From the Principal S Desk s2
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APRIL 2013
South Middle School 232 Peach Street – Braintree, MA 02184 781-380-0160 FAX 781-380-0164 ABSENT LINE 781-356-0657 www.gpvillage.com/southms
Spring in New England is the greatest lie ever told … rambled thoughts of an optimist having a bad day.
Beginning of April
When does spring start in New England? Is it April? Has it started yet? Does the tease of the Masters Golf Tournament help us know that spring will arrive? Who believes the groundhog? He is not always truthful. Rabbits, this year promise frozen eggs. We are ready for the seasonal change but any crafty Yankee remains suspicious. My wife gets so upset with the untidiness of March and April and brightens every day with each popping crocus. Listen for the peepers for they bring optimism. No Mas. Mother Nature. No Mas. Shorts have arrived at South Middle School and our youthful models cannot understand why there may be snow in the air. No sound like the chattering of teeth at an early softball practice. Automatic homerun if the ball lands in a snow pile. A summer breeze has such a romantic feel while an east wind in April can cut you to your heart. The calendar may be smarter than we are but it has no idea when spring begins. Hope multiplies on a warm spring day. The green of a briar patch. The last days of looking good. I envy our Southern states in April. They envy us in July. By the time you move to a better climate, your experience with our climate is already better. April showers. Cold rain. You decide. April is the yellow month – pollen! Hey, bud The eyes have one color in April. Watery blue. Ivies are ready to attack with their itches. The selling of winter. Cheap. Spring Peepers. A leap of faith. Spring fever. Symptoms: Languor, sluggishness, apathy, sleepiness, All a temporary condition unless you are a teenager.
Spring in New England … enjoy the experience for there is no Spring in New England.
The last day of April. CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Ms. Elaine Pagliarulo who has been selected as the new Assistant Principal for South Middle School.
APRIL DATES:
April 2nd through April 11th – The Annual Art Show at South Shore Plaza
Tuesday, April 9th- 7:15 pm -PTO Meeting
Tuesday, April 9th – End of Term 3
April 15th through April 19th- Spring Break
Friday, April 26th- School Play- “Fame Jr.” – 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 27th –School Play – “Fame Jr.” – 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm
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Future School Committee Meeting Dates April 1, 2013 7:00 pm Colbert April 22, 2013 7:00 pm Morrison May 6, 2013 7:00 pm Colbert May 20, 2013 7:00 pm Hollis June 17, 2013 7:00 pm Colbert July 29, 2013 7:00 pm Colbert August 19, 2013 7:00 pm Colbert
The agenda for each meeting may be viewed two days prior to the meeting date at www.braintreeschools.org. South Middle School PTO Minutes from meeting on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Attendees: Nancy Alessi. Ellen Rotty, Ed McDonough, Cheryl Hawe, Jean McDonald, Laura Burton, Laurie Eleuteri, Richard Wong, Kelly Storlazzi, Lisa Stornaielo, Leslie Flanagan
The meeting began at 7:05pm.
Mrs. Storlazzi presented the Treasurer’s Report. Balance as of 3/14/13 is $8,821.63.
Mrs. Eleuteri provided an update from the recent School Advisory Board (SAB) meetings. At January’s meeting, the director of the English department at BHS explained a new video production course. Students plan, budget, and film the productions, which air on BCAM. School security was also discussed. All locks and cameras at all schools must be working. Staff will now ask for identification and purpose of visitors before buzzing in. All schools must have a crisis plan on site. There is an enhanced police presence at all schools. At the SAB February meeting, Rachel Hallenbeck, Director of Music, spoke. The March SAB meeting is scheduled for next week and the topic is “Credit for Life.” Mrs. Eleuteri will provide a recap at our next PTO meeting.
Mr. McDonough then spoke about South’s crisis plan, which covers many scenarios including fights, utility emergency, death at school, and lockdown/lockout. Braintree police will meet with South faculty to review these plans and there will be an assembly with students to explain upcoming drills. Mr. McDonough is reviewing which door locks and camera are in need of repair. Mr. Wong, who works in the security field and is the parent of a South student, provided some insight on potential security threats at schools and other public places. He discussed the possibility of training middle school and high school students to assist faculty in defensive measures in the event of a security threat. Mr. Wong agreed to speak with Mr. McDonough and the police detective working with South.
Mrs. Stornaielo reported that we have 115 Stop & Shop cards registered to South PTO, and so far, they have earned $1380.
Mrs. Rotty reported that we were recently approved for $300 for Cultural Arts. She is currently working on a math program for the 7th grade.
Mrs. Storlazzi requested a volunteer to chair the Teacher Appreciation week in May. The 8th grade Yankee Candle sale is underway. The Student Council’s 5K is Saturday, March 23. Student Council notes will be included in future PTO notes, to keep parents in the loop.
