MERMS Weekly Newsletter: 10.13.15
October 13, 2015
Manchester-Essex Regional Middle School
Email: gudituss@mersd.org
Website: http://www.merms.mersd.org
Location: 36 Lincoln Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, United States
Phone: 978 526 2022
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Manchester-Essex-Regional-Middle-School/969588269741913
Twitter: @MERMS_01944
Rob Buyea Book Order - 7th Grade
Students are encouraged to read at least one of Mr. Buyea's books prior to the presentation (though not required). If your child would like to purchase a book to read and to be autographed by Mr. Buyea, please complete the following order form and return to the middle school main office no later than Friday, October 16, 2016.
Rob Buyea 7th Grade Book Order - Due Friday, 10/16/15
A big thanks to PMEMS for their help organizing and funding this event for our students!
PMEMS Minutes
All are welcome at our next meeting: Friday, October 30, 2015 at 8:30am in the middle school conference room.
SEPAC
What is SEPAC? The SEPAC board is an elected group of 7 parents and 3 teachers that focuses on education, outreach, and advocacy for children with disabilities and their parents. The board also serves as an advisor to the Director of Student Services and the School Committee.
What is the SEPAC Mission Statement? The mission of the MERSD Special Education Parent Advisory Council is to support and sustain high quality programming and services for students with disabilities, serve as an educational and networking resource, and promote a respect for diversity and inclusiveness within the schools and community.
When does SEPAC meet? The 2015-2016 SEPAC meetings are on November 9, January 11, March 14, and May 9 at 6:30 P.M. PAC board meetings for September and November will be held in the District Office Conference room located at 36 Lincoln Street, Manchester (back of middle-high school next to gymnasium entrance). Locations for January, March, and May are to be determined. These meetings are open to the public.
Nominate a MERMS Teacher as Science Teacher of the Year!
Please pay PTO dues!
Mark Your Calendars: Spaulding Night of Stars November 15, 2015
Mark your calendars! Spaulding Education Fund's Annual NIGHT OF STARS will be on Sunday, November 15, 2015!
Audition dates are Tuesday, October 20 from 4:30-7pm and Saturday, October 24 from 9-11am. Sign up TODAY at www.spauldingeducationfund.org!
We are looking for all talent of all ages! So start practicing that dancing, singing, juggling, instruments, magic acts, dramatic dialog, the spoons, jamming with your band, … whatever your talent we want to see it! Students from Manchester and Essex, who are Kindergartners through High School Seniors are invited to audition. And new this year – parents and teachers from Manchester and Essex are invited to audition too! Adults can perform with their children/students or alone.
The Spaulding Education Fund is an independent, non-profit organization committed to advancing educational excellence in the Manchester Essex regional schools. The “Night of Stars Talent Show” is organization’s largest fundraising initiative of the year, raising the vital funds needed to support their mission of providing competitive advantages to the schools through strategic investments in compelling educational initiatives which enrich learning and bring excitement and enthusiasm to the classrooms.
MakerSpace a success!
Sixth and seventh graders had the opportunity to work in the new MERMS MakerSpace this past week. Approximately 38 sixth graders and a dozen seventh graders took advantage of the opportunity to build, create and make!
MakerSpace is a worldwide movement, which provides space and freedom for students to make, create, think critically, problem solve and participate in challenges. MakerSpaces can take many forms, and MERMS, our MakerSpace will have some structure, and students will participate in hands-on projects, directed by Mr. Simbliaris. The MakerSpace is free of charge, there is no homework, and there are no tests or quizzes. It is simply a space where students are given the opportunity to think, create and explore.
Because the sixth grade MakerSpace was so popular, we will have two week cycles for those interested. If the seventh grade MakerSpace also gets larger than 25, we will do the same. It is never too late to participate in the MakerSpace! Simply pop into B137 anytime to see Mr. Simbliaris, or head down to B137 during recess. We just ask that you commit to a week of MakerSpace, so you can see the project through. MakerSpace is very flexible; students may take a week or weeks off, and then return again, but for one week at a time.
If you have any question, you can contact Mr. Simbliaris at simbliarisc@mersd.org or Mr. Guditus gudituss@mersd.org.
Aspen Logins
You can access the Aspen portal login by going to our school website, http://www.merms.mersd.org, and clicking on the Aspen logo on the left-hand toolbar.
8th Grade Washington DC Trip Parent/Guardian Info Meeting
School Pictures Home on Friday
School pictures were handed out to students on Friday, October 2. Please check your child's backpack.
