The Curtis Connection
May 26, 2023
READ ALL ABOUT IT!
- Mr. Mela's Message
- Mark This on Your Calendar
- A Message for Families of Current 6th and 7th Grade Students!
- ECMS Chorus Spring Concert
- Jazz Band Earns Gold!
- One Week Left to Order School Supply Kits for Next School Year - Delivered to Your Home!
- Library Books Due!
- ECMS Relay for Life Teams Raise $3,150
- ECMS School Grounds Cleanup
- Buddy Dog Collection Drive
- A Message from the School Counselors
- For Families Moving or Students Withdrawing to Attend Private School
- A Message from the ECMS Health Office
- Reminders from the Office Staff
- ECMS 2023 Yearbook
- Curtis Schedule
- Sharing Community Information
- Interested in Substituting as a School Nurse?
- CPO News
- Join SERF!
- Local Resources and Helpful Information
- Curtis Core Values/Contact Us
MR. MELA'S MESSAGE
Dear Families,
On Wednesday, our 8th-grade students did an amazing job presenting their Civics Action Projects. The student-led, non-partisan projects gave students the opportunity to assess the world around them, find issues that matter to them and their communities, and take action based on research of the root causes of those issues. At our local showcase, community members interacted with students and assessed them in five areas, as well as their oral presentation skills. Four projects earned their way to the MA Civics Challenge in Worcester, MA, where state-wide community members will engage with students, and awards will be given to celebrate exemplary projects. Sixteen students and the civics department will travel to Clark University on Friday, June 2nd. We wish them the best of luck! A huge thank you to Lauren Egizio, Humanities Curriculum Coordinator, and the 8th-grade Civics teachers for their important leadership.
Thank you to the men and women who lost their lives in service of our country. Have a safe and healthy Memorial Day weekend.
Jeff
Monday, May 29 - No School: Memorial Day
Monday, June 12 - 6th grades to Canobie Lake Park
Wednesday, June 14 - 7th grades to Canobie Lake Park; 8th Grade Moving On Ceremonies: 9:00 a.m. Integrity Team, 11:00 a.m. Tenacity Team, 1:00 p.m. Unity Team
Thursday, June 15 - Last Day of School for All Students; 12:45 Dismissal
A MESSAGE FOR FAMILIES OF CURRENT 6TH AND 7TH GRADE STUDENTS!
Parents/guardians of current 6th grade students: If you have not completed the transition form for 7th grade, please submit it now.
Parents/guardians of current 7th grade students. If you have not completed the transition form for 8th grade, please submit it now.
ECMS CHORUS SPRING CONCERT
The Chorus students had their Spring Concert last night. The concert had a nature theme with songs about trees, hurricanes, oceans, and stars, but the songs had underlying meanings about growth, strength, and independence. If you'd like to check out the recording you can find it HERE. Congratulations to these students on a successful year of singing! Many thanks to Carrie Kenney for leading the choral groups and to Christine Hogan for accompanying on the piano.
JAZZ BAND EARNS GOLD!
The Curtis Jazz Band performed at the Massachusetts Association for Jazz Education (MAJE) adjudication festival and earned a Gold rating for their superior performance. This a tremendous accomplishment and a first for Curtis. Congratulations to these talented and dedicated musicians and also to Mr. Kevin Donegan for directing them!
ONE WEEK LEFT TO ORDER SCHOOL SUPPLY KITS NOW FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR!
School Supply kits may be ordered through June 2nd! Kits are available for each grade at Curtis, plus a World Language kit for anyone taking French or Spanish. Please remember to order for the grade your child will be in next school year (2023-2024). Please note: students taking chorus or band next year will also need a 1/2-inch black binder, not included in any kit.
Ordering is simple!
1.) Just go to www.shopttkits.com and enter Account #86380.
2.) Select the grade your child will be in next school year (2023-2024), and order the World Language kit if needed.
3.) Kits will be shipped to your house before school starts next year!
No one is obligated to purchase in this way; you can certainly buy the individual items yourself, but if you do purchase next year's supplies through this Fundraiser, 10% will be given back to Curtis Middle School to help support enrichment efforts and activities!
Any questions, please contact jennlemire@gmail.com.
LIBRARY BOOKS DUE!
