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Woof - 10/23/2017

Good evening,

This Friday will be our annual October Festival of Motion!  Students have been collecting donations of $10 or more to help support extracurricular events at South, defray the cost of buses for field trips throughout the year, pay for each student’s Agenda, and much more.  On Friday, the fund-raisers will enjoy some time with friends during the Walk-a-Thon event.  Students are invited to wear costumes on this day to add to the festivities! (In accordance with the Dress Code, costumes should not be revealing or suggestive and may not include weapons or other inappropriate items.  Masks/wigs/hats can be worn during OFM, but should be taken off in classrooms/halls/stairwells.)  We look forward to a fun celebration of school spirit this Friday!

UPCOMING EVENTS
·       Monday, 10/23
o   6:00-7:00pm – Public Information Session: East Middle School Expansion Project (East Auditorium)
o   7:00 pm – School Committee meeting (East)
·       Tuesday, 10/24, 3:00-5:30pm – Parent-Teacher Conferences (see sign-up info below)
·       Wednesday, 10/25 – UNITY DAY – Wear orange to stand up against bullying!
o   EARLY RELEASE DAY – 11:45am dismissal
·       Thursday, 10/26, 5:00-7:30pm – Parent-Teacher Conferences (see sign-up info below)
·       Friday, 10/27 – October Festival of Motion
Additional events & extended calendar dates are included after my signature below.

UNITY DAY – Wednesday, October 25th
All students are encouraged to wear orange on Wednesday to show that we recognize the dangers of bullying and signal that you will stand up for your classmates’ safety!  Student Council is hosting a raffle: students will get one raffle entry for every item of orange they wear on Unity Day!

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
You can now sign up for Conferences with your child’s teacher. Go to https://ptcfast.com/schools/South_Middle_School to sign up tonight!  You should get a confirmation email within a half hour.  If you have any trouble signing up – or if you don’t get a confirmation email – please call the Main Office at 781-380-0160 for help.

STUDENT ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL
If your child has to be absent from school, come late, or leave early, please let us know so we’re not concerned!  Call the Main Office line – 781-380-0160 – and dial “1” to leave us a message. If you’ve gone to a medical appointment, please request a note from the doctor’s office or have them fax it to us: 781-356-0657.  Notes written by parents/guardians can help explain a student’s absence, but will not excuse it – only a letter from a professional office can medically excuse absences.

EXTRACURRICULAR CLUBS & INTRAMURALS
All students are encouraged to get involved in the life of South Middle School beyond the school schedule!  Activities are free to join and help kids explore their interests while spending time with friends and meeting new people.  Afterschool clubs & intramurals meet from 2:30-3:30pm.
·       Dance Club – Ms. Cottam & Ms. Cutler – INFORMATIONAL MEETING: Tuesday, 10/24 afterschool!
·       South News – Ms. Vose/Ms. Motta/Mr. Taylor –Monday @ Computer Lab 211; Wednesday AM @ Media Center
·       Flag Football – Ms. Mazzei – Monday & Wednesday
·       Tennis Club – Ms. Donovan – Tuesday & Thursday (weather permitting) @ Courts
·       GSA – Ms. Stone/Mr. Taylor – Tuesday @ room 96 (all year long)
·       Cake Decorating Club – Ms. Heckman – every other Wednesday @ cafeteria (sign up in room 97)
·       Student Council – Mr. Freeman – Thursday AM @ Gym
·       Create Club – Ms. Asher – Thursday @ Art Room 94
·       Spanish Culture Club – Ms. Holt – Thursday @ room 116

SCHOOL PHOTO RETAKES – NOVEMBER 9TH
Thursday, 11/9, is School Photo Retake Day at South.  If you were absent on the first photo day, bring in your order form on the 9th.  If you had your photo taken on the first day but are dissatisfied with the picture, you can bring in your packet and hand it in on the 9th to get your photo retaken.

YEARBOOK
Yearbooks are now on sale!  Order online at jostensyearbooks.com or by phone at 1-877-767-5217.  Yearbooks will be delivered on the last day of school in June 2018.  See Ms. Barrett with any questions.

If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please don’t hesitate to email me at drainie@braintreema.gov or call the school at 781-380-0160.

