Clark Lane Connects
Clark Lane Middle School February 2025
GLOW:
We are moving in the right direction to reach our goal of having 95 % of our students in attendance daily!
GROW:
Attendance Tip- Going to school regularly helps students get better grades. If you are planning family events or travel, please check the school calendar ahead of time so that you can minimize the number of days your student will miss school.
Hello CLMS Parents and Guardians!
As you know, we are well into Trimester 2 and have a lot to celebrate! Many of you have supported our attendance initiative of increasing attendance awareness, impact and communication for all CLMS community members by sharing your child's data and needs with staff, collaborating with us to support any area of concern and celebrating the “Glows”!!! Here are some additional links of support: Reg. 5010 Student Admission Attendance Truancy chronic Absenteeism and Withdrawal.pdf
Clark Lane Middle School Attendance Procedures Overview 24-25
Thank you for all your support!
Mr. Sachs & Mrs. Howard
REMINDER for ALL STUDENTS!
Bring your school-issued device with you to school EVERY DAY, even on the first day! Be sure to charge your device or bring your charger with you!
Also, don’t forget to bring a refillable water bottle with you to school daily!
Thank you for your attention!
Clark Lane Middle School 860-443-2837
Main Office, Press 1
Report Absence, Press 2
Or email: CLMS-Attend@waterfordschools.org
Nurse (Health Office), Press 3
School Counseling Office, Press 4
Assistant Principal, Press 5
To reach teachers by email: first initial, followed by last name @waterfordschools.org
For example: lhietala@waterfordschools.org
To view Clark Lane’s staff directory:
UPCOMING EVENTS!
Mark your calendars!
Fri., February 7 – School Dance from 2:454:45 pm, CLMS Cafetorium Mon., February 10 - Fri., February 14 –
Scholastic Book Fair, CLMS Library Mon., February 17 & Tues., February 18 –
School Holiday, No School
Tomeka K. Howard Assistant Principal
James M. Sachs Principal
Clark Lane Middle School…
Connecting with Parents
From the Office of Guidance/Attendance:
Dear Parent/Guardian,
We wanted to remind you that Carol Abate has retired as of December 20, 2024, and her former email address is no longer reaching the attendance office. Lynne Hietala is our new Administrative Assistant supporting Clark Lane’s Guidance Office and Attendance management. When contacting the school for any special bus requests, please use the clms-attend@waterfordschools.org email address as all requests must be in writing. You may use that same email address to report a daily absence or to send documentation regarding extended absences.
Additionally, we are including the link to our School Attendance Policy as a refresher for your review. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s attendance, please contact Ms. Hietala at the email above or by calling (860) 437-6983.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JKG2vz1ETjyXRaWpnMFsEjMuOBNeUII4/view
Thank you.
Did you know…February is Black History Month? This year, February will be a celebration of Black History Month with the theme "African Americans and Labor".
Click the code to learn more.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
March 20, 2025 More information coming soon!
NOTE: Please remind your student to BRING THEIR TICKET on the day of the dance and please send students to school with money to purchase drinks/snacks to avoid dropping off during the school day, as it causes a disruption to the school day. Thank you!
Clark Lane Middle School…
Connecting with Parents
February 2025
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to CLMS!
The fair will run from Monday, February 10th through Friday, February 14th in the library at Clark Lane Middle School.
Stay tuned to the CLMS PTO page for more information!
Misplaced something? Think you left it at school? Check the LOST & FOUND table in Clark Lane’s cafeteria!
Drop off Procedures/Times
Parents may drop off students no sooner than 7:15am. Students wait in the cafeteria before proceeding to Homeroom.
Students who arrive after 8 am MUST be signed in at the Main Office (in the back of the building) by a parent/guardian. Please accompany your student into the building.
REMINDER
All teachers at Clark Lane Middle School have extra help days. Help days are generally on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays due to the availability of late buses.
If your student needs extra help, wants to retake an assessment, or would just like extra support in a specific class, have your student reach out to his/her teacher(s)! We’re here to help!
