Family Weekly Update

Thanks for a great week back. Can you believe we have only two week until winter breaK? Please read through the newsletter with some updates.

Thank you,

Gavin Softic (he, him)
Principal
Collins Middle School

Students should have their pass attached to their backpacks or in a place that is easily accessible. Bus riders who do not have a bus pass should contact the Transportation Office as soon as possible and we will replace it. Contact jbarros@salemk12.org with questions.

Please remind your student that they need to have bus passes with them to get on the bus. This is a safety concern. We know there are time students forget their passes, but please help us in making this a consistent routine.

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 Student Handbook_English

Dress Code:

Students are expected to adhere to the dress code outlined in the Collins Middle School handbook. In the event that a student does not adhere to these expectations the following options will be provided:

• verbal warning

• copy of dress code will be provided to the student

• an alternative option will be provided to wear for the course of the school day

• phone call home.

In the event that dress code infractions become a repetitive occurrence, families and caregivers will work together to remedy this issue.

Personal appearance is an individual matter. Adherence to school norms of reasonable dress and appearance, however, is important to foster an academic environment that is conducive to learning. Clothing should comfortably fit and allow you and those around you to participate in the learning environment. Students are encouraged to wear sneakers so that they are not limited in their ability to participate in school activities, including fire drills and gym. Additionally, clothing must always conform to industry safety standards i.e. for the vocational pathway and science lab activity, etc. Students who fail to abide by the guidelines listed below will be asked to either change clothes or wear garments provided by the school. Parents/guardians will be contacted if there is a question regarding a student’s attire.

With respect for self-expression, students should wear clothing that is safe and comfortable for school and learning, and that allows for active participation in all school activities. Parents and guardians are responsible for managing their students’ clothing choices in accordance with the stated dress code policy.

Our values with respect to the dress code are:

• To support student safety and protection.

• To promote student comfort and well-being in the learning environment.

• To promote student participation in all activities.

• To treat each student with fairness and compassion.

Enforcement of the dress code will not reinforce or increase marginalization or oppression of any group based on race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, household income, gender identity or cultural observance. Collins Middle School is committed to guiding staff in the fair and sensitive enforcement of the dress code with respect to these stated considerations.

1. Basic​ ​Principle: ​ ​​All​ ​students must have certain ​body​ ​parts​​ ​covered​ ​at​ ​all​ ​times.

• Clothes must be worn in a way such that genitals, buttocks, breasts, and nipples are fully covered with opaque fabric. All of the policies to follow reflect this basic principle.

Students​ ​Must​ ​Wear:

• A​ ​shirt​ (with fabric in the front, back, and on the sides under the arms), AND

• Pants/jeans​ ​or​ ​the​ ​equivalent​ ​(for example, a skirt, sweatpants, leggings, a dress or shorts), AND

• Shoes​ (shoes should, whenever possible, be appropriate for the weather and for play; sneakers are the preferred footwear for all school activities, but any shoe should be comfortable and, whenever possible, have non-skid rubber soles; and worn at ALL times).

Students​ ​May​ ​Wear

• Religious head coverings

• Fitted pants, including opaque leggings, yoga pants and “skinny jeans”

• Ripped jeans, as long as underwear and buttocks are not exposed.

• Tank tops, including spaghetti straps and halter tops (with straps around the neck)

• Athletic attire that fully covers the buttocks to at least the mid thigh

• Shorts will clearly cover the buttocks and upper thigh

• Hats that do not cover the ears

Students​ ​Cannot​ ​Wear:

• Tube tops

• Sunglasses

• Sneakers or shoes with wheels on them

• Flip flops, slides or other footwear without backing

• Head coverings that cover ears (hoods) and are not religious in nature

• Violent language or images

• Images or language depicting drugs or alcohol (or any illegal item or activity)

• Hate speech, profanity, pornography, or gang-related imagery

• Images or language that creates a hostile or intimidating environment based on any protected class or marginalized group

• Any clothing that reveals visible undergarments (visible waistbands and visible straps are allowed) Any clothing that reveals visible undergarments (except for visible waistbands and visible straps which are allowed)

• Swimsuits or beach attire

• Dangling or large hoop earrings (earrings that sit close to the ear are acceptable as they do not present a safety hazard)

• Accessories that could be considered dangerous or could be used as a weapon

• Any item that obscures the face or ears (except as a religious observance)

• Costumes, masks, or pajamas, unless associated with a special school activity

Considerations for Parents and Guardians

• Children may want to avoid wearing special clothing that cannot be ripped, stained, or lost, as the school day is active and often messy.

• Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to apply sunscreen to children before school to protect their skin during recess, gym, gardening, and other outside activities.

• Children are encouraged to wear sneakers so that they are not limited in their ability to participate in school activities, including fire drills and gym.

• Children may want to save makeup for special occasions outside of school (makeup may not be brought to school).

Collins Middle School is committed to supporting any family or child who cannot meet the above dress requirements. Families or children who need support in following the dress code should contact the principal or nurse for assistance.

The Collins Middle School dress code aims to balance comfort, self-expression, and a respectful learning environment. By following these guidelines, students can contribute to a positive school atmosphere.

In the event that a student does not adhere to the dress code, they will be asked to change into appropriate attire. If necessary, families/caregivers will be contacted to bring suitable clothing.

For the full district dress code policy. Please see the district handbook here.

Students interested in Student Voice Project there will be a meeting December 7th after school. This will run from 3:30 - 4:15pm.

• Girls Basketball:
• Practices Monday and Tuesday. Uniforms will be given out on Tuesday for players who officially signed up on Family ID through Salem High School Athletics with an updated Physical on file.
• Boys Basketball:
• Practices Wednesday and Thursday. Uniforms will be given out on Thursday for players who officially signed up on Family ID through Salem High School Athletics with an updated Physical on file.
• Cheerleading: Practices will be in the auditorium on Monday and Tuesday . Uniforms will be given out on Thursday for players who officially signed up on Family ID through Salem High School Athletics with an updated Physical on file.
• Intramural Basketball:
• 1st practice will be Friday from 3:25 - 4:30

The PlayBall Intramural Basketball league is back this year for ALL students in 6th-8th grade! If your child is interested in this fun and engaging league that will help them learn and develop their basketball skills, please click on this link and sign them up!

• Every student can sign up for the league and there are no tryouts!

• For Grades 6-8, each team will have one practice per week on Fridays and one game per week on Saturdays at Collins Middle School. Additional practices and games during the week will change when more time becomes available in the gym after February break.
• Practices will start the week of December 13th - 3:25-4:25 PM - late bus available at 4:40 PM
• The first games will be played Saturday February 1st - times to determined
• Times of practices/games and the number of teams will be determined based on registration numbers.
• Please sign up by filling out the form below by December 12th.

Jr. Celtics sign-up is now open! Please see the attached flyer for more details.
This year, more than any other, league organizers are stressing the importance of participant dedication! If your child intends to play, they need to make a commitment to remain and participate for the entire length of the season. It becomes a challenge for organizers/ coaches to carry out the season if kids drop out of the league. It also affects their teammates ability to play or win games.
And as always, transportation is not provided. Parents/guardians are responsible for transportation.

The high school's future student night this year is on December 11th and we are excited to have the SHS Expo the 9th this year before the event. This will happen during the school day. We will be bringing representatives from:

1.) Music

2.) Student Activities

3.) Athletics

4.) JROTC

5.) CTE

6.) College and Career Counseling/Early College

Dates: May 29th to May 30th

Students will arrive no later than 7:30am on Thursday, May 29th at Collins Middle School so that we are on the road at 8am.

We will return Friday night between 9pm and midnight depending on traffic. We will be in close contact with families for updates!

Family Meeting: In person or on Zoom. here will be a family meeting on Monday, December 9th from 5:30 to 6:30pm in person at CMS or on zoom.

We will record the meeting and share it after. If you are unable to attend, we will ask you to confirm that you have read and affirmed all the details as part of the contract.

Cost: $475 per student

• Hotel
• Transportation
• Attraction Entrance Tickets
• Thursday Dinner & Entertainment
• Friday Buffet Breakfast
• Friday “Keep the Change” Lunch & Dinner
• Gratuities

Thursday Night Update

• We're going to see the Outsiders on Broadway! We are thrilled to secure these tickets for a rate that reduced the overall cost of the trip!
• We will be eating at a restaurant in Times Square!

Payment plans & fundraising available

Timeline: Families will need to sign-up by Wednesday, December 11th with a $25 deposit.

• Families can pay the full price of the trip at the time of signing up OR
• Families can choose a monthly payment plan, paying $90 per month at the start of each month January through May (5 total additional payments).

We will work with families on a case-by-case basis to provide need-based support to ensure all students have access to the trip! We will ask families that request financial support to support the fundraising efforts.

