McCall Middle School April 2017 Newsletter

From the Principal Jorge Goncalves I hope that this message finds you and your family well. Much is happening at McCall as we begin the spring season. Second Trimester has closed and Trimester 2 Report Cards will be available on Thursday, April 13, 2017. Please be sure to take a few moments to read this newsletter in its entirety so that you may be informed of past, current, and upcoming important events in the school calendar. You can see what’s coming up on the McCall Calendar here which feeds into the District Calendar of events found here. Students Not Attending Winchester in the Fall of 2017 If a student will not be attending Winchester Public Schools in September of 2017, parents/guardians will need to notify Mrs. Skeffington as soon as possible by either email or coming in to fill out a Release of Records form. The Release of Records form can be emailed to you for completion. At the end of the school year your student’s records will be forwarded to their new school. Please contact Mrs. Skeffington with any questions at dskeffington@winchesterps.org Order your McCall Yearbook now! You can reserve your copy of the 2016-2017 McCall Yearbook now for $65. After January 1, 2017 the cost increased from $50 to $65. This is the book that your child will treasure today and in years to come. Our yearbook is a hardcovered with more than 80 colored pages. You can order by check made out to McCall Middle School or online at www.yearbooksonsale.com When is the last day of school and when is McCall's Grade 8 Graduation?

The last day of school is scheduled for Tuesday, June 27, 2017. The last three days of school at McCall are early release days with school being dismissed at

11:10 a.m. on the following days: Friday, June 23rd; Monday, June 26th; and Tuesday, June 27th.

Final exams are scheduled for students in grades 6-8. We haven’t created the final exam schedule yet but the days that final exams will be administered will be as follows:

o Grades 6 & 7: Wednesday, June 21st; Thursday, June 22nd; & Friday, June 23rd. Final Exam Review & Make-ups will take place on Monday, June 26th.

o Grade 8: Tuesday, June 20th, Wednesday, June 21st, and Thursday, June 22nd. Finals Review & Make-ups will take place on Friday, June 23rd. Graduation will be at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 23rd on Knowlton Field or the

WHS Field House if it rains. Grade 8 Canobie Lake Park Trip will take place on Monday, June 26th.

I hope that this information proves useful as you make plans for the end of the current school year.

Come See the “World’s Worst Mom” on April 5th

Join us for an Evening of Humor & Advice with “THE WORLD’S WORST MOM” Lenore Skenazy - Author, Humorist & National Keynote Speaker on Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the Lincoln Elementary School auditorium. Lenore advocates anti-helicopter parenting and teaching styles to promote independent, self-reliant and resilient kids. She is the author of Free Range Kids: How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children (Without Going Nuts with Worry). This Program is free and open to all thanks to Parent to Parent Direct Appeal. April is Autism Awareness Month Winchester and the international autism community commemorate the United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Month. 7 Continents, 101 countries, 1300 cities, 8400 landmarks, and buildings, even the international space station You can show your support by wearing blue during the month of April, lighting your home blue, buy some blue light bulbs for your front porch light or outdoor lights. Ask neighbors and friends to light their homes blue, too! Light It Up Blue Winchester! April 6th @ 7:00 p.m. at the Winchester Town Hall There will be speakers, puppet show, coffee & blue donuts. Sponsored by the Winchester Disability Access Commission Protecting the rights of and facilitating inclusion for people of all abilities Co-Sponsored by the Winchester MultiCultural Network and Brio Integrated Theatre

Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) 2017 - McCall Testing Dates MCAS – English/Language Arts (ELA) Grade 6 ELA (Session 1) – Wednesday, April 5, 2017 Grade 6 ELA (Session 2) – Thursday, April 6, 2017 Grade 7 ELA (Session 1) – Friday, April 7, 2017 Grade 7 ELA (Session 2) – Monday, April 10, 2017 Grade 8 ELA (Session 1) – Tuesday, April 25, 2017 Grade 8 ELA (Session 2) – Wednesday, April 26, 2017 MCAS – Mathematics & Science & Technology/Engineering (STE) Grade 6 Math (Session 1) – Monday, May 15, 2017 Grade 6 Math (Session 2) – Tuesday, May 16, 2017 Grade 7 Math (Session 1) – Wednesday, May 17, 2017 Grade 7 Math (Session 2) – Thursday, May 18, 2017 Grade 8 Math (Session 1) – Friday, May 19, 2017 Grade 8 Math (Session 2) – Monday, May 22, 2017 Grade 8 Science & Technology/Engineering (Session 1 & 2) – Tuesday, May 23, 2017 News from Commissioner Mitchell Chester & the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education This spring marks the start of the next-generation MCAS assessments in English language arts and math in grades 3-8. After considering for several years how to best update our already strong statewide assessment, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted in November 2015 to maintain a test unique to our Commonwealth that would draw some of its questions from the existing MCAS, some of its questions from the PARCC assessment developed by a consortium of states, and some questions created specifically for the next-generation MCAS. This spring is the debut of that new test. Many people ask us why we conduct statewide testing. These tests are required by both state and federal law, but more importantly:

Test results help parents gauge whether their children are making academic progress. Test results help educators identify strengths and weaknesses in their curricula and instructional methods. A student’s participation in statewide testing helps provide context to other students in the same school, students in other schools within the district, and students in other districts. Failure to participate denies this perspective not only to the student who refuses to participate, but to other students and parents in the school, district, and statewide. Test results help the state target additional resources to underperforming schools. Test results help document our progress to the Governor and the Legislature as we seek to ensure adequate funding for all our schools. MCAS was first instituted as part of the 1993 Education Reform Law. The programs and funding in that law have led to nearly a quarter-century of steady improvement in our K-12 schools. Today Massachusetts is number one in the nation in elementary and secondary education. Refusal to Participate in State Tests Every year, some families ask whether students are allowed to opt-out of taking a statewide test. In brief, the answer is no. Testing is a mandatory part of the curriculum, the same as a spelling test or math test, and statewide assessments are most useful when all students take them. Neither the Commonwealth nor Congress provides an opt-out provision. Tenth graders who refuse to take MCAS jeopardize their high school diploma. In addition, refusals to test can impact a school’s accountability rating. The accountability system is set up to encourage high participation rates (if it weren't, results would not be reflective of school-wide achievement). The federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires a 95 percent participation rate. Schools with a lower participation rate run the risk of having their accountability rating lowered. Under draft regulations that the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education sent out for public comment on February 28, 2017, schools and districts that fall below a 90 percent participation rate will have their accountability status set to Level 3 (out of 5). Further, the 2016-17 and 2017-18 participation rates will be combined to determine participation rates for the 2017-18 accountability levels. In other words, refusals to test in spring 2017 could impact a school's accountability rating for two years. Notes from the Nurses - Mary LaMuraglia, R.N., B.S.N., & M. Ed & Marie Saba, R.N. & M.S.W.

Dismissing Students: If a child is ill, he/she should visit the nurse first before calling home. There have been instances in which students have asked their parents to dismiss them from school without being checked by the nurse. Thank you for your anticipated support and cooperation. Is your child going to Winchester High School in the fall, and going to be playing a sport? If the answer is yes, you will need a copy of the student’s physical examination dated within one year of the start of that sport. So always get a copy of the physical so you don’t have to run back to the doctor’s office and/ pay a fee for that service. Grade 6 Parents/Guardians: If your children have seen their physician and received any immunizations, please send me a copy. A recent (within 5 years) Tetanus or Tetanus/Pertussis booster is required before 7th grade entry. Suffer from Seasonal Allergies?

Allergy season is fast approaching. If your child takes daily allergy medicine please make every effort to medicate your child before coming to school. We do not have allergy medicine in the office, with the exception of Benadryl. If Benadryl is given, the student must be dismissed. If you’d like to keep allergy medicine on hand for your child, we will need you to supply the medicine and complete the proper paperwork. For policy information and paperwork please visit the Winchester School Nurses website. It can be found on the Winchester Public Schools website under “departments” and “school health services”. Please feel free to call at any time during the day 781-721-7026 x 1119 or email mlamuraglia@winchesterps.org or msaba@winchesterps.org Recycling Efforts Continue at McCall Through the town’s continued dedication to increasing our rate of recycling and decreasing trash sent to incineration, the DPW and School Energy and our Recycling Outreach Coordinator, Frtizie Nace, made the purchase of recycling barrels outside of McCall. You may have already noticed the shiny new blue barrels in front of McCall. Additional recycling barrels for the McCall Auditorium and Gym areas are coming soon! For meeting our WinSaves 2016 residential energy reduction challenge, McCall will soon be the recipient of a water bottle filling station as a gift from NGrid. In addition, the McCall Parents Association received $225 for adding 15 completed home energy assessments to the overall goal. Earth Day Writing and Poetry Contest I believe that I should help the Earth because… The Green Team is holding a writing contest. We are looking for poems and essays about why you believe in helping the Earth. If you write a poem, please drop it off in the main office or send it via emails to kbayne@winchesterps.org by the end of the day on Tuesday, April 11th. We look forward to reading your essays and poems. McCall Geography Night, Sponsored by WFEE McCall Middle School seventh graders are showcasing what they learned by hosting a Geography Night! All seventh graders and their families are invited to join us on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at McCall Middle School. At Geography Night you will find the following: Step inside of the Earth View Balloon to show you our Earth from the inside out. Enjoy the delicious food from the Baja Taco Truck. Dance the night away with Nazar Bollywood and Benkadi West African Dance & Drum. Make sure that you have a clean pair of socks so that you can participate. We hope to see you there! Thank you. Dance/Activity Night Schedule – Save the Dates