Early Dismissal Procedure
We ask that you make every attempt to NOT dismiss your student after 2:15 pm, unless a note was given in the morning. It is a disruption to the end of the school day and traffic management.
Thank you for your attention to this!
Clark Lane Middle School…
Connecting with Parents
February 2025
As a reminder and for you to review with your student(s), here is our PRIDE matrix. These are the behaviors and expectations we have for our students in the different areas of our building like the hallways and bathrooms, and in various situations like on the school bus, for instance. The expectations at the top of this chart (in the gray box) represent those expectations which we at Clark Lane Middle School consider to be the non-negotiables and include: no cell phones, no hurtful or abusive language and no rough-housing or horseplay, to name a few. For a more clear copy of our expectations, you may refer to the Clark Lane Student Handbook, which all students were given a copy of on the first day of school. Should you have questions, we encourage you to reach out to our Administration. Thank you for your support!
Reminder to Parents!
Wondering how your student is doing in his/her classes? Curious what grades your student has? Is your student coming to class prepared? Is your student missing assignments? Not completing assigned work? Be sure to check PowerSchool for comments. For many teachers, this is their means of daily, sometimes weekly communication.
For help logging in to PowerSchool, check out the page on our website shared here:
Clark Lane Middle School…
Connecting with Parents
February 2025
ATTENTION STUDENTS AND PARENTS
While we welcome students to stay after school for games and competitions that take place at Clark Lane Middle School, there are rules in place that must be followed for the safety of all.
Students who stay after school:
● MUST REPORT to cafeteria and sign-in.
● MUST stay in the cafeteria until released to Fieldhouse or Old Gym.
● MUST stay in DESIGNATED GAME AREA during entire game/competition.
● Cannot leave and return to school (unless picked up by parent at parent pick-up).
● MUST LEAVE PROMPTLY AT THE END OF THE GAME.
There is NO WANDERING and students are not allowed to enter classrooms.
Students should also be following all directions of the chaperones/adults in charge.
Violation of the above rules will result in disciplinary consequences.
Thank you for supporting our school rules and expectations!
Be alert! School Crossing Guard Appreciation Day is Monday, February 10th. Show your support of our officers, especially SRO Lane as he helps students safely cross Clark Lane! We appreciate your attention!
Connecting Community
Safe Futures Returns to CLMS
Staff from Safe Futures will be at Clark Lane Middle School on the following dates sharing information with our students on the topics below:
Feb 10- 13th for 7th grade
Instructing in Grade 7 World Geography classes
TOPIC: Safe and Healthy Friendships
May 19th -22nd for 8th grade
Instructing in Grade 8 History classes
TOPIC: Teen Dating Violence Prevention
Did you know… the first Groundhog Day celebration was held on Feb. 2, 1877, at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania? It’s true! However, the tradition of using rodents to predict the weather dates back much earlier and was brought to the U.S. by German immigrants. Who knew?!?
We are very fortunate to have Safe Futures in our community. To learn more about Safe Futures, click the link: https://safefuturesct.org/pre vention-education-awarenes s-programs/
CLMS Making a Difference
On Friday, January 24, 2025, Clark Lane Middle School staff and students participated in a Dress Down day to contribute to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation as they continue to battle wildfires and help protect lives and properties throughout greater Los Angeles County. Together, Clark Lane Middle School collected $430! Way to go, Clark Lane! Ms. Sachatello’s homeroom raised the most with over $200! Her homeroom received a special breakfast for collecting the most money for this organization!
If you would like to know more about the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation or to make a donation, please visit: https://supportlafd.org/welcome.html. Their mission statement: The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Foundation provides vital equipment and funds critical programs to help the LAFD save lives and protect communities.
Wednesday, April 9 at 7pm
Connections…on & off the field
@ Clark Lane Middle School
February 2025
Wrestling to Win: A Quick Glance at Our Middle School Team
Coach Rochester had this to share about Clark Lane’s Wrestling Team: “Clark Lane Middle School Wrestling is having an outstanding 24/25 season. We're down to our last duel against Adams Middle School.” That match is away on Tuesday, February 4th.
