Middle School Matters

The Mission of Portsmouth Middle School is to create a strong and safe learning environment: promote social, emotional and physical well-being and to provide opportunities for each student, to the best of their ability, to meet high academic standards, develop responsibility, and achieve the positive social values and behaviors to become productive citizens.

Portsmouth Middle School only allows bus changes for individual students who have a note from a parent that requires child care (limited to 5th and 6th grade students) only. Students should not be requesting to ride a different bus to go to a friend's house. Bus routes are designed based on the ridership of that in catchment area.

Please see the form here if you are interested in purchasing tickets for the Mary Poppins Musical.

Please see the link here for the annual FAB auction taking place this week on March 27th.

Dear PSD Community,

We are excited to announce that nominations are now open for the 2025-2026 PSD Teacher of the Year and the 2025-2026 PSD Support Professional of the Year awards. These are wonderful opportunities to recognize the outstanding contributions of our colleagues who go above and beyond in supporting our students and our school community.

Teacher of the Year Nominee
The Teacher of the Year award is presented to an NEA member who demonstrates exceptional dedication, knowledge, and skill. This educator inspires students of all backgrounds and earns the respect of students, parents, colleagues, and administrators. The selected Teacher of the Year will have the opportunity to represent Portsmouth at the state level and participate in valuable professional development and leadership opportunities.

Nominate a Teacher of the Year Here

Support Professional of the Year Nominee
The Support Professional of the Year award recognizes an outstanding individual who works in the best interest of our students and district. This award honors a Council 94 member who exhibits exceptional competence, continually seeks to improve their skills, and consistently goes above and beyond their job responsibilities. Their dedication and commitment make a lasting impact on our school community.

Nominate a Support Professional of the Year Here

Please take a moment to consider nominating a colleague who exemplifies these qualities. Nominations are open until May 2, 2025. We encourage you to celebrate the amazing work happening in our community by submitting your nominations!

Special Education Local Advisory Committee Awards

Please consider nominating someone for the Special Education Local Advisory Committee Awards.

SELAC Awards Nominations are open! The Portsmouth Local Advisory Committee is hosting our annual LAC Awards on May 14, 2025. Please consider nominating someone from our school community who has helped your child to succeed this year. Typical persons who are nominated are teachers/support professionals, bus staff, RBTs/Paraprofessionals, coaches, students, and administrators. The deadline for nominations is May 1, 2025.

All 5th, 6th & 7th grade students are invited to create a cover design for next year’s 2025/2026 school planner.

• Please include our school colors (red white & blue) in your design

• All artwork must be on an 8” x 10” white piece of paper. Please use one art material (ie: all markers, all colored pencils, all watercolor etc.)

• Artwork must have Portsmouth Middle School on the design clearly and uniquely written.

• The lettering and main parts of the design should stay within the 6.75” x 9.25” area. The rest of the design can go to the edge of the page.

• Name, grade, and homeroom should be written in pencil on the back of the artwork.

All entries should be submitted to Mrs.Heffernan by Monday, April 21, 2025

Next Meeting

Our next meeting will be Wednesday April 2nd at 6pm in the PMS Library. We will be welcoming current 4th grade families from Hathaway and Melville, along with our Superintendent Thomas Kenworthy. All are welcome to join us!

Dodgeball

Our PTO Family Dodgeball night is coming up on Friday April 25th - stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks!

Clements Receipts

We are collecting Clements receipts - any amount, from any time! Please send them in with your student or drop them off in the front office. Write “PMS PTO” on the envelope or bag. Thanks for your support!

To help students stay responsible and ready to learn, please remind your child to bring their Chromebook fully charged each day. A charged Chromebook ensures they’re prepared for class activities and assignments.

Here are a few tips to help:

• Set up a designated charging station at home.
• Encourage a nightly charging routine.
• Use reminders to ensure it's charged before bed.

Thank you for supporting our students’ success!

Brochure 1 Brochure 2

Please see the link here to the March After School Club calendar.

Please see the link here for information regarding the spring programming at the AgFarm.

Camp 1 Camp 2

The signup link is HERE

A few families and students have reached out about working papers for their 8th grade students. The papers for students and employers to fill out can be found here. Please submit all signed paperwork to the Central Administration Office at 29 Middle Road.

Check out the link here for a community Zumba class.

Due to changes in district safety and security procedures all schools have been asked to update certain protocols.

Effective immediately, if you come to the middle school during the school day to drop off something for your child, we kindly ask that you remain in the vestibule while we confirm what you are dropping off and who it is for. We will no longer have visitors enter the main office for this purpose.

Additionally, if you are picking up your child during the school day for a pre-planned early dismissal or due to illness, please wait in the vestibule. Once we have your child, then we will bring them to you, check your license, and have you sign them out.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we continue to prioritize the safety of our school community.

Please see the linked flier for information!

Please see the linked flier for information regarding Portsmouth Kindergarten Registration.

Please see the linked fliers here for more information regarding programs to be able to connect to community services . Flier 1 Flier 2

Camp 1 Camp 2 Camp 3

We just wanted to send a reminder that we should practice careful driving when entering and leaving the school parking lot during morning drop off and afternoon pick up. The current procedure is working, but we have noticed that families may be rushing to get out of the parking. When pulling out of line, please pull completely to the other side of the double yellow line and proceed slowly paying attention to your surroundings.

As a reminder- Please be careful sending snacks in with your students. All Snacks need to be PEANUT FREE in the classrooms. Thank you for your attention to this matter and please reach out with any questions or concerns.

Fire drills occur on a regular basis. State law requires each school to conduct eleven fire drills, two lockdown drills and two evacuation drills each year. Shelter in Place drills are conducted throughout the school year. Children are given instruction on all procedures. Students are expected to behave in a calm, orderly manner during these exercises. Please review the importance of such exercises with your child and emphasize the need for appropriate behavior.

A lockdown is an alert to a school community that students and staff should not leave the classroom and should stand and spread around the room until provided with further direction.

An evacuation requires all students and staff to exit the building and meet at a designated safe place.

A shelter in place is an alert to a school community that movement outside of classrooms is being restricted for a brief period of time. It is typically used when a student or staff member is requiring some sort of attention (sometimes medical) and the school is trying to keep that area clear and/or protect that person’s privacy. If there were a serious safety concern the school would not issue a shelter in place.

We will send notification of lockdowns, evacuations, and shelter in place drills and events via email.

Here is the presentation that was shared at a Parent Safety Forum that was hosted in conjunction with the Police and Fire Departments. The Run, Hide, Fight FBI philosophy guides our safety training.

The P3 Sandy Hook Promise Anonymous tip line is a resource that we encourage anyone to use if there is ever an immediate safety concern.

What Day is It? PMS Letter Day Calendar

District Calendar

Portsmouth Middle School Handbook

Absence Notification Form