Dear Parents of Middle Graders,

We hope you are enjoying the last bit of your summer.  We are starting to have a better idea of what school will look like when we return in September, so we wanted to send you a brief update along with an overview of the middle grades. We are planning to start  the year with everyone in the school masked, and likely with the entire middle grades (5, 6, and 7) operating as a single pod and using the two bathrooms by the gym. Principal  Monje will be holding an online informational meeting for parents and guardians Tuesday the 31st at 7:00pm if you would like more back to school information.

 Below is a brief overview of how our middle grades will be organized this year.

  • Kristie McQuaide will be teaching ELA 5 and Math 5 and 6

  • Shannon Cotter Marsella will be teaching ELA 6 and Science 5, 6, and 7

  • Mike Petrik will be teaching ELA 7

  • Julia Arena will be teaching Math 7; we are excited to welcome her to the Block Island School! 

  • Maura Cousins will be teaching Spanish twice a week with each grade level

  • Social Studies will be incorporated into our ELA classes through our new EL Education Curriculum. This is a new curriculum that uses much of the same language and writing structures your students are familiar with, and it is one of the high quality curricula approved by the State.  We are very excited about it!

In terms of supplies, we are providing a science notebook, basic #2 pencils, 3 ring-binders, and folders.  The following is a suggested list only; do not feel obligated to purchase them.

  • A planner for recording homework assignments

  • Mechanical pencils or erasable pens

  • Additional notebooks, binders, or folders

  • Wired headphones/earbuds with a built-in microphone

  • Sticky notes

Please remember your students’ summer reading and math assignments, which can be found on our Middle Grades Google Site.  We look forward to seeing your student on the first day of school.  Despite the many challenges, we all learned a lot last year, and we are excited to build on that experience and have a terrific year in the middle grades.

Enjoy the rest of your summer,

 

Shannon Cotter Marsella

Kristie McQuaide

Kate Mello

Mike Petrik