SMS SUPPLY LIST

OUR SMS NORMS AND EXPECTATIONS

RESPECT yourself, each other, respect your teachers, and respect your school.

Be present- phones need to be turned off and in your backpacks during school hours.

RESPECT others.  RESPECT their perspectives, differences, and time. RESPECT the personal space of others.
Your WORDS MATTER, and other people remember how words make them feel. Choose your words wisely.

RESPECT our SMS building and our environment.

There is no gum allowed at school. Help keep our schools clean.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

School Hours

Hours are from 8:20 – 2:40

All students should enter the school at the main front entrance.

STUDENTS SHOULD NOT ARRIVE AT SCHOOL BEFORE 7:55 am

Parents are asked to please pull all the way up to the end of the semi-circle to keep dropoff moving smoothly.  We have added additional space to the drop off area in order to ensure that drop-off is quick and smooth.  Please help us by pulling all the way to the front of the semi-circle.  Parent vehicles are not allowed in the back parking lot for the safety of the children entering the building.

Any student arriving at 7:55 am or before 8:15 am should go to the cafeteria. Once a student has entered the school before 8:20AM, the students will need to remain in the designated supervised area (e.g. cafeteria or ‘Little Theater”).

*The first day of school for 5th-graders will start at 8:45 am.  There will be a team meeting for all 5th-graders, teachers, and administration in the Little Theater upon arrival.  

ATTENDANCE
Attendance and participation in school at all ages and levels is critical. Research illustrates the significant impact of attendance on student achievement in school. Furthermore, attendance helps students connect with their teachers, peers, and activities. We love seeing them each day and are here to support students and their families!

Absence Policy

If your student will be absent, please call the main SMS phone line at 781-596-8820.  

Follow the prompts to the absentee line. Students who are absent and wish to do school work may check google classroom and their team website.

• Please clearly state your student’s name and the reason for their absence.
• Calls should be made before 8:45 am.
• If your student is marked absent and the school has not received a phone call, families will receive an automated call regarding the student’s absence at approximately 9:15 am.

Tardy Policy
Students are expected to be in their seats in their homeroom class no later than 8:20 AM for attendance. Please make sure your child is on time!  

• SMS policy allows for no more than 5 tardies per marking period.
• A child will receive a detention for the 6th, and each subsequent day that the student is marked tardy.  The good news is that we start fresh every marking period!
• AFTER-SCHOOL DETENTION: Detention runs from 2:45 to 3:20 in the main office.
• LUNCH DETENTION: Held in the main office during the student’s assigned lunch period.

Early Dismissals

If a student is going to be dismissed early please send a note with your student.

The note should include the following:

• Date & time of dismissal
• Contact name for who is picking the student up (contact info must be listed in Aspen)

It is also important to know if/when the student will be returning to school on that same day.

All notes should be dropped off with the SMS Security Monitor, John Leger, in the main lobby.

Upon dismissal, please enter the building and bring identification with you. You will then be asked to sign your student out of the building.  You can also email jleger@swampscott.k12.ma.us 

DISTRICT Attendance Policy

Please review the SPS District Handbook (p.32) for the full description of the SPS district attendance policy. Absences that are considered “Excused Documented” include student absence for religious holiday(s), authorized field trip(s) or documented medical/behavioral health care.

Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures

There is a rolling drop off at the front entrance of the school at the beginning of each day.  Parents may not park or get out of their cars in this lane. Parents should drive all the way up in the semi-circle area in order to accommodate all the drop offs. 

Students can be picked up in the front semi-circle, on Forest Ave on the side closest to the school, and in the lower lot beside the tennis courts.  For safety reasons, parents are not allowed to drive or park in the back lot by the cafeteria.

BUS TRANSPORTATION

SCHEDULE: Nahant Bus

METCO SMS Bus schedule, METCO LATE Bus Schedule- STAY TUNED– not finalized for 23-24SY yet.