Dance/Activity Night Schedule – Save the Dates The McCall Student Council will help sponsor school dance/activity nights once again this year and admission will be $10 per student. Doors open for all dance/activity nights at 7:30 p.m. The dance schedule for the 2016-2017 school year is as follows: Friday, April 28, 2017 – Grades 6-8 Dance/Activity Night Doors open for all dance/activity nights at 7:30 p.m. and pick up time is promptly at 9:30 p.m.

Screening of Hyper We will be screening Guru Ramanathan’s film entitled Hyper in the McCall Auditorium on Monday, April 24, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in collaboration with the Winchester Coalition for a Safer Community. Hyper is a feature length documentary about the academic culture and student motivation at WHS. At the end of this newsletter you will find a flyer for the event. Reminders Attendance If a student will be absent or tardy, a parent/guardian must call the school at (781) 721-7044 Ext. 1 and provide the student’s name, grade, and reason for the absence or tardiness. This call should take place before 7:45 a.m. on the day of the absence or tardiness. Parents are requested to schedule appointments for physicians, dentists, or special lessons after school hours. Students who have been absent during the school day may not participate in after-school or evening activities. Parents/Guardians are strongly discouraged from planning family vacations when school is in session as vacations are considered unexcused absences. In addition to compromising the attendance law, unexcused absences interrupt the educational process of each course in ways that make-up work cannot reverse. Classroom instruction, activities, and experiences cannot be replicated and it is not incumbent on teachers to do so for unexcused absences. It is at the teacher’s individual discretion to determine a feasible plan for the missed instruction. If these arrangements are not completed, the student will not receive credit for the work missed. A copy of the current school calendar can be found on the school website and at the beginning of this handbook. Student Absence Notification Program: Absences due to personal illness, death in the family, approved religious holidays, emergency medical or dental treatment or other serious emergencies are considered excused absences. Absences for recreational and vacation purposes will be recorded as unexcused absences and the parent/guardian must notify the principal in writing at least one week in advance of the absence to jgoncalves@winchesterps.org Drop-off and Pick-up Safety Reminders As you are aware vehicular safety in our school drop-off and pick-up areas continues to be a major concern of our school community. We ask that every parent exercise utmost care in the drop-off and pick-up areas in front of McCall and along Mystic Valley Parkway at the back of the school. Remember that the both the side and rear parking lots are for buses and staff parking only. Parents should not drop off or pick up students in either the side or rear parking lots. Despite the signs that are posted in both of these parking lots, some parents/guardians continue to drop-off and pick-up in these areas. Parents/Guardians Bringing Student Items to School An important part of our job as parents and middle school educators is helping our students develop the key attribute of responsibility. This is an important challenge we face as adults who live and work with middle school children. With the importance of this challenge in mind, I request that you help your McCall student remember the main items he or she needs to take to school such as lunch, books, homework, instrument, appointment notices, etc. Please work with your child to develop strategies to insure that he/she brings all necessary materials (i.e. lunch, homework, charged Chromebook, etc.) to school daily. Parents are discouraged from bringing these items to school for their children. If a parent does bring an item to school, we will not be using the Public Address System to call students to the office. There are three bins located in the main office labeled Grade 6, Grade 7, & Grade 8. If a parent/guardian is dropping off an item for their child, we ask that the child’s name be written clearly on the item and the item be placed in the appropriate bin. Students should check the bins between classes if they are anticipating someone bringing something to school for them. Your support in this regard will be most appreciated.