ECMS RELAY FOR LIFE TEAMS RAISE $3,150
At last weekend’s LS Relay For Life event, two Relay teams comprised of ECMS students - Curtis Angels and Purple People - raised $3,150 for the American Cancer Society. The total raised by all teams participating in the LS Relay For Life was $89,800. Congratulations and thank you to all participants for their efforts in the fight against cancer.
ECMS SCHOOL GROUNDS CLEANUP
Last Friday, members of the Curtis Angels picked up litter on the ECMS school grounds. Below are photos of some of the students who helped with the cleanup.
BUDDY DOG COLLECTION DRIVE
Curtis is holding a pet supplies collection drive to benefit the Buddy Dog Humane Society in Sudbury through Friday, June 9th. The collection drive has been organized by the Curtis Angels. Buddy Dog's mission is to find suitable homes for stray, homeless and unwanted dogs and cats. Buddy Dog was founded in 1961, and since that time, has found new homes for thousands of homeless animals.
Buddy Dog is most in need of: Martingale collars (large, medium and small), laundry detergent, non-clumping clay cat litter, paper towels, canned dog food, Science Diet dry cat and dog food, sturdy toys for heavy chewers, and soft cat toys like toy mice. Gift cards to pet supply and home goods stores are also appreciated.
A collection bin is located in the main lobby at Curtis. If you have any questions about the collection drive, please contact Ivar Henningson, Curtis Angels Faculty Advisor.
A MESSAGE FROM THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS
This week, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory on Social Media and Teen Mental Health. This advisory calls upon policymakers, tech companies, parents and caregivers, children and adolescents and researchers to take action to address this.
“More research is needed to fully understand the impact of social media; however, the current body of evidence indicates that while social media may have benefits for some children and adolescents, there are ample indicators that social media can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. At this time, we do not yet have enough evidence to determine if social media is sufficiently safe for children and adolescents. We must acknowledge the growing body of research about potential harms, increase our collective understanding of the risks associated with social media use, and urgently take action to create safe and healthy digital environments that minimize harm and safeguard children’s and adolescents’ mental health and well-being during critical stages of development.” (Surgeon General’s Advisory, May 2023)
The full advisory can be accessed here: Surgeon General's Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health
What Parents and Caregivers Can Do (pg.16 of Advisory)
Create a family media plan (click here for an example)
Create tech-free zones and encourage children to foster in-person friendships. (Limit the use of phones, tablets and computers for at least 1 hour before bedtime and through the night to enable sufficient and quality sleep).
Model responsible social media behavior.
Teach kids about technology and empower them to be responsible online participants at the appropriate age.
Report cyberbullying and online abuse and exploitation.
Work with other parents to establish shared norms and practices to support programs and policies around healthy social media use.
What Children and Adolescents Can Do (pg. 18 of Advisory)
Reach out for help
Create boundaries to help balance online and offline activities. (Limit the use of phones, tablets and computers for at least 1 hour before bedtime and through the night to enable sufficient and quality sleep).
Develop protective strategies and healthy practices.
Be cautious about what you share.
Protect yourself and others.
Don’t keep online harassment or abuse a secret.
Don’t take part in online harassment or abuse.
We will continue here at Curtis to educate our students on healthy social media usage and to support families around these efforts. We realize the significant importance of helping students navigate this area of their lives.
Please read and share the Advisory and have some conversations with your family about social media use and perhaps consider implementing some of the recommendations of the Surgeon General.
As always, please let us know if we can help in any way.
6th Grade School Counselor
7th Grade School Counselor
8th Grade School Counselor
FOR FAMILIES MOVING OR STUDENTS WITHDRAWING TO ATTEND PRIVATE SCHOOL
Please inform us in writing if your family will be moving out of Sudbury Public Schools this summer. Please provide us with an email letter of withdrawal and your new forwarding home address. If you will need records sent to the new school, we will need your authorization in writing or a signed release form.
Additionally, if your student will be withdrawing from ECMS in order to enroll in private school next year, we will also need a letter of withdrawal and a signed release form authorizing transcripts or school records to be sent to the new school.
Please forward the student withdrawal information to Jean Galligan Pallone, Student Services Administrative Assistant, at jean_pallone@sudbury.k12.ma.us.
A MESSAGE FROM THE ECMS HEALTH OFFICE
Incoming 7th Grade Immunization and Physical Requirements
Students entering 7th grade are required by Massachusetts State Law to submit a record of immunizations and a current physical to the Curtis Health Office. The regulation pertaining to school immunization is 105 CMR 220.00: Immunization of students before admission to school can be found at mass.gov.
