Cubs Newsletter

If you intend for your child to ride the bus to or from school, you need to call the bus garage at 208-882-3933. Parents must do this every year. Even if your child has been riding the bus since Kindergarten...the bus garage guys need you to call them and let them know your child will be riding the bus.

Cub Palooza is this Friday!!

6th grade: 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

7th & 8th grade: 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Be ready to...

• Get school photos taken (every student needs their picture taken for the yearbook. Buying a photo package from Leo's Photography is optional). You should have received a picture packet in your mailbox.
• Get your class schedule.
• Meet your teachers.
• Complete student forms.
• Find your locker.
• Pay ASB, Yearbook, and sports fees.
• Learn more about MMS.
• See all your friends.

We can't wait to see you all on Cub Palooza Day!

You will have noticed that one of the items on the Cub Palooza to do list is to stop at the office and pay school fees. Here are the specifics:

Yearbook - $31.00: Students are NOT required to buy a Yearbook, but at the end of the year almost every single one of the students wants one. You can purchase a yearbook at any time during the school year, but we encourage you to do it now. Why? First, so we know how many to order! We always order a few extra for those students experiencing last minute FOMO, but there is no guarantee that your child will get one if you wait. Also, if you buy one now, we will have a record of that purchase so when you call us in May because you can't remember if you bought one or not...we will very kindly remind you that you did. :)

Lunch Money: Parents do NOT need to put money on a school lunch account...but it's nice if you do. Kids this age are emotional, unpredictable, and growing like weeds! Even if you always send a lunch from home with your child, there is a chance that they might need to get a school lunch once in a while. If you have a terrible morning, your Cub might get out the door without a lunch, and it is nice if they have the option of getting a school lunch. They can even get breakfast at school...just drop them off...we will feed them. 😊 Remember that at the middle school we have the Cub Cafe. Students that have cash in hand, or money on their school account, can purchase "extras" such as sparkling water, milk, jerky, Sun chips, and other snack items. Students that bring a lunch from home often enjoy purchasing items from the Cub Cafe to add to what you sent them. Many parents choose to put money on their child's lunch account for these purchases, instead of giving them cash. Some students - mostly our 8th grade boys - will eat the lunch you sent with them and then also go buy a school lunch and eat that too! Especially if it is pizza day! See more about school lunch below.

Sports/Activity Fee - $45.00: If your student is participating in a sport, there is a $45 dollar activity fee per sport. If they are participating in a fall sport, you will pay for that now. If, later in the school year, your child goes out for another sport, you will pay the activity fee for that sport too. These fees help pay for referees, transportation, coaches, gear, scorekeepers, etc.

ASB - $26.00: Most students pay this fee. If your child participates in a sport they are required to pay this fee, but just once for the entire year. These funds are used for all the different activities that kids enjoy throughout the year - it pays for clubs, for dances, for activities, and a variety of other things. If your child is going to join a club, go on a field trip, hang out in the library, or attend a MMS or MHS game - you will want to pay the $26 dollar ASB fee. It will get your child into all MSD events for free, and it allows us to purchase all the supplies we need for clubs, groups, and fun events.

Note: We are a public school - everyone is welcome here and we take every kid, no matter what. No Cap! (Ha! Get it? No Cap?) Your child will not be turned away if you cannot pay school fees. We encourage and appreciate it if you can pay the ASB fee, but it is not mandatory. Sport fee exemptions can be discussed with Mr. Leituala. Yearbooks and School Lunch are optional.

Supplies for classrooms

· Kleenex boxes, or other facial tissues.

· Pencils – boxes of pencils sharpened or unsharpened

· Clorox Wipes, or other cleaning/disinfecting wipe

· Colored Pencils

· Individual pencil sharpeners – the small, not-electric type

· 2 Composition Notebooks

· Glue Sticks

· Black dry erase markers – any size. We go through a lot of these!

· White index cards – blank or lined

· Elmer’s brand Rubber Cement (If you can find it! We understand if you can't...these little jars are the unicorns of school supplies).

These items will be shared with all of your students’ classrooms. Please bring these supplies to Cub Palooza. We will gather these supplies and then distribute them.

Supplies for your MMS student

· Something to write with: We suggest students have some pens and pencils. You can choose the type & style you prefer.

· Something to write on: Your student will need notebooks, or a binder with notebook paper, or folders with paper. You can choose what works best for you.

· Something for organization: Some students like to use folders, others like a big binder. All students need some way of keeping assignments and projects organized.

· Wired headphones/earbuds: Students will sometimes need headphones/earbuds, and they cannot be wireless. We recommend purchasing a pair of inexpensive wired headphones/earbuds that are just for school and kept in the student’s locker or pocket. A case of some sort is helpful too.

