Dear Parents, In order for students and teachers to reach high levels of

learning, schools must create and sustain a safe, inviting and

supportive environment. One of the challenges for

middle schools is that bullying behavior tends to peak

during early adolescence, prompting a necessary proactive ap-

proach. It is highly recommended that schools develop pro-

grams tailored to address the unique needs of their school.

Bullying is described as any behavior which causes a

student to feel intimidated, uncomfortable or excluded. There

are many reasons why students bully, but through the crea-

tion of a respectful school culture that supports their

social-emotional needs, students are more apt to learn and

grow in a healthy manner. At TRMS, we believe in a culture

where students are respectful of each other, are responsible

for their own actions, and where they learn to make sound

choices.

As schools grapple with this serious issue, we under-

stand that part of growing up is making mistakes and learn-

ing from them. We embrace the hundreds of healthy interac-

tions we have daily with your children in class, advisory, the

hallways or during recess. We also understand that the stu-

dents’ world today is much different than the world that their

parents and teachers grew up in. Today we contend with the

world of cyberspace as another area of potential bullying and

harassment. Cyberspace can also be an unsafe place for stu-

dents who put highly personal information out about them-

selves to strangers.

As we support the learning and growth of our students

at TRMS, we will continue to have discussions with them

about bullying, safety and the world of internet communica-

tions. Guest Speaker, Jayne Hitchcock, will be here to speak

with kids in an assembly in March about internet safety

(date to be announced). Her informative presentation will

help our students better understand the world of cyberspace.

Michael Hogan, Principal

Timberlane Regional Middle School Timberlane Regional Middle School Timberlane Regional Middle School Timberlane Regional Middle School

PRINCIPAL’S NEWSLETTERPRINCIPAL’S NEWSLETTERPRINCIPAL’S NEWSLETTERPRINCIPAL’S NEWSLETTERPRINCIPAL’S NEWSLETTERPRINCIPAL’S NEWSLETTERPRINCIPAL’S NEWSLETTERPRINCIPAL’S NEWSLETTER February, ISSUE 3, 2012 - 2013

44 Greenough Road, Plaistow, NH 03865 ● Phone: (603) 382-7131 Web Address: www.timberlanems.com

Want to stay informed?

This year we have added email

communication to help us keep you informed

of school news and announcements. Sign up to

receive emails to parental email addresses. We

will be sending periodic emails notifying you of

important events and links to other information.

Announcements may be class specific, or im-

portant to all students and their families.

Type the following address into your

URL bar and follow the simple directions

to sign up!

http://eepurl.com/fnRDE

Or go to www.timberlanems.com

and click on the link on our homepage.

IMPORTANT DATESIMPORTANT DATESIMPORTANT DATESIMPORTANT DATES

2/6 Quarter 2 Report Cards Go Home

2/13 HS & MS Solo & Ensemble

Performances

2/18 No School, Professional

Development Day

2/25- 3/1 No School, Winter Break

3/5 Grade 8 NAEP Testing

3/12 QTR 3 Progress Reports Go Home

SPRING MUSIC CONCERTS

3/6 HS & MS Jazz Concert

3/13 Orchestra Concert, Grades 6-12

3/18 Chorus Concert, Grades 8-12

3/19 Band Concert, Grades 8-12 (changed from 3/21)

3/20 Chorus Concert, Grades 5-7

3/27 Band Concert, Grades 5-7

NEW! Sign up to Receive

Email Notifications

Winter Tips from the

TRMS Health Office

Dress for the weather

∗ Wearing several layers of loose fit-

ting, light weight, warm clothing will

keep you warmer than one layer of heavy

clothing.

∗ An outer jacket that’s outer layer is tightly woven and water-

proof is recommended.

∗ Cover your hands and head! On a cold day you can lose as

much as 40% heat through your head and 30% through your

hands.

∗ A scarf can protect your lungs from cold exposure.