Grades 5-8 Transition and Recommendation Calendar Current Grade 8 Students & Parents/Guardians √ Monday, February 27, 2017

Grade 8 Assembly with WHS Principal, Mr. Mahoney (Period 4) Grade 8 Parent/Guardian Meeting Winchester High School Auditorium @ 7:00

p.m. √ Monday, March 20, 2017-Friday, March 24, 2017

Grade 8 to 9 Course Selection Window in Aspen open for Grade 8 Students and Parents/Guardians

√ Friday, March 24, 2017 Deadline for Grade 8 Students & Parents/Guardians to review Grade 8 to 9

Recommendations in Aspen Deadline to appeal recommendations to WHS Directors

√ March 27-31, 2017 Annual Grade 8 Trip to Washington DC or Week of Boston-Based Trips

√ Friday, March 31, 2017 Last Day of Trimester 2

√ Monday, April 3, 2017 First Day of Trimester 3

Thursday, April 13, 2017 Trimester 2 Report Cards Emailed to Parents/Guardians Last Day of Quarter 3

Monday, April 24, 2017 First Day of Quarter 4

Friday, April 28, 2017 Quarter 3 Report Cards Emailed to Parents/Guardians

June 12, 2017 Future Freshmen 2017 Night @ WHS from 5:00-6:45 p.m.

June 21, 2017 Grade 8 Students are informed of the courses they will be scheduled for in Grade

9

Current Grade 6 & 7 Students & Parents/Guardians √ Friday, March 31, 2017

Last Day of Trimester 2 √ Monday, April 3, 2017

First Day of Trimester 3 Tuesday, April 4, 2017-Monday, April 10, 2017

Grade 6 to 7 & Grade 7 to 8 Course Selection Window in Aspen open for Grades 6 & 7 Students and Parents/Guardians

Wednesday, April 5, 2017 Deadline to submit portfolio of art work as part of the application for Creative

Arts Workshop (This course is for interested Grades 7 & 8 students.) Application information may be found at the end of this newsletter.

Monday, April 10, 2017 Deadline for Grades 6 & 7 Students and Parents/Guardians to review Grade 6 to 7

& Grade 7 to 8 Recommendations in Aspen Deadline to appeal teacher’s recommendation to Principal Goncalves. This form

can be delivered to the main office or sent via email to jgoncalves@winchesterps.org

Thursday, April 13, 2017 Last Day of Quarter 3 Trimester 2 Report Cards Emailed to Parents/Guardians

Monday, April 24, 2017 First Day of Quarter 4

Friday, April 28, 2017 Quarter 3 Report Cards Emailed to Parents/Guardians

Week of August 21, 2017 Welcome Letter from McCall with Team Assignment

Current Grade 5 Students & Parents/Guardians √Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Grade 5 Special Education Parent/Guardian Meeting @ McCall @ 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Grade 5 Parent/Guardian Meeting @ McCall Auditorium @ 6:00-6:45 p.m. Grade 5 ELL Parent/Guardian Meeting @ McCall Library @ 6:45 p.m.

Wednesday, April 12, 2017 Geography Night @ McCall from 6:30-8:30 p.m. (Grade 5 Students &

Parents/Guardians Welcome!) Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Grade 5 Parent/Guardian Q & A @ Next Door Theatre @ 7:00 p.m. McCall Staff visits Grade 5 Students on the following dates: Monday, April 10, 2017

Grade 5 Visit @ Ambrose Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Grade 5 Visit @ Muraco Monday, April 24, 2017

Grade 5 Visit @ V.O. Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Grade 5 Visit @ Lynch Friday, April 28, 2017

Grade 5 Visit @ Lincoln Monday, June 12, 2017

Moving-Up Day for Grade 5 Week of August 21, 2017

Welcome Letter from McCall with Team Assignment

CREATIVE ARTS WORKSHOP APPLICATION INFORMATION Information for Current 6th and 7th Grade Students

