Dear caregivers,

I hope that your holiday season was rich with opportunities and experiences that added to a strong foundation of positive core memories for you and your families. Happy New Year!! TeamStar had a great time being low-key during our break from the routine grind. Our oldest, Molly, was home from Hofstra University for a brief period before heading back to do a 1-week intensive dance program in Brooklyn. Sarah (high school junior) and Colin (8th grader) remain on break through January 6th and are enjoying their time gaming, reading, working on Legos, working, giving our dogs (Jack & Pedro) some serious attention, or just being slugs. Katie remains on break until the 6th as well ~ she is probably not relaxing as the work of the classroom teacher in the days approaching the return are INTENSE... We all took a tiny bit of time for ourselves over the vacation, relaxed in the TeamStar Clubhouse quite a bit, but enjoyed some pretty cool adventures as well (Old Sturbridge Village Christmas by Candlelight, visited the Lip Lab in Boston, played some intense indoor miniature golf in Boston, cleaned the garage a bit, organized the basement (that will NEVER be done...), and did a little shopping both pre and post Christmas).

New Year's Day was spent learning a couple of new card games for the kids and playing some old favorites, but the talk at the table less happy than not...the news from the incident in New Orleans was on our minds. The talk about how the positivity and kindness in the world always seems to be overshadowed by the evil and darkness perpetrated by those seeking to challenge our values of kindness, gratitude, respect, and responsibility. As we chatted and played the games, the mood lightened back up but the conversation certainly lived on in our minds and hearts.

In general, I am a relatively positive person (today as I write this, I am wearing a pair of socks with Ted Lasso's simple statement on them: "BELIEVE") and know that there are many teachable moments in our experience; though, many times, we may not realize the power of an interaction, of a conversation, of the behavioral modeling. This is where my hashtag for 2025 comes in: #LearningThroughMoments

I will admit, it is easy as a parent / caregiver to lose sight sometimes of the importance of those moments. That said, I figured sharing a little anchor point with you about my thoughts was a good idea. We already know that we are all shaped by our relationships, experiences, reactions, successes, failures, etc. Those that resonate with us, stick with us for a lifetime, those are defining experiences that we sometimes do not recall often enough. For some the experience could be exceptional (Peak Moments as described in the book "The Power of Moments", eg, winning the Massachusetts National History Day competition in 7th grade and representing Massachusetts on the national stage) to impactful (referring to 2-by-4 moments - those that hit you so hard and knock you on your butt, eg, remembering the day as a 5-year old that one of my friends passed away). Those moments, along with many others, are not remembered by me every day; however, the details of those days / experiences are burnt into my memory, the fabric of who I am, and are easily recalled when needed.

So, #LearningThroughMoments is a little reminder that what we do, what we experience, and how we are changed have great power. We, as educators and caregivers, are responsible for doing everything we possibly can to help our kids be better, stronger, more capable, and experience all that is possible to move them towards success. Build their peaks and help them rebound from that 2-by-4 experience. Celebrate the accomplishment and talk through the challenge to build resiliency and strength. Join me this year in adding #LearningThroughMoments if you share to your social media posts (be sure to tag Grafton Middle School, too!) when you experience a powerful moment with your child, family or friends. Share those moments with our students, engage them in those experiences after the fact. Let's be cognizant, together, of the Peaks that will shape their future and reflect on those experiences and draw the focus back towards light and movement onward.

Thanks for reading, and, again, Happy New Year!

Chris

Hello DC Adventurers and Super Supporters!

The countdown to our epic trip from May 21-24, 2025 is on, and we have some exciting updates to share!

All aboard!
We’re rolling deep with 183 students and 20 adults taking on the nation's capital in style, traveling in 4 coach buses—!

Action Items Incoming!
We’ll be sending out a form ASAP, so keep an eye on your inbox! Here’s what to expect:

• T-shirt Time! – Students will need to select their t-shirt size to ensure a perfect fit for those group pics.
• Behavior Goals! – Students and Parents/Guardians will need to read and acknowledge the behavioral expectations (Click [HERE] to preview them now).
• Roommate Roundup! – Students will choose 4-6 friends to bunk with. Start planning those dream roomie squads now!

Fundraising Heroes Unite!
Thanks to our incredible community, here’s where we stand:

• Panera Night: $420
• Gold Card Bonanza: $1,426
• MCM Fundraiser: $1,637
• Corporate Sponsors: $4,750

Thanks to your generosity, 6 students and 2 chaperones are heading to DC on scholarships! But we’re not done yet! We’re still fundraising for t-shirts, sundries, and more. Plus, get ready to flex those creative muscles—the trip logo contest is coming this Spring!

Thank YOU!

This trip wouldn’t be possible without all your hard work, support, and good vibes. Together, we’re making memories that will last a lifetime. Let’s keep it going!

Cheers,

Mrs. Martellio

Last school year, Grafton Middle, 6th grade, and Grafton High School piloted mathematics materials and after a rigorous process evaluating curriculum, adopted Illustrative Mathematics for Grade 6 through 10 (Algebra / Geometry 2).

