FBMS Weekly Newsletter

March 24, 2025 #empoweringchange&inspiringhope

WRAPPING UP MARCH AND A LOOK TO APRIL

With just one week left in March, we will look ahead to April

4/1- MCAS testing in ELA

4/2-MCAS testing in ELA

4/4- Quarter III ends

4/10- Report Cards posted to ASPEN

A SIGN OF SPRING AT FBMS

MCAS TESTING BEGINS NEXT WEEK ON 4/1

All students will be participating in the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System testing (MCAS) next month in April and May. MCAS testing is required for all students who attend Massachusetts public schools. These assessments provide valuable insight into student learning, helping us identify strengths and areas for growth while ensuring our curriculum meets state standards. The data from the tests helps us to make decisions regarding our curriculum and instruction every year.

Please take note of the following dates. Any student who is absent will make up testing upon returning.

4/1 and 4/3: Grades 6, 7, and 8 ELA

4/29 and 5/1: Grades 6, 7, and 8 Math

5/6 and 5/8: Grade 8, STEM

5/20 and 5/21: Grade 8, Civics

CAPTAIN CLUSTER AWARDS

Congratulations to our Captain cluster award recipients Lauren N., Matt U., Eloise P., & Callie R. Clusters often recognize the hard work, dedication, effort, and all around good citizenry of their students. We set the goal high, and you keep surpassing it! You make Furnace Brook shine!

MONEY SENSE PRESENTATION

A big thank you to our PTO for sponsoring A FINANCIAL LITERACY presentation to our current eighth grade students this past week. The South Shore Bank Representatives talked about the importance of financial literacy encompassing the ability to save, budget, invest and spend wisely. The presentation offered our students the tools necessary to develop good money management skills and an understanding of financial literacy and bank accounts.

HAPPENINGS AROUND THE BUILDING

Although FBMS students follow a structured daily schedule, the building is always buzzing with a variety of activities, collaboration and student engagement.

CHROMEBOOKS AT SCHOOL

Parents, please remind your students to come to school with their Chromebook charged and ready for the day! It is also important to keep the Chromebook inside the cover provided to protect the longevity of use. Thank you!

FBMS TRACK PROGRAM MEETING 4/1

There will be an informational meeting afterschool in the cafeteria on Tuesday, April 1st for any students interested in competing in Track & Field this Spring! Our first practice is the following day, Wednesday April 2nd!

For all the information on the team, please visit the team webpage under Spring Track & Field Information: https://www.mpsd.org/o/fbms/page/fbms-xc-track-field

Looking forward to a great season!

8th GRADE PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED- Meeting on Wednesday, 4/9 @ 6 PM

Attention families of 8th graders! 8th grade advisors Meaghan Segalla and Sean Baldwin are looking to meet with adult volunteers to plan the 8th Grade Class Night event. The volunteer meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 9th at 6:00 pm at FBMS. The main doors will be open and we will greet you in the lobby before meeting for about an hour in classroom 6. During this informational meeting, you will help us to select a theme for the dance and begin to form groups for decorating the cafeteria. This event is always a meaningful one for our 8th grade students and we always try to make it as special as possible for them. If you cannot attend the meeting but would still like to help with the event, we will share information with you after the meeting.

Thank you for your time, consideration and effort. We truly appreciate it and we are excited to celebrate our wonderful 8th grade students!

THEATER CLUB

Students will need to coordinate a ride home because it is after the hours of our late bus.

PROJECT 351 CLOTHING DRIVE

From March 31 to April 11th we will be hosting a clothing drive for new or gently used clothing. This initiative comes to us by our Project 351 Ambassador, Grade 8 student Cora Norcott. In Massachusetts 1 in 3 kids are in danger of clothing insecurity which means that they don't have enough clothing to fit them. All of the clothing collected will go to Cradles to Crayons, which is an organization that gives the clothing to children in Massachusetts who need it. You can donate clothing by placing your gently used or new items in the bins located in the front lobby, front foyer, or cafeteria. Check your closets and thank you for donating!

GETTING OUR GREEN ON

Our students showing off their GREEN spirit! It's not easy being green!!

AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT

This past week our enrichment classes were in full swing!

EGG YOUR YARD- SPONSORED BY MHS DECA PROGRAM

The "Egg Your Yard" fundraiser sponsored by DECA. This fundraiser helps subsidize their trip to the International Career Development Conference (ICDC), where MHS students compete and represent Marshfield on a global stage.

For the fundraiser, our DECA members will be hiding eggs for Easter egg hunts at homes in the community.

Marshfield DECA’s "Egg My Yard" Fundraiser!

Surprise your kids with a yard full of Easter eggs on Easter morning! Marshfield DECA will hide treat-filled eggs in your yard the night before, so you can wake up to a fun Easter surprise. Simply place your order, and we’ll take care of the rest!

Cost:

$20 - 12 eggs

$30 - 24 eggs

$40 - 36 eggs

$50 - 50 eggs

OPTIONAL ADD-ON: $5 - Golden egg filled with small toys & extra candy

Sign up at bit.ly/eggmyyard2025! Confirmation emails will be sent after completing the form, and all payments are due by Tuesday, April 15th.

*Please note this is only for Marshfield residents!

AI INFORMATIONAL SESSION

An AI Information Session for parents/caregivers will be held in the MHS Auditorium from 6:30-8pm on 4/16.

CURRENT 5th GRADE FAMILIES- Music Course Selection Deadline has passed

At this time, the FBMS Course Selection window is still open in the Aspen Portal. All of next year's 6th Grade students must select their FBMS Music Course through that Portal.

Grade 6 Music (Band, Orchestra/Strings, Chorus, or Music Appreciation)*

*All incoming 6th grade students must request a music course (Band, Orchestra/Strings, Chorus, or Music Appreciation), and will do so via Aspen, the district’s secure, web-based Student Information System. All music classes are full-year courses.

Please follow the directions attached to make a Music course selection for Grade 6. Students who do not request and post a Music course by the deadline will have a Music course chosen for them. The course descriptions for FBMS Music Courses can be found here.

Instructions for Selecting a Music Course in the Aspen Portal:

Grade 6 Music Course in the Aspen Student Portal.pdf (ENGLISH)

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the Incoming 6th Grade Guidance Counselor, Lori Damphousse at ldamphousse@mpsd.org.

FROM THE MIND OF A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT...

The concentration creating this masterpiece "eye" in art class.

ADAPTIVE LEADER HIGHLIGHTS

This week's program was navigating a toss and receive game focusing on accuracy, coordination and catching skills while on a scooter! Great job!

UPCOMING TECHNOLOGY SEMINAR FOR PARENTS-3/26

Parents, please join Marshfield & Duxbury Public School Districts on March 26, 2025 at the Duxbury Performing Arts Center for an informational session on navigating Digital Technology. We are honored to have guest speaker Dr. Jill Walsh, an author, researcher and digital space advocate.

MR. KILE'S ART CLASS

Mr. Kile's Art students are learning the techniques of how to create an eye with pastel crayons that are easy for blending and shading.

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!

SAVE THE DATE..8th GRADE FAMILIES

Mark your calendars for the 8th grade processional!

FROM THE CLINIC

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

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

FBMS CLINIC WELCOMES SNACKS, JUICE, & TISSUE DONATIONS

The FBMS Clinic is accepting specific snack and juice donations. They also welcome Tissue donations.

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)
Tissues

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!

Register here!

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.