January Newsletter
January 3, 2024
Principal's Corner
January 1, 2024
Dear IRS Families,
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Wow to think that it is already ⅓ of the way through the school year. It seems as though time is moving real fast. I hope the winter holiday break was a relaxing and enjoyable time with family and friends as we welcome you all back to school in 2024.
Events coming our way in the month of January:
NELMS Spotlight team to come and present us with our recognition banner TBA
January 15 - NO School - Holiday
Second Quarter Grades close on Tuesday, January 23, 2024
January 24th is an Early Dismissal day - 12:40PM
January 31, 2024 is Student of the Month Assembly.
Welcome to 2024, enjoy our newsletter and have a very Happy New Year!
Warmest Regards,
Kevin Towle
Principal
** The picture you see is one of our staff members showing their school spirit before the holiday break**
Winter Clothing
While we've had a mild winter, snow will eventually make it's appearance. We would like to remind you, and your student(s) on what clothing is recommended for OUTDOOR play.
Students should have:
- Winter Coat
- Snow Pants
- Boots
- Hat
- Mittens/Gloves
If you need help getting your student warm clothing for outdoor play please reach out as we are able to secure some items to help those in need. Email Erica Ball at EBall@MVRSD.org
News from Ms. Fisher
Since the beginning of the school year, Ms. Fisher has been keeping a tally of how many 100% or more students have received on their tests and assignments. To teach the children about being a humanitarian and about generosity, she made a pledge with her students, one that she started last year.
For every 100% or more the students received, she will donate $1 to a fund. That fund will be used to support a cause close to her heart, Heifer International. She personally donates to Heifer International monthly and wanted the students to donate to that foundation first. For any future donations, the students can pick any foundations that they wish, within certain guidelines.
On Wednesday December 20, 2023, the students of 8th grade sat quietly around Ms. Fisher while she made the call of their official donation/pledge. Throughout the phone call she placed the “order” for the things the 65 students had voted on.
They ordered:
Dream Basket - which includes a sheep, heifer, goat, rabbits and a flock of chicks, along with training and education in their care. $120
Pig - $120
3 Flocks of Chicks - $20 per flock ($60)
7 Flocks of Ducks - $20 per flock ($140)
$50 to Give Where Needed Most
$10 to reach $500 that went toward feeding the hungry
While they were on the phone, Ms. Fisher asked what the “4x the Impact” meant. There were tears when the representative from Heifer International informed them that 4x the Impact meant that the $500 was going to actually be a $2000 donation in their names.
To learn more about Heifer International please visit https://www.heifer.org
Quit Vaping Resources
Vaping is an everyday presence in many of our middle schoolers' lives. Whether it’s an ad on social media, social media creators actively using vapes online, through their friends, or the easy accessibility to the products, our students hear these messages an ads about vaping all the time.
As parents, you want to make sure that your students have the right information about the effects vaping has on your model. You also want them to come talk to you about what they are seeing or hearing. If you are struggle to come up with how to have the tough conversation the American Lung Association has created this website about vaping. (https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/helping-teens-quit/talk-about-vaping/conversation-guide)
Our grade 7th and 8th grade School Counselor, Laura Donica, has limited copies of the Parent Handbook from Operation Parent. These handbooks can help you speak with your child about vaping, social media, dating, and other important topics. They are also available, both paperback, Spanish, and digital copy, through their website https://www.operationparent.org/store
Here at school we try to intervene as much as possible. However, we know this is happening with more students than we are able to help. It is important to know your student has access to resources that can help them quit vaping if they have already started.
The state also has an anonymous website called My Life, My Quit. This program is free to kids in New Hampshire that are under the age of 18. The website can be found at https://nh.mylifemyquit.org/index.
Winter Sports
Basketball
Winter sports are well underway. Over the holiday break our Boys A & B basketball teams and our Girls A Basketball Team participated in the Lyme Holiday Tournament. While the boys fell short placing second overall; the girls were able to secure the win for the championship. Congratulations to all players that participated in the tournament.
Wrestling
Although our wrestling club didn't have any meets over the holiday break they participated in the Rams Rumble on December 10th.
Gaige Collins took 3rd in his bracket, Jadyn Bledsoe took 4th in his bracket, Ben Brown took 3rd in his bracket. In the heavy weight bracket the IRS Wrestling team took home the top three spots - Bill Brown, Bob Brown, and Riley Hathaway.
4H Babysitting Course
Below you will find the flyer for an upcoming 4-H Youth Babysitting Class. Registration is due by Friday January 12th.
To register visit: https://qualtrics.uvm.edu/jfe/form/SV_8vtclebmRD3eo3s
December Student of the Month
Outdoor Learning Experience (OLE)
Our next session will begin Wednesday January 10, and we will start accepting applications now. OLE has put a due back date of January 5, 2024. Please choose the preference of day and return the forms either by email to eball@mvrsd.org or have your student bring the form back in.
Upcoming School Events
No School - Holiday
Monday, Jan 15, 2024, 07:00 AM
2nd Quarter Grades Close
Tuesday, Jan 23, 2024, 07:00 AM
Early Release
Wednesday, Jan 24, 2024, 12:45 PM
Other Community News
Lost & Found
The Lost & Found table is cleared - all items were donated. We plan to do this every month, so be sure to have your student check if they are missing any items.