Weekly Bulletin and

Leadership Message Furnace Brook Middle School January 20, 2017 1 ​ ​ Fourth Annual Wonder Fair coming to FBMS! Our fourth annual Wonder Fair will take place in the FBMS ​ ​ ​ ​ gymnasium on January 27. This fair, inspired by the book Wonder ​ by R.J. Palacio, is being brought to us by SEPAC and ties into our Peace Builders and Social Emotional Learning initiatives.

More details: The Wonder Fair is an experiential fair to broaden awareness of disabilities. The fair’s theme is ​ ​ inspired by the book Wonder by R. J. Palacio (a former FBMS One Book, One School selection). ​ ​ Auggie Pullman, the main character of the book, was born with a facial deformity and brings the reader with him on a journey as he enters a new school. Wonder reminds us that we are more ​ ​ alike than we are different despite any challenges or disability. This collaboration between FBMS, the Special Education Department, and the Marshfield SEPAC is designed to expose and educate students about the differences found among individuals. All sixth grade students will visit stations highlighting various disabilities to learn how individuals live with and overcome challenges so that they can participate equally within their community. The hope is to increase

1 knowledge about disabilities and learning challenges and to foster positive inclusive attitudes toward individuals living with these conditions. Eight stations will highlight various disabilities for participants to learn about and experience. The list of stations includes: · Autism Spectrum · Learning Disabilities · Communication · Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) / Behavior · Sensory · Anxiety / Social / Emotional · Physical (including a visit from members of the Talking Information Center) · Medical

A big thank you goes out to SEPAC for their great work bringing this important learning opportunity to the students.

Outstanding Eighth Grade Concert!

We are very proud of our eighth grade students for their outstanding performances at this past week’s Winter Concert as well as members of the FBMS Jazz Band which is

made up of students from grades 6-8. Thank you to Mr. Kaminski, Mr. Brenner, Mrs. Ridarelli and Ms. Daigle for their great work in preparing the students.

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Seventh Grade GEO BEE a big success! All seventh grade classes took part in the Geography Bee today. The National Geographic Bee is an ​ ​ ​ annual competition organized by the National Geographic Society, “designed to inspire and reward ​ ​ students' curiosity about the world. Each year, thousands of schools across the United States participate in the National Geographic Bee, competing for college scholarships and the glory of being the National ​ ​ Geographic Bee Champion.” All schools with students in grades four through eight are eligible for participation..

We are proud to announce our winners of today’s bee: First Place: Thomas Burke Second Place: (tie) Jack Church and Luke McAlpine

Thank you to all the students who participated, to parents who supported their students and to Mrs. Cunningham (social studies coordinator) and Mr. Pelish (seventh grade social studies teacher) for their amazing leadership with this event.

7th Grade Field Trip Explores Peace and Equality? ​ Green Cluster students are exploring peace, equality and opportunity this week through the curriculum and a field trip to see the new movie Hidden Figures. ELA students are connecting their reading of I Am ​ ​ ​ Malala, our school-wide One Book, One School summer reading to their current reading of The Watsons ​ ​ Go to Birmingham which tells the story of a couple and their three children taking a road trip to ​ Birmingham, Ala., where history unfolds during the civil-rights movement in 1963. The students have also examined the Harlem Renaissance poetry of Langston Hughes. Through the literature, students examine, recognize and celebrate those who have risked wealth, reputation, and even life, to speak up about injustice.

Next week, Green cluster students will attend a showing of the new movie Hidden Figures. The movie has ​ ​ drawn critical acclaim and is based on the true story of a team of segregation-era African-American ​ women who provide NASA with important mathematical data needed to launch the program's first

3 successful space missions. The movie underscores the themes of equality of opportunity and the ​ importance of diversity and connects the disciplines of math, science and social studies.

Students will demonstrate their mastery of the learning objectives through the creation of a Peace Flag project which further reinforces each person's individual responsibility to help make the world a more peaceful place. Students in Blue and Purple Clusters will also participate in the same learning opportunities and field trip in the coming weeks.

Marshfield FACTS’ “Hidden in Plain Sight”? ​ Thank you to Marshfield Facts for bringing “Hidden in Plain Sight” to FBMS for both of our parent-teacher conferences. “Hidden in Plain Sight” displays a staged teen bedroom containing household items which could be indicators of drug or alcohol use. This display will be available in the FBMS library during our upcoming conferences on January 26 from 6:00PM - 8:00PM.

