A
Two Week Glance At Events Upcoming:
SEPTEMBER
23rd - 8th Grade Family Mtg. 7 PM Cafe
25th - PTA Back-To-School Night - 7 PM PAC
28th - School Picture Day
Middle
School Sports Schedule may be found by clicking HERE
*Page opens as a new window and contains sports for both the middle school
and the high school.
Scroll Down For Up Coming Events Not Listed Above
A Message From Mr. Cocucci:
Dear
Parents/Guardians and Family Members:
It is my pleasure to welcome you
to a new and exciting year at Secaucus Middle School.
As children grow, they begin to experience physical, intellectual, and
emotional changes. The way they
learn, feel, see the world, and relate to other people becomes different from
when they were younger. Theses
changes, along with demands from present-day society and peer pressure, create
conflicts and tension in the adolescent which are reflected in their behavior in
school and at home.
Young people at this age show a good number of contradictions and
conflicts, which is normal. There is
no “model” adolescent. All young
persons are individuals with strong and weak points and with positive and
negative qualities. These are some
common characteristics that should be kept in mind in order to understand and
help the middle schooler in daily activities at home and at school:
v
Adolescents
have high levels of physical and emotional energy, which may contrast with long
periods of idleness, generally disapproved of by adults.
v
They
take risks, are curious, and love danger and adventure, yet their feelings can
be hurt easily. This is the time
when they feel immortal but they worry a lot about what their friends think
about them.
v
They
want to be independent from their families, and at the same time, they need to
be pampered and protected.
v
They
withdraw and want a private life, and at the same time, they worry about being
accepted by their peers.
v
They
demand privileges but avoid responsibilities.
At the same time, they are developing an awareness of social problems and
the welfare of others.
Adolescents from other cultures sometimes face an additional burden as
they develop their identities and try to comply with the requirements of home
and school. On one side, they have
the values and customs of the home and the family wants to maintain and on the
other, they have to respond to the demands of their peers and teachers, who have
a different set of rules.
There are many ways that parents can demonstrate to their adolescent
children that they are interested in academic success and that they are
available to offer support and protection when there are problems.
Here are some suggestions:
v
Talk
with your child about what happens at school every day.
Ask often if there are messages from the school.
v
Spend
some relaxed time with your children. Share
a meal or a snack. Tell them often
what you like about them.
v
Listen
to and share their worries. Support
what you believe to be good about the school and offer your help to change any
school practices that you believe could be harmful to your child.
v
Avoid
scolding and arguments when your teenagers bring bad news home.
Listen to their reasons and offer your help to improve the situation.
It helps if your children know you believe they will be successful.
v
Value
their education by encouraging homework and reading.
Help your children choose a good time and place to do their assignments
and special projects. Provide the
necessary materials and give them your unconditional support.
Remember that as grown up, as your child may seem, he/she still needs
your support. Take your cue from
them, but keep in mind that pushing you away is a normal part of adolescence.
What they really want and need is for you to stay involved.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to all.
Have a great school year!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
OCTOBER
1st
- Honor Roll Assembly - 9 AM PAC
Principal's AD Meeting - 7 PM
10th - Midterm Progress Reports
17th - Professional Development - One Session (11:45 AM)
19th - Grade 7th Cycle 1 Ends
22th - Grade 7 Cycle 2 Begins
25th - Halloween Social 6:30pm - 10:00pm CAFE