A message from STONEHAM CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL
Dear Parents,
I would like to congratulate our Star Students for the month of October: Michael Susi, Joshua Manoj, Frankie Federico, Jason Federico, Sydney Vallone, Amaia Price, Riley Pollack, Isabella Redlund, , Savannah Lee , Guinevere Bolger, Kosta Booras, Chloe Chaves, and Matthew Baliestiero
Star Students are nominated by any staff member who recognizes a student performing an act of kindness toward another student or staff member.
Activity Period
Our 2018-2019 academic year is officially in full swing and it is an exciting time at SCMS, as we embark on a new initiative for our activity periods. As you are already aware, students have an activity period in their schedule on days 2 and 5. At this time, programs such as band and chorus meet while other students return to homeroom to complete such tasks as reading and homework. Throughout the end of last year, and the beginning of this year - a committee comprised of teachers, guidance counselors, and special education personnel, met to reflect on prior practice in reference to how our school utilizes this valuable resource.
After careful discussion and organization, we have been able to formulate a plan for teachers that not only creates thoughtful and meaningful activities, but also provides an entry point to all students where they can feel part of our middle school community. We will be rolling out this pilot program with 6th grade students in conjunction with the beginning of second quarter.
The structure of the new activity period initiative involves teacher facilitated activities, based on their expertise. Students will sign up for these activities and participate in them for the duration of each quarter. While attending these activities, the expectation, as always, is for all students to demonstrate respect, show kindness, and continue to contribute positively to our school culture and community.
In order for your child to participate in these activities they must be up to date on homework. The homework space will be for students who need additional supports. Students will be placed in the homework lab as a means to promote strong academic standing, to motivate students to create and utilize constructive study habits, and to provide students with an opportunity to reflect on their progress as pertains to their overall academic success. Our goal with the homework space is to create fluidity between quarters, and ultimately give students who have been placed in this working space the opportunity to create academic success and move on to other activity period options.
While students will be placed in the homework lab by teachers, students will also be given the option of selecting the homework lab, if they wish to utilize their time in this manner.
Chorus and band students will remain in chorus and band during activity periods.
We are incredibly excited for this new launch, and thank everyone for your continued support, as SCMS carves a new path forward with our activity based periods.
HAT DAY
Middle School Students held a Crazy Hat and Sock Day. Students paid two dollars to wear a crazy hat or socks with all proceeds donated to the American Red Cross Hurricane Florence Relief Fund. Students raised over four hundred dollars.
MATH TEAM
Math Team Competes in October Meet
Congratulations to the Math Team, which placed fourth this month at its meet in Lynnfield! Leading the scoring were Maya Ibrahim, Quinn Nial, Bhoomika Chopra, and Konstantina Hantzis, followed by Giovanni Gomez, Wilmarika Annacacis, Radhika Patel, Nihal Berrad, Nicole D’Souza, and Bree Lakeman. Also doing well were Ivy Wong, Sam Goncalves, Sophie Brewin and Tyler Coyne. Quinn Nial also received an award as highest scoring 6th grader and Konstantina Hantzis received an award as highest scoring 5th grader at the meet. Congratulations everyone!
Grade Six News
On Friday 10/26, students in the 6th grade Geography classes visited Earthview, a 20 foot inflatable globe. The portable classroom traveled to Stoneham along with three professors from Bridgewater State University who were very knowledgeable and full of many interesting stories, personal accounts and facts. The outside of the globe is a hand-painted, true to scale replica of the Earth’s surface. Students were able to see the familiar continents, rivers, seas, landforms, oceans, major cities, from the outside. However once they stepped inside, everything was in reverse! As the students shared where their ancestors originated, they were able to see our rich cultural diversity and the global connections that are an important aspect of all our lives.
All 6th graders just completed their first ELA Independent Reading Project. Students read a Science Fiction or Fantasy book and produced a project of their choice. Students' projects varied from social media pages, book reviews to "book trailers." Not only did this promote independent reading, but also gave students a chance to show off their creativity
Grade 6 students celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15) creating posters about famous Hispanic Americans displayed in the hallway outside room 224 at Central Middle School.
Grade 7 News
On Wednesday October 31st the 6th and 7th graders attended a theater performance about substance abuse prevention in the gymnasium. The performance is called “Running on E” which features short scenes focused around the negative effects of drugs and alcohol. The production lasts about 75 minutes. The program is put on by Improbable Players. Please visit their website for more information: www.improbableplayers.org
After learning about the fact that public school students in Mexico wear uniforms to school Mrs. Clark's 7th grade Spanish students had a healthy debate about school uniforms and/or strict dress codes. The students saw merit in both sides of the argument for and against strict dress codes for students and afterward decided to participate in a small social experiment for extra credit. About half of the students came dressed for class on Monday according to typical private school dress code guidelines (khakis, golf shirts, etc.). Students reported that they felt like they belonged to a group, were easily identifiable, felt serious and felt "old". However, the majority stated afterward that they thought being comfortable and being "themselves" was better for learning than being dressed in a uniform or a dress code.
