Lions in the Middle

Lion Family,

A heartfelt thank you to all the families who joined us at our Back to School Open House this year! We know the structure was a bit different from prior years, and we truly appreciate your active participation and flexibility. Thank you for helping us lay a strong foundation for the year by emphasizing pride in our school’s equipment, caring for community property, and treating devices like Chromebooks with responsibility and respect. Your partnership empowers our students with safety, respect, and responsibility every day!

We are so excited to welcome all of our Lions back for another incredible year of growth, learning, and leadership.

Important Notes for Families Who Could Not Attend:

• Schedules: Student schedules are now available to view on the PowerSchool app so your child can prepare for Monday! For students who didn't attend Open House, left over physical schedules will also be handed out first thing Monday morning as they walk into the building and head to the breakfast area.

• Chromebook Pick-Up: To receive a Chromebook, both a parent and student must sign the district's Technology Acceptable Use & Practices Form. You can download and print a copy attached below this newsletter, or stop by our middle school main office to pick one up!

#TOGETHERWEROAR

We are thrilled to welcome our students back bright and early this Monday! To ensure a smooth, safe, and positive start for everyone, please review our morning routines and expectations below.

Arrival & Building Entry

• Doors Open at 7:50 AM: Students dropped off early may wait outside in front of the building until doors open.

• Morning Drop Offs: Please see the next section below to reference morning drop off procedures for a quick, fluid, and easy drop off process

• Schedules: If your student received their paper schedule at Open House, please have them bring it with them. If they attended but misplaced it, schedules are accessible via PowerSchool. For those who did not attend Open House, Mr. Hatfield and staff will be stationed at the entrance handing out schedules to students whose schedules were left over from Open House.

• Initial Gathering: All students will initially head to the cafeteria upon entering.

Morning Waiting Areas & Expectations

• 5th & 6th Graders: Students will remain in the cafeteria until the morning bell, where they will be supervised and dismissed by cafeteria staff to head to their lockers.

• 7th & 8th Graders (New Privilege): At 8:00 AM, our 7th and 8th graders may head directly to their academic wings to relax and connect with friends before the bell.

• Upperclassmen Expectations: Find a spot to visit, do not wander the halls or bounce between groups. No gathering in Bathrooms! Bathrooms are strictly for their intended purpose, not for socializing. We are extending this morning freedom because we trust you to lead our school with pride. Remember, positive behavior protects these privileges!

Lockers, Devices & Bell Schedule

• Device Policy: Per state law and school policy, all personal electronic devices (phones, smartwatches, Meta glasses, earbuds/headphones, etc.) must be turned off or silenced and secured in lockers for the entire school day, with the exception of lunch.

• 8:04 AM – Passing Time Begins: Students will head to their lockers, unpack supplies, and go straight to their 1st hour class.

• 8:09 AM – Tardy Bell Rings: Attendance will be taken immediately.

• First-Day Assembly: Shortly after 1st hour begins, classes will be dismissed over the PA to the gymnasium for our Welcome Back Ceremony.

Let’s make this an incredible first day. We cannot wait to see you all on Monday morning!

Newaygo Middle School Families,

As we launch into the 2026–2027 school year, we want to make sure morning drop-offs are safe, smooth, and stress-free for everyone. To keep the line moving and get students into the building on time, we are continuing with our two distinct arrival zones.

Please take a moment to review how each lane works so you can choose the best option for your morning routine!

1. The Student Express Drop-Off Lane

The Goal: Quick, efficient, and seamless. Keep the line moving!

• Pull All the Way Forward: Always pull up as far as you can behind the car in front of you. Please resist the urge to perform "princess parking" (stopping right at the main front doors when there is open space ahead of you).

• Be Ready to Roll: Students should have backpacks zipped, gear in hand, and be ready to exit the vehicle immediately once the car comes to a safe stop.

