FWHMS Family Newsletter
Connecting Families to School - September 2019
New District Attendance Policy
The Middle School recognizes that regular and punctual school attendance is essential for success in ensuring that students attend school regularly in Accordance with Massachusetts General Law. Parents or guardians are responsible for ensuring that their children attend school regularly and punctually, and the parents or guardians are responsible for reporting any absence of their child (Ch. 76 §1A ). The school is responsible for inquiring about any unreported absences and notifying the parents or guardians of a student who has 5 or more unexcused absences in a school year (Ch. 76 §1A & 1B).
The expectation for all students is to achieve a minimum 95% attendance rate. The calculated percentage includes all absences from school including excused absences (medical, personal, funerals). Yearly Progress (AYP) and an acceptable performance level of each school include yearly attendance rate and chronic absenteeism.
Regular school attendance is defined as three (3) excused absences during a quarter.
Students are required to be in attendance on a daily basis in order to keep current with their school work. When an absence occurs, a student is required to do the following:
Present a brief written explanation as to why he/she was absent from school
Submit a note from a doctor, dentist, or other document (ex. bereavement, legal), within five (5) days of returning to school for the absence(s) to be excused.
After 5 days without a written excuse as outlined in Section I: Excused Absences, the absence becomes unexcused. After 5 unexcused absences, the principal or principal’s designee will contact the parents/guardians to review the attendance policy and/or set up a conference.
If the student is absent for 3 consecutive days or more a doctor’s note must be presented to the main office upon return to school by the student. If the student fails to present the doctor’s note the days will be considered unexcused.
It is the student’s responsibility to request all work missed from the teachers when returning from ANY absence. It is the student’s responsibility to make up any missing class work or homework. After the third day of absence, parents may request homework assignments by calling the main office before 9:00 A.M. Homework will be available for pick-up after 2:00 P.M. in the main office.
Students will be allowed the number of days absent, plus one (1) day to make-up and turn in work.
For example, a student is out sick for three (3) days – all work is due by the end of the fourth day back. After this period, all missing work will be graded per teacher discretion.
Section I: Excused Absences
The following are considered excused absences from school (all others are unexcused):
Medically documented illness or injury (seen by physician)
Bereavement/family funeral
Major religious observances
Court Date
Out of School Suspensions
Severe family circumstances (excused at the discretion of the Principal)
Section II: Unexcused Absences
Parents will be advised of unexcused absences per quarter. After five unexcused absences, the principal or principal’s designee will contact the parents to review the attendance policy and set up a conference if this has not already been done. The school officials will work with students and their parents to help correct the attendance deficiency.
Note: Student vacations during normal school days are not excused. Homework will not be provided prior to the vacation.
Section III: Early Dismissals
The student is expected to present a written note from the parent/guardian to the main office in order to be dismissed early. The student is expected to bring the note to the office prior to 7:55 a.m.
The parent/guardian must sign the student out in the Main Office. When returning to school the same day, the student must sign in at the Main Office.
In order to participate in after school district sponsored activities or evening functions, students may not be dismissed earlier than 11:00 AM on any given day unless that dismissal is deemed excused by the administration.
NOTE: Students will be released only to a parent or guardian unless specific arrangements have been made in advance.
Section IV: Tardiness
Students are considered late after 7:55 A.M. The tardy student must report to the main office to receive a tardy slip. Students are permitted to be tardy for school three (3) times during a quarter. On the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth tardy to school, the student will be assigned a detention. If a student has been late to school ten or more times during the quarter, upon the eleventh tardy and each time there after the student will receive a suspension.
A new late record will be started for each quarter. A late note from a parent/guardian is also required for every late arrival to school.
In order to participate in after school district sponsored activities or evening functions, students must arrive to school by 11:00 AM on any given day unless that tardy arrival is deemed excused by the administration.
FWHMS Communication and Happenings
Our website is the main hub of information. The following is key information you will find:
- Daily Intercom Announcements
- Monthly School Calendar
- Homework Page
- Monthly Family Newsletter Links
- After-school Program Information/Registration
- BMR Athletes Information/Registration Details
- Staff names and emails
OneCall will be used in the following ways:
Robocalls
For Emergency only - such as unplanned early dismissals or information on an emergency in the building. They will be sent after 3:30 pm and end before 8 pm.
