Students at Middle School participate in multicultural art lesson

The 7th and 8th grade art classes at the Martin L. Mattei Middle School often engage in multicultural art lessons. Recently they learned of an art form called Rangoli which originated in India and is used to decorate the floors in homes. This art form has different names in different parts of India including Chowk, Kolam, Rangoli, and Alpana. Designs are symbolic and common to the entire country. Throughout India, Rangolis are created to beautify the surroundings during Indian Festivals, special occasions, and to decorate the entrances and exits of their homes. The elaborate and colorful designs can be painted, drawn, or stenciled with looses powders, lentils, rice, confetti, or flower petals. Mrs. DiMaggio and her classes chose colored chalk to beautify the entrance of the middle school. The project was enjoyed by the students, staff, and visitors which whom it greeted on their way into and out of the building.

End of the 1st Marking Period

Quarterly Exams

The Reading Quarterly Exam for all grades will be given tomorrow during each student’s scheduled Reading period.

Veteran’s Day

The Pittston Area School District will be closed on Wednesday, November 11th in observance of Veteran’s Day.

November Act 80 Day

Friday, November 13th is an Act 80 Day. Middle School students will be dismissed at 1:00 p.m.

Parent/Teacher Conferences

The Pittston Area Middle School will hold Parent/Teacher Conferences on November 18th, 19th, and 20th from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m. Report cards for the 1st marking period will be distributed at this time. Parents are encouraged to come and meet with their child’s teachers to discuss any concerns. Please limit your time with each teacher to five minutes in order to allow each parent time for a conference. Students will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m. on conference days. If you are unable to attend Parent/Teacher conferences, report cards will be mailed home the week following said conferences.

Canned Food Drive

The Middle School Student Council will be conducting a canned food drive beginning this week. Anyone wishing to contribute to this worthy cause can bring their donation to school and hand it in to their homeroom teacher or to the main office. All contributions will be donated to a local food pantry.

Make-up Pictures

Monday, November 23rd is make-up picture day. If you have any questions, see your homeroom teacher or stop by the main office.

Book Fair

Our Middle School Scholastic Book Fair is scheduled for November 19th through November 24th. The students will be able to shop for books during their Related Arts period. Parents are invited to our library during parent teacher conferences to share in this celebration of books and reading. Not only does the Book Fair help raise funds to purchase essential classroom and library resources, it encourages reading among our students. Our Book Fair provides a wide variety of books specifically selected to appeal to middle school interests. The Middle School Book Fair is run by Mrs. Clancy, our Librarian, and the Middle School Library Department. See you there!

Thanksgiving Break

The Pittston Area School District will be closed from November 26th through November 30th in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. The middle school will resume classes on Tuesday, December 1st.

Lost and Found

Anyone who may have lost a personal possession in school can stop by the main office to check the Lost and Found.

Communications Club

MID-TV’s schedule for 11/09 through 11/13: Members of the Red Team should report to the TV Studio first thing in the morning. All members are reminded to check in with their homeroom teachers prior to reporting to the studio.

Sports and Activities

Last weekend, the Marching Patriots competed in the Tournament of Bands (TOB) Atlantic Coast Championships in Hershey, PA. The Patriots captured first place honors and posted their highest score in TOB history, 97.4. Our Marching Patriots are very talented and determined and, they are composed of both middle school and high school students. Great job and congratulations to our Marching Patriots.

Winter sports’ physicals will be held on Wednesday, November 11th at the Jimmy Cefalo Center located on the Pittston Area High School campus. Dr. Tricarico will be holding the physicals according to the following scheduled times:

Any athlete who received a physical for a fall sport does not need to attend; however, if this is the first sport you are participating in this school year, you must receive a physical before you will be allowed to participate. All winter sports’ athletes are reminded that whether on not you need to receive a physical for a winter sport, you must fill out your winter sport paperwork and return it to Mr. Lopresto as soon as possible.

Full Band Practice

There will be full band practice Wednesday from 1:15 until 2:30 p.m. The Middle School Christmas Concert will be held on Thursday, December 3rd at 7:00pm in the High School Auditorium.

Girls’ Intramural Basketball will be held now through November 22nd on Monday, Thursday, and Sunday nights from 5:45 until 8:15 p.m. in the Middle School Gymnasium. If you have any questions, please contact Coach Healey at 510-9044.