February 1, 2012
Dear Middle School Parents and Students:
Sounds like a book title: The Winter Without Snow. The shovels are resting patiently on the deck, the snow blower has not even been started and the yard is green. While I have totally enjoyed this break until now, I am actually starting to get a bit worried. What does this really mean? New England with no snow? Where’s all the water? Will it all come at once? Is global warming really here? Just to calm my nerves and give the snow plow guys a break (I know someone who started a plow business this winter, who knew?) I hereby call for a good old New England snow storm where everything gets clean and quiet and white. Bring it on…..
J. T. Turner of Moonlight Productions has once again performed his magic on stage and is just about ready to open Willy Wonka. This is a really fun show and will open on Friday, February 10 th at 7:30. Performances are also Saturday, February 11 h at 7:30PM and also Sunday matinee at 2:30PM. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. You can go online to purchase them in advance or pick them up at the door. Please try to come and bring the whole family…..See you there.
With the help of Judy Sedgewick we are sponsoring an ElectronicRecycling Event 8AM to NOON on Saturday February 11 th at the middle school front entrance. This will be a great opportunity for you to drive up with anything that plugs in. Items will be taken from you for a simple payment of $2, $5, $10, $15 or $20 depending on the size. We will take anything from a can opener to a refrigerator. The proceeds will go to to the computer club. Please bring your recyclable electronics to us and also your styrofoam. If you would like to help that morning please email Judy Sedgewick at wireworks100@hotmail.com. BRING YOUR OLD TV’s!!!.
We are almost through very successful basketball and ice hockey seasons. Thanks to the coaches who have made this possible. Signups for intramural volleyball are happening and will end Friday, February 10 th AT DISMISSAL. Volleyball will start right after February vacation on February 27 th and run through March 16th. It is co-ed and there is a $25 fee unless your student has played basketball or golf.
Our School Council will once again support a Student Development Fair. This will take place Thursday March 8th. It will be a day which begins with grade level Outward Bound type activities in the gym. Students will then proceed to two workshops they have selected from a long list of topics. These workshops will be taught by parents, community members and teachers. The list will cover careers and hobbies. Examples of titles include: scientists, doctors, beauticians, veterinarians, architects, jugglers, fly fishing experts, chefs, etiquette experts, financial planners, gardeners, book group facilitators, 4H members, forensic psychologists, party planners, etc. Many of you have already completed the form I sent home to offer a workshop. The workshops will be over by lunch; we will then go to the PAC for an hour of fun with nationally known comedienne Loretta Laroche. It’s not easy being a TWEEN and it is sure to be a memorable event. If you would like to be part of this day, please email Debbie Lindahl at ELindahl@comcast.net or call 356 8405
Also, mark your calendars for the ever popular ROOTS FIVE CONCERT which will take place on Saturday, March 17 th at 7PM in the PAC. This will be the fifth annual concert which received rave reviews from the community. All the performers are local and donate their time and talent. This year’s lineup is amazing and includes: Ipswich Music Store All Stars, Judy C, Greenhead, Miranda Russell, Orv Giddings, Jiggle the Handle and lots of local talent you will recognize. You will want to buy your ticket early. Tickets go on sale next week at River’s Edge Card and Gift, Zumi’s, The Office Store, Ipswich Music, Conley’s and the Middle School Office. Don’t miss this night; it will be talked about long after it ends. Can you think of a better way to spend St. Patrick’s Night?
Thank you for supporting our annual Penny Wars event. We were able to raise $2,200 which will go directly to the Foster Haven Orphanage in Afghanistan to support a young woman of academic promise. We will sponsor her which will allow her academic, medical and living expenses to be paid. Our inspiring talk last month by 4 of these amazing young women opened our eyes to the stories of children of war. These Havens were started by an incredible young woman who herself was in a refugee camp. She more than survived and after university six years later has launched thirteen of these orphanages in a country where half of the children do not go to school and 85% of the girls are married by age 16. She knows that real and lasting change comes from education—we will do our part. If any of you would like to make an additional donation, we will gladly accept it. We saw the results firsthand and it was powerful.
Set your alarm clocks and get up early on Tuesday, February 7 th. Our amazing SHOUT OUT video we did on STAND UP DAY will be aired on WCVB at 5:10AM and again at 6:10AM. Randy Price, TV anchor, has called twice to apologize that it was moved back because of the Superbowl—I guess that is a good excuse.
If you are an 8 th grade parent please download the attachment for yearbook baby pictures. We want 100% participation and will be accepting photos and messages until Feb 10 th.
Grade 8 orientation to the high school will be held on Wednesday, February 8th at 7PM in the PAC. A letter will be coming home with more information from the high school.
Wednesday, February 15 th at 7PM in the PAC the Town of Ipswich Recycling Committee along with the Ipswich River Watershed Association will host “Just one Word” a riveting performance and lecture about plastic debris in our precious oceans. Karen Ristuben will present the powerful information. It is free and topical and we hope you will bring the whole family. We live on the water…..
