Dear NMS families, 

What a great first day of school! Our building came alive with the energy, curiosity, and excitement of our students. While I know many of us wouldn’t mind a few extra summer days, it already feels like we are ready to settle into our fall routines and take the next steps towards learning, growth, and creating some memorable middle school experiences.

One important routine to establish right away is making sure that students have a designated spot at home to charge their Chromebook each night. This simple habit will help to ensure that your child comes to school each day with a fully charged device that is ready for learning. Consistency here will go a long way in helping students stay prepared for and engaged in their classes.

 We are looking forward to a fantastic year ahead!

NMS 2025/2026 Drop off and pick up map 

Any student wishing to get breakfast should enter through the main doors regardless of bus or parent drop off. 

Students arriving late after 8:35 will enter through the Main Entrance doors. Upon arrival students should report to their homerooms Once in homeroom students can read, draw, review classwork or independently study.

During the first few weeks of school most students experience stress and worry when it comes to finding a lunch seat or table. To alleviate this concern and foster a positive lunchtime experience, we have implemented a structured approach:

Homeroom-Based Seating: Initially, all students will be seated by their respective homerooms during lunchtime. This provides a familiar and comfortable environment for them to start the school year. 

Transition to Team Seating: As students become more accustomed to cafeteria routines and demonstrate good behavior, they will progress to sitting with their teams. This gradual transition allows for a smoother adjustment to larger group settings.

Individual Choice Seating: The final phase will introduce individual choice seating, but only once daily cafeteria routines are firmly established across all grade levels. This approach ensures that our cafeteria remains orderly and calm.

For many years NMS successfully implemented these procedures, leading to reduced anxiety and a greater sense of belonging among students during lunchtime. Our ultimate goal is to make the cafeteria a positive and comfortable place for all students. How long this process takes can vary. The transition to individual choice seating typically happens within the first three weeks of school. 

Lunch and Breakfast:

Massachusetts passed a universal free meals for all program. 

Food Services Page - Menus

Inter-State Picture Day: Fall Picture Day is Monday September 8th. Flyers and information will be sent home with students.

Please review with your child 

Norton Middle School 2025/2026 Handbook: 

Norton Middle School 2025/2026 Student Handbook 

Dress Requirements

Norton Middle School’s Mission is to provide students with “challenging curricula in a safe and positive environment”.  Similarly, the Portrait of a Norton Graduate dedicates Norton Public Schools to preparing for college or a career.  We affirm students’ right to express themselves through their clothing choices and the primary responsibility for appropriate dress lies with the student and their parents or guardians. 

In the interest of maintaining a school climate that is conducive to teaching and learning, administration may ban dress that is inappropriate due to health, safety, and/or is disruptive of the educational process. Student attire enforcement will not create disparities in class time or increase marginalization of any group. 

Standards of Dress for students should comply with the following guidelines: 

• Students may not wear attire that intentionally shows private parts, presents a health or safety hazard, and/or would contribute to a hostile or intimidating school environment.

• Students may not wear attire that promotes violence, sexual activity, substance abuse, profanity/obscenity, or discrimination of any kind. 

• Students may wear hats, but the student’s face must be visible to staff.  Hats must not cover the ears and not interfere with the line of sight of any student or staff. Students are not to wear hoods up. 

• Students must abide by a teacher’s direction to restrict the wearing of hats or other items that might interfere with learning or safety in their classroom.  Exceptions will be made for a documented or known instructional, safety, religious and/or medical reason.

Administration is authorized to: 

• Have students change their clothing in school (either their own clothing or school-provided attire).

• Send offending students home to change their clothing if such clothing is determined by the principal or their designee to be inappropriate for school purposes.

• In school suspension of those students who defy reasonable requests to dress appropriately for a school setting. 

Appropriate and Responsible use of Electronic Devices

Electronic devices are not to be used during the school day and should be turned off. The use of communication features on cellular devices during instructional time, or in a disruptive manner in the school atmosphere, is prohibited. At no time may students place phone calls without permission by a school administrator. Teachers may allow the use of cell phones and electronic devices for strictly educational purposes. Students who utilize cell phones or other electronic devices (Ear buds)  in classes without permission or in a manner that is disruptive will face school consequences. Students are hereby reminded that the Norton Middle School and its staff are not responsible if items that a student brings to school are lost, stolen or damaged.

Video cell phone use is not permitted at any time without prior approval of an administrator or teacher. Students that fail to comply and take unauthorized video are subject to the full range of consequences outlined in the code of conduct. Students are specifically warned not to take video that captures additional violations of school rules.

 Electronic devices, such as cell phones, can be a disruption to the educational process. Students that use electronic devices in an inappropriate or disruptive manner will face school consequences. Teachers may ask students to put away or turn in any visible electronic device they believe is disrupting the educational process at any time. Any student who refuses to turn in their cell phone /i-pod or other electronic device will be sent to the office. Student cell phones and other electronic devices should not be brought to their Specials/Elective period. Students should expect that any device brought to Specials may be confiscated for the day regardless of the impact to the teaching and learning environment and that repeated offenses will lead to additional consequences. Cell phones and other mobile devices with recording capabilities, including voice recording, still cameras and video cameras increase the risk for different forms of misconduct in locker rooms and changing areas.  Use of audio or visual recording devices, including a cell phone camera, is not allowed in changing areas, rest rooms or locker rooms.

Recordings In School or On School Grounds

Students may not record staff or students in school or on school grounds (including buses and vans) without the express permission of the staff member on duty at the time or the Principal/Assistant Principal.  This includes any audio or video recording on any device regardless of device ownership.

 Disciplinary consequences include but are not limited to:

•        Failure to surrender electronic device to teacher or staff members upon request – Office Detention

•        Failure to surrender electronic device to Principal/ Assistant Principal/Dean of Students upon request – In-School Suspension or Saturday School. Required Parent pick up of the device. 

Clubs and Activities for 2025 / 2026:  

NMS Athletics: Tryouts begin tomorrow for XC, Volleyball and Soccer

Any student interested in trying out for a fall athletic team (Boys and Girls Soccer, Cross Country, Volleyball) must first register through the Family id system. All students must pass a physical examination within one year before participating in any sport. A copy of your child’s physical must be on file with the school nurse prior to tryouts.

Sports Registration Link: https://www.familyid.com/norton-high-school-and-norton-middle-school 

All Students Must register prior to tryouts. Only those that make the teams will then go on to pay the athletics fee. 

NMS Lancers LEAD: 

Be Kind – Be Respectful – Be Responsible – Be Better 

Lead Excel Achieve Dream 

Everyone here is committed to constant improvement and is preparing for a great 2025/2026 school year. We routinely reflect on what we have done well and on areas where we can make improvements. 

Norton Middle School 2023 - 2026 School Improvement Plan 

It is a pleasure and an honor working with your children and serving as Principal of Norton Middle School.

Vincent  M. Hayward

Principal - Norton Middle School