Family Weekly Update

As we head into the last week of September, I hope you all have a fantastic weekend! Don’t forget to check out our newsletter for all the latest updates and important information.

Gavin Softic (he, him)
Principal
Collins Middle School

Here are some slides we will review with students during CREW on Monday.

This year, the CMS Band will be marching in the Haunted Happenings Parade with Saltonstall and Salem High School (A Salem Music Megaband...wish us luck!).

In order to adequately prepare for this performance, we will need to combine grade level bands in order to rehearse, march, etc... please see the timeline below and let me know if you have any questions!

MONDAY, SEPT. 30
Grade 7 - Period 5 (During the 8th Grade Pathways)

TUESDAY, OCT. 1
Grade 6 - Period 5 (During 7th Grade Band)
Grade 8 - Period 5 (During 7th Grade Band)

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 2
No special rehearsals

THURSDAY, OCT. 3 - PARADE DAY
Grade 6/7/8 - 8:35AM - 9:20AM
Report time at Shetland Park is 5:30PM (any staff that want to march with us, feel free!)

IMPORTANT: If a student cannot miss your class, please let me know and I'll deliver the appropriate information to the student. We try as hard as we can to not have students feel conflicted about where they need to go! Thanks in advance for your partnership!

Also, during ​regular band classes next week, we will likely be out on the track at Bertram Field. If you're looking for us, please send me a text (978) - 394-6986.

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.

Dear Parents and Guardians of 6th graders,

The CMS support team (School Counselors and City Connects Coordinators) will be presenting a mental health slideshow to all 6th grade homerooms as part of a district initiative. Our goal is to teach all 6th graders about mental health and anxiety. They will participate in a 30-minute presentation delivered by a CMS counselor followed by a brief 8-question universal mental health screener (GAD-7) that focuses on anxiety. Our purpose is to identify students at risk for anxiety, NOT to give a diagnosis.

We want to raise awareness about emotional wellbeing and give the students the tools they need to cope with stressful situations. The benefits of implementing a mental health screener is early identification of students who are at risk or in need of intervention. It is a proactive approach that decreases the likelihood that school will overlook a student in need of support.

Following the screening, we will start social-emotional support groups to teach coping skills and strategies focused on managing anxiety. Students who endorse significant symptoms of anxiety on the screener will be invited to join one of the groups. We will also be reaching out to parents/guardians of any students who endorse significant symptoms of anxiety.

This presentation/screener is scheduled to take place the week of October 7th.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s participation in the anxiety screener, please contact one of the school counselors below. If you would like to opt your child out of participating, please email Heather Mercier, hmercier@salemk12.org by October 4th.

Thank you for your attention and cooperation in this process.

Sincerely,

Heather Mercier, School Counselor, 6th Grade

hmercier@salemk12.org

June Casale, School Counselor, 7th Grade

jcasale@salemk12.org

Ervina Shehaj, School Counselor, 8th Grade

eshehaj@salemk12.org

Kara Meade, School Counselor, TIDES Program

kmeade@salemk12.org

Come and Support CMS! Meetings:

• 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

Attention Collins families we have an amazing opportunity to raise funds for Collins Middle School including CMS athletics, CMS special education, CMS student activities and the 8th grade end of the year trip. We have been assigned 2 days of collecting parking money at the universal steel lot on Bridge st.

We are in need of volunteers to commit to 2hr shifts. All volunteers must submit a signed waiver

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10C084AA5A928A4F9CE9-51310189-universal

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

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557372650897

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

Instagram: Cmshappenings

Website: spscollins.salemk12.org