Dear Families,

In this day and age it is hard to avoid the use of a smartphone. If this is hard for you, imagine how hard this can be for young people. While most experts recommend waiting as long as possible before you buy your child a smartphone, by middle school he or she will most likely have a phone and possess a savvy understanding of social media. However, without appropriate guidance and skills, utilizing social media can become a stressful and potentially unsafe communication platform for teens.

Cyber safety, advocacy, and bullying are discussed at a developmentally appropriate level in health classes starting in the 4th grade. In the 6th and 7th grade, students learn how to identify, combat, and advocate against cyber bullying. In the 8th grade, students learn about the social and legal implications of “sexting”, or posting negative images or comments of a sexual nature online or to peers.

One of the most important preventative tools for avoiding negative cyber and social media engagement is when parents talk with their children. Guidance counselor, Amy Hrobak, recommends three talking tips when speaking with your teen about safe smartphone use: 1. Inquire with your child to see what he/she already knows, 2. Focus on values and feelings of privacy and safety, and 3. Try to come up with ideas or strategies to make healthy choices when confronted with a potentially negative or dangerous situation. Other great resources for cell phone safety tips are Common Sense Media and Scholastic.com. Please look for an evening presentation from our Guidance and Health staff in the near future.

School policy does not allow the use of cell phones or any wireless telecommunication devices during the school day or inside the school building between 8:40AM and 2:55PM. If students bring cell phones or electronic devices to school, we require that all phones be kept in students’ lockers and turned off during the entire day.

*The first two times a student chooses to use his/her cell phone to make a call, take a picture, listen to music or send a text during the school day, the student’s cell phone will be taken by the teacher/administrator, given to the school secretary to be stored in a secure location, and returned to the student at the end of the day.

*The third violation of this policy will also result in a call home and a conference with the family. Please note: Recording or photographing others without their consent is against state law.

Students who need to make emergency calls during the day are asked to speak to their teachers directly. Arrangements are always made for students in these cases.

Electronic devices (i-Phones, i-Pads, Kindles, Nooks, etc.) are also not allowed for use during school hours unless associated with an educational activity.

Sincerely,

Sarah Bartels-Marrero
Principal

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Estimadas familias,

Hoy en día es difícil evitar el uso de un “teléfono inteligente”. Si esto es difícil para ustedes, imaginen lo difícil que puede ser para los jóvenes. Mientras que la mayoría de los expertos recomiendan esperar tanto como sea posible antes de comprar a su hijo/a un teléfono inteligente, cuando llegan a la escuela intermedia, lo más probable es que él o ella tenga un teléfono y posea una comprensión profunda de los medios sociales. Sin embargo, sin la orientación y destreza adecuada, utilizar los medios de comunicación social puede convertirse en una plataforma de comunicación estresante y potencialmente insegura para los jóvenes.

La seguridad cibernética, la defensa de uno mismo y la intimidación se discuten de manera apropiada para el desarrollo en las clases de salud comenzando en cuarto grado. En el sexto y séptimo grado, los estudiantes aprenden a identificar, combatir y abogar contra el acoso cibernético. En el 8vo grado, los estudiantes aprenden sobre las implicaciones sociales y legales de "sexting", o de publicar imágenes negativas o comentarios de naturaleza sexual en línea o a sus compañeros.

Una de las herramientas preventivas más importantes para evitar el compromiso cibernético y social negativo es la comunicación entre las familias y sus hijos/as. Nuestra consejera, Amy Hrobak, recomienda tres consejos de conversación cuando hablen con su hijos/as sobre el uso seguro de los teléfonos inteligentes: 1. Preguntarle a su hijo/a para ver lo que ya sabe, 2. Enfocarse en los valores y sentimientos de privacidad y seguridad. 3. Tratar de encontrar ideas o estrategias para tomar decisiones saludables a la hora de enfrentarse con una situación potencialmente negativa o peligrosa. Otros grandes recursos para los consejos de seguridad de teléfonos celulares son Common Sense Media y Scholastic.com. Pronto habrán presentaciones nocturnas de nuestra facultad de Salud y de Consejería. Favor de venir a alguna.

La escuela no permite el uso de teléfonos celulares o cualquier dispositivo de telecomunicación inalámbricos durante el día escolar y dentro del edificio entre las 8:40AM y las 2:55PM. Si los estudiantes traen teléfonos celulares a la escuela, se requiere que todos los teléfonos se mantengan en sus respectivos casilleros durante todo el día escolar.

*Las primeras dos veces que un/a estudiante decida usar su teléfono celular para hacer una llamada, enviar un texto durante el día escolar, escuchar música o tomar una foto, el teléfono celular del estudiante será confiscado por un maestro/docente, llevado a la oficina donde será guardado en un lugar seguro y entregado al estudiante al final del día escolar. La tercera vez que un/a estudiante no cumpla con esta política, el Subdirector o la Directora se comunicará y se reunirá con la familia del estudiante. Por favor, recuerden: el grabar o fotografiar a otras personas sin su consentimiento es contra la ley estatal.

Se le pide a los estudiantes que necesiten hacer llamadas de emergencia durante el día que lo hablen con sus profesores directamente. En estos casos, siempre se podrá hacer arreglos.

Tampoco se permiten dispositivos electrónicos (iPhones, iPads, Kindles/Nooks, etc) para uso personal durante el horario escolar, a menos de que esté asociado a una actividad educativa. Los estudiantes deben guardar todos los dispositivos electrónicos en sus casilleros durante el día.

Atentamente,

Sarah Bartels-Marrero
Directora



Our Upper School Math Program
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education adopted revised frameworks for mathematics in March 2017. Upper school math coaches, math teachers and the CPS Mathematics Department are currently re-aligning our curriculum maps to the new 2017 Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework standards, using Understanding by Design, which focuses first on teaching and assessing for understanding and learning transfer, and then designing curriculum that meets those ends. Learn more >>

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Opportunities Outside of School
The 8th Annual Crimson Madness
October 13 | 7PM
Free admission, dunk contest, 3-point shootout, autograph session, and more. View Event Details >>

Middle School Activities Club: Fall 2017
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Cambridge Youth Hockey
Learn to Skate or Play Ice Hockey
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Fresh Pond Reservation Kids' Programs
View what is happening in October at Fresh Pond >>

NAMI Basics
Tuesdays, October 3 - November 7 | 6PM | CRLS
A free, six-session program designed for parents and other family caregivers of children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral difficulties. Learn more >>

Spark Biogen Foundation Video Contest
Win money for you school and a GoPro Camera. 
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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
Learn more >>

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
Program begins November 1, 2017. Learn more >>

Girl Scouts
Join a troop today. View details >>

TTT Mentor Program
A Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) program for Grades 4 through 7. More Info >>