Walking to the Bus Stop

∗ Allow extra time in the morning to get to your stop on time.

∗ Watch traffic while walking to your stop. Vehicles may lose

control in the snow and ice and you need to be aware of your

surroundings.

∗ Stand back from where the bus stops. Buses need extra room

to stop when there is snow and ice.

Waiting at the Bus Stop

∗ Be cautious at the bus stop. Snow and ice accumulates under

the powder and it’s easy to slip and fall.

∗ Don’t throw snowballs at the bus, other vehicles or people.

∗ Don’t slide on the snow or ice patches in driveways or on the

street. You could accidently slide under the wheel of the bus,

another car or get hurt.

∗ Don’t push and shove around the bus. Someone could fall

down on the ice or fall beneath the bus.

Tips for avoiding a winter bug

∗ Get vaccinated against the FLU.

∗ Wash hands often.

∗ Limit exposure to infected people.

∗ Keep stress in check, eat right, sleep right, and exercise.

Helmets are recommended for skiing, snowboard-

ing, ice skating or sledding in order to protect a

child’s head from falls.

Health Office Staff

Diane Murphy, RN, ext. 4912

Kelli True, RN, ext. 4913

Patrice Antczak, Health Office Secretary, ext. 4910

Middle Middle Middle Middle School School School School Ski Club Ski Club Ski Club Ski Club starts soon! starts soon! starts soon! starts soon!

Ski dates: Ski dates: Ski dates: Ski dates: Feb 15, 22Feb 15, 22Feb 15, 22Feb 15, 22 March 8, 15, 22 March 8, 15, 22 March 8, 15, 22 March 8, 15, 22 Dress warmly!Dress warmly!Dress warmly!Dress warmly!

PTSA NEWS and PTSA NEWS and PTSA NEWS and PTSA NEWS and EVENTSEVENTSEVENTSEVENTS Many Thanks to those of you who donated

their time to help at the book fair. It was a

great success.

Our Annual Senior Holiday Tea that was

held on Saturday December 3rd. As usual

this event had a

tremendous at-

tendance by our

Seniors despite

the snow. We

are extremely

grateful to all

the families

who baked cook-

ies and donated poinsettias, and to those of

you who donated your time.

Soon we will be seeking volunteers for all

our 8th grade events that will need our assis-

tance. If your interested please contact us!

Many positions with in PTSA will become

open at the end of this year. Please consider

joining. Our next meeting is Monday Febru-

ary 11th @ 6:30 in the library.

If you are interested in any of these up-

coming events, or would like more infor-

mation on them, please feel free to contact

me!

Cathy Lisi, PTSA President

lisifamily@comcast.net 603-682-3693

CONTESTS OF KNOWLEDGECONTESTS OF KNOWLEDGECONTESTS OF KNOWLEDGECONTESTS OF KNOWLEDGE Recently students competed in our annual Spelling and Geogra-

phy Bees. Students begin these competitions in their language

arts and social studies classrooms. Students winning the class-

room competitions from all three grades compete together on

stage in the PAC. Congratulations to all of the students who

tested their knowledge in these public forums. We are proud of

all of you!

Spelling Bee: Emily Hammond, 8th grader, won the school

wide Spelling Bee and will be moving on to the State Competi-

tion in Concord on March 2nd. The winning word was

“innovator.” Dan Lewis, 6th grader, came in second place and

Kim McCabe, 7th grader, came in third place. Participants

were, top picture, front row (left to right) Tara Stoddard, Dan

Lewis, Emily Hammond, Kim McCabe, Rachel Paradis. Back

row (left to right) Luke Sanchez, Vaughan Bourassa, Kyle But-

ler, Mary Hanrahan, Lizzy Aoun, Kelly Hanrahan, Veronica

Galimberti. Standing in back, Bob Gustafson from the Atkinson

Lions Club, sponsors of our competition. Thank you!

