Middle School News

Read the middle school newletters:

Some documents are in PDF format and require Adobe Reader free download.

Yearbook News

The main yearbook is done and printing, and we continue taking pictures for the first-ever supplement. What’s in the supplement, you might ask? Well, anything we couldn’t get in by the 1st printing deadline. So you’ll see pictures from Seussical the Musical, the talent show, spring sports teams and activities, the visit from our VIP from NASA --astronaut Joseph Acaba-- more dance and social pictures, Memorial Day, field trips, Washington DC, and more. If you already sent us $37.00 for both the yearbook and the supplement, you are all set. If not, we will still be taking orders for the supplement right up to the last day of school. The supplement will be mailed to 8th grade students who ordered it, but delivered to other grades on the first day of school.

Yearbook staff has been busy, posting updated sales lists in both buildings. We still have yearbooks available for purchase, but we are getting close to being sold out. If you still want to buy one, there are order forms outside of both offices in the MS. Distribution, as always, takes place the last day of school.

Thank-you

Mr. Silverman would personally like to thank all of the parents and staff members who volunteered their time to chaperone our Kids’ Night Out and grade 7 & 8 dances. Without their help, these dances would not have been as successful as they were. I would also like to thank Mrs. Lynette Fisher for her time and effort in making numerous phone calls to recruit chaperones for all of our dances.

Scholar Leader Dinner

Congratulations to two grade 8 students for being chosen to represent Groton-Dunstable Regional Middle School at the annual Massachusetts Scholar-Leader Dinner on Thursday, June 4 at the Radisson Center of New Hampshire in Manchester, NH.

Sponsored by Verizon and the Boston Globe, the Scholar-Leader Dinner recognizes the scholarship, leadership and community service contributions of middle-level students by honoring two students from each school as representatives of all of the good things that 10-14 year-olds accomplish every day. The sponsors subsidize the student dinners and each student receives a plaque of recognition and a photo taken with the Commissioner of Education. The students’ family, Principal, Assistant Principal and a teacher from the 8th grade team also attend this event.

School Council Parent Survey

In an effort to continue to better serve the educational needs of our students and families, the GDRMS School Council will be sending home its annual parental survey on Friday, May 29th. Please set aside some time to complete this survey and return it with your son/daughter to the main office by Friday, June 12th. When returning the survey, we encourage parents to put it in a sealed envelope. Please write on the envelope, Parent Survey.

As a parent of a student at Groton-Dunstable Regional Middle School, your assessment of the school program and its activities are very important. The results of the survey will better help our School Council to formulate upcoming goals and objectives. Results of the survey will be posted on the website.

GDEF Awards 15 New Grants

Thanks to the generous community support of its March 14th fundraising auction and this year’s Annual Giving Campaign, the Groton Dunstable Education Foundation is pleased to announce it has just awarded 15 new educational enrichment grants totaling $32,513 to district schools in its twelfth grant cycle.

Middle School students will benefit from the following grants:

Student Response Systems (Clickers): ($6,645) -- a technological innovation for all 5th grade classrooms and a 7th grade math classroom that will allow immediate feedback on student understanding, increasing student attention and motivation as students answer questions using remote keypads to answer questions in class

“Rachel’s Challenge” ($4795) – an event-based learning opportunity named for the first student victim of the Columbine shootings, supporting the district vision of promoting respect, tolerance and kindness in our school and community cultures
Turning Points ($2500) – a second year of staff training in various components of this educational reform model for middle schools

GDRSD FAST (Food Allergy Support Team) Library ($500) -- food allergy educational materials/books for district schools and libraries to promote food allergy awareness

Stay tuned for information on GDEF’s annual Spring Grants Celebration/Annual Meeting to be held in late May or early June. If you wish to contribute to future grants, donations are still welcome for GDEF’s Annual Giving Campaign, or you can thank a special teacher or staff member by making a donation in their name to GDEF’s “Teaching Stars” program. For more information and a complete listing of grants funded, please visit www.gdefinc.org.

GDSTEM Offers Summer Skills Workbooks

Click here to learn more.

Dress Code

With spring upon us it is necessary to reiterate our dress code policy at the middle school. As stated in the Student/Parent Handbook, students’ clothing should be in good taste and not disrupt from the educational process. Items of clothing should not present a health or safety problem, or violate the rules of decency. This includes but is not limited to clothing that contains inappropriate language, offensive gestures/pictures, gang symbols, and/or tobacco/alcohol advertisements. Drug, gang, or cult-related jewelry or clothing may not be worn in school or at school-sponsored events.

