Middle School Matters

The Mission of Portsmouth Middle School is to create a strong and safe learning environment: promote social, emotional and physical well-being and to provide opportunities for each student, to the best of their ability, to meet high academic standards, develop responsibility, and achieve the positive social values and behaviors to become productive citizens.

We have a new club starting at school called Kids 4 Action. Want to be a Change Agent? Would you like to make a positive impact in your local and global communities? Be part of the Multiplier Effect!

Join Kids4Action at the Portsmouth Middle School in the 5th&6th Grade Health Room on March 27th from 2:45 to 4:00PM. 2024 Initiatives will focus on impacting our local and surrounding communities, which includes raising funds to support the Four Hearts Foundation Portsmouth Playground. Additional After-School meetings to be held on April 24th and May 22nd.

This year’s afterschool club will focus on prepping for our Clements Carwash/Bake Sale and Color Run Fundraisers as well as our Kind-it-Forward platform.

Have fun in brainstorming sessions, learn how to craft an ‘elevator pitch’, build philanthropy and leadership skills! Join us on March 27th!

The flier announcement is linked here for any student interested in joining.

Cases for Chromebooks should stay on the Chromebook. The reason for this is if there was ever an issue with the Chromebook, our IT department cannot send it back to the company for repair without the case. The cover does not void the warranty. If a student does not know where the case is, please let Ms. Waugh in the library know. She will let IT know and they can order another one, but this would be at the family’s expense.

Portsmouth High School's Green Club is committed to promoting environmental conservation through the teaching of students with multiple events and projects within the school system and beyond. As part of this goal, the club is hosting a community-wide tree-planting event to offset the school's annual energy consumption. Our goal is to give out 350 saplings to the residents of Portsmouth and surrounding towns, which would offset the amount of carbon our school emitted from electricity and gas last year. Our event will be held on May 4th, 2024. Residents can support our mission by ordering saplings for $5 or donating to make saplings free for others. Residents can choose from Eastern Rebund, Red Maple, and Yellow Poplar saplings. All of these saplings will thrive in our New England climate. We look forward to making our community more sustainable! Please check out our website.

KADC Dance Team fundraiser

Please see the link here if you would like to support the KADC Dance Team fundraiser.

During the school day, we are responsible for keeping all students safe as well as protecting their privacy. For this reason, we have limited guests in the building during school hours and we require anyone working directly with children to go through our Volunteers in School Process. This year we have a new security system.

Visitors who are entering the building for a meeting, volunteering, or an event etc...

When you arrive:

• Enter the vestibule.

• Approach the platform and tap the button on the screen that aligns with the purpose for your visit.

• Follow the cues on the screen. All visitors must have their license with them to enter the building.

• Once complete, then ring the buzzer.

• Our office staff will verify that you are ready to enter the building and will unlock the door for your entry.

*There is also a QR code on the screen that you can scan with your cell phone's camera and it will bring you through this same process.

If you are dropping something off for the school, class, or a particular child, then you do not need to sign yourself in on this system.

• Ring the buzzer and the office staff will respond.

• Notify the office staff of the purpose for your visit.

Thank you for your support in keeping our community safe.

To date, we have 5% of families responding to Survey Works. We have about two weeks left for you to provide feedback on how you think we are doing at Portsmouth Middle School! Click here, choose “Portsmouth Middle School” from the dropdown menu and fill out the family survey. It only takes a few minutes. Thank you in advance. Your voice matters to us!

We thank you in advance for your thoughtful responses. If you have any questions about the survey administration, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Goodwin, our Assistant Principal of Teaching and Learning by emailing goodwinl@portsmouthschoolsri.org

March is Youth Art Month at PMS. Please see the link here for more information of all the events taking place district wide for PMS students. All dates are also on our website calendar.

The next district Climate and Culture meeting is taking place on March 19th. Please click the link here for more information.

Please see the linked flier regarding a panel discussion on Exploring Neurodiversity.

Please see the linked flier regarding a panel discussion on How AI is Transforming Education.

We would like to celebrate that our average daily attendance is 94%. If we learned one thing from the pandemic, it is how much our students learn better from being present in school. We have taken the last few weeks to highlight some reminders in our newsletter and this week we are resharing the school committee policies regarding attendance. As a reminder, anytime a student is absent unexcused for 5/10/15 days, a letter is auto generated and sent home. Families whose children reach 10 days of unexcused absence will receive a call from their school counselor to check in and see if there are any resources that families may need. Fifteen days of unexcused absences may trigger truancy proceedings. Linked is the attendance policy. Student Attendance and Truancy Policy

We are finding that students are using the bathrooms to check their phones and text friends or home. Cell phones are not to be used in school, per RI law. If students do not feel well, we have a certified school nurse who can assess and assist immediately with most medical needs. Ms. Joncas will also call home in the event that a student does not feel good so that parents can be a part of the team decision process on how to move forward.

We have seen an increase in unexpected behavior on the school bus. Although there have been consolidations as well as substitute drivers, we expect our students to behave as if they are in the classroom with their teachers. Dr. Masterson met with the bus company on the Friday before school vacation to review the common issues that have occurred over the previous two weeks. This list consists of bags in the aisle, students switching seats, and talking excessively loudly to name a few. Please review the following school department policies with your child. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s coordinator of student life or Dr. Masterson.

