In the Middle
April 28, 2024
Important Dates Ahead
April 29 - Lifetouch Spring Photos
May 1&2 - RICAS Math
May 4 - Scituate HS Plant Sale
May 6 - Yearbook Order Deadline (Link below)
May 9 - PTO May Meeting
May 10 - Grade 8 Dance (grade 8 students only)
May 11 - Scituate HS Plant Sale
May 14 - NJHS Ceremony
Lifetouch Spring Photos
Spring photos are coming!
Picture Day Dates: Monday, April 29
For more information about Picture Day, check out the flyer or visit: https://schools.lifetouch.com/for-your-families/
School Improvement Team (SIT) Information
We’re Forming Our School Improvement Team for the 24-25 School Year!
If you’ve ever wanted to be a part of the school's decision-making processes,
please consider joining our School Improvement Team.
What is a School Improvement Team (SIT)?
A school improvement team (SIT) is a group of educators and other stakeholders who, in partnership with the school’s leadership, inform important governance decisions with a focus on improving student outcomes.
SITs play a crucial role in promoting a holistic integration of school operations necessary to support school change. SITs are designed to allow stakeholders to collaborate to better understand school problems and assess needs, set priorities for improvement, and recommend opportunities for change. Including a diverse group representative of the broader community on SITs, stakeholders can incorporate unique perspectives and experiences into improvement strategies.
Who can be a part of the SIT?
In Rhode Island, SITs are designed to include representation from educators, students, families, and community partners. This inclusive design ensures that diverse perspectives are voiced as key decisions are contemplated, and increases the likelihood that initiatives will be supported and implemented as designed.
What decision-making processes is the SIT a part of?
Under the Education Accountability Act of 2019, SITs have a more prevalent role in school decisions. In addition to the formulation of a school improvement plan, the team is tasked with the following: making recommendations to the principal for the development, implementation, and assessment of a curriculum accommodation plan, assisting in the identification of the educational needs of students, assisting in the preparation of the annual budget; and making recommendations for the hiring of personnel.
More information can be found here: RIDE SIT Guidance
If you are interested in being considered for the SIT, please feel free to contact Jennifer Goffe at jennifer.goffe@scituateschoolsri.net.
SMS PTO Updates
Our Middle School PTO is dedicated to building connections among parents, teachers, and staff to enrich the educational journey and create lasting memories for every student. Through effective communication, volunteering, and fundraising, we strive to foster a positive and inclusive environment that promotes academic success and a sense of belonging.
MAY PTO Meeting
Our next general PTO meeting will be Thursday, May 9 at 7PM
in the SHS library or via zoom using the link below
PTO Board Nominations are open for 6th grade VP, 7th grade VP and 8th grade VP.
Please fill out the form (link below) by the deadline of April 30th.
Nominees will be announced at our May PTO meeting.
Voting will take place at our June meeting.
Do you follow us on our social media pages?
We are currently posting updates, reminders, and some artwork on our
Facebook and Instagram pages, along with some reels on our Tiktok pages.
Share with the whole family!
PTO Meetings are on the second Thursday of every month.
The next PTO meeting is in May 9th, 7-8:30PM in the SHS Library or virtually, using this link.
We would love to see you there!
Grade 8 Dance
SAVE THE DATE!
Our SMS 8th grade dance will be on May 10 from 6pm - 9pm at The Studios by FHHT.
Dance forms were handed out last week. Additional forms are in the office.
It is not too late to buy your tickets for the 8th grade dance.
Deadline to purchase ticket is Friday May 3, 2024
Please be aware that there is no need to buy prom-like attire for our upcoming 8th grade dance. Wear what you feel comfortable in and there is no need to buy new/fancy outfits.
Also please note the school's dress code policy above (exception: spaghetti straps are okay for dresses).
Groundwater Cafe Fundraiser
We had a great time at our Groundwater Cafe fundraiser! Thanks to all who came out to support SMS!
Spring Sports
Sports this Week
Monday 4/29 - No Events
Tuesday 4/30 - 4:15pm Baseball MS Game vs Gallagher @ SHS Manning
Wednesday 5/1 - 3:30pm Baseball MS Game vs Ponaganset @ Scituate Middle
Thursday 5/2 - 4:30pm Outdoor Track&Field - @ Lincoln High School
Friday 5/3 - Softball MS League vs Lincoln MS @ Lime Acres Field
Saturday - No Events
⚾ Spring Practice Updates ⚾
Spring Practices are in session!
