The Mustang Minute
August 29, 2022 - Issue 1B
One more week!
CMS has really started hopping this morning as teachers return Friday and all students on Wednesday, September 7th. While the majority of 2022-2023 info was in last week's newsletter (and is repeated below) there are a couple of items I wanted to share this week.
CMS Start Time
Our new start time begins this school year. Students are allowed in the building for breakfast at 8:15 am in the cafeteria. Student drop off for school is 8:35am and students should be in homeroom for 8:45 am. Dismissal is 3:20 and all students are dismissed at the same time.
Moving Forward Together and Better
As I mentioned in last week's newsletter, the Coakley staff got together to reflect on last year and develop a solid plan to create a safe and supportive community at the Coakley. We are very excited by the work that we have done and ready to jump into the new year! Please see the Family Handbook that I have attached to this newsletter. We will also make it available at Open House and on the website. Teachers will be reviewing this initiative with students during the first week of school.
Last Week's Items
Welcome to the new school year! I cannot express how excited I am for this school year! It's been a great summer and we have had excellent summer programs at Coakley and several dedicated groups of staff helping us to "Move Forward Better and Together". You are going to hear that phrase a lot this year as we focus on a positive and productive school year with school being more about learning and growing as we show our Coakley PRIDE! We are excited to share new curriculum and projects and new policies and procedures that will help ALL our student feel safe, comfortable, and at home at the Coakley!
Communication
For our new parents, I send out this email newsletter every week (typically on Fridays) providing highlights of student activities from the past week and providing information on upcoming events. While I will occasionally send out direct messages or send home paper fliers - this is really your one-stop shop for CMS School News. Below you will see information about drop off and pick up, attendance and tardies, and other first day of school items. I will resend this communication next Friday as well. The Norwood Schools have moved to a new system of communication called parent square. I will include more information about that program as the year begins but to start I STRONGLY recommend downloading the App from the Apple or Google store into your phone (image below). It allows you to choose your method of delivery and allows for communication with all the school at one place!
I also have a Twitter and Instagram Account where I post pictures from school activities and events and repeat information from the newsletter. My Twitter and Instagram Account handles are at the bottom of this email.
Schedule Release in Aspen
Students and families will have access to their new school schedules starting on Thursday, August 25th. Middle School students follow a six-day rotating schedule. They have six 50 minute blocks that rotate each day and one stationary Mustang Block at the end of the day. During Mustang Block, students receive intervention help, start homework, get organization assistance, do team building, and so much more.
Our goal with building the schedule is to create balanced teams of students, balanced in terms of numbers, academic needs, social needs, and elementary school make-up. We do not change a student's team without a significant reason to do so. We encourage families to talk to their students about how middle school is a time to expand friendships, get to know new people, and explore their own learning.
Please note that we continue to make slight changes and adjustment's to student schedules up to and including the first day of school.
If your child's schedule has an error (wrong language, blank spot, etc.) please reach out to your grade level guidance counselor for assistance. The guidance staff returns later next week.
Grade 6 - Ashley McCaffrey amccaffrey@norwood.k12.ma.us
Grade 7 - Jennifer Tucker jtucker@norwood.k12.ma.us
Grade 8 - Allyson King acking@norwood.k12.ma.us (Ms. King is on maternity leave until January. Her Long term sub is Lois D'Allessandro and her email is ldallessandro@norwood.k12.ma.us)
You will need access to Aspen in order to see your child's schedule. If you have any questions or problems accessing the portal, please send an email to: npsaspensupport@norwood.k12.ma.us
Building Tours for New and Returning Students
Is your child nervous about coming to CMS or returning to in person learning? We would be happy to give a tour of the building. Feel free to email me at mfraczek@norwood.k12.ma.us to set one up!
Supply Lists
The school supply lists are linked below. We also recommend that students bring their own combination lock into school for their locker. This allows students to practice opening and closing their lock at home. We do have locks available at CMS as well. Please note that we are happy to provide for any family that needs supplies for their student. You may email me or your grade level guidance counselor and we can get you everything you need. We will also have some backpacks available at the ice cream social.
Covid19 Protocols
- Mask wearing is recommended but not required. We encourage those students and staff with compromised immunity to continue to mask daily. Masks ARE required in the nurses office. We recommend that all students store a mask or two in their locker/backpack in case of need.
- Distance as appropriate. Generally a good plan in middle school (I spend a lot of time telling kids to "stop touching each other") space is a great way to avoid transmission. We won't be doing 3/6 feet separation but if your child is anxious when too close to others, please reach out to your child's homeroom teacher for assistance.
- Washing hands regularly (Do I need to say more? I hope not!)
- Don't share food
- All students will eat together in the cafeteria. We will continue to have a quiet room alternative as many students found this helpful last year for a variety of reasons.
Drop Off and Pick Up
Drop Off and Pick-up
If you are driving your child to CMS we have one drop off location. Please enter at the south or Auditorium entrance (the one closest to the Walpole line), drive into the drop off lane located next to the auditorium. Please PULL ALL THE WAY UP to allow for the maximum number of cars to drop off at once. Students will get out of the car at this location and walk down to the cafeteria for entry. Cars then loop through the parking lot and back out to Washington Street. Please be aware that buses may be entering the lot after dropping off CMS students. We do not anticipate this causing any major delays but we want parents to be aware.
We ask that no cars enter by the Hawes Pool entrance as that is for buses and staff parking, No cars should drive down the front drive until after our start time of 8:45AM
Pick-up begins at 3:20 PM when ALL students are dismissed. Parents should wait in the south lot (near the auditorium) for pick up. Please pull into a parking space.
Buses
Students in Grades K through 12 who plan to ride a bus must register, including students eligible for town-provided (free) transportation. Please note that the new full rate bus fee is $300 per student with a family cap of $750. Students in grades 1-6 who live more than 2 miles from school, and all kindergarten students, do not have to pay a full rate fee.
Bus Stop listing are posted on the NPS Website: https://www.norwood.k12.ma.us/about/transportation-services
Lunch
We have three lunches divided by grade. This year school lunch is free for all students. Students are welcome to bring a big lunch from home. We ask that students DO NOT bring soda or large amounts of candy. Please no glass containers. We encourage students to bring water bottles to school each day. Please have students use a reusable water bottle as we do not allow disposable water bottles in classrooms. Transparent water bottles are preferred.
Chromebook Deployment
There will be a final opportunity for Chromebook pick up and the grade 6 Ice Cream Social. If your student has not collected their Chromebook yet, they will be issued on the first day of school.
The PTO Needs You!
PTO Board Openings
With the new year comes new opportunities to be involved with CMS. We are looking for two grade 6 PTO Board members that collectively make decisions about activities for the school. Please email coakleynorwoodPTO@gmail.com or mfraczek@norwood.k12.ma.us if you are interested.
Open House
The Coakley Middle School Open House will be on Wednesday, September 21st from 6:30-8:30PM
More details to come!
News From the Nurse
Please see the attached letter about Massachusetts 7th grade physical and immunization requirements. If your student has had a physical since 9/1/2021, and you have not yet sent in a copy, please bring/send in a hard copy, email to jkozol@norwood.k12.ma.us, or have the doctor fax to 833-704-1903.
If your child still needs the physical and/or immunizations, please schedule an appointment as soon as possible so that the requirements will be met by the first day of school in September.
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
Facebook: facebook.com/CoakleyMIddleSchoolPTO
Twitter: @mfraczek