The Mustang Minute
December 15, 2023 - Issue 17
Looking to the Future
It seems appropriate that as we head into the last few weeks of the year that get a chance to peer into the future. This week all CMS students had the chance to sign the Topping Off beam for the new CMS. The Topping Off Beam is the last beam to be placed in the structure that signals the end of steel framing. As you take a look at the photos below, we were able squeeze around 800 student signatures all over the beam! While you will not be able to see the signatures once the beam is placed, it's pretty cool to think that a little bit of our current school community will be placed inside of the new building!
As this will be the final newsletter before the break, I wish all our families that celebrate a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and I hope our families that celebrate Hanukkah had an enjoyable time with friends and family over this past week.
Cultural Day
This Thursday, December 21st is our Annual Cultural Day for grade 6. We encourage students and staff from all grade levels to dress to show off your culture! ou can wear soccer jerseys, flag colors, shirts in other languages, or anything else. Let's celebrate all of the cultures we have here at the Coakley!
Norwood Christmas Collection - Final Few Days!
As you know, many of our local families are struggling to make ends meet and the holidays can add additional hardship. Each year we try to provide aid to our local families in need. This week we started collecting items to provide families with supplies for the holidays. Any donation would be very welcome!
We are collecting Gift Cards, Norwood Gear, Local Sports Gear, Winter Attire, and Headphones. All donations are for middle school age students and should be brought to Miss Siegel in M4 or Mrs. Bayiates in M1. We will be collecting until Monday, December 18. If you are a family in need please reach out to our guidance department, Ms. King, Ms. Tucker, or Ms. McCaffrey.
Requested Items
Gift Cards: Grocery Stores, Clothing Stores, Amazon, Target, etc.
Norwood Gear: All forms and all sizes welcome
Sports Gear (Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, Bruins)
Winter Attire
Electronics: Earbuds, games, etc
Beam Front Signers!
Our three School Council members and sixth grade students that submitted essays and were chosen! Great job all!
PTO Winner Wheel Winner!
Follow-up study opportunities from Wellesley College
Teen & Dog Study in partnership with Tufts University
It’s not too late to sign up you and your child to participate in research about your pet dog! Help the Teen & Dog research team learn about how dogs help with teenage mental health! If you are a parent/guardian of a teenager aged 13-17 years old and you have a family dog – you may be eligible to participate in a study with researchers from Tufts University. You and your teenager may be eligible to receive up to $80 in e-gift cards over four years for your participation, if you qualify for and complete all study related activities. To learn more: https://collaborate.tuftsctsi.org/redcap/surveys/?s=RCFENM44MCL9HL4A
Adolescent Media Project in partnership with Boston Children's Hospital
A team of researchers from Wellesley College and Boston Children’s Hospital are partnering to learn more about how young people’s social media use and online social interactions are linked to their mental health and wellbeing. The team is currently enrolling students in a week-long study. Students are eligible to participate if they are aged 13-17 (up to 10th grade), own a smartphone (iPhone or Android), and attended Coakley Middle School or Norwood High School at any point from 2019-2023. If your child agrees to participate, they will install a temporary research app on their phone and complete 4-5 quick daily surveys for one week about their phone and media use, what they are doing, who they are with, and how they are feeling. The app will also collect information about the amount of time your child spends on the device and specific apps your child uses. Your child will be asked to carry their phone with them at all times, during the week-long study, except when restricted at school. Participation in this study is completely voluntary and your child can opt-out at any time. As a thank you for your child’s time, they will receive up to $125 in Amazon gift cards, depending on the number of surveys completed. To learn more: bit.ly/StudyAMP
December Tech Tips!
It’s cold and flu season, so be sure to keep your devices germ-free!
Some suggest cleaning your phones once per day, but check with your phone’s manufacturer for specific recommendations.
In general, most phone companies advise the following:
Unplug your device before cleaning
Use a lint-free fabric with a mix of soap and water (be sure it’s not too wet!)
Don’t spray anything directly onto your phone
Avoid harsh solutions - they could damage the protective coating of your screen
Be sure any openings on your phone don’t get wet
FCC's Guide to Sanitizing Your Phone and Other Devices
While everyone's looking forward to break, a lot of downtime can turn into a LOT of screen time. Check out Common Sense Media’s article on how you and your family can unplug (a little) this holiday season!
Nurses Corner
NORWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES
During the week of January 29th (note the date change), the Coakley Middle School nurses and guidance counselors will be conducting SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment) screening for all 7th graders. This screening is required by Massachusetts General Law Chapter 71, Section 97.
The purpose of SBIRT screening is to offer conversation and information to help prevent students from starting to use alcohol, nicotine, tobacco, marijuana or other drugs, or to intervene early in substance use. Student screening sessions will be brief, approximately 5 minutes, and conducted confidentially and privately in a one-to-one meeting with a school nurse or guidance counselor. Students who are not using substances will have their healthy choices reinforced. The nurse or guidance counselor will provide feedback or referral for further evaluation to students who report using substances, or are at risk for future substance use. All students will be asked to complete an anonymous evaluation of the screening, and will receive some educational material and a resource list at the time of the screening.
Results of the SBIRT screening will not be included in your student’s school record. Nor will screening information be shared with any staff without student and parent written permission. As with any school screening you have the right to opt your child out of this screening. The request to opt out must be in writing. Please contact Tova Sperber, RN via e-mail tsperber@norwood.k12.ma.us if you wish to exclude your child from this screening. Additionally, screening is voluntary and students may choose not to answer any or all of the screening questions.
One way to prevent youth substance use is to talk with your child about your family’s thoughts and expectations regarding substance use. Research shows that parent influence is the #1 reason young people decide not to drink alcohol. Some resources that can help parents start these discussions can be found at:
Together, schools and parents CAN make a difference for the youth in Norwood.
Sincerely,
Jill Driscoll, MEd, BSN, RN, NCSN
Nurse Leader, Norwood Public Schools
No School and Early Release Days
December 22nd: Early Release Winter Break
Dec 23-January 2, 2024: Winter Break, No School
The PTO Needs You!
Coakley PTO
The PTO is a parent/teacher organization that helps fund a variety of activities at CMS from assemblies, to field trips, to classroom projects and more. We would love for everyone to be a part of the PTO!
PTO meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm both virtually and in person. The dates are listed below a link to the meeting online is sent out the day of the meeting.
Next Meeting: December 19th (adjusted for winter break)
January 23rd
February 27th
March 26th
April 23rd
May 28th
June 18th
Please email coakleynorwoodPTO@gmail.com or mfraczek@norwood.k12.ma.us if you are interested in volunteering or being a part of the PTO!
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