• Keep It Snappy: This lane is not for finishing breakfast, deep-diving under the seats for a lost phone, or grabbing gear out of the trunk.

• Quick Goodbyes: Save the long embraces and deep talks for home. A quick fist bump, a simple "Have a great day—see you this afternoon!", and out the door they go!

2. The "Park & Chill" Zone

The Goal: Stress-free, unhurried, and safe.

Need a little extra time in the morning? That is completely fine—we’ve got you covered!

Head to our designated Park & Chill area if you need to:

• Step out of the car or grab items from the trunk.

• Have a longer morning chat, complete first-day photo ops, or give extended hugs.

• Finish up a last-minute breakfast or organize school supplies.

A Quick Recap for Success:

• Express Lane: Stop -- Fist bump --Exit.

• Park & Chill: Park -- Take your time -- Walk over.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation, patience, and grace as we work together to keep our students safe and our morning traffic flowing smoothly. Let’s make it a fantastic school year!

In accordance with Michigan’s statewide legislation restricting personal electronics during instructional time, Newaygo Middle School has established clear expectations regarding student electronic devices for the upcoming school year. These guidelines are designed to minimize classroom distractions, protect instructional time, and support student focus and well-being.

What Parents Need to Know

• Classrooms are Device-Free Zones: All personal electronic devices—including cell phones, smartwatches, Meta glasses (or similar smart eyewear), tablets, and Bluetooth earbuds/headphones—are strictly prohibited in classrooms during class time.

• Locker-to-Locker Rule: Upon arriving at school, all personal electronic devices must be turned off or silenced and stored securely inside the student's assigned locker for the duration of the instructional day.

• Lunchtime Use: Students retain the privilege of using their personal devices during their designated lunch period only. Once lunch concludes, devices must be returned to their lockers before heading to afternoon classes.

• Reaching Your Student: If you need to send an urgent message or reach your child during class time, please contact the Main Office directly. Our office staff will deliver messages promptly without interrupting instruction.

With the approach of the 2026-2027 upcoming school year, we would like to highlight some important areas from our student handbook, starting with the Dress Code & Appearance Guidelines to ensure a safe, respectful, and productive learning environment for all Newaygo Middle School students.

Our goal is to help students feel comfortable, included, and ready to succeed. The guidelines emphasize respect and safety. A quick summary of the "Core Expectations" for all students includes:

• Shirts: Solid fabric covering the front, back, and sides under the arms.

• Bottoms: Solid fabric providing appropriate coverage of the buttocks and upper thigh.

• Footwear: appropriate footwear with a solid bottom/sole.

We encourage all families to review the complete, detailed policy which can be found in the school handbook on the Newaygo Public Schools website or downloaded below. Let's work together to make this year a fantastic place to learn!

Thank you for your partnership and support! Go Lions!

What an incredible experience our students had at the recent Lion Leader Camp Newaygo Retreat! This summer camp was designed to give our incoming 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade scholars a unique opportunity to build their leadership capacity, strengthen behavioral habits, and cultivate positive prosocial relationships, and get started with a positive school culture before stepping onto campus this fall. From the moment we kicked off the retreat with interactive icebreaker activities to the hands-on team-building challenges that followed, our middle schoolers brought energy, enthusiasm, and a ready-to-learn attitude. They put in the hard work necessary to develop true independence, learning that leadership is both a practice and a commitment to supporting one another.

As you look through the photos, you will see firsthand the moments of growth, connection, and joy that made this retreat so special. Our scholars stepped out of their comfort zones to solve problems together, learn the value of perseverance, and build strong bonds with both their peers and staff. This camp was just the first step in helping our students experience lasting success, and we are so proud of the motivation and confidence they demonstrated throughout the entire retreat. Thank you for partnering with us and sharing your children with us for this impactful summer experience we cannot wait to see these young leaders shine in the upcoming school year!

