Cubs Newsletter

It is Spirit Week! Our Leadership Class students have picked the themes for the days:

Monday 12/15 - PJ Day

Tuesday 12/16 - Twin Day

Wednesday 12/17 - Ugly Holiday Sweater Day

Thursday 12/18 - Color Wars! 6th = Green, 7th = White, 8th = Red

Friday 12/19 - Holiday Cheer - wear favorite holiday themed clothing

On Monday, during PE or Health class, students that have parent permission will be taking the Idaho Youth Well-being Survey. While we do not see individual responses to questions, in order to preserve student privacy, data gathered from the survey will provide school leaders with important information about our student's physical, mental, and emotional health as it relates to academic success so that we can make more informed decisions about curriculum, instruction, activities, and programing in order to better serve our students and meet their needs. It also makes our district eligible for a wider variety of grants and other funding sources that we can utilize to enhance student learning and growth.

You can find more information about the survey below.

Our Orchestra students did an excellent job at their Holiday concert last week - I am so impressed with how much they have learned.

Our Choir and Band students will be performing for family and friends this Tuesday, December 16th at the Nazarene Church. The concert starts at 7:00. This is a new venue - we are trying different options to see how they work and feel. It can be a challenge, in the Moscow School District, to fit all the different activities and performances into our limited facilities and spaces. I am looking forward to this performance. I have heard the rehearsals as I've walked the halls and dropped into the music room...our kids have been working hard!

On Wednesday, our choir students will be caroling throughout the building. This has been a tradition at MMS for many years and I always look forward to it, and whenever I can I join the kids for a bit!

On Friday small ensembles of band and orchestra students will set up before school in spaces throughout the building and play holiday music for all the MMS students and staff as they enter the building and make their way to class. It is so fun to see friends performing for friends and see the kids taking a moment to stop and enjoy listening to music provided by their peers.

All parents are welcome to join us for a Parent Support Team meeting this coming Wednesday, December 17th at 5:30 in the MMS library.

Our Earth Club is hosting an Elf Exchange for all MMS students after school this Thursday, December 18th. This is a holiday gift shop where students can select and wrap donated new, or gently used, items to gift to their family members. Our Cubs love their families, but we know that there isn't always a lot of money for them to spend on gifts. Our amazing MMS staff find and donate items so that our kids have something to give to others. Please know that some of your kids might be excited to be giving you a gift from the Elf Exchange - I don't want any family member to be confused or concerned as they wonder where students got gifts for family members. 😃

You are welcome to join us in donating items to the Elf Exchange. Please drop by any new or gently used items to our office - no clothes, please. :)

These items are free for students and intended to be gifts for them to give to family members. It is also a way to promote sustainable giving.

It is time to sign up for Girl's Basketball and Boys Wrestling. We are hosting informal information meetings during lunch for students, and encourage anyone interested in participating in either of these sports to give it a try! We have something for everyone at every level. You can go to the sports and activities page on our website to get signed up. Practices start after Winter Break.

Please feel free to call or email us with any questions!!

Our Activities Supervisor is Mr. Leituala. His email address is leitualam@msd281.org. He and our office ladies will be happy to help you with the registration process and answer any questions you might have - give us a call at 208-882-3577.

Our World Cultures classes are once again organizing and hosting events to spread the word about, and benefit, worthy causes around the world. This semester the students have chosen to focus on Ukraine and Haiti. Once the students have chosen a cause, they brainstorm, plan, and carry-out a fundraising activity. One of the Cub's favorite ways to raise funds is to have a school dance, and so one of the classes is hosting a "Dance for Ukraine." They could use your help, and have asked me to share this message:

The MMS World Cultures and Leadership classes are hosting a dance to raise money for Ukrainian refugees. The dance will be 1/9 from 4-6 PM for MMS students only. The classes could use your help!

If you are interested in helping chaperone for the dance, please click here.

If you are interested in baking for the bake sale, please click here.

Thank you for helping out, and we hope to see your kids at the dance!

Every year, Moscow High School and Moscow Middle School Unite for a cause. In January, we will compete with MHS to collect the most food donations for our school and community food banks. (Not to brag, but we have won every year since...well, for the last five years at least). Our Cheer squad will unite with the MHS Cheer Squad, our band with the HS band, for an MHS home basketball game in the Bear Den. This will happen on January 14th, so stay tuned for more information.

Every day, throughout the day, many many many times per day, we hear the numbers 6 7. Kids come up to me every day, look me in the eye, and say, "six seven?" Then they smile, and I smile, and I say "six seven," we both move our hands a bit, and they walk away filled with joy and happiness. It makes no sense. It means nothing...and everything...both at the same time. It came from the internet, and for no reason whatsoever, it has become a global phenomenon. Don't try to understand it. Don't try to fight it...you won't win. Trust me on this one. 🙃

December 10th was the 67th day of school this year, and the staff at MMS decided to lean in. We surprised the kids with a 6 7 staff dress up day. If you can't beat them, join them...right?

It was a lot of fun. We have a great group of people that work here...that work with your kids. They are a talented, skilled, hard-working team that also knows how to have a little fun once in awhile, and I am truly grateful for their dedication and commitment to our Cubs. 💖

Next Week

Monday – PJ Day

Monday – Idaho Youth Wellness Survey during PE and Health classes

Tuesday - Twin Day

Tuesday - Dickens Day!! 7th graders attend performance at the Kenworthy in the afternoon

Tuesday - Band and Choir Concert at the Nazarene Church 7:00 PM

Wednesday - Ugly Christmas Sweater Day

Wednesday – Holiday music before school provided by Band and Orchestra students

Wednesday - Card Making activity during Home Room - cards for nursing home residents, veterans, and first responders in our community

Wednesday – Caroling Cubs

Wednesday - PST meeting @5:30 PM in library

Thursday – Elf Exchange in MPR after school

On the Calendar

12/22 – Winter Break

1/9 – Dance for Ukraine 4-6 p.m.

1/14 – Moscow UNITE!

1/19 – No School MLK Jr. Day

1/21 – Haiti Night at MHS

1/22 – Assembly during extended HR time

1/22 – Drama Class Performance

1/22 – last day of Semester One

1/23 – No school for kids – Teacher contract day

1/26 – No school for kids – Teacher contract day

1/29 – NAEP testing

1/30 – Library kids Podcast crew field trip

Below is a link to MMS Events on our webpage where you can stay up to date with all the goings on at Moscow Middle School. Go Cubs!