Hello Middle School families. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. We are back in school and ready for the sprint to the December break. There is a lot happening beforehand.
Best Buddies will be meeting after school on Wednesday, December 11 from 2:35 to 3:30 pm in the North cafeteria for some winter fun. Join us on Bestbuddies.org/join, and join us!
Please join us for a SEPAC General Meeting on Thursday, December 12th at 7pm. SEPAC will be giving an overview on our partnership with the district, upcoming events to support families and goals for the second half of the school year. We will also have Q&A and open discussion for families. We hope that you can join us! Zoom link below.
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5761606562?omn=83725390219
Meeting ID: 576 160 6562
Ski Club, If you are a family that is participating in Ski Club and you want to be a parent chaperone we are still looking. Let me know.
School Council
Our next School Council meeting will be December 9, 2:45-3:45 in the south conference room.
A message from the Middle School PTO,
LOGO DESIGN COMPETITION - STUDENTS GET YOUR ENTRIES IN BY DECEMBER 6!
There are still a couple of weeks remaining in our Logo Design Contest! Be sure to encourage your middle schooler to enter their unique design for the chance to be Superintendent for the Morning!! All submissions to be received via Google Form no later than 12/6/2024.
JOIN US AT OUR DECEMBER GENERAL MEETING on 12/12!
Come and attend our General Meeting on December 12 at 6:30p at the Middle School where activities for the upcoming few months will be reviewed. We would love to have you join us and maybe even volunteer to help plan one of our events!
PARENT WORKSHOPS - INPUT REQUESTED!
Looking ahead to the spring, your input is critical as we plan our parent workshops! Please provide your feedback on this survey to help us craft workshops that are most relevant for you.
TEXTILE BINS
Are you cleaning out your closets? Be sure to drop those old clothes and textiles into our textile donation bin in the parking lot of the middle school. GDMS PTO collects a small percentage of the profits from Bay State Textiles which helps us fund our initiatives. Our bin is marked with the GD logo (soon to be replaced by the new PTO logo!!).
Help for the Holidays:
For some people in our community, the holiday season can be anything but happy. If you are a family with school aged children and are experiencing financial difficulties, please remember that our Community Children's Fund can help with food, winter clothing and holiday gifts.
If you would like to experience the joy of giving during this upcoming season, the Community Children's Fund is able to offer several different options. To participate in either of these traditions, giving or receiving, please contact Karen Tuomi at (978) 877-6787 or email trustfunds@grotonma.gov Confidentiality will be strictly maintained.
Need help with Holiday Dinner. Loaves and Fishes food pantry can help.
If you are a resident of Ayer, Devens, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Littleton, or Shirley please visit if you need help.
Just join the drive-thru line to receive a holiday dinner with all the fixings!
Holiday Dinner Distribution
Wednesday, December 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
If you have any questions, please contact our Client Counseling Team
978-772-4627 x 312 | clientassist@loavesfishespantry.org
Counseling Corner:
For many of us, the holiday season presents additional stressors. Our "to do" lists get longer, and we often feel overwhelmed by the increased demands. This affects not only the adults, but the students as well. It's very important to practice and model self care. Shorter days, with less sunlight, can also affect our moods and throw off our circadian rhythms.
Seven Types of Rest that Everyone Needs:
Mental Rest: Take breaks from thinking and doing. Allow your brain to disconnect from cognitive demands. Try meditation, stretching, deeping breathing or taking a quiet walk.
Physical Rest: Rest your body. Sleep well, and enough, and make time to relax and recharge.
Social Rest: Avoid too many large gatherings, which can be draining, particularly for introverts. Spend time alone or with a few close family members or friends.
Emotional Rest: Don't be afraid to say, "No" when you are tired. You don't need to do everything, and sometimes less really is more. Do not feel guilty about setting boundaries.
Creative Rest: Take a break from the constant demands to produce. Find creative "just for fun" hobbies such as puzzles, sudoku, drawing, crochet, knitting, dancing, singing, cooking. Be patient with yourself, as learning something new takes time.
Spiritual Rest: Practice mindfulness. Spent time in nature. Write in a journal. Volunteer for a local cause that is important to you.
Sensory Rest: Unplug and enjoy the quiet. Too much screen time can be exhausting. Turn off the phone, take a day or two off from social media, and the news.
Reminders:
A reminder about the bus…. The school can not give permission/or ok students riding another bus. If you would like your child to ride another bus you must either call or email the bus company to see if that is ok. Please know if you do not do this and your child gets on a different bus your child will be brought back to school and you will need to pick them up. Thank you for your cooperation.
Erica Renna
Dee Bus Service, INC
Office (978) 448 - 3322 erenna@deebus.com
A note from GDEF, "Are you looking for a unique way to recognize a Teacher, Administrator, or Other Staff/Community Member for their hard work and impact they’ve had on your child? GDEF Teaching Stars are the perfect gift! They are a great way to say "Thank You" while helping to enrich the schools in the form of a donation to the Groton-Dunstable Education Foundation (GDEF). Certificates are great for showing your gratitude in November or as a holiday gift in December! Learn more here about how to show an educator how much they are appreciated with a Teaching Star: https://www.gdefinc.org/teaching-star."
The Middle School handbook can be found on our Middle School website. Link to Website
Our Core Values:
Ownership, Own your space, Own your learning, Own your behavior.
Awareness, Be aware of yourself and others, Be aware of your surroundings, and Be aware of your impact.
Kindness, Be kind to yourself, Be kind to others, and Be kind to your surroundings.
Important dates.
Teachers update schoolbrains 11/15, 11/29, 12/13,1 /17
Chorus Concert Tuesday 12/17
Band Concert Thursday 12/19
Friday ½ day December 13th
Sincerely your Groton Dunstable Regional Middle School Principal
Wendy Salvatore