J.M.S. News...
By Donald F. Gately, Ed. D - October 2015
Quote for the week of October 5:
"Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground."
-Theodore Roosevelt - American statesman, author, explorer, soldier, naturalist, and reformer who served as the 26th President of the United States
Jericho Middle School 4th Annual Bully Prevention Kick Off “Walk a Mile In My Shoes” Walk to End Bullying Thursday, October 8, 2015 (raindate October 9th)
Jericho Middle School has had a longstanding commitment to Bully Prevention, as demonstrated through our B.R.A.V.E. program and S.E.L. initiatives and, most recently, through our full implementation of the Olweus Bully Prevention Program. We are entering our third year of implementing this internationally recognized program, based on the research of renowned Norwegian researcher Dan Olweus, which is designed to improve school climate and reduce / prevent incidences of bullying between students.
Each year we reaffirm our commitment to prevent bullying through our Bully Prevention Kick-Off. At our first Kick-Off, Jericho students, staff, parents and community members set a world record (recordsetters.com) for the most people to pledge to stand up to bullying, with our motto “We Don’t Stand By…We Stand Up!” Last year, we collectively walked 4,637 miles to demonstrate that we are willing to put our best foot forward and “Walk the Talk” to prevent bullying in our school.
This year, we will continue our “walking journey” during our fourth annual Bully Prevention Kick-Off. The “Walk a Mile in My Shoes Walk to End Bullying” focuses on the essential nature of “empathy” in reducing incidences of bullying, as well as the motivating factor for bystanders to have the courage to stand up for others. All aspects of the Kick-Off, which will include school-wide assemblies, community service projects and our walk around the track, will focus on the power of change through identifying and understanding the feelings of others, and responding to those feelings with an enhanced sense of compassion.
We would like to encourage our Jericho Middle School families to participate in the different Kick-Off events and activities, including a special evening parent program featuring the well-regarded bully prevention speaker, John Halligan (October 22, 2014, 7:30 p.m. – MS/HS Auditorium)
You will receive additional information about our 4th annual Bully Prevention Kick-Off in the coming days. If you have any questions about this special event, feel free to contact JMS Social Worker, Joanne Verdino, at 203-3600; ext. 3266 or jverdino@jerichoschools.org
Monthly SEL Theme for October: Courage
Courage is standing up and doing the right thing, speaking out on behalf of others, and making a commitment to excellence in the face of adversity or the absence of support.
Winston Churchill viewed courage as a starting place. He said, “Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all the others.”
Martin Luther King said “The ultimate measure of man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in time of challenge and controversy.”
Middle school students want to be unique, as long as they’re just like everybody else. Things that come naturally to us as adults can be challenging to adolescents. To stand up for another student who’s being bullied, to refuse to engage in some dangerous behavior, to even sit with a different group of kids at lunch . . . these are all significant acts of courage for students, yet, every day here at the middle school, we see students doing them, acting courageously.
Here’s a suggestion I want to make to our students to demonstrate Courage. It may seem like a simple thing to do, but it seems difficult for adolescents. Next time you see somebody sitting by him/herself at lunch or in class, ask him/her to join you and your friends. Include other people; make a new friend. You will be rewarded for your Courage.
Our role as caring adults in the lives of these young people is to encourage this kind of courage, recognize it when we see it, and find ways to reinforce it. So, I’d ask you to support our monthly theme for October by promoting all the small acts of courage your children show.
TEAM 6D:
Making tee shirts together…learning about one another…preparing for a great year ahead.
JERICHO MIDDLE SCHOOL WELCOMES NEW STAFF MEMBERS
QUOTES FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER..
"Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air." - John Quincy Adams
October 19-23
"A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
October 26-30
"Good thoughts are no better than good dreams, unless that be executed"
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
DATES TO REMEMBER...
October 3 - EdCamp Long Island - Jericho MS/HS - 8:00AM-3:00PM
October 6-7 - Middle School Yearbook Portraits
A reminder to all students you must bring in your picture envelope on the day you are scheduled for pictures. Picture envelopes should be given directly to the photographers. Your team teachers will tell you whether your scheduled day will be October 6th or 7th.
October 7 - SEPTA Meeting - Seaman Elementary School - 7:00PM
October 8 - OLWEUS Anti-Bullying Kick-Off (*Raindate - 10/9*)
October 12 - Schools Closed (Columbus Day)
October 13 - 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Guidance Evening Hours - 7:00PM–9:00PM
Recognizing that other commitments often make it impossible for parents to find time to meet with counselors during the regular school day, we will continue a program of evening meetings this year. If you would like to meet with your child's counselor but are unable to do so during the school day, please call the counselor in order to schedule an evening appointment.
October 14 - MS Welcome & School Information Night/PTSA Mtg - MS Library - 7:30 p.m.
October 16-17 - Homecoming Weekend - Friday, Oct. 16: 2:30PM-6:00PM, Saturday, Oct. 17: 11:00AM-6:00PM
October 20-21 - Middle School Book Fair - MS Library - 7:30AM–2:00PM
October 23 - Middle School Spelling Bee
October 28 - School Closed for Students (Superintendent's Conference Day)
Jericho Middle School
Email: dgately@jerichoschools.org
Website: www.jerichoschools.org
Location: 99 Old Cedar Swamp Road, Jericho, NY, United States
Phone: 516-203-3600
Twitter: @JerichoMS