Roboemails - On Tuesdays and Fridays only (as needed)
For standard communication - such as portal access to progress reports, report card distribution, the monthly newsletter release, registration information for sports/after-school clubs, field trip information, and other information as needed. The emails may be by whole school or by grade level depending on the communication needs.
Social Media - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat
We use all our social media to share special happenings after they have happened so that families can see what we are doing. You can find us on all platforms at @fwhms2003
PTO News
Join the FWHMS PTO! The PTO is an active group that strives to bring fun, educational events and programs to the Hartnett Middle School and it’s students. Please consider attending our meetings and getting involved. The PTO meets the third Monday of every month. Our first meeting in Monday September 16, 2019 at 6pm in the Library Conference Room at the school.
This Fall the PTO is excited to sponsor a Color-Thon Walk/Run on October 4th. The money from this fundraiser will help fun after school clubs, field trips, and our summer reading program. It’s going to be a A LOT of fun, and along the way students will have the opportunity to win GREAT prizes!
We want all students to register for the Color Walk/Run by Thursday August 29th. Registration packets were sent home with students on open Door Day, and there will be some available on the first day of school. To register, follow the instructions in the packet, or click here and use school code 140268.
ALL STUDENTS WHO REGISTER BY THURSDAY AUGUST 29, 2019 WILL BE ENTERED IN A RAFFLE TO WIN A CANDY BASKET! THE RAFFLE WILL BE DRAWN AT THE END OF THE DAY ON THURSDAY!
LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE TO STAY UP ON ALL OUT NEWS!!!
Homework Website
Pay Online for School Lunch
You can view the account balance, see what was purchased, and schedule automatic payments if you wish.
Calendar of Events
Friday, August 30th and Monday, September 3rd
- No School - Labor Day Recess
- 6:30 pm - Rescheduled District of One Fun Run Event - Blackstone Bike Path parking to Millville
Friday, September 6th
- All summer work (ELA and math) is due to your teachers
Monday, September 16th
- 5 pm - School Council Meeting - Main office conference room
- 6 pm - PTO Meeting - Lobby conference room
Tuesday, September 17th
- 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Meet the Teacher Night
Wednesday, September 18th
- 6th grade school pictures
Thursday, September 19th
- 7th grade school pictures
Friday, September 20th
- 8th grade school pictures
Tuesday, October 1st
- Progress Reports on Parent Portal
Be sure to visit our school web site to view our school events calendar.
ABC's of Student Success
Attendance is a critical factor for any child's school success. It is impossible to replace the learning that happens on any school day with make-up work. Regular attendance and promptness are good habits that are expected at all levels of school and in the workplace. This year commit to excellence in attendance.
-EducationWorld.com
Math @ Home
-EducationWorld.com
Parent Pointers
- Set a regular time each day for doing homework. That time should be free of distractions such as television and phone calls.
- Be sure your child has a place that is quiet and well lit. You could make a homework station in order to make sure all the needed supplies are available.
- Consistently review your child's homework and agenda during homework time.
School-wide Ongoing Fundraisers
BoxTops - You can find the tops on participating products. Cut out the top and have your child bring it to school. We earn 10 cents for each top collected. Visit www.boxtops4education.com for a listing of products.
Stop & Shop A Plus Program - Register your rewards card to help us earn $$. Log on to www.stopandshop.com/aplus to register online USE SCHOOL ID: 07080 or dial 1-877-275-2758 to register your card over the phone.
Amazon - Please click here to shop on Amazon.com. A small percentage of what you purchase will go to the Hartnett Middle School PTO to help support field trips, assemblies, special events, and after school programming. It is the same Amazon.com you may use, with a small percentage supporting middle school students.
About FWHMS
Email: tcurt@bmrsd.net
Website: http://www.bmrsd.net/frederick_home.aspx
Location: 35 Federal St, Blackstone, MA, United States
Phone: 508-876-0190
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/middleschoolofwoonsocket
Twitter: @fwhms2003