Family memo

Hi Middle School families, I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

What does community look, feel and sound like? Community looks, feels and sounds like Ownership, Awareness and Kindness.  

Ownership- Own your words. Own your actions. Own your space and how you show up.  This is a Core Value that we will be working on with your students.

New Information: 

  • On Thursday the 8th grade had the privilege of listening to the story of Holocaust Survivor Janet Applefield.  Such a great experience.  We are lucky to be able to see, ask questions of and be in the same space as someone who lived through such a historic event. 

  • Yearbooks,  below is the link to order your yearbooks.  If you are a family that needs assistance please reach out to your students' guidance counselor.  The price is $30 until 5/13 and $35 after that https://link.entourageyearbooks.com/YBStore/YearbookStoreMain.asp?yearbook_id=60508

  • The Groton Dunstable Regional School District has been working with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to monitor and review our English Language Learning Programming.  As part of this process, several educators and administrators will be participating in virtual interviews and we have also submitted records to the department for review.  If you have any questions about this review process or have something you would like to contribute about our English Language Learning Program, please contact your building principal with your feedback so that it can be shared with Kristin DeFrancisco, the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment.  

  • Attention: We will be bidding farewell to Mrs. Majkut as she is  leaving the district to start a new adventure.  Her last day with us will be Friday May 19th.  As a reminder if your student is going to be absent or tardy please call the attendance line, 978-448-6155 option 5.

  • PTO Our Middle School PTO is having  a general meeting open to all parents of Middle School students.  In this meeting the 2022-2023 PTO accomplishments & fundraising results will be shared with parents, the budget for 2023-2024 will be approved, and the new PTO Executive Board positions will be voted on.   Location, Middle School North Library at 6:30 May 15th

Reminders:

  • Educator Appreciation Week is this week.  If you have not already done so and wish to volunteer or donate here is the link.  Staff Appreciation Sign Up Link   If you have already donated or signed up.  THANK YOU!  I heard that families signed up and volunteered really quickly.  The teacher appreciation luncheon is being funded by our MSPTO and families are donating drinks, desserts and treats.  So kind of you all.  

  • Does your student play an instrument, sing, dance, and like to perform? GDRMS is hosting a student showcase during the Arts Festival on May 23rd at 7:00 PM in the PAC. If your student is interested in performing, please fill out THIS FORM before May 15th. If you have any questions, email Ms. Stone at estone@gdrsd.org.

  • There will be a Memorial Day Parade on Memorial Day Monday.  It will begin at 9am at the American Legion, proceed to Main Street, turn on Hollis Street, and continue all the way to Veteran’s Common.  Following the parade, there will be a Remembrance Ceremony at the Groton Town Cemetery. 

    • This year, the Town would also like to invite children to assist in placing flags on the gravesites of our town’s veterans.  All children must be accompanied by an adult.  This activity will take place on Saturday, May 20th.   A group will meet at the American Legion Building at 1pm.  At that time, we will distribute flags and explain where they need to be placed.

    • If anyone has questions, please email Ms. Blount  at: jenniferblount@hotmail.com

  • Counseling Corner: 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month!  Remember that seeking help for mental health issues is a sign of strength, not a sign of weakness! Looking for more ideas?  Check out this Self-Care Calendar.

To commemorate National Mental Health Awareness week, please wear GREEN on Friday, May 12th.

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SEPAC:

  • Day Change, Please join the Groton-Dunstable Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC) Wednesday May 17th at the Twomey Center at 9:30 am for our Coffee and Conversation Event. There's plenty of parking behind the building. We look forward to seeing you there!  Coffee & Conversation

  • Best Buddies Friendship Walk 2023,  Join us in supporting the Best Buddies Friendship Walk!

  • This is the link to the middle school team. http://engdr.co/1-t36663

  • This is the link to our flier. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NaXnIrAM6SWeZRwitvn-5hty0HFBQ0ns/view?usp=sharing

  • This year, we are participating in the Best Buddies Friendship Walk to raise money to support Best Buddies' programs of inclusion for people worldwide with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Both the high school and middle school teams are in the top 5 of fundraising! To keep the support going, it would be great to see students continue to sign up for the walk.

  • The Best Buddies Friendship Walk is the leading walk in the country supporting inclusion for people with IDD. Help us build a more inclusive world by joining our team or making a donation today — every dollar makes a difference!

  • Even if you are not yet a member of the Best Buddies program here at the Middle School, we would love to have you join our team and walk with us on May 13, 2023 at 10:00 at Polar Park in  Worcester. If you would like to join, please click this link: https://www.bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org/centralmass/supporting/#GDRMSchool

  • On Thursday, May 18th from 6:30-8:30pm Dr. Mina Burbridge from Walker Therapeutic and Educational Programs joins us to discuss anxiety and depression look fors and strategies. This event is for all parents, guardians, and GDRSD staff members. Please join us in person at the Middle School South Auditorium located at 344 Main Street, Groton MA. For any questions, please reach out to adougherty@gdrsd.org or call 978-448-5505 ext. 3820. We look forward to seeing you there!

GDRSD Event Poster 5.18.23

Dates to remember:

  • MCAS this month, you can check our website for exact dates

  • Term 4 info Gradebook updates 4/14 5/5 5/19 6/2

  • Term 4 ends June 16, Grades are due June 14th.

  • May 12th early release, 11:25am

Dates to remember for end of year

  • Moving up ceremony Thursday June 15th 6:30

  • Grade 8 breakfast June 16th 8:30am

  • Grade 8 to New Hampshire May 30th

  • Grade 8 to New York June 1st

  • Grade 7 to Boundless Adventures June 1st

  • Grade 6 Greek Olympics June 9th

  • Grade 5 Field Days June 14th and 15th

  • Band Concert June 8th @ 7pm

  • Chorus Concert June 6th @ 7pm

Sincerely your Groton Dunstable Regional Middle School Principal

Wendy Salvatore wsalvatore@gdrsd.org