Geography Bee: Eighth grader Tom Doyle won the school

Geography Bee. Veronica Galimberti, 8th grader, came in se-

cond place and Jeffrey Grant, 7th grader, came in third

place. Participants were, back row (left to right): Jeffrey Grant,

Tom Doyle, Veronica Galimberti,

Sara Pellitier, and Jonathan L'Abbe. Front row (left to right):

Riordan West-Geary, Noah Clark, Connor Newman, Victoria

McCloud, and Adrian Suici

NEWS FROM GRADE 8NEWS FROM GRADE 8NEWS FROM GRADE 8NEWS FROM GRADE 8 I wish that all parents could see the school through my

eyes and those of the teachers and staff who are here

every day. Our hallways are filled with chatter, laugh-

ter and kindness. I see new friendships, old reliable

friendships, helpful and considerate kids caring about

one another on a daily basis. This is an extraordinary

group of students finding their way through adoles-

cence and trying to define themselves. Even as the per-

son who must correct and redirect poor decision mak-

ing, I never lose sight of the fact the overwhelming ma-

jority of students don’t need any redirection at all. That

is a celebration of success to parents, teachers, and

most importantly, your great kids.

January was a very busy month in 8th grade. Stu-

dents and teachers have been working hard to complete

the quarter two standards. Report cards will be go-

ing home on Wednesday, February 6th. Based on

student performance in the first two marking periods,

teachers, students, and parents have been engaged in

the course selection process for 9th grade. These deci-

sions are based on student performance in the first two

marking periods along with student motivation and

interests.

During the 3rd week of January high school guid-

ance counselors visited each 8th grade team. During

the presentations, students were given a Program of

Studies catalog and received an Incoming Freshman

Course Selection Sheet. The counselors presented a

Power Point introducing students to the course selec-

tion process. Since then, students have been talking

with parents and teachers, making decisions about

what they plan to study next year, and are getting the

course approvals from their teachers. This is an excit-

ing time of year for students as the reality of high

school begins to take shape. We have been impressing

upon them that they must continue to work to their

capacity to be prepared for the classes they have select-

ed for next year.

Timberlane is one of the many schools in NH that

has been selected to participate in the National As-

sessment of Education Progress (NAEP). This is

the largest nationally administered assessments in the

United States and provides a common measure of stu-

dent achievement across the country. Letters were

sent home to a randomly selected group of 8th

graders who will be tested on March 5th, 2013.

The scores are confidential and used for statistical

purposes by NAEP only and do not affect grades in any

way. If you would like any additional information or

view a sample test you are invited to visit the NAEP

website: http://nationsreportcard.gov/parents.asp.

Please contact me if you have any concerns about

course selection or the NAEP testing here at Timber-

lane. Janet.Hart@timberlane.net

Happenings at TRMS

Constituents Share the Wealth Constituents Share the Wealth Constituents Share the Wealth Constituents Share the Wealth of their Effortsof their Effortsof their Effortsof their Efforts Team 8C will be making a donation to two charities in the

coming month. The first donation will be a $350

donation to a Hurricane Sandy relief fund. The second

donation will be a $350 donation to a Newtown,

CT community support group. The donations will mark

the culmination of the 8C students' efforts this past fall

during the fourth annual Halloween 5K where students

raised approximately $1,400. Students then decided that

the team would donate 50% of the funds raised to a local

or national charity (with the other 50% helping to offset

field trip costs this spring). The two causes were voted on

by students just prior to the holiday break. These gener-

ous donations truly demonstrate that 8C students under-

stand that there is a bigger world outside of their commu-

nity and that there are times when the needs of others

trumps the needs of ourselves. Thank you and great job to

8C students.

Teaching French Language and Culture Teaching French Language and Culture Teaching French Language and Culture Teaching French Language and Culture in the 6in the 6in the 6in the 6thththth GradeGradeGradeGrade

As part of an Introduction to World Language, Mrs.

