Dear Parents and Guardians,
I would like to congratulate our Star Students for the month of November: Jake Lawler, Kara Lin, Mariya Guilmain, Olugbolade Asupoto, Cavan MacKenzie and Maisey O'Brien.
Star Students are nominated by any staff member who recognizes a student performing an act of kindness toward another student or staff member.
IMPORTANT UPDATE ON THE SCHOOL TRAFFIC PLAN
I just want to let you know that we are reconfiguring our Middle School traffic pattern. We are widening a section of the driveway at the Pomeworth entrance. Once this is completed, cars will have the ability to turn around and leave the school to exit back onto Pomeworth.
The new Traffic Plan is for traffic to enter from Pomeworth and exit back on to Pomeworth. The traffic flow from Central will remain the same. The biggest change is on the Pomeworth side where cars can no longer drive through the lot and exit on to Central Street. Simply put, if you enter from Pomeworth you have to leave from Pomeworth. If you enter from Central, you exit onto Central.
The new traffic plan will be in effect when we return the Holiday Break on Wednesday, January 2, 2019.
PAJAMA DAY
The middle school has a tradition of having a “pajama day” every December. The students can wear pajamas if they make a five dollar donation to the Holiday Helpers of the PTO. The money that is donated is used to purchase Holiday gifts for Stoneham Middle School families who may be facing hardships during the holidays. Holiday Helpers and the PTO have been helping Stoneham families for more than thirty years. This year Pajama Day will be Friday, December 7th
Red Ribbon Week
The Stoneham Police Department, the Stoneham Coalition, and the Youth Action Coalition came together Wednesday, October 31st, at the Stoneham Central Middle School to raise awareness of Red Ribbon Week, a national campaign for alcohol, tobacco, and other drug and violence prevention observed annually. The group passed out stickers to all of the middle school students that had drug prevention messaging like, “I have the power to stay drug-free.” The event coincided with presentations from Improbable Players and the Evan’s Foundation, which also address substance use prevention for our youth!”
Grade Five News
All fifth graders, led by their ELA/SS teachers and Mrs. Souza have launched a motivational message bulletin board that is displayed at the end of the hall on the fifth-grade floor to inspire and spread positivity. The first one is "5th Grade Spreads Kindness Like Confetti". Each student shared an illustration, quote, or short description of an act of kindness they have done, received or witnessed. We encourage everyone to take a walk up our way and check it out!
FRENCH CLASS
French students in Mme. Hays' classes celebrated National French week. All French students submitted either an essay or a video with the theme Mon Français, Mon Avenir (My French, My Future) for entry in a nationwide contest sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French.
To promote awareness of French at SCMS, students collaborated to make projects for our main display case. Sixth graders contributed posters about Francophone countries, seventh graders finished a unit on Paris and made 3-D replicas of iconic Parisian monuments, and eighth graders made posters about why French is important around the world.
Teacher Versus 8th Grade Student Football game
On Tuesday, November 21st, Stoneham Central Middle School 8th grade students planned, organized, and participated in the 1st Annual “Turkey Bowl” - our first ever 8th grade students vs. teachers flag football game.
As this was the first ever CMS "Turkey Bowl", we must give credit where credit is due for where the idea originated. For this, we shall all tip our caps to 8th grade student Mikey Pignone. Mikey deserves recognition for pursuing his terrific idea and help organizing the event.
The football game itself was a tremendous success. Everyone had fun, no one got injured, and most excitingly we got to witness many breathtaking feats of athleticism by both students and teachers alike. The students came out strong and led by as many as ten points early on, but the teachers settled in and were able to put together a comeback en route to a 45-38 victory.
There were many stand-out players on both sides. On the victorious side, 6th grade S.S. teacher Chris Daniels brought the crowd to its feet by scoring a rushing TD from the QB position using his explosive speed and elusiveness. School Resource Officer Fucarile, despite having a cannon for an arm, quickly assumed a leadership position to become the brains behind the team's offense, drawing up creative plays pre-snap and executing them to perfection.
However, no one on the teacher's side propelled the team to victory quite like Team MVP Nurse Kimberly Trant. Nurse Trant was an absolute force on defense, swatting away passes and flashing her outstanding hand/eye coordination by snatching student's flags all over the field, effectively leading the team in "tackles".
Staff and teachers of Central Middle School would like to say a big thank you once again to all participants, supporters, and spectators alike. It was a fun, exciting, and memorable experience for everyone involved.
Next up in the Students vs.Teachers competitions: 8th Grade Students vs.Teachers Hockey Game @ Stoneham Arena (usually early-mid February). Start sharpening those skates!
School HandBooks
All school handbooks have been updated, specifically regarding the codes of conduct. School handbooks are available for viewing on the Stoneham Schools website.
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
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.
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.
The SCMS PTO would like to thank those who have supported the PTO Donation Drive.
The 2018/2019 PTO meetings have been scheduled: January 9th, March 20th and May 8th.
IMPORTANT DATES IN December:
Wednesday, December 5th - EARLY RELEASE NOON DISMISSAL LUNCHES WILL NOT BE SERVED Parent Teacher Conferences 12:50-3:00
Thursday, December 6th- - EARLY RELEASE NOON DISMISSAL LUNCHES WILL NOT BE SERVED Parent Teacher Conferences 5:30-8:30
Friday, December 7th- Pajama Day Students pay five dollars to wear pajamas all proceeds donated to the Holiday Helpers.
Friday, December 21 st- EARLY RELEASE NOON DISMISSAL LUNCHES WILL NOT BE SERVED
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