Grade 8 News
On Wednesday October 31st the 8th grade students participated in a 45 minute presentation that educated young adolescents to help fight substance abuse. The Evan foundation was organized in 2014-2015 after the founders, John & Stephanie Greene, lost their son Evan to an opiate overdose. The presentation is called No First Time and attached is the website if you would like to read more about the program. https://evangfoundation.org/
This week Grade 8 Italian students presented their group projects on La Casa (The house). The students enjoyed being creative by constructing model houses and labeling the rooms and furniture. The students then gave oral presentations about their houses. Next week students will play real estate agents where they will have the opportunity to spiral the vocabulary they learned in a practical setting.
Ms. Brisson’s science class had their annual RBPV (Rubber Band Powered Vehicle) Competition 2018. The 8th graders measured distance, speed and acceleration of the rubber band powered vehicles that they designed, built and raced. When the calculations are completed we will determine the winners in longest distance, fastest speed, fastest acceleration and greatest momentum. Students will make force diagrams and energy transformation charts for their RBPVs. CMS staff votes will determine the winners of the "coolest design" and "best use of recycled materials".
MESSAGE FROM THE NURSE
** Important Message from the Health Office **
Cold and Flu season is upon us! A sick child cannot learn effectively and is unable to participate in classes in a meaningful way. Keeping a sick child home from school prevents the spread of illness in the school community and allows the child opportunity to rest and recover.
Here are some general guidelines to help you decide if your child is too sick for school:
FEVER
Keep your child home if he/she has a fever of 100.0 or above. An increased temperature is an indication of an infection. Your child should not return to school until he/she is fever free without taking any fever-reducing medications, such as Tylenol or Advil, for 24 hours.
VOMITING
If your child vomits more than once, keep him/her home for at least 24 hours after the last episode of vomiting.
DIARRHEA
As with vomiting, keep your child home for at least 24 hours after the last episode of loose stools.
COLD SYMPTOMS
Sending your child to school with minor cold symptoms is perfectly acceptable. However, a persistent cough and/or continuous runny nose with thick secretions may be symptoms of something more than just a common cold – especially if your child also has a fever. If this is the case, we encourage you to seek advice from your pediatrician before sending your child to school.
If your child was seen by a medical provider for any illness, notes from these office visits are always appreciated and should be provided to the school nurse upon your child returning to school. Please call the health office if you have any questions.
Kim Trant BSN, RN & Heather Lamarre BSN, RN
Phone: 781-279-3840 ext. 2
Fax: 781-279-3843
Parent Conferences
Stoneham Central Middle School has scheduled two parent/teacher conference dates for the 2018-2019 school year:
Wednesday, December 5th from 12:50 PM until 3:00 PM
Thursday, December 6th from 5:30 PM until 8:30 PM.
Each conference appointment will be limited to ten minutes in order to provide time for as many parents and guardians as possible. Middle School students will be dismissed at 12:00 PM on both dates, December 5th and December 6th.
Parents and guardians can begin to schedule conference appointments online using SignUpGenius from 7:30 AM on Monday, November 5th through 3:30 PM on Friday, November 16th Please visit our website at www.StonehamSchools.org and click on Schools, then select Stoneham Central Middle School, and click on the link labeled 2018 Parent/Teacher Conferences.
We recommend you create a SignUpGenius account to easily manage your appointments. If you do not have access to a device to sign up for conferences online, please contact the main office for assistance. The code you need to access all of the Sign-Up forms and schedule your appointments is 3840.
Please remember to arrive to school early on the date of your conferences to allow for enough time to park and walk to your appointment on time. In addition, if for some reason you cannot meet during these times you can call your child’s guidance counselor to schedule an appointment with your child’s teachers during the school day.
PTO NEWS
The SCMS PTO distributes information, the PTO newsletter, and other school news electronically. If you would like to receive this information please sign up at: https://www.groupvine.com/stoneham-middle-school/@@apply.
The PTO could use your assistance at school events and with planning activities this year. There are many ways you can support the SCMS PTO. If you are interested in volunteering please contact us at: http: stonehampto@gmail.com
The Stoneham Central Middle School P.T.O. has a Facebook group. This is a closed group for families of current SCMS students. It is managed by the PTO, but open to all current SCMS families:
http://facebook.com/groups/StonehamCentralMiddleSchoolPTO/
The SCMS PTO would like to thank those who have supported the PTO Donation Drive.
The 2018/2019 PTO meetings have been scheduled: November 7th, January 9th, March 20th and May 8th.
IMPORTANT DATES IN November:
Friday, November 2nd- Picture retake day
Monday, November 5th- Start of quarter two.
Monday, November 5th- Access Sign Up Genius to schedule parent conferences.
Monday, November 12th – No School Veterans Day
Wednesday, November 21st- EARLY RELEASE NOON DISMISSAL LUNCHES WILL NOT BE SERVED
November 22 and November 23rd No School Thanksgiving Break
PLEASE VISIT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WEBSITE TO ACCESS OUR MONTHLY SCHOOL CALENDAR. DAYS TWO and FIVE ARE DAYS THAT BAND AND CHORUS MEET DURING ACTIVITY PERIOD.
Mrs. Fulmer and I will continue to update you via email throughout the year. Please feel free to call us with any questions or concerns.
Christopher Banos
Principal SCMS