Hampe’s classes learned French for two weeks in

January. Two former TRMS students, Aven Larosa

and Morgan McGurn, were guest teachers in

Mrs. Hampe’s classes. They volunteered their time

to teach French vocabulary and culture related to

the well known French celebration “Mardi Gras”. As

part of the experience, the students made masks

and wore traditional Mardi Gras costumes.

Aven Larosa and Morgan McGurn are mem-

bers of the TRHS French Honor Society. The pur-

pose of the French Honor Society is to recognize

high achievement in the study of the French lan-

guage and to promote continuity in interest and enthusiasm in French studies. What a great way to give back to

the Middle School by lending a hand in introducing French to students! Merci beaucoup Aven et Morgan!

Happenings at TRMS

New After School Clubs New After School Clubs New After School Clubs New After School Clubs for Quarter 3for Quarter 3for Quarter 3for Quarter 3

Do you love to write? Do you love to write? Do you love to write? Do you love to write? Mrs. Boyle-Steed is hosting the

new Creative Writing Club on

Wednesday afternoons. Please

see her to sign up in Room

1217.

Sister Power Sister Power Sister Power Sister Power is a girls empowerment group offered to eighth grade girls. We are getting to-

gether on Wednesday’s after school. This is a

great group to

build up self-

confidence

and self-

esteem to help

the girls be

more success-

ful in high

school. We

have a lot of

fun chatting it

up and doing

a variety of

activities. Always looking for more girls to join

us. See or call Mrs. Hogan for more information.

To see all after school clubs that are

offered this quarter, go to our website at:

http://wp.timberlane.net/ms/students/clubs-and-

activities/

Happenings at TRMS

NEWS FROM THE NEWS FROM THE NEWS FROM THE NEWS FROM THE LIBRARYLIBRARYLIBRARYLIBRARY The book fair was a great success

and will help our library continue

to be able to buy many wonderful

new books for our students. Here is

a quick update of our fair results:

• We sold $8874 of merchandise

(up from $7093 in 2011)

• We earned $2019 in profit from

these sales in the form of cash

and $593 in Scholastic dollars.

• We began a teacher wish list pro-

gram this fair, which resulted in

students and/or families gifting

teachers with books for classroom

libraries; 34 books were pur-

chased for staff from the fair.

• The library bought a book for

every teacher who filled out a

wish list form but did not receive

a gift from students; we gave

away 12 additional books to

teachers.

We plan to do another book fair

in June to kick off summer reading.

More information will be coming as

we get closer to the end of the

school year. Thanks for all of your

support!

YEARBOOK COVER YEARBOOK COVER YEARBOOK COVER YEARBOOK COVER CONTEST WINNERS CONTEST WINNERS CONTEST WINNERS CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCEDANNOUNCEDANNOUNCEDANNOUNCED The yearbook cover contest was held in

January. Eighth grade students voted

on which artwork they wanted on the

cover of this year’s yearbook. The win-

ner was Elizabeth German.

First runner up was Troy Blackadar,

and third place went to Coryn Abood.

An awards ceremony was held last week in

which all of the attending contestants received

awards of appreciation.

All of the artwork submitted will have a

spot somewhere in the yearbook and the top

three winners’ artwork will be on the first few

pages.

THANKS to ALL of the artists who

shared their creativity during this con-

test. Each piece submitted was beautiful and

will add so much to the yearbook!

GREEN TEAM TAKES ACTIONGREEN TEAM TAKES ACTIONGREEN TEAM TAKES ACTIONGREEN TEAM TAKES ACTION Timberlane Middle School's environmental club, the "Green Team," has

been hard at work this quarter. After brainstorming project ideas at

the first meeting of the season, the Green Team decided to focus on the

recycling efforts at TRMS. They began by

reviewing the evolution of the recycling pro-

gram over the past 10 years and completing a

school wide inventory of recycling bins pres-

ently available and in use. It was decided

that the next step would be to invest in addi-

tional bins for bottle recycling such that all

classrooms would have immediate access to

both paper and bottle receptacles. The new

bins were purchased with funds raised by the

Green Team during their Earth Day fundrais-

er last spring. With the help of advisors Terri

Costa and Erica DiRenzo, Green Team mem-

bers assembled

and distributed

the new bins

throughout the

school. The

Green Team will

continue to meet

in the new quar-

ter and will aim

to raise aware-

ness and

encourage

recycling at the

middle school.

