Hi Middle School families, I hope you had a great long weekend.
What does community look, feel and sound like? This week’s answer is sponsored by Mrs. Morris’ 6th grade Advisory - Community looks like students cooperating with each other and teachers, sounds like students supporting each other and feels like students and teachers being empathetic and being there for each other when we’re struggling.
New Information:
Hello 8th grade parents! We are excited to invite all 8th graders to join us on the half day, Friday, January 20. This is brought to you as a Communication Arts community service project. There will be an 8th grade only picnic lunch and movie. Students must bring their own lunch. The picnic will be in the south cafeteria at 11:25 PM, and the movie will be held in the PAC. The movie is Top Gun: Maverick, rated PG 13. Admissions are $1, and snacks and water will be sold for $1-$3. Snacks include popcorn, candy, and water. Students must be picked up by 2:30 PM. All proceeds will be donated to the Boston Children’s Cancer Hospital.
Best Buddies has a meeting Wednesday 1/25 in the North Cafe from 2:30-3:30.
Project 351, We are happy to announce that our Project 351 ambassadors will be joining more than 425 ambassadors this January see this letter for community release.
WRITER’S CLUB sign ups are live on the Community Ed website. Students will meet with Mr. Coronis and Ms. Blydenburgh in room 212S on Tuesdays afterschool from 2:30 - 4:00 for 7 weeks, starting January 24.
Parents, I was asked to please share with you that when you enter the parking lot for drop off Elementary teachers are arriving please watch your speed in the parking lot.
Drop Off, at drop off please have your child exit your car when others around you are exiting their cars. When you drive further up to let your child out and the person behind you has already let their child out it feels dangerous because they are moving quickly because they think they are leaving. If you have any questions please let me know. I ask this because we still have students being marked tardy who are in the parking lot waiting to get out.
Friday January 27th we are planning a kids night out. 2:30-5pm is a 5/6 Social. We will have a movie in the PAC and games in the south Cafe. Grades 7/8 will run 6-8pm Dance in the North gym and games in the conference room. Cost will be 5.00 and we will have general concessions to benefit the middle school PTO. The Diversity Club will also have a bake sale with goodies clearly labeled with ingredients. The bake sale proceeds will benefit the Trevor Project and Amnesty International. Students will not be allowed to leave either event early unless they are being picked up by an adult or we speak to an adult on the phone.
Reminders:
Keeping Kids Safe and Secure Online: Wednesday January 18th, A Project Safe Childhood Presentation for Parents will bring awareness to the dangers of the internet, including gaming and social media platforms that predators use to groom children with the intent of exploiting them sexually online or for an in person meeting. The presentation will focus on prevention by educating parents and community members how to help keep children safe online. We will be covering the following topics:
Social Media 101 & Digital Footprint
Cyberbullying
Sexting
Gaming
Victim Support
Protecting Against Online Predation
Who should attend: Parents, guardians, local police departments, school administrators, youth program leaders and anyone who would like to learn how to keep children safe from online dangers. REGISTRATION DETAILS
Please register at the following link: (via Chrome browser))
Event address for attendees: https://usao.webex.com/usao/on...
Devices - Parents we are asking that devices be off and away. Please, if you need a message to get to your child about an unexpected dismissal please call the office. This goes for Apple watches also. If they are watches they use them as a watch not as a texting device. Airpods should stay home. They are expensive. They fall out of ears. Students should be using headphones that plug in.
Math Challenges Group Get-Together: Students can work with their peers on challenging math puzzles, competition-type problems, and math-focused games. Those who attend should plan on working with others who enjoy learning new problem-solving strategies. The focus will be on a willingness to take on new challenges using perseverance.
Meeting Location: MS South Library
To attend, you must email Mrs. Gartland at kgartland@gdrsd.org to RSVP for this event.
Games Group Get-Together: Participants in Grades 5-8 will have the opportunity to engage in logic and problem-solving games such as Tsuro, Zombie Dice, Sushi Go!, Blokus, and more!
Meeting Location: MS North Library
To attend, you must email Mr. Fleming at cfleming@gdrsd.org to RSVP for this event.
General Reminders:
Grade 8 families for the second half of this school year teachers will be taking period attendance and if students are not in class on time after three tardies in a week a student may receive a detention as time owed back. This is happening because particularly in the North and grade 8 students are not getting to their classes in a timely manner. Teachers have communicated this with your students and we appreciate your partnership.
The Building Friendships Through Sports program had a successful first session and will be offering session two from January 10th through February 9th on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30 to 3:30 pm. Games will include corn-hole, cup-stacking and kickball. Sign up for one or both days and have some fun with friends! https://www.familyid.com/programs/building-friendships-through-sports
The YearBook Committee will begin January 10th. They will meet on Tuesdays. We will have announcements in our morning announcements for your students to see. There is no fee.
Scholarships and Clubs. We want to make sure that all families know that if you wish for your student to participate in an after school club there are always opportunities for assistance. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or your student’s school counselor if you need some financial assistance. We would never want a student to not play because of cost.
SEPAC:
SEPAC is hosting a workshop with the Federation for Children with Special Needs on January 19th, 2023 at 7pm . Please see the flier on our website for additional information and register for the event using the registration link noted on the poster. If you have any questions, please email gdsepac2@gmail.com
Please join SEPAC for Coffee and Conversation on Tuesday, January 24, 2023. More information can be found here.
Dates to remember:
Quarter 2 closes January 20th. Grades will be published on the 30th.
January 20th is a ½ day of school
Sincerely your Groton Dunstable Regional Middle School Principal
Wendy Salvatore wsalvatore@gdrsd.org