MUMS Family Newsletter

October is a big and busy month at school. We often begin to see the fatigue of students growing as we wrap up our fall sports seasons, prepare for the end of the Quarter and visibly recognize the change in our daylight hours.

We will continue to work with students to prioritize the completion of assignments during class and also during WIN, provide opportunities for time away from content to focus on social development and also to celebrate all victories, big and small.

In the weeks ahead, we will host our 2nd annual fall Color Fun Run, begin sign-ups for new Exploratory options and prepare for our Fall Parent-Teacher conferences. Please stay tuned for details about these events.

Enjoy the weekend and reach out with any questions or concerns.

If you have questions, please reach out to us at mwisell@acsdvt.org (Michaela)

or zjerome@acsdvt.org (Zach) or dhunt@acsdvt.org (Dustin) or by calling the MUMS office at 802-382-1600 or by visiting the MUMS website for more information.

- Michaela & Zach

Michaela Wisell, Principal

Zach Jerome, Assistant Principal

Dustin Hunt, Dean of Culture and Climate

• October 28th, 2023 - Color Fun Run
• November 2nd, 2023 - 1st Quarter ends
• November 2nd and 3rd, 2023 - PT conferences
• November 9th, 2023 - Picture Re-Take Day

This is an urgent plea to follow the steps in the parent portal so that we can ensure all information regarding your child is up to date in our system.

We are excited to welcome your child(ren) back to school! In an effort to ensure that we have updated and accurate information about each and every student, we are asking families to verify our yearly forms using the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

If you have not created a parent account yet just click on the Forgot Username and password link.

Once in PowerSchool, navigate to the “Forms” icon on the left-hand toolbar to review, update and submit the following forms for each of your children, we ask that you complete these by September 11th.

1. ACSD - Directory Information

2. ACSD - Field Trip Permission (required for field trip participation)

3. ACSD - Health Authorizations (required for field trip participation)

4. ACSD - Health Information

5. ACSD - Vermont Department of Health Inquiry

6. ACSD - Student Address

7. ACSD - Student Contacts & Custody

If you have questions please contact Megan Curran at mcurran@acsdvt.org

In art class with Ms. Maggio, 6th graders are studying the optical illusion style of art and the work of contemporary artist, Sari Shryack. Students chose to work alone, with a partner, or a small group to research the value scales of a real disco ball, and plan the color story for their own painting. Students cut all disco balls out of insulation board and painted their optical illusions using acrylic paint. The disco balls will be hung in the hallways of MUMS! Come check them out soon!

Pam Quinn and Eileen Sears, MYP Coordinators

Middle school can sometimes present social challenges for students. Don't Interview (Your Kids) for Pain highlights how positive framing and language can shift youth perceptions, agency, problem-solving and mindset.

Peer mentoring is growing in MUMS sixth grade science classes! 7th and 8th graders are volunteering during their WIN time to support 6th graders academically and socially and emotionally in Ms. McCarthy's class. Sometimes they work directly with one or two students during a class period, and other times they float around supporting students as needs arise. This highlights one of so many ways that our teachers and students work to create a safe supportive community here at MUMS!

Winter Activity Sign-Ups

Signups begin in TA’s on Monday October 23rd

Chess Club- Open to all students. Starts Monday October 30th. Meets weekly on Mondays and Tuesdays from 3:30-5pm. Students do not need to commit to both days. Chess club will offer a space for competitive and casual chess players, both new and experienced so that everyone can get better at the game. Chess is a good way to raise spacial awareness and forethought.

Extreme Winter Running Club- Open to all students. Starts November 27th. Meets Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 3:30-5pm

Wrestling- Open to students in grades 7 and 8. Practices begin Monday, November 27th. Practice schedule will be released at a later date

Gymnastics- Open to all students. Practices begin November 27th. Practices will be held 6:30-8:30pm Monday-Friday.

Interscholastic Basketball- Open to students in grades 7 and 8. Practices begin on Monday, November 27th. Teams will have practices/games 5 days a week with nothing scheduled on weekends. Students in grade 6 will play youth basketball through Middlebury Parks and Recreation.

