Hello Middle School families. I hope you have a great weekend. We created our Awards for Semester 1 and we are super excited to have our assemblies in the coming week.
Thank you to Ms. Bennett for setting up the speaker Randy Pierce. What a neat assembly. The 7th and 8th grade students were attentive and asked thoughtful questions.
Some of Mr. Pierce’s messages were;
If you believe that it’s important, take the first step, Positive mindset, set goals, promote the positive.
Who is your team?
T=trusted person
E=your encourager
A= your accountability partner
M=who is your mentor.... teachers coaches help you grow and learn
And who do you serve those roles for? Really neat messages.
Note from the Health Office, we have had quite a few sick students this week.
Morning Drop Off, parents who drop off, I know I have communicated this before but as a reminder if you could please pull up to the 4square court to begin the drop off and those behind you if you could let your students get out of the car near the yellow poles we could unload between 5-7 cars at a time. This would make the line move quicker. Your partnership is needed here. Thank you.
Middle School Spring Athletic Registration is now open:
Spring offerings:
Baseball for grades 6,7,8 (cuts may have to be made)
Softball for grades 6,7,8 (cuts may have to be made)
Track & Field for grades 5-8 (Away meets may only be open to top performers)
Volleyball for grades 7,8 (cuts may have to be made)
Lawrence Academy's 3rd Annual Basketball Clinic in honor of National Girls & Women in Sport Month. press release and informational flyer.
This event has traditionally been really well-attended by GDRSD students in Kdg-8th grade! The event date is Saturday, February 15, 2025.
Project 351 made the news. If you did not know, we sent Mattie Gibbons from Dunstable and Dhruthi Kondamareddy from Groton as our 8th grade ambassadors.
https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/malden-project-351-young-people-community/?intcid=CNM-00-10abd1h
About Project 351
Founded in 2011, Project 351 is a youth-led movement for change powered by an eighth-grade
unsung hero and high school Alumni mentors selected to represent every city and town in
Massachusetts. Youth are recognized by hometown educators for an exemplary ethic of
service; values of kindness, compassion, humility, and gratitude; and devotion to equity and
inclusion. The Ambassadors’ 12-month term of leadership development and service is the
foundation of Project 351’s leadership model. High school, college, and career Alumni steward
Project 351’s mission and model of impact as mentors, program leaders, and governance.
Through the 35ONE enrichment continuum, a new generation of leaders develops the skills,
knowledge, and courage to achieve bold change. For more information visit:
GD Cheer Launches Sneaker Drive Fundraiser to Raise Money for new equipment, mats, and warm ups.
Groton-Dunstable Middle School and Varsity Cheerleading is holding an athletic shoe drive fundraiser from 2/3/25 to 2/18/25 to raise money for new equipment, mats, and warm ups. GD Cheer will earn funds based on the total quantity of gently worn, used, and new sneakers collected. GotSneakers, a social enterprise, will issue funds in compensation for the collected sneakers. Those funds will benefit GD cheer. Anyone can help by simply donating gently worn, used, and new sneakers (heels, flip flops, boots, sandals, etc. not accepted). They love brands like Nike, On, Hoka, Adidas, Jordan, New Balance, Asics, Brooks, and many other brands.
GotSneakers has developed a unique fundraising program that asks communities to reach into their closets, not their pockets! The sneaker recycling program helps keep sneakers out of landfills, which has harmful effects on our environment, and helps organizations like ours raise much needed funds. The program is truly a win – win!
Drop off boxes will be set up outside both the middle school and high school main offices and we just ask that each set of sneakers is either tied together by the laces or bagged individually so we can keep each shoe with its right pair!
Any questions? Reach out to Head Varsity Coach Marie Noll by email at Morales.marie36@gmail.com or any of our GD cheerleaders!
Kindness week is coming up, Each day comes with an Advisory lesson about kindness
Reminders
GD SEPAC is hosting a workshop on Understanding the IEP on 2/6 from 7-9pm. This workshop will focus on the new IEP and will take place via zoom. Please register using the link below.
https://fcsn.org/event/groton-dunstable-understanding-the-iep/
Any questions, please send an email to gdsepac2@gmail.com.
We are excited to invite you to participate in the Groton Dunstable Regional Middle School Science Fair!
The fair will be held in the Middle School North Gym, on Saturday, March 29th. Judging will begin promptly at 9:30am. Students in grades 5-8 are eligible.
By participating in this fun event, students will have the opportunity to:
Learn specifics about a scientific subject through research,
Perform a scientific experiment,
Use their creative skills to explain their scientific project,
Orally communicate their findings to judges, peers, and families at the fair.
Link to sign up https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/gdrms-science-fair
GDMS PTO Update!
FAMILY NIGHT OUT WITH THE WORCESTER RAILERS!
GDMS PTO is hosting TWO nights with the Worcester Railers. Get tickets now and have your child participate in the high five tunnel!
Feb 28th: Open to all Groton Dunstable families
April 6th: Open to all families of Groton Dunstable Middle Schoolers
CHEER ON OUR BASKETBALL TEAMS & ENJOY SOME SNACKS!
GDMS PTO will be selling concessions at the middle school basketball home games starting January 28. Be sure to come support your home court and your PTO while enjoying a snack in the process!
When we had the spinning demo for the 5th graders back in the fall/early winter some of our students showed an interest in learning more about how to Drop Spindle. Robin Hu has decided to offer 2 classes. Parents can contact her through IG or email her directly at robinosities@gmail.com.
School Council
Our next School Council meeting will be February 10th 9, 2:45-3:45 in the south conference room.
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;
Friday Feb 7th ½ day
February 12 Eyes on Owls
2/17-2/21 February Break
MCAS dates;
ELA-April 8 and 9
Math-May 6&7
Science-May 13&14
Civics-May 28&29
End of year
Grade 8 DC June 3-6
8th grade event at the Groton Country Club Thursday 6/12
Moving up ceremony is scheduled for Friday June 13th
Sincerely your Groton Dunstable Regional Middle School Principal
Wendy Salvatore