The Mustang Minute
August 27, 2021 - Issue 2
The Final Countdown - Almost
The new school year is fast approaching and the CMS teaching staff is getting into high gear making sure our school, classrooms, and staff are all ready to go! This week , several staff members attended professional development around Worked Savvy - a project based model that helps students make connections to the world. We have been doing a CMS refresh - changing up all the bulletin boards, adding new posters and other great materials to help our school feel bright! many teachers have been in changing sterile classrooms into inviting learning spaces while still working around safety measures.
Below, I copied last week's information around communication and scheduling.
Drop Off and Pick-up
If you are driving your child to CMS we have one drop off location. Please enter at the south entrance (the one closest to the Walpole line), drive into the drop off lane located next to the auditorium. Please PULL ALL THE WAY UP to allow for the maximum number of cars to drop off at once. Students will get out of the car at this location and walk down to the cafeteria for entry. Cars then loop through the parking lot and back out to Washington Street.
We ask that no cars enter by the Hawes Pool entrance as that is for buses. No cars should drive down the front drive until after our start time of 7:25AM
Pick-up begins at 2:05 when ALL students are dismissed (this is different from last year when we did a staggered dismissal). Parent should wait in the south lot (near the auditorium) for pick up. Please pull into a parking space. Please do not come for pick up before 1:30pm or the buses may have trouble getting out of the lot.
Buses
Students in Grades K through 12 who plan to ride a bus must register, including students eligible for town-provided (free) transportation. Please note that the new full rate bus fee is $300 per student with a family cap of $750. Students in grades 1-6 who live more than 2 miles from school, and all kindergarten students, do not have to pay a full rate fee.
Bus Stop listing are posted on the NPS Website: https://www.norwood.k12.ma.us/about/transportation-services
Lunch
We have three lunches divided by grade. This year school lunch is free for all students. In order to provide the safest setting possible, we will have students eating outside as long as the weather permits and will space students out at 3 foot intervals when seated indoors. Students are welcome to bring a big lunch from home. Please no glass containers.
Masks
Once again, we will have a mask mandate at all NPS schools. Please send your student in with a mask that fits well. We recommend students pack a couple of extra masks in their backpacks.
Last Week's Newsletter Information
Communication
For our new parents, I send out this email newsletter every week (typically on Fridays) providing highlights of student activities from the past week and providing information on upcoming events. While I will occasionally send out direct messages or send home paper fliers - this is really your one-stop shop for CMS School News. Next week I will include information about drop off and pick up, attendance and tardies, and other first day of school items.
I also have a Twitter and Instagram Account where I post pictures from school activities and events and repeat information from the newsletter. My Twitter and Instagram Account handles are at the bottom of this email.
Schedule Release in Aspen
Students and families will have access to their new school schedules starting on Friday, August 27th. Middle School students follow a six-day rotating schedule. They have six 50 minute blocks that rotate each day and one stationary Mustang Block at the end of the day. During Mustang Block, students receive intervention help, start homework, get organization assistance, do team building, and so much more.
Our goal with building the schedule is to create balanced teams of students, balanced in terms of numbers, academic needs, social needs, and elementary school make-up. We do not change a students team without a significant reason to do so. We encourage families to talk to their students about how middle school is a time to expand friendships, get to know new people, and explore their own learning.
If your child's schedule has an error (wrong language, blank spot, etc.) please reach out to your grade level guidance counselor for assistance. The guidance staff returns later next week.
Grade 6 - Meghan Mba mmba@norwood.k12.ma.us
Grade 7 - Allyson King acking@norwood.k12.ma.us
Grade 8 - Ashley McCaffrey amccaffrey@norwood.k12.ma.us
You will need access to Aspen in order to see your child's schedule. If you have any questions or problems accessing the portal, please send an email to: npsaspensupport@norwood.k12.ma.us
Building Tours for New and Returning Students
Is your child nervous about coming to CMS or returning to in person learning? We would be happy to give a tour of the building. Any student that is new to CMS or returning from being fully remote last year is welcome to join us at the Ice Cream Socials (dates and times below). If those times don't work, feel free to email me at mfraczek@norwood.k12.ma.us to set one up!
Supply Lists
The school supply lists are linked below. We also recommend that students bring their own combination lock into school for their locker. This allows students to practice opening and closing their lock at home. We do have locks available at CMS as well. Please note that we are happy to provide for any family that needs supplies for their student. You may email me or your grade level guidance counselor and we can get you everything you need.
Chromebook Deployment
If a grade 6 student was unable to get their Chromebook during the pick-up times they will be able to collect them during the grade 6 ice cream socials. All others will be issued their Chromebook within the first few days of school.
The PTO Needs You!
PTO Board Openings
With the new year comes new opportunities to be involved with CMS. We are looking for PTO Board members that collectively make decisions about activities for the school. We are also in need of a PTO treasurer. The treasurer maintains the records and bank account for the PTO. Please email coakleynorwoodPTO@gmail.com or mfraczek@norwood.k12.ma.us if you are interested.
Open House
The Coakley Middle School Open House will be on September 28th from 6:30-8:30PM
More details to come!
News From the Nurse
Please see the attached letter about Massachusetts 7th grade physical and immunization requirements. If your student has had a physical since 9/1/2020, and you have not yet sent in a copy, please bring/send in a hard copy, email to jkozol@norwood.k12.ma.us, or have the doctor fax to 833-704-1903 before the end of the school year.
If your child still needs the physical and/or immunizations, please schedule an appointment over the summer so that the requirements will be met by the first day of school in September.
Please see the attached letter and call 781-440-5926 with any questions.
Tova Sperber, MS, BSN, RN
School Nurse
Coakley Middle School
Office: 781-440-5926
FAX: 833-704-1903
Dr. Margo Fraczek
Email: mfraczek@norwood.k12.ma.us
Website: https://sites.google.com/norwood.k12.ma.us/cms-principal/home
Phone: 781-762-7880
Facebook: facebook.com/CoakleyMIddleSchoolPTO
Twitter: @mfraczek