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rated PG

 

Friday, January 27, 2012

6:30 - 9:00pm

$3.00 per person

Snacks will be provided during intermission!

Elementary school students must be accompanied by a parent.

 

Please do not send money to school as this event sponsored by the MSP PTC

Make a reservation or pay at the door!! 

(limited seating to 275 guests)

 

Please contact Gena Sciaraffa at 860-410-1757 to make a reservation

If you get a voice mail, please leave your name, number and the number of guests, thanks!!

 

 

The MSP PTC has a license to show films from Movie Licensing USA

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ADL Step-Up and Bystander to Ally Programs Come to MSP
January, 2012

As part of our continuing efforts to maintain a positive school climate at the Middle School of Plainville and to directly address the topic of bullying, we are working with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) who presented an assembly on Monday January 9^th titled “Step-Up.”  The Anti-Defamation League’s education programs promote diversity and acceptance to create an inclusive and safe school setting. Derek Hall, from the ADL(pictured at left in the MSP Ventrelli Auditorium) , did a fantastic job presenting the program to the students.

The Step-Up assembly and class follow-up session helped students develop a common language for discussing issues of diversity, prejudice and name-calling.  Students increased their awareness of the dynamics of name-calling; bullying behavior and the different roles people play. During the assembly, the students saw the video "Let’s Get Real," where middle and high school students talk about their experiences with name calling, bullying behavior and intervening in the bullying process to become allies of others. 

The ADL will be back again later in January to train student leaders in their "Bystander to Ally" program. The objectives of the Bystander to Ally program are for students to: understand the role of being an ally to others; learn skills to be an effective ally at MSP; develop a plan to share their skills with others at MSP; and to develop a plan to enhance the school climate at MSP

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Looking In Theatre Group Visits MSP
December, 2011

The Looking in Theatre Group visited the Middle School of Plainville on December 15 as part of the school community’s focus on cultivating a positive climate and culture.  The performances were made possible through the financial support of the Middle School of Plainville Parent Teacher Club.

The Looking In Theatre Group, a program of the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) is lead by Director Jonathan Gilman (seen on right with actors answering audience questions) and was established in 1978. The theater group is composed of teens from the greater Hartford area who present dramatic skits dealing with important social,

family and personal issues that affect adolescents. Presentations were made in assemblies to Plainville sixth, seventh and eighth graders at the middle school, and included a series of dramatic scenes followed by discussion between the actors and Gilman, who served as the moderator. Students were then able to ask questions of the student actors regarding their characters and skits. The theater group worked in collaboration with administrators and faculty at the middle school to customize topics to be covered during the assemblies, including racism, bullying, physical and emotional abuse, and more. The middle school students prepared for the visit by the Looking in Theater Group through classroom discussion. Follow up discussion / feedback sessions facilitated by the Middle School’s Unified Arts faculty members were held after the assemblies.  Above left, physical education teacher, Amy Tennant, leads a post-performance discussion group in the gymnasium.  On the left, two of the teen actors perform in a skit.

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Super Soccer Season

Superintendent's Award

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Kids in the Middle
November, 2011

KIM (Kids in the Middle) is a community program available to students in grades 6-8 , which  provides opportunities for kids to be involved with their school and community. Members of the KIM program participate in a variety of fun activities that focus on helping others.  These activities can take place after school, on weekends, and occasionally during the school day. Some of the locations for KIM activities include the Plainville Housing Authority, the Wheeler Regional YMCA, Plainville Health Care, and the Plainville Association for Retarded Citizens. Students also volunteer at the Oak Hill School, which is located within the Middle School of Plainville. In the picture to the left, KIM members recently joined the MSP Military Mailroom in  making Thanksgiving Day cards for servicemen overseas. For more information call Mrs. Cindy Trifone, 793-3250 x1058, who works in the Middle School on Wednesdays, or ask your child to see their school counselor.

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Anti-bullying Event in Grade 6
October, 2011

School Counselor, Denise Grodzicki, recently conducted an anti-bullying event for all 6th grade students.  Together with the 6th grade faculty and staff, Ms. Grodzicki, organized a series of activities for students centered around the themes of the popular book and film, Diary of a Wimpy Kid.  This event was just one in a series aimed at preventing bullying  and reinforcing the climate of respectful and responsible behavior at MSP.

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Award Winning Author Visits MSP!

October, 2011

Charles R. Smith, author, poet and photographer visited MSP on October 12th and performed 3 interesting, interactive, and highly engaging presentations. Mr. Smith is a winner of the Coretta Scott King Book Award for Authors and Illustrators. While discussing the writing process, Mr. Smith performed many of his poems accompanied by a variety of his photographs. He has created many books and CDs for our students to enjoy. The MSP library has copies of many of his books and students are welcome to check them out. Many thanks to the Plainville Community Fund and the MSP PTC for helping to fund his visit. Please see Mrs. Lynch's Homepage (link in the left hand column) for more information on Mr. Smith and his books, as well as many other items of interest related to our Library Information Center.

