Family Weekly Update

Thank you for a wonderful first week of school! Our students are off and running, and it's been fantastic to see their enthusiasm and engagement with their learning. Starting next week, homework will be introduced as part of our routine. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to reach out to your child's CREW teachers.

Gavin Softic (he, him)
Principal
Collins Middle School

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School-Parent/Guardian Compact

This compact (agreement) is in effect during the 2024-2025 school year.

Please read this agreement and indicate your agreement by completing this form: Please return by October 18th, 2024.

This compact outlines how families, staff, and students share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement. It also describes the way that our school and families will collaborate in a partnership that will help children achieve the state’s high standards.

Our School’s Commitment:

Our school will:

1. Work tirelessly to ensure that students have access to high quality curriculum and excellent instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment. The goal is to enable students to gain the academic knowledge and skills needed to prepare for success in middle/high school and beyond.

2. Hold an annual meeting to inform families of the school’s participation in Title I programs and describe the right of parents/guardians to be involved in school planning and decision-making. This meeting is generally held in the fall.

3. Provide families with frequent reports of their child’s progress. Specifically, the school will provide report cards at least twice a year. They will be sent home on December 1, 2023 and March 15, 2024.

4. Provide ongoing two-way communication between families and teachers, which will include two family-teacher conferences to discuss your child’s achievement. Conferences will be held December 6, 2023 and March 20, 2024.

5. Provide families with reasonable access to staff. Phone calls and emails will be returned as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours. Additional conferences can be scheduled at the parent/guardian’s request.

6. Provide family members with opportunities to volunteer and participate in school and classroom activities. We maintain an open-door policy to ensure that volunteers are always welcome at our school. To volunteer or chaperone a field trip, please stop by the school’s office to fill out a CORI form with our school secretary, Liliana Pena. If you are looking for a way to volunteer in our school, please contact our Family Engagement Coordinator, Malcolm Pimnetel, mpimentel@salemk12.org.

7. Work to provide a safe learning environment that protects the safety, dignity, and rights of all individuals and ensure all students receive the excellent education they deserve.

Family Commitment:

As a parent/guardian, I want to support my child’s learning. I promise to:

1. Ensure that my child comes to school on time.

2. Understand that my child should not be absent or tardy unless absolutely necessary (illness or appointments).

3. Provide a quiet, undisturbed time and space for my child to complete homework.

4. Agree to check my child’s homework daily to ensure that it is complete, and done to the best of their ability.

5. Encourage at least 20-30 minutes of reading per day (either independently or reading with an adult).

6. Set a positive tone for learning with my child.

7. Monitor my child’s use of screen time (phone, TV, video games, etc.).

8. Stay informed and up to date about my child’s education.

9. Communicate with the school by promptly reading all notices from the school and responding when necessary.

10. When possible, consider serving on advisory groups such as the School Council, PTO, or other school advisory or policy groups.

Please sign and date our paper copy.

The Collins Middle School picture day is coming up soon on Wednesday, September 25th!

Now is the perfect time to pre-order portraits!

We have a wide variety of portrait options and packages to choose from - there's truly something for everyone.

Click here to pre-order

Use password: B0524F if needed.

Monday you will be receiving your student's homework assignment for the week through a ParentSquare post from their CREW teacher. This will happen every Monday. We hope this helps you see the expectations for each of their classes. There will also be a curriculum resource for families to see and understand what their child is working on in Math and ELA.

Here is the district's homework guidance.

Thank you for your continued support in enhancing the learning experience for students at Collins Middle School.

Come and Support CMS! Meetings:

• Sept 24th 630pm

• Oct 22nd 630pm

• Nov 19th 630pm
• Dec 17th 630pm
• Jan 21st 630pm
• Feb 25th 630pm
• March 18th 630pm
• April 15th 630pm
• May 20th 630pm
• June 17th 630pm

• MORNING BASKETBALL will begin Sept 9th.
• Enter the building on the flag pole side at 7:25-7:55am.
• Students will be dismissed to go get Breakfast.
• CROSS COUNTRY
• Practice - Monday and Thursday at Bertram 3:30-4:30

• BASEBALL

• Game Away Tuesday vs. Breed
• SOFTBALL
• Practice Monday and Wednesday at Mack Park from 4:00-6:00
• Game Away Tuesday vs. Breed

• INTRAMURAL SOCCER
• Will begin September 17 and will be Tuesdays and Thursdays. P
• lease sign up on Google form. Sign Up Form

Drop-Off/ Pick-Up:

• Parents can drop off/pick up at either the Jackson Street parking lot or Powder House Lane.

  • Recommendation: The Jackson Street parking lot probably would be easiest and most efficient.

  • Pick up and drop off can also happen on Francis Road, Calabrese Street, Broad Street and Dalton Parkway.

  • Crossing guards will be located on Jackson/Highland, Broad/Jackson, and Powderhouse/Highland.

• Please do not block driveways out of courtesy of our neighbors.

• Only buses will be allowed up the Jackson Street entrance; no parent vehicles will be allowed into the Jackson Street entrance.

• All buses will be exiting via Powder House Lane, so if you see a bus trying to exit please move along to make room.

• If you are dropping off your student, please work with your child to be ready to exit the car quickly so that you can move on and help keep the flow of traffic moving.

Thank you for supporting us in this effort to provide a safer Collins Middle School. Please do not hesitate to ask questions.

If you need assistance with the ASPEN Parent Portal please contact our family engagement facilitator, Malcolm Pimentel. mpimentel@salemk12.org

Technology Family Resources

Collins Middle School does not mandate specific school supplies for students. We do recommend some materials that students would benefit from having in their classes. These materials include:

• Lock for Locker
• Pencils
• Pens
• Notebooks (4)
• Folders
• Binders

Individual teachers may recommend materials for specific classes. Teachers will notify families when teachers return from summer. These materials would not be expected for students to have until September 11th. Collins Middle School will supply any materials recommended by teachers that students do not have on their own.

The goal of this document is to support families, staff, and students in outlining clear and consistent expectations for the Collins Middle School.

We recognize that clarity is necessary in setting a strong foundation for the positive school culture and climate at Collins Middle School. Collins Middle School is committed to providing an equitable environment for all students, and to ensuring that all students are able to access their right to a free appropriate public education. For this reason, it is vital that students and families understand the rights and responsibilities of a student of Collins Middle School. For a full overview of the areas addressed below, please refer to the Collins Middle School Handbook, which is in adherence to the Salem Public Schools Code of Conduct.

This document provides an overview of our expectations and provides details on our response to infractions in the event that situations arise over the course of the school year.

CMS School-Based Rules and Agreements

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CollinsMiddleSchoolSalemMA/

Instagram: Cmshappenings

Website: spscollins.salemk12.org