FBMS Back-to-School Newsletter 🏫
August 28, 2025
Attention Grade 6 Students, New Students, and Families
Please know that on the first day of school, Wednesday, September 3rd, we will dedicate two hours in every homeroom in every grade for students to get acquainted with our school, their schedule, and how things operate. Homeroom teachers review policies and provide information to students such as how to get lunch, where to go for classes, how to read a schedule, and how dismissal operates, etc. Our goal the first day and week is to lessen nerves. Additionally, all grade 6 students received a tour when they came to visit us on a "field trip" last June. They'll get another tour on the first day.
Grade 6 also will take a tour and receive a lunch orientation.
Our entire building works together to make sure all students feel comfortable.
Buses
For those who have registered for the bus, information regarding bus stops and bus routes will be released on our home page by the end of the week.
Bus registration for students who will be transported by bus has been completed. Students are assigned to specific buses, and they will receive a bus pass from their homeroom teacher on the first day of school. Bus passes must remain attached to students' backpacks all year and bus drivers will check that all riders have passes starting on the second day of school.
Students are allowed to ride only the bus they are assigned. They cannot ride another bus to go to a different location, especially on half days.
đźš— Student Drop-off and Pick-Up 2025-26
Information regarding student drop off and pick up will be emailed as a separate email on Friday. For 7th and 8th Grade Families, the plan is the same as it was last year.
First Day Arrival at School - Wednesday, September 3, 2025 🍎
Our first day together will be Wednesday, September 3rd. Upon arrival, all students will be directed to report to their homeroom. Many people will be available to help them navigate to the room and look up their homeroom if they forget it.
Student must be seated in homeroom by 8:05 AM each day. Our official school-wide attendance is taken at 8:05 AM daily.
If you are driving your child to school, please anticipate some traffic -- especially from 7:45 to 8:00 AM. In order to lessen your child's anxiety, please give yourself plenty of time to get to our school. We recommend dropping your child off by 7:55AM to ensure ample time to get settled each day.
Important Info for the Year
2025-2026 MPSD Academic Calendar
* Use this to identify school holidays and vacations for the year
2025-2026 MPSD Conference and Report Card Calendar
* Use this to identify Back to School Night, Teacher Conferences, Early Release Days, and Term Start/End Dates
2025-2026 FBMS Rotation of Days Calendar
* Use this to identify which day of the 6-day FBMS schedule cycle occurs on each school day. Look at the number in (parentheses) which indicates if it is Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 in the cycle. *Please note that on Wed. 9/3, we will follow a SPECIAL opening day schedule. Thursday, September 4th will be our first "Day 1."
* Use this to help your child understand their daily schedule at school.
đź“·FBMS Picture Day! 2025
FBMS Lunch & Breakfast information
School Supplies & Materials
Chromebooks: Grade 6 students and new students will receive a new Chromebook the first week of school. All returning students should bring their Chromebook with them to school on the first day.
Backpacks: It's recommended that all students carry a backpack to and from FBMS each day. It will be stored in their lockers during the school day. Students are welcome to carry a small personal bag (11x11 in. or smaller) during the school day. Many students choose to use a drawstring bag or a small tote bag.
FAQs
FURNACE BROOK MIDDLE SCHOOL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What should my child bring on the first day?
For grade 6, a backpack with school supplies and a snack. Grade 6 students will receive a new Chromebook on the first day while in extended homeroom. For grades 7 & 8, students should bring a backpack with their charged Chromebook and school supplies. Additionally, all students who do not plan to eat FBMS lunch, should bring a lunch. Beyond that, they should come to the first day with a smile and a positive attitude. 🙂
What time is bus pick up? Bus pick up varies. Typically, you want to be out at your bus stop earlier than normal to make sure you catch the bus the first week. An email regarding bus times will be sent to you from Central Office by the end of the week. Buses arrive at FBMS each morning around 7:50 AM.
What time is dismissal? Dismissal is at 2:35PM. Buses pull away at approximately 2:40PM.
What if I am picking up my child? You will park in the student pick-up parking lot (entrance via Furnace St.) on the hockey rink side of the building. You do not need to inform the office of your pick-up plans; just discuss it with your child. If your child is unsure, they can always call you from the main office telephone.
Will there be an Open House in September? Yes! Please join us to meet your child’s teachers on September 18th from 6 to 8PM. More information will be shared in upcoming newsletters.
What is the earliest time and where can I drop my child off to school in the morning?
Early morning drop-off and before school supervision starts at 7:30 AM. Students should be dropped off at the morning Drop-Off location at the FBMS gym entrance. Students will then go to the cafeteria to be supervised until they move to homeroom.
