W.G. Houston Middle School Monthly Newsletter: October Edition

Dear Houston Middle School Families,
Happy October! As the autumn weather sets in, our students and staff are settled into a wonderful rhythm of learning and growing together. This month is packed with exciting opportunities, achievements, and school events—including the announcement of our Seussical Jr. cast!
Thank you for your continued partnership and support in making William G. Houston Middle School such a vibrant community. Please take a moment to review the updates and upcoming dates below.
Warm regards,
Stacy Sansone
W.G. Houston Middle School Principal
We are thrilled to announce the cast for our upcoming production of Seussical Jr.! Congratulations to all of the talented performers who auditioned.
Evan McGuire
Nathan Zygmunt
Saige Butts
Aryanna Eich
Ellie Fanning
Kaylee Michael
Zoey Rockwood
Kira Haight
Jacob Phillips
Arianna Ruff
Emily Carlin
Emma Dusenbury*
Ava McMann
Rebekah O’Hanlon
Camille Wattie
Drianna DeNisco
Maya Duffy
Lia Garassi
Eva Jasinski
Aubree Jonathan
Robin Lauber
Aubrey Mills*
Isabella Paolucci
Sophia McAnaney
Summer Neil*
Jackson Sampson
Riley Sills*
Gabriella Turoldo*
Emery Wallace
Morgan Wincenciak
Bradley Young
* Denotes Swing Dancer
We are excited to announce the student crew for our upcoming production of Seussical JR.! Please congratulate the following students:
Myah Castle (6th)
Caden Cedro (6th)
Rylee Cian (8th)
Caine Conti (6th)
Dominic Gechoff (7th)
Morgan Haws (7th)
Ashlynn Jennings (7th)
Isabella Kasperek (7th)
Landon Klino (6th)
Mia Lovell (8th)
Janiyah Martin (6th)
Kaelyn Pawelek (7th)
Emerson Place (8th)
Grace Ramsey (7th)
Reagan Renzo (7th)
Gianna Ricotta (8th)
Mackenzie Storey (8th)
Timothy Wood (6th)
Ariana Amato (7th)
Arianna D’Ingillo (7th)
Mason Delaney (6th)
Jaelynn Douglas (7th)
Daelind Gates (6th)
Riley Hegyi (6th)
Jayce Kossow (7th)
Mariah Kurtz (8th)
Noah Mai (6th)
Lukas Miller (8th)
Emma Irrgang (7th)
Arianna Pagan (8th)
Marissa Faraci (7th - Asst.)
Avery Boczarski (7th)
Kylo Vega (6th)
Colton Saunders (7th), Madelyn Lelonek (6th)
Cooper Vrenna (8th)
Briella Harmon (6th)
Morgan Haws (7th)
Ashlynn Jennings (7th)
Tgedeowita LaBorgne (6th)
Robin Leonard (7th)
Kaelyn Pawelek (7th)
Gianna Ricotta (8th)
Viviana Salas (6th)
Molly Zimmerman (6th)
Get ready for a whimsical journey into the world of Dr. Seuss! The William G. Houston Middle School Drama Club is proud to present Seussical Jr. this January in the school auditorium.
Friday, January 22 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, January 23 at 3:00 PM (Includes Character Meet & Greet at 2:00 PM!)
| Adults (18+): | $10 |
| Students (Under 18): | $8 |
| Seniors (65+): | $8 |
How to Purchase Tickets: Scan the QR code on the flyer, visit Seussical Jr. Show Site, or call 716-926-2701 to order yours today!
Get ready to brave the cold for a great cause! Lake Shore Unified Sports invites all middle and high school students to participate in the 2026 Buffalo Polar Plunge Cool School Challenge.
This marks Lake Shore High School’s 5th year and the Middle School’s 2nd year taking the plunge into Lake Erie to support Special Olympics Western New York. Every dollar raised directly funds year-round sports training and competitions for Special Olympics athletes at no cost to them.
- Take the Plunge: Join our team and dive into Lake Erie with your classmates.
- Support from the Shore: Help fundraise and cheer on the team from the beach!
- Donate & Share: Spread the word to family and friends to help us reach our goal.
Sign up today and help make this our biggest plunge yet!


Join us on November 7 at Chipotle-25% of Sales will go toward our goal!
Get ready! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to William G. Houston Middle School! Featuring the newest books, bestselling series, and favorite characters, this event is made especially for our middle schoolers. Plus, 25% of every purchase directly benefits our school!
| In-Person Fair Dates: | October 6 – October 8 |
| Location: | William G. Houston Middle School (8855 Erie Rd, Angola, NY) |
Set up a safe, cash-free digital wallet for your student to shop stress-free at school.
- New Feature: Unused eWallet funds stay in your account year-to-year!
- Easy Sharing: Send your student's eWallet link to grandparents, family, and friends so they can contribute.
- Transferable: Easily transfer funds between siblings.
No student should leave empty-handed! Consider making a small donation to our Share the Fair program during checkout to help purchase books for students in need at our school.
The CRC, our local prevention coalition in partnership with the Lake Shore students and staff will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week October 23-30, 2026. Student groups are already preparing for this week of prevention and healthy lifestyle messaging in line with this year’s Red Ribbon Theme ~ Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free.
