Middle School

WMS--Great first day! Some reminders for 25-26: Cellphones off during school, use email to communicate. School opens at 7:30 and students should be picked up by 3:45. Water bottles only, no "pop top" cans, including energy drinks. Thanks for your help!

WMS--B2S Conferences Today from 11-7! Some reminders for 25-25: Cellphones off during school, use email to communicate. School opens at 7:30 and students should be picked up by 3:45. Water bottles only, no "pop top" cans, including energy drinks. Thanks for your help!

Activity Ticket for students in grades 7 – 8:
New this year we will be using the “Bound” app to purchase season tickets for high school students. Students/Parents can download the “Bound” app on their phone, create an account, and purchase an activity ticket, which are $20. This will be used for all games for kids in grades 7 – 12. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Ms. VanMeter (joan.vanmeter@k12.sd.us) or Mr. Boyens (craig.boyens@k12.sd.us) at the high school and we will be happy to help.

As we gear up for school, a reminder on our enhanced bussing services, including direct busing from Lincoln, Jefferson and Mellette to McKinley’s Early Childhood Building as well as a direct bus to the Boys & Girls Club after school. Find full details here: https://5il.co/3nku1. You can view the full transportation page here: https://5il.co/3nku0. Please see this link for food service information: https://5il.co/3ntqe.

Delta Dental is coming in October...see the link for more details!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F_mTkAQ4pzaT7WaAgNrBPiov1osxxGhe/view?usp=sharing

WMS--Back to School Conferences are just a week away on August 18 from 11 - 7! We are excited to meet you! You should have received a back to school letter with your child's team and advisor. Give us a call if you did not receive your letter. Please go onto the Middle School website and sign up for a B2S conference time with them! The link is on the purple banner (computer/iPad) or if you click "Explore" (phone). You are encouraged to save some time and log on to your Campus Parent Portal to update your contact information, permissions, etc. All families are required to update this information at the start of the school year. A couple of other reminders: cell phones should be off and stored during the school day...communication should be via email or you may call the office to leave a message. Also, due to spills and bugs as a result, all containers must have a lid...students should not bring cans with "pop tops," including energy drinks to school.

The Watertown School District was awarded a $25,000 grant from First Interstate Bank to support the "We Are All Arrows" campaign. This will pay for murals in all elementary schools. See representatives from First Interstate and the Watertown School District in the accompanying picture taken at McKinley Early Childhood Center. For more information check out this press release. https://5il.co/3k54d

WMS--We still have a limited supply of yearbooks for sale for $20. Students can stop by the main office with cash or check and we'll have one ready for them on the last day!

WMS--For 7th Grade Parents Only: If you DID NOT yet fill out the registration form for 8th grade, please CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW to choose your child's music option and officially registering them for 8th grade. If you have any questions, please email me at todd.brist@k12.sd.us Dr. Brist, Principal Watertown Middle School https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc_bQCh9UdfWqNguxf4x3Uo9_ZMUoutF6sFvKTF_ck7-Tc1aw/viewform

WMS--Testing starts tomorrow...don't forget to charge your iPad! This change of routine for students can be made easier when students arrive to their classroom on time after a good night's sleep (8 - 10 hours) and breakfast. Breakfast is served at school; it's recommended to focus on a meal that includes a source of protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats. More information on state testing was in the letter sent earlier in March and online at https://www.watertown.k12.sd.us/article/2099751

WMS--Testing season is rapidly approaching! Please remind your chid to get a good night's rest and eat breakfast each morning to best prepare their brain for optimal performance. Please remind them to charge their iPad, too! We do our best to keep test stress low by maintaining a regular schedule where kids just test during their regular classes. I have attached a letter with more information about testing. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oB0KdW1UFAnpKH_hpYNCZhzJL0ft0HW3/view?usp=sharing

WMS--For 7th Grade Parents Only: It's time to start planning for the 2025 - 2026 school year! Please take a look at the handout your child received from their social studies teacher about registration for 8th grade. Most importantly, please CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW to choose your child's music option and officially registering them for 8th grade. If you have any questions, please email me at todd.brist@k12.sd.us Dr. Brist, Principal Watertown Middle School https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc_bQCh9UdfWqNguxf4x3Uo9_ZMUoutF6sFvKTF_ck7-Tc1aw/viewform

We are again offering and limited to 180 students accepted into our driver education program. Once we fill to capacity, the registration will be closed. Student must be 14 years old by 09/30/2025. Driver Education classes and driving will be held at the Watertown Middle School. This year we are again utilizing an online registration; payment must be received within 1 week of your completed registration or your spot will be reopened. We have three methods of payment which will be explained in payment options (we encourage to pay online). Please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Chad Rohde with any questions regarding registration and payment. Make sure you SUBMIT at the bottom of this form. Please contact at the email: chad.rohde@k12.sd.us https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe5hFrI377Xiij_sOABwX6dXJkQGO6yeHfMP8w9PKQJ3jKu6A/viewform?usp=header

WMS--WMS Family, The PTO is providing a lunch of walking tacos for the teachers and faculty during conferences on Friday the 14th. We would appreciate your help in providing food to go with the taco meat and chips. Please review the attached sign up genius for items we are looking for. Thank you, Christy Kallenberger https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0F4FA4AE28A0F94-54916808-conference

8th Grade Families--Believe it or not, it's time to start planning for high school! The counselors from WHS will be over next week to visit with students about registering for classes for their 9th grade year. There is a link below to a video with all of the information about registration. We encourage you to watch it with your students and discuss classes, the process, and their long term plans. Your student will be bringing the final registration form for your signature on February 4th. If you have questions about high school registration pleas contact Student Services at the HIGH SCHOOL at 605.882.6323. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHh-SztjS4s

WMS--Reminder that tomorrow (Friday, January 24th) is an early dismissal at 12:30.

WMS--Reminder that there is no school on Monday, January 20th in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

WMS--Just a reminder that Winter Break is coming! There will be on school December 23 - January 1. Regular classes resume on January 2.

WMS--Just a reminder that WMS will dismiss at 12:30 on Wednesday (tomorrow) for Thanksgiving Break. There will be no school on Thursday or Friday. Happy Thanksgiving!

WMS--In conjunction with the nursing students from LATC, WMS 7th grade students will participate in vision and hearing screenings on December 5th. If you do not want their child to be screened, please contact Nurse Shana Stone via email (Shana.Stone@k12.sd.us) by December 4th.