Hello Middle School families. I hope you have a great weekend.
Science MCAS is this week for grades 5&8.
I wanted to give a shout out to our PTO. Thank you so much for all of the treats with teacher appreciation. Between the snacks, our student council spirit week, and the 5-6 dance it was a really good week at GDRMS. We have a lot to be grateful for.
Best Buddies will meet next Wednesday, May 13, after school from 2:35 to 3:30 pm in the North Cafeteria. If the weather holds, we'll head outside to walk and play some games. See you there!
Middle School Connections students visited Florence Roche classrooms for their spring Day of
Connection, focused on Neurodiversity Acceptance. The Middle Schoolers led read-alouds and
conversations with the younger students centered around Neurodiversity and the importance of
celebrating the many differences that make us all human. This meaningful opportunity is intended to foster empathy, understanding, and leadership among our 8th grade Connections students while also helping to promote awareness, acceptance, and kindness in the elementary learning communities. See pictures below
Thanks to a generous grant from the Groton Cultural Council, Grade 8 students had the honor of hearing Ms. Janet Applefield speak on Thursday about her experiences as one of the hidden children of the Holocaust in her presentation of Speaking to Combat Hate and Prejudice.
Thanks to the generosity of the Groton-Dunstable Education Foundation for funding 60 books (2 class sets) of Ms. Applefield's book Becoming Janet: Finding Myself in the Holocaust, current and future students can learn about and share her story and message to Combat Hate and Prejudice.
4th grade families, On May 18th our Middle School Music teachers Ms. Stone (General Music and Chorus) Mr. Shetler ( General Music and Band) will be visiting the elementary schools to give a demonstration and Q&A about our music program at the middle school. We encourage you to have a follow up conversation with your 4th grader and then a follow up google form will be emailed to you so that you may sign your child up for either Band, Chorus or General Music. This class will be a full year class that meets every other day. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me, wsalvatore@gdrsd.org, jshetler@gdrsd.org or estone@gdrsd.org.
8th grade families
8th Grade yard sign/shirt sale ends this Sunday, May 10 at midnight.
Going to Washington DC… we have a family meeting in the PAC on Thursday May 14th at 6pm. One or both parents from each family should attend.
8th grade families staying back there will be information coming soon for what those days will look like.
GDEF is raffling off front row tickets for the moving up ceremony. This is a GDEF fundraiser, please see their link. "Enter here to win 4 front row, left side tickets to the Groton-Dunstable Middle School 2026 Moving Up Ceremony on June 15!
All proceeds from this raffle will benefit the Groton-Dunstable Education Foundation, a volunteer-driven nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the success of our public schools.
Families will receive 2 tickets per family. There will be a google form for families to request more tickets.
The PTO is taking over the 8th grade breakfast
Yearbooks are now on sale link to order
A reminder from Dee Bus, As we reach the end of the school year, we understand there are many end-of-year playdates and party schedules. Please kindly remember that middle school students are not permitted to ride home on a different bus other than their assigned bus route.
If a student needs to get off at a different stop along their assigned bus route, a parent/guardian must email the school, along with Erica at Dee Bus Service (erenna@deebus.com), with the requested bus stop change so the student can receive the appropriate note to give to the bus driver.
Without a note from the school, the bus driver will not allow your child to get off at a different stop.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we work to keep all students safe.
Dee Bus Service, Inc.
The Best Buddies Friendship Walk is coming! Click here to learn about the walk, and join the team going to Polar Park on Saturday, May 16. Since 2009, the Best Buddies Friendship Walk has brought together people from all walks of life to build community and spread kindness through the power of friendship. The walk includes a chance to walk around the home of the Worcester Red Sox, with games, music, pies, giveaways, and the New England Patriot cheerleaders. We hope to see you there!
Counseling Corner:
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. We want to remind you that seeking help for mental health issues is a sign of great strength, not a sign of weakness!
We want to challenge everybody to practice some extra self-care this month. Self-care for mental health involves intentionally engaging in activities to maintain emotional, psychological, and social well-being, reducing stress, and managing difficult emotions. It is a proactive, daily practice of setting boundaries, nurturing oneself, and prioritizing mental health to increase resilience. Check out our May 2026 Self-Care Challenge Here!
Here are a couple of other resources to help take care of your mental health this month and every month:
Informational Video - Information about how to find community-based mental health care from Care Solace.
GDRMS Counseling Calming Room- Here you can find a variety of interactive resources designed to help calm your body and mind.
QUICK CHAT
Join us for our final session of GDMS PTO "Quick Chats"! We look forward to hearing the good, the bad, and the ugly of transitioning to middle school with Mr. Day (Assistant Principal for 5th and 6th grade). Sign up now to receive the link for May 12 at 7p via Google Meet.
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PARENT WORKSHOP: STRESS & ANXIETY IN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Join us as we discuss stress and anxiety as it presents in middle school. Sign up now to receive the joining information for May 21 at 6:30p.
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GDMS PTO MAY GENERAL MEETING
We hope to see you on May 28 at 7p for our final general meeting of the year. This is a great way to expand community, and learn more about the events and activities we held this year. Check our website for details.
District Arts Festival
May 18 - SU 3/4 grade, FR 4 grade, HS chamber choir combined concert
May 19 -Our MS student showcase is coming up on May 19th at 7pm! Students can sign up here to perform or be a part of the crew. It is first come, first serve for both (13 performances, 6 crew members). All are welcome to attend as audience members!
May 21 - HS Music and Senior Art Show
Art from students PreK-12 will be hung in the Middle School throughout the week!
Reminders:End of Year Activities field trips:
Grade 5 information
Field Day - Thursday June 11
Grade 6 information
Museum of Illusions - WACO Team, Monday June 8 and NoPuMiMo, Thursday June 10th.
Grade 7 information
Team Works - Friday May 29th
Grade 8 information:
The Moving Up ceremony will be Monday night June 15th. The ceremony will start at 6:30 and typically runs about 60-75 minutes.
Post Ceremony Celebration at the Groton Country Club will be June 15th after the ceremony.
• Buy Shirts/Signs here: bit.ly/GD2030Gear
• Buy Tickets to the Move-Up Celebration on June 15 from 8-10:30 here: bit.ly/GD2030Tix
• Help out at this event here: bit.ly/GD2030Help
• Submit Pictures for the 8th Grade Slideshow Here: bit.ly/GD2030Pics
Questions? Email GDClassof2030@gmail.com
Washington DC and stay home trips June 2-5.
MCAS dates
Science 5/12 & 5/13 (grades 5 & 8)
Math 5/19 & 5/20 (all grades)
Civic 5/27 (grade 8) back to back if we can (TBD)
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 4/17, 5/8, 5/22, 6/5
Science MCAS May 12&13 Grades 5 & 8
May 19&20 Math MCAS
May 25th No school Memorial Day
Tuesday May 26 grade 8 Band and Chorus concert
May 27th Civics MCAS grade 8
May 26-29 Human Growth and Development lessons Grade 5
June 9th the 4th graders are coming to the middle school
Sincerely your Groton Dunstable Regional Middle School Principal
Wendy Salvatore