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Days of the Cycle This Week

Mon. - Day 6, Tues. - Day 2 (Early Release Day), Wed.- Day 1, Thurs. - Day 2 , Fri. -No School

Tues. November 7, 2023- Early Release and All School Community Day - Dismissal at 11:20 a.m.

Thurs. November 9, 2023 - Last Day of Term 1

Fri., November 10, 2023 - No School - Veteran's Day

Mon, November 13, 2023- Beginning of Term 2

Mon. November 13, 2023: 7th Grade Student Advisory Council Meeting - Team Ext. Room 324

Tues. November 14, 2023 - Crocodile River Music Assembly for Grades 6-8

Wed. November 15, 2023: 6th Grade Student Advisory Council Meeting - Team Ext. - Room 101

Thurs. November 16, 2023 - Picture Re-Take Day

Fri. November 17, 2023- Term 1 Report Cards Posted in ASPEN

Fri. November 17, 2023: Principal Coffee and 6th Grade Classroom Visits

Mon. November 20, 2023: 8th Grade Student Advisory Council - Team Ext. - Room 101

Wed. November 22, 2023: Early Release Dismissal at 11:20 a.m. for Thanksgiving Break

Thurs. November 23, 2023 and Fri. November 24, 2023 - No School for Thanksgiving Break

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 is an early release day. Dismissal is at 11:20 a.m. Grab and Go Lunches will be available.

Friday, November 10, 2023 there is no school in honor of the Veterans Day Holiday

“…people should have the right to be who they are and not what others tell them to be. All people should have a right to dignity and identity is an important part of this ideal.” ― Roberto Mukaro Borrero

In acknowledgment of both Native American Heritage Month as well as our work in this week's school wide community day around identity, I share with you a quote from Roberto Mukaro Borrero. In addition to being a human rights advocate, Roberto Mukaro Borrero has been named the chief of the Guainía Taíno Tribe. The Guainia Taino people are a Caribbean indigenous tribe and are ancestors to the Taino people, the indigenous tribe that Columbus encountered, and ultimately killed through enslavement and disease when he claimed to “discover America”. Carrying on the legacy of his ancestors, Borrero captures both the importance of protecting our identity and the challenges faced by those who are marginalized in all communities.

During Tuesday’s community day, we will first engage our students in conversations about identity, and the importance of creating a community in which everyone feels safe to show up and be accepted for every aspect of who they are. We will also examine the harm that occurs when identities are generalized in stereotypical ways, and when they are demeaned or mocked through daily words or acts known as micro aggressions. The work of Tuesday is that of those who are in the majority, who need to learn and understand the impact of these daily acts on marginalized groups that undermines their sense of safety and inhibits belonging and connection within our community. Feeling safe to show up with your full identity seems the most foundational place to begin in creating a truly inclusive school community, and it is where we will begin on Tuesday. The details of our school wide community day are included below.

The resources below for Native American Heritage Month were compiled by Kathy Lopes, our DEI Director. Native American Heritage Month Resources

This Tuesday at Day, we will use the early release day to engage in school-wide lessons that will allow us to explore the concept of identity, and the negative impact of micro aggressions on identity and our sense of inclusion, belonging and connection as a community. Although our 7th and 8th graders have engage in this work at Day in previous years, and our current 6th graders have been exposed to these ideas in their elementary schools, every year we take renew our commitment to creating an even more inclusive community by engaging in this work.

The community day will begin for each student in their advisory, where we will set norms for the day and ask students to respond to a Sown to Grow Reflection around the theme of identity.

Each grade will engage in differentiated, scaffolded lessons based upon prior learning:

Grade 6: Will explore the layers of identity

Grade 7: Will explore the danger of stereotyping and a "single story".

Grade 8: Will explore the intersection of identities and how it impacts our interactions.

Students in all three grades will:

• Engage in an assembly led by Day METCO Counselor, Daniel Arroyo, on the negative impact of micro aggressions on individuals and our community and strategies to intervene and interrupt them when you hear them.
• Create an artistic portrayal of their identity in multi-team classes.

The day will end in advisory groups where students will reflect on the day's discussions. Any student who would like to debrief in affinity spaces or take a deeper dive into discussions will be invited to our library for the end of the day debrief.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.”- John F. Kennedy in his 1963 Thanksgiving proclamation.

This Friday as your families enjoy a day away from work, school and other routines, please join us in taking a moment to honor those who have and continue to serve our country in the armed services. Although the day was first created to honor and celebrate the end of World War I, the war in theory to "end all wars", we know well over 100 years later, that in fact war and conflict are still very much a part of our global reality, and this day has evolved into an important moment to acknowledge the sacrifices made by the men and women who serve and have served our country in the armed services.

To the Veterans in our community, we thank you dearly for your service.

Picture Retake Day is Tuesday, November 16, 2023

If your child was absent for picture day OR would like to take another picture, retakes will be taken on Tuesday, November 16th in the Day Auditorium beginning at 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

Students having a retake MUST bring the original picture package back and hand them in to the photographer on the day of the retakes.

Pictures will be available in 3-5 weeks.

Most students have completed the Sown to Grow Pre-Assessment Survey. We will conduct a Post-Assessment Survey at the end of the school year.

This Tuesday, November 7th, students will engage in their first check-in and reflection. The reflection's topic will align with the community day's theme of identity.

