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.

The next SIT meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 4th at 5:00 P.M. in the PMS Library. All are welcome to attend.

PHS is hosting an open house on December 11, 2024 to highlight their Career and Technical Education programs. The flyer is linked, which provides the details and structure of the evening. If you have any questions, please reach out to Paige Kirwin-Clair at kirwinclairp@portsmouthschoolsri.org.

Want to be a Change Agent? Would you like to make a positive impact in your local and global communities? Be part of the Multiplier Effect! Join Kids4Action at the Portsmouth Middle School in the 5th & and 6th Grade Health Room on December 12th from 2:45 to 3:45PM. 2024-2025 Initiatives will focus on Clean Seas and will be supported via our Ocean Bail Out campaign! Have fun in brainstorming sessions, learn how to craft an ‘elevator pitch’, build philanthropy and leadership skills and community service hours! Join us on December 12th!

PTO Meeting

The next PTO meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 4th at 6:00pm in the PMS Library. All are welcome!

Skate Night

Mark your calendars for PMS Ice Skating Night on Saturday December 14th from 7-9pm. Scan the QR code to sign up now!

Providence Bruins

Join Portsmouth Middle School for a Providence Bruins Game on Sunday December 15th at 4:05pm! The PMS Chorus will be performing God Bless America before puck drop. Your ticket includes a free Providence Bruins hat. We hope to see you there! Tickets can be purchased at this link.

Please see the link here to the December after school club calendar.

There is still time to order photos in time for the Holidays! Please go to Melino-Photo.com and click on 'View My Proofs' and use your student's ID number as the online code to order today!

During the month of December, our advisories will focus on the theme of "How to Be a Successful Patriot". Our staff created a list of the top ten qualities/habits of a successful student. We will discuss the top ten and then students will work as an advisory to create one poster to be included in our visual display in January of "A Path to Success".

As of 12/2, we are holding steady at 40th in the state, reaching our goal of making it to the top 50 schools on the State Attendance Leaderboard!

Data as of 12/2/2024

Portsmouth Middle School

607 students enrolled

66 Students Chronically Absent (Missed 10%+ this school year)

541 Non-chronically absent students (Missed less than 10% this school year)

We care if your children are here!

Please see the linked letter here from Commissioner Infante Green. This went out to all districts and we were asked to send it out to families.

We have winter jackets, sweatshirts, water bottles, gym shorts, socks, etc. located on the table outside the gymnasium. Please encourage your child to see if they are missing anything. Over the holiday break, the table will be cleared and donated.

GSO is once again hosting the Ocean View art competition and exhibition.

Ocean View is a competition encouraging youth to interpret the ocean through visual art. Rhode Island students in grades kindergarten through high school are invited to participate. Check out this webpage for more information.

Please help spread the word about this art competition and exhibition. Here are some ideas:

• Share with friends and family

• Pass along to educator friends and ask them to share with their students

• Post the flyer to a bulletin board(s) in your community

• Post information about this competition to your social media (don’t forget to tag @URIGSO!)

I’m looking forward to seeing the artistic talents of the RI youth!

Babysitting Class

Dad and Me Holiday Crafting

Holiday Vacation Camp

Swim Pods

Dear Rhode Island Athletic Directors:

The Rhode Island Middle School swimming is a growing sport and we wanted to invite your students to join us this winter!

We have found that introducing swimming in middle school has allowed these students to continue their experience throughout High School. It has also opened doors for swimmers to become certified lifeguards.

The Wheeler School and Pods Swimming are excited to host four meets at The Pods Swimming Aquatics Center on Saturdays in January and February. Meets will take place on the following dates:

January 11th (1:15 pm; 12 pm warmup)

January 25th (1:15 pm; 12 pm warmup)

February 1st (1:15 pm; 12 pm warmup)

February 15th (1:15 pm; 12 pm warmup)

If your middle school is interested in participating, please email Sean Kelly at seankelly@wheelergmail.org and Susan Pascale-Frechette at susan@podsswimming.com.

Additionally, there are some openings for your school to practice at Pods. If you’re interested please reach out to Susan. We are excited and hope to see your schools at Pods this winter!

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