Middle Matters
Everything in the Middle School that MATTERS
6, January, 2025
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Happy New Year!
We are so glad to have our students back in the building again to kick off 2025! As we transition back from our winter break and look to the midpoint in the school year, it is a good time to do our mid-year check and recalibration for the school year. As we are coming back in, we have been purposefully resetting our behavioral expectations for all students in all areas of our school building. In addition, we have been doing a “January Refresh” with all students, reminding them what exemplary academic behavior is. This includes being on time to class with all necessary materials, completing assignments and activities with fidelity, and showing self-control while using materials and technology.
Our eighth graders will begin the registration discussion for high school. Discussions next month will be held in classes regarding all of the opportunities available for them at the high school. Math and English teachers will recommend Math and Foreign Language classes. It is hard to believe, but in a few months, these eighth graders will be high school freshmen.
As our sixth and seventh graders reflect on the school year, they will identify the growth they have seen in themselves since September. Sixth graders should start demonstrating the skills of a seventh grader. Those skills include taking ownership of your schoolwork, grades, and class schedule. We will look to our seventh graders to demonstrate and work on their leadership skills. This spring, we will be looking to identify some leaders to help us next year as eighth graders.
Take some time this week to visit with your child about how the school year is going.
Ask them to identify areas of growth that they see in themselves.
Reflect on the goals they set at the beginning of the school year.
Re-calibrate or set goals for the second half of the school year.
As always, reach out to our teachers and support staff if you would like some guidance at this midpoint in the year.
IN THIS ISSUE
- January Calendar
- Students of the Month
- Attendance Reminder
- Notes from the Health Office
- Athletics, Activities & Clubs
JANUARY CALENDAR
1/13: Parent Involvement Meeting 6-7 PM
1/16: 6th Grade Orchestra Concert 7-8 PM
1/17: End of 2nd Quarter
1/20: NO SCHOOL: Staff Workshop
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!
- December Attendance: 93.78%
- November Attendance: 93.38%
- October Attendance: 94.63%
- September Attendance: 95.41%
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
Notes from the School Nurse
It is that time of year again; we are in the cold and flu season. We need to take extra precautions to stay healthy. Some of the best ways to stay healthy are:
-Effective handwashing
-Getting adequate sleep
-Eat Healthy
-Cover your cough
-Stay home when you are sick
-Get your flu shot
An Influenza-like illness is defined by:
-a temperature greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit along with a sore throat &/or cough. If a student has a fever of over 100.4 degrees, they must stay home until they have a normal temperature for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine. This allows them time to recuperate and not spread their illness to others.
Please report to the health office if you have been diagnosed with any respiratory illnesses such as Influenza, Strep throat, Pneumonia, RSV, Covid or if you have any Influenza-like symptoms.
Remember to stay home if you are sick until any fever is resolved without medication for 24 hours and any other symptoms improve. Rest is the best when your body is trying to heal.
Kelly Barrow, RN, PHN
Licensed School Nurse
763-272-2121 Fax#: 763-272-2109
ATHLETICS & ACTIVITIES
GO MAGIC!
The Zone is up and running! This after school academic support program is on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:50pm -4:15pm.
MS Athletics:
MS 6-8 Wrestling program is in full swing and experiencing MS competitions. Visit: mississippi8.org for the current ⅞ Wrestling schedule.
MS Activities:
Speech Team practices are showing great progress. Students are looking forward to their first Speech meet on Jan. 13th!
⅞ Jazz Band has been rocking some great sessions. There is still room for more members. Register online today. Practices are on Tuesdays from 3:00-3:45.
MS Clubs:
The Crochet Club has been busy warming up their crocheting needles creating beautiful pieces. Spots are still available if interested.
Additional MS Winter Sport Available:
7 & 8 Basketball-Boys
Registration is available through Community Education Online Registration.
Practice begins on 01/06/2025 and will run Monday-Thursday from 3:00-4:30 at the MS.
MMS LIBRARY
