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Woof - 9/22/2017

Good morning,

It’s a little hard to believe we’ve only been back to school for two and a half weeks.  The days fly by, and the buzz of activity is filling the classrooms and hallways at South Middle School!  We enjoyed a lively crowd at Back To School Night last week, and I hope you had the opportunity to meet all of your child’s teachers!


SCHOOL PHOTOS – SEPTEMBER 29TH
This Friday, 9/29, is School Photo Day at South!  Order forms were sent home 2 weeks ago Wednesday. Please be sure to send those forms back with payment on Friday to be turned in when students get their photo taken! We are using Lifetouch photographers this year, so family package deals are available if you have other students at BHS or some elementary schools! No one is required to order photos, but everyone gets their photo taken for inclusion in our yearbook and the school’s secure database (Aspen). Every student will also receive a safety ID with their photo this year.

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.

YEARBOOK
Yearbooks are now on sale!  If you order by Friday, 9/29, you’ll pay only $30 for your yearbook and get 4 free icons if you personalize it.  Order online at jostensyearbooks.com or by phone at 1-877-767-5217.  Yearbooks are delivered on the last day of school in June 2018.  See Ms. Barrett with any questions.

YEARBOOK COVER CONTEST
South’s annual Yearbook Cover contest is underway!  Students are invited to show off your artistic talent by designing a front and back cover for this year’s yearbook. 
-    Each cover must be on an 8½"x11" sheet of plain white paper
-    Original designs only: no images can be traced from other sources
-    Due on or before October 20th
Submissions will be voted on and selected by the Yearbook Club members.  Good luck!

CONCERT CHOIR
Auditions for Concert Choir will be held next week after school.  Interested students should come with a short song they are prepared to sing.  Auditions run from 2:30-4:00 pm each day, and students can leave after they audition.
-    Monday, 9/25 – 8th grade
-    Wednesday, 9/27 – 6th & 7th grade
Concert Choir meets on Tuesday, 2:30-4:00 pm.  See Mr. Sawtelle with any questions.

SOUTH NEWSPAPER
We are starting a South News journal this year, featuring student writing and reporting, including an advice column addressing classmates’ questions!  The first work session will be held today after school in the Computer Lab.

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


ATTACHMENTS:
·       Days of the Cycle calendar for School Year 2017-2018
·       South PTO Welcome letter & Dues form
·       Music Calendar for SY1718
·       Unity Day flyer

UPCOMING EVENTS: Mark your calendars!
·       Monday, 4/3 – Faculty meeting (no afterschool)
o   6:00 pm – Mandatory meeting for Philadelphia-Washington, D.C. trip (BHS Auditorium)
·       Thursday, 4/6 – BASHY meeting
·       Monday, 4/10, 7:00 pm – School Committee meeting (Hollis)
·       Tuesday, 4/11 – Grades 6 + 7 Dodgeball tournament
o   7:00 pm – PTO meeting (South LMC)
·       Wednesday, 4/12 – Grade 8 Dodgeball tournament
·       SPRING BREAK: Friday, 4/14 – Sunday, 2/23 - NOTE: No School on Friday 4/14
·       Thursday, 4/27, 9:00 am-8:00 pm – “Hidden In Plain Sight” (Cahill Auditorium, Town Hall) – see attached flyer
·       Monday, 5/1, 7:00 pm – School Committee meeting (Morrison)
·       Monday, 5/8 – Faculty meeting (no afterschool)
·       Tuesday, 5/9, 7:00 pm – PTO meeting
·       Thursday, 5/11, 4:00-6:00 pm – Amazing Healthy Race (South) – see attached flyer
·       Monday, 5/15, 7:00 pm – School Committee meeting (BHS)
·       Thursday, 5/18, 3:15 pm – South School Council meeting
·       Thursday, 5/18-Sunday, 5/21 – Grade 8 French trip to Québec
·       Wednesday, 5/24 – Midterm 4
·       Thursday, 5/25, 7:00 pm – Gr 8 Choral & Concert Choir Winter Concert
·       Friday, 5/26 – Memorial Day assembly
·       Monday, 5/29 – No School (Memorial Day)
·       Tuesday, 5/30, 7:00 pm – Gr 6 Choral Winter Concert
·       Wednesday, 5/31, 7:00 pm – Instrumental Winter Concert
·       Thursday, 6/1, 7:00 pm – Gr 7 Choral Winter Concert
·       Monday, 6/5 – Faculty meeting (no afterschool)
o   7:00 pm – School Committee meeting (BHS)
·       Thursday, 6/8, 3:15 pm – South School Council meeting
·       Friday, 6/9, 7:00 pm – Spring Musical
·       Saturday, 6/10, 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm – Spring Musical
·       Tuesday, 6/13 & Wednesday, 6/14 – Grade 8 Field Trips
·       Sunday, 6/18 – South 5k – Support our Student Council
·       Tuesday, 6/20 – Grade 8 Appreciation Night  (6:00-9:30 pm – approximate times listed below)
o   6:00-7:00 pm – Advancement Ceremony for students & families
o   7:00-9:00 pm – Student Dance & Dinner
o   9:00-9:30 pm – Ice Cream Social
o   9:30 pm – Pickup for all students!
·       Wednesday, 6/21 – Field Day
·       LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: 6/23 –Early Dismissal @ 11:45 am

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.

TO REPORT STUDENT ABSENCE
Please call the Absence Line to report whenever your child is going to be absent, tardy, or dismissed.  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.  Parent notes help explain the absence, but will not excuse it – only a letter from a professional office can medically excuse absences.


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