Middle Matters
Everything in the Middle School that MATTERS
4, November, 2024
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Hello Middle School Families,
The month of November brings us to the end of the 1st Quarter. At our morning grade level meetings last month, we reminded students that the end of the first marking period was near. Students were asked to check in with teachers and make a plan to get support in any classes they felt they needed. Teachers reached out to students and families as well. We have our fall student-led parent teacher conferences scheduled November 7th and 12th. We have traditionally had very high attendance on these conference nights. If you haven't done so already please click on the link below to sign up for your child's conference.
IN THIS ISSUE
- Fall Conferences
- November Calendar
- Lost & Found
- Students of the Month
- Attendance Reminder
- 7th Grade Vaccine Reminder
- Athletics, Activities & Clubs
MMS FALL CONFERENCES
On Thursday, November 7th, Monticello Middle School will be hosting a Hidden in Plain Sight presentation for parents and guardians. Join us at 5:30pm in the Auditorium as we partner with MEADA to discuss substance use in adolescence and resources available for parents and caring adults within our community.
*NOTE FOR 8TH GRADE FAMILIES
Please make sure your 8th grader completes their Conference Google Form ASAP. This form is linked in your student's M&M Snapshot. It is extremely important that these be completed prior to conferences.
NOVEMBER CALENDAR
11/4: NO SCHOOL - Staff Workshop
11/5: NO SCHOOL - Staff Workshop
11/7: MS Fall Conferences Night 1
11/8: Veteran's Day Program
11/11: Parent Involvement Meeting 6-7pm
11/12: MS Fall Conferences Night 2
11/27-29: NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break
*Please note: Due to capacity restraints, our Veteran's Day Program is not open to the public. Please consider submitting photos of veterans in your middle schooler's life to be included in a video slideshow. Photos can be sent to nick.orourke@monticello.k12.mn.us
LOST & FOUND
Lost & Found is OVERFLOWING! Please stop by the Lost & Found during conference time to see if you can locate your student’s missing clothing items.
STUDENTS OF THE MONTH
MMS ATTENDANCE GOAL
Our goal for the middle school is to achieve a 90% attendance rate consistently throughout the academic year.
We are incredibly proud of our students and families for making attendance a priority. Let's keep it up!
- September Attendance: 95.41%
ONLINE ATTENDANCE OR ATTENDANCE LINE
ONLINE ATTENDANCE OR ATTENDANCE LINE
If your student will be late or absent, families can notify the school in two ways:
online attendance (through Parent/Guardian Portal)
call the Attendance Line at 763-272-2110.
If your student needs to leave early, families can notify the school in three ways:
online attendance (through Parent/Guardian Portal)
call the attendance line
send a note with your student to the Student Center
Prior notice (minimum of one hour) expedites the process, avoids interruptions into classrooms to have students dismissed, and eliminates difficulty reaching students during phy-ed, music, lunch, and special events.
NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL NURSE
Dear Parent/Guardian:
Minnesota Statutes, Section 123.70 requires all children enrolled in school to have documentation of immunization against nine vaccine-preventable diseases, allowing for certain legal exemptions. If this requirement is not met, the law states the student should be excluded from school.
***Parents of 7th graders, the following immunizations are required by law:
-An adult dose of Tetanus/Diptheria/Pertussis (TdaP)
- Meningococcal vaccination (1st dose)
You should make arrangements for needed immunizations with your family doctor or Wright County Public Health which holds several immunization clinics each month. To schedule an appointment, call 763-335-0280. If you have an appointment scheduled with the Wright County Public Health or at your clinic, please let us know this week. You can leave a voice message at any time of the day. Please send verification of the vaccine(s) to school by November 1st, 2024 . We need to have some kind of communication from you regarding your child’s missing immunizations by November 1st.
As a parent, you also have the right to decline these vaccines for your child. If you wish to declare a conscientious exemption for this vaccine(s), a conscientious objection (or non-medical objection form must be signed and notarized. A notary public is available in the district office free of charge. Please call to make an appointment at 763-272-2000.
If you have any questions please call Kelly Barrow, LSN.
