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

Many years ago, during a school fundraiser, the students of Ipswich Middle School organized a Penny Wars competition to raise money for a village in Kyrgyzstan whose school had been destroyed by a natural disaster. The impact of their generosity reached across the globe. In gratitude, the villagers hand-wove a beautiful black and orange tapestry with the words “Thank You IMS” and sent it to our school as a heartfelt gift.

For a long time, the tapestry was tucked away in storage. But last year, we began a new tradition: awarding this tapestry to staff members who have gone above and beyond in their work for our school community. This year, we are extending that recognition more broadly by sharing it with our entire school community. Already, the tapestry has been awarded twice—here are the nominations and the inspiring stories behind them:

Tuesday, September 2nd

Today the Appreciation Tapestry is in Sean Fitzgerald's office.

Sean has been absolutely indispensable this summer and throughout the opening days of school—just as he is all year long. One of his biggest responsibilities over the summer is building the entire school schedule. It’s a massive undertaking, especially with the many special requests and unique circumstances that come into play. Beyond that, Sean has gone above and beyond in welcoming and supporting families, whether it was during our 6th grade parent orientation or Locker Night. His dedication, professionalism, and kindness make a tremendous difference for our school community every single day. Congratulations and thank you, Sean, for all that you do!

Thursday, September 4th

The Appreciation Tapestry was displayed in 7th Grade teacher Therese Schroeder's room recently.

Therese was nominated by Hana Stone who wrote, "Therese has been an incredible presence in our school community, bringing warmth, encouragement, and positivity into every class she teaches. From the very first day of school, she’s been a steady, supportive guide—helping students feel seen, heard, and empowered. She has a remarkable ability to get kids to open up and share about themselves, creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels safe to participate." Therese has also taken on the new challenge of teaching two Math classes this year. Thank you, Therese, for your incredible support and all that you bring to our school community every day!

Ipswich Middle School is excited to welcome families to our annual Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 18th at 6:00 p.m. This important evening gives parents and guardians the opportunity to learn more about the programs, curriculum, and teaching practices that shape their child’s school experience.

The evening will begin in the Dolan Performing Arts Center, where school administrators will provide an overview of the year ahead and highlight key information about Ipswich Middle School. Following this, the Related Arts teachers will present details about their courses and how they enrich student learning.

After the presentations in the PAC, families will transition to the grade-level pods, where teaching teams will share insights into the curriculum, expectations, and ways parents can support student success at home. This event offers a valuable chance to meet teachers, better understand classroom learning, and strengthen the home–school partnership.

We look forward to seeing you there!

School photos may be preordered with a credit card online at geskusprint.com, using our school code 5BS723NR. You will need to create/login to an account in order to preorder online.

Of course you can use the order form that was sent home with your child on the first day of school. Additional forms are available in the main office. All order forms must be received on picture day, Friday, 9/12. Any orders made after picture day will need to be done online.

After photos are taken, families who did not preorder will be provided a proof of their student's photo and given an opportunity to place an order at that time.

Ipswich Middle School is looking for parent volunteers to serve on our School Council for the 2025–2026 school year. School Councils, as outlined by DESE, help develop the School Improvement Plan, review policies, strengthen communication between school and families, and assist in organizing school events such as our annual Walk for Hunger.

The IMS School Council meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 5:00 p.m., beginning October 14th. If you’re interested in joining, please let me know via email at pginolfi@ipsk12.net. Your voice and partnership make a difference!

As there are always so many forms to fill out when the school year starts, I had emailed a link to some online forms last week to try to reduce the ammount of paperwork for you. We are getting closer - about two thirds of you have completed these, thank you! If you have not yet completed those, here again is the link to the form: Beginning of the year forms.

Are you ready to try something new, stay active, and be part of a team? IMS is excited to announce the return of Interscholastic Field Hockey this fall!

• Who: All IMS students in grades 6, 7, and 8 are invited to join, whether you’re brand new to the sport or already have experience.

• When: The season runs from September 8 through October 10, 2025.

• Where: All practices and home games will be held at Bialek Park Field.

• Click here for the schedule IMS Field Hockey Practice and Game Schedule

• Equipment Needed: Stick, shin guards, mouth guard, goggles, sneakers or cleats, and a water bottle. (If you need equipment such as a stick, please reach out to Coach McGinley for assistance.)

Don’t miss out on this fun opportunity to learn the game and represent IMS on the field!

