The Mustang Minute
March 16, 2020 - Issue 26
We Might be Distanced but we Can Still Connect!
Leave Something Behind?
Each day an administrator is likely to be in the building but we may not be in the front office. Please email Dr. Fraczek (mfraczek@norwood.k12.ma.us) if you need to stop by and pick something up and we will set up an appointment. The main number will not be monitored regularly so please call Dr. Fraczek's direct line to leave a message 781-440-5921.
Throughout this shut down, CMS will continue to find ways to stay connected. have pictures of activities your kids or your families are doing? Email them to me and I will Tweet and post them! Follow me at Twitter (@mfraczek) to stay connected!
Social Media Awareness
We know from experience that during school breaks students' access to social media increases. And with the required social distances we are encouraging students to find remote ways to connect with each other. However, with increased access to social media, there can also be an increase in inappropriate behavior. As we enter into this unexpected school closure, we want to encourage you to actively monitor your child's online life, which includes having frequent, open and honest conversations about what they are sharing through social media and what is being shared with them. It is important that students understand that what they post on social media may have consequences beyond the here and now. Below, please find some resources that we have compiled that you may find helpful to initiate these important conversations with your child(ren).
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/advice-for-parents/social-networking-tips
http://www.parenting.com/gallery/social-media-monitoring-kids?pnid=319669
http://cyberbullying.us/resources/parents/
http://www.englanderelizabeth.com/downloads
A couple Ideas from the Fraczek kids
Free Internet Access from Comcast!
If you are a student or family that does not currently have reliable internet access at home, please be aware that Comcast is offering its Internet Essentials program free of charge for the next two months! For those that qualify, they will receive internet at home for free for the next two months, after which it will revert to the price of $9.95 per month. You can find more information about the Comcast Internet Essentials Program at this link:
Your Mindfulness Moment
Mindfulness Activites for March 16th-20th
Here is a brief YouTube video that offers a simple definition of Mindfulness, with input from various celebrities you may recognize (i.e. Kobe Bryant, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Angelina Jolie)
Mindful Walking
When practicing mindful walking, you should do your best to try to walk slowly and in silence. Try to pay attention to what you see, hear, feel, and smell. As you walk, you may pause to notice a specific bird chirping, the feeling of the wind blowing, or any other experience.
Online Mindful Coloring
In mindful coloring exercises, we are just bringing our attention to the present moment through the act of creating something. Our awareness is wrapped up in the coloring, and we may find ourselves naturally mindful in these moments.You don’t have to get a special mindful coloring book to practice this. Just find some coloring sheets, and be silent and present while coloring. You don’t need deep instruction; just pay attention to what you are doing.
Grab & Go Lunch Options
During the school shut down due to COVID-19, The Norwood Public Schools will be providing Grab & Go lunches at selected sites. These meals will be provided to all teens and children, 18 years of age and younger without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Meals will be provided at the following sites and times as follows:
Balch Elementary School, 1170 Washington Street, Norwood, MA
Callahan Elementary School, 90 Garfield Ave, Norwood, MA
Lunch will be served from Monday, March 16, 2020, through Friday, March 20, 2020, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Meals will be bagged and ready for Grab & Go service. All teens and children 18 years of age and younger are eligible to get a free meal from the listed sites and take it with them for off-site consumption.
If you need lunches delivered please email Dr. Fraczek at mfraczek@norwood.k12.ma.us and we will do our best to make arrangements.
Need Chromebook Help?
Need to Contact your Guidance Counselor?
Grade 6: Ashley McCaffrey amccaffrey@norwood.k12.ma.us
Grade 7: Meghan Mba mmba@norwood.k12.ma.us
Grade 8: Ally King acking@norwood.k12.ma.us
School Adjustment Counselors
Amy Riley ariley@norwood.k12.ma.us
Deana Norton dnorton@norwood.k12.ma.us
Raina Keenan rkeenan@norwood.k12.ma.us
Need Aspen or Access Help?