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Opening Day at MSP!
September, 2011

Faculty and staff were thrilled to welcome back the students to the Middle School on September 1. We hope all students had a smooth and enjoyable start to the school year.  Please do not hesitate to contact your child's teacher, counselor, or administrator if you have a concern or question. Email is the best way to contact staff, but certainly call if you would prefer.

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Dive Into Reading!
June, 2011

To encourage all MSP students to read more, this year, Mr. Guarino, Principal, agreed to allow the top student readers to plunge him in a dunk tank. To fulfill this goal, MSP students had to read and write a review of a minimum of 1,200 books before June 20, 2011.  MSP students achieved and surpassed this goal. They read and reviewed 1246 books this year. The SPLASH! occurred on Monday, June 20th. The twelve top readers in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade took their best shots and many succeeded in dunking Mr. Guarino. 

Click here to see more dunking pictures ---->SPLASH!

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Connecticut Association of Schools Honors Middle Level Scholar-Leaders
June, 2011 The Connecticut Association of Schools established the Scholar-Leader Banquet in 1985 to give public recognition to one boy and one girl from each middle level school in Connecticut who have distinguished themselves in scholarship and leadership in school and the community. The two Scholar-Leaders chosen by the faculty at the Middle School this year are pictured here with Mr. Guarino, Principal.  The students and their parents attended a statewide awards banquet Monday, June 7. Each Scholar-Leader received an award signifying the honor, as well as an individual photograph commemorating the event. The Commissioner of Education and other dignitaries were included in the evening's program.  Mr. Guarino stated that, “The entire Plainville community should be exceedingly proud of these two outstanding students.  Their hard work, poise, and respectful interactions with everyone have made them charismatic but modest natural leaders.”

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The Amistad "Visits" the Middle School
May, 2011

The seventh graders of MSP explored the journey of African captives aboard the Amistad and their connection with Connecticut's history during the early 1900's.  Because of a grant,  obtained by MSP Assistant Principal Traci Mayette, from the American Voices project (a collaborative teaching American history grant involving CCSU and local school districts), the seventh graders in the social studies classes of Jody Muldoon and Allison Rogers, experienced some aspects of the Amistad experience through workshops with the Connecticut Historical Society.  Students sat on a mock slave ship reliving the amount of space a captive was forced to live in for the two to three month journey across the Atlantic Ocean.  They felt the weight of the chains used to shackle the kidnapped slaves.  They interacted in group cooperation exercises to simulate the captive's need for teamwork and leadership as they staged a rebellion.  They learned about the legal battle some Connecticut abolitionists waged on behalf of the Africans even though slavery was still legal in Connecticut in the 1830's and acted out a mock Supreme Court decision on the case.  This interactive workshop is an example of bringing history alive to our students and we thank the American Voices project for making this possible for MSP.

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Annual MSP Spirit Rally
May, 2011

600 students and their teachers gathered in the MSP gymnasium for the annual Spirit Rally.  Students dressed in red, blue, and black/pink to represent their grade and competed with each other in activities like limbo, name that tune, and balloon races, among many other fun events.  Click here to see more photos -> SPIRIT RALLY

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MSP Band Holds Annual Outdoor Spring Concert
May, 2011

The Middle School Band under the direction of Ed Dickman held its annual Spring concert outdoors at the school on Tuesday, May 3.  It was a beautiful evening and the students put on an outstanding performance. This was Mr. Dickman's last concert as the Middle School band director.  He will be retiring this year after expertly guiding more than 35 years worth of Plainville students in their instrumental and general music education. Mr. Dickman has been the heart and soul of the Middle School band and his towering presence will be missed.  But wait!  You have one more opportunity to see Mr. Dickman and the Middle School band in action during the Memorial Day Parade on May 30, 2011.  Don't miss it!

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MSP Students Participate in Inter-District Choral Exchange Program
April, 2011

Students from Berlin, Bristol and Plainville participated in the first Inter-District Choral Exchange Program on Friday, April 8th. One hundred middle school students raised their voices for a special collaborative inter-district festival. Under the direction of Corinne Terlecky from McGee Middle School in Berlin, members of the Sound Express were excited to host students from neighboring communities to share their joy of singing. First to arrive were The Chamber Singers from the  Middle School of Plainville under the direction of Todd Helming. Students also participated in  a workshop led by Plainville High School choral director Jeff Blanchette. Mr. Blanchette prepared two pieces that would feature all three ensembles.  The students met new friends, heard a variety of performances from other groups, and gained musical experiences and understandings that will help them prepare for their future musical endeavors.

