Student Spotlight

 Sarah Doyle-Grade 6

This week’s spotlight is on Sarah Doyle.  She is working with the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center and our NMS family to help with Operation Care Package to donate to our military. We will be collecting items in the main office.  A poster was printed for every classroom with suggestions of what our troops ask for the most.  Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated!!  Thank you for helping and thank you Sarah for organizing this amazing event. 

Hannah Blanchard Shines at NELMS

8th grade student Hannah Blanchard greeted hundreds of educators gathered at the New England League of Middle School’s 32nd Annual Conference held at the Rhode Island Convention Center April 4th in Providence, Rhode Island. Hannah represented Normandin MiddleSchool and spoke about student’life from an 8th grader's perspective. Hannah was accompanied by her parents and guidance counselor Mr. Sullivan. Hannah rehearsed her greeting with her 8-1 teachers and classmates. The pod and the entire Normandin community are so proud of Hannah!  Thank you Mr. Sullivan for attending the conference with Hannah.

 

 Hannah Blanchard

Hannah & her proud parents 

NMS Teacher Mr. Donnelly Nationally Recognized

Mr. Donnelly - Grade 8 Social Studies

Christopher Donnelly, a local teacher from Normandin Middle School, has been selected as an NEH Summer Scholar from a national applicant pool to attend one of twenty-one NEH Landmarks of American History and Culture Workshops.  The National Endowment for the Humanities is a federal agency that each year supports summer study opportunities so that teachers can work with experts in humanities disciplines.

 Mr. Donnelly    will participate in a workshop entitled “The Underground Railroad.” The one-week program will be held at the University of Massachusetts and is directed by Lee Blake.

The eighty teachers selected to participate in the program each receive a $1,200 stipend to help cover their travel, study, and living expenses.

Topics for the twenty-one NEH Landmarks of American History and Culture Workshops offered for teachers this summer include the American skyscraper; the Civil Rights movement; the Erie Canal; African-American artisans, entrepreneurs, and abolitionists; exploration of U.S. Pacific coast; the Adirondacks in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era; early California settlement; Frank Lloyd Wright and the Prairie School; Gullah culture; the Shakers; the Hudson River in American history; the Industrial Revolution; Zora Neale Hurston; colonial New England; Mississippi Delta history and culture; mining in the Far West; the Underground Railroad; Kentucky during the Civil War; the transcontinental railroad; and the War of 1812.  The approximately 1,680 teachers who participate in these studies will teach more than 210,000 American students the following year.

LET'S MEET SOME OF THE TERRIFIC PEOPLE THAT MAKE NORMANDIN MS A 'GREAT' PLACE TO LEARN!

Ms. Yuille - Grade 6

1. I danced for 11 years
2. I coach softball for NBHS
3. I am currently doing "insanity" to get in shape
4. My favorite color is pink
5. I went to California last summer for the first time on vacation

Ms. Hendrickson-Grade 8 Science

1. Grew up in Barrington, NJ (South Jersey)
2. Played college softball for East Stroudsburg University, PA
3. Work for the Paw Sox and for the Dunkin Donuts Center
4. Lived, taught and coached in Northern Virginia for 6 years.  Assistant coach for Langley HS-VA state softball Champions 1992!
5. Favorite role ever played in life...Coach H

Staff vs. Students Basketball Game

Thank you to all the staff and students that assisted with Normandin's new tradition: students vs. staff basketball game. It was a great time and everyone had fun. A special thank you to the players, chorus and the cheerleaders for working so hard. Also a shout out to GEAR UP and the PTO for financially supporting the half-time snacks and raffle prizes. We raised $253.50 which was donated to the library for supplies. Thank you all again for participating. A special thank you to Ms. Saraiva for organizing this amazing event!

Scholarship Recipient

Ryann Souza

Congratulations to Ryann Souza from pod 8-2!  She has been selected to receive the New England Region Cheerleading Scholarship for $600, an award obtained by achieving a 96 or above GPA. Many students receive the award but a chosen few actually receive a scholarship. Ryann is also eligible for the National Level Scholarship.  Good Luck Ryann! 

 



5 Quick Things

LET'S MEET SOME OF THE TERRIFIC PEOPLE THAT MAKE NORMANDIN MS A 'GREAT' PLACE TO LEARN!

 

Ms. Santos - 8th Grade Math

 

1. There are 10 children in my family. I am lucky number 7. I have 6 sisters, ALL named Mary and three brothers. They are also my best friends.

2. My father was a school principal in Taunton and my mother was a teacher. I also have a sister that has been teaching in Taunton for 10 years.

3. I am married and have two boys, ages 18 and 16. I am a intense version of a "soccer" mom with the exception that my boys play basketball and baseball.

4. I have worked in the business world for 20 years until my sister told me I should teach.

5. My favorite place on earth is the beach. I grew up at Horseneck and spend the majority of my time off at the beach.

 

Ms. Saraiva - Grade 8 Science

 

I have two beautiful baby boys.

I love horses and I have two named Ozzie and Okkie .

I enjoy gardening and my husband and I grow three big gardens each year.

I love teaching because it challenges and rewards me everyday.

