June 2017

June is a busy month with fieldtrips and cluster events. Please stay tuned. Remember fieldtrips are a privilege. Students with behavioral, academic or attendance challenges will not be permitted to attend field trips.

This spring has been a whirlwind of excitement for our school community. We have now inhabited the first new school for the city of Lynn in twenty years one year. This beautiful environment raises the bar for student responsibility and contributes to an atmosphere of academic achievement.

Our first year in the new building has been a total success. We have been honored to have visits from the Superintendent of Schools and their teams of both Swampscott and Weymouth as they consider our design for new schools in their districts. The Massachusetts Building Authority and members from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education have also visited to admire the architecture and consider our design as a Model Schools design.

Our school is a state of the art, “smart building.” Our new gym now has enough room for the entire student population to attend an assembly at the same time! We enjoyed a very successful all school Memorial Day Assembly in our new gymnasium on Thursday May 25th.

At this time, I would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy summer break. We look forward to beginning another successful school year next fall.

JUNE CALENDAR:

Thursday June 61, 2017 to Thursday June 8 | Book Fair
Monday June 5, 2017 | 5:30 PM – Project Yes! Graduation in the Cafeteria
Tuesday June 6, 2017 | 4 PM-6 PM – Wrestling Expo in the Gym
Wednesday June 7 and June 21 2017 | Lunches- Ice Cream Socials
Wednesday June 7, 2017 | 2:45 PM – Faculty Meeting Cafeteria
Thursday, June 8, 2017 | 8 am to 2:30 pm – Learning Walk
Thursday, June 8, 2018 | 6-7:30 PM- Spring Concert TMMS Cafeteria
Tuesday June 13, 2017 | 8 AM – 6 PM – 8th Grade Canobie Lake
Tuesday June 13, 2017 | 4 PM to 6 PM – All School Dance
Wednesday June 14, 2017 | 8 AM – 2:30 PM – 8th Grade Salem Willows
Wednesday, June 14, 2017 | 5-6 PM- National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony in the cafeteria
Wednesday June 14, 2017 | 3 PM – PTO meeting in the Library
Thursday, June 15, 2017 | 6 PM- Talent Show in the Cafeteria
Saturday, June 17, 2017 | 6-7:30 PM- School Play in the Cafeteria
Sunday, June 18, 2017 | ALL DAY- Happy Father’s Day! 
Monday June 19, 2017 | 5 PM – 8 PM - Grade 8 Semi-Formal Cafeteria
Tuesday June 20, 2017 | 12:30 – Grade 8 Awards Ceremony
Tuesday June 20, 2017 | 8 AM- Grade 8 Graduation Practice and Report Card distribution
Wednesday June 21, 2017 | 11 AM- TMMS Grade 8 Graduation Gymnasium
Monday June 26, 2017 | Early Release 11:45 No Lunches Report Card distribution
Tuesday June 27th 2017 | NO SCHOOL- Summer Break

 

May 2017 | May Flowers.

April MCAS ELA testing was a success! Students worked hard and persevered through the reading and writing assignments. We continue to endeavor to do our best during the state mandated assessment calendar. Please remember it is critical that students get a good night’s sleep, eat a substantial breakfast and arrive to school on time. We feel confident that we have prepared our students to the best of our ability and now it is their time to shine. We have shared with them the importance of formal assessments and the impact it has on their future academic scheduling. Please see the Math MCAS schedule below and the Science MCAS for Grade 8 students only.

With spring comes warm weather. Please advise our students to follow the dress code regulations. We have held assemblies with all of our students, presented a Power Point presentation with images of what is acceptable and what is not appropriate for school and sent home phone messages. It is important that students respect the rules and regulations of the Lynn Public Schools set forth in the handbook.

