Weekly Newsletter | April 2, 2025
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Dear Bromfield Middle School Families,
First of all, I want to acknowledge all of the folks who made our Rising Grade 6 Info Night a success last night. TBMS Counselor Kim Faulconer helped design and give the presentation with me - thank you, Kim! HPS Director of Pupil Services Michelle DellaValle and TBS Special Ed Administrator Colleen Micavich held a wonderful session specific to special education information just before the event. Socials studies teacher Andy Wright admirably represented the Grade 6 teacher team, and HES Principal Dr. Rebecca Katsh-Singer kicked off the evening by introducing me and Kim. Finally, we had 17 amazing TBMS students serve as ambassadors to the parents and caregivers, providing thorough tours of the building for all who attended. Thank you everyone!
I have three topics to expound upon this week.
MCAS
With April upon us, it is once again MCAS season. While the Commonwealth voted in the fall to no longer require passing scores on MCAS tests as a graduation requirement, the function and importance of MCAS at the middle school level remains unchanged: To assess student achievement of the standards as articulated by the Massachusetts Frameworks, with the data from these assessments used to inform both programmatic adjustments to curricula and decisions around scheduling and instruction for individual students.
All TBMS students will take the MCAS ELA test on Thursday, April 10, and Friday, April 11. In order to be fully prepared and do their best, students should do the following for each testing day:
Charge their school-provided device overnight; Get a good night’s sleep; Eat a healthy breakfast and stay hydrated; Bring their fully-charged device, writing utensils, a water bottle, and a snack; Arrive focused and believing they will succeed.
Students have as much time as they need to complete the test, and they have been more than adequately prepared by their teachers. Everyone should just take their time and do their best!
TAG Book Talk
We are less than a week away from the community book talk on Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation. I am excited and honored to serve as a panelist that evening, along with a number of wonderful HPS colleagues and community members, as we engage in this important conversation around providing a safe, healthy environment for our children that preserves play in the era of smart phones and social media. Please see the flyer toward the bottom of this newsletter. Registrar to attend the event by this Friday, April 4 using this link.
Star Party Reschedule
Due to inclement weather, the Star Party scheduled for Thursday, April 3, is cancelled. According to the National Weather Service and other weather apps, cloudy skies are expected for Thursday evening, which will prevent our star gazers from viewing the evening sky. The event is rescheduled for Monday, May 5 (weather permitting). Another RSVP Google Form will be sent in advance of the new date.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mr. Daniel Hudder
TBMS Principal |
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WEEKLY UPDATES
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SIXTH GRADE
Please help me in ensuring that your student has a physical independent reading book for all upcoming school days: In ELA we are gearing up for MCAS on April 10th and 11th. Once we are through with the test, it's time to have an eye towards the end of the year and 7th grade ELA. For both MCAS and the end of the year, independent reading is going to play a larger role than it has so far this year. The independent reading of self-selected books is one of the best ways to improve reading skills and build vocabulary. There is a great position paper here, if you are interested in learning more. Independent reading is also connected to UDL as it allows students to have choice about what they're reading (flexible materials, multiple means of engagement) while also allowing for students to bring their own voices to classwide discussions. For example, we can have a class discussion about symbolism where all students are discussing how symbolism is used in the book they are reading independently.
All of that being said, it is very important that students have a physical book during both the ELA and Math MCAS exams, as device usage is not allowed after students finish their assessment. Additionally, we will be starting a Read and WRAP (write, reflect, analyze, participate) practice at the start of each ELA class where students will read a book of their choice, followed by an activity based on what they read - from a short check in to a larger activity around a standard of focus. I am asking that students use physical books to reduce screen time in class. While I have books in my classroom library, not all students have been able to find books that hold their interest in what I have available. It would also be extra helpful if you would consider talking to your student about what they are reading and if they need support in finding a book to read. I am happy to talk to you or your student about book ideas, and the library is also an amazing resource for recommendations as well.