MS Baseball will meet in the Aux gym at 2:30 pm and practice will end at 4pm.
MS Softball will begin practice at 4:00pm and finish at 5:30pm.
MS Track practices will now be at the track after school until 4pm unless there is a meet.
Any questions should be directed to the coaches.
Baseball Scott Dumont Scottdum@gmail.com
Softball Ryan Zeolla tmryanz91@gmail.com
Girls Track Jennifer Borin jenniferborin@gmail.com
Boys Track Jay Borin jay.borin@gmail.com
🏃♀️ Spring Track🏃♂️
Track Schedule
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday* - practice after school 2:30 - 4pm
Thursday - Meet at Lincoln HS (bus departure 4pm)
Friday - practice after school 2:30-4pm
*late bus available Tuesday & Wednesday
You must wear sneakers to practice.
Any questions please contact Jenn Borin at jenniferborin@gmail.com
Congratulations to the following students...
The boys and girls track team had two meets this past week and they didn't disappoint! On Monday at Ponaganset everyone who competed had a personal best. Special congratulations to the following athletes:
- Oliver R. won the 3k (10 minutes 37 seconds) and the high jump (5 feet) and qualified for States in both events.
- Andrew B. won the 800 (2 minutes 35 seconds)
- Chris D. qualified for States in the 400 (59.8 seconds).
On Friday at Johnston:
- Sophia L. ran a personal best of 12:59 in the 3k qualifying her for States!
- Oliver R. qualified for States in the 100 meter dash with a time of 12.6 seconds and in the 400 meter dash with a time of 57.9 seconds.
- Jackson D. won the 1500 with a personal best time of 5 minutes 26 seconds.
- Chris D. won the Long Jump with a State qualifying mark of 15 feet 7 inches.
- The boys 4x100 relay team (Chris D., Andrew B., Kole Y. & Oliver R.) won with a time of 53.4 seconds
- The boys 4x400 relay team (Chris D., Jackson D., Andrew B. and Oliver R.) won with a time of 4 minutes 20 seconds.
Great job by all!
Unified Basketball News
The Scituate Middle School Unified Basketball team is set to begin the season at the beginning of March! The team is part of Unified Champion Schools, a project sponsored by the Rhode Island Special Olympics. Unified Champion Schools’ mission is to “use sports and education programs to activate young people to develop school communities where all youth are agents of change.” The program sets out to foster respect, dignity, and advocacy for people with intellectual and physical disabilities.
The basketball team will be made up of students with and without intellectual and physical disabilities. The goal of the team is to have fun, foster a sense of involvement in the school community, and learn how to play basketball. It is designed to be a fun, low stress environment. Practices will begin the first full week of March, and the team will play a five-game schedule.
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Week of April 29th (location and exact date TBD) - Round Robin End of Season Celebration
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Any student or family who has questions should reach out to Coach Christopher Morello at christopher.morello@scituateschoolsri.net.
Community News
URI Summer Coding Camp Information
Student Council News
Weekly Spotlight
Think Fast RIDOT Assembly
Students had a blast on Friday as they learned about driver safety during an interactive assembly.
Annual Scituate Reservoir Poster Contest
Scituate Middle School 6th graders, along with 7th and 8th grade enrichment classes, participated in the Annual Scituate Reservoir Poster Contest this year. We are excited to congratulate these four students for being chosen to have their posters displayed in the 2025 calendar!
Addison G. - Middle School Grand Prize Winner!
Riley A.
Harrison N.
Sofia I.
These students will be presented with their certificates at the Water Festival on May 7th!
Congratulations!
Scituate Food Drive
Scituate HS is opening a new food pantry. Beginning on 4/29, they will be collecting canned goods. Please see Ms. Faccio in School Counseling of you have any questions. More details below.
Spartan Shoutouts
Order Your SMS Yearbook Today!