• We anticipate this financial support to include a reduced rate option of $275 per student for those who qualify.
• We will have additional supports and options on a case-by-case basis.
• If you have more than one child in your immediate family in the 8th grade who would like to go on the trip, please reach out as we will work to support you so your students can go!

Thank you so much to our amazing PTO that has already started fundraising!

Please reach out to mpimentel@salemk12.org or cbanks@salemk12.org to discuss support! We want to ensure all students can go (and we need to be able to pay for the trip)!

Payments are not refundable

To secure access to the hotels, buses, and accommodations, payments must be sent to our travel agencies and venues in advance of the trip. This means that we are not able to provide refunds beginning February 1st, 2025.

After February 1st, if students are no longer eligible for the trip (see student & family contract below) or choose to no longer attend the trip, we will not be able to provide any refunds. Families will not be required to make additional payments and the seat will become available for another student to attend if they choose.

In prior years, we have had very few students impacted by this; however, we do want to be clear from the start that the payments are non-refundable. This is true for all students without exception.

Itinerary: Oh, the places we will go!

American Museum of Natural History

Central Park

Dinner in Times Square (Pizza or Hard Rock Cafe!)

Broadway Show: The Outsiders

Friday:

Statue of Liberty

Ellis Island

World Trade Center Memorial

Depending on cost & time: Freedom Tower

Logistics

Student & Family Contract

Students and families will be required to sign a commitment contract to sign up for the trip. This contract will include clear expectations for attendance and behavior at school to qualify to participate in the trip, including the following:

• Strong Attendance: Students need to be in school to learn! Students who are chronically absent (missing >10% of school days) will not be eligible for the trip. Students who have excused absences that exceed this limit will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
• On Time: Students need to show responsibility by being on time! Beginning in December, students must not have fewer than five tardies per month on average to attend.
• Responsibility in the Community: We take students on learning immersions regularly. Students can demonstrate their trust on these immersions throughout the year. Students who have any major incidents on a learning immersion will not be eligible to attend.
• Mutual Respect: A CMS core value, students must demonstrate mutual respect throughout the year. This includes not having hands-on behavior with peers. Students that receive a Saturday school for hands-on behavior or any suspensions for any reason beginning after December 11th will not be eligible for the trip.
• Shared Responsibility: Another CMS core value, students must demonstrate shared responsibility for the community throughout the year. This includes being an active participant of our learning community (trying their best in school) and taking responsibility for themselves and others. All of our students are currently demonstrating this core value, and we look forward to this continuing throughout the year.

These are requirements because they demonstrate students have the safety & responsibility to go on an overnight trip to another state! The contract itself and the paper permission slips will be shared by Wednesday, December 4th to be returned by Wednesday, December 11th.

• 2 Beds / 4 Students to a Room
• All 4 people must agree to room together
• Rooms are assigned in March in a collaborative process so that all students agree to their roommates
• We stay just across the way in NJ to keep costs lower!

Please note, the cost of the trip is dependent on quad (4) occupancy per room. For any students or chaperons who wish to have a double occupancy, there is an increase of $75 per person in the room. Single occupancy rooms are an additional $210 per person.

Chaperones

Family chaperones will be required to pay for their trips and complete a CORI check with Human Resources.

Nursing & Medication

If your student takes any medication (prescription or over the counter) they will be required to have a doctor complete their health form, too. These forms will be sent home after Thanksgiving and MUST be returned by February 1st for students to go on the trip to keep everyone safe and healthy!

Allergies & Food Needs

We will ensure all meals can accommodate all health needs. We will check in before we leave with specific plans and accommodations as needed!

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us:

• Malcolm Pimentel: mpimentel@salemk12.org
• Chelsea Banks: cbanks@salemk12.org
• or via Parent Square!

As the weather is getting colder, please remember to dress warmly. We will still be going outside for recess, so it’s important to wear coats, hats, gloves, and other appropriate clothing.

If you are in need of any warm clothing, such as coats, please let us know. We're happy to assist!

If you are looking for after-school programming for your student, please let us know. There are several clubs, activities, and programs available for middle school-aged students.

We’re happy to help you find the right fit!

jhrodriguez@salemk12.or csakelakis@salemk12.org

• Free Resources for Parents and Caregivers: Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is continuing to sponsor a free Parenting Solutions Library. MPY is offering this valuable resource in partnership with Peace At Home Parenting Solutions, a non-profit organization located in Mansfield, Connecticut. Through this partnership, MPY is providing proven resources to help students’ families thrive. Peace At Home Parenting Solutions specializes in empowering parents with evidence-based strategies to foster nurturing connections that safeguard their children's mental well-being. The Parenting Solutions Library is easily accessed using the link on MPY’s home page. No log in or passcode is needed. Please share with your PTOs and in your newsletters. For convenience, they have created this handout. Please contact MPY.

