The Woof

When folks talk about the “lazy days of summer,” a lot of us think wistfully about our childhood, whether that conjures memories of family vacations, summer camps, or just having more time for relaxing around your regular spots: tanning on the beach or by the pool, escaping the heat by going to a movie theater for the latest blockbuster, or just laying in the grass outside your own home. Although movie theaters may not be an option, and some camps and travel plans may have been taken off the table, I hope you have all found opportunities for relaxing & enjoying good, safe social opportunities so far this summer! For teachers, this is a rich time because summer affords us an opportunity to focus on our own improvement. Many teachers come back from summer break talking about the books they’ve read, podcasts they’ve listened to, or courses they took. They are eager to adapt new ideas and strategies to their own classrooms, and to talk it through with their colleagues. This summer, m

We all went home on Thursday, 3/12, expecting to come into school the next day and making jokes about Friday the 13 th . Who knew that 3 months later, almost to the day, I’d be writing to discuss your next & last opportunity to come into school for this year! Next Tuesday, the final set of RLP assignments is due, and then Friday, 6/19, is the last official day of the school year. During the 3 days from 6/17-6/19 we have a variety of activities planned, which we hope will help provide some sense of closure and let us move into summer. Please read each of the 3 items listed below.   1.)   Personal belongings – on 6/17, 6/18, and 6/19 students will be able to sign up for an appointment to come to the school to collect any personal belongings. SIGN UP HERE! I will be limiting the total number of people in the building in line with the Governor’s recommendations for building occupancy. Masks are required to enter the school and gloves are recommended. It is also recommended to br

I read with concern the Mayor’s statement about his experience testing positive for COVID-19, and was relieved to hear that he is recovering. Yesterday, data came out about spikes in cases of coronavirus & hospitalizations in states that had reopened more quickly than Governor Baker’s phased outline for Massachusetts. While we appreciate leaders who make difficult decisions based on good information and reliable evidence in an effort to keep us all safe, the effort to stay healthy starts with every individual taking personal responsibility. Although we are all eager to put the disruption and threat of pandemic behind us, please continue to practice safety measures . Whether you’re dining out ( al fresco!), heading to the beach, or expressing yourself at a peaceful protest, please keep socially distancing from people outside “your circle” or mask up when you can’t. We want all our Bulldogs to stay safe while you stay active , and we especially worry about the extended South fami

Today we start Week 10 of Remote Learning, the final week of the school year!   You’ve almost made it!   To celebrate, your P.E. teachers have organized a virtual Field Day event, and Student Council is organizing a virtual Spirit Week.   We hope all students will participate, and get your families, pets, and socially-distanced friends & neighbors involved too! Take lots of photos to remember this time years down the road!   SPIRIT WEEK: Wednesday 6/10 - Sports Day : Us sports fans really miss cheering on our favorite teams or playing our favorite games. Wear your sports gear to show support for your favorite teams or players and too celebrate Field Day as well!   (Field Day information below!) Thursday 6/11 - Superhero Day: Dress up like your hero - this could be anyone from a Marvel character to a family member to an essential worker.  Friday 6/12 -   Pajama Day : Now you have an excuse to wear your jammies all day! Wear your favorite pajamas or lounge wear that you have be

This week, Mr. Daigle compiled a “virtual performance” by South teachers and staff, in tribute to our students. We hope you enjoy our performance of “Count On Me” by Bruno Mars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXWZvpjRfNg ! We may not be professional performers, but I hope our message comes through loud and clear: we love, respect, and miss our students! We hate being apart during difficult times, and hope, if any good can come from this disruption, it will be to make us appreciate how much the community at South Middle School really means to all of us. I have to say, the lyrics have taken on new meaning as they have run through my mind all week: “We find out what we’re made of when we are called to help our friends in need.” In recent days, we have all been called on to help our friends, neighbors, and countrymen in a moment of critical need as Black Americans have been lynched and their murders broadcast. It has been harrowing to watch the brutal scenes unfolding on TV and social

As we enter Week 8 of the Remote Learning Program, please feel free to use the checklist/schedule for your child’s grade/team to help plan their work in the coming week. Grade 6 Grade 7 Lightning Bolts Navigators Grade 8 You may also want to look through your child’s Google Classroom pages with them to see what teachers have posted.   If you are still getting used to your child’s Google account and the Classroom pages, this guide might help: Using Google Classroom .   If it is helpful, the Tech Services Department prepared this guide to Translate Google Classroom into your Family’s Home Language . INTELLECTUAL GROWTH & ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: One of the challenges of working online is there are fewer opportunities for students to share their ideas. In the classroom, teachers call on kids & answer questions, which helps them recognize as a student develops a deeper understanding of the topic.   They often assign several “smaller” tasks—homework assi

Good afternoon, I looked at a calendar today and counted: today is the 71 st day since the schools closed.   10 weeks since we have been able to gather in community.   This is remarkable to me, really; our school year runs about 40 weeks, so we have been in some form of remote learning for 25% of the school year.   Of course, we still have 4 weeks to go in the RLP before this school year comes to an official end.   As we drive to the finish, it will be important to keep focused on schoolwork, and see what the summer brings.   In this email are some resources that I hope will help with that! 8TH GRADE: This Monday, 30 staff members volunteered to drive around town, recognizing our 8 th grade graduates. South PTO purchased lawn signs for every graduate, and hopefully they put a smile on everyone’s faces!   As you drive around town, toot the horn for any #BulldogForever sign you see: the kids worked hard for the past 3 years, and deserve a little acclaim!   From the staff pe

Good evening, Following up on the Superintendent’s recent email about opportunities for students to videoconference with their teachers "live," I wanted to share what that will entail at middle school. First and foremost, it is important to understand that we are piloting this program with the ambition of improving students’ instructional and social opportunities in spite of the school closure. Everything will be evaluated to improve the Remote Learning Program as we go. Participation is voluntary. No student will be graded on the basis of whether they participate or not. Teachers may email students and/or guardians to recommend an appointment to clarify things, but the family may always choose to decline the offer. By the same token, not all teachers will be offering live videoconferencing support. Anyone who has questions or concerns about what their teacher is offering, please email me so we can discuss solutions.  Live videocon