MAY CALENDAR

Monday May 1, 2017 | 1:30 PM
 Law Day Grade 7 Assembly with Representative Dan Cahill
Tuesday May 2, 2017 | 1:30 PM- Motivation for Marshall Grade 8 Assembly with local sports star, Antonio Anderson
Wednesday May 3, 2017 | 2:45 PM- Faculty Meeting & All City Art Exhibit at Lynn Arts
Monday through Friday May 8-12, 2017 | 8 AM- Teacher Appreciation Week
Friday May 5, 2017 | 8 AM - Cluster 7 Grade 8 Students
- Computer-Based MCAS 2.0 math session
Monday May 8, 2017 | 8 AM- Cluster 7 Grade 8 Students
-Assembly Upward Bound
- Computer-Based MCAS 2.0 math session
Wednesday May 10, 2017| 10 AM- Ice Cream Social
Wednesday May 10, 2017 and Thursday May 11, 2017
- National Junior Honor Society Informational Meetings where students will receive applications and FAQs
Tuesday - Thursday, May 9-12, 2017 | 8 AM- MCAS 2.0 Math Testing
- Paper Based MCAS 2.0 math test sessions for Grades 6 & 7
- Computer-Based MCAS 2.0 math sessions for Clusters 6 & 9 students
Monday & Tuesday, May 15-16, 2017 | 8 AM- MCAS 2.0 Math Testing
- Computer-Based MCAS 2.0 Math sessions for Clusters 5 & 7 grade 8 students -SBIRT Screening for Grade 7 students only
Wednesday May 17, 2017| 3 PM- Library - PTO
-SBIRT Screening for Grade 7 students only
Thursday & Friday May 18 and 19, 2017 | 8 AM- MCAS Science Grade 8
Wednesday May 24| 10 AM- Ice Cream Social
Wednesday May 24, 2017 | 2:45 PM
Application Due Date for National Junior Honor Society
Wednesday May 24 to Wednesday May 31, 2017
-Faculty Council Reviews Applications for National Junior Honor Society. Induction ceremony will be in June
-All City String Concert at 6 pm Lynn English Auditorium
Thursday May 25, 2017 | 8 AM- Memorial Day Assembly
Thursday May 25, 2017 | 6 PM- All City Band Concert Lynn English Auditorium
Monday May 29, 2017 | No School- Memorial Day
Wednesday May 31, 2017 | 10 AM- Handel & Haydn Assembly Grade 7

April 2017

April kicks off the start of the state testing schedule. April 2017 will mark the first computer- based standardized testing for our 8th graders. Packets of information involving MCAS expectations and testing schedule will go home at the beginning of the month. We appreciate your assistance and cooperation in preparing our students for these 21st century skills. It is critical that students get a good night’s sleep, eat a substantial breakfast and arrive to school on time. The weeks prior we will be running computer-based testing practice sessions to allow the 8th grade students the opportunity to experience computerized test. On April 25th we celebrate our first annual anniversary in the beautiful new site.  We are very fortunate to have this incredible school as our center for learning, growing and improving.  March 29th marked our last Open House for the school year. The final formal invitation into our school is our opportunity to show off our curriculum materials, student projects and content materials for all grades. As usual, we will post all information electronically. Please continue to provide your feedback to ensure the smooth operations of our school.  

April Calendar
Tuesday to Thursday April 4th to 6th 2017
- Grade 7 Vision/Hearing and BMI testing with the nurses
Wednesday April 5th  2017 | 2:45 PM
- Faculty Meeting
Friday, April 7, 2017 | 3 PM
- Third Quarter closes. Grades and Absent notes are due.
Monday to Thursday April 10th to 13th 2017
- Paper Based MCAS 2.0 ELA test session for Grades 6 & 7
-Computer-Based MCAS 2.0 ELA for Clusters 5 & 9 students
Friday April 14, 2017
-No School – Good Friday.
Monday April 17, 2017 to Friday April 21, 2017 | No School
- April Vacation
Monday April 24, 2017 | Return to school
-School resumes on time at 7:45
Tuesday through Friday April 25th to 28th
-Computer -Based MCAS 2.0 ELA testing sessions for Clusters 6 & 7 Students
Wednesday, April 26, 2017 | 3 PM
- Next PTO Meeting
Friday April 28, 2017
- Grade 7 Assembly at 8 am with Safe Routes about Bike and Pedestrian Safety
- Quarter 3 Report Cards go home with students
Wednesday April 12th& 26th Ice Cream Socials
- Students can purchase sundaes for $3.50 during lunches
- Grade 7 & 8 Band and String students attend All City Band practices a Breed at 1:30
April Intramural Basketball Schedule

Tuesday April 4, 2017
Intramural Basketball-8th grade boys A teams 2:45pm-3:45pm

Thursday April 6, 2017
Intramural Basketball-8th grade boys B teams 2:45pm-3:45pm

Tuesday April 11, 2017
Intramural Basketball-Girls teams 2:45pm-3:45pm

Thursday April 13. 2017
Intramural Basketball-6th grade boys teams 2:45pm-3:45pm

Tuesday April 25, 2017
Intramural Basketball-7th grade boys teams 2:45pm-3:45pm

Thursday April 27, 2017
Intramural Basketball-8th grade boys A teams 2:45pm-3:45pm
Thank you for supporting our school by coming out for sports events, parent conferences, and Open House. Remember to pop into a PTO meeting whenever you can. No commitment required; we’d just love to hear from you. We wish you and your family an energizing spring.

