Ipswich Middle School

Sean Fitzgerald, Assistant Principal

Our mission is to create a nurturing community where students are encouraged to develop confidence as lifelong learners with the awareness and flexibility necessary to adapt to a changing world. We strive to bring out the best in every student and adult in our learning community.

Email: pginolfi@ipsk12.net
Website: www.ipsk12.net

Instagram: ipswichmstigers
Location: 130 High Street, Ipswich, MA
Phone: (978)356-3535

We’re excited to announce that our annual IMS Food Drive is officially underway! Each year, our school community comes together to support local families in need, and our students play a meaningful role in making a real difference.

This year, we will be collecting non-perishable food items to benefit our local food pantry. Popular contributions include canned vegetables and fruits, soups, pasta, rice, peanut butter, cereal, and other shelf-stable items. Every donation—big or small—helps strengthen our community.

Collection Dates
Starts: Monday, November 10
Ends: Friday, November 21

Students can bring their donations directly to their pods. We’ll keep track of totals throughout the drive, and we’ll celebrate the collective effort as a school once the drive concludes. Our goal is not competition, but compassion—showing our students how simple acts of generosity can have a powerful impact.

Thank you for your support and for helping us show our students what it means to care for others. Making a difference starts here.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Scott Jewell at sjewell@ipsk12.net or Joanne Ryan at jryan@ipsk12.net.

Missed the Parent Meeting? Here is the information your need: 25- 26 Ecology School Parent Presentation

How to Sign Up Your Child:

Complete the 2026 Ecology School Registration Information packet by December 5

• Academic and Behavioral Contract

• Ipswich Permission Slip

• $100 deposit to Ipswich Middle School

• There is NO option to pay online.

You will need to log onto the Ecology School Website (see Parent Presentation for details) At that time you will:

• Create an account and profile for your child. (Group Hold: IMS26 will be needed)

• Complete their online Registration form

• Complete the online Health form - If you expect changes, you may want to wait.

• Questions may be sent to csenechal@ipsk12.net or scolby@ipsk12.net

Get ready to unleash your creativity! The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has just announced its fourth annual "Name A Snowplow" contest, and they are looking for students across the state, including all middle schoolers, to help! This is a chance to give one of the 12 new MassDOT snowplows a fun, catchy, and memorable name for the upcoming 2025/2026 winter season. The contest is a way to celebrate the winter season and recognize the dedicated public works employees who work hard to keep our roads safe during snow and ice storms. Last year's winning names were fantastic, including names like Taylor Drift and Control-Salt-Delete, so the bar is high—but we know your students can come up with some winners.

If you have a great idea, the time to act is now! The deadline to submit your suggestions for the Snowplow Naming Contest is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 5th. You can submit your application using the easy online portal here: https://www.mass.gov/forms/name-a-snowplow-contest-submission. A selection panel will choose 12 winners across two grade-level categories (K-4 and 5-8), and the winning submissions will be announced by Friday, December 19th. Winners will even be invited to participate in a snowplow unveiling event. For more information about the contest and the rules, please visit: https://www.mass.gov/name-a-snowplow-contest-2025-26. Good luck and get naming!

As many families already know on Saturday, November 1, 2025, SNAP benefits (formerly known as Food Stamps) were temporarily paused due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. We know this interruption may create challenges for some families, and we want to reassure our community that Ipswich Public Schools will continue to provide free, nutritious breakfast and lunch for all students every school day. No student should ever go hungry, and we remain committed to ensuring that every child has access to healthy meals while they are in school.

The Ipswich Community Food Pantry (00 Southern Heights, Ipswich) will be offering “Quick Trips”—basic grocery supply distributions—Wednesday and Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Quick Trips are also available at The Open Door’s Gloucester site Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for anyone in need of emergency grocery supplies.

Families new to The Open Door can also register for an online grocery ordering account that allows weekly custom grocery orders by visiting FOODPANTRY.org/newshopper. We encourage any family experiencing food insecurity to take advantage of these local resources. Our school community stands ready to support one another—no one should have to navigate these challenges alone. For a comprehensive list of available resources, please click on this link. If you are having difficulty connecting to resources or could use more support please reach out to me or your child's counselor.

As we are now in November, the weather has definitely made a turn toward winter. Many students are headed to lunch and recess in shorts and t-shirts. Please encourage your children to bring warm clothes with them to school and to wear out to recess. We will continue to head outside each day unless it is extremely cold (below 20 degrees) or raining.

Tuesday, November 18th - School Council Meeting, 5:30 in the 6th grade pod

Friday, November 21st - Green Team Meeting, 2:30 - 3:30 in the 6th grade pod

Wednesday, November 26th - 11:20 dismissal

Wednesday, November 26th - End of Trimester 1

Thursday, November 27th - No school, Thanksgiving Break

Friday, November 28th - No school, Thanksgiving Break

This week we would like to recognize 6th grade Math teacher Kathy Simms with the Appreciation Tapestry who was nominated by Assistant Principal Sean Fitzgerald. He writes, "I would like to nominate Kathy Simms for the Appreciation Tapestry. While spending time in her class last week, it was outstanding to witness the way she facilitates whole class conversations, giving every student in the room opportunities to make observations and share their thinking in a comfortable way. Listening to the math centric conversations being had amongst her students in their table groups was an outstanding example of how students can engage with the IM Math Curriculum. Outside of her classroom, Kathy is appreciated for her thoughtfulness towards other staff members and her positive contributions to our school culture. The planters she planted at the outset of the school year near the entrance to the building are a daily reminder of what she brings to our school community." - Thank you Ms. Simms!