CMS PTO MEETING NOTES

November 20th, 2024

Updates from the Principal:

• Thanksgiving dinner was a success and a great evening. Many families from Collins and a few from Saltonstall attended, and several staff members were there to serve.

• Parent-teacher conferences will be held December 4th, all sign ups have been sent out. Malcolm will be available to help with translation as needed

• Students are encouraged to come to conferences this year and they will bring their report card reflections (which they will complete in school on Dec. 2nd and 3rd, prior to the conferences)

• Report cards will be posted November 27th

• Parent Café will be a district-wide opportunity for families to learn more about the SPS report cards. It will take place at the community center on Bridge Street from 5-pm on November 26th

• Next week is Spirit week. There will be school Monday, Tuesday, and a half day Wednesday, with Thursday and Friday off for the Thanksgiving holiday

• Kids that take the bus need to ensure they have their bus passes, bus pass information has been sent out to families

• The fires in Salem are still active, and the schools are assessing the air quality day by day, making adjustments to outdoor activities as needed

Thanksgiving:

• This years dinner prep went smoothly, in large due to changing from parents donating food to PTO shopping for the turkeys and all other food needed

• 18 turkeys from Crosbys cost $458, paid for by PTO

• Other food (potatoes, stuffing, carrots, etc) cost $497 and was paid for by the school

• Parents brought desserts

• Shaws donated at the last minute, bringing fruit platters, brownies, cupcakes, etc

• Trader Joes donated 24 cans of corn

• Wegmans donated a gift card worth $100 three days after the event, Aldi’s confirmed a $250 donation the day of the event, so those will be used for other things at the school

• 50/50 raffle made $255 total, with the winner not accepting their portion and donating it back to the PTO

Fundraising:

• Brainstormed around other ways to raise money, both within the school and in the community, so we are not only asking families and parents for donations

• Restaurants:

• Fantasy Island possibly 25% including alcohol sales

• Longboards 20% no alcohol and dine-in only

• Flying Saucer 10% including alcohol and take out

• Amigos at the mall

• Bake sales

• Salem winter market or other Salem events?

• Calendar

• Undecided if will raise money for the PTO or 8th grade

8th grade committee:

• Must separate PTO from the 8th grade fundraising, discussion around an 8th grade committee being formed

Current funds and ideas:

• Currently have $3,100 in the PTO bank account

• Brainstormed ideas/possible events for kids in all grades

• End of year picnic off site

• Night time dance

• Movie night in the theater at Collins

Snack Cart:

• December 4th during conferences will have a snack cart for teachers and staff

• Times of conferences are 12:20-4:35pm, and 5:30-7:30pm

• PTO will use gift cards for Aldis and Wegmans to get drinks, snacks, etc

• Gavin will reach out to teachers for snack/drink preferences

Staff Amazon wishlist:

• The wishlist has been shared and is going well thus far, with people already purchasing items for the staff that have sent requests

• Gavin will send out a reminder to staff, also including in that reminder that they do not need to request essentials such as glue sticks, paper towels, pencils, etc

Next steps:

• Saltonstall will be transitioning to Collins next year, hopefully parents will get involved in PTO here at Collins

Next PTO Meeting will be January 21st, 2025

(the December meeting canceled due to holidays)

Come and Support CMS! Meetings:

• Jan 21st 630pm
• Feb 25th 630pm
• March 18th 630pm
• April 15th 630pm
• May 20th 630pm
• June 17th 630pm

We hope this message finds you well! As we embark on another exciting school year, we want to extend an invitation for you to join our Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO). This year, we have a strong representation of 8th grade parents, and we are eager to continue building our PTO with fresh ideas and enthusiastic involvement.

Our PTO plays a crucial role in supporting our school community, organizing events, and fostering a positive environment for our students. We believe that every voice matters, and we would love to have more families involved in shaping the future of our organization.

If you're interested in joining us or would like to learn more about how you can contribute, please reach out to Gavin Softic at gsoftic@salemk12.org. Your involvement can make a significant difference!

If you need assistance with the ASPEN Parent Portal please contact our family engagement facilitator, Malcolm Pimentel. mpimentel@salemk12.org

Technology Family Resources

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