By 7th Grade
3 doses of Hep B
1 dose of Tdap
3 doses of Polio
2 doses of MMR
2 doses of Varicella
1 dose Meningococcal (MenACWY)
Physical exams must be recent and dated within 13 months of the start of school. A physical dated before 7/30/2022 will not be considered current. You may mail, email, fax or hand deliver your child’s health record to the Curtis Health Office.
A written religious exemption for immunizations must be signed by a parent/guardian to keep in the student’s file at the Health Office. All students, regardless of immunization status, must have a current physical on file.
Happy Spring!
FAX: (978) 443-1099
REMINDERS FROM THE OFFICE STAFF
- If your child will be absent or tardy from school, please call 978-443-1071, press 1, and leave a message on the absence line stating your child’s name, the date(s) of their absence/ tardiness and the reason. If there is a planned absence, you are welcome to call ahead of time -- you do not need to wait until that day.
- If you will be taking your child out of school for an appointment or picking them up early, please write a note and have your child drop it off in the front office. You must come into the office to sign out your child; if they return to school that day, they may come back in on their own and stop by the office.
- We do not need to know about a change in dismissal plans at 3:10 dismissal time (or 12:45 on an Early Release day).
- Students may only ride the bus to which they are assigned.
- We will interrupt class to have students pick up eyeglasses or Chromebooks dropped off in the office. All other items will be placed on the table outside the office. If your child calls and asks you to bring something to school, please tell them they must come to the office to retrieve.
2023 ECMS YEARBOOK
Hello, Curtis parents! Your children are creating memories this school year. In order to create the yearbooks in time, they need to be ordered soon. The yearbook is created and designed with student input. With pictures taken all throughout the school, they are creating a memorable book for you and your children to look back on their year.
When ordering, please be sure to use your child's formal name. Jostens uses a computer database to produce the emails that are sent to you. If you order using your child's nickname, your child's name will not be removed from the list and you will continue to receive emails. After placing your order, please be sure to save your email receipt, if needed for future reference. Please email our yearbook coordinator, Liz Kerrigan, if you have any questions.
Let's remember this year together! All yearbook orders are placed online. The price is $50. Please click here to order your yearbook today!
CURTIS SCHEDULE
LUNCH MENU FOR THE WEEK OF 5/29/23
SHARING COMMUNITY INFORMATION
INTERESTED IN SUBSTITUTING AS A SCHOOL NURSE?
Dear Families,
Are you a nurse or do you know a nurse who may be interested in school nursing? Our dynamic SPS nursing team is looking to increase our nursing substitute pool and would love to have you join us. If you are interested, please apply here! Want more information or have some questions? Please contact Nurse Leader, Carol Bradford to find out more about this very rewarding position.
Thank you!
carol_bradford@sudbury.k12.ma.us
978-443-1085 ext 6005
CPO NEWS
8th Grade Social tickets are on sale now! Don’t forget to buy your tickets before sales close next Tuesday, May 30th. Click on this link to buy your tickets and volunteer. Make sure you fill out the Code of Conduct for your student.
Kids had a blast, weather was perfect, and it was great to see them celebrating together - whether it was playing volleyball, making bracelets, taking photos or enjoying the Kona Ice Truck - a fun time was had by all!
None of this would have been possible without the talents of our amazing planning committee Christine Scanga, Rachel Heckler, Meg Seaberg, Kristine Daniel, Lisa West, Melissa Perla, Erica Endyke and Jen Greer-Morrissey. If you see them or know them, please thank them for their nonstop hard work and tireless dedication to make this event happen.
Thank you, also, for all of the donations and to the dozens of parent volunteers who helped during the event, as well as Principal Mela, Mr. Menna, Ms. Miller, and the Curtis custodians! We also want to thank the SPD officers who stopped by to hang with the 6th graders!
7th Grade Parents
Looking for 3-4 7th grade parents to volunteer to order decorations and setup for the 8th grade Moving On ceremonies. This would entail ordering flowers and balloons and decorating the afternoon before the June 14th ceremonies. Let’s help pay it forward so the 8th grade families can focus on enjoying the day! If interested, please contact christinapappas577@gmail.com
CPO Volunteers Needed:
The CPO has the following positions open next year and we’d love to have you join us:
6th Grade Co-Chair: The CPO has an opening for 6th grade co-chair. This is open to a parent who has a 6th grader starting in the fall. Attend monthly CPO and superintendent meetings, contribute to the Curtis Messenger and Connection, serve as the contact for 2-3 committees, including 6th grade social, and help with events. This is a 3-year position that progresses to the next grade level each year.
