START TIME
Start/End Times
Start/End Times: At this time, we will not have any changes to our morning start time. Students will be allowed to enter the school at 8:05am. Homeroom starts @ 8:19.Our dismissal time will move to 2:40pm beginning on April 28, 2021. We will continue to maintain a safe, staggered dismissal allowing for less-crowded hallways and ample time for students to board the buses or get picked up.
Attendance Matters
Attendance Policy
If your child will be absent from class Hybrid or Remote, please call us at 251-5122 and select option 1 or email us at mccarthy_attendance@chelmsford.k12.ma.us to report your child absent. .
If your student must be tardy or dismissed from inperson classes, please provide a note to the main office to explain tardy or dismissal. If your student will arrive late or be dismissed from a remote learning class parents need to notify the main office via email mccarthy_attendance@chelmsford.k12.ma.us or call the attendance line 251-5122 and select option 1
School starts at 8:19 am for all students. Remote students not logged in or Hybrid students not in class by 8:19 will be marked absent, until notification of a change has been received.
Transportation
Transportation
All K-8 students who live more than 1 mile from school may ride the bus to/from school for free for the remainder of the year. Pick up and drop off locations/times will not change unless necessary. If there is a change to your child's location and/or time, you will be contacted directly. Students who will be moving to full-time, in-person learning and wish to ride the bus can register here: https://www.chelmsford.k12.ma.us/domain/90
Can My Child remote In Today ?
Can My Child Remote In Today?
All year long we have been allowing students in certain circumstances to remote into classes on days the student was supposed to be "in person." However, this no longer can be the case. DESE has made it quite clear that from this point forward, students can only be remote for two reasons:
- The family has chosen FULLY REMOTE as their instructional model for the remainder of the school year.
- The student has been deemed a close contact to a person who has tested positive for COVID 19.
If students cannot attend in person, they will have to keep up by doing the work posted in their teachers' Google Classrooms, but will not be allowed to remote into the class live via Google Meet.
OTHER FAQ's
How will pool testing work once everyone is back every day?
- The plan is for pool testing on Tuesdays only at both middle schools and the high school. Kids will be called down by grade.
Will the core classes contain remote/ hybrid kids?
- We have kept kids on the same team which means there will be a mix of remote and in person students in most classes. The 5th and 6th grade remote teams have one in person class and one remote class.
Will students be allowed to use lockers? If not, do kids have to carry instruments around all day, or can they drop them on their way to homerooms in their respective music classrooms on that particular day?
- No lockers. The state was pretty clear about that. Yes we can probably have students drop them in their respective music classes during HR.
What happens to classes that are overcapacity and can't fit in their normal classroom? Will they be relocated to the lecture hall for that period? (or some other space?)
- Yes, we’ve mapped out a couple of potential spaces. But with there being some remote students sprinkled in, we will be able to fit classes in their respective rooms.
Expectations for Remote Learning
Expectations for Remote Learning
Thanks for reviewing these expectations with your students. It has made a difference. I feel it is important to leave these expectations in the newsletter for all to be able to access.
- Students should be in Homeroom by 8:19. This is when daily attendance is taken and announcements are made.
- Please encourage your child to think of it as if they were walking into a classroom with their peers. Students should be in all classes on time and with necessary materials.
- Cameras should be on at all times. If it is determined the camera does not work properly, the district has additional loaner devices. Contact the main office.
- Microphones should be muted unless the student is asked to speak.
- Students must stay in class for the full duration of the class.
- If a student is not available for any part of any class, the parent should contact the teacher and the main office.
- Students should be dressed appropriately as if they are in school.
- Students should have a dedicated space free of toys, pets, siblings and other distractions.
- Please note, depending on where the child is set up, anything in the background can be seen. It is best if there is a wall directly behind student..
- Choose a location that is conducive to learning. Laying down in bed or on the couch is not acceptable. Students should be upright, alert and awake during class meets.
- Have students use headphones while they are participating from home. This goes a long way in eliminating background noise and feedback, and also gives students more privacy from the other things occurring in the home while they are in class.
- Limit eating and drinking during the class sessions. Water or a quick snack may be appropriate but should not be a distraction to any other students.
Participate! Get involved in the class and ask/answer questions and engage with the teacher and other students.
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Remote learning will continue to be a work in progress for all involved. Let's keep the communication open and make improvements as we move forward.
GUIDANCE COUNSELOR
Please contact your child’s guidance counselor if you have any overarching concerns whether i is attendance related or not. Specific class/assignment related questions or concerns should be directed to the particular teacher involved. Our counselor assignments are as follows:
- Mrs. Charig: Grade 6 & Teams 5-2 & 5-3
- Mrs. Seero: Grade 7 & Team 5-4
- Mrs. Vining: Grade 8 & Team 5-1
Clubs and Activities
Clubs and Activities
Both middle schools plan to continue to run clubs and activities remotely. To accommodate students traveling home. Clubs will begin at 3:00pm and run until 3:45pm. Students should just log on from home as soon as they can. I anticipate clubs will run on the same afternoons as they currently run. We will let you know if there are any adjustments to the after-school clubs schedule.
May 11,2021
Tuesday
- Dungeons & Dragons
- Homework Club
- Jazz Band
- Law Enforcement
May 12,2021
Wednesday
- Drama Club
- Homework Club
- Stand up McCarthy
- Writers Society
- Year Book
May 13, 2021
Thursday
- Dungeons & Dragons
- The Voice-McCarthy Edition
NURSE
Remember to Contact the Nurse if Your Child Becomes Symptomatic
Remember to Contact the Nurse if Your Child Becomes Symptomatic
Please contact our nurse, Gina Clancy, if your child begins to show signs of coronavirus. It is real important for her to determine when symptoms begin and if the student was in the building during the period they are considered infectious. Also, please contact us if someone in your home tests positive and your child becomes considered a "close contact", which would require your student to become fully remote for 14 days. We recommend your child get tested 4-5 days after exposure to the person who tested positive.
MCAS - ** UPDATE**
MCAS- **UPDATED**
DESE has informed schools they will be having students take a truncated MCAS this year. Rather than each subject test being two sessions and two days, the subject tests will all be one session each. We will also share information regarding remote testing with the remote families as soon as possible.
Grade 5 Test Dates:
- ELA- May 20
- Math- May 25
- Science & Technology- May 27
Grade 6 Test Dates:
- ELA- May 19
- Math- May 26
Grade 7 Test Dates:
- ELA- May 20
- Math- May 27
Grade 8 Test Dates:
- ELA- May 18
- Math- May 25
- Science & Technology- June1
McCarthy Middle School
Email: mannioni@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Website: chelmsford.k12.ma.us/mccarthy
Location: 250 North Road, Chelmsford, MA, USA
Phone: 978-251-5122