Kelly Barrow, RN, PHN
Licensed School Nurse
763-272-2121 Fax#: 763-272-2109
kelly.barrow@monticello.k12.mn.us
Health Office Parameters for Notifying Parents
Monticello School District Health Services
Parents have the primary responsibility for the care and health of their children. Health Office staff recognize the need to consult parents for health issues that impact students. Individual assessment of the student concerns will dictate the necessity of parental contact. Parent requests for communication will be honored to the best of the health office staff’s ability. Time does not permit calling parents for each health office visit, but priority will be given to the following:
•A second visit to the health office in the same day (or multiple visits in one week) for the same complaint. A student’s history of health office visits may be taken into account.
•Symptoms of acute illness, including fever (>100.4 degrees and above), vomiting (except due to non- illness cause), diarrhea (except food intolerance/medication side effects).
•Complaint of head injury. Attempts will be made to reach families by phone. An email form will be sent to the family. A reasonable judgement will be made, but if in doubt, we will error on the side of caution and notify families.
•Injuries due to significant force or that result in a student protecting that body part, continuing pain in same location, swelling, significant bruising, subdued affect, extremity deformity, clammy skin, pallor, or laceration.
•Rashes of unknown origin or thought to be a contagious disease (chicken pox, impetigo, scabies, ringworm, molluscum, etc…).
•Eye concerns including pain or visual disturbances. We no longer exclude students with conjunctivitis (pinkeye).
•Students will be sent home with live lice (having eggs/nits is fine) and need to be treated once before returning to school.
•Broken/loose/loss of permanent/temporary tooth/orthodontic concerns.
•Health office staff will not deal with the behavioral aspects resulting in injuries but will refer to administration.
ATHLETICS & ACTIVITIES
GO MAGIC!
Here is a little update from our MS Athletics, Activities and Clubs!
MS Knowledge Bowl has a couple successful meets already completed. Our MS Yearbook Staff has started the process of creating our 2024-25 Yearbook. MS Jazz Band has been jamming together for a few sessions as well. Our MS ASL, Art and Dungeons & Dragons Clubs have been meeting and learning new medians and experiencing something fun!
We are excited to be launching a new system for registering your students for Monticello Athletics/Activities.
Winter Registration for the 2024-25 year is now active for the following:
Athletics:
Middle School: ⅞ MS Wrestling
HighSchool:
*8-12 HS Girls Basketball *7-12 HS Dance (Oct.)
*7-12 HS Boys Swim/Dive *7-12 HS Gymnastics
*HS Winter Sports Information Night will be held on November 4, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at Monticello High School.
MS Winter Activities:
7 & 8 MS Jazz Band 6-8 MS Speech (Starts Nov. 18th)
6-8 MS Yearbook Staff (few spots left)
To register for activities offered by the Monticello Activities Office, please click the button below:
*You will need to create an account, as a new user, and verify your new account through your email address.
*There is a ‘How to Register Video’ link located on the left-hand side of the registration home page, to help guide you.
Need Help?
Please reach out to Lori Pippert at lori.pippert@monticello.k12.mn.us regarding any questions about the registration process or MS Magic Activities.
Middle School Club registration is online through Portal>Store. Current MS Club active at this time:
MS Clubs:
6-8 Crochet Club (Meets on Thursdays. Due to Conferences, the first meeting is Thursday, Nov. 14th. Register now on the Portal!)
Additional MS Winter Sport Available:
7 & 8 Basketball
Registration for 7 & 8 basketball for girls and boys is also OPEN on the Monticello Community Education website.
The first day of practice for Girls Basketball was October 28, 2024. Practices are Monday-Thursday each week from 3:00-4:30 p.m. Follow mississippi8.org for the game schedule.
Boys Basketball will begin approximately January, 2025. Watch the Monticello Community Education website when registration will be available.
Please reach out to Lori Pippert in the Student Center with any questions.
MMS LIBRARY
MMS BOOK FAIR!
We will once again be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair during conferences. This is a huge boost to our MMS book budget, a nice place to connect with the learning community, and for parents to talk about books with their student(s).
Book Fair will be open on Conference Thursday from 4 to 8 pm and on Conference Tuesday from 4 to 8 pm.
