1/30/23

Wagner Weekly Family Newsletter

2023 Winning word: NAUMACHIA

On January 25th, approximately 40 students from 15 schools gathered at the High School of Art and Design to compete in the Manhattan Spelling Bee.  A HUGE congratulations goes out to Wagner’s very own Vale Esposito who not only competed but won the spelling bee!  Vale will go on to participate in the Citywide Bee in the near future.  Best of luck to Vale in the next round of competition!!

 

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iReady Schedule

Our second round of Math iReady diagnostic assessments will be administered next week on the following dates.  Students are welcome to bring headphones on the day that their class is scheduled to test.

 

Please know that these assessments are not factored into JumpRope or report card grades.  Families will receive their individual student reports.

 

Tuesday 2/1:  611, 612, 613, 614, 623, 811, 813, 814, 821, 824, 834

 

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Mid-Winter Concert

Wagner is incredibly excited to present our Annual Mid-Winter Concert on Wednesday, February 8th at 6:00 pm.  The evening will feature the Jazz Band and classes 711, 721, 731, and 732.   Admission to the concert is free however, Wagner will be accepting a $10 suggested donation to support the amazing band program.  

 

All non-student attendees must show proof of at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and a photo ID.  

 

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High School Information Session for 7th Grade Families

There will be a high school information meeting on Monday, February 13th at 6pm to provide an overview of the high school application process.  NYC Admissions Solutions will partner with Wagner for this event.  This meeting is virtual and a zoom link will be provided in the coming weeks.  

 

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8th Grade Game Night

The Seniors of Wagner are invited to the Annual 8th Grade Game Night on Friday, February 10th 5:15-7:15 pm. Always a fun night, Game Night has become a very popular tradition for our 8th Graders.  We’re asking for volunteers to help facilitate the evening.  Please see the attached link if you would like to help out.    

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094CA9AD2FABFEC34-8thgrade

 

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Looking Ahead:  Testing Dates

 

NYS ELA Assessment:  Wednesday, April 19 & Thursday, April 20

 

NYS Math Assessment:  Tuesday, May 2 & Wednesday, May 3

 

NYS 8th Grade Science Performance Assessment Window:  Tuesday, May 23 - Friday, June 

2 (Students will test on one of these dates.  Schedule to be announced closer to administration.)

 

NYS 8th Grade Science Assessment:  Monday, June 5, 2023

 

US History Regents:  Thursday, June 1, 2023

 

Living Environment:  Wednesday, June 14, 2023

 

Algebra I: Thursday, June 15, 2023

 

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The Wagner Store

The Wagner Store is an opportunity where students can purchase items with their hard-earned Wagner Bucks.  Our next store opening is February 14th.  If you would like to contribute to the Amazon Wish List, please see the link below.  https://www.amazon.com/registries/custom/1YWX50Z23OCXE/guest-view

 

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Opportunities

 

STEM Spring Break Enrichment Programs - Apply Now

K-8 students can apply now to attend enrichment programs with STEM Matters NYC. Your students can get their hands dirty in the garden, encounter amazing animals, or design an art or engineering project. Choose from a wide range of programs offered at sites throughout the city. Programs are offered at the NYC Center for Aerospace and Applied Mathematics; Bronx Zoo; Central Park Zoo; Intrepid, Sea, Air & Space Museum; Makerspace NYC; New York Aquarium; New York Botanical Garden; Prospect Park Zoo; Queens Botanical Garden; Queens Museum; Queens Zoo; Rocking the Boat; Rubin Museum of Art; Staten Island Museum; Staten Island Zoo; The Horticultural Society of NY; and UrbanGlass. Students will meet and work with field experts in programs that feature real-world learning experiences. Don’t miss out, spots are limited and the application deadline is Friday, February 10. Participants are selected via lottery and preference is given to students who attend Title I schools. Download the flyer, learn more, and apply now. Translated flyers, FAQs, and application guides are also available on our program page. For questions, contact STEMMattersNYC@schools.nyc.gov