Dress Code Reminder
As the warm weather approaches, we want to take a moment to reshare the SMS Dress Code from page 9 of the SMS Handbook:
SMS encourages students to dress in a way that is appropriate and respectful during the school day and at any school sponsored events. Student dress should reflect the school’s intentions to be inclusive of a diverse range of identities. The responsible parties for the way a student dresses lie in the hands of the student and their parent/guardian. Administration/Dean and faculty at SMS are responsible for making sure student dress does not interfere with student health and safety and/or positive and encouraging school atmosphere. Dress code enforcement will not discriminate against or increase marginalization of any group based on race, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, cultural observance, household income, or body type/size.. Therefore, certain guidelines are noted below:
General Principles of Student Dress:
Clothing must cover all private body parts with fully opaque fabric.
a shirt with fabric in the front, back, and sides under the arms.
pants, jeans, or an equivalent clothing item (skirt, dress, shorts must be at least finger length).
footwear must be appropriate and safe as deemed by the dean/admin.
tank tops, given that strap thickness is less than 2 fingers in width.
hoods or hats (unless documentation shows a medical or cultural reason for wear).
halter tops.
shirts which expose a student’s midriff.
clothing with violent language or images.
clothing with depictions of drugs, alcohol, or any illegal item/activity.
clothing with hate speech, profanity, or pornography.
clothing with images or language that creates a hostile or intimidating environment or adds distraction from the educational environment.
clothing revealing undergarments.
accessories that may be considered dangerous.
any clothing item that covers the face or ears (unless otherwise allowed due to culture or medical reasons).
Enforcement of Dress Code
Interpretation of these rules shall be in the sole discretion of the administration/Dean. Enforcement of the dress code will only occur if a student is in violation of the policy set forth in this handbook.
When clothing is in violation, students will be asked to put on their own alternative clothing to be dressed according to code for the rest of the school day. If a student does not have their own alternative clothing, the school may provide temporary school clothing to adhere to the dress code for the remainder of the school day. In some cases, a parent/guardian may be called to bring their student alternative clothing.
Any act of enforcing dress code will be done in a way as to not shame a student for their clothing. Students will be pulled aside or asked to talk in an environment away from other students so as not to be targeted in a group. Students may be subject to being told to change their clothing.
After School Academic Support Center
Tuesdays 2:20-3:20 - ELA with Becky Limoges
Wednesdays 2:20-3:20 - Math with Maureen Kennedy
Wednesdays 2:20-3:20 - Math/SS additional support with Cindy Clark
Sessions will run from 2:20-3:20, and late buses will be available. Students must have a teacher recommendation to attend. During this time, students can get extra support while completing class assignments and homework.
We hope students will take advantage of this opportunity to get the additional time or help they need to be successful! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Ms. Goffe at 647-4120 ext. 1033.
After School Clubs
Late Bus & Parent Pick-up Information
Late buses are available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. There are two late buses that have separate routes which are linked below. Buses typically arrive around 3:45-4:00 depending on when the elementary runs are complete. Parents and guardians picking up their children should wait in the high school's main parking lot. Student will exit those doors and not the middle school doors they would usually get picked up at normal dismissal time.
Project Linus
Project Linus is a national organization that makes blankets for children in crisis. In past years, there have been students who were recipients of blankets while they were hospitalized. At one point in time, SMS was the only school-based club in the state.
This club is open to all grades and meets on Tuesdays. During these first few weeks, Mrs. Battey teaches the 8th graders how to make the blankets. By the second meeting, these students are then tasked with preparing the fabric for others to finish off. As new students join the club (once the club is opened to 6th and 7th graders), these 8th grade student leaders are in charge of teaching these students how to make the blankets. This, then, becomes a student-led club where students are truly leaders as they teach and otherwise manage the club. If you have any questions about this club, please reach out to Mrs. Battey. Her email is linked here.
Agriculture Club
Agriculture Club meets on Tuesdays and is open to middle and high school students interested in nature and the environment. Projects throughout this year include the creation of an on-campus butterfly garden, a "power of plants" great plant give-away, starting our first RI Envirothon team, and of course, filling our greenhouse throughout the early spring months with flowers and veggies to sell at our annual plant sale. Additionally, we connect with community members and programs to take part in tree planting field trips, water festivals, and RI Salmon in the Classroom experience. If you have any question please reach out to Ms. Travers. Her email is linked here.
Music Club
The music department will be offering a rotating music club after school on Wednesdays. Students will be able to sign up when the Google Form is posted in classrooms on Mondays for the week. Please note that there is a cap of 25 students. Reach out to the music department if you have any questions.