This month we will be focusing on strategies to help children and parents remain drug and alcohol-free and help them be aware of the social emotional aspects of staying healthy and safe. We invite all of you to participate in this year’s campaign by wearing a red ribbon during October and to show your support of a healthy lifestyle.
To learn more about how you can be part of the CRC Prevention Coalition and Red Ribbon Week send us a message @ evansbrantcrc@gmail.com or sign up for our Remind @crcchamps.
Don’t miss out on capturing this year’s unforgettable moments, events, and friendships at W.G. Houston Middle School. Order your yearbook today and keep these memories for a lifetime!
Where to Order: Direct online ordering is available now through the Jostens Lake Shore Central Middle School Store.
This expectation is in place to ensure the safety and accountability of all athletes. Failure to adhere to this expectation may result in consequences, including loss of playing time or possible dismissal from the athletic program. Thank you for your cooperation and support.
The Parent Booster Club is a vital part of our school community. We invite you to join us for our first meeting on September 22, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Stay connected via the "LSMS Parent Boosters" Facebook page for ongoing updates.
Consistent attendance is crucial for academic success and building strong relationships within our school. "Attendance Counts" at WGH MS, and our counselors are available if your family needs support or resources to help your child attend school regularly.
Electronic Devices: Cell phones and other personal electronic devices are not permitted for use during school hours. They must remain off and locked in student lockers.
On July 21, 2025, Lake Shore Central School District’s Board of Education approved a new policy regarding student use of internet-enabled devices such as smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches—during the school day. This change comes as part of New York State’s Bell-to-Bell Distraction-Free Schools initiative, a statewide law (Section 2803) announced by Governor Kathy Hochul to help create safer, healthier, and more focused learning environments. The Board of Education adopted the new policy on July 21 and can be found here: Policy #7316 – Use of Internet-Enabled Devices During the School Day.
| First Referral: | Warning. Parent/Guardian notification. |
| Second Referral: | Device confiscated. Parent/Guardian notification. |
| Third Referral and beyond: | Device confiscated. Parent/Guardian notification. Device(s) returned to a parent/guardian. Cellphone restrictions/turn-in to office enacted. |
Dress Code: Students are expected to dress appropriately for a learning environment. Examples of unacceptable dress include head coverings, midriff or bareback shirts, "spaghetti straps” and clothing promoting drugs or alcohol. Undergarments should not be visible.
Chromebook Damages: The Code of Conduct and the Acceptable Use policy has been updated with financial penalties for damaging school issued chromebooks. Please encourage your children to make sure they are taking great care of the devices they are issued.
| Dismissal Type | Time | Front Lobby Closure |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Dismissal | 2:27 p.m. | 2:35 p.m. (Students will be asked to exit the lobby.) |
| Help Class (T-TR) | 3:05 p.m. | 3:10 p.m. (Students will be asked to exit the lobby.) |
For safety, all students are required to exit the building at the lobby closure times. Please contact the main office if unforeseen pickup conflicts arise.
| Date | Event | Location/Details |
|---|---|---|
| October 2, 2026 | Homecoming | Middle school students must be accompanied by an adult for Homecoming events |
| October 6 - 8, 2026 | Scholastic Book Fair | W. G. Houston Middle School |
| October 9, 2026 | In School Assembly for Students-Polar Plunge | Sign Up Information Above |
| October 12, 2026 | Indigenous Peoples' Day | No School |
| October 23 - 31, 2026 | Red Ribbon Week | Themed Days - TBD |
| October 23, 2026 | Halloween Fun Night - Students Only | W.G. Houston Middle School 5:00-7:00 PM |
| October 27, 2026 | Take a Stand Day | 2:30 - 3:05 PM |
| November 10, 2026 | Picture Re-Takes | |
| November 13, 2026 | Drama Club Fun Night-Country Night - Students Only | W.G. Houston Middle School 5:00-7:00 PM |
| November 17, 2026 | Booster Club Meeting | W.G. Houston Middle School 7:00 PM |
- Student Government
- Sign Language Club
- Art Club
- Aud Tech Producers (Musical)
- Big Brother/Big Sister
- Coding Club
- CS & V Club
- Drama Club
- Dungeons & Dragons Club
- Dynamic Strings
- Eagle News Jr.
- F.I.T. Club
- Future Cities
- German Club
- Home Economics Club
- Health Awareness Club
- Jr. Honor Society
- Jazz Band
- Musical
- Newspaper “The Wave”
- SADD
- SAFE
- Soaring Eagles Robotics
- Yearbook - “LS Harbor”
- 6/7/8 Grade Class Advisors
CONTACT INFORMATION
Stacy Sansone
stacy.sansone@lscsd.org
WGHMS Assistant Principal:
Jeffrey Krause
jeffrey.krause@lscsd.org
PHONE: 716-926-2400
Joyce Coleman
Gale Wetzler
Phone: 716-926-2400
Fax: 716-549-4374
Address: 8855 Erie Rd
Theresa Mecca
Phone: 716-926-2420
Counselors:
Leslie Grimaldi (gr 6 & 8)
James Michael (gr 6 & 7)
Social Worker:
Nicole Phillips
Psychologist:
Brian Dziewa
Phone: 716-926-2408
Phone: 716-926-2321
Assistant Superintendent: Melissa Bergler
Business Manager: Johnathan Perry
Phone: 716-549-6407