Please note that the crew will be starting on Edinboro starting tomorrow. On the observed holiday (Friday, November 10, 2023) they will be restricted to work only 8 AM – 4 PM and no work on Saturday, November 11.

Coming out of the COVID Pandemic, we launched a new tradition at Day known as sharing our "bright sides". Inspired by the work of Coaching for Equity author, Elena Aquilar, I provided staff with "bright side jars" to fill each week with a brief note about the positive and inspirational moments. It comes out of the research around our brain's "negative bias" that says that we can internalize negative events or interactions in just a few seconds, while we have to intentionally focus on the positive moments to remember them and capture their feelings.

Although we are not all wonderful in taking a moment to fill our jars with positive notes, every week I do hear from the Day staff about inspiring moments in their week. I thought given all of the challenges in the world around us, you could all benefit from a few bright sides as well. Enjoy this week's Day Bright Sides.

Bright Side from our Reflections Program:

Mr. O'Donnell, Reflections Program Teacher: Mr. O'Donnell shared with me a wonderful story of kindness in our community this week. Every month he plans a community trip for our students in the Reflections Program to develop important life skills. For this week's trip they went shopping at a local BJ's for groceries for their cooking activity. As they were getting ready to pay, a person behind them in line insisted on paying for their groceries, noting that they would soon have a student at Day and was so proud of the work they were doing... Such a kind and wonderful moment that speaks volumes about our community.

What happens if a student loses their Chromebook charger?

Students are responsible for replacing a lost Chromebook charger. Replacement chargers can be found on Amazon, by searching 45W USB C Charger Chromebook. Most replacement chargers cost between $10 and $15.

If preferred, a student can get a charger from the school and the family will be billed $30.

Through the Creative Arts and Sciences Series made possible by donations to the Day PTO, our students will be participating in the Crocodile River Music Dakar- Bamako Express performance on November 14th. Special thanks also to the Harmony Foundation for additional funding.

Join member of the F. A. Day Community in cheering on our talented Day Middle School Band and the B.C. Men's Basketball Team on Thursday, December 21st!

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit programming for the Day Middle School Band.

Date: Thursday, December 21, 2023

B.C. Mens' Basketball vs. Lehigh

Performance by our very own Day Middle School Band

Join this wonderful night out for the Day families and support Mr. Brown and the Day Middle School Band.

To purchase your tickets, click on the link below.

The Yondr Pouch Program is entering its third full week and is becoming part of our daily routines. For me it has been a gift to be able to be out front of the school each morning, greeting students as they enter the building.

Below are just a few reminders:

• After your child removes the phone from the pouch at the end of the day, have them close the pouch again. If they leave the pouch open, it may become damaged in their back packs.
• If your child will not bring a device to school, please remember to fill out the "Yondr Pouch Exemption Form" linked below.

ELPAC

Linked below is an updated version of the after school clubs at Day.

This school year I will be hosting a morning coffee accompanied by a walkthrough our school so caregivers can see our building in action. Each month we will feature a different subject and grade.

These events will be scheduled every other month on Friday mornings from 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.

Save the dates below:

SAVE THE DATE:

November 17, 2023- FEATURING 6th Grade Classrooms!!

January 12, 2024

March 15, 2024

May 17, 2024

The All-City Cross Country Meet Hosted this Week at Day. and the Cross Country Banquet on Friday

Linked below is a roster of clubs and classes being offered by Newton Community Education after school at Day Middle School this fall, from STEM and Robotics to Drawing and Newspaper publishing.

We hope you will consider joining the Day PTO. This is a wonderful way to get involved in supporting your child at the middle level. There are volunteer opportunities from being a Team Parent to sponsoring Teacher Appreciation Events to chaperoning the Fall Fest Dances.

Please reach out to the Day PTO a the contact information below.

FADayDragons@gmail.com

https://www.daypto.org

Music instruction helps children with the development of motor skills, language skills, social skills, decision-making, risk-taking, and inventiveness. You can help enhance the program by donating today.

Your contribution will help Day Middle School Performing Arts Programs such as Chorus, Orchestra and Band. The QR Code below will lead you to the site where you can make a donation to our programs.

Our Fall Sports Season has now come to a close, and it was quite a memorable one. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the Day Coaches and After School Sports Coordinators who made this season possible and to the many Day parents and caregivers who came out to cheer on our athletes!

Cross Country: Coach Ian Moloney, Coach Hannah Alegbeleye, Coach Sean Paige, Coach Jayne Kerner

Boys' Soccer: Coach Mark Murphy:

Girls' Soccer: Coach Adam Lunin

Flag Football: Coach Leah Bowers and Coach Zach Herring

General questions about sports should be directed to our Athletic Coordinators:

Andy Comings: comingsa@newton.k12.ma.us

Mark Murphy: murphym@newton.k12.ma.us

Stay tuned for more information to follow about the winter sports season!

Linked below is an important list of common questions that families often ask about our school. Included is information about the first day of school as well as information about who to call with specific questions. This is a great reference guide that will support your family throughout the school year.

Email: mannj@newton.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/day
Location: F. A. Day Middle School, Minot Place, Newtonville, MA, USA
Phone: 617-559-9100
Twitter: @JMannNPS

School Office Hours are:

7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

617-559-9100