During warm weather, comfortable clothing may be worn. However, any type of revealing, low-cut, or see-through clothing that exposes any part of a student’s body such as stomach and/or chest areas is prohibited. Front, back, and sides must be covered at all times. No bare midriffs, halter tops, tank tops (with spaghetti straps), sleepwear, beachwear or sunglasses are allowed. Undergarments must be covered at all times. Boys are not allowed to wear sleeveless sport jerseys unless they have a shirt underneath. Shorts, dresses and skirts must be of a decent length and should not extend one inch above one’s fingertips (with arm hanging straight).

All footwear must have secure straps. Beach flip flops are prohibited due to safety reasons.

The Principal/Assistant Principal is the final authority in determining appropriate attire. Students who are inappropriately dressed will be removed from class until proper attire has been provided.

Medical Insurance for Your Children

All children living in Massachusetts, age 18 or younger, are eligible to enroll in a health program with a full range of benefits for both medical and dental insurance. If you are interested in this coverage, please call Mass Health. The Tewksbury Enrollment Center can be reached Monday through Friday from 8:45 am to 5:00 pm. The toll-free telephone number is 1-800-408-1253.

School Email

Please note that some of our incoming emails get blocked (for security purposes), thus some teachers may not have access to some emails sent by parents.

Please understand that our teachers make every attempt to respond to parental emails within a twenty-four hour time period. If you do not hear from your child’s teacher within an adequate amount of time, it could be that your email was blocked. If this occurs, we would suggest that you send a note in with your child or call the school.

We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

Folder Folder Distribution Change

In an effort to conserve on paper, reduce copy machine costs, and utilize technology to its fullest, the middle school’s monthly Principal’s Newsletter and other pertinent notices will only be available on the Groton-Dunstable Regional Middle School Website. An icon labeled FRIDAY FOLDERS will be added to the HOME PAGE on the Groton-Dunstable Regional Middle School Website which will allow you access to all pertinent notices including school district notices, school affiliated organizations (ie: MSTPO, SPED PAC, GDEF) and community organizations (ie: GD Youth Sports Leagues, Groton Recreation, etc.)

There will be times when certain information will go home with students in paper form (via Friday Folders). For example: permission slips for field trips/school events and state-mandated letters. Copies of these notices will also be available on the website.

If you do not have access to the internet, please contact one of the middle school secretaries. These materials will be sent home in your child’s Friday Folder. For your convenience, here is the middle school website address: http://www.gdrsd.org/Schools/MiddleSchool/MSMain.html

de door, let your child out, continue around the circle and exit the way you came in.

Please Keep Us Updated!

If you have moved or changed your phone number(s), please forward this information to the NORTH office. In the case of an emergency, it is very important that we have this updated information. Thank you for your cooperation.

A Message from the North/South Office

To minimize classroom interruptions, messages and deliveries for students will be left in the office. For those students who need to report to the office to receive messages/deliveries, the office staff will write their names on a white board outside of each cafeteria. When arriving to lunch each day, students are encouraged to check the white board. If their name appears, they should report directly to the office to get their message/deliveries. If a student does not retrieve his/her message by the end of the day, he/she will be called down to the office at 2:20 PM.

Promotion Policy

As specified on page 32 in our 2008-2009 Parent/Student Handbook, students in the Groton-Dunstable Middle School must successfully complete their grade level program of studies before being promoted to the next grade level. Any student who fails two or more core subjects for the school year may not be promoted to the next grade level. In addition, Grade 8 students who fail two or more core subjects may not be permitted to participate in the June Promotion Ceremony. A Summer School Program will be available for students to make up failed courses, provided there is sufficient enrollment.

Attendance

Parents are asked to please refer to the 2008-2009 Student/Parent handbook attendance policy if their child is going to be absent from school.

It is important for a student to be present in school on a daily basis to ensure continuous learning. Students should be home when they are ill; otherwise, all efforts should be made to have them in school. To the greatest extent possible, all appointments should be made before or after school, and recreational trips should be scheduled during school vacations. Regular attendance is necessary in order for students to achieve academic success. Time lost from class is very difficult to make up, particularly in terms of student interaction and exchange of ideas. Therefore, it is important to attend school regularly and to be absent or dismissed only for legitimate matters.

