Wildcat News - October 7, 2026

Dear Wildcat Families & Students,

This Thursday marks our 26th day in school this year!  We are getting to know our students’ strengths and areas of growth with more detail each and every day.  In our English and Math classes, students have completed standardized assessments (FastBridge) in reading fluency and phonics, as well as math fluency and calculations.  The information from these assessments helps us identify areas we may want to add additional enrichment and/or intervention into our students’ class time.  Teachers have also started assigning classroom grades.  Classroom teachers will be in touch with families of students who currently are assigned any grade that calculates as a “D” or below–please watch your email and ParentSquare account so you engage directly with classroom teachers with any questions or concerns.  You should hear from teachers no later than Thursday, 10/8 if this applies to your student, but please never hesitate to review our Skyward portal as a parent and reach out proactively with questions or concerns.

In the next 2-weeks, we will also be reviewing school wide data from students on our “climate and culture” survey (Panorama survey), as well as a screening tool that helps us learn how each of our students reports their feelings about school, peer-relationships, and other common indicators of social/emotional (SEL) health for our students.  You may hear from our Counseling Team if we see that your student would benefit from a small-group that has support for learning skills that might benefit your student.  

We share all of this information to help keep you informed and included as a partner in our school and district goals (and measures!) to ensure all of our students have a sense of BELONGING at Woodward and are ENGAGED in classwork and extracurricular activities that are helping them to THRIVE! 

Thank you for sharing your student(s) with us each and every day–they are such a joy to be with!  

In Joy, Love, and Community, 

Miranda Joy Smallwood

Principal

Now-Oct 16: PTO Fundraiser

Oct 26: Staff Professional Development - No School for Students

Oct 30: Picture Retakes

Mon-Fri: 9:00-3:30

Great news! Your picture day photos are now available to view and order!

View and order at: https://shop.jostenspix.com/login

School Name: WOODWARD MIDDLE SCHOOL

Event Code: FE123026

Crazy hair day or you got caught blinking? Picture retakes are on Fri 10/30. 

Woodward Families,

We're off to a great start! Thanks to the generous families who have already given, the Big Give has raised almost $15,000. That's nearly a quarter of the way to our $65,000 goal!

Now we need the rest of our Woodward community to help us close the $50,000 gap by October 16th. Remember, this is the PTO's one-and-done fundraiser: one ask, once a year, and that's it. The sooner we reach our goal, the sooner we stop filling your inbox!

 PRIZES FOR STUDENTS: Every donation enters your student into our Friday prize drawings. The earlier you give, the more drawings they're eligible for, so don't wait!

Your gift keeps Woodward awesome by funding:

Suggested gift: $170 per student, roughly what PTO programming costs per student. Gifts of every size add up, and every family that participates brings us closer!

How to give:

Thank you for helping make this a great year at Woodward!

Stephanie Chamberlain Pirtle & Lara Deits

Your PTO Fundraising Chairs

Questions? Email woodward.fallapalooza@bainbridgeptos.org

To support student online safety, Bainbridge Island School District has partnered with Qustodio, a leading provider of online safety solutions. While BISD Chromebooks already feature internet filtering and monitoring, we are providing every family with a free Qustodio Parental App account for additional oversight outside of school hours. Qustodio prioritizes privacy and safety - Learn more about Qustodio.

With Qustodio, you can:

Activate Your Free Account HERE www.qustodio.com/my-school using the email address on file in Family Access with the district. Split households? You can establish separate accounts. Follow the directions when signing up. 

Need help with Qustodio, please reach out to myschool@qustodio.com. BISD does not provide technical support for this tool. 

Note from Qustodio: Your child’s data stays protected. We collect the minimum data required and your data is securely stored. We never market to children, share or sell it to third parties. Qustodio’s platform meets FERPA and COPPA standards.

We hope your year is off to a great start! We are looking forward to an awesome year ahead. There have already been a lot of exciting things happening at Woodward so far this year - here are some of the recent things happening in the Counseling Office!

This Saturday, October 10th is World Mental Health Day. This day is an international event that aims to raise global awareness about mental health issues, reduce social stigma, and mobilize support for better mental health care. Counselors will be at a table during both lunches on Thursday, October 8th with a fun activity and some fun goodies to giveaway to help promote this special and important day! Help us by reminding your students to stop by during their lunch to visit with us and chat!

The High School & Beyond Plan (HSBP) is a state graduation requirement designed as a comprehensive College and Career Readiness curriculum to help students annually reflect on three guiding questions: Who am I?, What can I Become? and How do I Become That? After the passage of a new law at the state level, OSPI began preparing to transition all public schools serving students in grades 7-12 to a universal, statewide platform for HSBP. In May 2024, SchooLinks was introduced as the new universal platform for Washington State. Over the past couple of weeks our school staff has been working with all 7th and 8th graders during our Wildcat Time to onboard students and set up their profiles on SchoolLinks. Students will be re-visiting this program to participate in Career related activities throughout the school year, and will continue to build on their High School and Beyond Plan all the way through 12th grade and high school graduation! Parents are encouraged to look at SchoolLinks with their students if you’d like to see more of the activities they’ve been working on.

