Disability/Discrimination Awareness Month

In recognition of Disability/Discrimination Awareness Month, the Peabody Award-winning film, Blue Eyes Brown Eyes - A Class Divided will be shown to all of our students during two school-wide assemblies this month.

 

The film (based on a true story) stars Jane Elliott, a third grade teacher in a small, all-white Iowa town, who divided her third grade class into blue-eyed and brown-eyed groups and gave them a daring lesson in discrimination and prejudice.  This is the story of that lesson, its lasting impact on the children, and its enduring power forty-two years later.

At the completion of the film, Mr. Raymond Hanson (who was one of the third graders in this 1968 film) will speak to our students regarding the impact this "classroom exercise" had on his life and how he has dealt with being dyslexic throughout most of his childhood and adulthood.  Mr. Hanson currently resides in Rochester, MN and works for a Law Firm.

At the end of the program students will have the opportunity to ask Mr. Hansen questions regarding the impact this film has had on his life.

MCAS ELA Reading Comprehension Tests (Grades 5-8)

ELA Composition Test (Grade 7)

You will find the testing days/dates for the 2010 ELA MCAS Test in the above calendar.  Parents are asked to please make every effort to have their child present in school on these days.  Students must be in their homerooms no later than 8:08 AM.  If a student is absent for two (2) consecutive days, a doctor’s note will be required upon his/her return. 

Parents are asked NOT to schedule any appointments for students (during school hours) during the MCAS testing period.     If a student is dismissed during a test session he/she will not be able to have additional time to finish it (exception: being dismissed due to illness).  We thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Grade 4 Orientation

Grade 4 parents and students are cordially invited to attend the Grade 5 Middle School Orientation Meeting on

Thursday, April 15th from 7:00 – 8:15 PM in the PAC.

Pertinent information will be covered for both parents and students.  A formal invitation (with the specific program) will be sent home with 4th grade students at the end of March.

GOOD LUCK TO OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE

DESTINATION IMAGINATION TOURNAMENT ON MARCH 20th!

I am very pleased to inform you that approximately 70 of our middle school students will be participating in the 2010 Destination ImagiNation Tournaments at Ayer High School on Saturday, March 20th.

Destination ImagiNation, Inc. is a non-profit organization offering a global, youth-centered, creative problem-solving program. Destination ImagiNation emphasizes creativity, problem-solving and teamwork. DI challenges have open-ended answers, empowering participants to create solutions that are imaginative, original, divergent and ingenious! Students work together in teams to tackle these challenges under the direction of a team coach.

I would like to thank all of the parent coaches, team managers, and appraisers for volunteering many hours of their time to supervise our students in preparation for this great event!  I would also like to recognize Mrs. Kim Duhamel and Ms. Cheryl Douglas for their countless hours of dedication and hard work in coordinating this great program!

Kudos to all of our volunteer team managers and appraisers!!!

Team Manager           Team Appraisers

Jeff Cernak                   Tom Boggiano

Jim Keydel                    Sonya Tarter

Tim Leonard /               Lori Jeromin

Caroline Henriques

Sue Adams /                  Susan Psaledakis

Christina Philibert        

Mark Webber /             Joyce Faiola

Gina Silva                      

Chris Olson                   Janet Sheffield

Karen Reardon /           Kathleen Phelps

Yuval Gonen               

Medora King                Monica Pilman

Bea Alice Loos             Jamie Green

John Thorburn /            Jamie Glennie

Michael Abraham       

Mitch McManus           Richard Dorff

Andrea Mischel            Britta Roper

Diane Gould /               Deborah Katz

Lynn Jablonski             

GOOD LUCK TO OUR GROTON-DUNSTABLE REGIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS!

      

Gifted and Talented Education Update

As you are aware, the middle school is looking at a variety of ways to better meet the needs of our high-end learners.  I am very pleased to report that many of our teachers are differentiating their instruction to address learning styles/strategies that will challenge and motivate ALL students.  This includes giving formative pre-assessments to determine what students already know about a given topic.  All of our grade-level teams are presently receiving some preliminary coaching from Ms. Kristina Ayers Paul from the University of Connecticut on best practices of meeting the needs of students who are accelerated.

The Gifted and Talented Committee continues to meet on a monthly basis.  Discussion topics run from how to identify students who are high-end learners, types of enrichment opportunities that teachers can implement in their classrooms, and various resources that are available on this topic.   Some of the members of the committee will be joining me on a visit to the Driscoll Middle School (K-8) to hear more about their Enrichment, Challenge & Support Program (ECS).  This committee will also examine the possibility of using programs such as on-line learning to supplement our current academic program.