Mr. McDonough updated us on the auditorium improvements. We voted unanimously to pay for the lighting upgrade, which might be completed in time for the spring musical. Mr. McDonough also requested that the PTO finance the painting and decorating of the auditorium over the summer. He suggested the PTO create a committee to plan these projects.
We voted unanimously to donate $150 to the retirement celebration for Dr. Kurzberg. Mr. McDonough added that Braintree has been extremely fortunate to have had Dr. Kurzberg as superintendent for such a long time.
Mr. McDonough announced that the School Committee will hold its meeting at South on Monday, March 18. The PTO will provide refreshments.
Spring musical is April 26 and 27.
We then visited the auditorium to see some of the new lights and brainstorm on other upgrades. The PTO will contact its members in the coming weeks to invite interested individuals to serve on the auditorium improvement committee.
The meeting adjourned at 8:10pm.
-- South Middle School PTO
NEWS FROM THE ART ROOMS
Mrs. Schulze and Ms. Lovejoy would like to congratulate their students who were awarded Honorable Mentions for their amazing art in The Boston Globe All Scholastic Art contest. Congratulations, Nick Martin grade 8, Maily Nguyen grade 8, Benjamin Bailey grade 7 and Carrie Tam grade 7.
Several art works of South Middle School students are on display at the April ART EXHIBIT at South Shore Plaza. The art exhibit includes work from Braintree Public School students in kindergarten to grade 12. The exhibit is on display at the South Shore Plaza from April 1 (5pm) to April 11 (1pm). It is located on the ground floor outside of Macy’s at the Center Court. The Art Department hopes that you will be able to stop by to see all of the work created by our talented students! News from the library/media center:
A South team took first place at this year’s Battle of the Books, held on March 14th in the East cafeteria. Athena’s Representatives, led by teachers Kelly Proulx and Christine Connolly, scored 64 points (of 70). Student members were: Trent Brown, Cailin Donovan, Jenny Jaehnig, Sean Kelliher, Erin Kiley, Brendan Mallon, Christine Meucci, Jessica Meyer, and Umar Padela.
Ms. Mazzei’s team, The Baconators, came in 5th with 55 points, while Ms. Norris’ Avengers and Ms. Clifford’s Shamrocks tied for 6th with 54 points. Four Eyes, Mr. Taylor’s team, earned 50 points and finished 8th. Congratulations to all student participants, and a huge thank you to all the teachers who took part.
Two new series are gaining popularity with South students: “Divergent” by Veronica Roth and “Summer” by Jenny Han. Some old standbys such as, Hatchet (Paulsen), Artemis Fowl (Colfer), Maximum Ride (Patterson), Harry Potter (Rowling) and The Hunger Games (Collins); as well as, sports titles by Mike Lupica and Tim Green are still in demand.
The spring book fair, sponsored by Scholastic will take place in the library/media center May 30 and 31. We hope Scholastic can supply multiple copies of all required summer reading books for students who wish to own a copy.
Thank you to all who donate books and magazines to the South Middle Library. Thanks to seventh graders Emily Dalton and Tyler Centeio for donating some great books. ------submitted by Deborah Vose, Library/Media Specialist HERE’S TO YOUR HEALTH - JUST IN TIME FOR SPRING! Publication of the Braintree School Nurses Volume 3, Issue 3 March, 2013
We May Love Rock ‘n Roll…But Our Ears Don’t! How to Prevent Hearing Loss in a Noisy World
Did you know that one song at a rock concert can permanently damage your hearing? Everyday sounds – like the whir of a blender, the sound of a snow blower or lawn mower, and the bells and whistles of children’s toys – can result in permanent hearing loss or tinnitus (a ringing or buzzing in the ears).
Hearing plays an essential role in communication, speech and language development, and learning. Even a small amount of hearing loss can have profound, negative effects on speech, language comprehension, communication, classroom learning, social development and work performance.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 5.2 million children aged 6 to 19 and 26 million adults aged 20 to 69 have suffered permanent damage to their hearing from excessive exposure to noise.
Hearing loss can result from damage to structures and/or nerve fibers in the inner ear that responds to sound. This type of hearing loss, termed “noise-induced hearing loss”, is usually caused by exposure to excessively loud sounds and cannot be medically or surgically corrected. Noise-induced hearing loss can result from a one-time exposure to a very loud sound, blast, or impulse, or from listening to loud sounds over an extended period of time.
How loud is too loud? If while in a noisy environment you have to shout in order for someone near you to hear what you are saying, the noise level is dangerously loud.
It is not only the sound level, but also the length of time you are exposed to noise that determines the extent of resulting hearing damage. The louder the sound, the less time it takes to damage your hearing. For example you could sit in heavy traffic noise for up to eight hours, but you can only safely use a snow blower or mow your lawn for seven minutes without ear protection.
