Blue Jay Broadcast
February 19, 2021
Dear Families,
We are excited to welcome back our students in Cohort A this Monday, February 22nd and wanted to remind everyone of a few procedures.
1. All students MUST complete the Covid Symptom Tracker in the parent portal by 7:15am on the days they are entering the school building.
2. Students returning to the building should then proceed to the high school wearing an appropriate mask (link to mask protocol can be accessed on the district website) and use the following door locations to have their temperature taken (students will be able to enter the building after 7:45am):
a. Freshmen – Door 1 – Main Entrance
b. Sophomores – Door 5 – Media Center Entrance
c. Juniors – Door 14 – Gym Entrance
d. Seniors – Door 15 – Back Parking Lot Entrance
e. Any student with a zero period should proceed to Door 1 – Main Entrance between 7:15 and 7:30am.
f. Students entering the school after 8am will need to come to the Door 2 – Visitors Entrance
3. Students will need their student ID or know their student ID number to scan in each morning and that they will use every day in order to sign in and out of various locations in the school building.
4. Lockers will not be accessible. Students will bring all their belongings to each of their classrooms. Students should pay attention to one way hallway signage.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
#InThisTogether #WeGotThis
All My Best,
Ms. Dana Chibbaro, Principal
M2M Academy Announcements
Information Session #1 - Tuesday, March 2, 2021 - 6pm
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpdu-sqzgiEtVFmEUwOtfYMiZj2AG2VuMx
Information Session #2 - Wednesday, March 3, 2021 - 2pm
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUuf-mupj4pH9Pb2OTOtM5WHxy7f4oCwObm
Information Session #3 - Thursday, March 4, 2021 - 6pm
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcuc-GoqjwjHtEn81rR3u8xttVVyyJw3wxa
We have also created a Google Site loaded with information about our new Academy program. You can access the Site at https://sites.google.com/middlesex.k12.nj.us/middlesextomiddlesexacademy/home
2021 educational services professional and support staff member of the year
The Middlesex School District recognizes and honors the outstanding contributions of all of our teachers and support staff.
One Education Services Professional and one Support Staff Member will be chosen to represent each primary school and the high school. Two Education Services Professionals and two Support Staff Members will be chosen to represent the upper and lower levels at the middle school.
SELECTION PROCESS
1. A committee will include:
o Superintendent
o Assistant Superintendent
o Director of Special Services
o Principal & Assistant Principals from each school
o Supervisor of Curriculum & Instruction
o Mayor of Middlesex
o Past Year’s Awardee(s) from each school
o PTO President from each school
o MEA President (or designee)
o BOE Education Committee Members
2. Nomination forms must be submitted to the Curriculum & Instruction Office by
Monday, March 8, 2021.
3. On Tuesday, March 23, 2021, 10 a.m. the Committee will convene in the BOE meeting room. Each school’s representatives will cycle through to discuss their respective candidates (Principal, previous year’s awardee(s) & PTO President). The committee will select the honorees from the nominations received.
4. Dr. Frederick D. Williams, Superintendent of Schools will announce the honorees and present a bouquet of flowers at scheduled assemblies at each school building on Thursday, March 25, 2021.
5. There will be a presentation of plaques and mini grants by the Board of Education to honorees at the Board of Education meeting in April 26, 2021.
Click HERE for the packet materials.
National Honor Society Community Service
The food pantry committee gave special recognition and thanks to the Middlesex High School National Honor Society for both their generous donation of $285 which they used to help purchase and stock the Food Bank and their time spent helping to package and distribute bags of food to our community families in need during this pandemic. They wish to acknowledge each by name and in particular are grateful to Miss Tori Eodice who has not only been with us since opening day, but has been beneficial in the organization and job assignments of the students while they are at the food bank. Thanks went also to Marissa Todd, President of the NHS, who took the time to shop for the many items donated by the NHS and to the following students who have donated their time to help their community: Kylie Chalfant, Tamazi Neparidze, Dylan Beyes, John Tran, Habeba Bashwan, Abby Edler, Kristina Burr, Jessica Maurigi, Carolyn Parkin, Kristen Yonker, and Justin Groei. You are all appreciated!
Scholastic Award
Congratulations to Isabella Prombio! She and her teachers Mr. Marc Koellhoffer were recognized by the Region-at-Large program of the 2021 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers in the Pretty Silver Key and No For An Answer categories for her poetry.
Since 1923 the Scholastic Awards have recognized some of America’s most celebrated artists when they were teenagers. We are proud that you will be counted among such as an esteemed group of Alumni which include, Andy Warhol, Tschabalala Self, Stephen King, Charles White, Joyce Carol Oates, and Kay Walkingstick.
Congratulations again on this remarkable achievement!
Mrs. Clark Recognized by National Publication
Please read the article featured below and join us in celebrating another member of our amazing staff!