Student Messages

When a student has forgotten something at home and a parent/guardian drops it off at the school (at the desk in the front lobby), we will get it to them as soon as possible.   We encourage students to stop by and check the desk at the front lobby if they are expecting something to be dropped off or realize they have forgotten their lunch.  Please note:  We will not interrupt classes for student messages or forgotten items.

STUDENT LIFE and DAILY ROUTINES:            WELCOME PRESENTATION 

Program Of Studies

The Program of Studies is on the Middle School website and details the courses offered, class guidelines, and requirements (if applicable).

Website: Program of Studies

Homeroom

Each day begins with homeroom where attendance is taken and any announcements are made.

Teams
Grade 5: Each student is assigned to a team. There are two  5th grade teams. Students will move through classes in their homeroom groups.  All teams merge together for specials and lunch.

Grades 6-8: Teams in grades 6, 7, and 8 have 4 to 5 teachers on a team. A student’s homeroom teacher in these grades is also a teacher they will have for a class during the day.

Advisory

Following HOMEROOM, each day begins with Advisory, which takes place in the student’s homeroom classroom. The advisory block is generally used to provide students with an opportunity to seek extra help, connect with a School Counselor, catch up on work, read quietly, finish their weekly math Waggle, or review homework.

At SMS, Chorus and Band also take place during Advisory and are open to all students. In addition to the above, students may also participate in grade level or multi-grade assemblies or presentations during the advisory period.

Specials

Specials are scheduled on a rotating basis.  Students will have each special for 25 days at a time.  They will have PE/Health for 2 sessions (50 days total).

The other specials offered are Art, Tech Education, Music, Robotics, and Computers.

Snack and Lunch

Lunch is 25 minutes.  Students can purchase lunch or bring from home. Peanut butter is allowed in the cafeteria but NEVER in the classrooms.  

We do have peanut free tables in the cafeteria to help keep our students safe.  

NO SNACKS IN CLASSROOMS SHOULD HAVE ANY NUTS.  PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF OUR STUDENTS WITH SEVERE ALLERGIES. 

In 2023, SMS became a “PRIME FREE” school

There is NO gum allowed in school.  Please help us keep our school clean and refrain from sending your student to school with gum.

Food Services: Maureen Kellett  foodservice@swampscott.k12.ma.us

Menus are located on the “Nutrislice” app.

(You can download the SMS menu by choosing our school)

Please see also the Food Services site 

For those who have vegetarian/allergies questions and any general questions please reach out to Maureen Kellett directly at foodservice@swampscott.k12.ma.us

Athletics Fees

Families may complete an application for “free and reduced lunch” which is used as a qualifying process to determine eligibility for free or reduced fee in athletics.

Recess

Students will have recess in 5th grade only.

LOCKERS

Every student will be assigned to a locker.  Students may store coats, backpacks, lunches and books in lockers.  Lockers for grades 7 & 8 have locks, but sometimes these locks can break in which case we will fix or give your child another locker. Lockers for grades 5 & 6 do not have locks. Please do not keep valuables in lockers as we are not responsible for any missing item in a locker. If your child’s locker is not working, please have them report it to their homeroom teacher as soon as possible.

Extra Curricular Activities

There are many programs (choral, plays, math team, athletics, clubs) offered and will be communicated as they become available throughout the year.

ASP or After School Program(s) are offered in three different sessions throughout the year and sponsored by the SMS Parent Teacher Organizer (PTO). The programs offered change each year, but have included Chess Club, Drawing Club, Bey Blades Club, Ping Pong Club, to name a few.

The programs will be announced and shared out to all families beginning in the fall.

SMS works toward all students being able to access and participate in these extracurricular activities. If a student needs additional financial assistance, they may always reach out confidentially to Assistant Principal Emily Zotto at ezotto@swampscott.k12.ma.us

TECHNOLOGY

Aspen: Grades, Report Cards, and Student Info
Assignment grades and report cards are posted online to Swampscott’s Student Information System – Aspen – throughout the year. Each family will receive an account to access their student’s grades throughout the year.