I can't even think of a fifth un-interesting thing about me. LOL

Normandin Middle School Student of the Month Recipients

 Student of the Month is a recognition program designated to help encourage all of our students to continually strive for greatness! These students were selected by their teachers because of their great academic success, outstanding attendance, positive personality, and overall good character. These students exemplify what a Normandin Middle School Student should be! Thank you to our Gear Up Coordinators Carly Suzan and Brooke Walsh for organizing this amazing program! Thank you for our caring teachers for taking the time to nominate our students.

 

6^th Grade

Isaiah Mota, Kaleigh Martins, Brianna Silva, Bridget Carroll, Ethan Robert, Nicole Arruda, Alexia Macaroco, Andrew Soares, Michael Maloney, Julien De Pina, Trevor Chasse, Caitlyn Ortiz, Lexie Green, Gustavo Jimenez, Alexis Ostman, Savannah DaSilva, Bethany Martin, Julian Arriaga, Payton Conceciao, Tirzah Lucas, Shea Costa, Cesar Lucatero-Quiroz, Delilah Cruz

7^th Grade

Taonre Taylor, Jessica Lawrence, Nolan Carreiro, Brandon Cardoso, Huy Dang, Gabriella Burris, Abbigail Jupin, Matthew Lapa, Hailey Meunier

8^th Grade

Jesse Carreiro, Kayleigh Cozzens , Nicholas Vieira, Ryann Souza, Nicolette Dubois, Sean Goulart, Nicholas Claudina, Victoria Sebastio, Alyssa Gonzales, Kristin Gonzales, Anthony Carvalho, Jasmine Sousa

GEAR UP

(Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a national initiative to encourage more young people to have high expectations, stay in school, study hard, and take the right courses to go on to college.

Normandin Rallies Against Cancer

Rally Against Cancer with the Boston Red Sox and the Jimmy Fund

Thanks to all Team Members and anonymous donors who donated to the Jimmy Fund's Rally Against Cancer fund raiser again this year! We earned a total of $220.00 in one week. This amount is $50.00 more than last year! During Boston Red Sox Opening Day Ceremonies donor schools and businesses are thanked for their generosity. Also, the Jimmy Fund Chorus sang the National Anthem and the Star Spangled Banner as well as another one of their special songs during the festivities! It is impressive! Search Jimmy Fund Chorus on YouTube. Also, check out  Normandin Navigator's Page! 

5 Quick Things

LET'S MEET SOME OF THE TERRIFIC PEOPLE THAT MAKE NORMANDIN MS A 'GREAT' PLACE TO LEARN!

 

 

Ms. Weaver-Grade 6 ELA/SS

 

#5  I have been an avid soccer player since grade school; played in college and beyond.  Coached varsity soccer at Bradenton Academy in Florida, and I am still a youth soccer coach for the town of Plymouth, for my daughters team “The Galaxy Girls!”

#4  I am a motorcycle enthusiast! Rode dirt bikes with my cousins as kids and began riding motorcycles shortly after graduating college.  Enjoy going on sponsored runs, two of my favorites being the Halloween Run in Salem and the Toys for Tots in Dorchester.  There is no greater feeling than “cruising” with a bunch of friends.  On day I would love to travel cross-country on the motorcycle.  Stopping in Sturgis of course!   (PS- MY mother hates this!)

#3  I love to travel. However, I have been in the same classroom since this Normandin opened in 2003. I met my husband on vacation 13 years ago.  We have been married 10 years and have 2 beautiful children.  We take the kids on an adventure every year!  Last year was an east coast road trip with stops in Baltimore, Washington DC, Myrtle Beach and Anna Maria Island. A visit to Niagara Falls and camping in the mountains of North Carolina are planned for this summer. 

#2  For 12 years I worked on a fishing and whale watching fleet.  For years I was the only girl deckhand. Yes, I can run lines, tie knots, gaff fish, and filet with the best of them. This experience allowed me to see the Tall Ships up close and personal, twice.  Salt water runs through my veins, I currently live less than a block from the ocean. 

#1  I will always have a rock/stone/pebble in my possession.  During a time in my life when my health was failing and it seemed everything that could go wrong did, my aunt took me for a walk on the beach.  While we were walking she told me to fill my pockets with pebbles and stones.  In silence we collected stones until I was so weighed down and could not carry anymore.  As we drove home I emptied my stones on the floor of the car and asked why?  She explained to me that the stones were my problems, and as I solved them (or got over my obstacle) I was to return my stones to the beach as a sign they were gone for good.  I did and within 2 years I was down to just 3 stones.  What a way of putting life into perspective!  I have never gotten rid of every stone, and pick up a few more every now and again.  But what a good feeling when I can give them back, some stones are meant for throwing. 







Mr. Griffin-Grade 7 Math

 

1. Won the city championship in 8th grade for cross country
2. I have a 3 yr old sister
3. My favorite time of the day/week besides the time I spend at Normandin, is before 8 am on a Saturday
4. I am from Philadelphia and I am a die hard Phillies fan
5. Worked at the Red Sox team store on Yawkey Way next to Fenway park two Summers ago