Middlebury Elementary School

2/2/12

Dear Families:

            We have been incredibly fortunate with recent weather and I am hoping that this pattern will continue.  The weather related interruptions from the fall are fading into the past and we now have some great instructional momentum given the regularity and predictability of our schedule.  Let’s hope that the weather continues to cooperate!

            In recent years we have had more and more students bring tablet type electronic devices like Kindles and Nooks to school.  These devices serve an important and worthwhile purpose during student’s independent reading time.  They can promote student’s reading engagement and also provide access to text through a medium that is becoming much more common.  With the addition of any new technology there are potential pitfalls.  As a school, we want to support student’s literacy in all forms, including electronic, but we also need to establish some clear parameters in order to keep students on task and safe.  Here are some expectations that we will share with all students regarding the use of tablets and other electronic devices for accessing texts:

1. Students will have the opportunity to bring tablet electronic devices to school for the purpose of accessing instructional resources as directed by the teacher.  To keep that opportunity, students must show that they can use that device with independence and with responsibility.
2. If a student uses an electronic device to access content other than instructional resources prescribed by the teacher, (e.g. games or attempting to find inappropriate content) they will lose the opportunity to bring the device to school and may also have a disciplinary consequence.
3. Like any personal item, the protection and care of that item is the student’s responsibility.  The school is not responsible for lost or broken personal items.

I ask that you review and reinforce this information with your child.  It is exciting that a growing number of students are reading frequently on their tablets and we would like to promote continued use for that purpose.

      On another note, with Valentine’s Day approaching, students may always bring cards to school for their classmates.  If your child chooses to do this, I ask that they be inclusive of all students in their class and not exclude some students while giving cards to others.  Also, please be sure that your child does not bring in any edible items.  The district’s allergy and nutrition policy does not allow students to share or distribute food at school.  As always, thank you for your ongoing support and please contact me if you have any questions.  

Sincerely,

Jack Zamary, Ed.D.

Principal

The mission of Middlebury Elementary School, a collaborative community in which everyone is a learner, is to provide an environment that values and encourages curiosity, creativity and critical thinking as a path to the development of individuals who think deeply and take responsible actions to enhance their local and global communities.  

 The Crosssroads student handbook is now available under the "parents" link on the left side of this page.

Spirit Days

 Click here to see when the Spirit Days of MES will be occurring for the 2011 - 2012 school year.  

 MESsage for Winter 2011-2012

 Hot off the press!  Read about what is happening in each grade level.   Click here.