TSA Club
The Technology Student Association is a national student organization with over 300,000 members. TSA projects and competitions include robotics, game design, engineering, and more. Through hands-on learning experiences, these projects aim to nurture innovative thinking. We hope to empower the next generation of inventors, storytellers, and problem-solvers. Join us as we use technology to unlock our students' creative potential! This club meets on Wednesdays after school. Reach out to Mr. Sheehan if you have any questions. His email is linked here.
Student Support Services
Dental Screenings May 22
Please click the link below to access the exemption form if you do not want your child to be screened.
Scituate Rotary Club Donates Backpacks
Thanks to a wonderful donation from the Scituate Rotary Club, we have school supplies available to be distributed to our students in the Middle and High School!
Supplies include: Backpacks, Stationary and Art Supplies, Gift Cards (limited amount)
Please fill out the Backpack Request Form below if you are interested/ in need of school supplies for your child/ student(s)!
All requests are confidential and will be handled by our School Social Worker, Jennifer Ricci, LCSW.
Free & Reduced Lunch Information
The Scituate School Department has partnered with Unite Us to streamline the process of applying for free and/or reduced lunches. Please click the link which will take you to the meal benefit application on the State of Rhode Island Department of Education website.
https://ride.ri.gov/child-nutrition/unite-us-electronic-school-meal-benefit-application
Please fill in all fields. Be sure to select Scituate Public Schools in the field “Select the school district that your child will receive school meals from”.
If you have any questions, please call: Jennifer Carnevale, Executive Finance Assistant at 401-647-4100 option 2, then option 3"
Bus Information
All students, parents/guardians should be able to view their bus info in PowerSchool. Should you have any questions, please reach out to First Student by emailing Wendy.Lacombe@firstgroup.com
News From North West Special Education (NWSE)
Hello! Below are the meeting dates for the Northwest Special Education Local Advisory Committee for the 23/24SY. All are welcome to attend!
April 30, 2024 at 6:00pm at Ponaganset Middle School, Room 150
Parking is available in the rear parking lot behind the building; entry at the rear entrance of the building.
SPC Raising Healthy Kids Newsletter
Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition
SMS is Hiring Full-Time Paraprofessionals
TITLE: Special Education Assistant Classroom/Hygiene
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: Principal
JOB SUMMARY: Primary responsibility is to assist special education students with academic work and the implementation of the student’s Individualized Education Program and personal care routines.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Perform under special needs teacher's supervision and direction in all areas of school activities and instruction.
- He/she shall be expected to:
- Follow special needs teacher's direction in maintaining classroom structure and behavioral control.
- Assist teacher in academic instruction as identified in and prescribed by Individual Education Programs.
- Assist in inclusion activities supporting students in the general education setting.
- Assist in non-academic instruction carried out by itinerant teachers.
- Assist in correcting student’s assignments, editing or clarifying (simplifying), enlarging general education worksheets as modified by the Special Education teacher.
- Assist in toileting activities and other areas of self-care and independent living skills.
- Assist in carrying out programs designed by the physical and/or occupational and/or speech therapists.
- Assistants shall not be required to perform therapy without prior training from the therapist and they shall not perform any therapy without a signed written directive from the Office of the Director of Special Education.
- Supervise arrivals.
- Assist physically challenged children in the use of wheelchairs and/or other adaptive equipment, if appropriately trained.
- Supervise children leaving and entering transportation vehicles, classrooms and buildings.
- Supervise children during field trips.
- Administer the school rules and regulations governing student behavior.
- Supervise children before school, during recess, during lunch periods, and at dismissal.
- Perform any and all related duties assigned by the building principal or the Director of Special Education subject to Article 21
- ANNUAL REQUIREMENTS: Special Education Assistant shall be evaluated every two years by the school principal.
- SPECIALIZED QUALIFICATIONS: As required by the R.I. Department of Education
- LENGTH OF EMPLOYMENT: Regular School Year.
Apply at https://www.schoolspring.com Job ID 4465435
Attendance Matters!🍎
We want to bring your attention to a matter of great importance - chronic absenteeism. Has your child missed 8 or more days of school? If so, they are considered chronically absent regardless of the reason. Students should come to school everyday unless they are too ill to do so. Currently, 14% or 36 Scituate Middle School students are deemed "chronically absent". Showing up matters for R.E.A.L. because it is an opportunity to:
Build Routines
Increase Engagement
Provide Access to resources
Support Learning