• 9/25 - Schools Closed - Yom Kippur
• 9/27 - 7th Grade Open House 6:00pm - 8:00pm
• 10/4 - Universal Mental Health Screener - see below
• 10/9 - School Closed - Indigenous Peoples' Day

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

As our school year gets underway, it is a good time to revisit our suggestions for how families monitor and supervise their children in regards to social media apps and password/login security.

I really can’t stress enough how important it is for families to continually monitor their children’s phone/screen time and social media usage at this age level. It is not uncommon for us to be presented with situations where unmonitored group/chain chats have taken a wrong turn and then resulted in hurt feelings. You may want to consider these unmonitored chats, that can involve dozens of students, similar to an unmonitored social gathering.

Additionally, please remind your children to NOT share their account information with anyone.

Here are some valuable resources that can assist you in navigating this discussion.

Common Sense Social Media

Parenting, Media, and Everything in Between | Common Sense Media

From the American Psychological Association

https://www.apa.org/topics/social-media-internet/social-media-parent-tips

This New York Times article is very informative as well.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/15/well/family/kids-social-media.html

Parents’ guide to SnapChat:

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/parents-ultimate-guide-to-snapchat

This year at Gibbons Middle School, we will begin offering Health in grade 7 rather than grade 8. This move is being made as a result of our Adolescent Health Data so that we can best serve our students. Many typical behaviors are appearing at younger ages, and we believe that our 7th graders will be well served by receiving this information at this age and grade level. During this one year transition, our rising 8th grade students will receive a modified health curriculum through a combination of the wellness staff and our Global Issues teachers. The most critical components of health will be covered well in this transition for our rising 8th graders.

Should you have any questions about the curriculum or its changes, please feel free to contact Roger Anderson, Director of Wellness K-12 for the Westborough Public Schools.

Please be aware that some of the after school clubs / sports will require an activity fee that is processed through the FamilyID site. Here is a link to our website detailing the activity fee structure.

Activity Fee structure

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rUDf9fbjY0-rhv6U7R2GBoOGgpKqzs0f/view

Family ID site

https://gms.westboroughk12.org/for_families/family_i_d__arbiter

Spreadsheet for 23-24 GMS Clubs and Activities

https://cdnsm5-ss6.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_35540/Image/2023-2024%20School%20Year/GIBBONS%20CLUBS%20&%20ACTIVITIES%202023-24%20-9.20.23.pdf

This club will meet Wednesday's after school in the library beginning 9/27/23.

Please see Mr. Paulhus in Room 18 for details.

This club is open to all students!!! Come and enjoy open, honest, and healthy debate of today's most important issues and current events.

Please see Mr. Paulhus in Room 18 if you have any questions!

Did you know your child can take OTC medications, like Tylenol, Advil, Tums, and cough drops, at the nurse’s office with your written permission in PowerSchool? If you haven’t given the school your consent yet, please log into your child’s PowerSchool account and do it today. Your consent is required at the start of every school year.

Directions:

Log into your PowerSchool account through PowerSchool Portal.

Click “Health Information” on the left hand menu, your child’s health information will appear to the right, please update if there are any changes.

Scroll down to the lower half of the page where you will find the parental consent for OTC.

Please click the boxes next to the medication you would like your child to receive from the nurse’s office.

Do not forget to click submit.

If you experience any technical issues, please contact the school at 508-836-7740

for assistance.

The Cultural Council is excited to be hosting the 13th annual Arts in Common arts festival on Saturday, September 30 at Bay State Commons from 11-5. The 13th annual AIC will feature juried artisans, live bands and performers, community art activities, gourmet food trucks and a craft beer garden.

Arts in Common brings together people to experience and celebrate creativity in all forms of artistic medium and expression such as visual arts, culinary arts, music and more. This free community event has become a popular town event that highlights local talented artists and performers, and features food trucks and craft beer, in addition to community art activities. Funds raised will enable the Westborough Cultural Council to bring more arts-based programming to Westborough.