Ms. Molly Cohen
Principal, Thurgood Marshall Middle School

March 2017

March roared in like a lion. We experienced two snow days and a ballot voting day. The building is actively planning and prepping for our first MCAS 2.0 testing and our first ever computer-based state assessment in Grade 8. Due to the number of devices to test our nearly 400 8th grade students the MCAS ELA test sessions will occur both before and after the April vacation. Each cluster will receive an automated phone call sharing the exact test dates and times for your students. Grade 6 & 7 students will follow the traditional paper-based test administration with which they are familiar. The MCAS 2.0 math testing logistics will take place during the first three weeks of May. The paper-based MCAS Science exam

- for grade 8 students only - will occur on May 17 and 18.  Please look for informational packets that will go home with the students in April to explain exactly what the state test will entail. We will post all information as well. As always, your feedback is critical to the smooth operations of our school.

March calendar. Monday March 1, 2017
- Faculty Meeting to train for the MCAS 2.0 Computer-based and Paper-based testing sessions.

Monday March 6th, 2017 | Wrestling program begins

Tuesday March 7th, 2017 | Intramural Basketball games begin – All are welcome to play!

Wednesday March 8th 2017 | Clusters celebrated the Respect Recipients for February with an ice cream sundae ticket

Thursday, March 9, 2017 | 8 AM | Nila Webster visit with students in Advisory groups to discuss her book “Because We Dream It”

Friday March 10, 2017 | Quarter 3 Progress Reports go home with students

Wednesday March 15, 2017 | PTO meeting

Monday March 20, 2017

Monday March 27th 2017 | Nila Webster visits with students in other Advisory groups to discuss her book “Because We Dreamed It”

- Grade 8 Assembly with guest speakers and returning TMMS graduates now in high school

- Grade 6 Assembly at end of day with Safe Routes about Bike and Pedestrian Safety

Wednesday March 29, 2017 | 4 - 6 PM | Our Third and Final Open House

- Grade 6 & 7 families report to the gym

- Grade 8 and Cluster 7 families report to the cafeteria

-Support families will meet in the library

Wednesday Ice Cream Socials | Students can purchase sundaes for $3.50 during lunches

MCAS calendar. Monday April 10th 2017
- Grade 6 and 7 Paper-based MCAS 2.0 ELA
- Cluster 5 Computer-based MCAS 2.0 ELA

Tuesday April 11th 2017
- Grade 6 and 7 Paper-based MCAS 2.0 ELA
- Cluster 5 Computer-based MCAS 2.0 ELA

Wednesday April 12th 2017
- Cluster 9 Computer-based MCAS 2.0 ELA

Thursday April 13th 2017

Friday April 14, 2017 | No School
- Good Friday

Tuesday April 25th 2017
- Cluster 6 Computer-based MCAS 2.0 ELA

Wednesday April 26th 2017
- Cluster 6 Computer-based MCAS 2.0 ELA
- Cluster 7 Computer-based MCAS 2.0 ELA

Thursday, April 27th   2017
- Cluster 7 Computer-based MCAS 2.0 ELA

Thank you for supporting our school by coming out for sports events, parent conferences, and Open House. We wish you and your family an energized entry into early spring.

Ms. Molly Cohen
Principal, Thurgood Marshall Middle School

February 2017

January 2017

Dear Parents/Guardians of Thurgood Marshall Middle School Students,

We had an exciting week before Winter Break with school community celebrations like our first drama performance on our new stage of The Grinch, the Holiday Concert, Twin Day, Dress for Success, and of course the traditional Holiday Season Store. January brings many fun filled activities and events as well.

