Hello Middle School families. I hope you have a great weekend. This memo has a lot of community information.
School Information,
Our School Spirit Officer Mackenna S. has put together a calendar for a fun spirit week
for 12/15-12/19.
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Project 351, Mattie and Emma, two high schoolers, will be doing a food drive with Project 351, a nonprofit organization. They will be hosting the food drive from December 15-19, and all donations will be delivered to Loaves & Fishes. Donation boxes will be in front of the main offices in the North and Stoddart buildings. Donate food to help out families during the holiday season!" Thank you so much!
GDRMS Counseling Corner:
Private school recommendations and transcript requests are completed by the school counselor and/or current teachers. Please allow at least 3 weeks for the staff to complete the forms. You can refer to requesting recommendations for more information.
8th-grade students applying to Nashoba or Lowell Tech - Applications are open, so please apply as soon as possible to ensure Ms. Ascione and Mrs.Fisher in the North office have time to help with your paperwork.
Reminder: 8th-grade updates found on the GDRMS Counseling Dept website
If you need support in finding a mental health therapist for your student, please contact your student’s school counselor so they can start a referral, also known as a warm handoff, to Care Solace. Here is more information about what Care Solace can do to help.
For many of us, the holiday season presents additional stressors. Our "to do" lists get longer, and we often feel overwhelmed by the increased demands. This affects not only the adults, but the students as well. It's very important to practice and model self-care. Shorter days, with less sunlight, can also affect our moods and throw off our circadian rhythms.
Seven Types of Rest that Everyone Needs:
Mental Rest: Take breaks from thinking and doing. Allow your brain to disconnect from cognitive demands. Try meditation, stretching, deep breathing or taking a quiet walk.
Physical Rest: Rest your body. Sleep well, and enough, and make time to relax and recharge.
Social Rest: Avoid too many large gatherings, which can be draining, particularly for introverts. Spend time alone or with a few close family members or friends.
Emotional Rest: Don't be afraid to say, "No" when you are tired. You don't need to do everything, and sometimes less really is more. Do not feel guilty about setting boundaries.
Creative Rest: Take a break from the constant demands to produce. Find creative "just for fun" hobbies such as puzzles, sudoku, drawing, crochet, knitting, dancing, singing, and cooking. Be patient with yourself, as learning something new takes time.
Spiritual Rest: Practice mindfulness. Spend time in nature. Write in a journal. Volunteer for a local cause that is important to you.
Sensory Rest: Unplug and enjoy the quiet. Too much screen time can be exhausting. Turn off the phone, take a day or two off from social media, and the news.
GDEF information
Are you looking for a unique way to recognize a Teacher, Administrator, or Other Staff/Community Member for their hard work and impact they’ve had on your child? GDEF Teaching Stars are the perfect (easy!) gift! They are a great way to say "Thank You" while helping to enrich the schools in the form of a donation to the Groton-Dunstable Education Foundation (GDEF). Learn more here about how to show an educator how much they are appreciated with a Teaching Star: https://www.gdefinc.org/teaching-star.
Also, don't miss out on year-end giving opportunities for GDEF. All donations are tax-deductible, may qualify for employer matching, and are directly applied to grants in the current year and beyond. We're 56% of the way to our goal! Find more information and consider donating here: https://www.gdefinc.org/annual-giving-campaign. Thanks in advance!
PTO
GDMS PTO Update!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: BASKETBALL CONCESSIONS
GDMS PTO is excited to offer concessions for sale at all middle school basketball team home games this season!
We need your help to bring this much enjoyed addition to our school athletic program. Sign up here and help us build school spirit!
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GDMS PTO DAY OF SERVICE
As part of our mission to build community, and in the spirit of the giving season, we are planning a Winter Family Day of Service. We will be collecting supplies to support Cradles to Crayons, a non-profit organization providing essential items to children from birth through age 12 who are living in homeless or low-income situations. Once all items have been collected, we will have a packing day in early January, in which students and their families can help put together complete backpacks for donation.
For more information on how to donate items please check out our website!
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GD FUNd
As we continue through the giving season, please consider including GDMS PTO in your charitable donations. As a non-profit organization, GDMS PTO runs exclusively on donations and we are extremely grateful for anything you might be able to contribute. All of the funds we raise help us execute our mission of building a connected middle school community for all of our kids. Head to our website (www.gdmspto.com) or donate directly.
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QUICK CHAT SURVEY
Later this winter, GDMS PTO will begin hosting monthly 30-minute "Quick Chats" for parents to connect with each other and discuss a variety of topics. We are seeking your input as we plan these sessions to ensure they are helpful conversations, rather than another meeting to try and attend. Please share your feedback now!
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DECEMBER GENERAL MEETING
Join us on December 17 at 7p for our quarterly general meeting. This is an opportunity to get involved, expand community, and help us with upcoming events or activities. This meeting will occur via Google Meet, so please register to receive joining information. Information on how to join is also found on our website.
Project Mitten
Grade 5 has raised a substantial amount of money through their fundraising efforts.
Grade 6, Total between both teams is 614.00 The book drive today was a huge success. The students and teachers had a fun time in the cafe. Check out pictures on our Live Feed
Grade 7 will be doing their Munchie Market again this year. This was a huge success the last few years. This year we even got our own Middle School Popcorn Machine.
Grade 8 8th Grade Raffle Baskets
School Council, Our next meeting will be January 15th we meet in the Stoddart Library.
Core Values: We are our new Core Values for the Middle School. Teachers and staff worked on these together last year. We will have students help us design posters over the course of the school year.
Ownership, Own your space, Own your learning, Own your behavior.
Awareness, Be aware of yourself and others, Be aware of your surroundings, and Be aware of your impact.
Kindness, Be kind to yourself, Be kind to others, and Be kind to your surroundings.
Dates to remember:
Teachers should be updating SchoolBrains on 11/14, 11/28, 12/12, and 1/9
Tuesday 12/16 Middle School Chorus Concert
Thursday 12/18 Middle School Band Concert
Winter Vacation starts on Wednesday 12/24 and we return to school on Monday 1/5
Sincerely your Groton Dunstable Regional Middle School Principal
Wendy Salvatore