Hello, NMS Families & Community and Happy Friday!
Winter Sports Registration is OPEN! Click HERE!
Students interested in playing basketball or indoor track should register ASAP!
7th Grade Field Trip to the Quabbin Reservoir
The 7th grade team would like to thank the 7th grade students for being so great on Thursday's field trip to the Quabbin Reservoir! A special thank you to all families that donated towards our Quabbin Reservoir trip so our students could take part in a fun day of sights and fresh air. And to our parents and guardians that helped chaperone, you literally made this day possible, thank you so much! Shown, below, are some images from the day:
This field trip focused on a unit that included history of the reservoir and how changes in components within an ecosystem can lead to shifts in the populations of the organisms.
IMPORTANT: ATTENDANCE PROTOCOLS / CALL OUT PROCEDURES
NRSD attendance protocol is driven by Massachusetts State Law, NRSD School Committee policy, and the NRSD Handbook. Narragansett Middle School’s protocol combines all three of these considerations. The NRSD district will excuse absences with medical documentation for each date of absence, such as a note from a medical professional. For example, a written note from (for example) "Dr. XYZ" from "ABC Medical Group" that states that the student has been absent from school on dates 10/2/23 - 10/5/23 (for example; specific dates would be required) due to asthma, high fever, COVID-19, etc., is required for the district to excuse a student's absence.
The law, school committee policy, the NRSD handbook, and the school's established protocol require the school to act upon student attendance proactively and consistently. The school informs parents of the absences in writing, meets with parents (by phone, online, or in-person) to help support a child's regular attendance at school, meets with students to provide support, and helps establish plans to support a child's return to school after extended absences. Our goal is to collaborate with families to support students’ regular attendance as much as possible. While federally-governed 504 plans can, in some cases, exist to support students academically when absences present barriers to progress, they do not serve to excuse absences and documentation is still sought in order to consider absences excused.
In an effort to ensure all students are accounted for each day, and so that timely notification of unaccounted-for student absences can be sent, parents/guardians should contact their child's school to notify the of the absence.
Please CALL the Attendance Secretary, Mrs. Ann Lyons, at 978-939-5928 and select 1 from the automated menu (leave a voicemail if necessary). Absent notifications should not be directed to Mrs. Melanie Murphy in the NMS Main Office.
It is important when you are reporting a student absence that you call the Attendance Line (NOT EMAIL) as these email messages can go unretrieved should Mrs. Lyons be unavailable, whereas the telephone system can be accessed by multiple staff. If you are calling before the school is open for the day, you are able to leave a message on the Attendance Line voicemail.
Thank you for your assistance in keeping our students safe and helping strengthen our protocols for tracking and maintaining accurate attendance records.
Please be sure you are checking for the correct stop for the late bus! All students taking the late bus must obtain a pass from the teacher they stayed with, and must know which stop they will be using.
Upcoming Health Clinics: Flu and Covid Vaccines!
Vaccine clinics have been scheduled for October. We will be holding 2 FLU vaccine Clinics and 1 COVID Vaccine Clinic this month. A link to sign up for one or both of the vaccines are below. These clinics are open to anyone who wishes to be vaccinated and is able to get to the school, so share the links as much as you would like.
It is possible and safe to get both vaccines at the same time at the October 12th Clinic that will be held in the Middle School Cafeteria. However, if you wish to space them out, you can sign up for the COVID vaccine on October 12th at Narragansett Middle School and the FLU vaccine on October 26th at Templeton Elementary School.
COVID vaccine clinics will be scheduled monthly as long as there is interest for the vaccine. If you cannot make the October 12th clinic, keep an eye out for November's Clinic Sign Up.
Please note that October 26th's FLU Vaccine Clinic will be held in the Templeton Elementary School Cafeteria for the convenience of the TES Staff.
- CLICK HERE to sign up to receive a FLU Vaccine on Thursday October 12, 2023 at Narragansett Middle School.
- CLICK HERE to sign up to receive a COVID Vaccine on Thursday October 12, 2023 at Narragansett Middle School.
- CLICK HERE to sign up to receive a FLU Vaccine Thursday October 26, 2023 at Templeton Elementary School.
Did you miss picture day on September 12, or just want a new photo taken?
Here comes PICTURE RETAKE DAY!
Students who were absent need a form if they want to order pictures; these can be picked up in the main office. Students who just want to new photo taken must bring their original photo package with them when having their new photo taken.
