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

Our staff always plans a blend of hands on activities, technology based lessons, as well as more traditional school work. These pictures about what is going on in a few of the classrooms this week can also be a conversation starter with your students if they answer your "What did you do at school today?" question with - "Nothing." This week's pictures include students in 6th grade Science involved in hands on lab experiences as they investigate photosynthesis and cellular respiration; 7th graders studying Ancient Greece in Social Studies; and 8th grade students in Mrs. Smith's English class dissecting text. They examined the affixes and roots that made multisyllabic words. They also dissected poems and related them to the characters and plot of their current novel study: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (1967).

As we all know, screens are everywhere in our daily lives, and the COVID pandemic significantly increased their presence in schools. During that time, many innovative and powerful programs emerged, allowing us to teach and learn in ways that were once unimaginable. Technology continues to be an important instructional tool—but it also raises an important question: how much screen time is the right amount?

To explore this, we will be piloting a screen-free day on Thursday, February 12, and observing how our classes feel and function without Chromebooks. Since most staff already use technology for only small portions of instruction, this day will offer an opportunity to reflect on pre-pandemic teaching practices and better understand when screens are truly essential to learning.

Following the pilot, we will reflect together as a faculty on our observations and consider where thoughtful adjustments can be made to reduce screen time when it is not instructionally necessary, while still preserving the benefits technology offers when it enhances learning.

Ipswich High School is holding its annual 8th Grade Parent Info Night on Wednesday, February 11th at 6:00 PM in the DPAC. School administrators and staff members will present information about the school's academic offerings, schedule, extracurricular activities, and athletics. If your oldest student is entering 9th grade next year, the presentation will serve as a great introduction to what the high school has to offer.

"Last week, Governor Healey announced proposed legislation and an executive order related to federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. The proposed legislation is designed to keep ICE officers out of schools, hospitals, courthouses, and places of worship. The executive order is online and prohibits ICE from making civil arrests in non-public areas of state facilities, among other things.

DESE would like to remind districts and families that immigration-related resources are available through the Attorney General’s Office. Resources for schools include Guidance Regarding K-12 Schools’ Obligations to Protect Students and Their Information and a flyer for schools on the same subject. The flyer includes steps to take if immigration officials request access to students or their information.

Resources for families include the one-page Immigrant Students’ Right to Attend School: A Guide for Families, which is available in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, and Chinese. The Attorney General’s Office has also published an emergency planning guide and an emergency planning fact sheet for parents with uncertain immigration status. Both are available on the Attorney General’s website in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, and Chinese." - DESE

Yearbook Cover Contest Details

What - Design the cover for the 2025-2026 Yearbook!

Why?

• After school pizza party for all students who submit an entry

• The winning design gets a free yearbook!

• It’s fun and you can show off your creativity and talent as an artist!

Themes: Tigers, Beach, Clamtown, Ipswich, Seaside

Tuesday, February 10th - School Council Meeting, 5:30 in the 6th grade pod

Wednesday, February 11th - Grade 8 Parent Information Night, 6:00 PM in the

Thursday, February 12th - Screen Free Day at IMS

February 14th - 22nd - No school, February Vacation

Wednesday, February 25th - All Town Choralfest Concert, 7 PM in the DPAC

This is big diamond local travel baseball with home games at Singer Field at Bialek Park for Ipswich middle schoolers who have aged out of Little League. We play in the Cape Ann BR League against Cape Ann league member schools/towns. Spring registration is open for the 6th and 7th graders. Summer registration will open at a later date for 8th and 9th graders.

Register by February 25th

For more information visit our website or email us at ipswichbaberuth@gmail.com

Pre-registration is required for this activity! Please utilize the link above.