The Mustang Minute
October 28, 2023 - Issue 10
November?
It's hard to believe that November is here! Grade 6 had an excellent time at the first Annual Halloween Dance this past Friday. We plan to do more activities for all 3 grades over the next few months! Thanks to the PTO and all the parent and Norwood high School volunteers to helped make the dance fantastic for everyone!
Fall Intramurals: Session 2
Session II of intramurals will be Floor Hockey on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the gym afterschool from 3:30-4:10, beginning on November 9th and running until December 21st. The cost is $40. Permission slips are available outside guidance and in the main office and attached to this newsletter. Please return completed forms and payments by November 8th to Mr. Bell in room 101. Any questions, please see Mr. Bell or email him at jbell@norwood.k12.ma.us
Metrowest Heath Survey
This Thursday is the Metrowest Heath Survey for all students at CMS. I have attached an information sheet about the survey. we give this survey every two years to help guide the services and supports we provide to students. You may view a copy of the survey in the CMS main office this week and opt out forms were sent home.
PTO Meeting
Please take a look at the PTO notes below from this past week's meeting. Many more exciting events are happening!
Congratulations!
To out Cross Country and Volleyball teams that finished their season's this week! The level of dedication and growth over the course of their seasons was amazing!!
Halloween Spirit Day
On Oct9ober 31st, we will have a whole school Halloween spirit day! Get out your Orange and Black gear! No costumes please but Halloween themed clothing is okay.
Real Mustangs Wear Pink
Still Smiling Late on Friday!
PTO Winner wheel Fundraiser!
One of the PTO's most successful fundraisers is the Winner Wheel- purchase a raffle ticket, spin the wheel, (hopefully) win a prize! Even if you're not the winner, you're donating money for enrichment and events at Coakley. Past items have included Apple Watch, Air Pods, and a TV.
WE NEED YOU- do you have an item that would be perfect for the Winner Wheel- tickets to an event? gift card to a friend/family owned restaurant? Are you willing to purchase an item that could be used for the Winner Wheel? Please contact the PTO at coakleynorwoodpto@gmail.com to make a donation or with any questions.
Nurses Corner
Attention 8th grade families:
Massachusetts law requires annual postural screening in school from grades 5 through 9. The school nurses will be conducting postural screens for all eighth graders currently taking Wellness, beginning on October 23, 2023. Each screen is conducted privately and requires removal of the student's shirt, so that the spine can be accurately assessed. More information on these screenings are available on the NPS website and in the CMS handbook.
Any parent or guardian wishing to opt your student out of the postural screening should email tsperber@norwood.k12.ma.us or send in a written opt-out note. We need the opt out notices every year, so if you have declined in the past and want to opt out again, please send in again. Please don't hesitate to email tsperber@norwood.k12.ma.us or call 781-440-5926 with any questions or concerns.
The Coakley School Nurse Team: Tova Sperber, RN; Joyce Kozol, RN; Danielle Flynn, RN
Attention 7th grade families:
The school nurses will be conducting vision, hearing, height, weight and postural screens for all seventh graders, as required by Massachusetts law, beginning on October 30, 2023. Each screen is conducted privately and the postural screen requires removal of the student's shirt, so that the spine can be accurately assessed. More information on these screenings are available on the NPS website and in the CMS handbook.
Any parent or guardian wishing to opt your student out of any one of these screenings should email tsperber@norwood.k12.ma.us or send in a written opt-out note. We need the opt out notices every year, so if you have declined in the past and want to opt out again, please send in again. Please don't hesitate to email tsperber@norwood.k12.ma.us or call 781-440-5926 with any questions or concerns.
The Coakley School Nurse Team: Tova Sperber, RN; Joyce Kozol, RN; Danielle Flynn, RN
Bus Passes - Monday Afternoon
Due to overcrowding, students may only ride their own bus until further notice.
No School and Early Release Days
November 10th - No School Veterans Day
November 16th - Early release at 12:30pm Parent Teacher Conferences
November 22nd - Early release at 12:30pm Thanksgiving
November 23rd and 24th - No School Thanksgiving
The PTO Needs You!