Attention Skiers and Snowboarders! It's time start thinking about SKI CLUB
Anyone interested in joining the NRSD Ski Club should check out the details here: Ski Club Information. This six-week program starts in January, but because space is limited, you need to act NOW if you want to be part of the fun! Transportation to and from Wachusett Mountain is available but also limited, so don't wait!
Click on the Turkey Trot poster to access the registration form!
Shared Expectations
It's been a fantastic first month of school, and we want to thank all our NMS families for their obvious preparation as students arrived ready to go! We will be continuing our calibration of school expectations and the return from summer vacation to help students meet the expectations of being back in school socially, behaviorally, and academically. This means reviewing, teaching, and consistently reinforcing behavioral expectations first, so that distractions are minimized and an environment where academic success can flourish is created and maintained. When asked “Why?” by a student in response to a redirection about voice level, running, or roughhousing, we often need to remind them of the fact “We’re in school.” In an effort to help our students, NMS focuses on four
basic shared expectations that our core values are rooted in: Be Nice, Work Hard, No Excuses, and Good Choices. Teachers have been teaching and reviewing these concepts in preparation for a rigorous academic return to school in order to have a successful year. As students are shown and explore these expectations, they are also learning to acknowledge the consequences of poor choices, including the progressive disciplinary actions that may result. Our goal is to keep families informed, and of how the system works (click here or on the thumbnail). The chart explaining what to expect, so that we can all work together for the best outcomes, is shown (left). We look forward to working together and having an amazing year!
After-school Band: Your Instruments are IN!
The 5th and 6th Grade After-school Band kicks off next week and just in time, instruments have arrived! See Mr. O'Connor if you have an instrument to pick up! Details on when 5th Grade Band and 6th Grade Band meet are below in NMS Clubs & Activities!
| 😁 Getting Involved: NMS Extracurriculars |
| Activity | Advisor / Faculty Leader | Meeting Dates |
| After-school Band 2:30 - 3:30
Sign up for after-school band HERE | Mr. O'Connor goconnor@nrsd.org | Tuesday: 5th Grade Band
Thursday: 6th Grade Band (Band runs 2:30 - 3:30. Students riding the late bus are welcome to attend after-school band until 2:55!) Any 7th student interested--see Mr. O'Connor! |
| Art Club | Mrs. Dupuis jdupuis@nrsd.org | Thursdays (as announced) |
| International Club | Mrs. Medlicott jmedlicott@nrsd.org | Thursdays |
| Intramural Dodgeball | Ms. Eaton aeaton@nrsd.org & Mrs. Caouette lcaouette@nrsd.org | Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays |
| Leo Club (Volunteers) | Mrs. Dupuis jdupuis@nrsd.org | Tuesdays (as announced) |
| Science / STEM Club | Mr. Dufour cdufour@nrsd.org | Tuesdays |
| Theater Guild / Drama | Mr. Schlundt gschlundt@nrsd.org | Mondays |
| Student Council | Mrs. Wheeler gwheeler@nrsd.org
& Mrs. Parker lparker@nrsd.org | Every other Thursday (as announced) Next meeting 10/19 |
| Yearbook | Mrs. Rivard drivard@nrsd.org | Mondays as announced (two meetings per month) Next meeting 10/16 |
| 📣 Important Dates & Reminders |
| Monday, October 9 | Columbus Day--No School |
| Wednesday, October 18 | School Portrait RETAKES! |
| Thursday, October 26 | Students of the Month Assembly! |
| Tuesday, November 7 | No School for Students Full Day Professional Development for staff |
| Friday, November 10 | No School--Veterans Day Observed |
| Monday, November 20 | Half Day of School for Students—Dismissal at 11:10 a.m. Teacher Conferences--Afternoon and Evening Sessions (details forthcoming) |
| Tuesday, November 21 | Half Day of School for Students—Dismissal at 11:10 a.m. Teacher Conferences--Afternoon Sessions Only (details forthcoming) |
| Wednesday, November 22 | Half Day of School |
| November 23 & 24 | Thanksgiving Break |
| Thursday, November 30 | Students of the Month Assembly! |
| Thursday, December 21 | Half Day of School--Dismissal at 11:10 a.m. |
| December 22 - January 1 | Holiday Vacation |
| Tuesday, January 2 | School Re-opens; Happy New Year! |
| Friday, January 12 | Half Day of School--Dismissal at 11:10 a.m. Afternoon Professional Development for staff |
| Monday, January 15 | No School -- Martin Luther King Day |
