January 17, 2025

Dear THMS Parents and Guardians,

Happy 2025, everyone! The new year has certainly arrived with freezing temperatures, and it looks like this cold weather will stick around through next week. We know that many middle school students aren’t thrilled about wearing coats and winter gear, but we strongly encourage them to bring coats to school. We go outside most days, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Of course, if the "feels like" temperature drops below 10°F, we’ll stay inside. Getting some sunlight is important for our health, especially in the northern regions where vitamin D can be harder to come by. Vitamin D plays a vital role in both our mental and physical well-being, and a deficiency can lead to anxiety, depression, and other health issues. Just 15 minutes outside can make a big difference!

On Tuesday, we held a deeply moving and impactful assembly featuring speaker and musician Matthew Bennett. He shared his powerful story of belonging, hope, grit, and perseverance, captivating both our students and staff. His message resonated deeply, inspiring us all. The key takeaway from Mr. Bennett’s presentation was that with determination and hard work, we can overcome any challenge life throws our way and achieve personal heights we never thought possible. Mr. Bennett’s genuine care for youth was evident as he stayed an additional two and a half hours to personally connect with any student who wanted to speak with him. To learn more about Mr. Bennett’s story, visit his website at themattbennett.com.

Next week, on Wednesday and Friday, we will be administering the winter NWEA assessment. Students will take the test in their advisory classrooms between 8:00 and 10:00 AM. Attendance on these days is crucial. A good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast can help students focus and perform their best. As with any assessment, the NWEA is just one way to measure a student’s progress and knowledge.

Our ice rink is up and running! As with anything new, we experienced an influx of students rushing onto the ice during the first few days, which unfortunately led to some injuries. This week the rink was flooded and is now very slick. For safety reasons, the ice is intended for skating only, and we are limiting its use to that activity. Students who have skates can skate during recess with staff permission and supervision. It’s great to see students enjoying the outdoors and being active, but it’s important to remember that with this fun comes responsibility. No student should be on or near the ice without an adult present, including before or after school hours.  We appreciate the donation of old fire hose from Chief Harford of the Belmont Fire Department to help keep the ice prepared. We continue to look for donations of skates for students to borrow. If you have some kicking around collecting dust, drop them by. Don’t worry about the dust, we are happy to spruce them up and ready them for use. Lights for nighttime use (with parent supervision) are coming soon? Let’s all stay safe and have fun!

If you aren’t already aware, we have a daily snack time each morning. Most days, we offer a cart filled with a variety of fruits and vegetables for students to choose from. Students are encouraged to take advantage of these healthy options or bring their own snacks from home. I’m sure your grocery bills are a testament to how hungry our growing adolescents can be! A healthy snack in the morning helps keep them energized and focused until lunch.

Finally, we’ve surveyed our students and staff about cell phone expectations and would now like to gather your feedback as well. This week, we’ll be sending out a short survey for you to complete—don’t worry, it won’t take long! Your input is important to us.

In closing, I want to sincerely thank you all for entrusting us with your child each day and for your continued support in their educational journey. It truly takes a village of caring and supportive adults to help our children navigate the challenges and triumphs of adolescence. We appreciate your partnership in this important work.

Best regards,

Alta K. Seekins, Principal