Dear Families,

Last week, the 8th grade students embarked on a daylong field trip to the Wachusett Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary. The students enjoyed a day of hiking, team-building, and yoga and made it to the top of Brown Hill where they had a 180 degree view of the Wachusett Valley. It was a great trip for all! For more details on the trip, enjoy Ms. Hrobak’s reflection. The 8th graders also enjoyed an author’s visit with Dr. James Costa author of Darwin’s Backyard: How Small Experiments Led to a Big Theory. Please read Ms. Ferhani’s article about the trip.

With the safety of all our students and staff in mind, I want to let families know we will be scheduling a lockdown drill during the next few weeks. While we do not expect or anticipate a situation that requires a lockdown, it is important to be prepared for all emergencies. During this drill, which will last approximately five minutes, no one will be allowed to enter or exit the building. Students will be informed in an age appropriate manner by classroom teachers about the drill. They will be given instructions and have an opportunity to ask questions before they practice the lockdown. Please contact me if you have any questions about the drill or concerns about your student.

Also, please note the following safety guidelines for daily building access:

• From 7:30AM - 3:15PM the Main Entrance should be used to enter and/or exit the building. Please ring the buzzer, state your name and who you are at the school to see.
  
  
• After 3:15PM, if your child is participating in the after school program, you should use the door and buzzer on the Magazine Street side of the building.
  
  
• All visitors must sign in at the main office and obtain a visitor’s pass
  
  
• No exterior door should ever be propped open, if you see a door propped open please alert the main office.
  
  
• Once children have been dismissed they should not re-enter the building unless they are participating in an after school activity.

Thank you, and enjoy the weekend!

Sincerely,

Sarah Bartels-Marrero
Principal

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Estimadas familias,

La semana pasada, los estudiantes del octavo grado se embarcaron en una excursión al Santuario de Vida Silvestre de Wachusett. Los estudiantes disfrutaron de un día de senderismo, solidaridad y yoga y llegaron a la cima de Brown Hill, una vista de 180 grados del Valle de Wachusett, ante la cuál se quedaron deslumbrados. ¡Fue un viaje estupendo para todos! Para más detalles sobre el viaje, disfruten de la reflexión de la Sra. Hrobak. Los estudiantes del octavo también disfrutaron de una visita con el Dr. James Costa, autor de Darwin’s Backyard: How Small Experiments Led to a Big Theory. Por favor lean el artículo escrito por Ms. Ferhani sobre esta charla y paseo al Museo de Historia Natural de Harvard.

Con la seguridad de todos nuestros estudiantes y personal en mente, quiero que las familias sepan que estamos programando un Simulacro de Cierre de Emergencia. Aunque no esperamos ni anticipamos tener una situación que requiera un cierre de emergencia, es importante estar preparados para todo tipo de contingencia. Durante la práctica, que durará aproximadamente cinco minutos, no se le permitirá a nadie entrar o salir del edificio. Los profesores le informarán a los estudiantes del simulacro con antelación de manera adecuada según sus edades. Ellos recibirán las instrucciones para el cierre de emergencia y tendrán la oportunidad de hacer preguntas antes de que practicamos. Por favor, pónganse en contacto conmigo si tienen alguna pregunta o preocupación sobre el simulacro.

Además, tengan en cuenta las siguientes directrices de seguridad para el acceso diario al edificio:

• De 7:30AM - 3:15PM la entrada principal se debe utilizar para entrar y / o salir del edificio. Por favor, toque el timbre, indique su nombre y a quién usted va a visitar en la escuela.
  
  
• Después de las 3:15PM, si su hijo/a está participando en el programa después de la escuela, debe usar la puerta y el timbre del edificio en el lado de la calle Magazine.
  
  
• Todos los visitantes deben registrarse en la oficina principal y obtener un pase de visitante.
  
  
• Jamás se debe apoyar abierta ninguna puerta exterior, si ven una puerta abierta, por favor avisen a la oficina.
  
  
• Una vez despachados, los estudiantes no deben volver a entrar al edificio al menos de que están participando en un programa después de la escuela.

¡Gracias, y disfruten el fin de semana!

Atentamente,

Sarah Bartels-Marrero
Directora

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
--  Martin Luther King, Jr.

"La oscuridad no puede expulsar a la oscuridad : sólo la luz puede hacer eso. El odio no puede expulsar al odio: solo el amor puede hacer eso" -- Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Opportunities Outside of School
Middle School Activities Club: Canobie Lake ScreamFest 
The Middle School Activities club hosts occasional social outings for middle school students in Cambridge - the first one this year is Screem Fest at Canobie Lake Park on Sat, Oct 14. Outings are supported by Cambridge Youth Programs, usually involve a subsidized fee, operate on Fridays and Saturdays and go to places that young people can be social, have fun and experience the world. Shuttles provided from any of the CYP Youth Centers. Simple registration form required, return to a youth center or email us. 

3v3 Women's Basketball League 
Check out this new league of 3v3 basketball for 8 graders and young women in high school - on Tuesday nights at the Moses Youth Center at 243 Harvard St. Sharpen your skills in a casual setting that gives you great experience! Interested? Come to the Moses on a Tuesday between 6:30 - 9:30PM. For more info call 617.349.6262. 

Amazing Women's Edition Writing Contest: 
Local Heroines
Eligibility: Students in grades K - 8
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Girls Who Code 
October 11 - December 20
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MIT Science on Saturday: Biotechnology
Saturday, October 14 | 10AM
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Harvard's Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology and Natural History Museum Upcoming Events
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City of Cambridge Fuel Assistance Program
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Girl Scouts
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TTT Mentor Program
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