Good afternoon Groton Dunstable Regional Middle School Families. Happy Super Bowl Sunday. I hope you enjoyed a wonderful and restful weekend.
It is Kindness week, you will see random acts of kindness happening and we encourage you to participate in this. Where you can….look for the good, look for the positive, try to keep your glass half full rather than half empty.
Cell phones. I’ve talked about this before and asked for your partnership in not texting or calling your students when they are at school. However, they are becoming so pervasive in our school community. I walked into one of the girls' rooms and found a student on her phone and she told me she needed to check it to make sure nothing important happened. On any given day I walk down the North hallways and students see me and put their phones back in their pockets. Please don’t get me wrong there are many students who this is not an issue for but there is a huge number in 7th and 8th grade who this is an issue for. We all know that social media can have negative effects on our young students. Those with anxiety and depression are hugely affected by what others say or don’t say about them on social media. We need to take these devices out of their hands when they are in school. Our students are distracted by their cell phones. I am actively looking for cellphone boxes, bins, baskets, something that we will use when students walk into a classroom. They will deposit their phone and then go to their desk. Please if you have any ideas I am open to them. We have to stop the… texting to meet in the bathroom, picture taking without permission, videotaping without permission, calling to go home sick without seeing the nurse etc. Again this is something we will be looking to do in the North building in the near future. Your feedback is appreciated.
In an effort to share with families what we are talking about in school I will continue to include my Power of Our Words Corner and our A+B+C+D=E Corner. Enjoy
POW Corner: In my School Leadership Team meeting on Friday we talked about the Power of our Words and what we have been doing as leaders in our buildings to support this district initiative. In that conversation we labeled words that no one wants to hear such as; lazy, struggling, not making progress, unsupported etc and how we can reframe those words to really show a true picture of what they look, feel and sound like. As we continue this work be looking for teacher feedback to be more inclusive of what something looks, feels and sounds like.
A+B+C+D=E Corner: Acceptance, Belonging, Community, District MTSS and Equity. This has a lot of meaning to me this evening. I think whatever we can do to support those around us is what we do. We are educators, teaching is so personal for us. Our students, our colleagues, our families, even strangers we search for the good and we do our best to be kind. Kindness breeds kindness. I’m pretty sure that’s a thing and hahaha it’s kindness week… see how I did that there. Have a great week everyone.
COVID Update:
Booster Clinics will be held throughout February on Wednesday afternoon: for children ages 12 and older. 1-5pm at the St. Anthony Parish Hall, 33 Chapel Street, Shirley Clinic link: https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/nashoba
If you received a test kit but your child has had COViD in the last 90 days just keep it. I have asked for guidance as to whether we will continue to pass out to families in that situation.
New Topics to be aware of:
Below is a link for the Middle school band concert. Enjoy. https://drive.google.com/file/...
The middle school guidance department has put together a week of kindness as part of the Great Kindness Challenge. Kindness Week Student and Family Flyer
Tomorrow, Monday is the day to wear pink, red or any happy heart shaped clothing you have.
A message from Dee Bus Service. They would like to remind parents that in order for the bus to get their children to school in a timely manner, students should be at their designated bus stop at least 5 min prior to their stop time - they also should NOT be waiting in their cars/houses (no matter the weather) and if they have any questions to please call Erica (978) 448-3322.
Best Buddies will be meeting Tuesday, February 15th, in the north cafeteria until 3:30. Please reach out to Ms. Blydenburgh or Ms. Franceschi if you have any questions. We hope to see you there!
Athletics:
Groton-Dunstable Crusader Basketball is offering a Three Day Youth Basketball Camp
For Students in Grades 3-8. This is an opportunity for the Current Crusader Senior Leaders and Coaches to work with the Crusaders of the future.
Location: Groton/Dunstable High School Gym When: February 21st, 22nd, 23rd (Vacation wk)
Schedule: Grades 3,4,5 Boys 8:30-10
Grades 6,7,8 Boys 10:15-11:45
Grades 3,4,5 Girls 12-1:30
Grades 6,7,8 Girls 1:45-3:15 Cost: $125.00 (Proceeds go to the Boys and Girls Basketball programs) Register: https://www.familyid.com/organizations/groton-dunstable-athletics
There will be a Volleyball Clinic in March. This is the link for more information. GD Volleyball Clinic
Reminders:
If you wish to reach out to the middle school PTO their email is, gdrmspto17@gmail.com
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