We kicked off the new year with a generous gift from acclaimed children’s author, Nila Webster, of a book of poetry with contributions from several local authors and artists entitled Because We Believed It. Ms. Webster teamed up with the Lynn Public Schools to publish 1375 copies and donated them specifically to the Thurgood Marshall Middle School Community to honor our culture and climate derived in our guiding DREAM principles: Dignity, Respect, Effort, Attitude and Motivation. We look forward to visiting with her in March to discus the important themes in the book about discovering what is important to us in our lives, treasuring what we love and pursuing our dreams.

Please enjoy the images we post on our Blog.

Here is our January schedule:

Wednesday January 4th | First Basketball boys and girls games.

Monday January 16th | NO SCHOOL Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Wednesday January 18th | PTO meeting in the library 3-4 pm | Second Open House from 6-8 pm

Tuesday January 24th | School Council Meeting 3-4 pm | Robotics Presentation 5-6 pm

Friday January 27th | Quarter 2 closes

Friday February 3rd  | Report Cards go home

Thank you for supporting our school by coming out for sports events, parent conferences in cluster meetings, and Open House. We wish you and your family a prosperous new year.

Ms. Molly Cohen
Principal, Thurgood Marshall Middle School

December 2016 | Thurgood Marshall Celebration Week - 2016

Thurgood Marshall Celebration week is an over 20 year tradition here at TMMS. It has experienced some changes over the years but has always been a successful and joyful experience.

The HOLIDAY MALL
The Holiday Mall will be open from 2:30 until 3:30 each day beginning Wednesday December 14th through Thursday December 22nd. The Holiday Mall is for the students to purchase gifts for their family members at reasonable cost. Items range from $.25 to $3.00. We also offer gift wrapping for $.25. The PTO member will also be setting up a “Picture booth” this year. Volunteers gladly accepted…. Schedule will be posted in the mailroom!!

MISTLETOE MAMA
Mistletoe Mama is a long time tradition here. The students can purchase a “kiss” for $1.00 during the lunches. Mistletoe Mama will deliver the kisses (stamp on the cheek and a Hershey kiss) during the lunches from Tuesday December 20th through the 22nd. Expect a noisy lunch those days!! We will need teacher volunteers to act as “Mama” or “Dada” to deliver the kisses. The Jr. National Honor Society will be there to assist.

BASKET RAFFLE
Each cluster is asked to “donate” a basket to be raffled off. Chances are $.50 and will be on sale during the lunches the week of December 12th. The baskets will be displayed in the windows on the first floor. They will be numbered. The basket raffles will be drawn on Friday, December 23rd.

OTHER STUFF
Homeroom Poster Decorating Contest: (this replaces our old Door Decorating Contest)… Posters will be displayed in the main lobby. Which homeroom will have the best poster this year???? Judging will happen on Friday, December 23rd.

Monday Dec. 19th: Favorite Sport Day – Wear your favorite team’s clothing
Tuesday Dec. 20th: Wear Red and/or Green – show your colors of the season
Wednesday Dec. 21st: Dress Up Day – Look your best!!
Thursday Dec. 22nd: Twin Day – dress like your soulmate!!
Friday Dec. 23rd: School Pride Day – Wear Green and White!!

November 2016

November is a busy month with lots of out of class experiences. This month we kicked off the Raspberry Pi computer project in Mr. Cole’s extracurricular Computer Club after school on Tuesdays. Please check out the Lynn schools Face Book page for these pictures below:

Also, we’ve partnered with Amazon Robotics out of North Reading, MA. to offer a STEM project on Friday afternoons with Ms. Singleton. Amazon engineers, Ms. Singleton and selected team members from 6th, 7th and 8th grade work collaboratively to explore and interact with the Lego Mindstorms robotics programs including building, programming and refining engineering practices directly tied to the science, technology, engineering and math curriculums critical in MA state standards.  Students are given the opportunity to learn about, explore and practice multiple facets of the field of engineering which may inspire them to further their STEM based career for their high school choice and for their future. You can also check out the Lynn schools Face Book page for these pictures below:

 
November also includes the Anti-Violence fieldtrip to City Hall to hear powerful speakers share personal account of the influence violence has had on their lives. On November 7th we conduct our annual Fall Walk to raise money for our Student Activity Fund, which defrays costs of future field trips, dances, and 8th grade activity week. We also use these funds to purchase snacks and materials for after school and Saturday programming.

Beginning on November 7th and through November 22nd we send our 6th grade students out to the Nahant Northeastern Marine Center to engage in field work on the rocky shoreline. 