What if my child has made prior arrangements to meet a teacher in the morning for extra help? Your child still must report to the cafeteria. They will sign out in the cafeteria to go to their destination.
What do I do if my child is late for school? Students must be accompanied by a parent to the main office or should have a note from their parent or guardian stating the reason for their tardiness (please write the student’s full name on the note). If your child is tardy due to a doctor or dentist appointment, the tardy will be excused with a note from the medical professional. Students must be in homeroom by 8:05 AM or they are considered tardy. If a child is tardy more than three times, it will be brought to the attention of their grade level administrator.
Do I have to call FBMS if my child is going to be absent? No, you will receive an automated message notifying you that your child has been marked absent. Upon returning to school after an absence the child should bring a note to their homeroom teacher which should include:
Student’s name, grade, homeroom
Date(s) of absence
Reason for absence
If sick, a physician’s note is required for an absence to be medically excused and/or if the absence has been for five (5) or more consecutive days.
How much is lunch? Once again this year, lunch will be free to all students. Every student is entitled to one free lunch per day.
Students only need to pay for lunch if they would like a second lunch or second breakfast. It is fairly common for our growing middle schoolers to want a second lunch, so be sure to talk with your child in the coming weeks. See the School Nutrition information above to learn more about how to add money to your child's account.
What if I need to dismiss my child during the school day? Students should bring the dismissal note from the parent to the main office upon arrival to school. The note should state the time and reason for dismissal. The main office staff will give your child a dismissal slip and will record the anticipated dismissal in Aspen. The student will give the dismissal slip to the teacher at the beginning of the class they will be leaving. A parent/guardian must come into the main office to sign out the student. The only exception to this process is for a student who has an appointment at the doctor or dentist nearby and the parent writes that the student will be walking to the appointment. The student will dismiss themselves and walk. In these cases, we will also often call the parent to verify the plan before releasing the student to walk.
What if I forgot to send a dismissal note with my child? Please call the office as soon as possible. The front office staff will locate your child at the least disruptive time to give him/her a dismissal slip. They will follow the same dismissal procedures as above.
Who can dismiss my child? We can only dismiss a student to a parent/guardian unless you write in the note that you are giving permission for the named person to dismiss him/her (this includes grandparents, siblings – anyone other than a parent). Please remember that emergency contacts are only for the school to call in case we cannot reach you--they are not approved to dismiss students. In situations where another person should have ongoing access to dismissing your child, please indicate in your note or email that permission carries throughout the school year.
Can my child ride a friend’s bus home? No. Students are registered for one bus, and one bus only. Please make other arrangements if students are going to other locations after school.
How does my child obtain a Chromebook? Each new incoming FBMS student receives a Chromebook which he/she cares for during the three years of the middle school. Incoming Grade 6 and new students will receive new Chromebooks on the first day of school. All parents are encouraged to obtain insurance online through the Family Portal in ASPEN. Insurance will cover only one breakage of any kind. Any breakage and cost after the initial incident will be the responsibility of the parent. Students are responsible for bringing their charged Chromebook to school each day. Additionally, students are expected to care for their Chromebook and handle it responsibly.
What if my child becomes sick at school? A child will ask a teacher’s permission to go to the nurse. If the nurse feels the student needs to go home, a parent/guardian will be notified. The parent/guardian will come to the office to sign his/her child out of school. The office staff will contact the nurse who will either bring or send your child to the office. This is the protocol for going home sick. If you need to contact the nurses about an ongoing health issue or a question, you can email them at fbmsclinic@mpsd.org.
What if I have to drop something off for my child? If your child has contacted you from our school phone to bring in a forgotten item – homework, lunch, money, musical instrument etc., you will be given entry into the vestibule. You'll write a label for the item and leave it on the table in the vestibule. The main office staff will contact your child to retrieve the item from the vestibule. Please remember that there are certain times that it is difficult for the teacher to allow the student to come pick up the item in the middle of class time. They may be taking a test or a quiz or in the middle of physical education, so it may take time before the item is retrieved. The main office staff is not responsible for items that are left in the vestibule in the rare occasion that a student forgets to pick it up.
Who do I contact if I have a concern about my child’s lunch account? Visit the Nutrition Website or please call food services at 781-319-3812.
What is the policy regarding cell phones? Cell phones are to be turned off and placed in students' lockers. Students are not permitted to carry or use cell phones during the day. A student may ask to use the main office phone to call home if needed.
If a student violates the cell phone rule, they will be given one warning, and after that the cell phone will be dropped off in the main office for the rest of the day. For repeat violations, the parent will need to collect the phone after school. Repeated violations will result in progressive discipline starting with an after-school detention.
