Good afternoon Groton Dunstable Regional Middle School Families. I hope you had a wonderful week with your children. This vacation brought COVID to my family. I hope if you had the same experience that everyone in your family is ok. As you may have seen on the news the state and thus the district is providing all school staff with a take home COVID test if they so choose to test before returning to school tomorrow. We are meeting as a district tonight at 7:00 to plan for the days/weeks ahead. Please stay tuned for an email from either myself or Dr. Chesson.
COVID Update: Please remind your children that when they are in school that they should be wearing their masks over their nose and mouth. This is going to be so important moving into these next few weeks with the surges we are having as a state and nation.
New Topics to be aware of:
We have hired a new administrative assistant in middle school north, Ms. Reed. She will be starting with us tomorrow, Monday Jan 3, 2022. Please help us welcome her to our district when you call or come in.
Book fair was a huge success. Thank you to Yasmeen Chema for organizing the book fair and thank you to our PTO and all of our parent volunteers who came out to support.
Our 2022 Yearbook Committee is starting to welcome submissions for our Yearbook cover design contest.
Rules: February 1st deadline, Who may enter: any student at GDRMS. What: Layout front AND back cover. Submissions can be on paper or digital. Submissions should be turned into either Front Office and for digital entries, email attachment to Ms. Keras or Mrs. O'Neill(CKeras@gdrsd.org or coneill@gdrsd.org). Please include GD logo, years, name of the school. Your name as the artist. We favor GDRSD colors in the template!. Submissions will be accepted until January 31.
Ms. Stone is getting ready to record our Concerts. The dates are as follows.
January 12/13 (snowdate 14th) for chorus.
January 19/20 (snowdate 21st) for band.
Guidance Corner:
If your 8th grader is interested in applying to NVTHS (Nashoba Tech) or GLTHS (Lowell Tech) for high school, please click here for the most updated information.
If your child is applying to a private school for next year, please click here for the most updated information. Please be aware that the counselors fill out both the principal/counselor recommendation form as well as the transcript form.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your child's counselor.
Important reminders:
Attention all Athletes and Families, Please be advised that it is required of all Winter athletes to participate in Covid pool testing. Taking this measure will help us to avoid unnecessary cancellation of practices and possible forfeiture of games. Any student that does not participate in our Tuesday testing will not be allowed to practice or compete in contests until testing occurs the next week. As we look forward to games and meets we wish to remind all spectators that masks are a state requirement at all indoor athletic events. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.
Ms. Cheney will be conducting our ACCESS for ELLs English proficiency assessment during the testing period of January 6-February 10, 2022..
Health Office update: Just a reminder to parents to please send a copy of your students completed vaccination card to your school nurse. You may scan and email it to them or drop off a copy at their office. Fully vaccinated individuals are exempt from quarantine and testing (test and stay) if they are identified as a close contact.
Sarah Rudner is the SEPAC liaison for the middle school. If you have any questions or need any assistance with Special Education or related services I can connect you.
Cell phones, The current rule is Off and Away. Parents and Guardians please help us with this. If you call the school we will get your student the message. If your student calls or texts you ask them where they are. They should only be calling you from an office phone. This is very important. We may need to change our cell phone policy in the very near future. Data is showing that students are using their phones in the bathrooms, they are getting texts and texting home when they are sick rather than going to the nurses office and they seem to be becoming a distraction in school.
Sincerely, your Groton Dunstable Regional Middle School Principal Ms. Wendy Salvatore