Weekly Newsletter | October 29, 2024
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Dear Bromfield Middle School Families,
Parent/Caregiver Teacher Conferences are fast approaching. Conferences this year will be held in person. The process for signing up for a conference with one or more of your child’s teachers can be found below.
The days and times for conferences are:
Thursday, November 14, Noon - 4:30 PM and 5 - 6:30 PM Thursday, November 21, Noon - 5:30 PM
The sign-up window is now open!
Please sign up by Monday, November 11, at 11 PM
The link to sign up is:
https://pickatime.com/client?ven=11616417&event=399412
Instructions are attached.
SIP Topic #5: Building Community
Continuing my overview of School Improvement Plan topics under the heading of Sense of Belonging, this week I highlight the goal area around Community Building. It has been clear to me since even before I accepted the position of TBMS Principal that Harvard has a strong sense of community; the aim of this goal area is to build on this strength, ensuring that it extends to all community members. Indeed, students will be taking a School Culture Survey this week to give us data on the extent to which our students feel a sense of belonging. We will be able to disaggregate that data based on various demographic information in order to look for patterns and explore whether we are not reaching certain subgroups of students.
We are taking important steps throughout the school year to enhance our sense of community. We opened the school year with a focus on building classroom culture in every class - before diving into academics. Grade-level teams are thoughtfully planning SEL and community-focused lessons on 2-4-6 Days during Flex. And we will have special programming throughout the year aimed at reinforcing kinship and pride in our community - including our recent Grade 6 vs Seniors Dodgeball event and Grade 7-8 Spooky Dance. Please be on the lookout for more opportunities to build our community together - and encourage your children to participate!
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mr. Daniel Hudder
Bromfield Middle School Principal |
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WEEKLY UPDATES
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SIXTH GRADE
French: In 6th grade French Exploratory, students are learning: how to count to 30; how to write short sentences about cartoon characters using scaffolded language and high-frequency verbs in the third person singular (ex. aime=likes/loves, veut=wants, est=is, a=has, etc.); aspects of French school culture such as the high school Baccalauréat exam, how French students enjoy two weeks of vacation every six weeks (and are currently on break), and about the duration and nature of school lunches. We begin every class by saying how we are doing and feeling and by talking about the date and the weather. Finally, we have classroom jobs and are doing great with that: shout out to our interior decorators for helping to create cozy corners and making our space feel warm and fuzzy.
Spanish: Students have been working on Spanish Heritage Month presentations. They are currently learning the alphabet in Spanish and preparing for a spelling quiz at the end of the week. They will be studying unit 2, 'la corrida de toros.'
With the birth of baby Autumn, much of FLEX block has been dedicated to creating a gift from our sixth graders. Students have diligently crafted imagery and writing to convey their happiness for Mrs. Vasel and to provide advice for Autumn. When not working on this project, students continued to explore and discuss how to productively channel their emotions, especially when their emotions conflict with the ideas and comments of their peers.
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SEVENTH GRADE
As the first quarter draws near its end, students have been wrapping up their study of cells in science class with a “checkpoint” about life’s levels of organization. These checkpoints are an example of formative assessment on which students who meet basic proficiency earn a “badge.” If a badge isn’t earned on the first try, a second attempt is offered to try again after studying and practicing. Next up in science class we will be studying growth, development, and reproduction. This unit does include learning about sexual vs asexual reproduction but does not include lessons on human sexuality - that topic will be covered separately in health class.
In flex, when not practicing their academic skills, students have been working on a seasonal project to work together with their flex classmates to decorate a pumpkin. Besides being a fun activity, there are learning objectives including brainstorming, collaboration, planning, and then carrying out their plan. In the flex block on Halloween, high school student council members will view the pumpkins created by each flex class to judge and pick which was decorated the best.
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EIGHTH GRADE
Science students are delivering their energy presentation slideshows in class. Together, we are hearing about more than a dozen sources of energy and storage strategies. We are also finishing up Unit #2 which is focused on key topics about matter and energy which serves as an introduction to Physical Science. In Unit #3, we will focus on physics, specifically motion. In unit #3, we will be pulling carts in the hallway, walking in front of motion detectors, measuring the time it takes sound to cross our front field, and more.
This week in Flex, students have explored their learning preferences and used a Wayfinder lesson that allows them to match possible careers with their interests and more. This was in preparation for a visit to Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School on Monday, October 28th. On this trip students get to see what the school is like first hand.
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UNIFIED ARTS
This fall, middle school health students have been exploring their social-emotional health! Sixth graders have been diving into the depths of their emotions with fun and creative work inspired by the movie "Inside Out." Seventh graders are learning how to step into someone else's shoes and build stronger connections through empathy. Last, but not least, eighth graders are having thoughtful conversations about how to use social media in a positive and healthy way in today’s digital world. Next month we will be starting our nutrition and physical health unit. Stay tuned!
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PTO NEWS AND EVENTS
3rd annual Running to Class 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run
Sunday, November 17th 2024
Rain Date: Sunday, December 1 at 12pm
Walk, run, jog, walk, or griddy to the finish line
This event is for ALL AGES
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| Join us for a 5K road race and family-friendly 1-Mile Fun Run through the center of town. This event is self-timed, but we'll also have a digital display at the end of the race for participants. T-shirts with registration before October 25th, and after while supplies last. All proceeds from the run go to support the Harvard Schools PTO to support teacher, staff, student, and community needs. |
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COMMUNITY NEWS AND EVENTS
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Picture Retakes are Friday, November 8
TBMS students will have the opportunity to retake photos during the first hour of the day on Friday, Nov 8. Students who either missed our original picture day or who would like to sit for a retake should check into Homeroom and let their teacher know they need to take a picture. We will then bring them where they need to go.
Please see the attached flyer from the picture company for more information.
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Come to our Pumpkin Smash! Don’t Trash It - Compost It!
We want your pumpkins. Let’s keep them out of the waste stream. Can you toss them into a dump truck hard enough to smash them? Can we fill a whole dump truck? Harvard Climate Initiative Committee is hosting a Pumpkin Smash with Black Earth Composting Company. Black Earth will compost the pumpkins and turn them into nutritious compost for soil enrichment. Composting is one way to reduce our looming waste crisis. Bring your pumpkins - learn more about backyard composting and Black Earth Composting services. Have a smash!
Where: Hildreth Elementary Parking lot (area closest to Mass Ave.).
When: Sunday Nov 10. 2-4 pm drop off. Truck arrives 3-4 for the Smash. No drop off without HCIC member in attendance please.
An adult needs to accompany anyone under age 12.
Please Note: Pumpkins have to be free of paint, glitter and candles
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Harvard Schools Trust Celebrates 35 Years!
To commemorate this milestone, the Trust’s Annual Meeting and 35th Anniversary will be
celebrated on the afternoon of November 17 at Fruitlands Museum. Attendees will also be
invited to view the exciting new exhibit at the Fruitlands Art Gallery, featuring historic and
contemporary works from several Native American communities.
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TOWN-WIDE BOOK READ WITH THE AUTHOR
Sola Mahfouz’s Defiant Dreams
UU FELLOWSHIP HALL
NOVEMBER 15 AT 7PM
Join Arm in Arm for a discussion and book signing with the author. Please register online. Purchase your copy here: https://tinyurl.com/46kyb79Z
See attached flyer.
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Please also see the attached flyer for Spirit Week this week!
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THE BROMFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL
Daniel Hudder, Principal
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| 14 Massachusetts Avenue, Harvard MA, 01451 | (978) 456 - 4145 |
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