Inside this Newsletter
- Principal's Message
- Important Upcoming Dates
- Helpful Resources
- Schedule Reminder
- The Big Give - Deadline Extended
- Fallapalooza - Oct 23
- Student Voices
- Counseling Corner
- Spirit Week - Oct 27-30
- E-Bike Parking and Campus Safety
- Transportation Lost and Found
- Qustodio - Student Online Safety
- The Woodward Beat - Hear What's Happening Around Campus
- WMS Sports
- PTO News
- Volunteering at WMS
- Calendar
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Dear Wildcat Families & Students,
Fallapalooza is Tomorrow!
Get ready for an awesome Friday afternoon at Woodward Middle School! Fallapalooza is taking place tomorrow, Friday, October 23rd, from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM.
This event is completely free of cost to all WMS students, and we are looking forward to a fantastic afternoon celebrating together. Please note that parents need to arrange transportation home for their child if they are attending. All students MUST be picked up no later than 5:00pm.
To help students have a safe, fun, and smooth-running event, please review the student expectations and event details below with your child:
Event Highlights
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Activities & Attractions: Two 50-foot inflatable obstacle courses, karaoke with prizes, limbo, and plenty of fun.
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Treats: Hot dogs, snacks, and cotton candy will be available at no cost.
Important Student Expectations
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Wristbands: Students must keep their wristbands on at all times. Students will receive this during 6th Period on Friday.
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Personal Belongings & Phones: Students are welcome to bring their phones, but filming others is not allowed. Always ask before taking photos of peers. Backpacks must be checked into the designated backpack area. Otherwise, standard school rules apply.
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Communication & Leaving Early: Students may leave the event before 5pm with parent-approval, but will not be allowed re-entry. Students and families are responsible for communicating with one another if they are leaving before 5pm. They must use their own device or the school phone to contact a parent for permission.
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Safety & Conduct: Students are asked to walk instead of run on pathways, wait their turn for activities, and remember that "cutting in line is bad aura"!
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Food & Fun: Please remind students to sit and eat rather than run and eat, cheer for their peers during karaoke (even if they sing terribly!), and give space to others.
In Joy, Love, and Community,
Miranda Joy Smallwood
Principal
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Oct 23: Fallapalooza
Oct 26: Staff Professional Development - No School for Students
Oct 27-30: Spirit Week
Oct 28: WMS Band Concert 7:00-8:30
Oct 30: Picture Retakes
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SCHOOL HOURS
Mon-Fri: 9:00-3:30
PHONE NUMBERS
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Attendance Message Line: 206-780-4579
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Attendance Direct Line: 206-780-4504
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Main Office: 206-842-4787
HELPFUL LINKS
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Please note a quick schedule reminder for our 7th-12th-grade families regarding the last week of October:
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Monday, Oct. 26: NO SCHOOL for students (Staff Professional Development)
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Tuesday, Oct. 27 – Friday, Oct. 30: REGULAR FULL SCHOOL DAYS
(Note: Parent-teacher conferences and half-day schedules during this week apply only to K–6 grades.)
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Hi Woodward Families!
The Big Give has been extended through Friday, October 23!
You’ve been amazing so far. We’ve raised $50,000 of our $65,000 goal, and we are so grateful to every family who has given. We’re just $15,000 away from the finish line, and we’d love for every Woodward family to be part of getting us there.
Your gift funds:
- Clubs and the teachers who lead them
- Teacher resources and classroom supplies
- Educational materials and equipment
- Fallapalooza, Field Day, and a donation to 8th Grade Banquet
- Special speakers and assemblies
How to give:
The suggested donation is $170 per student, but every gift of every size makes a difference.
Cash or check: Send your donation envelope to the front office with your student.
One last backpack check: If you sent a donation with your student, please make sure it made it to the front office!
Thank you for helping us finish strong, Woodward!
With gratitude,
Stephanie Chamberlain Pirtle & Lara Deits
Woodward PTO Fundraising Co-Chairs
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Fallapalooza is this Friday after school from 3:30-5:00! This is a fun activity put on by PTO to celebrate the end of the Big Give campaign and is open to all WMS students. School day rules will still apply and students will need to have coordinated transportation for after the event. Students can come enjoy some bounce house fun, limbo, hotdogs, karaoke, and more!
If you're interested in helping out, sign-up here! All volunteers must be cleared through BISD.
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A special shout-out to Sarah DeJong for her beautiful reading of the land acknowledgement and Indigenous Peoples' Day proclamation alongside the BISD City Equity Director. Sarah delivered both readings with care, respect, and thoughtfulness, making a meaningful contribution to the event.
Sarah was joined by fellow Wildcats, including several members of the BIPOC Club, who showed their support through kindness, encouragement, and a strong sense of community. The MAC team also recognized these students for being respectful, thoughtful, and attentive listeners throughout the event. We are proud of Sarah and her fellow Wildcats for representing the very best of WMS!
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This Thursday, we will be presenting a Health class lesson to our 7th and 8th grade students focused on understanding and managing emotions. Students will learn about the connection between our minds, bodies, and actions, as well as strategies to navigate stress and negative self-talk.
