FBMS Weekly Newsletter

February 17, 2025 #empoweringchange&inspiringhope

A GLANCE AT FEBRUARY- ENJOY VACATION WEEK!

2/17-2/21: February Vacation

2/28- Quarter 3 MIdterm---Progress reports the following week

3/5: Early Release @ 12:10PM

NATIONAL SRO APPRECIATION DAY

February 15th is National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day. We are extremely fortunate to have such wonderful School Resource Officers (SROs) working with our Marshfield Public Schools. Thank you to Officer Cleary, Officer Hernon, and Officer Crowley, who keep our students and staff safe. All three of our amazing SROs also play an important role in what we do every day. They help students by providing them with strong role models and help students, staff, and families through acts of kindness each day. We are lucky and honored to have them as part of our school family, and we are thankful for them and for the Marshfield Police for everything they do. We are especially grateful for our own Officer Hernon here at Furnace Brook!

Grade 8 Candy-Gram Fundraiser a Sweet Success

Our 8th-grade students participated in a Valentine’s Day-themed fundraiser this week to support special grade 8 events happening in May and June. Students had the opportunity to purchase and send a “candy gram” to a fellow 8th grader, making this always-popular event a sweet success! A special thank you to our grade 8 advisors, Mrs. Segalla and Mr. Baldwin, for ensuring that every student received at least one candy gram and for their dedication to making 8th-grade events memorable. With Valentine’s Day and vacation just around the corner, there was plenty of excitement in the air today!

Cluster Awards

Clusters often recognize their students for exceptional academic and positive contributions to the cluster's community and climate. Congratulations to our Shark's Cluster students for both their Cluster Awards and Power of One Awards! Pictured below are James C., Nate P., Molly D., Geovanna L., and Evelyn B. Pictured in the second photo are Morgan M., Peter F., Emily P., Quinn R., Evie M., Maddie C., and Cooper E. Congratulations, and great work, students!

Attention 5th Grade Parents!

SNOWSHOE EXPEREINCE IN GYM

This past week our students took advantage of the brisk winter weather and headed outdoors for some snow shoeing! Thank you to our amazing gym teachers for putting this activity to the test.

EMpower Group Meeting

Our EMpower club mentors and mentees got together to celebrate Valentine’s Day by painting hearts on rocks and sharing some down time. A big thank you to the adults who participate as mentors in this program!

STUDENT COUNCIL FUNDRAISER

This week, our Student Council members organized a fun and creative fundraiser to support Buddy and Friends Animal Rescue in Pembroke. Four of our teachers—Mr. Heller, Mr. Nugent, Mr. Davis, and Mr. King—bravely volunteered to have their heads "bedazzled" with stickers, all in the name of charity! Students donated $1 each to participate, and thanks to their enthusiasm, over $200 was raised for our furry friends. A huge thank you to our students, Student Council, and our fantastic teachers for being such great sports for a great cause!

SPONGEBOB THEATER SHOW

Today our amazing Theater Program ran two showings of their current play, SpongeBob, the Musical. All of students were able to attend the play in two showings thanks to our AMAZING staff who worked hard to make this happen. Thank you to Mrs. Shanahan, Ms. White, and the CREW for making it a huge success (again!)! Thank you to all of our teachers for your flexibility and to all theater students for their performances!

DONATION OF KLEENEX

Our Clinic is in need of Kleenex, and would GREATLY appreciate any donations. Students can bring donations to the main office or down to the clinic. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

Classroom teachers also often need Kleenex for students' runny noses! Those boxes can be brought in by students and given to teachers (or dropped off at the main office). We appreciate your kindness!

A MESSAGE FROM OUR YEARBOOK ADVISOR

For GRADES 6, 7, and 8:

The countdown is on! Don’t let the memories of this school year slip away—order your Furnace Brook Middle School Yearbook now and make sure your child has a keepsake they’ll treasure forever.

Order online here: Yearbook Order Link
Price: $36.00

Most students will want a yearbook when they are distributed in June, so please consider ordering now. Students often have their peers sign their yearbook or write small messages as remembrances. Please order yours today! Feel free to contact Sarah O'Donnell, Yearbook Advisor, at sodonnell@mpsd.org with any questions.

GREEN TEAM TRASH FREE TUESDAYS

Furnace Brook Middle School's Green Team started their Trash-Free Tuesdays. Please try to avoid bringing pre-packaged food, plastic Ziploc bags, plastic water bottles, etc. We understand that zero packaging can be a challenge; all we ask is everyone's best effort. Instead of putting goldfish in a plastic bag, toss it in a small reusable container instead. The Green Team and our planet thank you!

GRADE 7 GLOW DANCE IN MARCH

Courtesy of the amazing FBMS PTO, the Annual 7th Grade Glow Party is set for March 7th!

