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

Each month the teachers in each Cluster, RAs, and Guidance nominate a student who exemplifies our TIGER acronym - Truthful, Inclusive, Gracious, Engaged, Respectful.

Front Row (L to R): Brianna Bautista Ramirez, Layth Ahmed, and Daniel Pena

Middle Row (L to R): Amelia Martinez, Dorothy Wagg, Jaclyn Burns, Sibley Whitaker, Nick Roberts, Nick Ryan, and Phoenix Miller

Back Row (L to R): Assistant Principal Sean Fitzgerald and Principal Peter Ginolfi

GAMES STARTING WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29TH! Intramural Basketball is open to all students in grades 6-8. Registration is now open and all interested players MUST be registered by WEDNESDAY October 22, 2025 (2:30pm) to ensure that they have a spot on a team.

Games will be held most days after school from 2:30 - 3:45, with the last day of games on Tuesday, November 25. Games are 30 minutes- players will have the first or second time slot (2:30-3:00 or 3:05-3:35). Students will play in teams on a set schedule, detailed schedules will be available on or before the FIRST day of games. Basketball dates Oct 29, Nov 3, 4, 5, Nov 12, 14, 17, 18, 19, 24 and 25.

Please note - Basketball is a popular sport! We will create the team rosters and game schedules based on the number of students registered by 2:30 on October 22, 2025. Late registrations will be placed on a "waitlist" in the order they are received and only considered if space is available or someone drops out. To be added to the waitlist, email Katie Henderson at khenderson@ipsk12.net. There is no guarantee that waitlisted students will be assigned a team. Thank you for understanding. - Ms. McNichols

The fee to play intramurals is $50 for one intramural and $75 for unlimited intramurals. If you already paid for Tennis then basketball would cost an additional $25 and all subsequent intramurals will be free. Please register your child and contact Katie Henderson to make arrangements (khenderson@ipsk12.net).

Grade 6 has a long standing tradition of taking students on an overnight trip to The Ecology School in Maine (formerly called Ferry Beach). This year, the trip is tentatively planned for April 28 - May 1, 2026.

The Ecology School can accommodate 120 students, usually 60 in the Female dorm and 60 in the Male dorm. Even though our class enrollment numbers are below that, each year 20 - 25 students decide that the local day trips are a better fit for them. In order to plan our estimated numbers for each trip, we ask that you complete the 2026 Grade 6 Spring Trip Interest Survey by October 8.

Below we have provided some details that may help you decide which trip is best for your student.

The cost of the trip to The Ecology School is $400.

The cost of the local trip is about $60.

There are partial and full scholarships funds available for families who need financial assistance to pay for the trips - no student is excluded due to financial constraints.

In order to attend either trip students need to have a good academic, attendance and discipline record.

You can find more details about each of the trips in the 24- 25 Ecology School Parent Presentation

For those interested in the overnight trip to Saco, Maine we will be hosting a parent information night on Wednesday, October 22 at 5:30 PM to answer any additional questions you may have.

To find out more about The Ecology School, you can visit their website at:

The Ecology School at River Bend

The Ecology School Residential Overnight Programs

Even after our regular dismissal at 2:21 p.m. (or 1:17 p.m. on Thursdays), Ipswich Middle School remains a busy place — with many students participating in clubs, sports, music lessons, or staying after with a teacher for extra help.

In all of these cases, students must be with a teacher, coach, or staff member in a supervised area. We’ve recently noticed more students lingering around the building without supervision, which is not allowed for safety reasons.

If your child is not heading home immediately after school, please take a moment to talk with them about where they should be and who is responsible for supervising them. The Teen Center is a great option for students who would like a safe and supervised place to spend time after school.

Thank you for helping us keep all students safe and accounted for each day.

The Teen Center is gearing up for an exciting week ahead, offering fun activities and an important new resource for local teens. Middle School students looking to get active can head to the center's gym space next Wednesday for some lively games of four-square. The classic schoolyard game is set to take over the court, offering a great way to socialize and burn off some energy.

The fun continues on Friday with a relaxing movie afternoon. The center will be rolling out its popcorn cart and providing refreshing Poppi sodas for the event. The best part? The movie choice is entirely up to the attendees! Teens will have the opportunity to vote for the film they want to see, ensuring the afternoon is a hit. The Teen Center is located at Boone Hall at Ascencion Church, 31 County Street and is open from 2:30 to 4:30.

Tuesday, October 14th - No school , Staff Professional Development

Tuesday, October 14th - Middle School Council meeting, 5:30 in the 6th grade pod, all are welcome to attend

Wednesday, October 15th - Grade 8 RA rotation

Wednesday, October 22nd - Grade 6 Ecology School Parent meeting, 5:30 in the 6th grade pod.

Friday, October 24th - Whittier Voc. Tech. presentation to the 7th grade

Th. & Fri. October 27th & 28th - Grade 7 Field Trip, Project Adventure

Thursday, October 30th - Picture retake day

Ms. Armitstead and Mr. Meaney

This duo was nominated by our Program Manager, Mrs. Potter who wrote, "I’d like to nominate Barbara and Patrick for the Appreciation Tapestry. They show great patience, flexibility, and creativity in their work. It’s clear that they truly care about their students and they approach each day as a new opportunity to make a difference." Thank you both for all of your hard work.