 

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Brooklyn Botanic Garden

The Children's Garden team at Brooklyn Botanic Garden is excited to announce a new program for families in 2023.  Children's Garden Family Days are offered on 12 dates throughout the growing season in the Children's Garden, a 1-acre fruit and vegetable farm within BBG. Please see the program information: 

 

Children’s Garden Family Days

For children of all ages plus an adult

Single session in April, June, or September

 

This new program is a one-time class for kids of all ages and their caregivers. Join educators at activity stations throughout the Children’s Garden. Plant seeds, water vegetables and flowers, create nature crafts, taste fresh produce, dig in soil, and more. Participants are welcome to register for multiple classes, but activities will repeat. Programs take place rain or shine. One child-adult pair must register to participate together. Up to three children or adults may be added.

 

This is not a drop-off program. One child-adult pair must register to participate.

 

Dates

Spring Break: April 11, 12, 13, or 14, 2023 | 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

Spring Afterschool: June 6, 7, 8, or 9, 2023 | 4–5:30 p.m.

September Tuesday Mornings: September 5, 12, 19, or 26, 2023 | 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

 

Cost

$35 child-adult pair (nonmember)/$30 child-adult pair (member)

$18/$15 (member) for each additional adult or child in the group (up to 3 additional, 5 total)

*Program cost includes Garden admission ticket 

 

Registration for all dates opens Wednesday, February 1.  Please email the BBG for more details or any questions childrensgarden@bbg.org.

 

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Yondr Presents Webinar

Yondr is excited to extend an invitation to their upcoming Yondr Presents* webinar on February 7th!  It will feature Dr. Anna Lembke, the author of the New York Times Best Seller: Dopamine Nation.  Dr. Lembke is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Stanford University.

 

Dr. Lembke will share her research and practical solutions to finding the balance between teens and their phone use. 

 

Details of the webinar can be found below. 

 

The first 200 people to register will also receive a free copy of Dr. Lembke’s Dopamine Nation.

 

You can register yourself and others here. 

 

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Parents’ Association Announcements

 

Parents’ Night Out - Tuesday, January 31st at 6pm

Please join the Wagner PA on Tuesday, January 31st from 6-8pm at Playa Betty's (320 Amsterdam Avenue at 75th Street) for a night out with parents and guardians from all grades. Come hang out with old friends and meet new ones! Admission is free and we will serve some appetizers. Drinks and additional food will be available for purchase. Any questions? Contact Elle (wagnerpa.elle@gmail.com) or Val (val@nyclearn.com). See flyer for details.

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Auction Donations

Please save the date for our annual auction, which will be held in person on Friday, March 31, 2023. We need you to get involved! Please click here to let us know what you can do to help: https://forms.gle/u4fn1WnYM1RLLEnL8

We are looking for donations of all kinds, including items to auction, food and beverage to serve at the event, decor and tableware, and planning help. The donation form is attached to this email and you can email or print it out and distribute it to businesses you know and where you're shopping. The form is also available on the school website. If you have any questions, please email Auction Co-Chairs Elle Erickson and Val Marsden Fitzhugh at wagnerauction167@mail.wagner167.org.

*donation/sponsorship form

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Better Together for Wagner! 

Family Appeal - Corporate Matches

Thank you to everyone who has donated to the Family Appeal - we appreciate your generosity! To make your donation even more impactful, please check with your employer for company match opportunities. For families that have not yet donated, we hope to have 100% participation, so please consider donating. The Wagner PA raises money each year to support our school in providing the best academic and social-emotional education possible. Any amount you can donate is helpful and appreciated. Please make your donation now via check made out to the Wagner Parents' Association, or here: https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/1421942

 

If you have any questions, please email Family Appeal Co-Chairs Diana and Marty Gasper at appeal@mail.wagner167.org

 

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Amazon Smile

Support the Wagner PA when you shop on Amazon!  Go to smile.amazon.com and choose Wagner Middle School 167 Parents Association as your beneficiary.  Then any time you shop on Amazon, start at smile.amazon.com and a percentage of your purchase will be donated to the PA.  Thank you for your support and happy shopping!