Author Casey Sherman to Perform to Benefit 8th Grade DC Field Trip! New York Times Bestselling Author Casey Sherman brings his acclaimed one man show TALES OF ​ ​ SUSPENSE to Marshfield with all proceeds going to help fund Furnace Brook Middle School's annual 8th ​ Grade Field Trip to Washington, D.C. The ​ show will take place in the Marshfield High School Auditorium on Wednesday evening, March 8 beginning at 7:00PM. Tickets will be on sale for $15 at the door and will also be made available before the show. Details will follow soon regarding the process for purchasing ​ tickets before the show.

Casey Sherman has been called one of the “greatest storytellers in America today.” In TALES OF SUSPENSE, a thrilling one man show, ​ ​ Sherman will share the dramatic, terrifying, heart wrenching and inspirational stories captured in his acclaimed books including the blockbuster The Finest Hours, about the greatest small boat rescue in ​ ​ American history and now an epic film from Walt Disney Studios starring , and which was filmed n Marshfield.

Sherman will also take you into the heart of darkness with his history making re-investigation of the notorious Boston Strangler case chronicled in his true crime classic SEARCH FOR THE STRANGLER and ​ ​ will shine the spotlight on the extraordinary heroes and survivors of the Boston Marathon Bombings

4 detailed in his national bestseller , which inspired the new film PATRIOTS DAY ​ ​ ​ starring , Kevin Bacon & John Goodman.

“Casey Sherman was so mesmerizing that you could not hear a sound from the audience for ninety minutes with Tales of Suspense. Casey’s dogged pursuit of the truth, prowess as a writer, powerful delivery skills, and magnetic stage presence all blend together to make one captivating performance. Kudos to Casey! - Sara Murphy, on behalf of the Historic Sweetser Lecture Series Advisory Committee

Casey Sherman has appeared on more than 100 television programs including CNN, FOX News, The Today Show, C-SPAN, Unsolved Mysteries, The History Channel, ABC World News Tonight, The CBS Evening News, Discovery, The Travel Channel and even The View. Casey Sherman is a commanding speaker and gifted storyteller and has performed his one man show Tales of Suspense at venues around the country including the historic Wilbur Theatre.

Sherman's youngest daughter Mia is an 8th Grader at FBMS and his eldest daughter Bella is a sophomore at Marshfield High School.

Looking to do something positive to start the New Year?? ​ Would you like to help promote intercultural education and peace in the world, while enriching the life of your family? Delf, a 17 year old German high school student, came to the US in September with AFS Intercultural Programs to experience life with an American family and attend a local high school. He has been in a temporary placement and we're now looking for a family that will invite him into their home until the end of June. Delf is friendly, easygoing and honest. He's a strong academic student with interests in sports, music & film editing. Like all AFS participants, he and the host family will be supported throughout the year by local volunteers. If you would like to learn more, or know someone who might, please contact Deb Gallagher, Greater Duxbury Hosting Coordinator, [email protected], 781-834-0708. AFS Intercultural Programs USA | AFS-USA

School Committee Policy on Riding Buses other than assigned Bus Please note that for safety reasons we cannot allow a student to ride a friend’s bus, unless there is an emergent need. In case of an emergency, permission must be granted by FBMS administration. The school committee policy regarding this reads as follows:

“Students may only ride their assigned buses. Requests to change a student’s permanent bus assignment may be approved by the Principal, or designee, if the request is received in writing a minimum of five days in advance. If there is a family emergency, or medical situation, parents should notify the school Principal and other transportation arrangements may be made.”

It is paramount to us that all students ride the appropriate bus and that you feel confident that we are upholding this rule. Thank you for your understanding.

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The Book Fair is coming! Feb. 6th - 10thh ​ The theme will be Boston Proud with a focus on Boston sports, history, and events which make us so ​ ​ proud to live here. Instead of hosting the Teacher Wishlist this year - we are supporting a local nonprofit organization which supports disenfranchised teens who have dropped out of school, been homeless, or gone through Boston's foster care system. More Than Words was created by a teacher to reach out to these kids and offer them a second chance by having them run two book stores in South Boston and. Waltham, and an online book store. She has had amazing success with students getting their GEDs and continuing to college or trade school. See the video at: http://vimeo.com/31489876 ​

The Online Volunteer Sign Up is: https://volunteer.scholastic.com/#/signup/jHUOtO71 ​ ​ ​

FBMS YEARBOOKS ON SALEE ​ Yearbooks are now on sale. Cost is $25. You may order them online by going to the following website: coffeepond.com ( https://www.coffeepond.com/order_yb1.aspx ) please include your child's name and ​ ​ ​ homeroom. The password is: fbms. If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Damphousse at [email protected]

Have a wonderful weekend, Principal Patrick Sullivan, Assistant Principal Maureen Kemmett, Assistant Principal John Mills

HOMEWORK HELPERSR ​ Homework Helpers will run every Wednesday immediately after school in the library for one hour. This program is available to all students without charge due to the generosity of the PTO. There is no need to pre-register, your student should just plan to arrive in the library with all of their work (they are not allowed to go back to classes or lockers). Once they sign in, students are expected to stay in the library for the full hour. This is a great opportunity for students to get a little extra support with any homework they find challenging.

