BUCCANEER NEWS Volume #15
November 28, 2022
John Glenn Middle School: Weekly Family Bulletin
JGMS Community Members Show
HEART
Honor Empathy Acceptance Responsibility Tenacity
Save the Dates:
This week's sports schedule - Click "view Schedules" on right to find Middle School schedules.
- Looking Ahead/Save the Date
- District Calendar
- JGMS November Lunch Menu
This Week:
11/29 (TU) 2:30-3:30pm No Homework Club - Family Letter and Dates
12/1 (TH) 8:45-9:45am JGMS Parent/Principal Chat Zoom (Zoom Link)
12/1 (TH) 2:30-3:30pm No Homework Club - Family Letter and Dates
12/2 (F) F Block 7th/8th Grade Band Rehearsal - 8th Grade joins 7th grade
Next Week (so far):
12/6 (T) 2:30-3:30pm Homework Club - Family Letter and Dates
12/8 (TH) A Block 6th Grade Chorus Rehearsal - 6th Grade E Block joins A block
12/8 (TH) G Block 7th/8th Grade Chorus Rehearsal - 7th grade joins 8th grade
12/8 (TH) 2:30-3:30pm Homework Club - Family Letter and Dates
12/8 7:00 PM JGMS Vocal Concert
12/9 (F) N/A Mid Quarter 2
Table of Contents
1) [NEW] Signs of Suicide Screening (8th grade only)
2) [NEW] Giving Tuesday
3) [NEW] Highlighting Proud Moments
4) [REMINDER] Planet Aid Bins
5) [REMINDER] Lost and Found
6) [REMINDER] Social Media and Tips to Managing Our Children's Phone
7) [REMINDER] Open Positions
8) [REMINDER] JGMS Extra Curricular Activities
9) [REMINDER] From Nurse Fernald
10) [REMINDER] MSPA News
1) [NEW] Signs of Suicide Screening (8th grade only)
Here is the transcript of the email that was sent on Saturday morning, 11/26/2022 about the Signs of Suicide screening on December 13 and 15 for 8th graders. Please reach out to Keith Mangan via email with any questions or to opt out.
2) [NEW] Giving Tuesday
I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving. While many of us are preparing for the giving season we are also considering ways we can make a monetary donation and give back. For those of you who have not yet decided which worthy organization will receive your end of the year donation, I ask you to consider donating to the MSPA in their annual Giving Tuesday drive.
This year, all the money donated on Giving Tuesday will go to the JGMS Field Trip Fund, to provide scholarships, supplement the costs, and make field trips accessible to all students.
Funds we raise support the following annual trips:
- 6th Grade Nature's Classroom and alternative Nature's Classroom field trips
- 7th Grade Kimball Farms
- 8th Grade Washington, DC, Canobie Lake Park, and alternative Washington, DC field trips
- Any independent trip that teachers may explore each year.
In addition to this fundraising opportunity we also raise funds through
- School Dances
- Student Picture Sales
- Just recently added, Planet Aid Bins
At JGMS we will continue to look for creative and meaningful ways to raise funds and this Giving Tuesday event represents just one of ways we are working to support all students.
- The flyer and QR code are linked
- The the link to donate is: https://bit.ly/MSPAGivingTuesday2021.
- If you choose to write a check you may write the check to "JGMS" with the memo line stating "Giving Tuesday." Checks can be brought to the main office or mailed to
John Glenn Middle School
c/o Yvonne Cormier
99 McMahon Road
Bedford, MA 01730
Thank you for your consideration to donate to this important cause.
3) [NEW] Highlighting Proud Moments
Sometimes, a "third party pat on the back" will motivate a child to continue to put forth a strong effort and sometimes it is just nice to be recognized. I invite all families to share with me the ways in which their child excels in and out of JGMS. This recognition could simply be so that the adults at JGMS are aware or it could result in recognition in one or all of our communication tools which could be to inform students and the community.
This week we celebrate the following:
A Compliment out of the Blue:
A parent shared that during Cross Country, Porter Venuti was encouraging a runner on another team during a CC meet. Something he didn’t have to do and Porter didn't know anyone was watching. Honorable, Empathetic, Accepting, Responsible, and Tenacious behavior!
Volunteering Time For a Good Cause:
Patrick Hartwell, a 7th grader, volunteered his time to work at the John Dodge Coat Drove worked which was started by his great grandfather. Here is the article and picture from the paper.
4) [REMINDER] Planet Aid Bins
We are excited to share our Planet Aid bins have arrived and currently in our parking lot ready to accept donations! Please consider bringing used clothes and shoes to JGMS and drop them into these bins. JGMS receives money based on the weight of the donations. This money will be used to provide much needed relief for students to attend field trips including Nature's Classroom and Washington, DC.
What happens to donated clothing and textiles?: https://www.planetaid.org/what-we-do/for-the-environment/what-happens-to-your-used-clothing
What's the environmental impact?: https://www.planetaid.org/what-we-do/for-the-environment/reusing-textiles
5) [REMINDER] Lost and Found
Our Lost and Found bin next to the cafeteria is overflowing. Please ask your child to look through it for missing items and feel free to come to school between 8:00 and 10:30 and 12:30 - 2:15 to see if you can find any missing items.
On Friday, December 2, 2022 all remaining clothes will be drooped into our new Planet Aid bins,
6) [REMINDER] Social Media and Tips to Managing Our Children's Phone
The misuse of social media, regardless of where it occurs, can have a negative impact on our learning environment. Instead of spending time thinking about their academics, students spend time talking about the posts, worrying about being the target of a post, trying to figure out who is responsible for the accounts, and being generally anxious.
