December Newsletter
Secaucus Middle School Volume 1, Issue 2
December at a Glance
Honoring Those Who Serve
Help Us Help Others!
Basketball Tryouts and Signups
Monday, 12/13 @ 2:30 pm
Tuesday, 12/14 @ 2:30 pm
Boys Basketball Signups Wednesday, 12/8, during Period 6 lunch (8th graders only)
SGO Holiday Movie Night!
SGO Holiday Spirit Week!
ESL Parent Information Night (Virtual)
Winter Concert
Science Fair 2022!
STEM Academy Brochure
Candela's Corner
Dear SMS Families,
I wanted to take a moment to address the tragedy that occurred at Oxford High School on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. My heart is broken for the families in both the town and school communities of Detroit, Michigan. For a moment this past week, I was transported back in time. I remembered exactly where I was when I heard the news about the Columbine shooting. It was April 20, 1999, I was a sophomore in college at TCNJ, and I was watching the news in my dorm room. I was an education major who didn’t fully realize then that I was watching the world of education forever change in that horrific moment. And even though this most recent event was literally hundreds of miles away from our community, the media coverage brought it into our homes and lives.
Here at SMS, we recognize the impact this can have on each of us—our children, staff, families, and friends. Because it is difficult to predict how anyone will react to a traumatic event such as this, the best we can do is to be supportive and responsive to our students and their needs. Some students will have no reaction and some will be upset or anxious. Some may not have even heard of the event and others will have been immersed in the coverage on TV. As always, our top priority is the safety and well-being of each of our students—your children. This is a responsibility we take very seriously. It’s important for you to know help is available through our schools. If you are concerned about your student or feel he or she needs additional support, and you would like them to speak with someone, our counselors Ms. Boczon and Mrs. Sciscilo are always available to help, as is our Student Assistance Counselor, Mrs. Jill Preis. I have also included some helpful resources below.
While no amount of planning can guarantee that a tragedy such as this will not occur, I would like to also take this opportunity to remind all of our families that we have a plan in place at each of our schools to handle emergency situations. In times like these, I am so grateful for the close working relationship our schools have with the Secaucus Police Department. Together with their support and guidance, we will remain ever vigilant and proactive when it comes to our students’ safety.
With the holiday season and winter break upon us, I hope you will all have many opportunities to participate in and appreciate family life. There is no gift more precious than time spent with loved ones.
Wishing you all a healthy, peaceful, and restful winter break,
Christine Candela
Principal
Hudson County Counseling Resources
Assisting Parents/Caregivers in Coping with Collective Traumas