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MCAS Updatesi ​ ● Our FBMS MCAS Report Card was sent to all in a connect ed this past week. The information can also be found under "Important Links and Documents" on our homepage.

2017 FBMS MCAS Testing Dates ● ELA: April 4-5 (Grades 6-8) ● Math: May 8-9 (Grades 6-8) ● Science: May 17-18 (Grade 8 only)

After School Programi ​ We are happy to announce that the FBMS After School Winter Program offerings will take place on the following Wednesdays: January 11, 18, 25 and February 1, 8, & 15.

The School Nurses will begin conducting postural screenings for all grades on Tuesday, January 24th, and will continue for a few weeks or until all of the students have been screened. This date was changed due to scheduling needs. This screening is a Massachusetts Department of Public Health initiative and is mandated for all students who attend public schools in grades 6 through 9. A parent or guardian may opt out of this screening for their child by written notification only (no email or phone calls) to the school nurse.

If you receive a text message from your child at school requesting that you pick him or her up because he/she is not feeling well, please let your child know he/she must go to the school nurse first. If the nurse feels your child is sick enough to be dismissed, you will receive a phone call directly from the nurse asking you to pick him/her up. If you pick up your child during the day because they have texted you, the dismissal is not considered a nurse dismissal.

There have been a lot of students in our school with a stomach and/or upper respiratory virus since the New Year. The norovirus typically circulates in this area every winter and spring and can cause outbreaks of GI illness among children and adults alike. It is extremely contagious. Infection is

7 characterized by nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms usually begin 1-2 days after exposure and last about 24-72 hours.

Good hand hygiene is the key to preventing transmission of the virus. Hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is preferred over alcohol-based hand sanitizers, but both are effective. Children should be taught to wash their hands after using the restroom, before eating meals, after sports, and should keep their hands away from their faces.

Please keep your child at home if he/she has GI symptoms of nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Also, if your child has a temperature over 100 degrees in the previous 24 hours, please keep them at home. Increase fluid intake until their symptoms have totally resolved.

There are children in our school who are immunocompromised and should not be exposed to excessive viruses and germs. Please be aware of your children's physical complaints when they leave for school everyday. It is better to keep them at home one extra day to make sure they are healthy, and to prevent the spread of germs to the other students.

If your child has had a concussion, musculoskeletal injury or for some other reason has not been able to participate in PE or any other activity, please make sure you send in a doctor's note when he/she has been cleared. Your child may not return to PE without a doctor's note.

Please feel free to call the health office with any questions or concerns.

Thank you,

Kathleen Keenan RN

PTO UPDATESS ​ ​ Boost Donations ​ ​ Make your donation today to take advantage of the tax deduction for 2016! Remember to take advantage of any matching gifts your employer may offer.

· Visit our PTO website to get a Boost form or use a Paypal button via the following link:

Restaurant Night - Tuesday, January 31st From 3-9 pm, Mandarin Tokyo will donate 10% (15% if you pay cash) for all eat in or take out orders, if you tell them you're ordering for FBMS. Mandarin Tokyo, 43 Careswell Street, 781-837-4440 www.mandarintokyomarshfield.com

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PTO meeting - Wednesday, February 1st Our next general meeting will be held Wednesday, February 1st at 7 pm in the FBMS library.

Please join the parents of the Class of 2021 at the Cask n’ Flagon to support the “FBMS 8th Grade DC Trip Scholarship Fund!” The scholarship fund was established so every student who would like to attend the DC trip will have the opportunity.

● Thursday, January 26, 2017 starting at 6:30 p.m..

● There will be a full Taco Bar, Raffles, Silent Auction, Lottery Board & Cash Bar.

● Tickets: $25 per person (this is an adult only evening; open to all not just parents of the class of 2021).

● Tickets may be purchased on-line: https://squareup.com/store/8th-grade-dc-scholarship-fund

● If you would rather pay by cash or check for your ticket please email us (see below) to arrange.

We are seeking donations for the raffles & auction items; please email the committee at [email protected] should you have an item or any ​ ​ ​ questions.

We hope to see you there!

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