The Creative Arts Workshop is a time honored elective course designed to meet the educational needs of motivated and committed students of art at McCall Middle School. Admission to the CAW (7th or 8th grade) program prohibits admission to McCall’s full year band, chorus, or orchestra classes in 7th or 8th grade. CAW meets for the entire year (as opposed to a half year art experience, as in the general art program)… so CAW students will receive twice as much time in art during school time in this exciting, faster paced course of study! Traditionally, acceptance into the CAW course has enabled students to have opportunities to gain insight and a greater love of art making through interesting and thought-provoking studio experiences, the expertise of visiting artists, and participation in exciting field trips! Students currently in grades 6 and 7 are invited to apply for a place in next year’s accelerated art course, the Creative Arts Workshop. Students seeking to apply for admission to the CAW program (both 7th and 8th grade courses) should be prepared to submit a portfolio of art work to the art department staff (handed to one of the art teachers) on or before WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5th, 2016! Remember that date- the scheduling of students has to take place almost immediately thereafter! The portfolio should consist of approximately 5 to 8 works of art (2-D and/or 3-D) packaged with the student’s name, current grade, homeroom teacher’s name, and homeroom number clearly marked on the package or folder of work. Works should be packaged in a sturdy cardboard container… and further wrapped up for protection (in the case of some 3-D pieces). Individual works should also include the student’s name and grade level. Observational type drawings are HIGHLY recommended for inclusion in the portfolio (such as a self portrait or a drawing of a still life arrangement). Any/all works done from craft-type kits, patterns, or copied from others’ work are STRONGLY discouraged… as creativity and examples of divergent thinking are sought, in addition to manual skills. Ms. Fairley and Mr. Van Dam will review all of the works submitted, reflect on each applicant’s studio performance in the current school year, and determine next year’s groups (one section each of 7th and 8th grade CAW). Because of time constraints, portfolios submitted after the April 5th deadline WILL NOT be considered for application into this program. The decisions of the art department staff are final. PLEASE NOTE: MANDATORY MEETING of ALL 6th and 7th graders interested in applying to next year’s CAW program: Wednesday, March 22nd, 2:20 p.m. in the cafeteria! This meeting will provide students an opportunity to ask questions and gain a greater insight into the requirements of the portfolio submission process. Also, an observational “start up” drawing assignment will take place at the meeting. Meeting will conclude by 3:00 p.m. So… if you love art and would like to be a part of this incredible opportunity to make art in an exciting, nurturing, and challenging environment… well, GET BUSY putting your portfolio together! If you should have any specific questions related to the process of applying… don’t delay- please see Ms. Fairley or Mr. Van Dam.

GOOD LUCK!!!! Please bring this notice home and share it with your parents!!!!

P.O. Box 494, Winchester, Massachusetts 01890 email: info@parenttoparentwinchester.org | parenttoparentwinchester.org

Join  us  for  an  Evening  of  Humor  &  Advice  with    

“THE  WORLD’S  WORST  MOM”  Lenore  Skenazy  

Author,  Humorist  &  National  Keynote  Speaker  

   

WEDNESDAY  APRIL  5TH  2017  7:00  PM  

LINCOLN  SCHOOL  AUDITORIUM    

Lenore   advocates   anti-­‐helicopter   parenting   and   teaching   styles   to  promote  independent,  self-­‐reliant  and  resilient  kids.      She   is   the   author  of  Free  Range  Kids:  How   to  Raise   Safe,   Self-­‐Reliant  Children  (Without  Going  Nuts  with  Worry).    Lenore   Skenazy   has   recently   been   profiled   in   The   New   Yorker   &   The  New  York  Times,  as  well  as  appearing  on  The  Daily  Show,  Dr.  Phil,  The  View,  The   Today   Show,   Good   Morning  America,  Nightline,   ABC   World  News  Tonight,  CBS  Early  Show,  CNN,  Fox  News  &  Anderson  Cooper.    “Lenore  is  my  ‘go  to’  person  on  questions  of  raising  children  sanely.”    

-­‐Lisa  Belkin  (Yahoo  News)    

PROGRAM  IS  FREE  &  OPEN  TO  ALL,  THANKS  TO  PARENT  TO  PARENT  DIRECT  APPEAL  

April is Autism Awareness Month

Sponsored by the Winchester Disability Access Commission Protecting the rights of and facilitating inclusion for people of all abilities Co-Sponsored by the Winchester MultiCultural Network and Brio Integrated Theatre

Light It Up BlueWinchester!

Winchester and the international autism community

commemorate the United Nations-sanctioned World

Autism Awareness Month.

7 Continents, 101 countries, 1300 cities, 8400 landmarks

and buildings, even the international space station

You can show your support by:Wearing blue:Incorporate blue in your clothes for the month of April.Light your home blue:Buy some blue light bulbs for your front porch light or outdoor lights.   Ask neighbors and friends to light their homes blue, too!April 6th @ 7:00 PM

Winchester Town Hallspeakers, puppet show, coffee & blue donuts