The Coolidge Weekly Newsletter

@coolidgemiddle

reading.k12.ma.us/coolidge

sarah.marchant@reading.k12.ma.us

Monday, January 20

• No School/ MLK, Jr. Day
• Town MLK, Jr. Event: "Coming Together" Celebration (RMHS)
• 9:30: breakfast/ community tables set up
• 10:00 - 11:00: Celebration
• https://www.facebook.com/events/s/coming-together-2020-martin-lu/2654432008131514/

Tuesday, January 21 (Day 4)

• MFA Field Trip, Voyager groups 64 & 65 (rescheduled)

Wednesday, January 22 (Day 5)
Thursday, January 23 (Day 6)

• DA Marian Ryan presentation for parents: Vaping, substance abuse, and trauma effects on children (Wood End, 6:00 PM). More info below under "Parent Enrichment".

Friday, January 24 (Day 1)

• End of Term 2/ Semester 1
  

January 27: Start of Term 3/ Semester 2 (re-start with Day 1 of cycle)

January 29: Early Release (1:00 Dismissal)

February 4 & 6: 8th grade "Health Fair" (presentation of projects to our school and parent community) (Periods 6 & 7: Check with your child!)

February 10: Mykee Fowlin assembly (all school).

• 6:30 PM: Mykee Fowlin assembly for students, parents, and community members: "An Evening With Mykee". Students & families are strongly encouraged to attend! More info below.

February 11: SEPAC Meeting (7:00 PM, RMHS Library)

February 12: Future Freshmen Informational Meeting @ RMHS for 8th grade students and their families (6:30 PM) (more info below)

February 14: "Coolidge Gives Back" day.

February 15 - 23: February vacation

February 26: Early Release (1:00 Dismissal)

March 11: Early Release (1:00 Dismissal)

March 20: Staff In-Service/ No School for Students

March 25: Early Release (1:00 Dismissal)

Whether you have a child in the performance or not, we welcome one and all to this weekend's musical production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie"! The two performances so far have been amazing, and there is one more today at 2:00! The students have worked SO hard and the level of production quality is AMAZING!! Come enjoy and support our students! To purchase tickets, please click here: https://www.reading.k12.ma.us/coolidge/index.php?cID=159 or go to the box office upon your arrival!

Every year, Reading chooses an 8th grader to represent Reading as our "Project 351" representative. Project 351 brings together 8th grade student leaders and community service contributors, one from each town in Massachusetts. They did so yesterday! Jack will be participating in "Cradles to Crayons" as a community service project as an action item from this opportunity. More information on that will be provided by Jack!

To learn more about Jack and Project 351, check out the press release below, which we will send to the local paper!

All current eighth graders and their parents are invited to this event on Jan. 23rd at 7:00 PM in the RMHS performing arts center (auditorium). Department chair Anna Wentlent will kick present an an overview of our programming, and then students will hear from teachers from music, art, and drama regarding their classes. Ms. Wentlent will also show several example schedules, so that the eighth graders can start to make decisions about what classes and extracurricular activities they'd like to participate in as freshman. High school students from each discipline will also be there to answer student questions.

Every year our 8th grade students complete a health project focused around the essential question: "What does a middle school student need to know about their topic to stay safe?" This year we are giving the students an opportunity to present their projects to all of you! We would like to invite parents, the community, other wellness teachers, and other classes into the library to view these projects on February 4th and 6th. Groups 81, 83, & 85 will be presenting on the 4th and groups 82, 84, 86 will present on the 6th.

Mr. Huizenga & Mrs. Healey

As a district our goal is to create program descriptions for our substantially separate special education programs and Learning Center support. These descriptions will serve as an ongoing reference aide for families and staff. The descriptions will be a transparent and welcoming look into programming options with the understanding that any program can adjust and revise its elements to respond to the ever changing needs of our students.

We welcome feedback from our Reading families, staff and the residents on our draft Program Descriptions. Our goal is to use your feedback, along with the work that has been completed with staff, to publish updated descriptions within the next few months. The surveys will be available through February 1, 2020.

There is a section of survey links available on the Reading Office of Student Services website at https://www.reading.k12.ma.us/departments/student-services/

All 8th grade students and parents are strongly encouraged to attend "Future Freshman I" night at RMHS on February 12 at 6:30. During this presentation by the guidance and administration, students and parents will learn about the course of study at the high school, about freshman year, scheduling, and different course levels.

Through classes and our Advisory program, students are often participating in community service opportunities. We want parents to be aware of these ongoing efforts as they change/ evolve! I will keep this section updated, putting in bold new opportunities.

• Used-up Markers (for recycling)
• Pull tabs (from cans) for Shriner's.
• Plastic film recycling. Click here for what is accepted. We have collected 70 pounds of plastics so far!!

• Agenda Cover Contest! Submissions due by March 27 to Mrs. Doane. For more information, click here.

Reading Public Schools invites all parents to attend a workshop, presented by DA Marian Ryan, on the effects of substance abuse, vaping, and trauma on children. This will be held at Wood End on January 23 from 6 to 7. For more information click here.

On February 11, a representative from the FCSN (Federation for Children with Special Needs) is scheduled to put on a Basic Rights Presentation on "Understanding the IEP." We (the SEPAC) are trying to get the word out early about this Basic Rights presentation, since it is such valuable information for the parents of children receiving special education, and/or parents who think their child(ren) might be in need of receiving special education.

Show your Coolidge pride by donning gear with the Coolidge logo! There is something for everyone at our Coolidge Spirit Wear store. Check it out! Proceeds (approximately $5 per item) will go to the Coolidge PTO. Copy and paste this link to start shopping:

https://coolidgems.itemorder.com/sale

Sarah Marchant, Principal (x1301)

Brienne Karow, Assistant Principal (x1302)

Marianna Zanni, Administrative Assistant (x1303)

Karen Mungenast, School Secretary (x1304)

Cindy Ventura, School Nurse (x1305)

Email: sarah.marchant@reading.k12.ma.us
Website: reading.k12.ma.us/coolidge
Location: 89 Birch Meadow Drive, Reading, MA, USA
Phone: 781-942-9158
Twitter: @coolidgemiddle