The Bulldog's Woof

As we move through the second "cycle" of the school's 6-day rotating schedule , teachers' icebreakers are long gone, and we are digging into serious academics with our students at South. Some classes are reviewing prior learning to figure out what was thoroughly learned and what will need to be revisited to ensure students have a good foundation for the year's curriculum. Others are introducing new material or taking new, deeper looks at old topics. Regardless, there is a lot of material being covered in classes, and students may be feeling very stressed! They probably have more homework in the higher grade level and more independence in their studies, and they're still getting to know their new teachers' styles and expectations. Don't be surprised if your child needs some additional support at this time, even if they have been very independent in their schoolwork before, or if they haven't needed help in previous years. CLASSROOM ROUTINES Talk ...

  L'shanah tovah to our Jewish Bulldogs celebrating Rosh Hashanah. Happy new year and best wishes in 5787! Monday is a Day 1 at South Middle School, and we will restart the cycle for the first time this year. BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT: OPEN HOUSE Thursday evening, 9/17, starting at 6:30 PM, South teachers will be in their classrooms. It is an Open House with no scheduled events, so caregivers can drop in anytime from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. This is a great opportunity for caregivers to meet the teachers, hear about curriculum and learning goals for the year, and see the classrooms. Make sure you have written down your child's teachers and room numbers so you know where to go! The easiest way to do this is to take a photo of their schedule on your phone (but you can visit the classes in any order you'd like!) 8th grade parents and students are invited to start the evening early at 6:00 PM in the Cafeteria to hear about the optional, overnight field trip to Washington, DC in March. H...

(1.) CALENDARS - updated links! Some folks said the calendars I shared yesterday would not post to your iCal calendars on your phones. Try these links instead, and let me know if you still can't add them and I'll keep trying to troubleshoot it! On an iPhone, open Calendar app; click "Calendars" at the bottom center; then click "Add Calendar" on the bottom left. Paste in this address: South Middle School Events: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/braintreeschools.org_mmvuu4q93c2c3d4ci9cc87f0lg%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics Days of the Cycle: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/braintreeschools.org_958ca40jff18uhrn3rl45euh8k%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics On your computer, open the Google Calendar; where it says "Other calendars" on the lefthand side, click the + sign and then "Subscribe to calendar"; on the left, under "Add calendar", click "From URL" & paste in the addres...

Today was the 3rd day of school, and the routines of the new school year are well under way! Some tips & tricks as we move ahead: (1.) DAY 4 Wednesday, 9/9, will be the first Day 4 of our school year. For our new students, it is important to note that means your half-cycle classes will switch over for the first time. Check your schedule for Day 4 and you'll notice that 2 half-cycle "elective" classes will be new courses with new teachers in different classrooms. Make sure you know where you're going, and don't be afraid to ask for help finding a new room location! (2.) MORNING TRAFFIC Traffic is improving quickly in our driveway. Please note: Morning dropoff should begin as soon as you're over the speed bump at the latest! Folks are used to waiting to pull down in front of the building, but traffic flows much faster when you unload earlier. Cars should be unloading all the way through the highlighted yellow section in the map. Frequently Asked Questions...

What a hectic, fun, exhausting, and busy week at South as all our kids got back to school and got down to work!  South PTO wants to help ease the end of summer. Join us for an Ice Cream Dine Out at Foley's next Thursday, 9/10, 2-9 PM. There will be guest scoopers, lots of fun, and of course some of the best ice cream on the South Shore! Foley's will donate 20% of the night's sales to South PTO! Our first meeting will be held in the first few weeks of school, but you can also look for more PTO information at South's Open House on Back-to-School Night, 6/17.  Let us know what you want out of PTO during your child's time in middle school! PTO is a great source of information for the school's events, but also what to expect during your child's middle school experience, either because parents have been through it with older kids, or we can share what we're doing to build some strategies together.  Subscribe to the South PTO Facebook page if you haven't a...