Tickets are $10 and are on sale here.

The PTO is in need of volunteers and food/drink donations. Please sign up here.

You need to be registered on PTBoard under the Class of 2030 to access the signup form.

FROM THE FBMS CLINIC

We have the following upcoming screenings:

SBIRT Screening for FBMS 7th Graders will take place in the late winter/early spring of 2025.

What is SBIRT?

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is used in schools as a process to screen for substance use and have a brief conversation. This health screening is required by Massachusetts law. School SBIRT teams can consist of school nurses, guidance counselors, health and wellness staff, youth wellness coaches, or other trained staff.
All students in 7th Grade will take part in this process. The screening and conversation takes about 5-10 minutes per student. After screening, trained school SBIRT teams will have one-on-one conversations with students about how to support their overall health, safety, and success in school. If the student needs more assessment or support, school SBIRT teams may work with the student and/or their caregiver to meet their needs.
Parents should contact the school nurse to opt out of the process: mcarroll@mpsd.org, kmellen@mpsd.org, mowren@mpsd.org Please email all RNs if opting out of SBIRT.

Postural Screenings for 6th and 8th graders will take place in December 2024.

Parents should contact the school nurse to opt out of Postural (scoliosis) screening: Please email all RNs if opting out of screening: mcarroll@mpsd.org, kmellen@mpsd.org, mowren@mpsd.org

Annual Physicals:

Students in Grade 7 are required to submit an updated physical with proof of immunizations for their health record at the beginning of the school year. Please send in via scan/email or Fax

Medication:

All meds must be hand delivered by the parent and be given directly to the Nurse. Medications are not permitted to be sent in with students- this is unsafe as medication could get lost or contaminated. Guidelines PRIOR to bringing in medication, please have:

A current Physician’s order,
Parent Consent Form Filled out
The medication in its original container with a pharmacy label if applicable.

Absences / Injuries:

Please provide up to date information and indicate that students are receiving adequate care at and home and by their pediatrician, and clearance for participation in gym class. Please report any changes in health status e.g. health conditions, new medication, illnesses, and injuries.

Guidelines as to when to keep your child home. See attached link:

Guidelines on when to stay home

Please feel free to contact us at any time with concerns or questions. Be well.

FBMS Nurses: Maura Carroll, RN , Karen Mellen, RN , Megan Owren, RN

Clinic Contact Information: Phone: (781)-319-3965 / Fax: (781)-319-1780

We look forward to assisting families and students in achieving optimal health and wellness during the academic school year. Please feel free to contact us at any time with concerns or questions.

Maura Carroll, RN, BSN mcarroll@mpsd.org

Karen Mellen, RN, BSN kmellen@mpsd.org

Megan Owren RN, BSN mowren@mpsd.org

FBMS CLINIC WELCOMES SNACKS & JUICE

The FBMS Clinic is accepting specific snack and juice donations now.

When our students have documented medical needs, we provide them with snacks or juice.

Students who cannot take a prescribed medication on an empty stomach
A treatment option for low blood sugar

We are now accepting donations of the following items:

Saltine crackers
Individual serving bags of Goldfish crackers
Individual serving bags of Smartfood (as a gluten free option)
100% Juice Boxes -- preferably 15g. carbs or fewer per juice box (ex. Apple Juice)
Kleenex!

Donations can be brought to the FBMS Clinic by students or dropped at the main office by families. Your generosity is great appreciated! Thank you!

LATE BUSES ARE AVAILABLE M-TH

Later than normal transportation, or "late buses," run almost every day. FBMS provides two late buses: a North Marshfield bus and a South Marshfield bus. If your child is staying after school for a club or activity, your child can take a late bus home at approximately 4:05PM. Events that run later than 4PM will require a ride home.

Students can determine what bus to ride (North or South) by checking the list of bus stops located in the front lobby. Additionally, students must have a bus pass to ride the bus. Buses pick up and leave an hour and a half (4PM) after dismissal so it gives students time to participate in after school activities or obtain extra help. We will be on hand to help students navigate this optional transportation.

DISTRICT EVENTS

Families of Incoming Kindergarten Students

Kindergarten Registration for the 2025-2026 school year is now open!

Children entering Kindergarten must be five (5) years old by August 31, 2025.

Click HERE to visit the Kindergarten Registration webpage.

Parents have the option to register online or in-person at their child’s school.

Please be sure to complete your child’s registration no later than Friday, February 28, 2025.

MARSHFIELD MOSAIC

Registration is OPEN! Please register here by March 14, 2025. We are VERY excited for this new community event!

Celebrate Marshfield's rich multicultural community at Mosaic! Whether you want to showcase your culture as an exhibitor or explore the many cultures that make Marshfield special, there's something for everyone. Enjoy live performances, music, raffles, and more! Mark your calendar for this vibrant event!