December Reflections from Mr. Geoghegan

December Reflections from Mr. Geoghegan

December is usually a time to reflect on what has happened in this past year.  Well, for me, I just want to say how great a start of the school year this has been so far. I relish getting up each and every morning coming in to this fine organization.  The students are awesome.  The teachers and staff are incredible. And the community is just as amazing.  I have been so touched by the dedication and determination of everyone to make sure the Nichols Middle School is a first-class institution for learning.  It has been a joy since my first day.

Mr. McLaughlin and I have started to change little things around the building, and many are paying off in the signs of a better school climate and culture for learning.  We believe the students want to be here and that is our goal.  We are enjoying ourselves and we hope they are as well.

In the grand scheme of things, this isn’t many reflections other than it has been a sensational beginning to the school year and we hope that it continues.

Enjoy the time with family and friends during this holiday break, and as teachers across the globe love to say on this day, “See you next year.”

Have a wonderful holiday from everyone here at NMS; see you January 2, 2013,

M. R. Geoghegan

NMS Showing Civic Pride Yet Again

NMS Student Council Up To Good Yet Again

Stephanie Fontes, one of our student council officers,
giving our penny drive check to Saint Vincent de Paul Society President Al Conin

The Nichols Middle School Student Council has facilitated the following charitable donations:

In November, we were able to collect over 2,000 food items for our community food bank.
The food bank sent a box truck to collect all the food that was donated.  Quoted from the
thank you letter we received, "The generosity by the students will help many children
have enough food so they will not have to go to bed hungry."

Our December Penny Drive raised more than $700.00 to support our local food bank;
the money will be used to help families purchase food, pay for heat, and to purchase
items for families in need in our community.

On December 21st Nichols sponsored a green and white day to show our support for the
students, families, and community of Newtown, Connecticut. Students were able to donate
a dollar towards the Newtown Scholarship Fund.   In this one day event our NMS raised
over $250.00.

Great job, NMS!

Special Message from Superintendent, Dr. Weiss

This is Dr. Roseli Weiss, Superintendent of the Middleborough Public Schools.  There are many rumors circulating throughout the schools and parent community regarding the school day tomorrow.  I am aware of these rumors as are the Middleborough Police.  We continue to work together to keep the children and staff of our school district safe.  The truth is not on facebook or through your neighbor.

I am communicating the facts.  The rumors are unsubstantiated.  However, we are on alert.  As I have stated throughout the week, there will be an increased presence of police cars at the schools on Friday as there have been all week.

I am asking for your support.  I need you to help me keep everyone safe and calm by not feeding into rumors that are unsubstantiated and escalate concern.  We have been working diligently to keep doors locked and closed, to be more aware of people coming into the schools.  We have been walking throughout the schools to identify ways to strengthen our security. 

We plan to discuss safety and security during the January 10^th School Committee meeting and plan to offer a parent and community evening focused on school safety in the near future.

Thank you for your support and I wish you all a happy holiday season.  May 2013 be a year of health, happiness and community caring.

Special Message for the Middleborough Community from Dr. Weiss & Chief Gates

http://www.middleboro.k12.ma.us/Safety/LetterFromDrWeissCheifGates12-18-12.pdf

Principal's Report on Monday, December 17

Good afternoon -

As days go, I think today was a positive one. 

Parents and guardians can be reassured that we, as a school, tried to make today just another Monday in the lives of our students here at the Nichols Middle School.

There were some small discussions, which occurred with some students, who asked questions mostly along the lines to help support them and explain to them that we are doing everything in our power to make sure that NMS is safe for them, but on the whole it was a pretty typical day in the life of a NMS Tiger.

Mr. McLaughlin and I were out-and-about all day long trying to get to the teachers and also stop by some classrooms to show that today was just another day.  The guidance staff was on-call all day long in case any student needed to talk at anytime during the day.

From what I sent out last night, we as a school faculty and staff followed the protocol I laid out for you about what we would do as a school and this morning went over the page that discussed "What Schools Should Do" from the National Organization of School Psychologists.  You can see there are 13 items and we followed these to the best of our abilities today and will try to continue during the week.  The toughest one is number 2, "Maintaining structure and stability" with also balancing the students' needs.  It is what we will try to do this week and beyond.  Please check them out to see what we did:  http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/terror_general.aspx

I just got a chance to write to you and also read this article I found from the New York Times which I feel discusses the difficulty of this situation and what to, and not, discuss with students.  Check it out if you get a chance:  http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/15/how-not-to-talk-with-children-about-the-sandy-hook-shooting/

But other than that, I want the Nichols Middle School Community to know that today was a day of normalcy for our students, and that is what I had hoped for them.  It is a place to start as the whole education world tries to make sense of Friday and begin to heal.

If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact me at mgeoghegan@middleboro.k12.ma.us

Thanks; have a good night,

M. R. Geoghegan

A Message for Parents from Mr. Geoghegan

Dear John T. Nichols’ Community:

I’m writing to you tonight to respond to the elementary school shooting that took place in Newtown, Connecticut earlier Friday morning.  My family as well as yours, I am sure, is tearfully watching on as more horrific details come out over the local and national media on TV and on the Internet all weekend long.

Our hearts go out to those students, teachers, and principals who did not return home from school Friday and those families and friends related to the Newtown community.  We’ve found no words to fully capture the emotions so many of us are feeling right now.