Coach Rochester continues, “This season has been highlighted by tremendous wrestling from all 21 of our wrestlers. Reily Karasevicz and Tyler Gamble have done an outstanding job as captains, leading our Lancers to a five win and two loss record. Tyler & Riley, both undefeated, have wrestled up to and beyond their experience and potential. Our 6th grade class is proof that it's never too late to start wrestling. The twelve wrestlers in that class are cementing Waterford's future as a powerhouse for the rest of their years wrestling for CLMS and WHS. Great things to come for the class of 2031. The 7th grade class has carried a majority of the individual wins for our Lancers and are without question the core of the team. Hard work and an unrelenting positive attitude often sets the tone for the rest of the team.” Way to go, team!
Photos courtesy of Coach Rochester
Connecting with Clark Lane Middle School’s
School Counseling Office
Grade 8 Parent Information Night
Wednesday, February 5th
6:00 – 7:00 pm
WHS Auditorium
As part of the transition process to Waterford High School, there will be a parent night for all parents/guardians of Grade 8 students. It is our hope that this meeting will answer any questions you may have as your child prepares for high school. You can expect details on the course selection process, graduation requirements, and other pertinent information to prepare you and your child for their freshman year. The end of the school year will approach us quickly! We look forward to celebrating the promotion of our Grade 8 students and welcoming them to Waterford High School as the graduating Class of 2029!
The WHS Administration and School Counseling Team
Parking is located in the lot next to the Field House entrance or near the flagpole in the WHS main entrance lot.
Need to see your counselor?
Stop in the School Counseling Office and set up an appointment first. While there, say hi to Ms. Hietala, the new Guidance & Attendance management Administrative Assistant!
ATTENTION 8th GRADE students
On Thursday, February 6th, Grade 8 students will receive an in class lesson from Mrs. Dolce and a school counselor from Waterford High School (during their Science classes) to do a draft of their high school schedule and learn more about how the schedule works at Waterford High.
Clark Lane Middle School Celebrates School Counselor Week
Thank you Mrs. Lloyd for all you do for our school community!
National School Counseling Week is to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within the US school system. National School Counseling Week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve success and plan for a career. National School Counselors Week is always celebrated the first full week in February. The 2025 theme is “School Counseling: Helping Students Thrive”. We are very fortunate at Clark Lane Middle School to have our outstanding school counselors who help our students thrive daily!
Health Office
MakingHealthyConnectionsbetweenhomeandschool
Note from the Health Office
As we progress through the beginning of the year, we'd like to address important health issues that have been observed in our community—an uptick in flu and norovirus cases. Both of these illnesses can spread quickly, especially in school settings, and it is essential that we take steps to protect our students and ourselves.
Here are some key points to keep in mind:
● Encourage Hand Hygiene: Remind students to wash their hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water, especially before meals and after using the restroom.
● Stay Home When Sick: Please remind students and families to keep their children at home if they show any symptoms of illness such as fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. This measure helps prevent the spread of germs to others.
● Coughing and Sneezing Etiquette: Encourage students to cover their mouths and noses with a tissue or their elbow when they cough or sneeze. We should also remind them to dispose of tissues properly. Then wash their hands
● Stay Informed: Keep an eye on any updates from local health authorities regarding flu and norovirus activity in our area.
Stay healthy!
Nurses Erica and Rosita
To directly contact the School Health Office, call: 860-437-6977 or email:
emccaffrey@waterfordschools.org & rcorumgiles@waterfordschools.org
Be sure to email BOTH nurses when emailing information about your student!
Confidential faxes may be sent directly to the School Health Office 860-437-2179
In February, which is considered "American Heart Month," students should focus on heart-healthy habits like eating a balanced diet, regular physical activity, managing stress, limiting sugary drinks, staying hydrated, and scheduling dental checkups to maintain good oral hygiene; essentially prioritizing overall wellness and self-care to support their heart health.