Absences with appropriate documentation, (i.e. a physician’s note, legal documentation or a family emergency such as a funeral) will automatically be considered “excused” absences.

In accordance with Chapter 76 Section 2 of the General Laws of Massachusetts, if a child is absent for seven (7) days or 14 half days within any period of six months, the school is required to take appropriate action. This may include: a meeting with administration, a meeting with the School Resource Officer, and in some cases filing appropriate documentation with the Juvenile Court.

After seven (7) unexcused absences, a letter will be sent home indicating that medical/legal documentation will be required for any further absences from school. If you have any questions regarding the attendance policy, please contact one of the building administrators.

PAC (Parent Advisory Committee)

Advocating For Your Child Through The Special Education Process

As required by state law, school districts are required to support and assist Special Education Parent Advisory Councils. PACS are a great way to meet with other parents and to keep informed with current issues in Special Education.

Know your rights.
Keep good records.
Prioritize the needs of your child.
Know/understand the role of the TEAM members.
Always bring someone with you to your meeting.
Familiarize yourself with the Team/business meeting protocol.
Follow up in writing.

Parents are encouraged to attend PAC meetings. Upcoming SpedPAC Business Meetings are scheduled for:

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

7:00 - 9:00 PM - Library, Groton-Dunstable Regional High School

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

1:15 – 2:45 PM - Library (North) Project Room, Groton-Dunstable Middle School

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

1:15 – 2:45 PM - Library (North) Project Room, Groton-Dunstable Middle Schoool

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

7:00 – 9:00 PM – Library, Groton-Dunstable Regional High School

Private and Technical School Applications

Requesting Recommendations and Transcripts From Middle School Teachers and Staff

Private and Technical schools often require teacher and guidance counselor recommendations for prospective students. Our school has created the following procedure to help simplify this process.

1. Make sure all of the correct forms are filled out with the student’s information at the top. Parents are required to sign a release of transcripts form before the school can mail anything out. Students should bring all of the school forms to their guidance counselor or to Mrs. Mary Cain in the North office. Guidance counselors will speak to the students about their applications either individually or within a small group. Parents should contact the guidance counselor with any specific questions.

Ms. June Grove 8th grade and 5th grade – Kieda, Klock, Cronin

Mrs. Paige Leone 7th grade and 5th grade –Barton, Sawyer, Kilroy

Ms. Cara Zwicker 6th grade and 5th grade – Cragg, Polaski, Stone

2. Students should personally inform their teachers that they are applying to a school and ask if he/she would be willing to complete a recommendation form. Be sure to provide the due date if it is not on the school form and allow three weeks for the form to be completed.

3. Along with the recommendation forms, please provide stamped addressed envelopes. The school office will not provide envelopes or stamps.

4. It is thoughtful if students follow-up with a thank you to the teacher/counselor for taking time to write their recommendation.

5. Students are encouraged to inform the teacher/counselor of the results when you have selected a school.

Kids' Night Out (Grades 5&6)

7th and 8th Grade Dances

Groton-Dunstable Regional Middle School will be sponsoring these outstanding events! Kids’ Night Out gives students an age-appropriate opportunity of participating/choosing a variety of activities during the course of the evening. Some activities include: dancing the night away with DJ Greg, playing basketball/volleyball in the gym, watching a video movie, playing a variety of board games, making arts and crafts, and other activities which will change from time to time. The nice part of Kids’ Night Out is that it allows students to choose and rotate from a variety of activities throughout the evening. Students are free to circulate from activity to activity.

Students can dance a bit, then shoot some hoops, then watch a movie, and then hit the dance floor again! All Kids’ Night Out Dances will be held in MS South from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Admission to KNO is $5.00. Soda, water and candy will be available for students to purchase for $1.00.

Grades 7 and 8 students will have two special dances. One is the Back to School Bash in September and the other is the End of the School Year Bash in June. Being that these are special dances, they will run from 7:00 – 9:30 PM. All other 7th and 8th grade dances will run from 7:00 – 9:00 PM. Admission is $5.00. Soda, water and candy will be available for students to purchase for $1.00.

Proceeds from these dances will go toward bringing in some educational cultural assemblies.

Other dances/activities will also be planned by our Class Advisors throughout the year.