Coakley PTO
The Coakley PTO would like to welcome everyone back to school! The PTO is a parent/teacher organization that helps fund a variety of activities at CMS from assemblies, to field trips, to classroom projects and more. We would love for everyone to be a part of the PTO!
PTO meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm both virtually and in person. The dates are listed below a link to the meeting online is sent out the day of the meeting.
Next Meeting: November 28th at 7:00pm
December 19th (adjusted for winter break)
January 23rd
February 27th
March 26th
April 23rd
May 28th
June 18th
Please email coakleynorwoodPTO@gmail.com or mfraczek@norwood.k12.ma.us if you are interested in volunteering or being a part of the PTO!
Notes from October 24th Meeting
Guests in attendance/contact info:
John Greeley, jgreeley@norwood.k12.ma.us
Eileen Siegel, esiegel@norwood.k12.ma.us
AGENDA
Special Guest
Bob Blood, Impact Norwood
Unable to log in to Google Meet
Will send info for November Meeting
Principal Update
School Dance-
7 teachers chaperoning
NHS student volunteers helping too
Permission slips went home Monday
Kids are excited
Ms. Siegel will help with set up during Mustang block
Kids want to change into costume during Mustang block
PTO Advisory Council to Superintendent-
Gwendolyne volunteered :)
DC Trip Scholarship Program- Vote on request for $1200
17 applicants for scholarship- all will be granted
Tony Mazzucco, Town Manager, scholarship donation (amount tbd)
Rob made motion to approve, passed unanimously
Daddy’s Dairy- Vote on request for $431.80
Rob made motion to approve, passed unanimously
Reminder of Early release and PD Days in November
11/7 no school- PD, election day
11/10 no school- Veteran’s day observed
11/16 early release- parent conferences
11/23 early release- Thanksgiving recess
11/24 and 11/25 no school- Thanksgiving recess
Parent Teacher Conferences
11/8 evening
11/14 evening
11/16 afternoon
Teachers will send out sign ups
PTO will do table- Gwendolyne volunteered!
Looking ahead to a 7th grade evening event (“Teen Fun Night”)
Kids do better in age group
December? Friday night? 15th?, Need: sign up genius for drinks and food, volunteers to chaperone (no real decorations required)
Students play manhunt, basketball in gym, set up video games
Fundraiser for PTO (charge students $3)
Teacher Update, Ms. Siegel, 6th grade special ed teacher
“Welcome Club”
4 sign ups at open house
Other parents have mentioned interest
Hoping to start promoting after Halloween- get kids involved
Match new students at school, connect families
Hoping to organize family night- Civic center? (accessible via public transportation) Alisha will reach out
Gwendolyne offered to build resource list (food pantry and other services available) and share with Ms. Siegel
Treasurer’s Update-
Balance- $7,179
Incoming money (fundraising)- $740 deposited from Venmo, $140 more in account (dues and spirit of giving), haven’t received check from Spirit Gear yet (about $400)
Outgoing money (budget requests/payments)- $1200 for DC Scholarships, $431.80 for Daddy’s Dairy, Still waiting for 6th grade Ice Cream Social Invoice from Food Services
Need to set aside some money for yearbooks
Rob will do taxes next month at H and R Block
Board Member Updates
Apparel- almost $400 profit, 100 orders, kept 10% of sales ($4000 ordered), some issues with orders- use company again?, Rob will share contact info for inquiries
Dine outs- Jake n JOES- this Thursday, Parent Square reminder
Grants (Rhini)- deadline, reaching out
Savers FUNDrive (Alisha)- reached out, waiting to hear back
8th grade Committee Update- no members present to check in with
Winner Wheel- PTO will purchase Apple Watch, Gwendolyne will do flyer to include in Mustang Minute, will print out info to have available so parents can purchase at Conferences on the 16th (all order will be due on the 17th), will send out inquiry via Mustang Minute re: parent donations for future Winner Wheels
Katie R. reached out about helping with fundraising (will table for November meeting)
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