Get your smiles ready! On September 18th, Geskus Photography will be at Newaygo Middle School to take student pictures. This is a great opportunity for students to not only get a fantastic photo but also to receive their official student ID, which grants them free entry to all home sporting events.

Don't worry, Mom, if your student brings home a picture that looks like this Joker's mugshot. We've got you covered! Retakes will be offered later in the year for any student who misses picture day or whose smile wasn't quite on point. We can't wait to see those pearly whites!

As we enter into the school year, we want to ensure we have the most accurate and up-to-date information for your child. Now that our transition to PowerSchool is complete, managing your student’s forms and information is faster and easier than ever!

We ask all parents and guardians to review and update their child's records. Please make sure the following information is complete and accurate:

• Current Contact Information: Verify your home address, primary phone numbers, and preferred email addresses.

• Emergency Contacts: Ensure that all emergency contacts listed are up to date with current phone numbers.

• School Pickup Permissions: Review and update the list of individuals authorized to pick up your student from school.

• Annual Forms & Signatures: Confirm that all required beginning-of-year forms are fully completed and electronically signed.

How to Complete Your Updates:

Online via the PowerSchool Parent Portal: You can access your account at any time from your computer or mobile device to review and update your information electronically.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our students safe and our communication seamless. If you have trouble logging into your PowerSchool account, please feel free to reach out to the main office for assistance.

Middle School Fam,

While the hallways have been clear through the summer it has been way too quiet without our Lions, and we're so excited to have everyone back and ready to learn.

As we gear up for a great school year, we know you're probably thinking about school supplies. To help you get a head start, we've compiled the supply lists for each grade level. To make things easy, we’ve included a photo for each grade level's supply list below. These lists will help your student start the year strong and be ready for all the amazing things they'll learn.

Simply scroll down to find the list for your student's grade. Let's make this the best year yet!

Our start time is 8:09 a.m.! We need your help getting students here on time! Any students arriving 15 minutes after class starts without a medical note from a Doctor/Dentist/Court/Bereavement will be marked unexcused for the class (not a tardy). Upon arrival at school a parent/guardian will need to sign in and or sign out the child at the front desk.

Please call the school If a student has a change in transportation. Please call the school office before 2:50 p.m. so that we have ample time to get the student the message. We need to limit interruptions into the classroom.

If your student will be gone for any part of the day, please call and or email the school secretary: Attendance Line 231-652-1285 Email: awood@newaygo.net or lsanchez@newaygo.net . Please refer to the following link to what your student misses when they arrive late to school. Link:On Time Everyday

Is your student nervous about opening their lockers? Please watch the following video to help them open their lockers. Video Link: How To Open A Combination Lock

Hi, I’m your middle schooler’s classroom desk.

Even though Chromebooks stay right here at school, I see it all. Today during science class, I’m holding a open textbook, a water bottle with a questionable cap, and your student's district device. Someone bumped into me, the water tipped, and whoops!!! a full drink just took a swim across the keyboard.

Or maybe a Chromebook gets shoved onto a crowded hallway cart, dropped straight onto the hard tile floor, or crushed under a heavy textbook in a locker.

Even inside the building, accidents happen, and repair bills can stack up fast.

With our Accidental Damage Plan, your child is covered for all the bumps, spills, cracked screens, and drops that happen throughout the school day. It keeps your student connected and saves you from unexpected out-of-pocket costs.

Protect your student's device from everyday school-day Mayhem ... Like me.

Enroll in the Accidental Damage Plan Today!

Coverage is available now for all student Chromebooks.10 Dollars per student *a maximum of $30 per family. Sign up today through the middle school office to keep your student covered all school year! (We do not accept debit/credit cards)

Details of Accidental Damage Protection attached below

August 24th - First day for Students

September 3rd - September 7th - No School Teacher Inservice/Labor day Weekend

September 16th - First Early Release 2:09 PM Student dismissal

September 18th - Geskus School Picture Day

September 18th - Whole School Fundraiser Kickoff