Dear Middle School Parents,
Safety for the students is of the highest concern. Students are dismissed at 3:00 p.m., and may be picked up anytime between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m. We hope that this 30-minute window allows for flexibility in the event of unforeseeable delays (such as traffic). We ask that parents understand the after school policies for Middle School students to help us keep all students safe. There are many opportunities for Middle School students to participate in organized activities after school that are supervised by an adult. Many have a fee, which cover the cost of staffing the program or purchasing supplies. Others do not have a fee, such as the after school art program or the drama program. There is no fee for participating in the athletics programs, but there may be costs associated with required equipment not supplied by the school. We are continually looking to improve and expand after school opportunities, and your feedback in this regard is critical.
Students who remain on campus after
3:30 p.m.
must be enrolled in an extracurricular, supervised activity. After 3:30 p.m., teachers and staff have regular meetings and are otherwise engaged. We expect parents to be responsible for knowing where their children are at the end of the school day. If students are not enrolled in an extracurricular activity (i.e., athletics, after school art program, or Middle School drama program), and parents are unable to pick up their students by 3:30 p.m., they may attend the After-School Study Program for a fee. This program was developed to provide an option for after school supervision in the event that your schedule precludes you from picking up your son/daughter at the end of the school day. If your child is pre-enrolled in the After School Study Program, you will get a phone call if your child does not report to the program after school. If you are using the drop-in service, it is helpful if you can let the staff of the program know in advance so they can track attendance (651-696-1442)
Students who remain on campus after 3:30 p.m. unsupervised will be sent to the After School Study Program (link to ASSP FAQ) located in rooms 51-52 of the Middle School Building, and your account will be billed the $15 per day drop-in fee. There may be times when your student would like to stay after school to attend an athletic or other event as a spectator. We encourage students to support one another in this way, but ask that you please arrange for your child to be at the event with an adult. They may not wander through the building and must remain at the event.
We do have a security guard designated for Middle School who is in the building from 3:00-6:00 p.m. and is responsible for supervising pick-up during the 3:00-3:30 period and for making sure students are in designated, supervised locations after 3:30 p.m. This individual is there to help and assist, but primarily to keep the children safe.
Finally, if you instruct your children to go off-campus after school (i.e., across the street to Carbone’s or down the block to Caribou), please pick them up at that location. It is important that you know where your children are located. Please do not ask your children to leave campus and subsequently return to campus for pick-up.
Sincerely,
S. Jill Romans, Ph.D.
Middle School Principal
After School Programs
Middle School Athletics
In the spring, you received an informational packet on Middle School Athletics. Students can participate in a variety of sports with their grade-level peers. Typically, athletics run after school from 3:15-4:30 p.m. approximately 3 to 4 times per week in addition to a game. Schedule times may vary due to weather and availability of field space. Your child will get the most up-to-date information from the coach during an informational meeting held at the beginning of each athletic season. The first of these meetings will be on Sunday, August 10th from 4:00 – 5:00 pm. For more information, please contact Mike Brown or Dave Montgomery, Co-Directors of Athletics.
Most athletics are completed by 4:30 p.m.; students must be picked up by 4:45 p.m., or they will be sent to After-School Study Program (see below) and your account will be billed. When athletics are released early, or when practices are canceled last minute due to weather, students may attend the After School Study Program free of charge until 4:45 pm. The athletic practices and game schedules vary in the winter and spring. In general, students must be picked up within 15 minutes of the completion of that activity.
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The After-School Study Program
The After-School Study Program (ASSP) is a supervised study program for Middle School students held from 3:30 – 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday on school days. ASSP provides a space for students who cannot be picked up until later in the afternoon where they can complete their homework and have a snack. The program will run from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Students can have a snack and study from 3:30 to 4:30, have an active break outdoors (weather permitting) between 4:30 and 5:00, and continue with quiet study time between 5:00 and 6:00. Proctors will be available to help with study skills and organizational needs.
Students who are enrolled in an extracurricular activity may opt for part-time supervised study, which means they will go directly to the supervised study program upon completion of their sport or activity, or on days when the activity does not meet.
Pre-registering (link to ASSP registration form) is the best way of guaranteeing a spot for your child, keeping in mind that it is a non-refundable commitment to the program. A drop-in option is available at $15.00 per day. Children who are not picked up by 3:30 p.m. will automatically be sent to the After-School Study Program. Feel free to call Maurine Hatting in the middle school office if you have any questions: 651-696-1352.
After School Art Program
Students have the opportunity to spend time with Paul Benson, Middle School Art teacher, after school. Through this program, students are able to develop or expand an interest in both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional art, gain exposure to a variety of artistic media and experiment with their own artistic abilities. The art program meets three days per week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday) from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. Students register for a full trimester and enrollment is determined on a first come, first served basis. Space is limited.
Middle School Drama
The after school Drama Program is for all interested middle schoolers. The fall play this year is The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and will be performed October 24th and 25th. Auditions will be held on Tuesday, September 2nd from 3:15-5:00 p.m. Laura Holway, our interim drama teacher for the fall trimester, will also be looking for students who might be interested in working behind the scenes with lighting, special effects, props, costumes, make-up and stage construction.
Other Clubs
There is a possibility that organized groups will meet weekly after school. For example, last year, a parent organized a scrabble club. Other ideas include chess, yoga, or foreign language clubs. The Robotics team typically has a schedule of after school meeting times. If you are interested in offering a supervised club activity, please contact Maurine Hatting in the middle school office.