News from IT
February 2025 especially for Clark Lane Middle School
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION:
No. Families can only purchase coverage once per year per child. After the two claims, or if the damage is determined to be intentional, families are responsible for full cost of repair or replacement of device.
Students are REMINDED to bring their devices to school every day, preferably charged and ready to go! There is a limited number of Chromebooks for students to borrow throughout the day on a first come, first serve basis. Students who need to borrow a Chromebook should go to library after checking in at homeroom! For information about Waterford Public School’s
One-to-One Device Program, click on the QR code here:
FYI: If there is an issue with your Chromebook, follow these steps: Contact your classroom teacher to see if they can assist.
Clark Lane Middle School students that have a broken device will bring the device to the library where they will be assigned a loaner device for the day. The library staff will enter a ticket in Incident IQ for the broken device on the behalf of the student. The IT Department will pick up broken devices at the end of the day and assess any damages, apply any fees and make repairs. Depending on the severity of the damage students may be assigned a different device. Students can pick up the replacement device in the library as soon as possible.
Did you know…as a parent or caregiver, you can use the Securly Home App to stay on top of your child’s online activity in real-time from anywhere? That’s right! Securly will also send you weekly email reports with a snapshot of your child’s internet activity. You can use this information to understand your child’s digital activities, gain insights into their education, and have meaningful conversations about their learning. Wow!
Connecting with
Family & Consumer Science
@ Clark Lane Middle School February 2025
Culinary News
Mrs. Loguidice shares, “The CLMS Culinary kitchens have been working overtime lately, allowing the students to learn and practice new skills that taste good and last a lifetime! Introduction to Culinary students used the ovens and cooktops to prepare a sweet quesadilla and a savory baked pancake (aka a “Dutch baby”). Advanced Culinary Skills students had a choice of preparing scrambled eggs/breakfast wraps, an omelet, or an egg in a nest…all were quite successful, I must say! They then worked together to cook some tasty fried rice. It is a real pleasure to work with our students!”
A Note from the Music Department!
We are thrilled to announce that the following instrumentalists from Clark Lane Middle School have been accepted into the 2025 CMEA Eastern Regionals Festival!
Their hard work, dedication, and outstanding performances during the December auditions have truly impressed us. We are excited to accompany them to the festival at Coventry High School on March 21st and 22nd, where they will join talented middle school musicians from across Eastern Connecticut for rehearsals and a remarkable performance.
We also want to recognize and thank our Waterford elementary school music teachers for nurturing these students into such capable musicians. Their guidance and encouragement laid a strong foundation, helping these students to excel in their auditions and meet the challenges of this rigorous process.
Please join us in celebrating this incredible achievement and congratulating these students on their success!
Warm regards,
Patrick Barry, Lynn Masciarelli and Aaron Robarge
Adam Abraham (Violin)
Noah Bartlett (Viola)
Hope Fagan (Mallets)
Opal Fries (Double Bass)
Nate Greene (Viola)
Ivanka Haglund (Trombone)
Maddie Jademec (Bb Clarinet)
Cooper Koczajowski (Double Bass)
Erin Kane (Snare & Accessories)
Kaden Khouy (Viola)
Katherine Koehler (Double Bass)
Cara Motola (Tuba)
Leah Motola (Bb Clarinet)
Henry Nazarian (Double Bass)
Luca Neyarapally (Flute)
Nicholas Pagano (Oboe)
Zoe Palazzo (Violin)
Maria Pirruccello (Flute)
Thomas Roberge (Double Bass)
Riley Roenke (Viola)
Alex Siu (Violin)
Marykate Turner (Violin)
Adriano Varsen (Tenor)
Mark Wang (Violin)
Lydia Wilson (Violin)
ClarkLane MiddleSchool’s
WORLD LANGUAGE NEWS
Connecting our corner of the globe to yours February 2025
Dans la classe de français
6th graders have just finished learning about where French is spoken around the world and have recently completed their country projects, sharing information about the Francophone countries with their classmates. Did you know there are 29 countries around the world where French is an official language? We’ve also just learned colors and have started to learn numbers, at least up to number 31, which will prepare us for the Calendar Unit.
