The Mustang Minute
December 11, 2021 - Issue 15
No Delays to our Learning
In a true testament of how early the day begins at CMS, Friday morning was a little confusing! Due to a power outage that affected the high school and several elementary schools, the superintendent called for a two-hour delay at around 7:15AM. By 7:15AM at CMS - kids are at their lockers, all buses have arrived and we are well on our way into the school day! we certainly would have loved to sleep in but we also got a good jump on the day!
This week students had an opportunity to spend some Pride Points at the Pride Store. It was very popular and we have a few classrooms that still need to finish up on Monday. Lot's of our students are earning lots of points! On December 22 students will be able to use their points to purchase hot cocoa and toppings. To help offset the cost for this reward the PTO has created a Amazon Wishlist to make donating supplies easy. If you prefer to pick up items at your local store, check the list below and feel free to drop items off at the main office.
November Citizens of the Month
Grade 8: Langston Coyle, Osman Chuc Talsuy, Nick Brewer, Adham Elsayed
Grade 7: Madison Doucette, Kenny Nicholls, Amara Ndegwa
Grade 6: Johnathan Rizzo, AdrianaMarie DiFlaminies, Jorge Barrera Gonzalez
Coakley PTO Hot Cocoa WishList
Large Canisters of Hot Cocoa
Peppermint candies (hard candy)
Mini Marshmallows
Sprinkles
Oreos
mini-chocolate chips
12 oz hot drink cups
CMS Holiday Present Drive
Coakley Middle School’s Holiday Drive
This year, we are collecting for local families! All gifts will be for upper elementary and middle school aged children.
When: Monday, December 13 to Tuesday, December 21
Where: Drop off in boxes in Miss Siegel’s (M4), Mrs. Bayiates’ (M1) room or in Ms. Doliner’s office (207A).
Who: See Miss Siegel/Mrs.Bayiates with any questions.
Requested Items
**All items should be new and unwrapped.**
Gift Cards (Starbucks, Amazon, Target, Kohls, Dicks Sporting Goods, Launch Trampoline Park, Visa/Mastercard, Walmart, Old Navy, Five Below, Spot, Juice Bar, Norwood Sports Center, Dunkin Donuts, Game Stop, McDonald’s, Best Buy, etc.)
Norwood Gear (sweatshirts, pants, hats, pajama pants, etc. in medium, large, or extra large)
Local Sports Gear (Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, Celtics sweatshirts, pants, hats, pajama pants, shirts, etc. in medium, large, or extra large)
Winter Attire (hats, winter coats in medium, large, or extra large, slippers, fuzzy socks)
Holiday Help!
This year has been very challenging for many families in our community. If you are a family in need of holiday assistance, please reach out to your child's grade level guidance counselor. Similarly, if you are interested in donating gift cards to Norwood families, please reach out to your child’s grade level guidance counselor. (Suggested donations include gift cards to Target, Walmart, Kohls, Old Navy, TJMaxx & Marshalls.) Please make all requests/donations by Friday December 17th.
7th and 8th Grade Upcoming Human Development Classes
Dear Parent/Guardian,
In the coming weeks, as part of our 7th and 8th Grade Health curriculums, students will be covering several topics related to human growth and development: reproductive anatomy, fertilization to birth, and changing bodies/minds/relationships. These topics are included under state and national standards for Health Education.
The focus of this work relates to giving our students the tools to make confident healthy decisions during one of the most difficult times in life, adolescence. Due to the nature of these topics, teachers will navigate these lessons with students using the utmost caution and sensitivity. You may find that your child starts asking questions about the topic at home, or you might want to take the opportunity to talk to your child about issues such as those above before the work is covered in school.
If you have any questions about the content of the lessons or resources used please do not hesitate to contact me at school. Teachers will be using The Great Body Shop basic curriculum, as well as selected resources from Amaze.org, to guide these discussions and work.
Please return the notice attached to this newsletter, or email your student’s teacher directly, only if you wish for your student NOT to participate in this unit.
School Start Times
Reminder to all Norwood Public Schools students, families and staff:
Last year the School Committee voted to implement new school start times for the 2021-2022 school year. As the NPS administrative team finalizes plans for extended day, transportation, athletics, bell schedules, and other integral systems impacted by the change in times we wanted you to have this information now for your planning purposes.
Please plan on the range of start and end times below; finalized times will be announced in early 2022.
Elementary schools start time: 7:40-7:50 am/1:55 pm* dismissal
Willett School start time 8:00-8:10 am/1:30 pm* dismissal
Norwood High School start time 8:10-8:20 am/2:50 pm* dismissal
Coakley Middle School start time 8:40-8:50 am/3:20 pm* dismissal
*Any shift in the start time by a few minutes within the stated range could impact the end time by the same amount of minutes.
Middle School Wrestling Program
Norwood Middle School Wrestling returns. This program is designed to introduce the great sport of wrestling to students in grades 6-8. We will focus on developing agility, coordination, balance, and flexibility through both non-contact and contact drills and exercises. In addition to a fantastic work-out, wrestling helps to develop self-esteem, discipline, accountability, and your overall work ethic. Coaches will make their best efforts to pair wrestlers with opponents of similar size and ability level. All wrestlers will be given a Norwood Wrestling t-shirt, shorts, and socks after the first week of practice. Each wrestler must provide their own wrestling shoes and register through their Aspen school account.
- Practice Days/Times: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3:30pm—4:45pm
- Start/End Date: 12/09/21 through 2/10/22
- Location: Norwood High School Gym
- Fee: TBD (financial hardship scholarships are available please email Jonathan Longley, athletic director, for information. jlongley@norwood.k12.ma.us)
- Questions? Email Seth Wyman at sethw@first-and-ten.com
The PTO Needs You!
PTO Board Openings
With the new year comes new opportunities to be involved with CMS. We are looking for PTO Board members that collectively make decisions about activities for the school. We are also in need of a PTO treasurer. The treasurer maintains the records and bank account for the PTO. Please email coakleynorwoodPTO@gmail.com or mfraczek@norwood.k12.ma.us if you are interested.
Welcome to our newest board member Martine Burnsed!
PTO Meeting Dates (4th Tuesday of the month)
December - TBD
January 25th
February - TBD
March 22nd
April 26nd
May 24th
June - TBD
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
Bus Switching & Passes
Please note that bus passes will be required for all buses starting Monday, November 22, 2021.
Grade 8: Blast from the Past
Attention 8th grade parents and students! We need your BLAST FROM THE PAST photos for the yearbook! Do you have photos from a party, field trip, sports game or other events? Please send them to cmsyearbook@norwood.k12.ma.us by December 23rd.
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 - First Meeting, Wednesday, October 27th during MB - sign up in room 100
Student Council - First Meeting Thursday, October 14
Artist Circle - Wednesday 2:10-3:00pm
Yearbook Club - Grade 8 Only Starts October 6th in 201 (every other Wednesday)
Bowling Club - Begins in January 2022
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!
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