Middle School Matters
Every Student, Every Day!
Happy Fall!
Our school year is well on the way! We have many changes this year that we believe will make a positive impact on our school community. As you may know we spent a great deal of time the first two weeks of school teaching our students the behaviors that we expect in the classroom, hallway, cafeteria, bathroom/locker room, and on the bus. We are using consistent 7-habit language and encouraging consistent behaviors.
To help students with these behaviors we have created the PRIDE Rubric. This rubric is referred to often. A copy can be found on the middle school web page. When working with students this year in the code of conduct lessons, we talked about the rubric and what it means to have it, why it is important and what it's purpose is. The students responses were great! They ranged from consistent expectations for everyone, something to stand for and believe in while we're at school, to means the 'soul of the school'. The more consistent and pervasive we can be in using the PRIDE Rubric the easier it will be for students to be successful.
We have also begun to recognize our students who are making good choices. We have been celebrating their success with 'PRIDE is Alive' certificates. Several students have been recognized for going above and beyond the PRIDE Rubric in their daily routines at school.
I hope that you were able to see your child's 5-week progress report that was sent home last week. These progress reports are a snapshot in to your child's academic progress thus far. Grade ranges are provided for you as well as teacher comments. While at times these reports are not viewed as closely as a report card, they are very important in helping your child determine where they are academically and what they need to do to continue improving their grades. Please look these over carefully -and encourage your child to be proactive in working with a teacher after school, meeting with their counselor, completing homework and staying focused and engaged in the learning within the classroom. Should you wish to meet with your child's teachers please contact the counseling office at 332.3304.
Our students will be participating in Red Ribbon week October 24 - 28th. Special activities have been planned for our building and the community. Please check out the counseling page of the middle school website for more details.
As many of you know the middle school does not have a PTA. However, we are looking to start a parent group. It is our hope that this group would meet regularly to discuss middle school matters, plan activities and help foster home school connections. We are planning our first meeting on Tuesday, November 1st at 5:30 in the middle school library. We hope to see many of you there.
Thanks for all your support of our students!
Teresa
Halloween
With Halloween approaching many of us are enjoying the joyful rituals of equipping our little ones with costumes that reinforce the innocence of youth. In Contrast, many teenage friends at Newark Middle School likely have their eyes on costumes that say zombie or Jason. Given some of the recent news coverage, I will be candid and share that I am carrying a bit of extra worry going into this Halloween season. Thus, I want to be more explicit with our expectations, that have not changed. Masks may not be worn while on the school bus or campus and any costume accessory deemed disruptive will be secured for the day. At the very least, this will include items that mimic weapons. Face make-up, paint or props of violent nature should be left at home. A new request is to ask you to forbid your teenager from wearing a clown costume. These costumes will not be allowed at Newark Middle School this Halloween.
Newark Middle School
Email: teresa.prinzi@newarkcsd.org
Website: newarkcsd.org
Location: 701 Peirson Avenue, Newark, NY, United States
Phone: 315.332.3290