The Curtis Connection
September 2, 2022
MR. MELA'S MESSAGE
Dear Families,
The first week of school has been awesome. Thank you to our students, staff, and families for helping Curtis to get off to such a strong and positive start. We appreciate that students are arriving to school on time, well-rested, and prepared to do their best. Returning to school after summer vacation is not always an easy transition for the students and we thank you for your help.
It is essential that all students have a completed Back-to-School packet, as the packet contains vital information such as health conditions and emergency contacts. The Back-to-School packet also includes permission sign-offs allowing students access to resources such as technology. If you have not completed an on-line Back-School packet in Aspen for each of your children, please do so as soon as possible. Click on the Follett Aspen button on our main website or go directly to our Aspen welcome page to get started.
It is important to note that families must give permission on an annual basis for their child to receive over-the-counter medications, use technology, be included in school publications or directories. Until such permission is given, it will be assumed that permission is denied. Upon approval by appropriate school personnel, the data will be updated and available in real-time.
Enjoy the Labor Day weekend.
Jeff
CURTIS IS GOING TO WASHINGTON!
SAVE THE DATE!
Attention 8th grade families: This year, the 8th grade civics trip to Washington D.C. will take place on May 2-5, 2023. The first Parent Orientation will be held on Wednesday Sept. 21st at 5-6pm on Zoom. The session will be recorded. Meeting links and Zoom information will be sent at a later date.
THANK YOU, CURTIS PARENT ORGANIZATION!
A MESSAGE FROM THE ECMS HEALTH OFFICE
DROP-OFF MEDICATIONS AT THE HEALTH OFFICE DURING SCHOOL HOURS
Does your student need medication at school?
EPI-PEN for Allergic reactions?
INHALER for Asthma?
Emergency Medication for Seizure Disorder?
Prescription DAILY Medication?
Please drop-off at the Health Office:
1) Medication in the original pharmacy-labeled container (check the expiration date)
2) We need a CURRENT MD Medication Order/Care Plan signed by the MD/provider and dated within 12 months.
You can call your MD/provider and request that the MD office FAX the Medication Order/Careplan to the ECMS Health Office.
*ECMS FAX number is 978-443-1098*
Does your student SELF-CARRY their own EPI-PEN or INHALER?
If YES, we still need a signed MD/provider order authorizing they may self-carry & administer their own medication.
Any questions, contact the Health Office at 978-443-1071, ext. 7509 or 7508
EMAIL: curtis_nurse@sudbury.k12.ma.us
***GRADE 7 PHYSICALS***
Please submit a copy of your 7th graders most recent physical exam to the Health Office (within the past 13 months). If you have already submitted one, thank you! No need to submit another one.
***PEANUT & NUT-FREE CLASSROOMS***
Please send Peanut & Nut-free snacks to school. No Kind bars/Nutella in classrooms for the safety of all our students.
Update on Covid-19 Isolation and Exposure Guidance for Schools
As we return to school, many of the Covid-19 protocols have been relaxed. The Department of Public Health (DPH) and The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) are no longer recommending universal masking, surveillance testing of asymptomatic individuals, contact tracing or quarantine after exposure. While masking is not required, many students and staff are continuing to wear one. Masks are available in school, and will be encouraged during periods of high transmission. Mask wearing is also a proven mitigation measure for reducing the spread of all illnesses as we saw last spring when masking was no longer required. If your child is experiencing illness symptoms but is testing negative for covid, it would be helpful if they would wear a mask at school. Masks are required while in the health office.
Individuals who test positive must isolate for 5 days. To count the 5 day period: Day 0 is the first day of symptoms, or if asymptomatic, the day of the positive test. Day 1 is then the next day. Individuals are allowed to return to activities on day 6 as long as symptoms are resolving and they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications. During days 6-10 they must wear a mask if they are able. If they have a negative test after day 5, or are unable to wear a mask and have a negative test after day 5, they do not need to wear a mask.
If students become symptomatic at school they can remain in school if they have mild symptoms and have a negative rapid test. A second test within 48 hours is recommended, especially if symptoms continue. If the symptomatic student is not tested, they will be sent home and can return if symptoms remain mild and they have a negative test result or an alternative diagnosis from a medical professional.
Quarantine is no longer a requirement after exposure to someone who is positive for covid, regardless of vaccination status. Students may continue to come to school as long as they are asymptomatic, but masking is strongly recommended for those who are able to wear one. Testing on day 6 after exposure is recommended, but even if the result is negative, monitoring for symptoms and wearing a mask for the full 10 days after exposure is strongly recommended. Covid-19 continues to spread very efficiently within families, so if a family member has tested positive, to reduce the risk of transmission in the classroom setting, we would ask that the student wear a mask during the school day.
A MESSAGE FROM THE CURTIS COUNSELORS
Message from the School Counselors:
Welcome back to the new school year! We hope that you had a relaxing and enjoyable summer and the first week of school went well for your family.
As we start the new school year, the counseling staff wants to remind you of the support available here at Curtis and to let you know about our ECMS School Counseling Webpage. We recently updated the page to make it more user friendly and to include information about our department, community resources, as well as a convenient link to the Sudbury Public Schools SEL Resources. Please keep checking back for updates throughout the year!
We know that middle school is a time of growth and change which can present with some challenges. We want you to know that we are here to support you and your children. Please feel free to reach out to your grade level counselor if you would like to check in about your child at any point during the school year.
Terry Miller, 6th grade counselor
Jennifer Hymes, 7th grade counselor
Ivar Henningson, 8th grade counselor
FALL SPORTS AT ECMS
Online sign-up for fall sports 2022 is now available! We are offering: 7/8th grade girls soccer, 7/8th grade boys soccer, 7/8th grade girls field hockey, and 7/8th grade boys and girls cross country. These are all travel teams. Registration is currently open and will stay open until mid-September. Please click here to access the online registration.
The ECMS Athletics website provides details on all of the sports that we offer, schedules, as well as tryout dates and practice times. Click on Curtis Middle School and look under “co-curricular activities.” If your child is interested in a fall sport, please sign up early! All registrations need to be approved by our Health Office before a student can participate in a sport. Please make sure that your child has a current physical. This is mandated by the state and current physicals are valid for 13 months. There are no exceptions to this rule.
If you have questions regarding the fall sports that are offered, please contact David Jurewicz.
CURTIS SCHEDULE
IMPORTANT DATES
Monday, September 5 - No School - Labor Day
Wednesday, September 14 - 12:45 Early Release
Wednesday, September 21 - Picture Day; 12:45 Early Release; 5-6 pm 8th Grade DC Trip Parent Orientation Meeting (Zoom)
Monday, September 26 - No School - Rosh Hashanah
Wednesday, September 28 - 6th Grade Open House, 6:30 pm
Thursday, September 29 - 7th/8th Grades Open House, 6:30 pm
Wednesday, October 5 - No School - Yom Kippur
Monday, October 10 - No School - Indigenous Peoples' Day
CURTIS CORE VALUES
Learning ~ Respect ~ Responsibliity
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