I know we all hope to minimize the impact social media has on our students in and out of school. In an effort to get ahead of our student's social media use, I invite you to be partners with the school in deterring our students from making the wrong choice. With a strong partnership, it is my hope students will feel empowered to make good choices with Honor, Empathy, Acceptance, Responsibility, Tenacity at the forefront of their mind.
In the spirit of a partnership please feel free to review Tips to Managing Our Children's Phone and add any tips you have found helpful in navigating technology with your children's phone. Together I would like to think we can support all children to be model citizens in both the physical and digital world.
7) [REMINDER] Open Positions
JGMS is hiring!
We are currently seeking three full time behavioral technicians to work in our substantially separate classroom for students with Autism and related disabilities. Additionally, we are seeking one full time behavioral technician to work in our inclusive program for students with social/emotional needs. The SchoolSpring application for both positions can be found here.
We are also in need of daily substitutes. If interested please email jonathan_hartunian@bedfordps.org
8) [REMINDER] JGMS Extra Curricular Activities
Update is that Homework Club has been added.
JGMS has a variety of clubs and sports that outside of school hours. Please see below for the clubs we offer and click the link if available. I have been collecting meeting days and times and will continue to update this bulletin as they come in. Please see the information that is currently available and reach out to the teacher for information to sign up and hope to have a more updated list with more information next week.
Summary of All Clubs - This link includes meeting times, rooms, and advisor contact information
CLUBS
SAGA (Sexuality and Gender Alliance)
Art Club Open Studio - NEW
Recreation Offerings:
SPORTS
Sports Opportunities at JGMS: Students have a variety of options. Here is a list of sports that we offer at JGMS throughout the year.
Coaching Staff: JGMS offers two sports in the winter. Please contact the JGMS coach with questions. Please contact your child's coach via email for information regarding games, practices, or changes to schedules. Sports schedules can be found each week at the link at the top of the bulletin listed as "This week's sports schedule - Click "view Schedules" on right to find Middle School schedules. Practice/Tryout information for sports are listed below.
JGMS Athletic Coordinator: Ken Norling
JGMS Boys Basketball: Vinnie McGrath
JGMS Girls Basketball: Greg Hinz
9) [REMINDER] From Nurse Fernald
COVID-19 information for the 22-23 school year can be found by clicking on the yellow banner of the BPS website.
- We ask that families continue to refer to COVID-19 Symptoms checklist and screen their child for illness prior to coming to school, and to stay home if they are ill.
- We encourage families to keep a home supply of COVID-19 Antigen tests on hand. Information on where to pick up home tests in town is on the website.
- Please report any positive cases of COVID-19 to the jgmscovid@bedfordps.org email address.
- Please reach out to the school nurse if you have any questions about whether or not to send your student to school. tracy_fernald@bedfordps.org or call the Nurse's office directly at 781-275-3165.
Many families signed up for iHealth home tests last Spring and may still have them left over. The expiration date for this product has been extended. You can check the expiration dates with the lot # using this link: iHealth Expiration Date Extension
10) [REMINDER] MSPA News
New to JGMS? Sign up for the MSPA newsletter!
Get weekly updates on all the happenings at JGMS and what the MSPA is up to.
Click here to sign up.
What is the MSPA?
The MSPA is a non-profit volunteer organization run by parents. Its purpose is to facilitate communication between parents and the school community and to raise and distribute funds to supplement programs and services for the JGMS students and school community. Do you have ideas on how the MSPA can best support JGMS? Please email us at jgmsparents@gmail.com.
MSPA Fall Appeal
The MSPA's main fundraiser, our annual Fall Appeal, is in full swing! Please make a donation to help get our school year projects going. The MSPA has already purchased the Student and Teacher Agendas and sponsored a Welcome Back Luncheon for the teachers. There are many more critical initiatives coming up such as Homework Club, Teacher Grants, Enrichment Programs, Student and Teacher/Staff Hospitality Events, and the 8th Grade Moving On Ceremony. So please donate today - we can't do it without your help! Donations can be made the following ways:
- Click HERE to donate through Paypal
- Check made payable to MSPA and mailed to Kelly Randazzo 5 Selfridge Road Bedford, MA 01730
- Venmo: @JohnGlenn-MSPA
Help Desk
FAQ: NEW TO JGMS AND GOOD TO KNOW INFORMATION
Chromebook Insurance: Here is the link to sign up online.
2022-2023 School Calendar:
Please see the BPS 2022-2023 District Calendar
Safe Homes: Families who join SAFE HOMES promise to provide a safe and supervised home for teen parties. For more information visit the Safe Homes website.
Attendance: Please let us know when your child will be absent, late, or dismissed by emailing JGMS_Attendance@bedfordps.org. When reporting your child's absence to please indicate the reason. If for a dismissal, please indicate a time as well. The phone number to call is (781) 275-3201 ext 4799 or you can send a note with your child to be dropped off in the main office prior to going to class. If we know of a dismissal ahead of time we will attempt to have your child ready when you arrive.
Religious Holidays: Please follow the directions explained here.
Tech Support: If your child is having technical trouble throughout the school year please send an email to tech_support@bedfordps.org.
Taking the Bus: Please see the guidance on the district’s transportation website. Please review the transportation guidelines with your children as we hope families will choose to ride the bus again.
Sports schedules: Please visit the sports section of the website to access the schedules of the upcoming seasons. You can click on “view schedules” under the calendar on the right. You should look for “middle school” teams when searching for your child’s sport.