Mr. Olkowski's Letter (English) Mr. Olkowski's Letter (Spanish) I am very excited to be serving as the Principal of Torrington Middle School. I have had the opportunity to meet with community members, parents, teachers, and many students. The TMS community is very strong and will achieve new heights by continuing to work together with all families. I believe that every child can learn under the right circumstances. As your new Principal, I have a tremendous responsibility to the school community to help all Torrington children gain access and opportunities to achieve the American dream. It is a role that I do not take lightly. I believe that public education is one of our country’s greatest contributions to the world. It is the great equalizer in our society and opens the doors to countless opportunities. Receiving an excellent education, which prepares students for college and careers, will help our children achieve their future dreams. As a graduate of the University of Delaware, Rutgers University, and the University of Connecticut, I am living my dream serving as your Principal, and am committed to helping Torrington students receive the best education possible. I adhere to the “Turning Points” Philosophy of schooling, which operates on the belief that every adolescent child regardless of age, race, gender, and/or socioeconomic status is at a “turning point” in his/her life while attending middle school. Parents, teachers, community members, and all adults who work with children must collaborate and work together to make each and every child’s “turning point” a successful one, which prepares them for college and future careers. TMS VIKING NEWS ALL ABOUT OUR TMS COMMUNITY RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY WELCOME, MR. OLKOWSKI! Below, you will find a link to Mr. Bryan Olkowski’s welcome letter in both English and Spanish. CONGRATS MRS. MAGUIRE!! TMS WELCOMES NEW PRINCIPAL Mrs. Leanne Maguire has been nominated as the city school district’s teacher of the year nine times. This year, she finally won! Along with that, Mrs. Maguire is our new assistant principal at TMS! What makes her so good? Mrs. Maguire takes the time to get to know the students and their families, so she can understand where they are coming from. Also, she works to help students connect with at least one adult at school, someone who can serve as a mentor and a role model. TORRINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL 200 MIDDLE SCHOOL DRIVE (860) 496-4050 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 RESPECT RESPONSIBILITY SAFETY T M S Positions Mr. O has held: Over the last eighteen years, I have served as a High School Social Studies Teacher, a Central Office Administrator, an Assistant Principal, a Middle School Principal, and a High School Principal Mr. O says… “I truly look forward to working with our amazing Torrington community to ensure that our children’s ‘turning points’ are ones that will ultimately lead to college and career success while simultaneously providing them with access to the American dream.” Together we are stronger!
5
Embed
TORRINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL 200 MIDDLE SCHOOL DRIVE …torringtontms.ss16.sharpschool.com/UserFiles... · Cross Country Announcement: We have our final meet of the season on Monday,
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Mr. Olkowski's Letter (English) Mr. Olkowski's Letter (Spanish)
I am very excited to be serving as the Principal of Torrington Middle
School. I have had the opportunity to meet with community members, parents, teachers, and many students. The TMS community is very strong and will achieve new heights by continuing to work together with all families. I believe that every child can learn under the right circumstances. As your new Principal, I have a tremendous responsibility to the school community to help all Torrington children gain access and opportunities to achieve the American dream. It is a role that I do not take lightly.
I believe that public education is one of our country’s greatest contributions to the world. It is the great equalizer in our society and opens the doors to countless opportunities. Receiving an excellent education, which prepares students for college and careers, will help our children achieve their future dreams. As a graduate of the University of Delaware, Rutgers University, and the University of Connecticut, I am living my dream serving as your Principal, and am committed to helping Torrington students receive the best education possible.
I adhere to the “Turning Points” Philosophy of schooling, which operates on the belief that every adolescent child regardless of age, race, gender, and/or socioeconomic status is at a “turning point” in his/her life while attending middle school. Parents, teachers, community members, and all adults who work with children must collaborate and work together to make each and every child’s “turning point” a successful one, which prepares them for college and future careers.
TMS VIKING NEWS
ALL ABOUT OUR TMS COMMUNITY RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY
WELCOME, MR. OLKOWSKI!
Below, you will find a link to Mr. Bryan Olkowski’s welcome letter in both English and Spanish.
CONGRATS MRS. MAGUIRE!!
TMS WELCOMES NEW PRINCIPAL
Mrs. Leanne Maguire has been nominated as the city school district’s teacher of the year nine times. This year, she finally won! Along with that, Mrs. Maguire is our new assistant principal at TMS! What makes her so good? Mrs. Maguire takes the time to get to know the students and their families, so she can understand where they are coming from. Also, she works to help students connect with at least one adult at school, someone who can serve as a mentor and a role model.
TORRINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL 200 MIDDLE SCHOOL DRIVE (860) 496-4050 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018
RESPECT
RESPONSIBILITY
SAFETY T M
S
Positions Mr. O has held: Over the last eighteen years, I have served as a High School Social Studies Teacher, a Central Office Administrator, an Assistant Principal, a Middle School Principal, and a High School Principal
Mr. O says… “I truly look forward to working with our amazing Torrington community to ensure that our children’s ‘turning points’ are ones that will ultimately lead to college and career success while simultaneously providing them with access to the American dream.”
FREE NEWSPAPER TEMPLATE DELIVERED BY WWW.EXTRANEWSPAPERS.COM
3
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES TMS is moving full steam ahead with implementing restorative practices! What does this mean, you say? Restorative practices include the use of informal and formal processes that precede wrongdoing by proactively building relationships and a sense of community to PREVENT conflict. These practices also include maintaining natural consequences and repairing harm after crime and other wrongdoing occurs. Restorative practices can be implemented using formal and/or informal restorative conferences and/or restorative circles. Using these strategies facilitates connections among individuals, which work to establish trust, mutual understanding, and shared values and behaviors. This then binds us together and makes cooperative action possible. The use of restorative practices helps to:
o Reduce crime, violence, and bullying o Improve human behavior o Strengthen civil society o Provide effective leadership o Restore relationships o Repair harm
IMPORTANT INFO
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held at TMS on:
o Monday, November 19, 2018 from 1:15pm-3:15pm
o Tuesday, November 20, 2018 from 5:30pm-7:30pm
THESE ARE EARLY DISMISSAL DAYS FOR STUDENTS. TMS STUDENTS WILL LEAVE SCHOOL AT 12:40PM.
1. Go to http://www.myconferencetime.com/torringtonms/
2. Click name of your child’s teacher. 3. Select date/time for your conference
by clicking on “Sign Up”. 4. If a Spanish translator is needed,
please type “Spanish” in the “Translator Requested” box for each time slot when signing up.
5. Submit the requested information. THE CONFERENCE SCHEDULES WILL BE ACCESSIBLE ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2018 AT 6:00AM.
FREE NEWSPAPER TEMPLATE DELIVERED BY WWW.EXTRANEWSPAPERS.COM
4
Interview with Mr. David Franklin by Adam Millord (7th grade student at TMS) I sat and interviewed Mr. Franklin about the start-up of the Horticulture Club at TMS. Mr. Franklin explained that the club was started last
year when East School was gracious enough to donate their garden to TMS. He said he wanted to help students learn about plants. He
stated that this was a good way for students to get ready for Vo-Ag high school. He talked about how during their meetings, students grow
fruits and vegetables from seed. They also test soil and water for pH values, decorate the courtyards, and sell flowers for Valentine’s Day
and Mother's Day. Mr. Franklin continued on, discussing how the Horticulture Club got started without any funding--much of it came from
his own giving. Because the results in the South Courtyard were so plentiful, it generated a grant from the Torrington Administration this
year. The Horticulture Club promises even greater surprises this year! Meetings will be starting on Tuesdays (and sometimes, on Wednesdays) as soon as we know the late bus schedule.
OCTOBER'S THEME: AUTUMN COLORS
o Determining Tree Selections for Best Fall Foliage (Walk Through Nature Trail)
o Understanding Photosynthesis & Foliage Change
o Identifying Trees by Their Leaves
o Decorations for Fall Festival Design (if we meet 10/16 or 10/17)
SPECIAL EVENT WITH MR. LUKE PEPPER AND HIS CLASS
On Friday, September 21st, Brandon Lane, a local race car driver came in to
speak with Mrs. Browning’s and Mr. Pepper’s classes. He shared about his time
growing up racing and how he had to remain disciplined in order to accomplish
his goals on the track. He shared stories about some of his experiences, brought
along his helmet for the students to check out, and signed autographs. The
students were then brought outside where Brandon pulled around his race
FREE NEWSPAPER TEMPLATE DELIVERED BY WWW.EXTRANEWSPAPERS.COM
5
MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS ARE BACK AT TMS!!
Middle school sports at back at TMS! For many student-athletes, trying a new sport in middle school can be a daunting task; some players have played for years
while others participate in a sport for the very first time. Regardless of experience, participation in sports teaches children how to:
Connect with other students on and off the field
Try something new—branching out to try a new sport
Become resilient—success does not happen overnight
Manage time—balance homework, sports practice, and family obligations
Learn good sportsmanship—how to win and lose with grace
Be positive—how to be a better player and a better teammate
Cross Country Announcement: We have our final meet of the season on Monday, October 22nd. The meet begins at 3:30, and I would love some volunteers who are willing to help. Please contact Mrs. Verbickas
Please take a moment to congratulate the TMS Volleyball team! ~Coach Musselman 8th grade