students all get used to the new routes and routines.) Bus routes for middle school students can be found at this link. (https://www.westbrookschools.org/documents/bus-routes-2024-25/689893) Our 6th -8th grade Open House is scheduled for Thursday, September 19th at 6:00 p.m. We will start the evening in the Performing Arts Center and then you will move to the classrooms for introductions to your student's team teachers. Our school website can be found at https://www.westbrookschools.org/o/wms. You can find our calendar and other important news and information here. We are still updating a few items so thank you for your patience as we prepare for the start of school. You can find our school supply letters here. https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/10CSaTzn_zNaTRpVqCqShcWSk6Mrl-cul. If you are not able to get school supplies for any reason, please just let your student's school counselor know so they can help. School supplies will not be needed until the first full week of school. Here is a list of some staff members that you may want to contact in these first days of school: Laurie Wood, principal - woodl@westbrookschools.org Sam Chatto, Asst. Principal for grades 6 & 8, chattos@westbrookschools.org Pattie Demaria, Asst. Principal for grades 5 & 7, demariap@westbrookschools.org Katie Corbett, School Counselor for grade 5, corbettk@westbrookschools.org Kayla Gagner, School Counselor for grade 6, gagnerk@westbrookschools.org Betsy Shibles, School Counselor for grade 7, shiblesb@westbrookschools.org Megan Grimshaw, School Counselor for grade 8, grimshawm@westbrookschools.org Jess Simmons, School Nurse, simmonsj@westbrookschools.org We are very excited to start this year with our students! It is always a pleasure to see how they have grown and changed over the summer. Please reach out with any specific questions you might have. Enjoy this last weekend of a beautiful Maine summer!

During the summer six members of the Westbrook School Department attended the Farm & Sea to School Institute at the Ecology School in Saco for three full days of learning about growing food, purchasing local foods and teaching sustainable agricultural practices. The institute supports Maine schools to increase healthy food access, create a culture of equity & wellness, and strengthen their local food systems. Westbrook has greenhouses at three of our schools. WMS has a 20 tree orchard and 12 raised beds as well as a donated aquaponics system to provide for cultivating fish inside the greenhouse, which was also funded by grants. Westbrook will also be hosting a service member from Food Corps, Hannah Morse. Her role will be provide nutrition education in the classroom and also taste testing in the cafeterias throughout the district. Team members included Mary Emerson, School Nutrition Director; Brian Davis, WHS Science Teacher; Abby Harnik, WMS Science Teacher; Mariah Krauss, Summer Greenhouse Coordinator & Alternative Education Teacher; Austin Mehlhorn, WMS Social Worker. Not pictured - Jerome Bennett, Community Member.

Please read the attached letter about the July 16 School Budget Referendum. https://5il.co/2r3t3

There will a Community Conversation about the revised FY25 School Budget and Validation Vote on Thursday, July 11, 5:30-6:30pm at the Westbrook Middle School cafeteria. PLEASE VOTE on July 16!

Tomorrow is Field Day for our 6th grade class! Our 6th graders should come to school appropriately dressed for Field Day, wearing comfortable clothes, sneakers and bringing sunscreen and a water bottle if possible.

Don't forget that this last week at WMS is Spirit Week! Here are the themes for each day: Monday, 6/10- Wacky Tacky Day (Mismatch, backwards, crazy hair, crazy socks) Tuesday, 6/11- Summer Vibes (Think tropical, Hawaiian, sun hats, glasses, etc; No bathing suits!) Wednesday, 6/12- WMS Pride (Blue & White or Westbrook gear) Thursday, 6/13- Fast Forward to the Future Day (Dress to impress, dress like your future self, or go all out futuristic) Friday, 6/14- Color Wars (5th-Blue, 6th-Green, 7th-Red, Staff-WMS Gear) Join the fun!

Attention all 8th Grade Families - please see an email I sent to you about helping provide some food items for our newly promoted students after their ceremony. Please reach out to me or Principal Wood directly if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you all on the 13th!

Reminder: All K-8 students and families are invited to a presentation by renowned children's and young adult author Hena Khan this evening at 5:30 at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center. There will be refreshments, discounted book sales with books signed by the author, free books and learning activities, and fresh food for take home provided by the Locker Project. Hope to see you there!

Come see our Theatre Club perform "An Absolutely True Story" in the Performing Arts Center, May 21st at 6:00 p.m. Share in the fun of this adventure (as told by a bunch of liars!). :)

The Intercultural Community Center presents Future Foodies for our 2024 summer program! Power Summer registration opens today! Please share with any students, teachers, friends, or other Westbrook community members. Below are a few reminders about the criteria students must meet to attend Power Summer. Dates are June 24th - Aug. 9th. -The child must be a rising middle schooler. This means that the grade the child is entering in fall of 2024 must fall between 5th and 8th grade. -The child must be a student or incoming student of Westbrook Middle School. -The program is primarily designed for low academically performing students. Parents/caregivers can register their students by: -Visiting our website -Clicking the bit.ly link on our flyer -Scanning the QR code on our flyer If any parents express interest in registering their child but need assistance with translation, please direct them to fill out the registration alongside a caseworker, or reach out to us directly at via call or text at 207-272-1766 or email kaim@iccmaine.org Registration will close on June 1st.