J. M. S. News. . . by Donald F. Gately November 2013

Quote of the Week for November 1: “Don’t lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself and then do what is necessary to make it a reality.” Ralph Marston, Football player

Jericho Middle School Bully Prevention Kickoff – “Walk the Talk”

October 17th, 2013, was our Second Annual Bully Prevention Kickoff. This year, we held an all-day Walkathon to log miles in demonstrating our commitment to prevent bullying! The kickoff was the brainchild of Joanne Verdino, our school social worker, who is also an Olweus trainer. Joanne and the members of the bully prevention committee worked tirelessly over the past several months to prepare for this event.

The day began with an assembly in which students watched a video of staff talking about their experiences with bullying and about times that they stood up to bullies. Throughout the day, students, staff and families walked around the track to show their sincere commitment to stand up to bullies; 4,267 miles were walked/run by the participants. As Mr. Grishman pointed out, this is nearly the amount of miles to travel from New York to San Francisco and back again.

The event succeeded beyond our expectations. Everyone had a tremendous amount of fun while at the same time learning the essentials of bully prevention. You can look at pictures on the library website or if you’re following the middle school on twitter @jerichoMS.

Second Annual Bully Prevention Kick-Off Day Pictures: http://web.jerichoschools.org/ms/library/bullykickoff2013.htm

STUDENT/PARENTS/SUBJECT: Date Change - Photo Retake Day - Nov. 14, 2013 Please note, the Photo Retake Day scheduled on the District Calendar for November 15 for middle school students, faculty and staff has been changed to the following:

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14: M.S./H.S. AUDITORIUM-7:30 AM-2:03 PM  

   High Expectations (Goal Setting) Our monthly theme for November is: “HIGH EXPECTATIONS (GOAL-SETTING).” High expectations involve believing that others can be successful, telling them so, and praising their accomplishments. Letting others know that you expect them to do well and congratulating them on a job well done.

SEL Challenge for the month of November Praise 3 people who are not in your immediate circle of friends for some

accomplishment or for something they did well.

This powerful skill is the ability to affirm others by looking for and finding good in people. It means building others up and encouraging them. It means finding reasons for praise and applause. It means nurturing and being supportive, and reinforcing what others do well. Most of all, it means giving people reasons to celebrate. In order to create these expectations, you need to create a sense of cooperation in all your undertakings. Before criticizing a teammate, walk a mile in his or her shoes. Be BRAVE enough to be KIND and Have the COURAGE to CARE! Spelling Bee Contest – Ms. Rose Scalera, 8th Grade English Teacher Coordinator Can you spell the word “Brioche?” Well, one of our middle school 8th grade students did! Our annual Spelling Bee took place on Friday, October 25th to an enthusiastic audience! The winner this year is Mutahara Bhulyan and our runner-up is Leland Chan, both 8th grade students. Special thanks go to Ms. Rose Scalera for organizing this exciting and very competitive event. Red Ribbon Week Photos Day 1: "Tip Your Hat to Your Favorite Team" Have Fun, Play Hard, Stay Drug Free” Pictures: http://web.jerichoschools.org/ms/library/hat%20day2013.htm Day 2: “Nightie-Night to Drugs” – Pictures: http://web.jerichoschools.org/ms/library/pajamaday2013.htm Day 3: "Say Peace Out to Drugs" Dress Up Like a Hippie. Be Cool Without Drugs! Pictures: http://web.jerichoschools.org/ms/library/hippie013.htm Day 4: “Drugs are Scary Halloween” Pictures: http://web.jerichoschools.org/ms/library/halloween2013.htm Day 5: “Wear Red” Elisa Waters, Facilitator of Jericho's 3rd annual LGBT Forum. The keynote speaker was Dr. Eliza Byard, Executive Director of GLSEN http://web.jerichoschools.org/ms/library/LGBT2013.htm

