Welcome to an Exciting Second Semester!

We are thrilled to begin the second semester at Willmar Middle School! This time of year brings renewed energy and many exciting opportunities for our students to grow academically, socially, and creatively.

One of our biggest highlights this semester is the upcoming production of Alice in Wonderland Jr. Our talented students have been working incredibly hard, and we cannot wait for you to see their creativity, dedication, and enthusiasm shine on stage. Performance dates and times will be shared below.

We also look forward to connecting with families during Parent-Teacher Conferences in February, which provide a great opportunity to check in on student progress and set goals for the remainder of the school year, and help our 8th graders transition to high school.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We are excited for all that the second semester has to offer!

**REMINDER**

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES

Tuesday, February 17th,4:00pm-7:00pm

Monday, February 23rd, 4:00pm-7:00pm

ALICE Drill

We would like to inform you of the safety procedures we are starting to install at Willmar Middle School. SRP (Standard Response Protocol) is the title of Willmar Public Schools' new Secure/Lockdown/Evacuate system that is being implemented this year across the district. Within the SRP system, one of the necessary procedures to be put in place is the ALICE response system. ALICE is to be implemented in the worst-case scenario of violence in our school. Given the age of our students, the implementation of ALICE may look different in each building, depending on grade level.

ALICE is an acronym for:

Alert: Clearly communicate the presence of a violent critical incident building, using direct and specific language rather than code words.
Lockdown: While locking down remains an important first step, we will enhance our lockdown procedures to include additional steps to further secure and protect students.
Inform: Continuously provide clear, concise information about the type and location of the threat. This communication helps keep the perpetrator off balance and allows for better decision-making.
Counter: At the Middle/High School level, apply skills to distract, confuse, and gain control of the situation if necessary.
Evacuate: Safely leave the area and move to safety whenever possible.

ALICE's philosophy is to empower staff and students with information and strategies so they can make informed decisions during a violent crisis. We will work to remove as many people as possible from the danger zone and provide realistic training to ensure the maximum safety of all. In the past, we have used very general language around “threats” and “safety” when talking to students about our SRPs. Within the ALICE training, we will now be addressing the protocols using very specific language, including the situations that are the toughest to talk about, including a school shooter. We will be as supportive as possible when communicating this to our students. We are writing to inform you that students may be bringing concerns home as we have these conversations. Please reach out to the school if you have questions or concerns.

Swimming in Physical Education

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Greetings from the Physical Education Department! Starting November 17th, all of Mr. Kalkbrenner’s classes and Mrs. Boike’s 6th-hour class will begin swimming, followed by Mr. Neu’s, and lastly Ms. Johnson’s. Physical education classes will rotate through the unit, with each class spending approximately 8–10 days in the pool. This unit focuses on teaching water safety skills and basic swimming techniques as time and proficiency allow. These essential skills help keep children safe around pools and our many lakes during the summer months.

Swimming Attire and Supplies

Students must wear a swimsuit that provides full coverage and support.
All students may choose to wear a swimshirt; they must have their own (none provided)
If desired, students may wear long sleeves and short hijabs in the pool.
If students do not own or cannot obtain a swimsuit, one will be provided on a needs basis (quantities are limited).
Students should bring soap for rinsing off chlorine and pool water after swimming, as well as a towel to dry off.
Goggles are optional and may be brought if preferred.

We also understand that there may occasionally be circumstances (such as illness or other personal reasons) that make it difficult for a student to participate in swimming on a given day. Parent/guardian communication is required to excuse a student's participation on that day. Students will be expected to walk in the bleachers during class instead.

Contact Information:

Dain Kalkbrenner
Email: kalkbrennerd@willmar.k12.mn.us
Mark Neu
Email: neum@willmar.k12.mn.us
Hannah Johnson
Email: johnsonha@willmar.k12.mn.us

We look forward to a fun and educational swimming unit!

Sincerely,
The Physical Education Department

MS Capti ReadBasix Information for Families

Click on the heading above for information

Important Dates

No School for Students Friday, February 13th-Teacher Inservice Day

No School Monday, February 16th-Presidents Day

End of Term 3-March 19th

No School for Students Friday, March 20th-Teacher Inservice Day

No SCHOOL March 23rd- March 27th-Spring Break

Educational Benefits Application

Beginning this year, all PreK-Grade 12 students will receive free breakfast and lunch regardless of income! While this is exciting news for all of our families, we need your help to continue to receive federal funding by completing the Educational Benefits Application. In addition to potential funding, students could qualify for discounted athletic fees, college application fees, and funding for internet access. We ask all families to complete the educational benefits application today by clicking here!

Willmar Middle School Activities

Spring Activities

Willmar Middle School offers a variety of activities for students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. Please use this link to see more information about each activity, including which grades can participate, the coach's contact information, and each activity’s start date.

Registration fee is $20 (per activity).

This can be paid online through the school store found on "Campus" Parent Portal, or with cash/check in the Willmar Middle School Office.

Baseball (Grades 7-8)
Boys Tennis (Grades 6-8)
Golf (Grades 6-8)
Track and Field (Grades 6-8)
Softball(Grades 7-8)

Students that want to play a sport need a Sports Physical before they can participate. Chiropractors may be the easiest place to get an appointment. They already have the form, so just call and ask to set up an appointment for Sports Physical as soon as possible.

MS Activities Information