The Connection

The Weekly Newsletter of IACS-MS

 

From the Principal

 

October 9^th, 2009

 

Dear Families:

 

Believe it or not, the first quarter of the school year is halfway over.  The last day of the first quarter is November 13^th, and students will receive their first quarter assessments on November 25^th.  There are a number of systems that we have in place to keep you updated on your child’s progress at school, and I want to take this opportunity to remind you of what they are. 

 

 You have been issued a password for the x2 database that allows you to see your child’s scores on major assignments as they are added to teachers’ grade books.  Most teachers update their grade books weekly or biweekly.  If you have any questions about what you are seeing (or not seeing) in grade books on x2, we encourage you to contact teachers directly to get more information about what is going on.  Students who have shown a pattern of not completing homework, or who have not passed in major rubric assignments, will be asked to stay for Work Completion Center for a specified period of time.  You will be notified of this by phone call or email from Tina Lindberg.  If you have questions or concerns about the request, we again encourage you to contact teachers directly to seek clarification.  We offer Work Completion Center to provide time and space for students to get caught up on their work because we know that lack of work completion is a barrier to success both in school and beyond.  That said, it is always your prerogative as a parent to decline our request.  If you prefer to work with your child at home to ensure that the needed work is completed, that is great.  Finally, students who are in danger of being placed on academic probation will be receiving mid-quarter interim reports through the mail.  These reports went into the mail today.   

 

The staff members at IACS-MS care deeply about providing the best quality education to your children, and we work hard every day to do this. Our partnership with families is of the utmost importance in ensuring success for all students. Please let us know if you have questions about using x2 and to offer your support or constructive feedback as we work together in making this a great year for your child.

 

Best,

 

Kathleen Seward

 

 

 

 

News and Happenings

Morning Drop-Off: Students can be dropped off at the school beginning at 7:40 each morning.  There is no supervision before this time, and students will not be allowed into the building before 7:40.  Please help us keep students safe and supervised by honoring this drop-off time. 

String Ensemble: Come join an after school String Ensemble:  Do you play a string instrument and would like to be a part of an ensemble?  Julia Harmon, a string teacher from Billerica, is putting together an after school string orchestra on Tuesdays.  We need all types of strings:  Violins, violas, cellos and basses and all levels of skill.  Please e-mail Julia at cellofish@yahoo.com for more information. 

5/6 Field Trip to Plimoth Plantation: And you thought the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock was big news….wait until IACS lands this week! Students on the Community Membership team depart at 8 am on Tuesday, October 13^th and return by dismissal on Wednesday, October 14^th. The Effective Communication team departs at 8 am on Thursday, October 15^th and returns by dismissal on Friday, October 16^th. Please see the attached Plimoth FAQ, if needed.

 

Sexual Health Curriculum Meeting:

On Monday, November 2^nd, from 6-7pm there will be a meeting for parents to discuss the curriculum for the Sexual Health unit. All middle school students will have the opportunity to participate, at some point during this school year, in the sexual health unit.  These classes are part of health education classes and are taught by the health education/wellness teachers. 

 

Prior to participating in these health classes all parents will be asked to return a signed consent form indicating their desire to have their child participate (or not) in the sexual health unit.  These forms will be available at the meeting.

 

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the program, please plan on attending the meeting.  This meeting is an opportunity for parents to see first hand what information will be discussed in the classes.  It is also a wonderful forum for parents discuss thoughts, concerns, etc. with other middle school parents concerning this very important topic.

 

SAVE THE DATE!!!!  IACS SCHOOL SPIRIT NIGHT:

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21^st 6:30 -8:30 PM

This will be a great event for folks of all ages, so invite your families, parents, siblings, teachers and friends to come out for an evening of music and entertainment!  Held in the IACS Auditorium, there will be trivia and prizes, with live musical entertainment performed by Jim Zaroulis and Dave Ayotte. Come join the fun!  Tickets are just $2, BUT SEATING IS LIMITED!  You can purchase your tickets during lunch from the main office or complete the ticket flyer that is attached to this week’s Connection/Family Journal and return it to the office.  You can also contact Ellen DiPasquale with questions or for further information 978-479-9778, etdipasquale@comcast.net.  We look forward to seeing you there.

 

Drama Production: You and your family will not want to miss the first IACS High School drama production in our beautiful auditorium!  We will proudly present Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" on December 4 and 5 at 7:00pm.  Tickets are $10 each and are available now.  Please read the ticket order form for more information.  We will probably sell out quickly, so order yours today!