7th graders have just started a new unit focusing on family. We’re looking at family trees and identifying how people are related using possessive adjectives. Although a lot of this vocabulary is easily recognizable, students should still be studying vocabulary daily using Study Stacks!
8th graders have recently learned vocabulary to describe the weather, as well as what they and others are wearing, focusing on writing descriptions about what one wears in various situations: to a wedding, on vacation, etc. Daily studying is recommended!
A classe linguae latinae
6th graders have just finished a unit about the geography of the Roman empire and the provinces which have become our modern-day countries. We are now just beginning to look at a new list of vocab, and learning how sentences in Latin go together in preparation for a story we will be reading together in class.
7th graders are going to be learning how to conjugate verbs and decline nouns as we continue to read about Sextus and how the Roman Patronage system works. At the end of the month, we will begin our unit on Emperors.
8th graders just finished the first chapter of the Aeneid. We will be going over Aeneas and Dido before moving onto Aeneas’s journey to the underworld. We will continue to review personal pronouns and helping verbs.
En la clase de español
6th graders finished their Spanish speaking country infographic and have shared with their class. They are now learning the colors and shapes in Spanish to describe flags and school supplies. They will be learning the numbers in Spanish to talk about their age and later on the calendar.
7th graders are working on a project about some of their family members and themselves. They will be presenting to their classmates in Spanish! In the next few weeks, we will start reviewing numbers and learning a few new expressions to talk about the time and also describe what time certain events happen.
8th graders are continuing to work with the irregular verb ‘ir’ (to go) to talk about the places they visit in their free time. They’ll learn interrogative words (like qué, dónde, cuándo) to ask and answer questions and exchange information about weekend plans. Eighth graders will also explore how teens in Spanish-speaking countries spend their free time, comparing activities like sports, socializing, and hobbies.
Junior Honor Societies
What you need to know
There are currently three World Language Junior Honor Societies open to students in 8th grade at Clark Lane Middle School. Students are selected at the end of Trimester 2 based on their current overall grade in French, Latin or Spanish. In fact, potentially eligible students are invited by their teachers at the end of seventh grade to participate in the club associated with their language of choice for eighth grade.
The French Junior Honor Society (Jeunes Amis du Français), the Latin Junior Honor Society (National Junior Classical League) and the Spanish Junior Honor Society (La Sociedad Hispánica de Amistad) are honorary clubs that take part in special projects and/or events that promote interest in the study of French, Latin and Spanish and create enthusiasm for the respective language and culture in the school community and community at large.
To be eligible for membership in each individual honor society, candidates must:
● Be a current eighth grade student who is enrolled in a full academic year of French/Latin/Spanish
● Have completed two full trimesters of French/Latin/Spanish in middle school
● Have an A- or higher in all trimesters in French/Latin/Spanish (including in 7th grade)
● Exemplify good citizenship and maintain a record free from serious behavioral offenses, such as cheating and offensive language or actions.
● Participate in two language-related activities over the course of this academic year promoting the aims of the JAF, JCL or SHA: stimulating interest in French, Latin or Spanish and creating enthusiasm for and an understanding of Francophone culture, the Classical World and/or Hispanic culture AND attend more than 50% of the meetings prior to the induction.
● Submit the completed application to the World Language teacher by the deadline
● Pay a one-time membership fee of $10 (Fee is used for induction cost and membership fee.)
● Be recommended by the French/Latin/Spanish teacher
If your student is eligible, s/he will receive a letter by the middle of March with an application and instructions for applying. Application requirements must also be met in order to be considered. There is a formal ceremony, which takes place in the spring.
NOTE: The formal induction ceremony is in late April or May. Rehearsal for the ceremony can be after school or during the school day. If students miss class to attend the rehearsal, they are responsible for missed work. Rehearsal is mandatory.