With all best wishes,
Damon Rainie

UPCOMING EVENTS – Mark your calendars!
·       Tuesday, 10/31, 9:40am – Grade 8 Assembly: Blue Hills Regional Technical High School
·       Thursday, 11/2, 3:15pm – Middle School Transition Team meeting (East)
·       Friday, 11/3 – Grade 8 field trip to Boston
·       Monday, 11/6 – Faculty Meeting – no afterschool
·       Tuesday, 11/7 – NO SCHOOL – Election Day – Don’t forget to vote!
·       Thursday, 11/9 – TERM 1 ENDS
·       Friday, 11/10 – NO SCHOOL – Veterans Day
·       Saturday, 11/11, 10:30-11:30am – Veterans Day Choral Concert (East)
·       Monday, 11/13, 7:00pm – School Committee meeting (South)
·       Tuesday, 11/14, 5:30-7:30pm – Open House for Prospective Students & Parents at Blue Hills Regional Technical High School
o   6:30pm – BASHY Parent Presentation: Raising Kids to Have Healthy Coping Skills for Success in School & in Life!
·       Wednesday, 11/22 – HALF DAY – 11:45am dismissal
·       Thursday, 11/23-Sunday, 11/26 – Thanksgiving Break – No School
·       Tuesday, 11/28, 7:00pm – PTO meeting (South LMC)
·       Thursday, 11/30, 3:15pm – Middle School Transition Team meeting (South)
·       Monday, 12/4 – Faculty Meeting – no afterschool
·       Tuesday, 12/5, 7:00pm – Grade 8 Choral winter concert & Concert Choir
·       Wednesday, 12/6 – Book Fair @ South LMC
o   7:00pm – Instrumental winter concert
·       Thursday, 12/7 – Book Fair @ South LMC
o   EARLY RELEASE – 11:45am dismissal
·       Monday, 12/11, 7:00pm – School Committee (Colbert)
·       Tuesday, 12/12, 7:00pm – Grade 7 Choral winter concert
·       Thursday, 12/14, 3:15pm – BASHY meeting (BHS, Media Center rm. 17)
o   7:00pm – Grade 6 Choral winter concert
·       Friday, 12/15 – MIDTERM 2
·       Thursday, 12/21 – Grade 7 field trip to Chamber Theatre
·       Saturday, 12/23-Monday, 1/1/2018 – WINTER BREAK – No School
·       Monday, 1/15 – NO SCHOOL – Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
·       Tuesday, 1/30 – EARLY RELEASE – 11:45am dismissal
·       2/17-2/25 – February Break – No School
·       Wednesday, 3/7, 4:00-6:00pm – BASHY Amazing Healthy Race (South)
·       Thursday, 3/8 – EARLY RELEASE – 11:45am dismissal
·       Tuesday, 3/27 – Grade 8 assembly: No First Time
o   EARLY RELEASE – 11:45am dismissal
·       Wednesday, 3/28, 6:30pm – BASHY Parent Presentation: No First Time
·       Friday, 3/30 – NO SCHOOL – Good Friday
·       4/14-4/22 – April Break – No School
·       5/17-5/20 – Grade 8 French Quebec Trip
·       Thursday, 5/24 – Grade 8 Choral spring concert & Concert Choir
·       Friday, 5/25 – Memorial Day Assembly @ South
·       Monday, 5/28 – NO SCHOOL – Memorial Day
·       Tuesday, 5/29 – Grade 6 Choral spring concert
·       Wednesday, 5/30 – Instrumental spring concert
·       Thursday, 5/31 – Grade 7 Choral spring concert
·       Friday, 6/8-Saturday, 6/9 – Spring Musical
·       Thursday, 6/14 – Grade 8 Appreciation Ceremony & Dinner-Dance (tentative date: subject to change depending on school cancellations due to weather throughout the year)
·       Monday, 6/25 – Last day of school (tentative date: will be earlier if there are no snow days) – HALF DAY – 11:45am dismissal

REMINDERS FROM PRIOR WEEKS:
EXTRA HELP SUPPORTS
o   HOMEWORK CLUB
South’s afterschool Homework Club meets Monday through Thursday in the Media Center until 3:15.  If you have work to do or need to use a computer, feel free to come in at dismissal.  You don’t need to sign up in advance.  You can come as often as you need to: one day, every once in a while, or every day!
o   LATE BUS
Students who regularly take a bus are welcome to take the Late Bus home if you stay after for extra help with a teacher or for the Homework Club in the Media Center.  You will need a bus pass from your teacher to board the late bus.  Late Buses leave South between 3:15 to 3:30, Monday through Thursday.
o   BEFORE SCHOOL COMPUTER LAB
If you have work to do in the morning or need a computer to print something out or submit an assignment on Google Classroom, you’re in luck!  The Computer Lab will be open every morning from 7:15 AM until the first homeroom bell.  You don’t need to sign up in advance.

LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SUPPORT SOUTH?
·       Donate clothes and other linens to the Bay State Textiles donation bin behind South.  To date, we have collected over 6 tons of textiles! This includes bedding and stuffed animals, which most donation bins won’t accept. Your donations to Bay State Textiles help keep waste out of our landfills AND support South Middle School!
·       Donate books, DVDs, and videos to the Big Hearted Books donation bin behind South.
·       If you shop on Amazon.com, using the link below will support South at no additional cost to you. Anything you add to your “shopping cart” after clicking on this link generates a referral fee to South.
(The website will look like normal, but we get credit for “sending” traffic there. Your purchase history is anonymous & will always remain confidential at Amazon.)
·       Register your Stop & Shop card to benefit the South PTO (see above)

SEE WHAT’S GOING ON AT SOUTH MIDDLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
·       Our new South website is available at: http://www.braintreeschools.org/our-schools/south-middle-school.  This site is still under construction, but contains the latest information.
·       Follow @SMSBraintree for reminders, updates, and interesting links related to middle school.  You don’t need to tweet to join Twitter; you can set up an account just to read and follow others’ postings.  If you would prefer not to set up an account, you can also receive our tweets via text message.  Simply text “Follow @SMSBraintree” to 40404.
·       Follow @SMSBraintree on Instagram to see photos from the school events.


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