Upcoming Events

Parent Forum

You are cordially invited to attend an informational forum on Monday, April 14 to hear about some of the exciting initiatives that are taking place at the Middle School.  Location:  Performing Arts Center

Learn more about this.

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 profane language, offensive gestures/pictures, gang symbols, and/or tobacco/alcohol advertisements.  The use or display of any drug, gang, or cult related jewelry or clothing may not be worn in school or at school sponsored activities. 

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 also 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.

MYSPACE.COM

As you are aware, the website MYSPACE.COM can be a very dangerous site to visit.  Parents are asked to take some time to discuss with their child(ren) the seriousness of chatting with strangers (or posting pictures of themselves) on this website.  I am enclosing an article that was printed in The Press-Tribune two years ago.  It may help parents better understand the potential risks that students could encounter while being on this site.

School EMail

It has been brought to my attention, 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 teachers within an adequate amount of time, it could be that your email was blocked.  If this occurs, I would suggest that you send a note in with your child or call the school.   

We appreciation your cooperation in this matter and want to assure you that we are working with our Technology Specialist to rectify this situation.

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.

Revised Dates for Grading Periods (Due to Snow Days)

Midterm Progress Report Friday, March 7

Third Quarter Grades Close on Wednesday, April 9

Third Quarter Report Cards mailed on Thursday, April 17

Midterm Progress Report Friday, May 16

Mark Your Calendars

8th Grade Promotion Ceremony will take place on Tuesday, June 24 at 7 PM in the PAC. in the Performing Arts Center (pending no other snow days).  Please note that if there is an additional snow day, the ceremony will be held on June 25 at 7 PM in the Performing Arts Center.

 

Save the Date

On April 7, 2008 the Middle School will hold an Open House Orientation Meeting (7:00pm) for Grade 4 Students and their parents.  A formal invitation will be sent home with all 4th grade students in March.

 

GDSTEM 2008

Groton-Dunstable Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (GDSTEM) is a volunteer organization of parents, educators, and community partners promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education. Our goal is to enhance the support of, and participation in, all STEM educational activities within the Groton-Dunstable grade K-12 community. We are committed to a comprehensive STEM program that is an integral part of the educational experience and encourages students to continue in these career fields. Please visit our website at http://gdstem.org .

Anyone who is interested is invited.

Note: All meeting dates fall on a Wednesday and will take place at Middle School North, Room 201, beginning at 7 p.m.

January 16

February 13

March 19

April 16

May 14

June 11

 

Procedure for Private School Applications

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.

Click here for a pdf document that outlines this process, or visit this guidance web page.

Please Keep Us Updated!

If any parent(s) has moved or changed their 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

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.

MSPTO News

Thank you to parent Laura DeGroot for chaperoning the March 6th Grade Games Social.

Thank you to all of the parent and student volunteers who helped with the 6th Grade King Arthur Flour Breadbaking Assembly:  Laurie Ovenden, Cindy Royal, Linda Bowness, Tina Lutkevich, Kyle Fisher, Bryce McLaughlin, and Greg Mahan. 

Read more.

 

Grade 8 Trip to Washington DC

Planning for the DC Trip continues now as we identify touring partners and roommates for each child.  During the next few weeks, we do not plan to make any changes in room assignments for students who signed up in groups of four.   Click here for more information about the trip.

 

Updated Middle School Mathematics Website

Want some information about your child's middle school mathematics curriculum?

Be sure to check out the math website (located on the home page of the middle school website) for information regarding:

1. Recent topics in mathematics

2. Placement information

3. Information on Connected Mathematics Program (Grades 6-8)

4. Information on Investigations Program (Grade 5)

5. Resources for extending students' mathematics learning

Any questions please contact Karen Gartland, Mathematics Coordinator.

Guidance

There can be some confusion over which counselor has which grades.  Please see the attached for clarification.

June Grove – Extension 1920	Grade 7
	Grade 5 – Homerooms (Mr. Cronin, Mr. Klock, Ms. Kieda)
Pagie Leone – Extension 1473	Grade 6
	Grade 5 - Homerooms (Ms. Cragg, Ms.  Heckley, Ms. Barton, Ms. Cragg)
Cara Zwicker – Extension 1475	Grade 8
	Grade 5 - Homerooms (Ms. Kilroy, Ms. Polaski, Ms. Stone)
Carolyn Jakubiak – Extension 1474

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.