Intramural Basketball- Open to all students. Meant to be informal and fun, these regulation games will happen 2-3 times per week starting October 30th and ending November 17th. No practices for this activity. All are welcome regardless if they plan on doing interscholastic basketball or not

Conferences on Thursday November 2nd and Friday November 3rd. Please review the information below:

• Conferences will occur in-person on Thursday November 2nd 4:00pm- 8:00pm and online Friday November 3rd 8:00am- 12:00pm.

• Core teachers will do conferences in pairs. (Math and I&S together and Lang & Lit and Science together)

• Due to limited conference slots, caregivers can meet with one pair or the other, but not both core teams.

• MIXT team, Wellness, Language Acquisition, Counselors, Special Education & Interventionists will meet independently with caregivers as folks sign up.

• Conferences will be 13 minutes long with a 2 minute break between each conference.

• The focus of our conferences will be on how students are navigating their school day as well as discuss strengths & an area of growth/focus.

Caregivers please sign up HERE via PTCFast. Conference sign ups will close by the end of the school day Friday October 27th.

Color Fun Run

Saturday October 28th, 9-11 AM:

• We are a little more than halfway to our fundraising goal of $5000 and we need your help to get there!
• Please help by sharing the Fun Color Run website on social media or helping your child with this sample fundraising letter that could be sent to family and friends who might be interested in donating.
• Donate at mums.myfunrun.com and help your child's grade!
• Sign Up to help out on the day of the event. Poofing color onto happy kids or just cheering them on as a course monitor require no skills and is a great way to spend a Saturday morning!

We are a little more than halfway to our goal of raising $5000. Way to go! Your fundraising totals so far (drumroll....)

7th grade: $391

8th grade: $1007

6th grade: $1499

Dear Families,

Picture retake day is Thursday November 9th. If your child was absent on October 3rd this is the last opportunity to get a school portrait.

You can still order your child’s Lifetouch school portraits online by going to mylifetouch.com and entering the picture day ID: EVTNNF82G.

If you have any questions please contact Megan Curran at mcurran@acsdvt.org

Please fill out the google form linked here to indicate your student's interest in a winter sport. This is not a commitment. Students will sign up as they always have in T.A. It is designed to help us better gauge how to provide the best programming we possibly can with the best resources. If you have questions, please direct them to Dustin Hunt dhunt@acsdvt.org.

We are up and running with our new Digital Design Course and are looking for some materials for the classroom. If you have any of the items listed below, please reach out to Jan Broderson @ jbroderson@acsdvt.org

• Duplo/Mega Blocks
• Legos
• Lego Robotics sets
• MagnaTiles
• Puzzles - from wooden for younger kids to maybe 100 pieces.
• Lumber (dimensional and plywood) at least 2 ft long, Also nicer pieces
• MatchBox cars
• Marble Mazes
• Building Blocks

Staff Wish List

• Our Staff Wish List includes lots of things you might have around your home unused, like magazines (for Ms. Ambrose's classes), milk crates (for Ms. Cosgrove's classes), tools, scrap wood, craft supplies and more!

REMINDER

Flu and covid are on the rise!

If your child is exhibiting any of the following symptoms PLEASE DO NOT SEND THEM TO SCHOOL.

Fever 100.4 and greater

Chills

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Flu like symptoms- general malaise, body aches

The student must be symptom free for at least 24 hours (without the use of medications) before returning to school.

It is strongly encouraged to test your child for covid. Unfortunately, the school is unable to provide covid tests to students at this time, we should be getting more in- but a very minimal amount. Please check your local pharmacy, online, or the local health department. The federal government is also offering 4 free covid tests to each family, see the following website www.covid.gov

Hand hygiene! Encourage your child to hand wash frequently and utilize hand sanitizer. Cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. And don't forget to schedule your child for their annual flu shot and covid booster!

Following these guidelines will help stop widespread flu and covid throughout the school. If you have any questions please reach out. Thank you!

Elizabeth Palko BSN RN

MUMS School Nurse

802-382-1207

epalko@acsdvt.org

Reframing Student Behavior is a resource from Dave Melnick that supports us in how we think about, support and communicate with students.

Interrupting Bias: Calling Out and Calling In is another resource to provide us with statements to address bias in our community.

We are so excited to welcome parents and community members back into our buildings this year! If you are interested in substitute teaching or volunteering this year, please start an application now!

If you are interested in joining our new Friends of MUMS group, email friendsofmums@gmail.com