Ayer Shirley Middle School
Back to School Newsletter
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Principal's Corner
Dear Students and Families,
We are so excited to welcome you all back to ASRMS! Whether you are attending through hybrid or remotely, the arrival of the school year will bring us together again as a community. For the past couple weeks, our staff have been hard at work creating innovative and engaging ways to learn and connect with one another.
This year has brought new challenges and tribulations. One of the most significant of which has been the uncertainty in all of our lives as we were knocked off course from our usual routines. As a former history teacher, during the stay at home I caught up on one of my favorite subjects. While doing so, I came across a quote from the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius that felt very applicable to our situation. He said, "The obstacle is the way". By that he meant, we can be consumed by the problem life gives us or we can recognize new challenges will always exist and they shape our path through life. I have been proud of our teachers and staff as they embrace these unusual times as an opportunity to grow and develop. I am confident they will share that same attitude when they welcome you in a few days.
In that spirit, we will be working this year to engage with you in ways we never have before with new technology and new teaching strategies. We will also be challenging you to become future leaders with the ability to reshape your world. You may do this by sharing new ways of showing peers what you have learned. Or you may do this by joining a club that works to address a challenge in the community. Whatever way you go about it, we will be encouraging and supporting you to build a better ASRMS with us.
See you soon!
Bryan Oelerich
Acting Principal
Cohorts and Phase I Schedule
All students have been assigned a cohort - “Panther” or “Pride”.
Students will follow the Phase I Hybrid Model Schedule based on their cohort.
Students and Parents/Guardians will receive their schedules by email on Monday 9/14.
Students should note their section number on the schedule as they will immediately proceed into those groups when arriving at school.
The section number will be listed under “HR” at the top of the schedule.
It will say the grade and section. For example “HR: 6-5” indicates that the student is in grade 6 and section 5.
All students will also receive invitations to their Google Classrooms by Monday 9/14.
Google Classrooms will be used for communicating remote learning times (both synchronous and asynchronous)
Cohort information was sent out in an earlier communication from the district.
As of today, Friday 9/11, we are no longer able to honor requests for cohort and section changes. Sections and cohorts are being maintained to ensure student health.
Requests will be considered by administration, nurses and counselors if extenuating health considerations exist.
If you do not know your student’s cohort please call our main office (978)772-8600 ext 1200 or email administrative assistant, Tina Libby, at blibby@asrsd.org.
Fully Remote Students
Fully remote students will remain with their cohort for “In-School” and “Remote Asynchronous” classes.
During “In-School” classes, they will attend remotely (using Zoom or Google Meet) at the time in-person instruction is occurring for at least the first week.
They should be sure to log-in on time as teachers will admit them before taking attendance.
They will complete asynchronous work with their cohort.
On Wednesdays, both cohorts (including fully remote students) will attend remotely at the scheduled times.
Parent/Guardian and Student Accounts
Parents/Guardians can view updated courses using the PlusPortal.
Students will be receiving invitations to their Google Classrooms for each class through their Google accounts (classroom and email).
Note that Unified Art (UA) classes will rotate as a result all students will have these in the PlusPortals account. UAs include Art, Fitness/Wellness, Music, Physical Education, STEM and Technology.
If you or your student need assistance with these accounts, please contact our Network Coordinator, , Deb Cutter, at dcutter@asrsd.org.
Student Drop-off/Pick-up
Student and bus drop-off/pick-up have swapped locations.
Student drop-off/pick-up will take place in the front circular driveway.
Staff will work to coordinate and facilitate the flow of traffic.
Please pull all the way up to make the process as safe and quick as possible.
Remain on the right side (closest to the sidewalk) to ensure safe entry/exit.
Be aware that the town of Shirley is currently repaving several roads in the area of ASRMS.
Opening Week Schedule
The first two days of school will be in-person only.
Each cohort has been assigned a day.
Friday, all students will attend remotely. All students will be released to remote asynchronous learning for the last 90 minutes.
Bus Passes
All students registered for buses are required to have a bus pass.