Through guided breathing exercises, cognitive reframing tools like "Name It, Tame It, Reframe It", and the mindfulness strategy of finding "awe" in everyday life, this presentation introduces students to mental wellness and coping skills as they move through their adolescent years.
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We have recently heard from families concerned about limited e-bike parking options for students at school. We want to remind our community that several bike racks are available for student use, primarily located in the north parking lot area.
Please note that most of our racks are currently uncovered. Additionally, we ask that e-bike riders refrain from using the racks at the south (main) entrance. These spaces are limited and reserved exclusively for non-electrified cycles.
We recognize the significant growth in the number of students cycling to school and understand that our racks fill up quickly. Our team is actively working with facilities to designate additional spaces, ensuring our entrances and exits remain clear of blockages and our students stay safe.
Please review the following campus expectations with your student:
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Helmets: All riders must wear a helmet.
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Capacity: Bikes are for single riders only.
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Walking Wheeled Transport: All personal wheeled modes of transportation—including e-bikes, scooters, and traditional cycles—must be walked while on any BISD property or campus.
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Restricted Zones: E-bikes are strictly prohibited on all BISD fields and sports complexes, including BHS.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership in keeping our students safe and our campus accessible!
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Get ready to show that Wildcat spirit!
Spirit Week is coming October 27–30, and it's time to bring your A-game! Start gathering your accessories, planning your fits, and getting ready to go ALL OUT for each day's theme!
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Is your Wildcat missing a jacket, backpack, water bottle, or other personal item? It might be waiting to be reunited with its owner through BISD's Adult Living Program Lost & Found!
Scan the QR code to browse a photo gallery of found items, and call 206-780-1485 to arrange for pickup.
Friendly reminder: Help keep belongings from getting lost by labeling your student's personal items with their name!
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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.
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.
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Hello Wildcat families,
We would like you to know about a band concert coming up. It will be on October 28th at 7:00 pm on the Woodward stage. The concert will have our 7th and 8th grade bands, and also our mixed grade Woodward jazz band. Students have been working hard for 6 weeks on our pieces. There will be medleys of iconic Halloween songs and even some nice swings. It is open to anyone who wants to come, we hope to see you there!
— Skylar R.
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Builder's Club is a fun and welcoming, community-building club. In Builder's Club, we organize service projects like local toy drives. Right now, we are working on a few service projects including putting uplifting notes in books, planning a senior outreach, and a costume donation drive.
Want to know more about the costume drive? Builder's Club (WMS) and Key Club (BHS) are running a joint service project collecting costumes for Camp Beausite NW (CBNW)! Check out more about the camp here. In brief, CBNW is a camp for kids and adults with special needs so adult sized costumes are also highly appreciated. CBNW asks for gently-used or new, appropriate costumes- all sizes are accepted! Please place your costume donations in the labeled box on the WMS stage or in the box at the WMS front office. Thank you Wildcat community for supporting Builder's Club and Camp Beausite!
Members of Builder's Club along with some members of Key Club, the high school version of the club, recently embarked on a successful beach clean up at Pritchard Park where we collected trash and improved our local shoreline. See our photo below.
Builder's Club is a wonderful club to join if you are passionate about the community, and it is a great way to give back. During our meetings we plan and work on service projects, organize drives, (enjoy treats!), and more.
Builder's Club meets every Thursday in room 208, Ms. Lin's room, at 8:20 am. We are always welcoming new members, so please swing by if you are interested!
— Beatrix T., Builders Club Co-Secretary
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Boys’ Basketball tryouts begin November 2nd from 3:45–5:15 p.m., and online registration is now open!
We're looking forward to a great season! Go Wildcats!!
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Spiritwear Store —
Sport that green and grey, and show your wildcat pride with some WMS gear!
WMS Wishlist —
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 —
- November 18 - 6:00pm
- December 16 - 9:30am
- January 20 - 6:00pm
- February 24 - 9:30am
- March 17 - 9:30AM
- April 15 - 6:00pm
- May 20 - 6:00pm
- June 9 - 9:30am
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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.
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OCTOBER
23: Fallapalooza 3:30-5:00
26: Non-student Staff Development - No School
27-30: WMS Spirit Week
28: Band Concert
29: School Board Meeting
30: Picture Retakes
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BISD/ BYS Events for Students |
Academic Support & Peer Tutoring – Students can receive free peer tutoring or become a peer tutor themselves and help another student. Sign up for Peer Tutoring.
Free Counseling – BYS also continues to provide free, confidential counseling for youth who would like additional mental health support. Additionally, BYS offers free 30-45 minute Open Support sessions for youth ages 13–21 who could use a little extra support, guidance, or simply a place to talk. Ages 13-21. Sign up here.
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Halloween Movie for Friday, October 23, 3:30 pm Hocus Pocus! –
Students can come to BYS after school to watch Hocus Pocus, grub on some popcorn and candy. Great way to unwind from a long week at school! Ages 13 and up.
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Bainbridge Island School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, homelessness, immigration or citizenship status, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, neurodivergence or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to Scouting America and other designated youth groups.
The following employees are designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:
Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator & Title IX Coordinator:
Kristen Haizlip, Associate Superintendent
Section 504/ADA Coordinators:
Maria Kuffel
Darren Spencer
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