EEAC- School Bus Code

EE-Transportation Services

EEB-School Bus Operation

Currently, we are seeing deliberate damage taking place with Chromebooks (broken keys, pulled keyboard grid, cracked screens, etc). Due to these behaviors (not accidents), we now have a shortage of loaners. In the event a student caused deliberate damage to their Chromebook, they may not be guaranteed a loaner.

Please see the flier here for a parent workshop on supporting children who live with anxiety.

Patriot Pillars is built on a framework of creating a positive social culture for our students.

Our goal at PMS is to build a positive learning environment where all students feel safe and connected because we know this is how children learn best. As a staff we are focusing on making connections with our students.

Patriot Pillars is a system of reinforcing expected and positive behaviors, aligning student expectations to our school core values: Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Ready to Learn.

Ask your child if they have earned any Patriot Pillars this week.

The Friends’ of Rachel Club has started a clothing drive to support our Rachel's Closet. The closet is to help anyone who needs clothing for any season of the year. In order to be able to provide clothes year-round to our community, we need your help! We are in need of clothing for students grades 5 through 8, so please consider donating any new or gently used clothing items. Clothes can be dropped off in the bins labeled “clothing drive” which are located in the 6th and 8th grade hallways, as well as in the front lobby.

The Friends’ of Rachel Club also has a food pantry. We accept all donations of non-perishable foods that come in cans or packages. These donations can be placed in the bin labeled “food drive” located in the front lobby.

We have a Google Form, here, that has all of the up to date food and clothing that you may order. Please feel free to submit an order for our club to get packed up for you, or send questions to gonsalvesm@portsmouthschoolsri.org or bixbys@portsmouthschoolsri.org.

Please see the March newsletter from the RI Student Assistance Services linked here.

We have two spring athletic openings: head coach and assistant coach for softball. If you are interested or know someone who would be interested, please have them reach out to Dr. Masterson directly.

We also have an (2) openings for RBT's/paraprofessional (registered behavior technician). The job ID is 4487130 for schoolspring.com.

Please see the form linked here to sign up for Unified Basketball. If you have any questions, you can contact our head coach, Ms. Tara McCarthy, mccarthyt@portsmouthschoolsri.org.

Portsmouth Middle School PTO has teamed up with Be Green Kids Consignments for SHOP FOR A CAUSE at their Spring Sale Event (@Pennfield School- 110 Sandy Point Ave, Portsmouth, RI). Shop For A Cause is a fundraising program where you can get early access to shop during a specific time--- the entry fee goes to our PTO AND Be Green will match it! The Be Green Kids Consignment sale has over 20,000 items for kids- newborns to tweens. Clothes to size 14 . Shoes to size 7Y. Toys. Books. Baby Gear/Equipment and so much more! If you are planning to shop, go during a SHOP FOR A CAUSE time to raise money for our PTO. WIN-WIN for everyone!

There are three different SHOP FOR A CAUSE early access hours:

Wed 3/20 5pm-8pm (this is the same night consignors shop, so inventory is at its highest) $10 entry fee

Thu 3/21 9am-Noon (come shop in the morning before they open to the public at noon) $5 entry fee

Fri 3/22 4pm-5pm (early access to discount pricing, if tag says "discount yes" take 50% off. Open to public 5pm-7pm) $5 entry fee

Click this link to purchase your pass: Shop For A Cause Spring 2024 Tickets in Portsmouth, RI, United States (ticketleap.com)

Feel free to share with your friends as SHOP FOR A CAUSE hours are open to anyone who wants to purchase entry tickets! Tell them to designate our PTO at the ticket check out!

For more information about the sale, visit: Be Green Kids Consignments Portsmouth, RI Sale

Save and send in your Clement’s receipts in your child’s folder and sent to the main office. The PTO receives 1% of sales. There is no date too old. All Clements receipts will be taken as long as it shows Clements logo and pre-tax sales total.

Please see the flyer for upcoming events planned with administrators at PMS.

If you would like to volunteer in school or help on a field trip, please use this form going forward to become VIS approved.

Please see the letter linked here from the PTO regarding board openings for next school year.

Please see the link here to the PHS yard sale opportunity.

Please see the link here for Give Back Night from the GridIron Club.

Please see the flier for a Comedy Night fundraiser to benefit the Portsmouth Youth Football organization.

Portsmouth School Department has opened up Kindergarten registration. Please see the flier linked here.

Please see the updated flier for a crafting event.

Please see the flier for a camp from Portsmouth Recreation taking place during April break.

Please see the flier here for more information on the job opportunities within the district for our food service company, Chartwell

Portsmouth Little League has opened registrations for the spring season. Please see the linked flier for more information.

When students arrive at 7:45, they are meeting our core value of "Be Ready to Learn". Thank you for helping your child be a responsible Portsmouth Patriot!

March is Youth Art Month! Here are our students at the Library Art Show Opening.

Our 2nd Annual Good Night Light Ups workshop with founder Steve Brosnihan running the event. We are adding to the safari and windows surrounding Hasbro Children's Hospital. Once all of the pieces are all completed, we will deliver them to the hospital and participate with any community members who would like to join us for the "Magic Minute to Brighten Spirits". More details to follow.