Middle School Matters
January 8, 2024
Be Safe. Be Respectful.
Be Responsible. Be Ready to Learn
The Mission of Portsmouth Middle School is to create a strong and safe learning environment: promote social, emotional and physical well-being and to provide opportunities for each student, to the best of their ability, to meet high academic standards, develop responsibility, and achieve the positive social values and behaviors to become productive citizens.
RIDE PMS Accountability Report
Congratulations to the Portsmouth Middle School learning community for achieving 4 Star status, based on metrics from RIDE. This is quite an accomplishment. Dr. Viveiros, our Deputy Superintendent, will be presenting the district results at next week's School Committee meeting. We will then review the report at our February PTO meeting. Click here to see Portsmouth Middle School's report card.
STAR Winter Benchmarking This Week
Monday through Wednesday of this week, we will be conducting STAR testing/Winter benchmarking. All students will be taking Math and ELA. This will be our first projection to determine whether students are on track to demonstrate proficiency on grade level standards.
Student Morning Drop-off Reminder
If you are dropping off in the morning, please plan to arrive at 7:45 am. Homeroom starts at 7:45am and ends at 8:00am. Homeroom is an important time of the day, allowing students to get mentally and physically prepared for the day, hear announcements and be accurately reported for daily attendance. The exterior doors will be closed at 7:58, and students will be marked tardy if they are not in homeroom before attendance is submitted at 8 am. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
A Focus on the Positive
We are continuing to focus on building a positive social culture for our students during 2024. We began a system of reinforcing expected and positive behaviors, aligning student expectations to our school core values: Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Ready to Learn.
Expected behaviors will be taught and students will be recognized when those behaviors are demonstrated.
On Thursday, we reviewed hallway expectations with all students. Ask your student to share with you PMS' expected hallway behavior.
Patriot Pillars will be shared with students and will be collected by grade level to track our progress. Ask your student if they have earned any!
Portsmouth Patriot Pride Door Decorating Contest!
Take a look by clicking here to see our Portsmouth Patriot Pride winning doors and a few others!
7th Annual Talent Show
7th Annual Talent Show
Sponsored by the Tri-M National Music Honor Society
Auditions Tues. 1/9 & Thurs. 1/11 from 2:45 - 3:45 P.M. Please see the linked flier.
PHS Hosting a CTE Open House
PHS is hosting their CTE open house on January 18th from 6-7:30 P.M. at PHS. The open house will showcase Portsmouth’s 6 CTE programs and will allow students and families to hear from faculty and current students. All 8th grade students and families are encouraged to attend as we will begin the 8th-9th grade scheduling process this month.
Please see the flier linked here.
Drone Legends
Please see the link to a new afterschool program with limited capacity. This afterschool program runs on Tuesday’s. The sign up form is on the flier.
From the PTO
Volunteers in School
If you would like to volunteer in school or help on a field trip, please use this form going forward to become VIS approved.
PTO Board Openings next school year
Please see the letter linked here from the PTO regarding board openings for next school year.
Paint Night - January 18th
Please see the linked flier for more information.
Fine Arts Boosters Discount Card Fundraiser
Please look for the order form in your child's backpack this week.
Information is linked here.
Kids4Action
Join the Multiplier Effect! Kids4Action, in support of the Portsmouth Middle School's focus to build a positive social culture, presents 'Kind-it-Forward - Random Acts of Kindness'. Choose a Kindness Ornament posted in the two school cafeterias and commit to completing the random act of kindness within the next month. It's that simple. Be the catalyst that creates positive change!
Weight Training 101
Please see the link here for a local weight training program taking place within the community after the New Year.
Chartwells is Hiring!
Please see the flier here for more information on the job opportunities within the district for our food service company, Chartwell
RI Student Assistance Services
Please check out the link here for the December newsletter from the RI Student Assistance Services.