Monday Morning Minute 6-01-15
?The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character ? that is the goal of true education.? ~Martin Luther King, Jr.  

Good morning,
 
As the school year enters into the final stretch, things are really starting to heat up here at the middle school. Our big trips to D.C. and the Cape are over, but each grade still has field trips to go on: the MFA, hiking, roller-skating, Kimball?s, Tower Hill and more! We just celebrated a fantastic Latin Banquet, an orchestra concert, and still have a chorus concert, band concert, Cape Cod night and Trills and Thrills coming up all within the next 3 weeks!

It is also an exciting time of year for us since the fifth graders come to visit! Two weeks ago, fifth graders from Claypit Hill came for a tour, and this week students from Happy Hollow are joining in a rite of passage, being welcomed at what will become their new school next year.  These visits always signal an end to a cohort of students, but allow us to get to know another new group just as quickly. It was great seeing the eager faces piling into the auditorium to learn about their new school. Even the outgoing eighth graders were excited. Many remarked to their teachers of wanting to go out and welcome the fifth graders. I am sure they are hoping that they can have the same experience when they have their Step-Up Day later this month.
 
Warm regards,
George
8th Grade Welcomes Rena Finder
June 4, 9:30 AM

This Thursday, June 4th, the eighth grade is honored to be hosting Rena Finder.  Ms. Finder was born in Krakow, Poland in 1929. She survived the Krakow ghetto, the Plaszow concentration camp and four weeks at Auschwitz.   She was saved through the actions of Oscar Schindler.  For over twenty-five years, Ms. Finder has been speaking to our eighth graders about her childhood, her journey through the Holocaust and the importance of being upstanders.  In 2011, she became our school's first honorary alumna. 

Eighth grade parents are welcome to attend this event, from 9:30 - 10:30 in the theater.  Please contact Jake Montwieler [[email protected]] or Matt McCormack [[email protected]] for more information. 
Upcoming Events .

ALL Grades
6/01 - 6/12:  Fitness Testing
6/03:  MS Band Concert, 7:30PM
6/05: Canobie Lake Music Trip
6/09:  MS Chorus Concert, 7:30PM
6/22: Last Day for Students, 1:10 Dismissal

Grade 6
6/02: G6 Spring Trip (POSTPONED - NEW DATE TBA)
6/10: G6 Orchestra Trip to TCW
6/12: G6 David Cluster, Trip to MFA 
6/18: G6 Social, 2:30-4:00PM

Grade 7
6/10: G7, Cape Cod Family Night, 6PM
6/17: G7, Roller Kingdom Trip, 2 to 5PM

Grade 8
6/19:  G8 Step-up Day at WHS, 12:30 - 2:00PM
6/19: G8 Kimballs Trip, 2:30 - 8:30PM
Artist of the Month
Artist: Noelle McGah
Title:  Under the Sea
Medium: Acrylic
Noelle has worked diligently to install this mural on the doors of an Art Lab cabinet. Her work has brightened the hallway and showcased Noelle's artistic talents. Noelle writes, "This large piece of art has been a fun and enjoyable way to end my middle school career. I hope that I inspire others to create more art pieces like this."
Reminders (from previous emails)
Check List for Parents
All Grades
Looking for ways to help lessen end-of-year demands on you and your child? There are a few things you can do now. Help your child to:

  1. Locate and return overdue school library books. Pay fines.
  2. Locate and return overdue classroom library books (marked on spine with either "ELA" or the teacher's name).
  3. Start bringing home unneeded locker items such as winter coats, boots, old papers, etc.
  4. Locate academic textbooks so they can be turned in when the school year ends.
  5. Check our lost & found for missing items.
  6. Pay any outstanding Food Services balances.
  7. Register for the school bus before fees increase on June 22.