Monday is a Day 6 at South Middle School. The new cycle begins Tuesday, and our first early dismissal day will be Thursday, 9/24.
EARLY DISMISSAL DAY
Middle schools dismiss at 11:45 AM on scheduled early dismissal days. Students will follow an abbreviated schedule, meaning they should plan to see all of their Day 3 classes for a shortened period. Please note:
- Students may choose to access the school's complimentary lunch service on the Early Dismissal Day. Food Services will share a pre-ordering link; please use it to ensure we can prepare lunches while minimizing food waste.
- All bus routes will run early to get riders home. Students may choose not to ride the bus if they make plans to see friends during the long afternoon on these days, but students may not switch buses or ride a bus to a friend's house if they don't normally ride.
- Students must leave all school property after dismissal. Teachers will be meeting for Professional Development, and South is one of the prime locations this month, so we ask everyone to get off campus as quickly and safely as possible to make room for faculty arriving from other schools.
SOUTH PTO KICKOFF MEETING - Tuesday, 9/22 @ 7pm in the South Media Center
Enter the front door at South and come straight across the lobby to enter the Media Center and get to know your South PTO!
ACADEMIC SCREENING ASSESSMENTS
Thank you for entrusting your child’s education to Braintree Public Schools. We are excited to be working with every child in our district and to watch them learn and grow throughout the school year. All students arrive in our classrooms with a unique set of skills, experiences, and potential. To ensure we are providing your child with both the support and challenge they need to grow, our district uses several academic screening assessments throughout the year.
Why We Screen
Screening assessments give us a clear picture of each child’s academic strengths and areas for growth. Just like a routine health checkup at the doctor’s office, these screenings help us spot early signs of success or areas where a student might need extra help before they fall behind.
How We Screen
We use STAR Reading and STAR Math to assess students' academic skills relative to age- and grade-level peers, and in the continuum of curriculum standards over the course of their education. These are short, age-appropriate assessments taken on a computer to capture a snapshot of their current skills and knowledge. They are not tests that students study for —no special preparation is needed at home— nor do they impact report card grades. Screening results are not typically sent home; however, any authorized parent/guardian may request STAR results from your child's Guidance Counselor at any time.
When Screening Happens - To measure growth over time, we assess students three times per year:
Beginning of Year: September 21st - October 2nd
Middle of Year: January 13th - 29th
End of Year: May 17th - 28th
Thank you for your partnership in making this a wonderful school year. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher or the Main Office.
E-BIKES - SCHOOL COMMITTEE POLICY
Students who ride bikes/ e-bikes, scooters/e-scooters, inline skates, skateboards, etc. to school must follow town/state regulations and adhere to all rules and regulations set forth by the Town of Braintree. This includes the use of helmets.
We recommend families purchase their own lock and secure their bike daily. BPS is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged vehicles.
E-bikes and scooters can be driven to school but must be turned off and walked on school property. Upon arrival, students must park e-bikes in designated areas and may not access or use them again until they are leaving school for the day. At the end of the school day, students must walk their e-bikes off school property before riding. Failure to abide by school rules may result in disciplinary actions.
So far this year, South's e-bike riders (and those on traditional bikes, e-scooters, etc.) have been great about wearing helmets. Please remember to keep them strapped under your chin so they can do their job.
Kids have also been very respectful about walking their bikes on school property in the morning. This is a new rule, so it's great to see everyone going along with it to keep others safe.
Remember that after school hours, our campuses are still busy places with youth sports, dog walkers, and all kinds of family fun. Please go slow even after school hours and keep bike riding off the school campuses.
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT - OPEN HOUSE
Last week's middle school Open House was a great night! Teachers and staff enjoyed meeting caretakers and introducing their courses and topics. Mr. Rainie's What to Expect from Middle School presentation is linked below in case you missed it or want to refer back to it later.
SCHOOL PORTRAITS
Friday was School Picture Day at South. You can still pre-order photos to lock in the best prices. Go to HaywardPhotography.com, click the blue "Prepay for Photo Day" link, and use code SMSF26 to access our account. Student photos will be sent home in a few weeks, and you can order then, but prices will go up after 7:00 AM on Wednesday, 9/23. If you pre-order and end up having a concern about your child's photo, you will be able to contact Hayward Photography. Our experience in prior years is that everyone has ended up satisfied with their child's portraits. Photo retakes will be scheduled in a month or so, and the date will be announced at that time. See attached flier for photo packages and ordering information.
FREE PARENTING COURSE - HOPE CENTER
I recently became aware of a free Circle of Security Parenting course offered through the H.O.P.E. Center, a program of the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office, located in Braintree. The 8-week course began on 9/16, but registration appears to still be open for interested folks. The course meets from 1:00–2:30 PM on Wednesdays and is designed for parents, guardians, and caregivers who want to better understand and support their children’s social and emotional needs. Their registration page is linked here: Class sign-ups. Their website also has more information about the H.O.P.E. Center and the other free programs and community resources offered, including transportation assistance. I’ve attached a flyer with all of the details.
We wish all our Jewish Bulldogs an easy fast as Yom Kippur observations begin this evening. As a reminder, any student who misses school for a religious observance at any point in the year will have that absence excused if a parent/guardian shares that information with the school.
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