For any students and families that have any issues regarding the Aspen family or student portal, please continue to use the NPS Aspen support email at: npsaspensupport@norwood.k12.ma.us
For any students and families that have questions about accounts or accessing educational resources that their teachers send them, please contact Joe Kidd at: jkidd@norwood.k12.ma.us
Medication Pickup
Virtual hang-Outs for Teens with Impact Norwood
Because of capacity limits on the virtual meeting room, we will have four separate groups--Group A, Group B, Group C and Group D. Once registered, please check your email and scroll to the bottom where a Zoom Meeting Link will be available, as well as the meeting ID.
Each group will meet weekly at the same time, using this schedule below:
Group A: Tuesday, March 17th from 2pm-2:40pm
Tuesday, March 24th from 2pm-2:40pm
Tuesday, March 31st from 2pm-2:40pm
Register here for Group A: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/impact-norwood-virtual-hang-out-session-1-group-a-tickets-99983854400
Group B: Wednesday, March 18th from 2pm-2:40pm
Wednesday, March 25th from 2pm-2:40pm
Wednesday, April 1st from 2pm-2:40pm
Register here for Group B: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/impact-norwood-virtual-hang-out-group-b-tickets-99987403014
Group C: Thursday, March 19th from 2pm-2:40pm
Thursday, March 26th from 2pm-2:40pm
Thursday, April 2nd from 2pm-2:40pm
Register here for Group C: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/impact-norwood-virtual-hang-out-group-c-tickets-99987675830
Group D: Friday, March 20th from 2pm-2:40pm
Friday, March 27th from 2pm-2:40pm
Friday, April 3rd from 2pm-2:40pm
Register here for Group D: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/impact-norwood-virtual-hang-out-group-d-tickets-99989862370
Please only sign up for ONE group. Once registered, you will receive an email with information on how to join your specific meeting. If you have any questions, please email Aubrey Ciol at aciol@norwoodma.gov"
Wellesley Survey - Postponed Until April
Researchers from the Wellesley Centers for Women at Wellesley College are doing a National Institutes of Health-funded study on the use of social media among young teens, the social context around social media use, and its relation to students’ health and behaviors.
You have the opportunity to opt your student out of the study if you do not want them to participate. The purpose of the study is to learn more about how social media use among young teens supports or harms them in their learning and healthy development. Surveys will ask about social media use (or nonuse), and family involvement in it. While the majority of the questions will focus on social media, phone, and internet use, there will also be some questions on student’s psychosocial health, and their health behaviors (sleeping, TV use, dating/sexual debut, friendships, physical activity, substance use, self-harm, etc. All three grades have questions about sex, sexual acts, and self harm.
These are difficult subjects for students but behaviors that we know start at this age. We hope to use data from this study to create better prevention programs. I have attached the opt-out forms to this newsletter for your convenience. hard copies will be available in the main office as well.
Yankee Candle Fundraising!
PTO Corner
The PTO typically meets the third Wednesday of each month (at times our day varies due to conflicts) to hear an update from the principal and discuss planning related to enrichment, fundraising, activities and other topics of interest. You can also stay up to date with the CMS PTO by following us on Facebook. You can contact the PTO at coakleypto@gmail.com.
We are looking for people to be on the PTO board as Vice-President and Secretary to finish out the year. If you are interested, please email the PTO!
Meeting Dates (all meetings start at 6:00 pm)
March 18 - Presentation on Social Media
April 15
May 13
June 17
Important Dates
FOVA Youth Art Benefit at NHS: March 11 5:30-7:00pm - Postponed
Cultural night at NHS: March 12 6:00- 8:00 pm - postponed
International Parent Night: March 25th 6:00-7:00pm - postponed
Grade 8 Game night: March 27th 6:00-8:30pm - postponed
ELA MCAS - TBD
Math MCAS - TBD
Science MCAS - TBD
Dr. Margo Fraczek
Email: mfraczek@norwood.k12.ma.us
Website: https://sites.google.com/norwood.k12.ma.us/cms-principal/home
Phone: 781-762-7880
Twitter: @mfraczek