The Curtis Connection
September 23, 2022
MR. MELA'S MESSAGE
Dear Families,
We are fortunate to offer a diverse list of clubs and activities this year to meet the interests of our students:
- Cauldron
- Strategic Games
- Computer Club
- Diversity Club
- ECMS Theatre Troupe
- Model UN
- Science Olympiad
- Speech & Debate Team
Click here to go to the Activities & Clubs webpage, where you will find a description of each of the course offerings, along with applicable forms to print out, complete, and return to school. Please be sure to make all checks payable to Town of Sudbury. If you have any questions, please email the advisor of the activity.
This is a no-homework weekend. We utilize no-homework weekends as an opportunity for students to relax and enjoy their families without having to think about school work.
We hope you enjoy the long weekend.
Happy New Year to those who celebrate Rosh Hashanah,
Jeff
RECESS EQUIPMENT
Our students would love to have more recess equipment! Please consider donating a used or new ball or jump rope to help our kids enjoy their recess time. Supplies needed:
- Rubber balls for 4 Square
- Basketballs
- Footballs
- Soccer balls
- Tennis balls
- Any other balls that are not hard
- Jump ropes
CURTIS SCHOOL COUNCIL
We are looking for School Council representatives for the Curtis School Council this year.
What is School Council?
A school council is a representative advisory group that collaborates in planning for and implementing school improvement. It is a form of site-based management that places the school at the center of planning, goal setting, and budgeting for improvement.
Who serves on a School Council?
It is composed of representatives of the school and community. Members of the council include:
~principal
~teachers
~parents of students attending the school
~community representatives
If you are interested in serving on the school council, please submit a brief statement about why you wish to serve on the Curtis School Council. Please send this information to Jeff Mela.
CURTIS IS GOING TO WASHINGTON IN 221 DAYS!
Reminder to 8th grade families: To register your 8th grader for the civics trip, go to Worldstrides AND Family ID. To seek financial aid, use the SPS Financial Assistance Form. To set up your Frozen Fundraiser account, click here. For other information and links, please visit the ECMS D.C. Website.
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.
A MESSAGE FROM THE ECMS HEALTH OFFICE
Cough Drops
With back to school comes back to school colds! We have seen a large number of students with upper respiratory complaints who are negative for COVID. It is a relief to have “just a cold”. Many students are coming to the health office seeking cough drops and throat lozenges. As a reminder we cannot and do not provide these as they are considered a medication. If you would like for your student to have a supply in the health office, please contact the nurses to arrange for permission. For students coming to us for sore throats and coughs we are only able to offer salt water gargles and a cold drink of water.
COVID-19 vs Viral Illness
We have seen a wide variety of illnesses as students return back to the classroom. While COVID is still present, the majority of students are testing negative. Please continue to test at home if your student exhibits cold-like symptoms. The cold viruses and COVID have very similar symptoms and COVID cannot be ruled out without testing. As always, even if your student is negative for COVID, they should still stay home and rest if they are not feeling well enough to be in school.
Clothing Need
As you clean out closets and prepare for the seasonal change in wardrobes, we would love it if you keep the health office in mind. Accidents happen, even in middle school! We are critically low on boys and girls short and long sleeve shirts, shorts, sweatpants and leggings, especially in larger sizes. If your student comes home in clothing from the health office, please wash and return to the health office. Thank you so much!
Thursday, September 15 marked the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. We have Included a list of resources and information to continue learning about this topic and dates of significance. Also, Ms. Simpson (Curtis librarian), has created a book list which can be found here.
It is a time where we recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success. Below is information to support conversations and expand understanding about Hispanic Heritage Month as well as the Hispanic and the latina/latino/latinx community.
Originally, Hispanic Heritage Month was Hispanic Heritage Week, started in 1968 under President Johnson. In 1988, President Reagan enacted a public law to celebrate a 30-day Hispanic Heritage Month, starting on September 15, the independence day of five Central American countries. Within the month, other Latin American countries celebrate their independence as well.
(Source: https://learninglab.si.edu/news/top-8-reasons-why-and-how-we-celebrate-hispanic-heritage-month)
“During National Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize that Hispanic heritage is American heritage. We see it in every aspect of our national life: on our television and movie screens, in the music that moves our feet, and in the foods we enjoy. We benefit from the many contributions of Hispanic scientists working in labs across the country to help us fight COVID-19 and the doctors and the nurses on the front lines caring for people’s health. Our Nation is represented by Hispanic diplomats who share our values in countries all over the world and strengthened by military members and their families who serve and sacrifice for the United States. Our communities are represented by Hispanic elected officials, and our children are taught by Hispanic teachers. Our future will be shaped by Hispanic engineers who are working to develop new technology that will help us grasp our clean energy future and by the skilled union workers who are going to build it.”