This is an extraordinary honor reserved for the highest achieving students. We encourage all eligible students to participate.
For more information, please contact your child’s World Language teacher.
CONNECTIONS CLUBS
After School Clubs @ Clark Lane Middle School February 2025
The Connections Program offers a variety of afterschool clubs for students here at Clark Lane Middle School. These clubs offer students the ability to get involved in activities they enjoy after school and to meet new people and connect with the school. Generally, club meeting days & times are announced over the morning announcements; however, there is also a bulletin board outside of the Assistant Principal’s office where staff members post club flyers! Students: be sure to check this out!
The Math Counts Club will be competing in the Regional Competition on Sunday, February 16th at UCONN. See Mrs. Joyner for more information!
Come Join Scrabble Club!
Our LAST Scrabble Club meets on Tuesday, February 11th after school in L200! Come join the !
Have an Idea for a New Club?
Anyone can start a new club at Clark Lane! You just need a school sponsor (teacher, building sub or paraprofessional) and an idea!
Write up a proposal, work with an adult in the building and see if you can make it happen! For more information, stop by and see Mr. Sachs and find out how your idea can be set into motion for a new club at Clark Lane!
Information about Late Buses
Late buses run (most) Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays unless there is a faculty meeting, which is typically the first Monday of the month. If late buses are not running on a particular day, it will be announced. Students take the late bus that goes to their area of town. Students will be issued a bus pass from the adult they are staying after school with, or they can get picked up in lieu of taking a bus. Late buses arrive at school at 3:40 pm.
CONNECTIONS CLUBS
After School Clubs @ Clark Lane Middle School February 2025
Alegría Club Update
Mrs. Morosky shares, “Here are the students in Alegría Club making cards and taking a dance break. This is a club for students who are learning English and want to spend time with others doing the same.” If you are interested in joining, listen to the morning announcements!
Photos courtesy of Mrs. Morosky
Come join
Rubik’s Cube Club!
Learn how to solve the cube. Come join us! See Mrs. Joyner if you have questions!
Come join the Astronomy Club! Viewing nights will be announced on the CLMS morning news when possible and are open to all students and their family members. Anyone interested in joining the club can join the Google Classroom with the code: m3fswvv or see Mr. Rocha for more information!
Come join us for
Perler Bead Club
Perler Bead Club meets on either Tuesdays or Wednesdays, depending on the week. Each week, there is a different theme. Students can make something related to the theme or choose a design on their own. Next meeting is February 10th.
Come join us! Sign up in L200. See Mrs. Deojay for more info!
Clark Lane’s GSA Club meets every other Wednesday. Students should listen to morning announcements or see one of the co-advisors: Mrs. Heller or Ms. Galvin.
What’s Cooking?
in Clark Lane Middle School’s cafeteria
IMPORTANT REMINDER
Please remind your student that if they want hot lunch they need to let their homeroom teachers know in the morning. Thank you!
Students riding the bus who want breakfast in the morning should report to the cafeteria after checking in to Homeroom for attendance.
If your student is a parent drop-off in the morning, those students wait in the cafeteria until the bell and can get breakfast there as they come in before Homeroom.
Join the CLMS PTO Connect with us!
February 2025
For more information about upcoming events & fundraisers or to get involved in the CLMS PTO, contact Crystal Leahy, PTO Vice President, with any questions at clarklanepto@gmail.com or click here:
Do YOU have an 8th grade student at CLMS?
Interested in getting involved to help plan end of the year events for your eighth grader? The 8th Grade Committee is meeting at 5:30 pm on Monday, February 10 at CLMS (space: TBD)! If you would like to join, please contact Kate McDonald, 8th Grade Committee Chair, kste78@hotmail.com. We hope you can join us!
This month’s meeting is Tuesday, February 11th at 5:30 pm CLMS Library or on Zoom
Hope you can join us!
Just download the app and you can support Clark Lane Middle School with purchases made in person or online. Visit https://www.boxtops4education.com/ to learn more and see a list of participating products. Thank you!