| Friday, February 2 | Half Day of School--Dismissal at 11:10 a.m. Afternoon Professional Development for staff |
| February 19 - 23 | February Vacation |
| Friday, March 8 | Half Day of School--Dismissal at 11:10 a.m. Afternoon Professional Development for staff |
| Thursday, March 28 | Half Day of School--Dismissal at 11:10 a.m. Afternoon Professional Development for staff |
| Friday, March 29 | No School--Good Friday |
| Wednesday, April 10 | Half Day of School for Students—Dismissal at 11:10 a.m. Teacher Conferences--Afternoon Sessions Only (details forthcoming) |
| Thursday, April 11 | Half Day of School for Students—Dismissal at 11:10 a.m. Teacher Conferences--Afternoon Sessions Only (details forthcoming) |
| Friday, April 12 | Half Day of School--Dismissal at 11:10 a.m. Afternoon Professional Development for staff |
| April 15 - 19 | April Vacation |
| 🗓️ Next Week @ NMS: Daily Schedule and Lunch Menu |
| Monday, October 9 | Tuesday, October 10 | Wednesday, October 11 | Thursday, October 12 | Friday, October 13 |
| NO SCHOOL | G Day | A Day | B Day | C Day |
| Columbus Day | Meatball Subs | Pulled Pork Sandwich | Pasta Day: American Chop Suey | Assorted Pizza |
NRSD Food Services Department
| ❤️🩹 Nurse Notes |
See above for information on upcoming Flu and Covid Vaccine Clinics!
Contacting Nurse McKinnon JUST GOT EASIER:
Text 978-939-6326 to reach the middle school nurse. Please feel free to use this text line for quick questions as well. Please save this number in your cell phone because Nurse McKinnon sends out reminders/updates this way.
🎉
Upcoming Health Screenings this school year:
- Postural Screens for 5th, 6th, and 7th
- Vision, hearing, height/weight/BMI, and SBIRT for 7th only
If you would like to opt out of any of the screenings listed above, PLEASE email/call me ASAP. I will not be rescreening any student who had screenings completed during their yearly physical.
With cold and flu season fast approaching, please remind your students to wash hands FREQUENTLY, bring a water bottle THAT SEALS to school, and to NOT touch their face and mouth.
Health office FYI- Both viral and bacterial strep has been on the increase recently, so please keep that in mind. Also, please be mindful of our exclusion policy, if anyone has any questions about that, please text/call Nurse McKinnon!
Narragansett Middle School Nurse:
Alyssa McKinnon ● Email: amckinnon@nrsd.org
Phone: 978-939-2113 ● Fax 978-939-8634 ● **NEW** Text: 978-939-6326
NRSD Nurse Leader:
Myriah Zwicker ● Email: ezwicker@nrsd.org
Phone: 978-652-0201 ● Fax: 978-939-8634
NRSD Health & Wellness Department
| 👟 Athletics |
Winter Sports Registration is OPEN!
Athletics-related questions?
Contact the Athletic Director:
Brad Bond ● gansettathletics@nrsd.org ● 978-939-7325
Next week's sports (Week of October 9th)
(please check the updated online schedule regularly--link below--frequently as changes occur constantly due to weather or conditions)
Winter Sports Registration is OPEN!
Here's the Recap in case you missed it....
| 📞 NMS Phone Tree |
1. Attendance line/Attendance Secretary, Mrs. Lyons
2. NMS School Nurse, Ms. McKinnon
3. NMS Adjustment Counselor, Mrs. Ambrozy
4. Athletics, Mr. Bond
5. NMS Main Office, Mrs. Murphy to reach the building administration (Mrs. LaFreniere or Ms. Smith), leave voicemails for staff, or for any questions not related to a line above).
To reach the NRSD Central Office, the phone number is 978-939-5661.
| 🫂 School Council |
Narragansett Middle School will be looking to elect two Parent / Guardian representatives to the NMS School Council. Elections will be announced when candidates are identified. From the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education webpage:
What is a school council? A school council is a representative, school building-based committee composed of the principal, parents, teachers, community members and, at the secondary level, students, required to be established by each school pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 71, Section 59C.
What is the reason the Education Reform Act calls for establishing school councils? Teachers, parents, and community members can become more committed to improving the schools and more supportive of the public school system when they enjoy the opportunity to serve or be represented on a school council that has a role in shaping the policies and programs of the school.
If you are interested in being a candidate for election to the NMS School Council, please contact Principal Mary LaFreniere at mlafreniere@nrsd.org.