Counselors are starting to work with small groups of students to learn and practice coping skills. Coping Skills Groups were created through interested students from our Counseling Needs Assessment at the beginning of the year. This group helps students understand their thoughts and emotions and their impact on behaviors, recognize symptoms of anxiety and other uncomfortable emotions and learn and practice coping skills with the hope that these skills will become skills for life. Eighth grade groups started last week and seventh grade groups will be starting soon. All groups will wrap up before we leave for Winter Break in December! 

We are so excited to have Homework Club starting in the Wildcat Den this week on October 7th! This will be available for any Woodward student on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 8-8:55am! Interested students can sign in at the front office.

E-Bikes have arrived at Woodward in force!  Each day we have seen between 15-30+ students riding their e-bikes to and from school, and we have quickly recognized that we have an important role to play at school to help ensure rider safety, as well as ensure our students are in compliance with state and COBI laws.  The information shared below will help educate you if you currently have a student riding, or are considering this mode of transport for your student.

State law requires every legal e-bike to have a permanent, prominent manufacturer label stating its class, top assisted speed, and motor wattage.  Please check your students’ e-bike to ensure they a.) have a properly labeled bike, and 2.) are in legal compliance with the guidelines below.

Under Washington State law (RCW 46.04.169), e-bikes are categorized into a three-class system. Because 7th and 8th-grade students are under 16 years old, their legal options are limited to:

● Class 1 E-Bikes (ALLOWED): Pedal-assist only (motor assists only while pedaling) with a top assisted speed of 20 mph and a motor rated at 750 watts or less.  There is no minimum age requirement under state law.

● Class 2 E-Bikes (ALLOWED): Pedal-assist or throttle-powered with a top motor-assisted speed of 20 mph and a motor rated at 750 watts or less. There is no minimum age requirement under state law.

● Class 3 E-Bikes (PROHIBITED FOR WMS STUDENTS): Pedal-assist bikes that reach speeds up to 28 mph. Washington state law strictly mandates that riders must be at least 16 years old to operate a Class 3 e-bike. Middle school students are legally prohibited from riding Class 3 e-bikes.

● E-Motos & Unlocked/Modded Vehicles (PROHIBITED): Under Washington’s updated SB 6110 law (effective June 2026), any vehicle whose motor alone pushes it past 20 mph, exceeds 750W, or is designed to be easily unlocked/reconfigured beyond class limits is excluded from the legal e-bike definition. These devices are classified as mopeds or electric motorcycles and legally require a driver's license, vehicle registration, title, and insurance—making them illegal for middle school students to operate.

By October, the excitement of the new school year may be wearing off, activities are picking up, and schedules are getting busier. For 7th and 8th graders, this is a great time to strengthen the routines that help students get to school every day, on time, and ready to learn.

Middle school is an important time for students to take more ownership of their daily routines. Getting enough sleep, staying organized, and planning ahead can make mornings less stressful and help students be more successful at school.

Keep October running smoothly by:

Strong routines don't just improve attendance. They help students stay caught up academically, feel less overwhelmed, build independence, and stay connected to friends, teachers, and their school community.

Remember, every day at school is an opportunity to learn, connect, build confidence, and prepare for high school.

We’re thrilled to celebrate two of the 2026 Best of Bainbridge winners right here at Woodward!

And the accolades don’t stop there! This past year, Mr. Harris was named Rotary Teacher of the Year, while Ms. Gellert was honored as both the Washington Water Polo Association Coach of the Year and the Kitsap Sun Coach of the Year.

We’re proud to see their dedication to our students and athletes celebrated throughout our community and beyond!

The Woodward track team traveled to Klahwoya last week for their first away track meet. We cannot wait to see you at their next meet! Wish them luck!

Meanwhile the Woodward Softball team won their second game out of five last week. Their next game will be on October 13th, at the home stadium at the BHS field at 4:00, if you want to come and cheer on our wildcats!

Register for boys basketball tryouts on November second if you're interested!

Remember to donate to the Big Give. So you can help make our school a better place and maybe win a special prize!!

See you next week, Wildcats! 

— 6th period leadership 

Boys’ Basketball tryouts begin November 2nd from 3:45–5:15 p.m., and online registration is now open!

All students planning to try out must complete the online registration and have a current Medical Eligibility Form signed by their doctor on file. Medical Eligibility Forms are valid for two years.

We're looking forward to a great season! Go Wildcats!!

Spiritwear Store — 

Sport that green and grey, and show your wildcat pride with some WMS gear!

If you are looking to contribute to the school year but don't have the availability to volunteer your time, check out the WMS Wishlist! These items range from basic classroom necessities, like tissues, to student incentives.

Upcoming PTO Meeting Dates — 

There will be many opportunities to help around the school whether it's in the classroom or at afterschool events like the Fallapalooza and 8th Grade Banquet. If you're interested in helping out, please check out the BISD volunteer page with steps on how to get cleared. 

Not sure if you're still cleared? Email or call Kristin Gellert at the front desk - 206-780-4501.

The Spartans take on the Kingston Buccaneers this Friday for our Homecoming Game! We’re looking forward to an exciting evening filled with school spirit, great football, and plenty of Spartan pride.

To help make Homecoming a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, please keep these important stadium expectations in mind:

Thank you for helping us create a fun, safe, and respectful environment for everyone. Come ready to cheer on the Spartans and enjoy a great Homecoming night!

Halloween Movies - Friday, October 9 - This Friday we're watching Ghostbusters at BYS! Join us! Ages 13-21.