Helpful Information to Get You Started!Thayer Academy WebsiteThe Thayer website is an amazing resource for students and families alike. Please take some time to browse www.thayer.org. This is where you will find the student handbook (which includes dress code), athletic schedules, homework assignments, weekly and monthly activities happening at Thayer, ways to get involved, and much more. You will also be able to subscribe to the school calendar and various alerts.

Drop Off & Pick Up TimesSchool begins each day at 8:00am. Sports practices end at 3:45pm (students may be picked up after school/sports at 3:45pm). Study Hall is available for Middle School students until 4:45 pm. Students must be picked up from the Middle School by 4:45 pm. An after school option at the Upper School is available until 5:30pm.

Buses/CarpoolingNormally buses depart at 4:00pm. You can sign up with the Business Office to arrange to take the bus. You have the option of taking the bus either one or both ways. Many students will carpool with one another. A list of students by town is available in the directory. Single bus tickets are available for purchase in the MS office or the Business office.

SportsEach student needs a sports bag that is durable and can be “thrown around.” Sports clothing/shoes/uniforms and water bottle need to be brought each day for practice and games. Sports practice runs from 2:30-3:45 each day. A full listing of games by sport and by team level are available on the Thayer Academy Athletics site under Teams, Schedules & Results. There you will also be able to subscribe to your child’s specific athletic calendar as well as sign up to receive alerts of upcoming games, practices, and results. All MS students are required to participate in a sport for each term. A list of fall, winter, and spring sports are available on the website. Please be sure to label all clothing and equipment since many students have the same gear.

Dress Code: All students are expected to be neat, clean, and dressed appropriately for school. No blue jeans or t-shirts, sweatshirts with writing, or ripped and torn garments. Every Monday is Dress-Up day when boys must wear dress pants, a dress shirt and tie and girls must wear a skirt or dress (to the knee), or dress pants and blouse. Certain types of clothing may only be worn during a particular time of the year (i.e. winter boots may be worn from after Thanksgiving Recess until Spring Recess and not on Mondays). Sneakers should not be worn on Dress-Up Days. Please refer to the Handbook located on Thayer’s website for more details pertaining to dress code.

Welcome to

Thayer Middle School | 781.380.0513

Staff Contacts Carson Smith, Middle School Director

781.664.2203

Carter Harrison, Director of Studies 781.664.2209

J. Andrew Gibson, Academic Dean 781.664.2285

Jeff Toussaint, Dean of Students 781.664.2333

Jarvis Wyche, Counselor 781.664.2241

MS Department Heads Arts, Dena Gwin

781.664.2323

Athletics, John Reid 781.664.2289

English, Brian Cibelli 781.664.2326

Foreign Language, Angela Toussaint 781.664.2320

Hale Center, Kerri Brosnan 781.664.2242

History, Danny Seymour 781.664.2330

Math, Jay Farwell 781.664.2338

Science, Peter Robarts 781.664.2264

Sixth Grade, Jeff Toussaint 781.664.2333

MS Student Office Donna Richardson, Assistant to the MS Dir.

781.664.2206

Karen Bosworth, Administrative Assistant 781.664.2252

Volunteer OpportunitiesOne of the best ways to meet other parents, faculty, and families is volunteering. There are many opportunities to get involved and volunteer. If you haven’t already done so, please go to www.thayer.org/volunteer to find an event that suits your talents and schedule. This year, Homecoming is on October 21. Volunteers are needed on the day of Homecoming as well to help setting up beforehand. Other opportunities include, but are not limited to: book fairs, the golf tournament, teacher appreciation breakfasts, and Auction night.

Illness At SchoolEveryone gets sick and is absent from time to time. Do not worry. Please call Mrs. Richardson or Mrs. Bosworth in the Middle School office by 8:00 am and report your child absent at 781-380-0513. Your child may want to e-mail their advisor and teachers to get homework assignments.

Dismissal Dismissal for doctor/dentist/orthodontics appointments happen during the school year. Parents should inform the Middle School office by sending a note or calling 781-380-0513.

School ClosingThayer uses an automated phone call service to contact parents in case of a school-wide emergency or closing due to weather. Please notify the office of any changes in contact numbers.

Lunch/SnacksLunch is provided each day in the dining hall located in the Cahall building. This is included in your tuition, so no need for students to have money on hand. Snacks are also provided to the students after second period. Generally after sports when you are picking up your child – they can be hungry. Having a snack in the car may be a great idea.

Campus Store All items purchased at the campus store will be charged to your account through the business office and your child will sign for the items purchased. Thayer school supplies, sportswear, and other general merchandise is available here. Please set expectations with your child about what he or she can or cannot purchase.

ActivityTwo or three times a week students participate in a special activity. There are over two dozen to choose from. A sample listing is as follows: Debate Club, Drama, Blue Hills Hiking, Coding and Programming, “Evergreen” (Middle School Yearbook), Pysanky Eggs, Recycling/Gardening Club, “Tiger’s Tale” (student newspaper), Wiffle Ball, and many more. Students choose a new activity at the beginning of each term.

Drama, Music, & Visual Arts OpportunitiesDrama, Music, and Visual Arts are a great addition to the Middle School. Private Music lessons as well as Group Ensemble are available. In addition, three plays are produced each year, which are open to all Middle School students. The music ensemble and the play will have practice/rehearsals during the school day, during activity period. There is a Visual Arts elective during the school day as well.

HomeworkBe prepared for more homework than you have had in past years. You can expect 2.5 hours of homework/studying each night. The workload can seem a bit overwhelming to some students and parents, particularly in the beginning of the year.

Safe Homes ProgramIn early fall Thayer will send you a safe homes agreement. All Safe Home families are asked to sign an agreement form stating no alcohol or drugs will be used during an event at their home. This is all done electronically, with the list of participating families avaiable online once completed.

Fitness & Games meets on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 2:30 - 3:45 pm. Middle School interscholastic teams meet Monday-Friday until 3:45 pm. Buses leave at 4:00 pm.

PERIOD Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 8:00 - 8:10 (HR) 8:00 - 8:05 (adv HR)

1 A F E D C B 8:10 - 8:55 8:05 - 8:45

2 B A F E D C 8:55 - 9:40 8:45 - 9:25

Break 9:40 - 9:50 9:25 - 9:35

3 C B A F E D 9:50 - 10:35 9:35 - 10:15

4 Elective Period / Study Hall 10:35 - 11:20 10:15 - 11:00

5 Lunch / Recess 11:20 - 12:00 11:00 - 11:45

6 D C B A F E 12:00 - 1:00 (1 hour) 11:45 - 12:45 (1 hour)

7 E D C B A F 1:00 - 1:45 12:45 - 1:30

8 Extra Help / Activity / Reading Block (Fri) 1:45 - 2:30 1:30 - 2:15

Mon / Tue /Thu / Fri Middle School 6-Day (M-F) Schedule

HR

1

2

Break

3

4

5

6

7

8

PERIODWed

THAYER ACADEMY MIDDLE SCHOOLSIX-DAY SCHEDULE FOR 2017-18

MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASS YEAR

GUIDE

6th GradeClass of 2024

(’24)

7th GradeClass of 2023

(’23)

8th GradeClass of 2022

(’22)