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Dr. Victor DeNoble Speaks to MSP Students on the Harmful Effects of Nicotine
April, 2011

Dr. Victor DeNoble recently visited MSP for a presentation to the 7th graders on the harmful effects of nicotine and his experience as a scientist working in the tobacco industry.   The Oscar winning film, “The Insider,” was based on his life.  From his research, Dr. DeNoble was able to prove that nicotine was harmful to humans.  His research helped to lead to Congress holding hearings on the tobacco industry.  Dr. DeNoble presented some of his findings to the students.

This program was sponsored in part by the Plainville Coalition for Positive Youth Development.

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4th Annual Students vs. Staff Charity Basketball Event
March, 2011

This past Friday, March 25th, The Middle School of Plainville held its' 4th Annual Students vs. Staff Charity Basketball Event.  This year the Middle School of Plainville's selected charity was the Petit Family Foundation.  During the day Friday, Students spent time in Greg Warnat's room (math teacher and organizer of event) discussing the mission statement and benefits of contributing to the Petit Family Foundation, as well as creating posters and banners that were then hung in the gymnasium for the event.  During the first three years of this event, students contributed a TOTAL amount of $2,400.  However, this year, students and staff contributed a whopping $2,675 in only a two week period.  The game ended in a double overtime tie 59-59.  However, upon further review, a basket was erroneously credited to the teachers in the first half of the game, which would then have resulted in the students winning the game by 2.

Click on the basketball to see a slide show of the event.

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Science Day at MSP
March, 2011
Through a special grant given to the school by the Petit Family Foundation, the seventh grade science classes have been learning about how diseases

affect the cells of the human body. They have been actively involved in a variety of labs that are specifically designed to mimic real-life scenarios in which infectious agents and diseases are introduced to cells. Students tested how specific blood types are compatible with some blood and not others. They also discovered by way of another scientific investigation, how very quickly a flu virus is spread through a population.

To continue with this research, a special day was organized in which medical and science professionals were invited to do presentations about their careers. The purpose of the day was to increase interest in science in girls through real life experiences. Several professionals including an obstetrician, nurses, an MRI Technologist, an infection control practitioner, a pharmaceutical sales manager, a genetics researcher, an EMT and a paramedic attended this special event. Students were even treated to an official tour of an ambulance. Throughout this learning experience students walked away with a tangible concept of what these careers entail while learning new facts related to our seventh grade curricular goals. 

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Read Across America Celebration
March, 2011

MSP held their annual Read Across Americ a Celebration on Wednesday, March 2,  Dr. Suess' birthday. Over 200 students enjoyed reading

stories to each other and discussing them as they munched on snacks. Groups of 6th , 7th and 8th graders were in the library simultaneously, 24-36 students per period. Administrators, faculty and staff joined in as readers throughout the day.  A special thanks to Library Information Teacher, Joyce Lynch and Library Information para, Marcia Prokop, for organizing the event.

Go to the following site to see more pictures from Read Across America day at MSP: MSP LIC

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Helming Named One of "50 Directors Who Make a Difference!"
January, 2011

Middle School of Plainville Music Instructor Todd Helming was recently selected by The School Band and Orchestra Magazine, as one of “50 Directors Who Make a Difference.” According to the magazine, this year there was an unprecedented number of recommendations from teachers, administrators, colleagues and students from across the United States. One director per state is selected, representing an extraordinary range of experience, specialization, and character.  Helming’s profile is featured in the December 2010 issue of The School Band and Orchestra Magazine.

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Military Mailroom Hosts Visit from Pen Pals
January, 2011
On January 3rd, The Military Mailroom hosted a visit

from three of their pen pals, who had just returned from a tour in Afghanistan.  SGT. Peter Phelan, SGT. Daniel Adams, SGT. Andrew Ng, and SGT. Christina Philibert  had exchanged letters with the students in our club during the course of their deployment, which was 9 months.  It is estimated that between 125 and 150 letters have been sent back and forth between these three soldiers and the students in the club.  The students were so grateful for all the work they did sending us letters and were thrilled to host our pen pals for this special visit.  Peter, Daniel and Andrew shared highlights from their military careers and helped the students to understand that they are just regular people with a special job.  SGT. Philibert was able to visit many different areas of Afghanistan and brought many items commonly made in Afghanistan.  Items such as scarves, Afghan money, chai tea cups, burkhas, and jewelry made her visit a very special memory for all club members.W e hope to continue to support Connecticut soldiers while they are deployed in the future!