Students in grades 7-8 also receive their own personal accounts to view the same information. 

LOGIN here: Aspen Login

Here is also a helpful refresher link for viewing progress reports and report cards: Aspen Reports

New this year! Chromebooks are staying at SMS!

At the beginning of the day, students will pick up their chromebooks from their homeroom classroom.
At the end of the day, ALL students will return to their homeroom classroom for afternoon announcements, return their chromebooks to a charging station, and then head home for the day.

 💻 FAMILIES REQUESTING A DEVICE FOR HOME

SMS believes all students should have equal access to their education. As such, if a student and family needs a device to use for at-home work, please follow the required steps.

1. Complete the Chromebook Request Form
2. Send an email to our tech help specialists or TECH HELP office to schedule a pick from Swampscott High School
   Address: 200 Essex Street, Swampscott, 01907
   Techhelp EMAIL: techhelp@swampscott.k12.ma.us 

GOOGLE DRIVE

Students in all 4 grades are assigned a Google Drive account and will continue to have access once their Technology Acceptable Use Form is passed in. Students will be able to access their accounts in school and at home. If a student has an account from elementary school, the account moves up to SMS with the student.

Cell Phones

Cell phones may not be used and should be shut off and in student backpacks during the school day.

TEACHER WEBSITES

FACULTY DIRECTORY 
Team Websites Access to teacher and team websites is on the main middle school page: Team Websites

SMS ATHLETICS 

REGISTRATION:
PLEASE LOG ON TO FAMILY ID TO BEGIN YOUR REGISTRATION 
In order to be eligible in athletics, try-outs, practices, games, all students and families must complete the entire registration process below.

1. REGISTER: All parents/guardians must register their student-athletes at Family ID (new users must register as a new user then check your email for confirmation before you can begin a registration) Please confirm your registration is complete (you will get an email stating that it is complete).

SMS works toward all students being able to access and participate in these extracurricular activities. If a student needs additional financial assistance, they may always reach out confidentially to Assistant Principal Emily Zotto at ezotto@swampscott.k12.ma.us

2. PAID USER FEE (please go to www.swampscottps.org to pay the fee on-line - click resources and then online payments and follow directions). You may also pay by check made out to the "Town of Swampscott". Please pass in to the athletic office and put your student's name and sport on the memo line. The user fee is $200.00 per season/per athlete. Families may complete an application for “free and reduced lunch” which is used as a qualifying process to determine eligibility for free or reduced fee in athletics.

“Free and reduced lunch form” is available in multiple languages and can be completed at any time during the school year. The form can be found on the food services site and should be returned to SMS - main office or the Business Office.
For any family having difficulty completing the form, experiencing hardship, or needing assistance, please contact the Assistant Principal, Ms. Zotto at ezotto@swampscott.k12.ma.us

3. PROVIDE AN UP TO DATE PHYSICAL within the last 13 months. If you believe we have an up to date one on file, please call or email the athletic office to confirm. (PLEASE NOTE: If your physical expires during the season, you are responsible to provide an updated physical to the athletic office or your student-athlete will become ineligible). Another note: If you are going into the 7th grade then you need to provide two copies of your physical (one for the school nurse and one for the athletic office).

SPORTS SCHEDULES CAN BE FOUND AT www.northeasternma.org 

MAIN OFFICE, NURSE, AND COUNSELING CONTACTS

COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION

There are several ways to connect with Swampscott Middle School and we welcome you to reach out at any time with questions or concerns. The following is a list of ways that you might consider connecting with your child(ren’s) school.

PARENT SQUARE: This is SPS’s platform for communicating with families.

• SMS Website (overview of the school, staff directory)
• Team and teacher websites
• Parent/Caregiver Teacher Conferences (Nov)
• Email teachers with any classroom questions or concerns
• Connect with your child’s School Counselor
• Read communication from school on Parent Square
• PTO (come to meetings as your schedule may allow)
• School Council

Come to fun events! Heritage Fair, Music productions, Art Shows, Plays, Science Fairs…