Register here: https://students.arbitersports.com/ipswich-middle-school

The Robotics Club is an after-school opportunity for students who love technology, coding, and problem-solving. The club will meet on Wednesdays after school from 2:30 - 3:30 in the grade 6 Science classrooms. Students will work on designing, building, and programming robots to complete challenges using VEX IQ robotic kits.

We are looking for students who can:

• Work independently with minimal adult redirection
  

• Stay focused on long-term projects
  

• Enjoy coding, experimenting, and troubleshooting
  

This club is open to all students, and we especially encourage girls to join as we work to expand diversity in STEM fields. Robotics Club is a great place for students to practice collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking while having fun with technology.

Robotics will start on Wednesday, October 22nd and will end on April 1st. There is a $50.00 Student activity fee for this club and checks can be made out to Ipswich Middle School. Space is limited for this club so make sure you sign up early.

Thank you,

Samantha Colby and Christine Senechal

Registration Forms

IMS Robotics Student Contract

The Kindness Club will have their first meeting Monday, September 8th from 2:30 - 3:15 in the 6th grade pod. All students are welcome and encouraged to join! We will be talking about our annual Kindness Club Bake Sale for Curriculum Night. Hope to see you there :)

Art Club will be starting on Monday, September 8th in Ms. Z's Art Room from 2:30 until 3:30. Please email Ms. Z at nzadykowicz@ipsk12.net to let her know that you are joining or ask any questions.

The Library is open for students after school from dismissal until 3:30 four days a week and until 2:30 on Thursdays. This space is supervised by a staff member and is a quiet space for students to work on homework or spend time before practices, rehearsals or other after school activities that don't start immediately after school. This is available to all middle and high school students and there is no sign up needed.

I’m excited to share that we are ready to welcome back all Middle School students to the Teen Drop-In Program. Our first day of programming will be Monday, September 8th.

There are a few changes to the registration process this year:

• There is now a monthly tuition fee of $45.00 per student.

• Families must complete registration through a Google Form and submit payment via City Hall systems.

• All details, including the registration form and payment instructions, are available on the school website under the tab:
  "Middle School – Teen Drop-In" or by clicking on the flyer above.

Enrollment is now open and will remain open on a rolling basis throughout the school year.

Beginning Wednesday, September 7th, IMS will be providing after school transportation to the Ipswich YMCA. The bus will be leaving school at approximately 2:25 and 1:20 on Thursdays. The bus holds 14 passengers and will be driven by a school staff member or administrator. Students are expected to adhere to Ipswich Middle School and YMCA rules and families are responsible for coordinating pick up or transportation home. If students board the bus, they are expected to enter the Y upon arrival. The bus will make up to two trips to each location each day, transporting a maximum of 28 students. There will be a sign up sheet in the office and students can sign themselves up on a first come, first serve basis. This is a daily after school offering for your child, they are not required to attend every school day. Once this permission slip is completed, your child can ride the bus for the remainder of the school year. The Y will allow all middle school students to attend and will have them sign in upon arrival. If students do not have a membership, the Y will reach out to discuss membership possibilities.

The Teen Drop-in Center will open on Monday, 9/8, and our bus will make a stop there as well.

With the beautiful weather we've had to start the school year, it has been great to see many students riding their bikes to school. Students are allowed to ride their bicycles to school provided that they follow the following rules:

• Students must wear bike helmets while riding their bicycles in accordance with M.g.L. 85 section 11b (iii). Any person 16 years of age or younger operating a bicycle or being carried as a passenger on a bicycle on a public way, bicycle path or on any other public right-of-way shall wear a helmet.

• Bikes are to be stored on the bicycle rack outside the Middle School main entrance.

• Students must dismount their bikes when on school property and walk it to the rack for their safety and the safety of those walking.

• Students should ride safely on the roads and sidewalks on the way to school, following the flow of traffic and using crosswalks when possible. There is a police officer stationed on High Street during arrival and dismissal times to assist students during these busy times.

Summer can be very busy and if your student did not complete their summer reading activity, they still have time to read their books. The Tiger Tales Celebration will be on Friday, October 3rd. Here is all of the information regading Tiger Tales that they will need.

Monday, September 8th - Kindness Club Meeting, 2:30 in the 6th grade pod

Monday, September 8th - Art Club Begins, 2:30 in the Art Room

Wednesday, September 10th - Green Team Begins, 2:30 in the school garden, outside of the High School entrance

Friday, September 12th - Picture Day

Thursday, September 18th - Curriculum Night, 6:00 in the DPAC