NMS Boys Basketball Team Tryouts Schedule

NMS Boys Basketball Tryouts

Tryouts for the 2015-2016 basketball season will be held next week, and for the boys team, the times will be as follows:

Wednesday November 4 -     2:30-4:30

Thursday November 5       -     2:30-4:30

Friday November 6            -     2:30-4:30

Sign-up sheets and information packets are in the cafeteria.  Parents/Guardians must receive the packets as there are a few things they will need to take care of before you can tryout.

Any questions, please contact MPS Athletic Director Mr. Mike Perry at mperry@middleboro.k12.ma.us or NMS Boys Basketball Coach Mr. Shane Russell at srussell@middleboro.k12.ma.us

Student-Led/Parent-Teacher Conferences 10/28 & 11/5

Blackboard Connect Message Going Out

This evening you will be receiving a BlackBoardConnect message reminding parents/guardians about our Student-Led and Parent-Teacher Conferences on Wednesday, October 28, and Thursday, November 5.

Our Parent-Teacher and Student-Led Conferences are tomorrow night, Wednesday, October 28, 6 to 8:30 PM, and then next Thursday, November 5, from 4 to 6:30 PM.

The last couple of years, we have successfully piloted some Student-Led Conferences in pockets throughout the building, and we have continued this practice for we have seen the success it can have. 

Parents and Students, who presented to School Committee last Spring on the virtues of Student-Led Conferences.

This year, you may be engaged in a Student-Led Conference instead of a typical Parent-Teacher Conference.  The reasons for this are many-fold.

Your children have worked hard to prepare for these conferences so I hope you will come and listen to them as they explain for you what they have learned, how they are doing, and what they still need to continue to work on.

We believe Student-Led Conferences put the student, your child, at the center of his/her own learning.  Your child will sit and discuss with you how his/her learning is progressing and what he/she still needs to improve.

Research tells us that when we have the students at the center of their learning and give them a chance to explain it, they will achieve more.  So please come and experience this with us.

We understand that there also may be times where you need to talk with the teacher, and our teachers will be here on hand to do so as well.  But in the five minute time frame that you will have at a Parent-Teacher Conference, 

And if the night isn’t packed enough, we also have our Fall Book Fair in the Media Center and PTA will have raffles outside in the main hallway.

I have attached an excellent article on Student-Led Conferences.

As well as links to some of my blog posts from the last couple of years' Student-Led Conferences:
http://nicholsmiddle.blogspot.com/2015/04/spring-student-led-conferences-night-1.html
http://nicholsmiddle.blogspot.com/2014/10/parent-teacherstudent-led-conferences.html 

Thank you and hope to see you tomorrow night 6 to 8:30 PM or next Thursday, 4 to 6:30 PM for you to see how successful your child has been.  

ROAR Award Winners for September 2015

September 2015 ROAR Awards Handed Out

A couple of years ago, NMS began a new program, which recognizes student achievement each month.  the ROAR award is given by each cluster and Unified Arts to acknowledge students who have been Respectful, On-time,  (displaying a positive) Attitude, and Responsible.  The goal is to recognize students who not only take care of basic expectations in class but are good citizens and role models in our community.

This year we have also connected the ROAR program with our TIGERS culture-building protocol.  We are specifically looking for students who are Trustworthy, have Integrity, are Generous, are Empathetic, are Responsible, and show Strength. 

Award winners receive a certificate, a coupon for a free book at the book fair, bumper stickers for their parents’ cars, and their individual picture displayed in the Main Office for the month.

The September award winners received their certificates from Mr. Geoghegan, Ms. Rae, and Mr. Thomas in a brief ceremony.

The ROAR Award winners for September 2015 for each team were:

Grade 6 Challengers:  Gianna Pasquale

Grade 6 Adventurers:  Olivia Sacchetti

Grade 7 Explorers:  Sarah Cologero

Grade 7 Beacons:  Jordan Peebles

Grade 8 Apollos:  Luke Corboy

Grade 8 Comets:  Katerina LaCroix
Unified Arts:  Edward Kidd (8th Grade)

Congratulations to all!  Thank you for all your efforts; you are ROARing to a great beginning of the school year!

2016 NMS Yearbook -- Order Now.

Don’t miss out!

It’s time to purchase the 2016 NMS Yearbook.

Hard cover, 60 pages, all color.

Save $$$ if you order early.

If you order now $20

After January 22, $22

After May 2, $25

If you don’t order, risk possibility of not getting a yearbook. :(

Click here to see why.

Questions, please contact Ms. Debbie Walgreen, our NMS Yearbook Advisor at dwalgreen@middleboro.k12.ma.us

Halloween Candy for the Jimmy Fund 2015

6^th Annual

2015 Halloween Candy Drive

for

Kids with Cancer

Please help us by donating some of your Halloween candy to kids who cannot celebrate this year.  We’ll bring all of the donated candy to the Jimmy Fund Clinic at the Dana Farber Cancer Center in Boston.

A donation box will be available

Until November9^th. 

Contact the Main Office with any questions.

This is a joint venture between NMS and our very own, "Candy Girl" 8th Grader Morgan Derby

NMS School Council October Meeting, Wed 10/28 at 3PM in Media Center

2015-2016 John T. Nichols, Jr. Middle School Council

Are you interested in getting involved with your child’s education in another way besides PTA or fundraising?  Would you like to be more involved in the academic aspects and decision making of your child's education here at Nichols?  If you are, then seriously consider whether you would be interested in joining the Nichols Middle School Council (also called a School Improvement Council).  By law, every school in the country has to have a School Council.  

The law outlines four major areas of responsibility for councils.  School councils are to assist principals in:  

1. Adopting educational goals for the school that are consistent with local educational policies and statewide student performance standards; 
2. Identifying the educational needs of students attending the school; 
3. Reviewing the annual school building budget; and 
4. Formulating a school improvement plan.

We meet once a month on the 4th Wednesday of each month, except where specified below – with our next meeting on Wednesday, October 28, for about an hour, beginning at 3:00 PM and ending around 4 PM, to discuss such items as our School Improvement Plan, parent involvement, how we are working with MCAS data, what we are doing to improve teaching and learning, different curricular ideas, courses, etc.  In all, the group is not like the “PTA”; it is more a group of people who are looking into school improvement and how we can get the improvement we are looking for.

The group is made up of parents, teachers, and at least one community member.  If you are interested or would just like to come and check it out, please come to the our next meeting, Wednesday, October 28, at 3 PM, in the Media Center at NMS or email me at mgeoghegan@middleboro.k12.ma.us. If you have any questions, please let me know.  Thank you.

2015 – 2016 NMS School Council Meetings

October 28, 2015

November 18, 2015**

December 16, 2015**

January 27, 2016

February 24, 2016

March 23, 2016

April 27, 2016

May 25, 2016

** All dates are the 4th Wednesday of each month – except where specified

NMS PTA Yankee Candle Sales

Yankee Candle Sales -- Just in Time for the Holidays

Yankee Candle Fundraising Packets Due Back on Thursday, November 12

Last week, Yankee Candle Fundraising Packets were handed out to all students.

The NMS PTA is asking that all Yankee Candle Fundraising Packets are returned on Thursday, November 12, to the students' Homeroom Teachers.

We appreciate any and all sales.

All profits go towards helping our Nichols Middle School students' endeavors.

Our NMS PTA has been very active in supporting our students with purchases of technology, audio for the auditorium, 8th grade events, and much, much more.  Please continue to support our students as you support our PTA.

Top 3 Student Candle Sellers will receive gift cards of $50, $35, and $20.

Any questions, please email nicholsptsa@gmail.com

Thank you.