Scheduling for Next Year
The 2021-2022 MHS Program of Studies was approved by the Middlesex Board of Education on Monday evening. This booklet is designed to assist you in planning a course of study appropriate to your needs, interests and aptitudes. Please review it, as it contains important information regarding course offerings, prerequisites and graduation requirements. A digital copy can be found on the MHS Counseling website found here:http://www.middlesex.k12.nj.us/msd/Departments/Counseling/Program%20of%20Studies.pdf?1610642533
Over the next several weeks, the counselors will hold academic planning meetings with each student individually. In preparation for this meeting, we ask that each student complete the Google Form for their "Class of" to prioritize their elective choices by January 27th.
Class of 2024- Rising Sophomores: https://forms.gle/HvUEtWHUYBMNUKaHA
Class of 2023- Rising Juniors: https://forms.gle/1xP59zu75LQtezoR7
Class of 2022- Rising Seniors: https://forms.gle/hpHV1dfuGbxobWxR6
Once teachers have completed academic recommendations and students have prioritized their choices of electives, you will be notified to view the GENESIS Parent Portal. Your child's school counselor is available if any questions or concerns arise as we prepare for your next year at Middlesex High School.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Powers
District Director of Guidance
School Photos
We will be holding two FINAL Underclassmen Photo Sessions on Wednesday, March 10th and Thursday March 11th, from 2-8PM in the Gym Lobby (Door 15).
Please sign up for a time slot here: Sign up link
These are the absolute last days for underclassmen to get their pictures taken for the school yearbook and their ID card for this year. Please make it a priority to attend one of these sessions if you have still not had your picture taken.
Additionally, students will need to complete the Covid Symptom Tracker on GENESIS Parent Portal before arriving for their appointment. The link below contains the directions for how to access the tracker. Upon arrival to the school, students will present and scan their school ID (or type in their student ID# which can be found in the Parent Portal) which will then provide the green light for staff to take their temperature. Masks must be worn and can only be removed during the photo session itself. https://tinyurl.com/UnderclassmanPhotos
2020-2021 Yearbook
To order a yearbook, please click here.
For yearbook FAQs about photos or sales, please click here.
Attendance
Daily attendance is driven from period 1 but credit for individual courses is based on class attendance for each individual course. If a student isn’t in period 1 or is missing for half the class they may be marked absent for the day and absent from their class. Students are in danger of losing credit when they exceed 20 absences for the year in any single class.
We expect students to be on time for class and to keep their cameras on for the duration of the class. We respectfully request that all attempts are made to ensure that students have a home environment conducive to learning from 8am - 1pm so that they can fully concentrate on the instruction being provided.
Class Attendance in the Parent Portal
We have now added a new tab in the parent portal for parents and students to see attendance for each class that a student is enrolled in. It is found under the ATTENDANCE tab----- Class Attendance tab. If you should have any questions please contact the teacher first with regard to class attendance.
Join the Principal Advisory Committee
The meetings will take place monthly in the evening via Zoom. If you are interested in participating please email me at chibbarod@middlesex.k12.nj.us
MHS Digital Announcement Board
B.R.I.G.H.T. - Building Relationships and Inspiring Growth and Hope Together
This program is a dynamic partnership between the Middlesex public school district and University Behavioral Healthcare (UBHC), a division of Rutgers University. The primary objective of the program is to help assure that children and adolescents will obtain needed assistance in an accessible location. They provide a range of free and confidential mental health services at the Middlesex Public Schools.
Referrals will be accepted from the student’s counselor, CST case manager, or school administrator. Teachers, school nurse and other staff members with concerns should contact the student’s counselor. Referrals may also be accepted directly from students and/or parents/guardians. The school counselor, CST member or administrator will meet with the student to discuss the referral and obtain informed parent/guardian consent concerning their interest in making a referral. They will also advise the school counselor that they are making the referral.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your child's counselor.
Middlesex Public Schools Virtual Learning Expectations
Virtual Learning Parent Etiquette
For the protection of the other students:
§ Please do not appear in a Google Meet with your child or in place of your child.
§ Please do not interfere in a virtual lesson.
§ Please do not record a Google Meet.
Chromebook Not Working? Try these troubleshooting tips
Middlesex High School
Administration
Dana Chibbaro, Principal
Scott Walsh, Assistant Principal
Jennifer Powers, Director of School Counseling Services
Mike O’Donnell, Director of Athletics
School Counselors
Students with Last Names A-F
Karen Blumetti
Students with Last Names G-N
Gina Shehu
Students with Last Names O-Z
James Schmitt
Student Assistance Counselor
Stacy Ulmer
School Resource Officer
Officer Joleen Auricchio
Teacher Leaders English: Gabrielle Smith Fine and Practical Arts: Kelly Clark Mathematics: Jessica Bodenschatz Physical Education: Gary Brenner Science: Diane Gitler Social Studies: Paul Vernaci Special Education: Kristen Berkowitz World Languages: Ken Perez Support Staff School Nurse: Amelia Paul Librarian: Lauren Heiba Head Secretary: Theresa Cuba Main Office Secretary: Denise Calabrese School Counseling Secretary: Patricia Gardner
Email: chibbarod@middlesex.k12.nj.us
Website: www.middlesex.k12.nj.us
Location: Middlesex High School, John F Kennedy Drive, Middlesex, NJ, USA
Phone: 732-317-6000