COUNSELOR’S CORNER During the month of January, TRMS hosted guest

speaker Chandler Bullard from Northeast Passages,

an organization at UNH that assists people with a va-

riety of disabilities. Mr. Bullard, or Chandler, as he

prefers to be called by the students, uses wheelchairs

as the means for students to participate in sports us-

ing adaptations to participate independently.

After hearing Chandler speak in a school wide as-

sembly, the students had the opportunity to get

hands-on experience by participating in wheelchair

handball, which they found very challenging. After-

wards, Chandler spoke with our students about em-

bracing and accepting differences.

Students also had the opportunity to process what

they learned from Chandler in their advisory in the

days following the presentation. In speaking with stu-

dents about what message they received, many of

them stated “Not To Judge One Another”. It was an

amazing day and we send out a big thanks to Chandler

for inspiring our students.

Happenings at TRMS

EARN FREE TICKETS EARN FREE TICKETS EARN FREE TICKETS EARN FREE TICKETS TO A FISHER CATS TO A FISHER CATS TO A FISHER CATS TO A FISHER CATS GAME!GAME!GAME!GAME! Take the Fisher Cats Reading

Challenge. Just read five

books and you

can earn two

tickets to a game.

Record the titles on the

Reading Challenge

forms available from

your language arts teacher gor

the library. Have your parent or

guardian sign the form, and

return it to your

teacher or Mrs. W in

the library by March

13th. Baseball tickets

will be mailed directly

to your house!

PENNIES FOR PENNIES FOR PENNIES FOR PENNIES FOR PATIENTSPATIENTSPATIENTSPATIENTS

The Pennies for Patients Fund-

raiser is going on now. Pennies

for Patients raises money for

childhood Leukemia re-

search. We have delivered col-

lection boxes to homerooms .

Please consider donating your

spare change. The fundraiser ends at February vacation.

Thank you! Mrs. Fanning’s advisory

If you had the chance to see the latest Timberlane Middle School musical, you know that it did not disap-

point. On Saturday, February 2nd, the stage was once again glorious with the smiling faces of our middle school

students and beautiful sets during two outstanding shows.

Year after year, Mrs. Mulhall, FACS teacher, and Mrs. Howard, Chorus teacher, have put in countless hours

to give our students the opportunity to experience being part of a fantastic production. The numerous tasks, too

many to count, include coordination and planning, tryouts and placements, chorus rehearsals, dance rehearsals,

reading rehearsals, costume-making, set production, back stage tech coordination, advertising, all culminating in

long days of dress rehearsals, and finally the performances. And to add to the magnitude of putting together a

musical play, two groups of students are given the opportunity to be in the character roles, and in doing so, they

actual have to practice two plays! Seventy seven students took the stage, while another thirteen students helped

behind the scenes, including a few from the high school. Our gratitude to Mrs. Mulhall and Mrs. Howard for their

hard work and dedication.

An enormous thank you also goes out to the many involved for their time and assistance: the directors, pro-

ducer, choreographers, actors and dancers, stage crew, PAC coordinator, tech coordinators, and many, many par-

ents . The pictures below tell the story.

STUDENTS DELIVER SWEET PERFORMANCES IN WILLY WONKA JR.STUDENTS DELIVER SWEET PERFORMANCES IN WILLY WONKA JR.STUDENTS DELIVER SWEET PERFORMANCES IN WILLY WONKA JR.STUDENTS DELIVER SWEET PERFORMANCES IN WILLY WONKA JR.