Dear Sherwood Community,
We hope you are enjoying the weekend with your family.
Thank you to those parents and staff who attended the public forum this past Wednesday night at Shrewsbury High School to provide feedback for our next strategic plan. Be on the lookout for more information as we continue to plan this important work.
A reminder that due to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, there is no school Wednesday-Friday this week.
Wishing you all a restful and enjoyable break with your family!
Jon, Heather, and Karen
Snacks & Winter Clothing
- Water/Water Bottle and Snack- the school now has water refill stations throughout the building.
- Warm Coat/Gloves/Winter Hat- Now that the colder weather is here, please make sure your child is dressed warmly each day. We will continue to go out for recess each day throughout the winter, and we want to make sure students have the proper attire.
Ski Club: Last Chance to Sign Up
Strategic Plan Update
Panorama Student Survey
Our district uses surveys from Panorama, an education and technology company, to get feedback from students about topics related to Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).
We will administer this survey to all students in Grades 3-12 beginning December 5. You can read about Panorama in detail here, including the questions students will be asked and what we have learned from past results. We continue to find surveys a helpful source of information, and we look forward to comparing this year’s results to last year’s.
We want to get feedback from as many students as possible. However, if you don’t want your child(ren) to participate, you may opt your child out of the survey. Students whose families opt them out will not participate in the survey. To opt your student(s) out of the Panorama survey, please send an email to surveyoptout@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us. Opt out emails must be received no later than Thursday, December 1st.
COVID TESTING KITS AVAILABLE FOR STudENTS: 11/21/22
The State has once again made available iHealth COVID rapid test kits for all our students. The purpose of this round of distribution is to mitigate the spread of the Covid-19 virus through early detection. We want to minimize learning loss due to student and staff absences. We will be distributing the test kits on Monday, November 21st to all PreK-8 students during their homeroom period.
Please make sure to check your children’s backpacks for the test kit packet after they arrive at home. If you would prefer that your child NOT receive a free test kit, you may opt out by sending an email to covidtesting@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us by Wednesday, November 16th. Please include your child's full name, grade and school in the email. There are 2 kits in each packet. You can use the tests at any time for your student or any family member who is experiencing any form of Covid-19 symptoms. Please also consider using one test on the evening of November 27th before your child returns to school after the Thanksgiving school break. If your child’s test result is positive, please email the school nurse and follow Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidelines. If the test result is negative, you do not need to report this result.
On a final note, the town is distributing these same test kits for free at Shrewsbury Town Library and you may stop by during their open hours to pick one up while supplies last. Please email covidtesting@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us if you have any questions. Thank you for your cooperation. Have a happy and healthy holiday season!
Seeking Feedback: Potential School Start Time Change
The Sleep Health Advisory Committee is requesting your feedback regarding potential changes to school start and end times for the 2023-2024 school year in order to improve students’ health and well-being through better sleep.
To review information on this process and to share your feedback, please click on this link.
Click here for a 3-minute video on the science of teen sleep and here for a summary of potential benefits and challenges to changing school start times.
You are also encouraged to review information that the Sleep Health Advisory Committee’s Research Task Group presented to the School Committee last week: View their presentation slides here, read their full report here, and watch their presentation here.
Totally Awesome The Musical
We are really getting excited for the Sherwood Musical! The 5th and 6th Graders have been working hard to put together a fabulous show and we can't wait for you to see the results!
Admission will be $10 for adults and $5 for Youth and Seniors. Tickets will be sold at the door for each performance.
Performances will be on Friday, December 2nd at 7pm and Saturday, December 3rd at 2pm. Both performances will be held in the Oak Middle School Auditorium. It's going to be "Totally Awesome!" Can't wait to see you there!
Season of Giving Program
Each year, the Sherwood Middle School community comes together to support Sherwood Families.
Help Us Donate
This Tuesday on Parent Conference Day, we will have a Giving tree in the Main Foyer decorated with holiday gift tags. Individuals who take tags from the tree are asked to scan the QR code or complete this form. If you are unable to stop in the office to take a tag, you can still scan the QR code and complete the form if you are interested in donating. Donations this year include gift cards to Walmart, Target, Price Chopper, Kohl’s, Stop and Shop and Shaw’s. The Nurse’s office is also requesting clothing donations that are listed on the form.
We are requesting that all Season of Giving donations be delivered to the main office by Wednesday, December 7th.
In Need of Gifts?
If you are a family that is needing some additional support this winter season, please contact us. The Sherwood Middle School community is looking to help students in need of gift cards to assist during this time of year. If your Sherwood Middle School student is in need of assistance of any kind, please contact one of our school nurses, Ms. Danielle Jusseaume or Ms. Linda Berard, or one of our School Adjustment Counselors, Ms. Rebecca Connole (grade 5), Ms. Kelly O’Connell (grade 6), and Ms. Jen Bolt (grades 5 and 6). We have many resources to share, so please do not hesitate to ask! Sherwood can also be a support to families through Andy’s Closet.
HOLIDAY WREATH SALES
Order your wreath by WEDNESDAY 11/23 for pick-up on Sunday 11/27!
3 sizes of holiday wreaths are available to order from Danielson Flowers, using the link below, now through Wednesday, November 23rd. Delivery is available at an additional charge, or pick up for free on Sunday, November 27th at Danielson's (660 Main St, Shrewsbury) between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm. Questions? Contact SMS PTO at sherwoodoakmiddleschool@gmail.com
Ready to order? Click below and don’t forget to share the link below with friends and family!
https://bit.ly/SMSPTOWreaths22
FAIR TRADE CARAVANS
The holidays will be here soon. Check out all the unique handcrafted gift items available in our holiday fundraising catalog. 25% of everything you buy goes directly to Sherwood Middle School PTO. And with your purchase, you will support academic enrichment programs, media center materials and student field trips. Shop now: https://fairtradecaravans.com/fundraiser/sherwood-middle-school-pto/
DECEMBER PTO MEETING
The December PTO meeting will be Monday, December 5th, @ 7PM in the Oak Media Center.
Help us plan the next Sherwood Night Out and the next Oak Dance!
Help with the upcoming Spelling Bees, or our big spring fundraiser!
The SMS PTO serves both Sherwood and Oak and we welcome parents from grades 5-8!
Additional Reminders
STUDENT ABSENCE
All parents/guardians must inform the office if their child will be absent or late to school. SPS requires that you telephone us either the night before or first thing in the morning on the day of the child’s absence at 508-841-8670. If we have not received a call to report an absence, the school will be in contact with the parent to confirm the child’s safety.
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.
Sherwood Middle School
