MUMS Family Newsletter
September 11, 2026
Week 3
Dear MUMS Community,
It has been another positive, joyful and busy week here at MUMS! Students returned from the long weekend generally rested and ready for learning. Students have begun to internalize the routines and expectations associated with another middle school year and with that, are beginning to settle into friendships and inquiry within the classrooms and out on our playing fields.
Our athletic teams began competing this week as well. Our Cross Country team had a positive showing at their meet last week, both teams placing in the top 5 in the competition which is always fun to see and hear about! Additionally, some of our clubs started up this week with high participation rates.
We hope that you will join us next Friday evening for our joint collaboration with the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts production featuring PEARL by PLASTICIENS VOLANTS! There is more information about this production below, but wanted to highlight that it is a free event and is open to the public.
Lastly, I really wanted to thank all of you for your commitment to our "device free" school procedures. I'm seeing many students asking to use school phones throughout the days which is telling me that students are upholding that expectation and you are all reinforcing it. This commitment helps students to focus on their important work at school!
I hope that you are able to enjoy the sunshine today and throughout the weekend and appreciate all that you do for our students and community.
Best,
Michaela
If you have questions, please reach out to us:
MUMS office 802-382-1600 or visit the MUMS website.
Michaela Wisell, Principal mwisell@acsdvt.org
Fieh Chan, Assistant Principal fchan@acsdvt.org
Erin Jipner, Student Response Coordinator ejipner@acsdvt.org
Dustin Hunt, Athletics and Activities Director dhunt@acsdvt.org
- Sept. 18th- Playing Fields-Flynn Center Performance (6:00)
- Sept. 21st - School Break (No School)
- Sept. 24th - MUMS Open House 6:00-7:30
- Sept. 30th - Picture Day 8:30-12:00
- Oct. 7th - Early Release Day
From the MYP Coordinator
Greetings MUMS Caregivers!
On the MUMS report card, you will see three “Approaches to Learning” (ATLs) scored for your student. The three ATLs are Organization, Collaboration, and Self-Management. Last week I highlighted Organization, this week I’d like to address Collaboration.
Below are photos of 7th graders working on collaboration skills in Ms Haugan’s L&L class! During the first week they participated in stations using inference, puzzling together the course syllabus, interpersonal skills with Jenga, making a reading goal, and using their collaboration skills to build a cup tower. All of these skills help set students up for a successful year. In the photos you can see opportunities to explicitly learn and practice collaboration skills, which include: working well with others, disagreeing respectfully, helping the group solve problems, actively including others, listening to what others are saying, and doing one’s share of the workload. These ATLs are transferrable skills that we believe will serve students their whole lives, in any context.
💡Talk to your student: How are they getting along with their classmates? What words can they use to disagree respectfully? How can they include everyone in group work, even if they are not friends? Look for opportunities to reinforce and praise collaboration skills at home!
Picture Day
Picture Day!
MUMS will have Picture Day on Wednesday September 30th. Order forms for LifeTouch will be handed out in TA the week prior. If you prefer to order your student’s school pictures online please visit mylifetouch.com and use the Picture ID EVTP4ZWQP. Your child can also bring their completed flyer with cash or check on Picture Day. Picture Retake Day is scheduled for Wednesday November 11th.
If you have any questions please contact Megan Curran at mcurran@acsdvt.org.
Student Absences, Dismissals + Bus Notes
If your student will be absent from school, needs an early dismissal, or will take a different bus, please follow these directions:
- Absence / early dismissal: Call 802-382-1297, the MUMS attendance line, before 8:30am (helpful tip: add this number to your phone now as "MUMS attendance line")
- Early dismissal + bus notes: Students must deliver a caregiver's note to the front office when arriving at school (before TA).
- If taking a bus other than their regular bus: Students must bring a caregiver's note and have it signed by a MUMS Administrative Assistant in the front office to be valid.
