Drew Golden, Principal

golddr@wapak.org

If you are interested in the many activities and academics enjoyed each month by the students and staff of Wapakoneta Middle School, please be sure to check out this page.

This page will be updated in August 2024

Welcome Back!

We are excited to start another school year at Wapakoneta Middle School! After schedule pick up, the Back to School Celebration, and the first day on August 22nd, staff and students are getting back into the routine of academics, the arts, and athletics.  I would like to thank our custodial and maintenance staffs for the work they have done over the summer to clean and have the building ready for the start of school. Our teaching staff has been working to prepare their classrooms for the students. The school year is off and running!

WIN Period

Something new at WMS this year is our WIN period. Homeroom has been shortened at the beginning of the day and Redskin Resource has been removed at the end of the day. The WIN period will take place for 30 minutes before the final 8/9 block of the day. After Data Day (September 25th), students will be placed in classrooms throughout the building and receive a reading intervention, additional math tutoring, extension activities, or opportunities to complete work on the ICU list. In short-students will be met at their level and need during that time. Currently, our teachers are using this time to get to know their students, complete diagnostic tests, and evaluate data to best know their students.

Important Dates

GO REDSKINS!

Diana Schneider, Assistant Principal

schndi@wapak.org

Welcome to Wapakoneta Middle School! I am so proud to be a part of this school district. WMS is a building of transition, and it is my goal to make your student's experience a memorable one. I sincerely hope that your student looks back fondly and proudly on the WMS experience. Here are just a few reasons why WMS is a special place to #bebetter.

Our staff works diligently to make our building a place that is respectful, responsible, and safe. We have implemented Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS) at WMS. Students have clear behavior expectations outlined in every location and situation throughout the building that are reinforced through weekly character building lessons and activities. WMS uses a school-wide recognition system for outstanding behavior called PBIS Rewards. Students have a QR code on their assignment notebooks and can earn point scans from staff members. Those points can be used for rewards that can be purchased from our school store. Items include: candy, Wapak gear, school supplies, privileges, and gift cards. One of the incentives is a spin on Wheel Unfortunate, where students can spin the wheel for various ways to punish the principals. At the end of the school year, students can use points to buy raffle tickets towards large ticket items. In addition, we also hold Fun Friday prize raffles weekly to promote school spirit and positive behavior. Please feel free to read more about PBIS in the PBIS tab of our building's website.

Another key that helps make WMS run smoothly is our calendar system for discipline. Students have behavior calendars in the back of their assignment notebooks, which outline behavior expectations and consequences for minor student misconduct. Expectations are listed numbers 1-8. Teachers can sign books based on these reasons and consequences are issued based on the number of days with marks. Each month, the calendars reset giving the students a clean slate and a chance to start over fresh. We have found that the calendar system holds students accountable, while providing consistency across the building. If you have any further questions about the calendar or discipline, please contact me.

Our staff also takes time to address the social/emotional needs of your student. We have small groups and focus groups, as well as 1-on-1 counseling, that can help students with difficult problems and circumstances. Our staff provides intervention opportunities to build relationships with students, while providing positive role models for students to turn to in difficult times. We also work to try to find outside resources in the community that can help students/families during troubled times.

Attendance is crucial to your student's success, and our staff makes attendance a priority at WMS. Missing 1 or 2 days a week may not seem like much, but that time adds up very quickly and can lead to learning gaps. The last thing we want is for your student to miss out on the learning and development opportunities we offer here. If your student is going to be absent, we ask that you please contact the office. Upon return, please bring in a doctor's note so we can keep accurate attendance records. Attendance questions can be directed to me or Mrs. Bergman, our attendance secretary.

The last but certainly not least outstanding feature of WMS is our amazing teaching staff. Our staff continually monitors your student's progress and aims to provide clear learning targets to help your student grow academically. WMS teachers do an incredible job of creating a learning environment that focuses on full engagement, which is the key to learning, retention, and application. Studies have shown that retention goes up 80-90% when three elements are involved: physical (working hard), mental (staying focused), and emotional (having fun). I love popping into classrooms to join in on the fun activities taking place!

For these reasons and more, we are excited to have your student attend WMS. If I can be of any assistance, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to helping your child #bebetter.

Go Redskins!