Weekly Bulletin

• Front Doors open @ 7:55 a.m.
• Warning Bell to go to class @ 8:08 a.m.
• First Period bell rings @ 8:10 a.m. (students should be in First period Class at this time)
  

• Dismissal is @ 2:30 p.m.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Important Dates:

School Pictures Monday October 7th

PTO Meeting Thursday Oct 10 @ 6:30

NO School - Monday Oct 14 Columbus Day

Early Release - Thursday Oct 24 @ 11:00 a.m.

Email: mccarthy_attendance@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Please Send Email: Prior to 9am on the day of the absence (same as current voicemail option) Please Include: Child’s name, Grade, and Reason for absence.

We encourage you to use the email option when reporting an absence, dismissal, etc. Parents are still free to use the phone system to report absences, but you are encouraged to use email for greater office efficiency.

If you prefer, you can certainly call the attendance line prior to 9:00am, at 978-251-5122, please press 1.

**PLEASE READ**

We will continue to send automated emails home when students are absent. You will receive the email whether you notified the school or not. In order for an absence to be marked as "Excused", families will need to provide medical documentation.

Thank you for your understanding.

McCarthy Middle School

Attendance Matters

For an absence to be “excused” families need to provide medical documentation. This includes dismissals from the health office, unless your school nurse is requiring the dismissal based on the “Illness Policy” (ie: temperature over 100, vomiting, etc.) set by the Chelmsford School District or nursing judgment based on concerning symptoms that require further assessment or monitoring. Any absences over 3 days require medical documentation to be considered excused.

We will be starting our Second Step Curriculum this week. The first unit will cover mindsets and goal setting. Students learn how to develop a growth mindset and apply research-based goal-setting strategies to their social and academic lives. This unit’s content helps foster connectivity within the classroom and encouragement by helping students set and achieve collective and personal goals, learn from challenges, recognize their personal strengths, and explore the unique aspects of their identities.

Lunch/Cafeteria Reminder:

Our school is considered to be "nut aware" and not nut free. Although nuts are allowed, no students are permitted to share food in the building. It is also considered best practice not to have students bring in shelled peanuts for the safety of others. It is important for students to understand that if they are bringing in nut products, they cannot share them regardless of whether the other student is allergic or not. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that no student experiences an anaphylactic response and we can help prevent those events together.

While we have these discussions with students throughout the day, it would be helpful and appreciated if you would address this at home as well.

Directions to set up your account and order:

1. URL Link: family.onlineordering.linq.com
2. Sign up now: Email, create password.
3. School District: Chelmsford Public Schools
4. Student ID: This can be found on x2- Child’s student ID number
5. Last Name: (You can also search and add siblings/family members at this time). Once this is completed, student’s name should appear on page.

How to order meals

1. School Menu-select online lunch ordering (all schools)
2. Scroll to week of half day/early release date (top right of page)
3. Find date, select meal option
4. Add item to cart/Select Add to order
5. Click on shopping cart icon at top right of page
6. Click Check out
7. Select pick up location: Elementary pick-up location classroom. Middle/high school pick up location cafeteria.
8. Place order

For the upcoming half day Wednesday 9/18/24 orders must be received by Friday 9/13/24.

2024-2025 CPS Upcoming Half Day/Early Release dates

● 10/24/24

● 11/20/24 (Elem & MS Only)

● 11/27/24

● 12/12/24

● 1/14/25

● 2/6/25

● 3/12/25

● 4/1/25

INJURY POLICY

Parent(s)/guardian must notify the school nurse of all surgeries and injuries (i.e., concussions, fractures, sprains, stitches, etc.) Parents shall notify the school nurse when a student has sustained a concussion outside of school activities. Guidelines regarding injuries and non-participation in physical education (P.E.) classes and recess are as follows:

Students with casts, stitches, or splints may not participate in Physical Education class or outdoor recess without written consent from both the parent/guardian and the attending physician.

*All injury notes from the doctor should include the type of injury, any limitations or allowance to participate in such activities, and the date the child may return to full physical activities. Parent/guardian wishes may not supersede this medical prescription.

FOOD FROM HOME

Please remind your students that any food brought from home should not be shared with peers to avoid any undisclosed allergies

COVID GUIDELINES:

CDC updated Covid guidelines in the spring 2024. No quarantine is required. Stay home up to 3 days with symptoms if appropriate, but not required. Any absences longer than 3 days will require a doctor’s note to excuse absences. It is recommended as best practice to wear a mask if you are symptomatic and covid positive while at school.

EXCUSED DISMISSALS FROM HEALTH OFFICE:

If your student is dismissed from the Health Office it is not automatically excused. Excused dismissals include students with fever, vomiting, injuries requiring immediate care or follow up with MD. Parent prerogative to dismiss does not equate to an excused absence.

Emails are not monitored outside of school hours. If this communication is regarding a health emergency:

• Call 9-1-1; or

• Contact your nearest Emergency Room

For emergency mental health support:

• Please call 9-1-1, go to the Emergency Department or contact our local community crisis center: 866-388-2242 Vinfen Community Behavioral Health Center

• Mass Mental Health Help Line: Support 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Call or Text: 833-773-2445 or chat online at masshelpline.com

  
  

• Non-Emergency Mental Health and Substance Use: Care Solace will quickly and confidentially find available providers matched to your needs: Call 888-515-0595 (available 24/7/365) or visit caresolace.com/chelmsford

I've invited you to fill out a form:McCarthy Family Resources

McCarthy wants to offer support and assistance to your family if you are in need. Please complete this form if your family would benefit from our resources that we offer.

With the resources available, we will do our best to meet the needs of all families.

If you do not feel comfortable completing this form, please contact our school counselors, 978-251-5122

Moya Charig Covers students A-G @ charigm@chelmsford.k12.ma.us ext.7478

Elyse Seero Covers students H-N @ seeroe@chelmsford.k12.ma.us ext.7465

Jessica Weaver Covers students O-Z @ weaverj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us ext. 7477

They will be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Happy Friday McCarthy Families! McCarthy PTO has some exciting activities planned for the 2024/2025 school year! Check out a few upcoming activities below:

📸 Picture Day Monday, October 7th Did you know that school pictures help to raise funds for our schools? School pictures are historically one of our biggest fall fundraisers! A portion of all McCarthy photo proceeds will be donated to McCarthy PTO. These funds will go directly back into events and activities for our students. Order your photos today on mylifetouch.com using PIcture Day ID: EVTVSV83K

📆 PTO Meeting Thursday, October 10th @ 6:30 in McCarthy Library: Join us for the first PTO meeting of the school year! Parker & McCarthy PTOs work collaboratively to provide community building activities, provide enrichment programs for our students and families and support our teachers. We encourage any middle school parent/guardian to join us to learn about upcoming events and activities throughout the school year.

Parker & McCarthy PTO Board Members

Contact Us: PTO.McCarthy@gmail.com

Email: mannioni@chelmsford.k12.ma.us

Website: https://mccarthy.chelmsfordschools.org/
Location: 250 North Road, Chelmsford, MA, USA
Phone: 978-251-5122