How will you know if noise is damaging your hearing? Noise-induced hearing loss is progressive and painless, so it can sneak up on you. If after being exposed to loud noise, sounds seem muffled or you hear ringing in your ears, you have likely been exposed to noise at a dangerous level. How can you protect your hearing?
Cover Up: Foam earplugs (available at pharmacies), earmuffs (available at sporting goods or safety equipment stores), and custom earplugs all provide protection. For musicians or music enthusiasts, custom earplugs with special filters will reduce overall sound level while providing high fidelity sound. These kinds of earplugs are also helpful for hearing speech in noisy work environments.
Turn Down the Volume: Move away from the source of loud sounds when possible. You can also buy quieter products (compare dB ratings and ask for low-noise products). If you listen to music through headphone for extended periods of time, turn down the volume to 50 %. If you find that you turn the headset volume up to drown out background noise, you should consider custom ear buds. Custom ear buds can significantly lower the background noise so that you can listen to music without having to crank up the volume.
Watch the Time: Limit exposure to noisy activities at home and at work. Monitor your listening level and how long you are listening to devices like MP3 players/iPods. Encourage your children to use their headphones conservatively.
An Ounce of Prevention: While you may not be able to control the noise around you, you can take protective measures into your own hands. One-third of permanent hearing loss is preventable with proper hearing loss prevention strategies. Submitted by Ginny Palmieri, RN, M.SN, East & Mary Ann O’Rourke, RN, BS, East
April 2 nd is National Autism Day Physical Fitness and Health Benefits
May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month and will be here before we know it. Being physically active increases your chances of living longer and can reduce the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and some types of cancer. Regular exercise helps to build and maintain healthy bones and muscles. Physical activity also affects the brain. Research has shown that physical movement can affect the brain by increasing blood flow, oxygenation, development of nerve connections, and growth of nerve cells in the hippocampus, which is the center of learning and memory. These changes may be associated with improved attention, enhanced coping, and improved processing, storage and retrieval of information. Exercise gives you more energy during the day and can help you sleep better at night. Consistent physical activity can reduce the feelings of depression and anxiety.
Tips to help you get active:
Find an activity that is fun, and something you enjoy.
Start slow and warm up by stretching your muscles first.
Aim for 20 to 30 minutes each day of moderate activity, such as walking, running, dancing, raking leaves, and bike riding.
Do muscle strengthening exercises at least two times a week. Exercises such as sit-ups and push-ups help to strengthen the stomach, chest, back, shoulders and arms.
Some physical activity is better than none.
Submitted by Rosemary Donoghue R.N., BSN, M.Ed.
6th Grade Parents: The Growth and Development Program for 6th grade students will begin the week of May 6th, 2013 during Physical Education classes. More information about the program will be emailed home to all parents next week.
6th Grade Parents: Please remember to get your child’s updated physical exam done and immunizations done for 7th grade. Send copy of physical exam into nurse’s office. CRADLES TO CRAYONS
Partnership with Braintree Public Schools
Please join us in making a difference in the lives of thousands of children with the donation of clothing items for children (infants to age 12)
Donation Guidelines:
Clothing
Bottoms, tops, outerwear, pajamas, accessories Children’s sizes 0-20 and adult clothing S,M,L (that is appropriate for children) Socks and underwear must be new
Shoes
Sneakers, sandals and boots Please attach matched pairs with rubber bands
DROP OFF SITES
South Middle School April 1 to April 10 2013 7:30 to 3:30
Elementary Schools and East Middle School ONE DAY ONLY Tuesday, April 9 8:30 to 3:00
THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL DONATION A N I N V I T A T I O N
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Attendees will automatically be put into a drawing for the following prizes: 1st Prize: $50 Visa Gift Card 2nd Prize: $30 Visa Gift Card 3rd Prize: $20 Visa Gift Card
Sponsored by: Braintree Alliance for Safe and Health Youth BRAINTREE HIGH SCHOOL Home of the WAMPS ALL NIGHT GRADUATION COMMITTEE Is pleased to offer the Best Graduation Present ever!! Wamp Charm, $30.00 Fits all Pandora Bracelets and other charms bracelets
Order one today for your Daughter, Granddaughter, Girlfriend, Friend, Teacher, Past Alumni; really anyone!! Order Information on Back
Wamp Charm made available to All Night Graduation Committee by Ken Hulke, Caruso Jewelers, 1000 Washington Street, South Braintree, MA 02184 Wamp Charm orders need to be received by May 1, 2013 Charms will be available by May 15, 2013 Order Form
1. Contact Name: ______
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Order Forms can either be sent via email to [email protected] or [email protected] Or mailed to Christine Neelon, 45 Priscilla Avenue, Braintree, MA 02184 Checks payable to Braintree Graduation Party
Fundraiser to benefit All Night Graduation, offered to all seniors at Braintree High School