Students have each been assigned a seat on the bus to ensure health and safety.
Passes will include the students name, grade, bus number and seat number.
Bus passes can be picked up at the ASRMS main office on Monday or Tuesday (9/14-9/15) from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm.
Student Entry
All students should arrive between 7:30-7:40 am (parent pick-up/drop-off and bus).
Buses will drop students just past the gym.
Parent drop-off students will proceed through the main entrance to the exit right of the gym.
All students will proceed to the field behind school.
In the case of inclement weather, students will report to the following locations:
Grade 6 - Auditorium
Grade 7 - Gym
Grade 8 - Outdoor Classrooms
Students will remain in their grades and sections (ex. Grade 6, section 1)
As they will be physically distanced (6 ft.), students will be permitted to use electronics at this time.
At 7:40, teachers and paraprofessionals will escort each section into the building.
While entering, all students will be given the option of a free breakfast provided by the school.
Breakfast will be eaten in classrooms with 6ft of distance maintained.
All students will sanitize their hands when entering the building.
All in-school classes will begin at 7:50 with the Pledge of Allegiance and brief announcements.
All tardy students should report to the main office before proceeding to class
Student Dismissal
At 11:10, we will begin dismissing in-school classes.
All students who registered for a free lunch and/or breakfast to take home will be provided it in their classroom before being dismissed.
Students will be dismissed by section with teachers walking their section out.
All students will sanitize their hands when exiting the building.
Parent pick-up students will depart through the main entrance. Students will be physically distanced and supervised if their ride has not arrived.
Bus students will board their bus near the gym and take their assigned seat.
Attendance
The following information applies to all students regardless of whether they are in-person, remote or hybrid:
Students are expected to attend all synchronous class sessions, whether remote or in person.
Staff will take attendance all periods and monitor throughout the class time to ensure students remain in class.
If you student will be absent from school (remotely or in-person), please call our attendance line at 978-772-8600 ext 1297.
If your student will be tardy or dismissed, please call our attendance line at 978-772-8600 ext 1297.
Extra-curricular Activities
We will be running several extracurricular activities during Phase I.
Whenever possible, these clubs will convene remotely to ensure health and provide custodians the opportunity to thoroughly clean.
Announcements and communications will be forthcoming.
Currently we anticipate running the following clubs and sports:
Homework Club
National Honor Society
Student Council
Band
Yearbook
Diversity and Equity
Intramural Sports
ASRHS Sports (when available)
Band
ALL students interested in participating in band (all grades) will need to use the following google form link to sign up for band.
Even if you filled out a form back in June.
Band will be run a little differently this year due to the hybrid learning schedule.
Instrument lessons will be virtual (via Zoom). Breakout rooms will be utilized to help give smaller group instruction. Lessons will be grouped by instrument (regardless of grade--hence the breakout rooms).
Full group rehearsals are not currently possible via a Zoom-type platform.
Outside socially distanced after school rehearsals are a possibility during the nicer weather.
Video assignments will be submitted via FlipGrid to Mrs. Fletcher (not in a public forum, private to Mrs. Fletcher only).
Questions: Please email Mrs. Fletcher at rfletcher@asrsd.org
Safety Procedures
The health and safety of our students, staff and community are our first priority.
The procedures and building setup received a full review and approval from the Board of Health.
We are in compliance with all guidelines provided by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
All students and staff are required to wear masks while on campus.
Ventilation has been thoroughly checked by an outside agency.
Students and staff will be sanitizing and/or washing their hands throughout the day.
Steps have been taken to ensure 6 ft. of distance are maintained in all areas of the building.
Outdoor classrooms have been set up to provide opportunities to learn while getting fresh air.
Potential sources of infection through shared use have been closed (ex. water fountains and locker rooms)
Course of Studies
Our course of studies in 7th and 8th grade has been affected by the logistics required to ensure student safety and health.
Additionally, the sudden shift to remote learning in the spring of 2020 has focused our attention on student preparedness for high school.
World Language and Math courses in 8th grade specifically were impacted.
