The Mustang Minute
January 28, 2022 - Issue 21
Big Show and then some Big Snow
While the big snowstorm may be on our minds, this Friday and next Friday night you can catch the big middle school show Alice in Wonderland: Through a Looking Glass. The students have been working on this for months and are very excited to put on a great show. The original dates were this Friday and Saturday but due to the storm, Saturday's performance has been moved to next Friday night at 7pm. Tickets are available at the door. Masks are required and we will have groups and families social distance in the NHS theater. We hope to see you there!
Report Card Posting Date Change
Due to the extensive number of absences right before and after the winter break we are moving the report card posting date to Friday, February 11th. This will give students one extra week to turn in missing assignments and provide teachers the chance to grade them. If you child missed an extensive amount of time and may need additional support, please reach out to your grade level guidance counselor. The term will still end on Friday, January 28th (so new semester classes will still begin Monday, January 31st).
We are asking that students please bring in water bottles to school each. Wearing a mask definitely makes you thirsty and the water fountains are not able to be used. Students that don't have water bottles often ask the nurse for cups to get water. To date, we have gone through 3-4 cases of cups for a total cost of over $500. We would gladly accept donations of small plastic cups - I've linked an example below. But it would be even better if each student had their own refillable water bottle each day. A reminder that students should only have water in their water bottles as well. We have noticed some students bringing in Gatorade or other sticky drinks that, when spilled, create a bit of a disaster.
Box Tops for the Coakley PTO!
Box Tops - an easy way to earn money for the PTO.
Click on this video to see how.
Free MIT CodeIT Spring Program
Massachusetts Institute of Technology is currently accepting applications for their FREE CodeIt Spring program. This program is targeted to anyone who identifies as a girl or nonnbinary in grades 6-8 with limited to no coding experience. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the program will be completely virtual using Zoom.
Dates: Wednesdays & Sundays from 3/9 to 4/27
Times: 3:00-4:30pm on Sundays & 7:00-8:00pm on Wednesdays
The program is FREE and run by undergraduate students at MIT.
If you are interested, click on this link to apply. Applications are due by Friday, February 18th. Students will be notified by the first week of March if they are in the program.
For questions, email codeit-exec@mit.edu or refer to their website: codeit.mit.edu.
Here's the link to apply - http://tiny.cc/s22codeitapp
Bowling Club is Back!
Attention CMS, bowling club is on for this Friday! It occurs every Friday for the next 5 weeks at the Norwood Sports Club.Be sure you have returned your permission slip to Mrs. Bayiates before then.
Please:
-Arrive on time at 3:30
-Get picked up on time at 4:30
-Wear your mask over your nose and mouth at all times and no snacks allowed
-Bring $6.00
-Transportation is NOT provided
See Miss Siegel or Mrs. Bayiates with any questions!
National Junior Honor Society
After term 2 the Coakley chapter of the NJHS looks for new members from all grade levels. MS. Harding is the faculty advisor and will be putting in announcements for students over the next few weeks!
February 2 - 11: New applications would be submitted by new members
March 2: New NJHS students would be notified of acceptance
Grade 8 Yearbook Messages
Grade 8: Baby Photos Needed
Grade 8: If you would like to have your adorable baby photo in the yearbook please send your photo to cmsyearbook@norwood.k12.ma.us by February 11th. Please email with any questions.
The PTO Updates!
Questions about the PTO or upcoming events? Email coakleynorwoodPTO@gmail.com
PTO Meeting Dates (4th Tuesday of the month)
February -15th - Learn about the New CMS Proposal
March 22nd
April 26nd
May 24th
June - TBD
Minutes from the Last Meeting
Coakley Middle School PTO
General Meeting Minutes
Date, Time, Location: Tuesday, January 25; 6:30pm; Virtual Meeting via Google Meets; commenced 7:15pm
Called to order by Principal Dr. Margo Fraczek
Attendance: ~ 15 people
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
· Hot Cocoa Bar was a big success
o Extra supplies are being used for mini-hot cocoa bars with national junior honor society members volunteering
o Cost is 3 pride points
· RI Black Story Tellers will be at the school on Friday, Jan. 28 for 6th graders
· CMS play - Alice in Wonderland will be performed this Friday and Saturday at the high school
· MCAS dates have been set
· Acceleration Academy will take place in February to offer academic support to ~ 100 kids who need it as a result of the pandemic
o Motion made to provide funding to Dr. Fraczek to provide prizes/gift bags for students attending the acceleration academy in the amount of $350
o Motion seconded
o Motion passed
FUNDRAISING
· Dine outs
o January Bertucci’s dine out raised $425.49
o Previous dine outs: Cheateau - $332.70, Jake n Joes - $257.37
o No dine out scheduled yet for February – Lexa to look into – will try for Feb. 10th since it’s a half day
· Winner Wheel
o January raised $669.13. Prize of AirPods were donated.
o Feb. Winner prize and date – TBD
• Suggested prizes that were big successes at the Balch: Solo Stoves; Yeti Cooler, Vacuums, Kitchen aid
TREASURER REPORT
· ~ $10,000 in the account. Some of the money is earmarked for the 8th grade yearbook from ads purchased by local businesses and parent messages
8th GRADE YEARBOOK
· Reminder to 8th grade parents for 8th graders to send baby pictures to the yearbook
· Parent messages available for $15
· Money raised subsidizes the cost of the yearbook
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
· PTO to support spring activities – 6th grade field day, 7th grade tree top adventures, 8th grade dance and launch night
ADDITIONAL ITEMS
· LaTasha to do a candy surprise for the teachers on Valentine’s Day
· Discussed doing the hot dog cart for teachers again this spring
· Next PTO meeting is Feb. 15th – moved as the original date would be during school
vacation
A New CMS
"The Town of Norwood's Middle School Building Committee is working with lead architect Ai3 and project manager Compass on the design of a proposed new Coakley Middle School. To learn more about the work of the Middle School Building Committee please take a look at these videos."
(insert video links)
"For additional information visit the project's website at https://newcmsproject.org/"
Or check out the following videos:
https://clientportal.vertexeng.com/dl/v35Ecqpiax
Clubs and Teams at CMS
This week, I have a list of clubs that will be starting soon. Next week, we will have start dates and meeting times listed as well.
Friendship Club - Monthly - Sign up in room 100
Student Council - First Meeting Thursday, October 14
Artist Circle - Wednesday 2:10-3:00pm
Yearbook Club - Grade 8 Only: every other Wednesday
Bowling Club - Friday's in January and February
Intramural Sports - Start Early October
Homework Club - Starting September 27th at 2:10 pm in the Library
Drama Club - 1st and 3rd Mondays starting October 4th in room 101
Rocket Club - Spring 2022
Cartooning Club - Meets Mondays, Starting October 25th
Math Team - First meeting Thursday, September 28th
More to come!
Absence, Tardy, Dismissal Process
Absence Process
As we head into the winter season, I wanted to clarify how to call your child in for an Absence, tardy, or for dismissal. I will also leave this info at the bottom of all future newsletters for easy referral.
If you need to call your child in absent or tardy, please call the student absent line: 781-762-7880 and press #1. Please state your child's first and last name, the date, and the reason for the absence/tardy (sick, appointment, etc)
If your child needs to be dismissed, have your child bring a note from you to school, come to the main office in the morning and fill out a dismissal slip.
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