In 6th-grade social studies, we have just wrapped up our unit on Ancient Greece. It was a lot of fun learning all about the GRAPES (geography, religion, achievements, politics, and social structure) of such an amazing civilization. Students shared a lot of insights about social roles, democracy, and their religion. We are now doing a small unit on the mysterious people of the Indus Valley region. This unit only lasts one cycle, but we try to figure out what is essential for a civilization to thrive and what could possibly happen to make such an advanced and prosperous civilization suddenly disappear. After the Indus, we will be on to Rome! I am currently missing quite a few D'Auilaires Books of Greek Myths, so if you could check around your house to see if yours is still lingering around, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you for your support.
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SEVENTH GRADE
In seventh grade ELA, students have been preparing for the upcoming MCAS tests on April 10 and April 11. We have completed test prep surrounding reading comprehension and strategies for answering multiple choice questions, however, our priority has been building confidence on the open response questions. Students have practiced two prompts: an essay comparing two sources and a narrative continuing a story. In both cases, students highlighted evidence in the text, created their own outline or graphic organizer, and wrote their response on demand. We’ve viewed state-provided student work samples to analyze elements present in a strong response. I have been impressed by how seriously the students have approached these lessons, and the level of dedication they’ve put into their work.
Seventh graders had fun last week in Flex! First, as a prize for being the winning grade in the middle school coin wars, seventh graders participated in a homeroom vs. homeroom kickball game on Thursday. We witnessed many students acting to support and encourage their peers. Students did have the option to enjoy games with friends in a quieter space if they were unable to participate in athletics or desired a different activity. Finally, Friday was the culminating SET competition with Mr. Holt. Six students battled it out to see who was the set master while the rest of us watched a live stream of the competition!
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UNIFIED ARTS
Hello! My name is Kerry Dwyer Keusen, and I am serving as Mrs. Pierron's long-term art substitute for the remainder of the 24/25 school year. As a former Bromfield student (grades 6-12), I'm thrilled to return to the Bromfield art department as a teacher.
I've enjoyed getting to know your middle schoolers these past weeks and have been impressed by the creative thinking evident in their sketchbooks that I have been reviewing as we close Q3. Currently, our 6th and 7th graders are working on expressive line portraits and symbolic color portraits, while 8th graders are exploring foreshortening through a collage project. I look forward to working on more projects together in Q4!
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PTO NEWS AND EVENTS
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 Get ready to groove!
The PTO Annual Spring Soiree is back with a Disco Theme!
Craft Food Halls - Boxborough
The Disco Soiree is happening on May 2nd, 2025
A night of dancing, live music, raffles, and endless fun!
Ticket Sales are now Open!
$95 - Early Bird Tickets are on Sale from February 24th - March 24th
$115 - Regular Priced Tickets are on Sale from March 25th - April 18th
Buy Now!
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COMMUNITY NEWS AND EVENTS
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Spring Cider Hike at Carlson Orchards - April 13
Join Harvard Conservation Trust's biologist and naturalist, Bob Douglas, for a family-friendly hike on April 13th. The hike will begin at Carlson Orchards, travel through Harvard Conservation Trust land and back.
We’ll stroll through peach and apple trees, beautiful woodland paths and wildlife meadows. The hike is less than a mile and takes about an hour. After the hike, we'll enjoy donuts and cider around an outdoor fire pit.
Sign up for one of two sessions at: https://bit.ly/CiderHike2025
When: Sunday, April 13. Choose one session: 11:00 am or 12:30 pm Where: Carlson Orchards, 115 Oak Hill Road, Harvard What to Wear: Dress appropriately for the weather. Hiking shoes are recommended.
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Webinar of Teens & A.I.
Our next webinar with Teodora Pavkovic, Certified Digital Wellness Director of Linewize, is coming up on Monday night, April 7 at 7:00 PM.
Here is the registration link:
https://familyzone.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uK-kPw2PS1yQfwIH3DGQzQ.
This topic is timely as we prepare for the town-wide book discussion, Anxious Generation.
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Dear Community,
From Monday, March 24 through Friday, April 11 (extended one week!), please bring any gently used clothing or new socks/underwear (sizes newborn to adult medium) to donation boxes at drop-off locations throughout our community, including the Harvard Public Library, Bromfield, and Hildreth Elementary.
The donations immediately support children in need.
Project 351 Club, our youth-led service organization, is running the drive in collaboration with the eighth grade to benefit Cradles to Crayons, the largest national non-profit focused on ending clothing insecurity.
Thank you for your support,
Project 351 Club
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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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