FBMS Weekly Newsletter

ALL STUDENTS in Grades 6, 7, and 8 will test in English/Language Arts on Tuesday 4/4 and Thursday 4/6, the first half of the day.

It is important that on nights before testing, students practice what they normally would on a school night: 1) get a good night's sleep, and 2) eat a breakfast the day of testing. Students are encouraged to bring a water bottle and a snack, which they will be allowed to have before testing. Students should also fully charge their Chromebooks.

MCAS Testing is required for all students who attend public schools. Additionally it is a graduation requirement. Every opportunity to test before Grade 10 is additional practice for this graduation requirement. The data from the tests also helps us to make important decisions about curriculum. Our teachers and students have worked incredibly hard this year, and we know they will do their best on this first portion next week.

Please know that proctor sessions will begin at 8AM on testing dates, so it is therefore important that students arrive to school on time. If your child does not take a bus, please aim to drop your child off by 7:40AM.

A look ahead:

In May, all students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 will test in math on Wednesday 5/10 and Thursday 5/11.

Also in May, Grade 8 students only will test in Science on Monday 5/15 and Tuesday 5/16.

Quarter III closes today, Friday, March 31st. Report cards will be posted to ASPEN on April 6th at 3pm.

To monitor your child's progress, check ASPEN weekly.

School is closed on April 7th, Good Friday. See calendar for April below.

This year, the FBMS Partnership Program paired 17 English Language Learners and 20 Native English speaking students together to build academic and social skills as well as celebrate diversity through education. This program has brought students together to help build culture in our school and establish a stronger connection for all students to each other, the school, and the community. Students have been meeting monthly with their advisors, Mr. Brenner and Mrs. Bohorquez, and engaging in activities which allow them to learn from and about each other.

This past week the Partner Program welcomed parents on Wednesday night to learn more about Furnace Brook and ask any questions about student learning. Thank you to the parents who attended. Additionally, the students celebrated on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday a very popular Brazilian holiday known as Festa Junina. This tradition celebrates the harvest. Special foods, clothing, dancing and music, to name a few, are parts of this tradition. Students of the Partner Program really enjoyed themselves at this celebration.

We’d like to thank Mr. Brenner and Mrs. Bohorquez for organizing this event and many others this year. We truly appreciate all you have done with the partner program this year.

The "Club 7 dance" was this past Friday. Check out a short video of the club experience!

The 7th grade students danced the night away, enjoyed some great food and won some prizes! A fun night for all!

A HUGE thank you to our PTO for organizing this event, especially Mrs. McCabe and Mrs. O'Brien! WE APPRECIATE YOU! Thank you, also, to all of the parents and students who donated drinks, snacks, and prizes!

Our seventh-grade science classes are all learning about and creating their own convection currents in lab activities. Convection currents occur in fluids when there is a transfer of heat through the movement of liquids and gases. Some great learning taking place!

Our After-School Enrichment programs kicked off this past week. A shout out to our talented staff for running these amazing classes. Students explore a variety of class options that interest them.

Thank you to Mrs. Bacon for organizing!

Learning some life skills in Mrs. Dyers class!

Studying moon phases with Mr. Nalen in grade 8 STEM

Students participated in a "thinker's mixer" which included Ancient Greek innovators such as Socrates and Euclid.

Opening Day for Major League Baseball was this week. To celebrate, our students and staff showed off their favorite baseball/softball jerseys, T-shirts, or hats.

FUN FACT: One new MLB rule is the new pitch clock. Pitchers will have 15 seconds to throw a pitch with the bases empty and 20 seconds with a runner on base. Hitters will need to be in the batter's box with eight seconds on the pitch clock. If a pitcher has not started "the motion to deliver a pitch" before the expiration of the clock, he will be charged with a ball. If a batter delays entering the box, he will be charged with a strike.

The SOX came up short at the opener but put on quite a fight to the bitter end!

Congratulations to Whale Cluster recipients for being recognized for academic progress and contributions to the cluster! So proud to have you here!

Congratulations to those students who played in the All Town Band Concert this past week. It was an amazing concert!

For those who have signed up for the Introductory track meeting, it will take place Tuesday, April 4th, and the first practice April 5th.

Click on the link for the Track & Field Welcome Letter and Draft Schedule.

https://www.mpsd.org/o/fbms/page/fbms-xc-track-field

Questions? Email... fbmsxctrack@gmail.com

The FBMS PTO is looking for new parents to take on board positions for next year. Both the President and Vice President roles are open.

Please keep up with PTO communications on PTboard. Http://furnacebrook.PTBoard.com. Join code is: W85XET

We look forward to a fun celebration with the 7th graders at Club 7 on 3/24. We still need volunteers as chaperones and on clean up crew.

Parents, please talk to your child regarding cell phone/iWatch use. Cell phones are not allowed to be used in school. As our school policy states in our handbook, cell phones must be kept in back packs and powered down. Additionally, iWatches are also not allowed. If you have an iWatch, it must stay in your backpack, not on your wrist. Best bet is to leave iWatches at home.

Message from the FBMS Clinic

ATTENTION: Parent or Guardian:

7th Grade Physicals are due: Please forward an updated physical, via e-mail or fax, to the clinic.

Thank you in advance for helping make this year at school as healthy as possible.

Maura Carroll, RN and Karen Mellen, RN FBMS Clinic

Phone 781-319-3965

If you have any needs or questions, please feel free to reach out to us using the following email addresses. We are here to help you!

Grade 6:

Mrs. Damphousse - Guidance Counselor can be reached at ldamphousse@mpsd.org

Dr. Smith - Asst. Principal can be reached at jsmith@mpsd.org

Grade 7:

Mr. Johnson - Guidance Counselor can be reached at ljohnson@mpsd.org

Mrs. Lynch - Asst. Principal can be reached at llynch@mpsd.org

Grade 8:

Mrs. Swan - Guidance Counselor can be reached at jswan@mpsd.org

Mr. Madden - Asst. Principal can be reached at smadden@mpsd.org

Clinic Staff:

Mrs. Carroll - School Nurse can be reached at mcarroll@mpsd.org

Mrs. Mellen - School Nurse can be reached at kmellen@mpsd.org

Adjustment Counselors & Social Worker

Mr. Sorenson - Adjustment Counselor can be reached at gsorensen@mpsd.org

Mrs. Spencer - Adjustment Counselor can be reached at sspencer@mpsd.org

Mrs. O'Neil - Social Worker can be reached at koneil@mpsd.org

Principal:

Mrs. Kemmett can be reached at mkemmett@mpsd.org