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March 8 Woof - MCAS, texting, and concerts: Oh my!

MCAS Dates

The MCAS testing schedule has been set for the District. Please see the testing dates below. To the extent possible, please try to schedule medical appointments, family travel, etc. outside these dates, but if a student has to miss any day for illness or other obligations, they will have the opportunity to make up missed exams after the scheduled date.
MCAS Dates 2022
English Language Arts
Grade 6  —  Wed 4/6, Thu 4/7
Grade 7  —  Fri 4/8, Mon 4/11
Grade 8  —  Tue 4/12, Wed 4/13
Mathematics
Grade 6  —  Fri 5/6, Mon 5/9
Grade 7  —  Tue 5/10, Wed 5/11
Grade 8  —  Thu 5/12, Fri 5/13
Science, Technology & Engineering
Grade 8  —  Mon 5/23, Tue 5/24

Cell phones & Apple Watches
We have noticed a remarkable increase in cell phone use during the school day. One of the important skills we're hoping our middle schoolers are learning is how to focus for sustained periods of time on important tasks, especially challenging ones. We're also teaching them that technology can be a useful tool, but every tool has a time and a place, and a time when it should be put away. The adolescent brain is readily distracted (aren't we all?!), so we're asking for families' help as we ask students to put their devices away.
  • Please talk to your child about keeping their cell phone turned off and put away during the school day. Students can keep phones in locked lockers, backpacks, or in phone storage within classrooms.
  • Please do not text your child during the day--or tell them that you don't expect them to see it until after dismissal--and remind them to use classroom phones, the Main Office, or the Health Office if they need to contact you during the day. We do still have landlines, and it is unsafe to have students making direct contact outside of the school without adult supervision.
  • A number of students now wear Apple watches. Unless the "focus" settings are turned on to prevent school-day interruptions, these students are receiving a constant flow of distractions: text messages, alerts, and random opportunities to communicate with friends. Please, please, please help us and your child by shutting the alerts & communications off during school hours.

All-Town Band Concert
The All-Town Band Concert is tonight at East Middle School, starting at 7:00 PM.  Come hear some great music and support your friends, neighbors, and classmates!  (Also make a note: the All-Town Orchestra Concert will be at East next Tuesday at 7:00.)

South PTO
Please sign up for the PTO mailing list: email southmiddle.pto@gmail.com and ask to be added. Not sure if you've already signed up? An email went out last night, so if you didn't get it, you need to be added! Parents are not automatically added to the mailing list in 6th grade. You can also follow the South PTO on Facebook!



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