In both World Language and Math, an assessment will be given at the end of the year to provide credit for Spanish I and Integrated Math I.
Integrated Math will not be offered as our teacher want to ensure all students have mastered the foundational material of 8th grade
French I will not be offered so that we can provide all students with the opportunity to complete Spanish I while at the middle school.
By differentiating instruction, teachers will push advanced students to earn high school credit while at ASRMS, giving them a jump start when they enter high school.
Using this approach, we can provide all advanced students opportunities while ensuring student safety.
Technology and Accessibility (for Remote)
In a previous communication, all families were informed of our district’s move to 1-to-1 technology.
If you have not picked up a chromebook, please contact our Network Coordinator Deb Cutter, at dcutter@asrsd.org to arrange a pick-up.
Please sign the electronic consent form, prior to pickup ASRSD 1:1 Chromebook Guildelines and Agreement
Please call our main office (978)772-8600 or email administrative assistant, Tina Libby, at blibby@asrsd.org if you have limited access to the internet. We will provide support and resources wherever we can.
Social Emotional Health
During these uncertain times, students may be experiencing increased levels of anxiety, depression and other social emotional issues.
If you are concerned about your child, please contact our school counselors Jessa Brine and Cynthia Esielionis (jbrine@asrsd.org and cesielionis@asrsd.org).
Counselors will be working to develop social groups during asynchronous times and will be communicating details once they are developed.
They will be checking in with students regularly and can arrange individual counseling in person or remotely if needed.
Counselor Google Classrooms will be introduced later in the fall students have adjusted to the new year.
Technology Platforms
Our staff will be utilizing a number of technology platforms to support students and encourage engagement.
All classes will have a Google Classroom which will serve as the “home base” for students to connect with teachers online.
Google Classroom includes a weekly report for parents/guardians. If interested, please contact your child’s teacher.
Student email will be used for communication with all staff including administration, counseling and other support staff.
Zoom and Google Meet will be used to create a classroom setting virtually with video/audio.
Eventually we intend to move fully to Google Meet. We will do so as soon as all features have been rolled out by Google.
PlusPortals remains the resource for up to date information regarding your student’s academic performance.
Open House
Our Open House was originally scheduled for Wednesday 9/16.
As we are all learning a new schedule and entire school environment, we have postponed it for the time being.
We also felt you may want a little time experiencing the hybrid schedule before offering the opportunity to ask questions.
Please look for an update with a rescheduled Open House.
In all likelihood, it will be an online Open House designed to help you meet your student’s teachers and ask questions.
Start of the Year Forms
We will be asking all parents/guardians to complete the Health and Emergency and the Free/Reduced Lunch Form.
We recognize your student may be remote and all students will be receiving free breakfast/lunch (until Dec. 2020).
We hope to return in person fully as soon as possible and this information will be invaluable once that happens.
Handbook
ASRMS Handbooks will be sent out electronically with an electronic signature acknowledging receipt.
Physical copies and translations may be requisitioned/obtained by calling our main office (978)772-8600 or emailing administrative assistant, Tina Libby, at blibby@asrsd.org.
Food and Beverages
During Phase I, we will not be permitting snacks or outside food in the building.
Students will be attending for a brief window and food will be available for all who want it from the cafeteria.
Reusable water bottles will be permitted. This is a change from the materials list we provided. Please note, students will not be permitted to refill them using sinks/fountains due to health concerns.
Visitors and Dropping off Items
We will not be allowing visitors during the school day.
If you wish to book a meeting with us or any of the staff members, please let us know in advance and we will work with you to find a meeting time.
We will be encouraging virtual meetings whenever possible.
If you or your student forgets an item, we ask that you wait until the end of the day to give your student that item. We will not be accepting drop-off items in Phase One of our reentry.
Lockers
Lockers will be used during the 2020-2021 school year.
As a staff, the decision was made to postpone their use until after Phase I.
Teachers know students will be learning many new routines and procedures. They do not want to overwhelm them with too much training/information.