Middle School Book Fair Our PTSA held its annual Book Fair on October 22 and 23rd. Scholastic Book Fairs brought a large selection of paperback books to the Middle School for our youngsters to buy. We also invited parents to visit the Book Fair, which was held in the Middle School Library from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We are happy to announce that we sold over $7,095.00 worth of books. All the profits earned from the Book Fair, which was $3,891.18, are used to provide additional books for the students to borrow from their English and Reading classrooms as well as from our Middle School Library! We would like to thank our PTSA, ELA Department, and sixth grade teachers for once again making our book fair a big success. You can view the pictures from our website: http://web.jerichoschools.org/ms/library/bookfair2013.htm Last, but not least, we would like to express our appreciation to Tammy Fine, for chairing the Book Fair, Jennifer Stoler, our PTSA President and all of the parent volunteers for which this event could not have taken place. You are our unsung heroes! Thank you. Team 6A – Cathy Collins and Diane Gilbert Penny Kamber (grandmother of Sam Kamber), Marketing Executive with Marvin Windows, spoke to the students from team 6A on Friday, October 11th, about the field of advertising, propaganda techniques in advertising and the role of the consumer. The students have been studying advertising techniques as they create commercials for their news team presentations. Everyone who attended agreed this was an enlightening lesson for our sixth grade students. Canned Food Drive This year the World Language Department is doing a collection of cans and non-perishable food supplies during the weeks of November 14-26th for a non-profit organization known as LI Cares. The volunteers at LI Cares distribute the items to local agencies and into the hands of children, seniors, and families who live with hunger and poverty on Long Island. In addition, on the morning of November 21st at a full school assembly the World Language Department will be holding a fundraiser for Centro Escolar Distrito Italia of El Salvador where our students will learn about acting “locally and globally.” Please know we appreciate our middle school families for always supporting our efforts to help others less fortunate than ourselves; it does not go unnoticed! There will be a box located by the Receptionist’s desk outside the Attendance Office for your donations. Thank you. “The John Theissen Children’s Foundation” Recipient of our Toy Drive The Middle School will be collecting toys for “The John Theissen Children’s Foundation” starting November 12th through December 13th. The John Theissen Children’s Foundation offers sick and needy children toys throughout the holiday season and fulfills patient’s (age birth to 18 years old) wish lists throughout the year. Please drop off toys at the Attendance office, Mr. Wiener’s office or in Mr. Kahn’s classroom, #210. Your thoughtfulness will help make someone else’s holiday a special one.

THANKSGIVING Prosperity and health are relative. Regardless of how we are situated, we can always find others who are worse off than we are. Later in the year, our 8th grade students will read “Anne Frank: A Diary of a Young Girl.” Consider this quote from her memoir:

“Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.”

What has always struck me about this amazing book is how little of it is devoted to the historical conditions of its time. Despite the fact that Anne is forced into hiding by horrific conditions and that she and her family share 3 rooms with two other families, she is thankful and hopeful for the future. It’s an amazing lesson in gratitude for our students and for us this Thanksgiving. These are some of the ways that we teach Social Emotional Literacy to students at the middle school. I know you encourage this at home as well.

Diversity Day - February 11, 2014 Diversity Day is February 11, 2014! Through song, dance, spoken word, art, video, and speeches, we will grow our awareness and appreciation of the diversity that exists in our school community and the world. Interested students must turn in an application by November 14th. You will find additional information on Diversity Day by going to our Middle School website: Resources, Parent Resource, Important Information, and at the bottom of the page, right hand side, press Diversity Day Application. See Ms. Waters for more details.

Weekly Quotations for November: November 4-8: “If you paint in your mind a picture of bright and happy expectations, you put yourself into a condition conducive to your goal.” Norman Vincent Peale, Minister and Author November 12-15: “You see things and you say, ‘Why?’; but, I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’” George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright (1856-1950) November 18-22: “The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark.” Michelangelo, an Italian sculptor, painter, architect (1475-1564) November 25-26: “If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.” Thomas Edison, an American inventory (1847-1931)

DATES TO REMEMBER

November 5 Schools Closed November 7 MS PTSA Meeting & Principal’s Coffee Hour, MS Library, 9:00 a.m. November 11 Schools Closed November 12 Guidance Evening Hours: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. November 13 Middle School Winter Concert I, Chorus/Orchestra - 7:30 p.m., Auditorium November 14 Middle School Yearbook Portraits Retakes November 15 Middle School Report Cards Posted Online November 19 SEPTA Meeting – M.S. Library – 7:00 p.m. November 21 Board of Education Meeting – Cantiague – 7:45 p.m. November 26 MS Learning Center Parent-Teacher Conferences 7:00-9:00 p.m. November 26 MS Parent-Teacher Initiated Conferences: 3:00-5:00 p.m. and 7:00-9:00 p.m. No clubs November 27 NO SCHOOL FOR MS STUDENTS PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES: 8:00 a.m.-12:00 noon November 28-29 Schools Closed