Cultural/Creative Enrichment (1 or 2 people needed): Plan two-four school-wide events that tie into current topics or events approved by the administration. Past events have included presentations from a cappella groups, artists, comedians, and authors.
Business Sponsor Liaison: This position entails interacting with local and Curtis-family owned businesses to sponsor school initiatives.
Book Fair Volunteers: We are looking for 1–2 volunteers to help run the book fair next year along with existing committee members.
Limited, flexible volunteer hours involved. If interested or if you’d like more information, please email board@curtiscpo.org. To learn more about the CPO, visit our website: curtiscpo.org.
Thanks for your interest.
Did you or one of your kids ever have Mrs. Swennes, Mrs. Howard or Mrs. Mosby (formally Ms.McNair)?! Then read on because we need your help!
Three of our all time favorite Loring teachers are retiring this year - Mrs. Swennes, Mrs. Rebecca Howard, and Mrs. Mosby (formerly Ms. McNair)! Loring won't be the same without them! Help send them off into the land of happy Mondays with a keepsake to remember their time as educators in Sudbury. Please share quotes, a memory, photo, drawing (book messages are due by MAY 30) and/or a short video (video messages are due by JUNE 2), and we will compile all these wonderful moments for them to treasure.
To submit a photo, quote, drawing or memory for any of the teachers go to: https://forms.gle/FmiaUTeMEUkhFNve9
To submit videos click the links below:
Mrs. Swennes: https://share.vidday.com/e/r-4q78sp
Mrs. Mosby: https://share.vidday.com/e/r-f431r7
Mrs. Howard: https://share.vidday.com/e/r-neqqua
Please reach out to Heather Larson with any questions.
Curtis Directory
You can still purchase online access to the Curtis directory and make a donation to
Direct Appeal in one easy step. Online access for the directory is $10 and you will
have access right after you place your order. Visit this link to get Directory access
today!
Direct Appeal
Please consider a tax-deductible donation to the CPO to help support Curtis’ cultural, creative, and educational programming. The CPO supports a variety of programs and initiatives that are all important additions to the Curtis community and they truly improve the students’ experience at Curtis Middle School. This is all possible because of the generosity of the Curtis parent community.
We suggest a $75 donation—but no donation is too small—and all are appreciated! Also, please check if your company offers a matching donation. Click here to donate.
Please note that donation acknowledgment letters will be provided by request only. If you require a letter for tax purposes, please email a request to cpotreasurer@gmail.com.
(You can also make a donation when you order your directory!)
Lost & Found
Please remind your student to check the Lost & Found in the cafeteria for missing items. There are a lot of clothes, shoes, bags and water bottles and other items that need to go back home. It is important to note that there are multiple sizes of several items, so please check before taking what is yours.
Curtis Gear
The Curtis online store is now open with lots of Curtis spirit wear and gear, including clothing, hats, bags, and more! Gear is available for purchase throughout the year.
JOIN SERF!
LOCAL RESOURCES AND HELPFUL INFORMATION
SPS Social-Emotional Resource Site for Families
This site includes a variety of resources designed for caregivers to help you support children in their social, emotional, and self-regulation growth. Contact information for the school-based mental health professionals is located on this site.
Bethany Hadvab, Town of Sudbury Social Worker, can be reached by phone at 978-440-5476 or by email at HadvabB@sudbury.ma.us
William James INTERFACE Referral Service
A mental health and wellness referral helpline. Each referral best meets the location, insurance, and specialty needs of the caller. Click here to watch a short video about the referral service. Call toll-free: (888) 244-6843 Monday - Friday between the hours of 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
Framingham Family Resource Center
Family Resource Centers (FRCs) are a statewide network of community-based providers offering multicultural parenting programs, support groups, early childhood services, information and referral resources, and education for families whose children range in age from birth to 18 years old.
A referral agency that helps find and connect you to services needed to improve your quality of life. Metrowest referral line: 1-844-528-6800.
CURTIS CORE VALUES
Learning ~ Respect ~ Responsibliity
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