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Upcoming Dates

 

• 7th Grade Hot Chocolate Social - January 30th - 8:00-8:30 am

• 8th Grade Hot Chocolate Social - February 6th - 8:00-8:30 am

• Midwinter Concert - February 8th - 6:00pm

• 8th Grade Game Night - February 10th

• Midwinter Recess - schools closed - February 20th-24th

• 6th Grade Dance/Social - March 3rd

• 7th Grade Dance/Social - March 10th

• Graduation for the Class of 2023:  Wednesday, June 21 - 4:00 PM

 

 

Reminders From Previous Newsletters

Reporting a Positive Covid Case

All positive Covid cases should be reported by email to Ms. Kristen Oberlander at KMueller10@schools.nyc.gov.  Please include the following details:

 

1. Student’s name

2. Student’s class number

3. Student’s last day in school

4. The date of your student’s Covid test

5. Type of test taken - rapid or PCR

 

If you have any questions, email Ms. Oberlander.

 

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Attendance Policy

 

The Department of Education is implementing a new system to alert families when their students are absent from school.  When a student is marked absent from school, the family will receive a text message.  Please note that attendance is taken at 8:40 am.  This means that if your child arrives at school late, you will still receive a text stating they are absent. 

 

Students who arrive after 8:40am will be marked absent for the morning and present for the afternoon.  Please encourage your student to be at morning arrival by 8:35 each day. 

 

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To Report an Absence

If your child is absent, please email your their advisory teacher and their guidance counselor.  Once your student returns to school, have them bring a note into the main office stating the reason for the absence.  The guidance counselors’ emails are as follows:

6th Grade - Ms. Block - ABlock6@schools.nyc.gov

7th Grade - Ms. Onwudiwe - DOnwudiwe@schools.nyc.gov

8th Grade - Ms. Ibishaj - YIbishaj@schools.nyc.gov

 

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Reminder

Please do not drop off items for your child during the school day. We will not accept homework, lunches, gym clothes, etc. We cannot disrupt class learning and we strongly urge middle school students to be responsible and independent.

 

School hours are 8:40 am - 3:00 pm.  Students may not leave the school building by themselves before the end of the school day. If they need to leave early, they must be checked out by an adult on their Emergency Blue Card.

 

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Nominate a Teacher!!

The Big Apple Awards nomination process for the upcoming cohort of Fellows for the 2023–24 school year is now open through February 28. You and all members of the school community are invited to nominate a teacher for the Big Apple Award.    

 

Nominations can be made by submitting the teacher’s name and school to the DOE All Stars website. Note that you do not need a DOE login to nominate a teacher through this portal, as individuals without a DOE login may sign in as a guest). Alternatively, you can email the teacher’s name and school name to bigappleteachers@schools.nyc.gov.  Please see the flyer for details.  

 

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ARISTA Service Reminders

All students interested in applying for ARISTA must complete a combination of in-school service hours and community service hours.  For this year, service completed virtually or remotely is acceptable.   All service hours for the 2022-2023 school year must be completed by FRIDAY APRIL 28, 2023.

 

School service is any service done in the school building that does not occur during instructional time. Students can help a staff member before school, during lunch, or after school or com-plete a class job etc.  Students should ask teachers or staff members if they need assistance with any tasks. 

 

Community service is service done outside of the school building. It must be unpaid, and should be completed through a non-profit organization. If it is not completed through a non-profit organization, the service completed must clearly provide assistance or benefits to underserved members of the community.  Possible volunteer opportunities can be found in the ARISTA Google Classroom.   

 

 

Questions can be asked in the ARISTA google classroom (join code:knbgrfw)