Greetings MMS Families,

It’s been a cold week again and this coming week is looking to be even more chilly! I’m hopeful that the extreme cold is short-lived and we are able to warm up soon. A few notes on these cold weather days:

• DCPS will NOT close school due to cold – only significant snow – please ensure your Mustang reports every day wearing warm clothing!
• We do our best to open our doors early when it is extremely cold. Our formal opening is at 8:10am, and although we will open doors for students as early as possible (I am usually on the lookout by 715) we are not always able to do so. Please encourage your Mustang to arrive between 8:05-8:10am.
• We are unable to have outdoor recess when temperatures are below 32 or the ground is snow covered or muddy, but we do allow outdoor dining if students opt to do so.

Let’s hope for at least somewhat warmer temperatures moving forward!

There are several notifications and resources shared and reshared this week – please review below and reach out to the relevant poc if you have any questions. We specifically are highlighting resources for our families/community related to concerns about immigration actions with the new federal administration. Please read below, share with other families/community members and encourage those in need to reach out to MMS for support, even if they do not have an attending student. Below as well is the message shared with staff last week so you are aware of our school level preparation. Staff message: School Immigration Enforcement Response –Please note that if ‘authority’ figures report to the school in an effort related to immigration they should be directed first and only to myself, (Principal Cooke) AP Bradford or AP Ojeda. This includes digital outreach/inquiries or requests for information. We will be sharing information with our families and students as well, but our priority as always is to the safety and support of our students, and ensuring them of their safety here at school. Please reach out if you have any questions.

As it has finally been officially announced, we are proud to announce our own Ms. Castro, school counselor, has won the DCPS Standing Ovation award for Outstanding School Staff of the Year. This is a huge and much deserved honor for Ms. Castro and we are so fortunate to have her at MMS serving our students and collaborating with our staff and families. Please join me in congratulating her on this honor and thanking her for her hard work!

Have a great weekend,

Cooke

NEW INFORMATION/RESOURCES – new to this week’s Parent Email:

8th Grade/All Parent resource from Ms. Castro – please see attached is a HS Season One-Pager in English and Spanish. As a quick note – We currently have 57 applications out of 157 students. We are encouraging all students to research their options and to apply to at least one school. Please reach out to Ms. Castro (liana.castro@k12.dc.gov) if you have any questions.

Parent Resource – NEW THIS MONTH – As a new administration moves into our federal government, we know that some of our vulnerable communities and families may have concerns or seek information related to possible immigration actions. We have attached multiple resources for our families to review and are actively collaborating with our partner schools and central office to offer more workshops and resource support. If you have any questions or a specific need, please reach out to Mr. Novoa-Marcano – edgar.novoa-marcano@k12.dc.gov

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to MacFarland Middle School! - Get ready—the Scholastic Book Fair is coming to our school! This is a great opportunity to connect with your child over the thrill of bringing home new books to dive into again and again. Studies show that kids read more when they choose books for themselves. A love of independent reading boosts academic success, plus children who read more frequently also report improved mental health[1]. Here’s everything you need to know about the Book Fair -

Dates: February 3-7 open during school hours AND Literacy Night

Location: Library

REMINDERS/PREVIOUSLY SHARED – reminders and resources from previous Parent Emails:

Summer Bridge for New Mustangs 8.5-8.8 (Tu-Fri) – Yes – it’s a long way off, but we are always asked about Summer Bridge early in the year, and we are sharing our dates now so you can plan for your newest Mustang or share with feeder school partners and friends.

Literacy Night is Coming! – 2.6 – this is a night for all families, staff, students and community members to come learn about how we are supporting literacy growth for our Mustangs and learn some great strategies to share and explore. We hope to see you all there!

Open Houses Coming Up – January 27th, 1pm, February 19th, 5pm - Please share with other families and feeder school families!!

2.11, 2.12 – ACCESS Testing – MLL Students – students will test and have an adjusted schedule.

4.28-5.9 – CAPE Testing – All students – our biggest test of the year – students will test each morning and have a modified schedule.

1.20 – Holiday – No School for Students

1.22 - Make Picture Day

1.27 – PD Day - No School for Students

2.3 - 2.7 - Scholastic Book Fair - Open during school hours and Literacy Night

2.6 – Literacy Night – Open to All Families/Community Members

2.11, 2.12 – ACCESS Testing – MLL Students – All students will test and/or have an adjusted schedule.

4.9.25 – 4th Period/5:00pm for families – Spring Arts Showcase

4.28-5.9 – CAPE Testing – All students

6.6.25 – 4th Period – EOY Talent Showcase

8.5.25-8.8.25 – Tu-Friday - Summer Bridge for New Mustangs 8.5-8.8 (Tu-Fri)

Make Up Picture Day – We will be hosting our make up picture day on Wednesday, January 22nd. Any students that were unable to take their picture during the fall picture day or those who would simply like to retake their picture will have the opportunity to do so immediately after school from 3:30 - 4:30 PM.