The study of Gifted and Talented Education is fascinating and interesting.  We have learned that there is not just one way of identifying students whose abilities, talents, and potential for accomplishment are exceptional or developmentally advanced.  Children at this age are continually changing day by day, minute by minute.  However, by focusing on a variety of learning modalities, interests, student profiles, and differentiation of instruction, we will be able to continue to challenge and motivate all students who come to our classrooms every day to learn!

I will continue to keep you updated on our progress over the next few months. In the meantime, if you have not had the opportunity, please feel free to stop by and visit our Enrichment Learning Resource Center in the North building.  You will find many books, CD's and informational articles on the topic of Gifted and Talented Education.

Massachusetts Central District Music Festival

On February 6th, our middle school was well represented as the MA Central District Music Festival.  Eight of our students were selected to participate!  Congratulations to the following students who were selected to the chorus: Olivia, Mariah, and Danika.  On a special note, Olivia and Danika received the highest scores given to any vocalist auditioning in their voice part out of over 300 students.  Selected to the Orchestra was Edward on violin.  Selected to the Jazz Band was Alec.  Selected to the Band were Eric, Ethan and Travis.  Kudos to Mr. Lanctot and Mrs. DiPinto!

Greater Lowell Technical High School Placement Exam

Dunstable Students

Selected students will be scheduled to take the Placement Examination during the week of March 15th – 19th at the Groton-Dunstable Middle School.

 

PRINCIPAL’S COFFEE

An opportunity for parents to meet and chat with the administrators!

Monday, March 22, 2010

9:00 – 10:00 AM

Location: North Cafeteria

GROTON-DUNSTABLE MIDDLE SCHOOL 5TH AND 6TH GRADE

Groton-Dunstable Middle School

Performing Arts Center, Main St.  Groton, MA

March 5th and 6th, 2010

7:00 P.M.

Tickets: Adults: $10.00, Students: $5.00

Seniors: Be our guest!

Tickets available at the door

 

Yearbook News

Do you have pictures the yearbook could use?  Due to circumstances

beyond our control, the yearbook is desperately seeking pictures of

last fall’s sports teams, 7th grade basketball teams, "Once Upon a

Mattress," Ski Club and Winter Concert pictures.  Please contact Mrs. O'Neill so we can get the best pictures for our yearbook.  Thanking you in advance.

 

Save the Date

On Thursday, April 15, 2010 the Middle School will hold an Open House Orientation Meeting at 7 PM for Grade 4 students and their parents.  A formal invitation will be sent home with all 4th grade students in March.

Mark Your Calendars

Our 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony will take place on Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 7 PM in the Performing Arts Center (pending no other snow days).  Any additional snow day will move the ceremony up by one day. 8th graders will receive their yearbooks on June 18th, which is the last day of school.

Technology Committee

The middle school is looking for a couple of parents to serve on its Technology Committee. The Technology committee is a new committee that is being established at the middle school for staff, parents and technology coordinators.  The committee will meet once a month to discuss ways to continue to enhance technology in the classroom, discuss technical challenges, and to share successful strategies. Meeting times have not been set at this time.  If you would be interested in serving on this committee please email Mr. Silverman no later than February 12, 2010.  Parents that have familiarity with technology and its applications are encouraged to apply.

Progress Reports

Each quarter teachers at GDRMS send home midterm progress reports with all of their students.  The intent of sending these progress reports home is to keep parents informed about their child’s progress before each quarter comes to a close.  If a student’s grade(s) drop(s) substantially between the time of progress reports being issued and the end of the quarter, teachers will notify parents by email, another progress report, or a phone call.  Please make note of the dates when students will be bringing home their progress reports:

• Third Quarter Progress Report – March 2
• Fourth Quarter Progress Report – May 14

 

 

Lost and Found

If your child has left for school with a hat or coat, but not returned home with them, chances are that his/her missing clothes are in our lost and found area.  Arranged on a few shelves at specific locations of the building(s) are hats, jackets, boots, shirts, sweaters, pants and countless gloves and mittens!  Please ask your child to stop by the lost and found area(s) to look for items they may have misplaced.  Better yet, when you visit our school please feel free to check out these areas yourself!  Please note that at the end of each quarter any unclaimed articles of clothing will be donated to the Salvation Army.

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.