August 2022

 

Dear Parents, Caregivers, and PCMS Students:

 

We hope everyone had a fun and restful summer. As always, we are excited at the approach of a new school year!  In this email, you will find your child’s schedule and other important information. 

 

Schedules: All students have been assigned to a team that is listed at the top of the schedule. There are two seventh grade teams (7.1 & 7.2) and two eighth grade teams (8.1 & 8.2).  Students attend science, social studies, math, and ELA with their team teachers.  Students take several classes ‘off team’ including Stem Lab, PE and world languages. These classes will have students from both grade-level teams.  

 

Lunches are structured by grade level. Seventh grade students will have lunch from 10:42-11:07.  Eighth grade students will have lunch from 11:15-11:40.  

 

Students will have a daily Titan Study.  Seventh graders have Titan Study after lunch (11:07-11:40).  Eighth graders have Titan Study before their lunch (10:42-11:15).

 

Some students may see Math Foundations and/or Literacy listed on the schedule.  These are our Title One programs.  These additional classes build in extra practice in a smaller setting to support math and literacy skills.  Students were assigned to these courses based on teacher recommendation and the previous year’s student assessment scores or grades. These courses are typically taken in place of a world language class.  

 

School Tours: Students, families, and friends are encouraged to tour the school:

 

Wednesday, August 24 or Thursday, August 25

     Morning tours: 9:30 or 10  

     Afternoon tours: 12:30 or 1

Tuesday, August 30

     Morning tours: 9:30 or 10 (there are no afternoon tours on 8/30)

 

Students should bring their schedules (and any questions they may have), so they can see where their specific classes are located. 

 

First Day Plan: Students’ first day is Wednesday, August 31.  School starts at 7:20. Students will spend the first hour of their day with their Titan Teacher.  They also have another block of time near their lunch block when they will be in their Titan Study.  During these two blocks, Titan Teachers will review procedures, get students linked to their classes in Google Classroom, show them where their classes are located, assign Chromebooks, and other “housekeeping” items.  Students will rotate through all seven periods throughout their day, although classes will be slighter shorter than normal.  

 

Lockers: Students will be assigned a Titan Time (home-based) locker.  Students can lease combination locks from the school.  Only locks leased from the school may be used on school lockers.  Combination locks can be leased for $5/year. The leasing money will be returned when students return the locks at the end of the school year.  Students should not use any tape on their lockers.  If they would like to hang their schedule or other pictures, they should use magnets.  Any drinks stored in lockers must have a twist top, so there is no danger of spillage. 

Updating Medical and Emergency Information: Parents should review and update their child’s medical and emergency contact information prior to the first day of school.  Families should have received a snapcode link in their email that will allow families to update this information. The email with the "Snapcode" comes from the sender PowerSchool Registration Support with the email "noreplyregistration@powerschool.com". If you have not gotten an email, try checking the spam folders for the sender above. If you did not receive this link, please contact the school and we will resend it. 

 

Transportation: If you have already purchased a bus pass, you should receive it before the start of school.  If you have not purchased a pass yet and would like your child to ride the bus, please contact Lori Jacobs, the Transportation Coordinator (lori.jacobs@pembrokek12.org; 781-829-0832).  

 

Parents who drive their 7th-grade children to school should use the circular driveway or a loop around the staff parking lot for drop off/pick up.  Seventh-grade students can wait in the cafeteria or outside the main doors until the start of school.  

 

Parents who are dropping off eighth-grade students should loop around the back of the school and drop their children off near the basketball courts.  Eighth-grade students can wait out near the basketball court or in the gym until the start of school.  Students should be dropped off as close to start time to reduce waiting.  If students do not have time to eat before leaving for school, they can get a grab & go breakfast outside the cafeteria. Families dropping off both 7th and 8th graders can drop them off at the main doors.  These eighth-grade students should then proceed to the gym to wait for the start of school.  

 

We will use the same traffic patterns for afternoon dismissal and pick-ups at 2:10pm.

 

Keeping Updated:  Almost all of our school communications will be managed electronically.  You should already be signed up to automatically  receive our E-News through the registration process.  We also recommend you ‘like’ our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/PembrokeCommunityMiddleSchool/). 

 

PowerSchool: PowerSchool is our online schedule and grading system.  Login information is included in this mailing for our 7th-grade families.  Parents can log in to review grades and/or assignments.  Parents can also sign up to have regular grading updates emailed to them automatically.

 

New PCMS Staff: We have several new additions to our staff this year.  We are excited to welcome
Ms. Evan Fitzwiliam (Team 7.1 Social Studies), Mr. Mark Matheson (Team 8.2 ELA), Mrs. Allison DeBellis (G8 Stem Lab), Mrs. Brittany Desmond (Special Education), and Ms. Rachael Coppenrath (Special Education/Reading Specialist).  Mrs. Cheryl Larson is the new PCMS social worker; many of you may be familiar with her, as she previously worked at Bryantville Elementary School and North Pembroke Elementary School.

 

Orchestra & Chorus during Titan Time: PCMS students will have an opportunity to sign up for Chorus (no prior experience needed) or Orchestra (instrument experience needed) within the first few weeks of school.  Mrs. Gwynne Chapman (Chorus 7 & 8) and Mr. Greg Tarbox (Orchestra 7 & 8) will be teaching these enrichment courses. Orchestra and Chorus will be offered to students 1-2x week during Titan Study, so adding in these courses does not change/impact student schedules.  More information will be shared after the start of school.

 

PCMS Cross Country:  PCMS students can sign up for the fall cross country team. The cost is $50/runner. Practices will start September 12. The team will compete against other area teams. Students with a bus pass will be able to take the late buses home. Registration links can be found on the Athletics Department website.

 

We are looking forward to a great year!  Please call the school if you have any questions.

 

Respectfully,

Donna McGarrigle, Ed.D.       Tom Walsh M.Ed.

Principal       Assistant Principal/Team Chair