Tomorrow, on Monday, parents everywhere will send their students to school.  Teachers and principals around the world will return to school with the aim of “business as usual” to provide consistency for our children in a time of great tragedy.  I am anticipating that much discussion will occur over the weekend in the homes of our families, but Monday may also bring some further questions and need for dialogue.  In the interests of home-school transparency, below I will lay out our carefully considerate plans for Monday, December 17^th, at the Nichols Middle School.

Before School:  I will host an all-staff meeting to offer dialogue amongst our teaching staff and review developmentally appropriate conversation structures for our children.  We will also begin to complete a full review of our school safety protocol in place.  As a staff, we are fully invested in being comprehensive and thorough in our daily approach, and we are always looking for new ways to be a better and safer school environment for all.

During the School Day:  Classrooms have the ability to hold “as needed” team meetings to allow students to talk about their feelings in a developmentally appropriate way.  Our guidance staff will offer on-demand guidance appointments throughout the day to talk with students who may be having trouble processing information they may have learned at home.  If your child is seen by the guidance staff, we will personally call you (parents) to review our conversation in the best interests of our home-school partnership.  *Please be advised that the details of the events in Newtown will not be discussed with any students at any time.  Details of what students are aware of are solely at the discretion of each individual family.

After the School Day and During the Weeks That Follow:  We will be having more faculty and staff meetings to more thoroughly review our safety plans and manuals.  We will not be engaged in a Crisis Drill until some point after the vacation, but please know that we will be ever-vigilant in making sure the Nichols Middle School is safe.

I have seen many Child Experts and websites flashed across the screen during the past three days, but I feel as though it is always positive to have too much information instead of not enough at all.  In that spirit, I have attached a link to the National Association of School Psychologists’ website.  Here one will find tips for parents and educators dealing with a “National Tragedy:  Helping Kids Cope.”  It is a site we as a school will be using for ways in which we can support our students.  Please check it out, if you get a chance:  http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/terror_general.aspx

Also in this vein, even in the wake of tragedy, schools continue to be one of the safest places for children to be on a daily basis.  Below are some conversational tips from Dr. Michele Borba, who personally shared on her Twitterfeed on Friday.  Dr. Borba is an internationally recognized expert and author on children, teens, parenting, bullying and moral development.  Her work aims to help strengthen children’s character and resilience, build strong families, create compassionate and just school cultures, and reduce peer cruelty.  Her practical, research-based advice is culled from a career of working with over one million parents and educators worldwide.  I hope you find her thoughts helpful:

· Turn off the TV and media on the school shooting when kids are present. Image can negatively impact children regardless of your zip code.
· Talk to the kids tonight or as soon as you see them. Open with “What have you heard?” Kids need the right facts. YOU not their peers provide the best source.
· Kids need to know it’s OK to share their feelings. It’s normal to be upset. Be calm and give only age appropriate information.
· Don’t give more information than the kid is ready to hear. More importantly, let your child know you’re there to listen.
· Don’t expect to help alleviate your kid’s anxiety unless you keep your own in check. Kids are calmer if we are calmer.
· Please don’t think because the child isn’t talking about the events that he/she didn’t hear about it.
· Give the information in small doses. Listen. Watch their response. Kids need processing time. Kids don’t need to know all the details and numbers. End with “I’m here for any questions you may have at anytime.”
· Here’s a great way to curb anxieties: Find proactive ways to alleviate fears about the tragedy. Tonight, offer condolences, draw, write letters to victims as a family.
· Stick to family routines. This soothes the stress and helps kids know that despite tragedy, that the world goes on. The sun will come up tomorrow. Hug!
· Draw kids’ attention to heroism in the tragedy. Use police, teachers, doctors, etc so kids see the goodness in the heartbreak.
· Kids respond to tragic news differently. Let your child know their feelings are normal. Help he/she express them. Follow his/her lead.
· Tonight is the first talk. Keep ongoing dialogue. Don’t explain more than they are ready to hear. Kids process and will want more later.
· T.A.L.K.
o Talk to the kid about the tragedy in an age-appropriate way
o Assess kid coping skills
o Listen, give some information and listen some more
o Kindle hope that the world goes on
· Ask your teen: “What are your pals saying?” Don’t assume they are NOT affected. Ignite their social justice. “What could we do?”
· Plan what you’ll say to your kid about the tragedy to boost their confidence and calmness. It’s OK to say “I don’t know” or “Good question. Let me find out.”

For more information go to micheleborba.com

If you have any other questions or need more information, please don’t hesitate to contact me through email mgeoghegan@middleboro.k12.ma.us or call the office at 508-946-2020.

Sincerely,

M.R. Geoghegan

Important Message About Safety from Superintendent, Dr. Weiss

To Members of the Middleborough Community,

It is with great sorrow that we learned on Friday, December 14, that children and adults in Connecticut were senselessly shot at school.  Our sympathies and prayers go out to all the parents, teachers, children and community members in Newtown, Connecticut.

I want to assure you that the Middleborough Police and I have been communicating during this school year and will continue to communicate to make the best decisions about the safety of all of our students and staff.   We have been discussing the safety procedures and protocols necessary to undertake in the event of an emergency.

Police Chief Gates, Lieutenant Ferreira, our safety officer, and I are organizing a walk-through during December vacation time so that all officers, especially new hires, will become familiar with the school geography. 

All of our principals and assistant principals are actively refreshing every staff members’ knowledge of the safety procedures necessary for daily school operation.  Keeping doors locked, keeping doors closed and not propped open, and general use of common sense help to keep us all safe.

Please know that Middleborough Public Schools is invested in the safety of all who are within our buildings.  When you speak with your children about today’s incident, please assure them that they are safe in school.

Respectfully,

Roseli Weiss

Superintendent