Trimester 2 Progress Reports Distributed, January 31, 2014

Second Trimester Progress Reports

Progress Reports for Trimester 2 will be issued this afternoon, Friday, January 31, so we are at the halfway point of the school year.  Your child will be coming home with the Progress Report as well as a receipt that needs to be signed and returned to school on Monday, February 3.

The marks that you have found on this progress report should never be a surprise to either you or your child.  Please make sure you check out the grades as well as the comments, which could mention progress for Conduct and Effort.  If you feel that discussion regarding your child’s progress or lack of it in any of these categories is needed, please make an appointment to schedule a time that would offer both you and the teacher enough time to adequately discuss your child's present situation.  We need to make sure there is an open door of communication between school and home that is necessary to bring both the teacher and you to the same page in this educational journey.  As for the progress report, it is just that:  progress.  Students should understand that the marks that are present at the halfway point of a term can change easily in either direction.  Students should recognize that they can very simply transform those grades, again, in either direction.  So if the grades were high-quality, students need to continue with the work habits they have displayed in the first month or so of this trimester, and if the grades were not where they should have or could have been then that student needs to understand that a change in work habits is needed.  Remember also, please keep up with checking your child's agenda book on a nightly basis, for this will help in keeping track as to where your child's grades stand as they progress through the rest of the trimester.

Also a reminder, if you haven’t done so yet, please enter your email, to the right, so you can receive updates on any and all important information about what’s happening or will happen at school.  There is a calendar at the bottom of this page, please check it out to stay updated.

Thank you and have a great weekend.

Nichols Middle School Council Meeting, Wed. 1/15, at 3 PM in the NMS Media Center

2013-2014 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 3^rd Wednesday of each month, except where specified below – our next meeting is on Wednesday, January 15, 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 our next meeting, Wednesday, January 15, 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.

2013-2014 NMS School Council Meeting Dates

January 15, 2014

February 26, 2014*

March 19, 2014

April 16, 2014

May 21, 2014

June 18, 2014

*All dates are the 3rd Wednesday of each month - except where specified.

NMS Winter Carnival, Friday, January 17, 2:30-5 PM

Nichols Middle School 2014 

Winter Carnival

Friday,  January 17^th, 2014

2:30-5 PM at Nichols Middle School

          Tickets $5 per person

Hang Out with Your Friends!

Freeze Tag, Dodgeball, Badminton, Inflatable Fun House courtesy of “Itz My Party“, DJ (Ben Sangiolo), Dancing, Board Games, “Minute to Win It” challenges, Face Painting and Balloon Animals by “Art on the Spot”*, Refreshments* and MORE!!!

*Denotes an additional charge

Forms will be available in the Main Office and handed out in Homerooms.  They will need to be returned to Student Council members at lunch on the 15^th or 16^th along with your $5.  We will also accept at the start of the Carnival on the 17^th. 

Sponsored by the Nichols Middle School PTA

Order Your 2014 NMS Yearbook by January 13!

NMS 2014 Yearbook

Attention Parents! If you plan on ordering a 2014 NMS Yearbook for your child, please order online or mail your payment no later than January 13, 2014. To order online visit YearbookOrderCenter.com or mail your payment to Herff Jones, Inc. PO Box 29 Edwardsville, KS 66113-9029. The cost of the yearbook is $22.00. Your child will not be guaranteed a yearbook unless ordered now. If you have any questions please call Mrs. Walgreen at 508-946-2020x205.

Learn to Cope Prevention Forum for Parents on Monday, January 13 at 6 PM

Parents and Guardians,

You are invited to:

Learn To Cope

Prevention Forum for Parents

Monday, January 13th 6pm

John T. Nichols Jr. Middle School

Auditorium

Learn To Cope began in 2004 with founder Joanne Peterson’s desire for a support group for family members dealing with a loved one addicted to drugs.

Joanne will educate our parents on the epidemic of opiate use (Percocet, oxycontin and heroin) in Massachusetts.

Young people do not understand that they can become addicted by just experimenting. Addiction doesn’t discriminate and no matter how well you have parented your children, they can make terrible decisions.

This event is not intended for students -- adults only please.

Please contact the Nichols PTA with any questions regarding this event. nicholsmsptsa@gmail.com