We have been utilizing this resource with fidelity from the start of the school year and are seeing benefits already. This highly-rated problem-based curriculum resource is designed to foster a deep understanding of mathematical concepts through problem-solving and critical thinking .

We believe in the power of working with families and the community, so we would like to share some resources with you to better understand what your child is learning.

General Information for Families - In this link you can find a general overview of Illustrative Mathematics. It will answer the questions:

• What is a problem-based curriculum?
• What supports are in the materials to help my student succeed?
• What can my student do to be successful in this course?

Course Specific Information for Families - In this link, you can find unit summaries, and video lessons to accompany the content your student is learning. Please scroll down until you find the middle school level courses. To find the current materials for your child please click on Grade 7 or 8 then the current unit.

Additionally, you may be interested in the following resources:

Access for English Language Learners

Access for Students with Disabilities

Please reach out to your child's mathematics teacher for more information about how your child can best be supported.

Our annual Grafton Takeover at the Worcester Railers is approaching quickly! This year's event will take place on Saturday, January 18th. The JV and Varsity hockey teams will take on Nashoba that afternoon and the 5th and 6th grade band and chorus students from NSES and MSES will perform at the Railers game that evening. This has become the largest group sales event not only for the Worcester Railers but also for the entire ECHL, a minor league professional hockey organization across the US and Canada.

Purchase your tickets by clicking to pic below and get your GRAFTON GREEN ready to go for Saturday, January 18th!!

As previously shared, this letter is a reminder about our new Anonymous Alerts reporting tool for serious issues requiring immediate action by school and/or law enforcement:

Dear Caregivers,

Please find important information about a new tool in use for Grafton Middle School (and soon to be in place at Grafton High School) - Anonymous Alerts. Review the parent / caregiver letter and see below for more information.

Thank you,

Chris Starczewski, Principal of GMS

____________________________________________________________

Information shared to students in mid-December:

Good morning!

As I hope you know, one of the top responsibilities that I have is to ensure a safe and secure learning environment for you. The most important aspect of that is the upfront and open communication when issues arise. Sometimes, it may be difficult to decide to share a concern because you may be nervous about being identified or you become uncertain about how to report something of serious concern. We understand that and have adopted a new reporting system called Anonymous Alerts.

Today during Period 7, you will be instructed to watch the attached videos individually or as a whole class. We are putting a new reporting system in place when you become aware of serious and harmful actions related to members of our school community; issues like: violence, bullying, etcetera.

Please watch each attentively and carefully so you are aware of why to use and how to use the Anonymous Alerts reporting system. If you have any questions, please feel free to track me down.

The same videos and a parent letter are being shared to your caregivers later this afternoon so they are aware and can take the same actions as you for reporting.

Make today a great day!

Mr. Star

_________________________________________

Training Slideshow

Introduction Video: https://youtu.be/Otp892yrdIc?si=VrFY3d4D-3o1QEPW

Anonymous Alerts Training Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTPnbq6hJEE

Afterschool activities are underway and we have some strong participation! Activities are on a drop in basis except for special activities like Jazz Band, Student Council, Select Chorus, and Ski Club. Ski Club is the only club requiring payment…more information to come for Ski Club as winter approaches. Pickup from afterschool activities is in the same location designated for drop-off / pick-up for the schoolday.

Announcing Unified Strength & Conditioning

We are very excited to announce that we will be hosting the Special Olympics Unified Strength and Conditioning (USC) Intramural! The Unified Strength & Conditioning program’s primary goal is to promote social inclusion through planned and implemented physical activity. This program will consist of measuring student's performance in 7 body weight strength exercises as well as practicing group fitness workouts.

The USC Intramural will run twice per week for 6 weeks and meet on Wednesdays and Fridays from 2:00 to 2:50. Participants should dress appropriately for physical activity and wear proper footwear safe for a gym environment.

Sign up here at this link by Monday, January 13, 2025. Activity begins on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, and continues through Friday, March 7, 2025. All students must be cleared by the school nurse in order to participate.

SIGN UP HERE: https://forms.gle/eQgKRtWzMXanBefS8

Signups for winter athletics are underway! Please go to PowerSchool to register your child for tryouts for basketball (7th and 8th Grade) and hockey (8th Grade). All students must be medically cleared and eligible prior to the date of tryout #1.

The GMS Counseling Team has a website that will be linked off of our GMS homepage:

https://sites.google.com/grafton.k12.ma.us/gms-school-counseling/home?authuser=0

If a Grafton Middle School student is in need of support from a member of the Student Support Team, the student can always as a teacher to go to the Counseling Suite. Despite our work to ensure that all students are comfortable and welcome at GMS and encouraged to seek help / assistance for themselves or others when it is needed, sometimes students may be choose to go without connecting for fear of being labeled by peers. This resource is available to ANY student looking to talk about any issue involving them or a peer. Students just need to sign up and a member of the team will be in touch very soon!

https://forms.gle/y7nNL3UXQy7EPo59A

Dear Parent / Caregiver,

This year school staff are working to teach students about mental health and how to seek

help if they are worried about themselves or a friend. We are using a program called SOS

Signs of Suicide. The program teaches students about this difficult topic and encourages

them to seek help.

