
Sherwood Middle School
March 5, 2023 Update
Dear Sherwood Community,
It has certainly been a interesting winter with stretches of warm weather, followed by quick bursts of snow. Although the birds are returning, and the sun is starting to set later in the day, we know that we are not out of the woods just yet.
Thank you for your patience and flexibility this past week. We know it can sometimes be difficult making the transition back to school after the break. We appreciate your help ensuring that your child is getting the proper rest and is prepared for school each day. A reminder that Trimester 2 and Cycle 4 are coming to a close on Friday, March 17th.
Please remind your child to have their iPad fully charged when they return to school on Monday, in preparation for our whole school MCAS technology trial.
Thank you,
Jon, Heather, and Karen
This Week's Photos
Thank you to this group of students from our Extended Day Program who recently created and shared this wonderful artwork with us in honor of March's Core Value: Compassion. We are also very excited (as is Matthew) for our upcoming Unified Basketball games! The team has been practicing the past few weeks, and is looking forward to their home games on 3/15 vs. Northbridge and 3/16 vs. Ashland.
All students and staff took time last month to think about ways we can ensure that all members of our community feel safe and welcome. We recently displayed our staff "pledge" in the main foyer for all to see.
This Week's Schedule
Monday, March 6th: Day 5 PTO Meeting @ 7pm
Tuesday, February 7th: Day 6 Early Release 11:35am DismissalWednesday, March 8th Day 1
Thursday, March 9th Day 2
Friday, March 10th Day 3 School Council Meeting @ 8:15am
This Week's Lunch Schedule
MCAS Tech Trial Monday
PTO Meeting Monday Night @ 7pm
URGENT - THE PTO NEEDS YOU!!
Please join us Monday night at 7pm in the Oak Media Center!
•The SMS PTO is a singular PTO that serves BOTH Sherwood and Oak and welcomes all parents grades 5-8 at the monthly meetings.
•Each year the PTO works to raise nearly $40,000 to support field trips, media materials, enrichment programs, and much more at these 2 schools (approx 2000 students and 250 staff).
•There are many parents who step up to volunteer for PTO events, but the SMS PTO tends to be just a core group of 7-9 parents who plan, coordinate, and run all of the events throughout the year, and work tirelessly to reach the PTO mission.
•The roles of FUNDRAISING and COMMUNICATIONS need to be filled as there are parents leaving these roles in June.
•It is critical these roles are filled in order to maintain the support of students and teachers at Sherwood and Oak.
•Please consider joining the SMS PTO to see how you can help - the PTO is a team and will fully support and guide anyone wanting to fill a PTO role.
Feel free to email the SMS PTO at sherwoodoakmiddleschool@gmail.com if you would like more info, or would like to discuss these roles - thank you!
Early Release & Lunch Available This Tuesday 3/7/23
A reminder that this Tuesday, 3/7/23 is an Early Release Day with an 11:35am dismissal.
Breakfast and a “Grab & Go” lunch bag will be available for all students.
For the “Grab & Go” lunch bag, students will be asked to pre-order by indicating “yes” or “no” on the Monday before each half day so the cafeteria staff have an accurate estimate of lunch bags to prepare.
K-6 Extended School Care students will still have a special lunch offered by the ESC staff. However, they may also pick up a “grab and go” lunch bag before dismissal if they so choose.
As a reminder, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts along with the federal government have fully subsidized the school lunch program for the 2022-2023 school year by providing a fixed amount reimbursement for each student meal served and documented by the district.
Student Art Work on Display
- Lexi Narreau
- Mia Jaillet
- Ellen Jaykosz De Menezes
- Varsha Nannuri
- Olivia Pereira
- Aadhya Marelli
- Joanna Ma
Parent Feedback Wanted
Reminders
Student Drop Off
A reminder that Student Drop Off is from 7:30-8:00am each day using the Crescent Street looping line.
We would encourage you to drop off between 7:30-7:45am as there are less cars and more time to ensure your child is on time for school. Although our staff are here early, students are not allowed to be dropped off before 7:30am.
If your child arrives after 8:00am they are considered tardy and will need to enter through the Main Office doors.
Thank you for your cooperation!
SPRING MCAS TESTING DATES
Technology Practice Trial
- March 2: Team Tech Trial - 8:10 - 8:40
- March 6: Whole School Tech Trial - 8:10 - 8:50
ELA Test- Grade 5 and 6
- March 31
- April 3
- May 3
- May 4
Science Test- Grade 5 Only
- May 11
- May 12
Important Upcoming Dates
Sunday, March 12th: Daylight Savings Time
Tuesday, March 14th- Tuesday, March 28th: PTO Fundraiser
Thursday, March 16th: End of Trimester 2 & Cycle 4
Friday, March 17th: Start of Trimester 3 & Cycle 5
Tuesday, April 4th: Early Release 11:35am Dismissal
Monday, April 17th- Friday, April 21st: April Vacation No School
Tuesday, May 2nd: Early Release 11:35am Dismissal
Thursday, May 4th: End of Cycle 5
Friday, May 5th: Start of Cycle 6
Wednesday, May 10th: 6th Grade Field Trip (entire grade)
Monday, May 22nd- Tuesday, June 6th: Grade 5 Field Trip (by team)
Monday, May 29th: Memorial Day No School
Monday, June 5th: 6th Grade Spring Concert @ Oak
Tuesday, June 6th: 5th Grade Spring Concert @ Oak
Additional Reminders
ABSENT/TARDY
If your child will be absent or tardy, please call the Child Safe line (508-841-8670) by 8:00am. You may also call the day or night before. An automated phone call goes out every morning at 9:15 and if we do not receive a message by 8:00am you will receive a phone call. This is a child safety procedure that is in place to ensure the well- being of all of our students.
DISMISSAL
If you are dismissing your child early, you must call the Main Office at 508-841-8670 (instead of emailing team teachers).
LATE BUS
We are now offering a FREE late bus services for all Sherwood students on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. The buses will depart from Sherwood at 4:00pm.
- There are three bus routes with centralized stops coming from each campus. Please look at the middle schools map to decide which route and stop is best for your family.
- Times are approximate and the actual time your child gets off the bus may be different from the time posted in the schedule.
- Parents are responsible for making arrangements for their students to get home from the centralized bus stops.
- Families will need to sign up for the late bus via the middle schools Google form by noon on the day your child will take the bus.
Please contact April Yu (transportation@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us) with questions.
Useful Links
Sherwood Middle School
As we begin the month of March and focus on our Core Value of Compassion, we pause to say thank you to this group of students at our Extended Day Program for creating and sharing their art work with us. In two short weeks, Sherwood and Oak will have their first Unified Basketball game of the year! Matthew smiles for the camera at one of their recent practices. We can't wait to see Matthew and the rest of team out on the court soon!