Picture Retake Day will be on Thursday, October 29. If your child was absent on Picture Day in September, please plan for him/her to participate in Picture Retake Day (even if a package is not purchased). Additionally, if you were not pleased with your child's picture from September, please have your child participate in Picture Retake Day during the school day, and be sure to have him/her return the unwanted photos. If you have any questions about this, you can contact CoffeePond directly at: 508.907.6633 x0.
MERMS Day Calendar
Manchester-Essex Apparel Sale
Check out our Manchester-Essex School Spirit Store. A percentage of the cost is donated back to our PTO, Parents of Manchester-Essex Middle School (PMEMS). Items ship directly to your home with a flat $8 shipping rate. To order, you can go directly to:
Middle School Open House: Feedback Survey
Please fill out this BRIEF survey so we can gather your feedback about our Open House:
Free "Science on Saturday" events at the MIT Campus in Cambridge
Produced by MIT alumnus Todd Rider, and sponsored by the MIT Museum and the Akamai Foundation, Science on Saturday is a free, 60-minute presentation with fun demonstrations in which students can volunteer. Each Saturday morning program is open to all elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as their parents and teachers. Hands-on activity booths will be available to students after the show. The events are free, and no pre-registration required, but seating is limited - first come, first seated. A parent or adult escort is required for all children under 12.
For the full flyer with all fall events, go to: http://web.mit.edu/museum/pdf/SciOnSatS2015-2016.pdf
Attendees can park in either the West Garage (very close to the event) or Albany Garage (a 10-15-minute walk from the event) provided they can pay the $6 flat fee with a credit card at either parking garage. Alternatively, attendees can take MBTA buses to the MIT Massachusetts Avenue stop (very close to the event) or the subway to either the Central or Kendall Square T stops (a 20-minute walk from the event). For more information, go to the Science and Saturdays web page:
http://web.mit.edu/museum/programs/calendar/sci_on_saturday.html
Events are planned for the following Saturdays from 10:00 a.m.-noon at MIT’s Kresge Auditorium, 48 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 20139:
October 17, 2015 Planets: Pluto and Beyond
December 5, 2015: Nuclear Science and Engineering
February 6, 2016: Rockets and Flight
March 5, 2016: Materials with Magical Properties
April 2, 2016: Circuits and Computers
New Technology Tools Launched at MERMS!
The 9/23 early release for students allowed staff to be trained in using Chromebooks and in further understanding and using Google Classroom as a tool that helps students collaborate with one another, with teachers, and access curriculum materials anywhere they have internet access. A key to this successful launch, new to the MERMS community, is our Digital Learning Specialist Del Vollink. Mrs. Vollink has jumped right in, helping to get our technology up and running, and spending the time individually and in groups to train teachers on the ins and out of Chromebooks and also helping us to continue to grow and reflect upon effective and appropriate technology integration.
We are also getting ready to launch 20 iPad Minis, which will be used as a tool to help students create new knowledge. Mrs. Vollink has helped us get these powerful educational learning tools up and running as well.
We cannot wait to see what the future holds for our students!
Spring 2015 MCAS Scores Home Last Week
Message from our School Nurse, Cyndi Aldrich, RN
Clubs and Activities
- Student Council: Mondays with Mrs. Schaub and Mrs. Petrie (A319)
- Mountain Biking Club: Mondays with Mr. Ricci-Munn (Gym)
- Homework Club: Mondays with Mrs. Kavanagh (A304) and Tuesdays with Mrs. Plante (A309)
- Bug Club: Tuesdays with Dr. McGravey (A319): SIGN UP HERE - associated fee
- Card-Marking Club: Thursdays with Mrs. Vosseler (A308): SIGN UP HERE - associated fee
- Computer Coding Club: Fridays with Ms. Arthur (A117): SIGN UP HERE - associated fee
- Journalism: Fridays with Mrs. Plante and Mr. Stefanek (A309)
- STEM Club: Fridays with Mr. Pennoyer (A231)
Pictures from MERMS This Week
Websites of Interest
Upcoming Events
8th Grade Washington DC Trip Parent/Guardian Info Night
Wednesday, Oct 21, 2015, 07:00 PM
Manchester Essex Regional Middle School, Lincoln Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, United States
Rob Buyea visits 7th grade English Classes
Friday, Oct 23, 2015, 07:45 AM
Manchester Essex Regional Middle School, Lincoln Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, United States
SEPAC Meeting
Monday, Nov 9, 2015, 06:30 PM
Manchester Essex Regional Middle High School, Lincoln Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, United States
Spaulding Night of Stars
Sunday, Nov 15, 2015, 04:00 PM
Manchester Essex Regional Middle High School, Lincoln Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, United States
Seussical, Jr. Performances
Friday, November 20
Saturday, November 21
Sunday, November 22