How do I keep track of my child’s academic progress? All parents are given access to our online gradebook, ASPEN. Both students and families may log into ASPEN to check academic progress. It is highly recommended that ASPEN be checked regularly to keep track of academic progress. Parents may email or call teachers for clarification on student’s progress at any time.
Are progress reports and report cards available electronically? Yes, all progress reports and report cards are available on Aspen each designated marking period. Please contact the guidance office with progress report or report card questions. We will alert you to this posting in our weekly newsletters.
How do I contact a teacher? The best way to initially contact a teacher is via email. You can then arrange a phone call or other manner to discuss based upon your needs. Teachers’ emails are shared on CANVAS, course syllabi, and on the district website. Please understand that teachers are teaching during the day and will not be able to respond immediately during the day. Additionally, it is more challenging for teachers to make phone calls during the day because of the inflexibility of their schedule. Email is always the best, first step. If an issue arises that requires immediate attention, please contact your child’s guidance counselor or the front office, so we can help.
Do you have parent teacher conferences? Yes, we do. The dates are listed on the conference calendar linked above.
How long is a quarter or term? It is about eight weeks. We have 4 quarters/terms each school year.
When are half days? There is typically one half day a month for teacher professional development. Dismissal is at 12:10 PM. Students are encouraged to take their assigned bus home.
Do I need a computer and internet access at home? With the growing online resources and use of technology, it is important that we try to establish computer and internet access for all students. If you need assistance, please contact your child’s guidance counselor or administrator. Students are given Chromebooks to use during instruction and at home.
Do students need to change clothing for Physical Education (PE) class? No, they do not have to change clothing for PE. During the first week, PE teachers will discuss with students what they should wear to be able to participate in PE effectively. Sneakers are required for PE.
Please bookmark and frequent the school’s website https://www.mpsd.org/o/fbms. It contains many important pieces of information including:
Please make sure your ASPEN information, name, address, emails, and phone numbers are up to date. We send out a weekly newsletter, and we will be utilizing the email addresses in ASPEN.
All parents/guardians are required to sign off on the Student Handbook and Acceptable Use Policy for technology in ASPEN at the beginning of each year.
From the Clinic---Medication Drop Off
Medications include all daily medications, Epi-pens, Diabetes supplies, inhalers, etc.
Medication drop-off appointments have passed. If you missed the appointment days, you will need to contact the FBMS Clinic to arrange a time to drop off medication. Email the Clinic at fbmsclinic@mpsd.org.
Guidelines for bringing in the MEDICATIONS: Physician order(s) and written parent permission must accompany the medication. All medications must be hand delivered by the parent and be given directly to the Nurse. Medications are not permitted to be sent in with students- this is unsafe as medication could get lost or contaminated.
ANNUAL PHYSICALS: Students are required to have records of annual physical examinations by a doctor. These doctor exams provide up to date information and indicate that students are receiving adequate care at home and by their pediatrician. Additionally, the doctor provides clearance for participation in Physical Education class. Please report any changes in health status (e.g. health conditions, new medication, illnesses, and injuries) to the FBMS Clinic (fbmsclinic@mpsd.org). Students in Grade 7 are required to submit an updated physical with proof of immunizations for their health record at the beginning of the school year. Our Fax number is 781-319-1780.
ABSENT NOTES/INJURY NOTES: Medical doctor notes are required for students to receive ongoing excusal from Physical Education (PE) class. Additionally, once a student is cleared by their doctor to return to PE class after an injury or illness. Medical doctor notes are required for concussion protocols.
ABSENCES: Safe-to-School Program is implemented so that all children are known to be safe and accounted for. When your child is marked absent from school, you will receive a notification from the school stating that your child has been marked absent. Upon your child's return to school, he or she should provide a written note as to the date(s) and reason for the absence. For a student's absence to be medically excused, there must be a note from the child's physician/clinician.
INJURIES: Please notify the school of an injury, major or minor, and provide written documentation from a doctor if PE class needs to be restricted. If the injury is MAJOR (stitches/fractures/concussion) and your child has been seen by a MD, please provide the medical note to school upon returning to class. An additional note of medical clearance must be presented for students to return to gym following injury.
ANNUAL SCREENINGS: the following mandated health screenings are done annually in the health office:
Vision/ Hearing 7th grade Fall/Winter
BMI 7th grade Fall/Winter
Postural 6th, 7th & 8th grades Fall/Winter
We look forward to assisting families and students in achieving optimal health and wellness during the academic school year. Please feel free to contact us at any time with concerns or questions.
Maura Carroll, RN, BSN mcarroll@mpsd.org
Megan Owren RN, BSN mowren@mpsd.org