Latino educators, scientists, artists, and other professionals help make our communities more resilient & equitable. In a video to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Secretary Cardona emphasizes that Latino voices, dreams & successes matter now more than ever.
(Source: https://sites.ed.gov/hispanic-initiative/national-hispanic-heritage-month/)
A MESSAGE FROM THE CURTIS COUNSELORS
As we start the new school year, the counseling staff wants to remind you of the support available here at Curtis and to let you know about our ECMS School Counseling Webpage. We recently updated the page to make it more user friendly and to include information about our department, community resources, as well as a convenient link to the Sudbury Public Schools SEL Resources. Please keep checking back for updates throughout the year!
We know that middle school is a time of growth and change which can present with some challenges. We want you to know that we are here to support you and your children. Please feel free to reach out to your grade level counselor if you would like to check in about your child at any point during the school year.
Terry Miller, 6th grade counselor
Jennifer Hymes, 7th grade counselor
Ivar Henningson, 8th grade counselor
CURTIS SCHEDULE
IMPORTANT DATES
Monday, September 26 - No School - Rosh Hashanah
Wednesday, September 28 - 6th Grade Open House, 6:30 pm; Office opens at 6:00 for CORI application and to visit organizations in the Cafeteria
Thursday, September 29 - 7th/8th Grades Open House, 6:30 pm; Office opens at 6:00 for CORI application and to visit organizations in the Cafeteria
Wednesday, October 5 - No School - Yom Kippur
Monday, October 10 - No School - Indigenous Peoples' Day
Wednesday, October 19 - 12:45 Early Release; 7:30 p.m. CPO Meeting
LUNCH MENU FOR THE WEEK OF 9/26-9/30
CPO NEWS
Curtis Directory
You should have received an email this week to verify or update your information for the Curtis directory. Simply register as a new user, or log in to your existing Membership Toolkit account from another school (SPS or LS), and follow the steps to verify and update your information before October 2, 2022 to ensure your contact information is correct.
From there, you can purchase the directory and make a donation to the Direct Appeal. Print and online access is $15 and online-only is $10; the printed directory will be available in November and you'll have online access right after placing your order.
Please verify and update your information, purchase a directory, and make a donation at curtiscpo.membershiptoolkit.com. Thank you for supporting ECMS and the CPO!
First CPO Meeting
We will be hosting our first CPO meeting in a virtual format on October 19 at 7:30pm. We’ll share the meeting link soon. We hope you can join us, along with Mr. Mela, who will discuss the upcoming school year, as well as Ms. Kerrigan, technology integration specialist at Curtis, who will give an overview of how technology is used at the middle school, including Schoology. Both will answer parent questions.
CPO Facebook Page
The CPO Facebook is a great resource to get information and ask questions. Please remember to answer the required questions to be approved. This is important for us to keep the membership contained to Curtis families.
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, including cultural enrichment, the 1:1 computing program, the Curtis Messenger newsletter, student scholarships, student social events, technology, end-of-year activities, classroom curriculum aids for teachers, UA supplies, recess equipment, uniforms for school sports teams, library furniture, the student counseling department, the tile project in the school hallways, outdoor beautification projects, and much more. These 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.)
Curtis Gear
The Curtis online store is now open with lots of Curtis spirit wear and gear, including clothing, hats, bags, and more!
8th Grade Events and Washington DC Trip:
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The 8th graders will be going to DC hurray! We are looking for volunteers to form a team to help with various aspects of this trip.
- Volunteers to coordinate the Frozen Fundraiser, with ~10 volunteers for the curbside pickup.
- Volunteers for T-shirts with ~ 3-5 volunteers to fill the orders in the spring.
- Volunteers to coordinate care packages with ~ 3-5 volunteers to assemble the plastic tubs.
Additionally, we need a team of parent volunteers to start planning the 8th Grade events including the end of the year Social. Please reach out to the 8th Grade Co-Chair Nalini Luthra if you would like more information or sign up to help.
CURTIS CORE VALUES
Learning ~ Respect ~ Responsibliity
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Spanish
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