Please note that only students enrolled at Groton-Dunstable Middle School are invited to attend these after-school events. There will be no exceptions.

For the safety of all of our students, 5th and 6th grade parents are required to come into the school building at 9 PM to pick up their child(ren). Carpools will be permitted. Parents of 7th and 8th grade students are encouraged to come into the building to get their child(ren). All students are to enter and leave through the Main entrance of either school. Parents are asked to arrive promptly at 9:00 PM.

Students are expected to follow the same rules at dances that they follow at school. Appropriate dress and behavior are always required. Any student who comes to an event dressed inappropriately or who causes any behavioral problems will be sent home after his/her parents have been notified to pick them up. Refunds will not be given.

Students and families of students in grades 7 and 8 should save these dates that are set for regular DJ dances during our school year. These are the dates that we have booked so far and additional dates may be announced. We have booked dances with DJ Greg on November 14, January 23 and February 27. DJ Larry Falk joins us again this year for dances on December 12 and March 27. Each dance will have music from our DJ and soda available at a low price as a fundraiser for the MSPTO. Dances start at 7:00pm and run until 9:00pm. Reminder notices will go out. Permission slips will not be required. All dances have a $5.00 charge per student at the door. We will check in all students for attendance and safety purposes. Only students from our school in grades 7 & 8 will be allowed. Absolutely no cellular phones turned on during a dance. All school rules and school dress codes apply at all times. Remember, if a fire alarm sounds during a dance, first evacuate out of the building safely, then gather with the rest of the school by the American Flag in front of the South Building. If you have any questions, please feel welcome to contact your Class Advisor. The Class Advisor for grade 7 is Ms. Schorn, and the Class Advisor for grade 8 is Mr. Snodgrass.

Snacks

Research has clearly shown that middle school students perform better and have greater concentration when they have proper nourishment. With this in mind, all students will have a designated snack time on a daily basis within their classroom. Teaching and learning will continue to take place during this time. We ask for parents’ cooperation in adhering to the following: students are not allowed to bring in soda, large bags of chips or any type of food that is not conducive for a morning snack. Snack is not a time for the sharing of food. We encourage all students to bring in an individual portion of a “healthy” snack. Due to food allergies, students are asked NOT to bring in any snack that contains peanuts/nuts. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

South Building

For the safety and well-being of our students and staff, parents are reminded that vehicles are not permitted to drive around the back of the South Building. Please park your vehicle in the main campus parking lot or in the side lot between the South Building and Flo Ro. Thank you for your cooperation.

Have You Seen Your Child's Agenda, Planner Handbook?

All students have been issued a custom-designed GDRMS Agenda Planner Handbook. If you have not seen it, please ask your child about it. This planner serves as a handbook, planning guide, resource for various subject areas, daily calendar, time manager, goal setter and parent communicator.

The objective of the agenda book is to help middle school students become more organized in their school work. It is also designed to gain parent participation by providing an excellent vehicle to communicate with the teacher and the school. All students are required to have their planner with them at all times. Our expectations are that:

Students carry their agendas to each class.
Teachers check agendas and require students to use them.
Parents check on student use and communicate with the school via the agenda.

Student Absences

Parents are reminded to call the school when their child will be absent from school. Only a parent/guardian may call a child in absent. Parents are asked to please call in no later than 8:00 AM in order that our office staff can generate an accurate absentee list. The school phone number is 978-448-6155. Thank you for your cooperation.

School Dismissal

A reminder to all parents: If your child is going to be dismissed during the regular school day, it is very important that you send a note into school with your child on the day of the dismissal. Please ask your child to bring the note to the office as he/she arrives for school and receive an official dismissal note from one of the secretaries. Thank you for your cooperation.

A Message from the North/South Office

Messages and deliveries from home will be left in the office. Student names will be put on a board in the front of the cafeteria. Students will be called out of class only in an emergency. This will minimize classroom interruptions.If a message is not retrieved by the end of the day, the student will be called down to the office at the end of the day.

Food - Bus Safety

As a friendly reminder it is important for parents to remember that absolutely no eating or sharing of food is allowed on the bus. Working with parents and staff, we have been successful in keeping our classrooms and cafeteria safe for children with allergies. It is important that since students begin and end their day on the bus that parents are vigilant in this effort to keep children safe when traveling to and from school as well as in school. Please review this rule with your children.