Remember we have a handful of days off from school in November. There is no school on Tuesday November 8th, Friday November 11th and there will be an Early Release time for Thanksgiving at 11:45 on Wednesday November 23rd. Lunches will not be served on that day.

We hope you have healthy and safe holiday weekends.  If ever you have any questions about our busy schedule, please contact your child’s guidance counselor in the main office.

October 2016

October and November Important Dates
October 19: PTO meeting 3-4 PM | All are welcome with no commitment
October 20: School Council Meeting 3-4 PM
October 27: Halloween Dance at 4:30 to 7:30 PM
November 4: All School Veteran’s Day Assembly
November 7: Fall Walk Fundraiser
November 8: No School – Voting Day
November 10: First Quarter Closes. Grades Close
November 11: No School - Veteran’s Day
November 18: Report Cards Go Home

Intramural Sports Activities
Kickball Tournament | Oct./Nov.
Dodgeball | Jan./Feb.
Basketball | March/April
Volleyball and Whiffleball | May
Soccer | June
Morning Gym-Every school day morning the gym is open for basketball from 7:15 until 7:45 AM

PTO Dates For 2016-2017
October 19th, 2016
November 16th, 2016
December 21st, 2016
January 18th, 2017
February 15th, 2107
March 15th, 2017
April 26th, 2017
May 17th, 2017
June 14th, 2017

Anti-Hazing Policy Reminder
This is a reminder that it is a state requirement to notify families about anti-hazing policies and laws.  If you have not yet had a chance to read our handbook, a link to the handbook is listed below, in English & Spanish.  The anti-hazing policy and laws are to be found on pages 12 and 13 of the 2016-2017 handbook.   Hazing applies not only to the school day, but to all extracurricular activities and sports.  We thank you for reviewing the district policy and state law about hazing.

School Handbooks | 2016-2017 | Updated August 2016 Download (PDF)
	LPS District Handbook | English
	LPS District Handbook | Espanol

September 2016 | Welcome to the 2016-17 School Year!

We are looking forward to a productive partnership with you to ensure your children can achieve their highest potential. We recognize that in order to be successful in school, our students need support from both the home and school. We know a strong partnership with you will make a great difference in your child’s education.

As partners, we share the responsibility for our students’ successes and want you to know that we will do our very best to carry out our responsibilities.

We ask that you guide and support your child’s learning by ensuring that s/he:
1) Attends school daily and arrives on time, ready for the day’s learning experience
2) Completes all homework assignments given by teachers
3) Reads daily to develop a love for reading and to improve literacy skills
4) Shares school experiences with you so that you are aware of his/her school life
5) Informs you if he/she needs additional support in any area or subject
6) Knows that you expect him/her to succeed in school and go on to college

Please consider joining our PTO program as our students can greatly benefit from your involvement and contributions to the school’s program and its operations.

We seek volunteers to help us with the following activities:
1) School-wide events
2) Student recognition events
3) Outreach and recruitment of parent and community volunteers

Please review with your child the Lynn Public Schools District Handbook found by CLICKING HERE.

If you have any questions about the rules and expectations, please feel free to contact us. It is very important that you and your child are fully informed regarding standards related to appropriate behavior for a safe and productive school year.

The wonderful Thurgood Marshall Middle School staff and I feel privileged to be a part of this school family. We thank you for your support and look forward to meeting you. Please see the procedures for the beginning of the year below.

Sincerely,
Molly Cohen
Principal

2016-2017 School Year Reminders!

Morning Drop-Off on Brookline Street | 7:15 - 8 AM
Please ensure children exit vehicles safely curbside and keep moving your vehicle toward Empire as Brookline is a One Way from 7:15 to 8:15 AM every school day. Please put safety first. U-turns in the drop-off line is illegal. Thank you!

Morning Supervision Options | 7:15 - 7:45 AM Morning Gym and the Morning Breakfast Program

After-School Library | 2:30-2:45 and then appointment or request.

Regular Day Schedule | 7:45 AM - 2:30 PM
After-School Extracurricular & Enrichment Programs begin at 2:45pm and run approximately one hour.

School Dismissal at 2:30 PM | Brookline Street is a One Way from 2 until 3 PM to ensure the safety of the nearly 1,200 students who exit the building at 2:30 PM. Please do not park in the parking lots or in front of the school where the fire lanes and bus stops are. It is recommended that you meet your child on Chatham Street, Empire Street or any other adjacent street to the school property.