Shout Outs and Celebrations: Please check out a few shout outs to MacFarland community members who are embracing our belief that we are one MacFarland!

Shout out to Ms. Leonor who has been a huge champion for our community engagement in so many ways this year. On Tuesday she was engaged in our LSAT team and then on ten minutes notice offered to help translate for our January PTO meeting staying on for another hour. The PTO team and our families was deeply appreciative, and I was too! Thank you, Ms. Leonor, for acting as the face of MacFarland so often this year! Thank you and shout out as well so Ms. Chapman who joined Tuesday evening’s PTO meeting – it is always great to have our staff on and involved in these collaborative experiences!

I wanted to share a student shout out to Kenley P. for teaching my daughter to cheer at last week’s home game! The few minutes she spent with my 3-year-old had her doing that little cheer all weekend. Thank you KP and Coach Walston by extension for creating and exciting and empowering experience for all our kids, my own children included.

Shout out to Mr. Dance, AP Ojeda and all our OPS and Climate Team members for holding down building in my absence Wednesday for Leadership Academy and Thursday for Cluster Meeting. It is helpful to know we have strong teams and collaboration in place so I can engage and focus when I must be out of the building. Thank you, teams!!

Thank you to the LSAT Team for engaging on Tuesday afternoon and sharing some great ideas and insights as well as digging in to prepare for the upcoming budget season. This unit has become a great collaborative entity, and I leave excited both about the ideas shared and the commitment evident from multiple stakeholder groups to grow more positive experiences for our students and staff!

Via email or by appt. – lucas.cooke@k12.dc.go

Next Curbside Coffee – TBD – we are working on coordinating with our next in person PTO meeting

February PTO Meeting – 2.11 – 6:00pm - LINK

Mustang families,

Below is the calendar of faculty meetings for the school year. There will be no afterschool activities on these days.

24-25 Faculty Meeting/PD Days Dates:

• February 5th
• March 5th
• April 2nd
• May 7th
• June 4th

Afterschool programming began on Monday 9-9-2024. Tutoring and clubs commence at 3:30 and end at 4:45. Students will have supper then go with their perspective teachers. All students will be dismissed at 4:45 to go home.

Students will need to fill out the emergency contact form prior to attending after-school activities. Students will also be able to list their club choices on the emergency contact form.

• https://dcps.nutrislice.com/menu/macfarland-middle-school

Please use this form to refer a student to the MMS Wellness Team. / Utilice este formulario para referir a un estudiante al equipo de bienes.

https://forms.office.com/r/S6pRi9yLRt

WELLNESS TEAM MEMBERS: Ms. Raphael, Social Worker Ms. Virginia, Mary’s Center Therapist Ms. Kent, Psychologist Ms. Sargent, 8th grade counselor Ms. Castro, 7th grade counselor Mrs. Thompson, 6th grade counselor LAYC: Ms. Rachel & Mr. Raul

The allergy season is here and many individuals who suffer from frequent asthma attacks are beginning to feel the impact of the various allergens and irritants in the air. For students and families, we are sharingthis link to Children’s National -- https://www.childrensnational.org/get-care/departments/impact-dc-asthma-clinic -- as a resource for helping to manage your students’ asthma related-illnesses. If your child suffers from asthma, be sure to complete and submit the Asthma Action Plan and Medication Plan and Procedure to the Nurse. The Anaphylaxis Plan must be completed for acute allergy sufferers who need to be administered an Epi-pen. Also, if your child is on any medication during school hours—including over-the-counter medications—a Medication Plan and Procedure Form must be completed and submitted to the Nurse along with your child’s Medication Treatment Administration Form, signed by your child’s primary care physician. All these documents must be provided to the Nurse by parents, along with the medication/s your child is taking during school hours. Students are not permitted to self-carry or self-medicate. All the forms mentioned in this message are attached, for your convenience.

For Mental Health Support Resources in English and Spanish for Students, Parents, and Teachers. Topics include: Stress, Grief and Loss, Anxiety, Suicide and Self-Harm, Healthy Relationships, Social Media, and much more! -- Mary`s Center (maryscenter.org)

This school year, DCPS is partnering with Children’s National Hospital to support our students’ health and attendance through the Collaborative for Attendance Resources in Education and Health (CARE-H); CARE-H is now available in all DCPS schools. Through this program, parents or guardians can give permission to DCPS to securely share attendance information with their child’s doctor(s), nurse(s) and medical office staff. This information will help these healthcare professionals to provide special outreach and medical attention to children that might be missing school and their families. Information about this initiative can be found here.

POC: Andrea.Allen@k12.dc.gov

The MacFarland PTO has set up an email list for discussion and connection among current and enrolled MacFarland families. Any family member or guardian of a MacFarland student can join by either of these methods:

Attention families, anyone with a child that would like a Kids Ride Free SmartTrip Card can sign up for one in the main office. We will process and distribute on a rolling basis.