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Woof - 10/11/2018


It’s amazing to think we’re already halfway through the first term of the school year!  As we settle into the routines of the school year, remind your children to expand their horizons.  Investigate a new afterschool activity (listed below!), browse the school library or look for a book recommendation from Ms. Vose, join a new group at recess or invite somebody different to sit with you at lunch.  Middle school is a time to branch out.  It’s also a perfect time to improve your skills in something you’re already passionate about.  If your child’s hobby or interest isn’t the list below, encourage them to talk to a teacher about helping to start a new group.  Or, direct them to speak with their guidance counselor and see if there’s a group that might be a good fit for them.  It never hurts to ask!

UPCOMING EVENTS
·       Thursday, 10/18, 7:00pm – PTO meeting (South LMC)
·       Monday, 10/22 – MARC Assemblies (gr.6 + gr.8)
o   3:15pm – Soccer Jamboree vs. East
·       Wednesday, 10/24 – UNITY DAY – Wear Orange to Stand Up Against Bullying!
o   Early Dismissal (11:45am)
o   8:30am – Gr. 8 Assembly
·       Thursday, 11/1 – Gr.8 Field Trip to Boston
o   3:15pm – BASHY meeting (BHS Media Center, rm. 17)
o   5:00-7:30pm – Parent-Teacher Conferences
·       Friday, 11/2 – Festival of Motion – Note change of date!
·       Monday, 11/5 – Faculty Meeting (limited afterschool help)
o   7:00pm – School Committee meeting
·       Tuesday, 11/6 – NO SCHOOL – Professional Development for Teachers (Election Day)
o   3:00-5:30pm – Parent-Teacher Conferences
·       Wednesday, 11/7, 5:00-7:30pm – Parent-Teacher Conferences
·       Monday, 11/12 – NO SCHOOL – Veterans Day
·       Tuesday, 11/13, 7:00pm – PTO meeting
·       Wednesday, 11/14, 6:30-8:00pm – “Current Trends” (Braintree High School Auditorium)
·       Wednesday, 11/21 – Half Day (11:45am dismissal)
o   8:00am – Gr.7 assembly
·       Thursday, 11/22 + Friday, 11/23 – NO SCHOOL – Thanksgiving Break
·       Wednesday, 11/28, 6:30-8:00pm – Braintree Partnership meeting (Town Hall)
·       Thursday, 11/29, 3:15pm – MSTT meeting (South LMC)

MIDTERM PROGRESS REPORTS
All students' midterm progress reports have been updated on Aspen.  Please log in to your Aspen family portal to view your child’s current grades in all their classes.  If you have any questions about their progress, please contact the teacher or your child's guidance counselor for more information.  You may want to meet with your child's teacher(s) to discuss their standing in class; more information will follow next week about how to sign up for Parent-Teacher Conferences online.

SCHOOL CALENDAR
Attached to this email is the updated School Year calendar for the District.  There is also a calendar of the Days of the Cycle for Braintree Middle Schools. 
I created a Google calendar of Days of the Cycle, which your student can add to their Braintree Google account.  Access it here: Cycle Days.  If you have a Google/Gmail account, you should also be able to add this to your calendar, if it helps keep the family organized!

FROM THE TRANSPORTATION OFFICE
All bus riders have been issued bus passes for the 2018-2019 school year.  If you still have to pay for the bus pass, please use the BPS Transportation website. 
If your child did not receive a pass—or loses their pass during the year—please have them come to the Main Office.  Students should come to the office during the school day, not in the middle of dismissal!  Any student without a bus pass may be barred from riding the bus to or from school.  Students will need a bus to ride the Late Bus as well.

FROM THAYER PUBLIC LIBRARY (Christina DuFour, Young Adult Librarian)
Here’s a recap of what’s coming up for the rest of October!  If your teens need volunteer hours, please see the TAG Halloween Bash Volunteers flyer.
·       Thursday, 10/11, 2:30-4:30pm – Halloween Anime
·       Tuesday, 10/16, 3:00-4:45pm – Teen Tuesdays
·       Saturday, 10/20, 2:30-3:30pm – Halloween Art Craft
·       Tuesday, 10/23, 3:00-4:45pm – Teen Tuesdays
·       Saturday, 10/27, 2:00-3:30pm – “Lizzie Borden & the 40 Whacks”
·       Tuesday, 10/30, 3:00-4:45pm – Teen Tuesdays
·       5:30/6:00-7:00pm – TAG Halloween Bash (program for children, volunteers wanted)

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES & CLUBS
·       Math Team – Ms. Norton, Rm. 206 – Day 1 during silent reading/recess
·       Art Club – Ms. Valentine, Rm. 94 – Monday, 2:30-3:30pm
·       South GSA – Mr. Taylor & Ms. Stone, Rm. 96 – Monday, 2:30-3:30pm
·       South News – Ms. Vose & Ms. Motta, Rm. 211 – Tuesday, 2:30-3:15pm (Check out prior year’s articles here!)
·       Concert Choir – Mr. Sawtelle, Auditorium – Wednesday, 2:30-4:00pm
·       Community Service Club – Ms. Norris, Rm. 212 – Wednesday, 2:30-3:15pm
·       Intramural Basketball – Mr. McCabe, Rm. 117 – Wednesdays, 2:30-3:30pm
·       Student Council – Srta. Palermo & Ms. Motta, Rm. 115 – Thursday morning, 7:30am
·       Sportscast Club – Mr. Wilcox, Media Center – Thursday, 2:30-3:30pm (Check out past episodes of the Sportscast here!)
·       Yearbook – Ms. Barrett, Rm. 107 – Thursday, 2:30-3:30pm

BEFORE SCHOOL & AFTER SCHOOL HELP
·       Homework Club runs from 2:25-3:15 every Monday-Thursday.  Any student can report to the Media Center at dismissal.  Come one time, once a week, every day… Whatever works!  South paraprofessionals will be available to offer extra help, or students can work quietly, use computers, or work with a partner.  Students can take the late bus home.
·       The Computer Lab (rm. 211) is open every morning from 7:15am until the first homeroom bell.  If you need to use a computer or just need to print an assignment, feel free to come on by!
·       Every teacher has a weekday they stay after school.  Students planning to stay for extra help should check in with the teacher to make sure their schedule hasn’t changed and to let them know you’ll be coming by.
·       The Late Bus is available to any bus rider who stays after for extra help or HW lab. The bell rings at 3:10pm, and anyone planning to catch the late bus should be out front by 3:15.  You will need a regular bus pass and a late bus pass signed & dated by the teacher you stayed with.


If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please don’t hesitate to email me at damon.rainie@braintreeschools.org or call the school at 781-380-0160.


ATTACHMENTS
·       BPS School Year calendar
·       BMS Days of the Cycle calendar
·       Thayer Public Library [TPL]
o   Teen Tuesdays OCT
o   Halloween Art Craft
o   Lizzie Borden
o   TAG Halloween Bash

SOCIAL MEDIA
·       Follow South on Twitter: @SMSBraintree
·       Follow South on Instagram: SMSBraintree
·       Like the South PTO on Facebook, and email southmiddle.pto@gmail.com to get on their mailing list!



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