Woof - 12/8/2017

Good morning,

We’ve got a lot going on at South these days! The Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball teams are practicing. Winter Concerts are halfway done. South Gear orders were sent home today, and American Art awarded South’s Student Council their portion of the proceeds. South’s Book Fair wound to a close this morning. The Community Service Club is collecting paper goods for the Braintree Food Pantry. It’s a busy season for our middle schoolers!

UPCOMING EVENTS

·       Monday, 12/11, 7:00pm – School Committee (Flaherty)

·       Tuesday, 12/12, 7:00pm – Grade 7 Choral winter concert

·       Thursday, 12/14, 7:00pm – Grade 6 Choral winter concert

o   3:15pm – BASHY meeting (BHS, Media Center rm. 17)

·       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

Additional events & extended calendar dates listed below.

WINTER CONCERTS

With 6^th and 7^th grade concerts coming up, please remember that our lower parking lot has ample space beyond the basketball court. We are thrilled to welcome family & friends to these festive events, but guests are asked not to park in the fire lane in front of the building, or on our neighbors’ front lawns. Preferential parking in the upper driveway should be reserved for our handicapped fans, the elderly, and expectant mothers, please.

SOUTH COMMUNITY SERVICE CLUB

SCSC challenges you to The Giving Race! South Middle School is helping the Braintree Food Pantry collect paper goods. We need paper towels, tissues, napkins, toilet paper, Ziploc bags, paper plates, paper cups, garbage bags in new & unopened packages.  The homeroom that collects the most items by Friday, December 15^th wins a breakfast party.  May the Most Generous Homeroom WIN!

FROM SOUTH PTO

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, January 9^th at 7:00pm, in the South Library Media Center.

·       Attached are instructions to re-register your Stop & Shop card so your A+ Rewards benefit South. Unfortunately, this needs to be redone every year, but once it’s set up, all your grocery trips will automatically benefit South. As of October, A+ Rewards had earned $384!

·       PTO dues raised nearly $600 this fall, and the Election Day Bake Sale raked in $840! These proceeds allow the PTO to support various events throughout the school year, such as assemblies for each grade and the 8^th Grade Appreciation festivities in June. Dues can still be submitted and the form is attached.

TERM 1 ACCLAMATIONS

Our weekly acclamation recipients were honored by one or more of their teachers for demonstrating responsibility, cooperation, and an excellent attitude.  Congratulations!

·       Lighthouse Award: Clear & consistent effort in pursuit of academic and personal growth

Samantha Barbosa, Kaitlyn Blaney, Colleen Cahill, Tim Carney, Caroline Clougher, Carden Costello, Arnav Dadarya, Karli Danahy, Emily Day, Ava Doherty, Adrienne Ell, Aislin Erickson, Nicholas Fasano, Alexander Fernandes, Meghan Fleming, Ciara Horan, Kyle Hutchinson, Yazmeen Hyvarinen, Ben Johnson, Liam Kane, Maggie Kelly, Kyle Knell, Sophia Lambros, Jeffy Le, Kelvin Lee, Kelsie Littlewood, JoJo Liu, Kara Madeiras, Patrick Maguire, Jack McDonald, Cael McDonough, Dylan McGillicuddy, Jenna Molloy, Molly Muldoon, Kelly Ong, Dominic Payzant, Pratham Pradhan, Mary Riley (2), Bryan Rizzo, Varuni Senthilkumar, Hailey Sherrick, Abigail Toepfer, Lucy Vandor, Aleyna Vieira, Mia Villa, Erin White, Anna Williams, Robbie Young, Keri Zhou

·       Helping Hands Award: Outstanding effort to help others’ academic, personal, & social growth

Nyla Brandao, Antonio Bresciani, Karen Chan, Ryan Chandler, Michael Daiute, Ari Egan-Duarte, Brian Higgins, Zach Mace (2), Matt Meade, Katrina Menadue, Danny Nabstedt,

·       Tenacity Award: Determined & resolute behavior whose consistent effort is noted & appreciated

Erin Barry, Bobby Berry, Tia Bothwell, Evan Braho, Nicole Burton, Karli Danahy, Martin Dinh, Teddy Doherty, Makenna Feighery, Grace Filleti-Levie, Giada Gulino, Amanda Hensley, Emma MacDonald, Kevin McGurn, Loli Morales, Olivia Nash, Olivia Needham, Mark Noonan, Kiley Quinn, James Rust, Alex Veneziano

·       Telescope Award: Individual effort to improve

Jenna Cahill, Jonathan Dow, Nayelis Hereaux, Liam Kane, Samantha Lydon, Barbara MacDonald, Tyler Mitchell, Aydan O’Connor, Sam Oliverio

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:

·       South Bulldogs Basketball schedule

·       Stop & Shop A+ Rewards: How to Register for South Middle School

·       South PTO dues form

·       Middle School Creative Arts Classes registration form

·       Braintree Recreation Skiing program

Click here to download the 2017-2018 calendar listing Days of the Cycle

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.

·       Community Service Club – Ms. Norris – Wednesdays @ rm 212

·       Dance Team – Ms. Cottam & Ms. Cutler – Tuesdays & Thursdays @ rm 109

·       South News – Ms. Vose/Ms. Motta/Mr. Taylor – Tuesday @ Computer Lab 211

·       GSA – Ms. Stone/Mr. Taylor – Wednesday @ rm 96

·       Cake Decorating Club – Ms. Heckman – every other Wednesday @ cafeteria (sign up in rm 97)

·       Sports Podcasting – Mr. Wilcox – Wednesday @ Gym

·       Student Council – Mr. Freeman – Every other Thursday AM @ Gym

·       Create Club – Ms. Asher – every other Thursday @ Art Rm 94

·       Spanish Culture Club – Ms. Holt – Thursday @ rm 116

·       South’s Challenge – Ms. Cordasco/Ms. Lyons/Ms. Riordan – every other Day 2, lunch block @ rm 100

UPCOMING EVENTS – Mark your calendars!

·       Tuesday, 1/9, 7:00pm – PTO meeting (South LMC)

·       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

·       3/8-3/11 – Grade 8 Washington, D.C. trip

·       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

Grade 8 end-of-Year events are scheduled tentatively: dates are subject to change depending on school cancellations due to weather throughout the year)

·       Tuesday, 6/12 and Wednesday, 6/13 – Grade 8 Field Trips

·       Thursday, 6/14 – Grade 8 Appreciation Ceremony & Dinner-Dance

·       Monday, 6/25 – Last day of school (will be earlier if there are no snow days) – HALF DAY – 11:45am dismissal

REMINDERS FROM PRIOR WEEKS:

LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SUPPORT 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.)

·       Download the Benefit Mobile app and sign up to support “South Middle School.” Then, you can purchase digital gift cards for all your online and in-store shopping and a percentage supports South. In stores, the cashier will scan a bar code on your phone & you’ll be all set. Online, you’ll enter a code where it asks for a gift card, and the balance comes right off your total. It’s easy!

·       Register on GoodShop.com for South Middle School in Braintree. Then, add the Gumdrop extension to your web browser. Every time you go to checkout, click on Gumdrop in the menu bar and find out if there are any coupon codes for your shopping. It’s easy, quick, saves you money, and sends a benefit to South!

·       Register your Stop & Shop card to benefit the South PTO (see above)

·       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.

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.

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!  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.

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.