SOS has been used by thousands of schools for over 20 years. Studies have shown that it

effectively teaches students about depression and suicide while reducing the number of

students’ self-reported suicide attempts.

Through the program, students learn:

● that depression is treatable, so they are encouraged to seek help

● how to identify depression and potential suicide risk in themselves or a friend

● to ACT (Acknowledge, Care and Tell a trusted adult) if concerned about themselves or

a friend

● who they can turn to at school for help

Students will watch age-appropriate video clips and participate in a guided discussion about

depression, suicide, and what to do if they are concerned about a friend. Following the video,

students will complete a brief depression screening form. This form cannot provide a

diagnosis of depression but does indicate whether a young person should seek help from a

mental health professional.

At the end of class, students will complete an exit slip which asks whether they would like to

talk to an adult about any concerns. School staff will conduct brief meetings with any student

asking to talk.

We encourage you to visit www.mindwise.org/parents for information on warning signs for

youth suicide, useful resources, and some of the key messages students will learn.

If you or someone you know is experiencing an immediate mental health need, please connect with your outside health care provider, Community Health Link (Emergency Mental Health Services) at 1-866-549-2142 or your local emergency room/911.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s participation in this program please

contact our counseling department. Contact information is on our new department website.

We ran the program during the week of 9/30/24 for half of our 7th graders (Patriatis Periods 3 and 4, Daoust Periods 3, 5, 6) and the other half will be run the week of 1/6/25 (Patriatis Periods 1, 2, and 5, Daoust Periods 1 and 2).

If you do not want your child to participate in this program please fill out our opt-out form. If you have already filled out the opt-out form to start the year, you do not need to submit it again.

Sincerely,

GMS Counseling Department

**The Impact of Cell Phones on Learning: A Message for Middle School Parents**

In today’s digital age, cell phones have become an integral part of our daily lives, offering instant access to information and communication. However, when it comes to the classroom, these devices can pose significant challenges to students' learning and focus.

**Grafton Middle School: A "No Phone Zone"**
To ensure that our students can fully engage in their education without unnecessary distractions, Grafton Middle School is designated as a "No Phone Zone." This means that students are expected to keep their phones stored in lockers or backpacks for the entire school day. Phones should not be carried on their person during school hours. This policy is designed to create a focused learning environment where students can concentrate on their studies and interactions with peers and teachers. If students wish to "rent" a lock for the schoolyear, they may bring $10 to school; only school issued locks are permitted. The $10 deposit will be returned to students when they turn the lock in at the end of the year.

**Distractions in the Classroom**
While cell phones are powerful tools, they can easily divert attention away from important lessons. Social media notifications, text messages, and the lure of online games or videos can interrupt students’ concentration, making it difficult for them to fully engage with their studies. Even the mere presence of a phone can be a distraction, reducing the ability to absorb and retain information.

**Impact on Academic Performance**
Studies have shown that students who frequently use their phones during class often have lower grades and are less likely to participate in discussions or group activities. Multitasking between a lesson and a phone is virtually impossible, as the brain cannot effectively focus on both tasks at the same time. Over time, this divided attention can lead to gaps in knowledge and hinder academic progress.

**Social and Emotional Effects**
Beyond academics, cell phones can also impact social interactions and emotional well-being. Constant connectivity can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and feelings of isolation, especially when students use social media as a measure of self-worth. Additionally, reliance on phones can reduce face-to-face communication skills, which are crucial for personal development and building meaningful relationships.

**What Can Parents Do?**
As parents, you play a critical role in helping your child develop healthy cell phone habits. Support Grafton Middle School’s "No Phone Zone" policy by reminding your child to store their phone in their locker or backpack and to focus on their learning during school hours. Setting clear guidelines around phone usage can reinforce the importance of staying engaged in class. Also, please be on the lookout for more resources on the topic; specifically, information from "The Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt.

Together, we can create a learning environment that prioritizes education and helps our students reach their full potential. Thank you for your support in ensuring that cell phones enhance, rather than hinder, your child’s educational experience.

Warm regards,

Grafton Middle School Administration Team--

Thursdays - SKI CLUB (expect increased traffic for morning drop-off)

January 10 - Therapy Dog visit to GMS Counseling Suite (times TBD)

January 10 - 8White visits GHS for tour

January 14 - Information meeting about the GMS Spring Musical (Aud 1:50)

January 17 - 8Green visits GHS for tour

January 21 - GMS presents the "State of the School" at School Committee (7pm)

January 24 - Student Council sponsors the WINTER WONDERLAND DANCE

January 25 - Ella Montville attends Project351 Launch Day in Boston

Grafton Middle School is a 7th and 8th Grade middle school located at 20 Providence Road, Grafton MA.