I am also proud to announce that Marc Morin and Hannah Ciarametaro attended the Governor’s Inaugural activities as they participated in Project 351 (351 Middle Schools in MA.) They met important people in our government and were involved in service projects in Boston.
Also, Abby Potter will be honored by the JFK Library along with 99 other students who have demonstrated outstanding community service. She will be honored at the library on March 15th.
Also, (there is more,) we are sending 12 young women who have demonstrated promise and work ethic in the field of mathematics, science and engineering to W.I.S.E. (Women in Science and Engineering) at Salem State College on March 13 th. Those students include: Miranda Arvilla-Rice, Lorna Burdock, Maia Caddle, Cammie Foley, Caroline Foley, Carina Frontiero, Sarah Jacklin, Caitlyn Scola, Alexis Smith, Shanelle Taylor, Brook Fitzgerald and Sarah Wallis. We are proud of our student accomplishments.
Gentle reminder that payments for class trips in grades 6, and 8 are due if possible. If you have questions please email Kelly Scott in grade 6, or Jodie Hopping in grade 8.
It has become clear that the students love their school even after the final bell has wrung. We began a pilot with the Ipswich Recreation Department last month called TIGER DEN to see if the students would make use of an after school chill zone. They have voted on their feet. Attendance thus far has ranged from 66-92 from all grades on a daily basis. We offer safe and supervised chill time on the second floor at no cost Monday through Thursday from 2:15-4:15. We feed them about 3PM as they are hungry by that time. We offer time to just be with friends, do some homework, enjoy yoga, the weight room, dance and activities being planned. If your student is enjoying this we are welcoming donations for food, snacks in large quantities (like COSTCO) and paper products, especially cups. This has been amazing—we are glad they love their school.
I will be reporting to the Ipswich School Committee tomorrow night, February 2 nd at 7PM. In the current budget are four teacher cuts which will begin to dismantle the current program. Please attend or watch on TV to stay informed of the challenging times.
February is the month we give our heart to others…..
February 1—Volleyball signups until February 10 th
February 2—IMS Budget Report to School Committee 7PM. Please stay informed of the teacher cuts.
February 7 th—EARLY!! 5:10 and 6:10 AM -- SHOUT OUT video will be aired on WCVB Channel 5
February 8—Wednesday, Grade 8 to 9 Orientation in the PAC at 7PM.
February 10, 11, 12—Willy Wonka in the PAC -- 7:30 Friday and Saturday and 2:30 Sunday
February 15—Wednesday, Coffee with the Principal 7:45-8:45—Just One Word in PAC at 7PM
February 20-24—Winter Vacation Week
March 8—Student Development Fair
March 17—Musical Roots Revisited Talent Show, 7PM in the PAC.
Down the Road if there are no snow days:
Grade 8 graduation Friday, June 8 th
Crane’s 101 st Beach Day Celebration Monday June 11 th with a rain date of June 12 th
Last Day of School Thursday, June 14th
Repeat after me…..”I love this town, I love this town, I love this town.” I hope you know by now that our motto “Making a Difference Starts Here” is a living breathing thing. It may also come as a surprise to you that in our beautiful town extreme hardship exists. We have been actively helping a family of four that lost their home due to foreclosure and have had no place to live. They moved out of town last summer and have been with relatives in a space that was unhealthy more than inadequate. Even that ended, and they have been virtually homeless. I am not making this up. The kids still got to school on time…..
We worked with ACTION in Gloucester who were trying to help but the hoops you learn about are next to unbelievable. This past Friday the situation was desperate so we did what we had to do---we called in the community network. That included the churches, parents in our school, the Ipswich Bed and Breakfast and the local motel. We rented a huge truck and went to Gloucester and filled the truck with bags which included their every last belonging. It is stored safely at my house. Teachers took home huge bags of clothes that needed to be washed. We then set out to find shelter. We were not successful finding them an apartment and that went on all weekend. I want to publicly thank Ray Morley of the Ipswich Bed and Breakfast at 2 East Street for his heroic and humanitarian efforts to step up. He took them in for the weekend at no cost. We teamed up with one of our totally amazing school parents who made the difference. After lots of disappointing news we were successful in placing them (in March) with the Ipswich Housing Authority—nothing short of a miracle. That would keep them right here in town with us and the kids in school. That same parent came forward with more than generous donations for food and shelter and even work. Now we only had to find a place for them for the month of February and we wanted to do this without splitting up the kids.
Ray came through again and will house them at his B & B at no cost until mid- February when they will move to the Arbor Inn until their 3 bedroom apartment is ready. Furniture donations are coming in fast and the move on March 1 st will be a celebration. The middle school student has a birthday this weekend and all she asked for was a place to sleep.
Check.
“I love this town.”
Don’t forget to send a Valentine or two this month and it is never too late to say, “I love you.”
Cheryl Forster