· A backpack: Students will need a backpack for all their stuff. Every student will have a locker and will be expected to keep their backpack in their locker during the day. We do not allow bags with wheels, unless a medical exemption has been granted by school administrators.

· Shoes for PE: Students have a daily PE class. They will need appropriate shoes. We encourage students to keep a pair of sneakers in their PE locker to use on days when they want to wear Crocs, flip-flops, sandals, boots, etc. These do NOT need to be anything fancy. They will be worn outside as well as inside and will get dirty.

· A Calculator: There are times in math classes at MMS when students are allowed to use calculators. Most students prefer to have their own, instead of relying on the shared classroom calculators. Students may not use their phones/calculator apps.

· Extras: A specific teacher might have a specific school supply request for their class. If this is the case, your student will find that out once the school year starts. Your student might want supplies such as highlighters, colored pencils, pencil pouches, etc. All those things are fine for students to have but are not required. Your student might also want items for their locker – a mirror for example. These are acceptable as long as they are magnetic and can be easily removed at the end of the year.

We have a great school nutrition program here at MMS lead by Kendra Holden, our MSD Food Service Director. We offer breakfast each morning, starting at 7:45 AM, and lunch.

Students have choices with every lunch - there is always more than one option for the main course. Students can take their lunch outside to eat, when the weather is good, and many choose to do so.

We also have a "Cub Cafe." This is a pay-as-you go snack shop. Students can buy things like jerky, Sun Chips, frozen fruit bars, flavored milk, and sparkling water in our lunch room. They can use money that is on their school lunch account or cash. The Cub Cafe is opened after lunch is served. Our students love it! It makes them feel really grown up when they can buy themselves a little treat for a couple of dollars. Some also like treating their friends. This is a great opportunity for them to learn how to manage their own money, how to practice managing these social situations, and how to pace themselves before they get to the High School, where students are allowed to leave campus and go downtown to eat lunch at local restaurants.

Some families qualify for free or reduced price school meals. Families must apply for the Free or Reduced lunch program again every year. Even if you have qualified before, you must reapply or you will be charged for your student's meals. We encourage anyone that might possibly qualify for free or reduced prices lunches for your students to fill out the application. It doesn't take long, and it can save your family a lot of money and ensure that your student is ready to learn throughout the day. The application is attached below. You can also pick one up at any MSD school or the District Office. We are happy to help you fill out the form if you would like some assistance.

For the 2026-27 School Year the cost of a school lunch at the Middle School will be:

Breakfast: $2.40

Lunch: $3.85

Milk only: $0.75

2nd Breakfast: $3.75

Adult/Guest Breakfast: $3.75

2nd Lunch: $5.20

Adult/Guest Lunch: $5.20

Reduced Price Breakfast: $0.30

Reduced Price Lunch: $0.40

The lunch and breakfast menus are available on the MSD webpage: https://menus.healthepro.com/organizations/2322/ You can also pay for lunches and/or add to a school lunch account on the district website here: https://secureinstantpayments.com/sip/?ID=10029

Please note that 7th grade students are due for vaccinations. They need the Tdap and Meningococcal immunizations, or an updated signed exemption form. As the school year gets started, our school nurse will be reviewing vaccination records and ensuring that we are in compliance with state law. Idaho schools are required to submit kindergarten, first grade, seventh grade, and twelfth grade immunization data to the Idaho Immunization Program by November 1st of each school year.

More information is attached below.

This week:

Monday: Volleyball practice starts. These are team selection practices. Practices will be in the Bear Den/MMS Gym/Field House.

7th graders: 9:00 - 11:00

8th graders: 11:30 - 1:30

Tuesday: Volleyball practice and team selection continued:

7th graders: 9:00 - 11:00

8th graders: 11:30 - 1:30

Wednesday: Fall Sports Parent Meeting

Parents of students participating in Cross Country, Volleyball, Cheer, or Football are encouraged to attend this informational meeting. You will meet coaches, learn more about time and places for practices and competitions, and have the chance to ask questions. Everyone meets in the Bear Den first, before dividing into individual sports.

Where: Bear Den

What time: 6:15 PM

Wednesday: 7th grade and 8th grade A teams VB practice at Bear Den 9:00 - 11:00

Thursday: 7th grade and 8th grade A teams VB practice at Bear Den 9:00 - 11:00

Friday: Cub Palooza Day

Friday: Football practice starts at 3:00 P.M. in the Bear Den

Friday: 7th grade and 8th grade A teams VB practice at Moscow High School Gym 9:00 - 11:00

On the Calendar:

8/24 - Football and A team practices continue through season. See individual sport schedules.

8/26 - First Day of School

8/26 - Cross Country starts

9/2 - Launch Day during the school day

9/4 - No School for kids - Professional Development Day for Teachers

9/7 - No School - LABOR DAY HOLIDAY

9/9 - XC away meet at Clarkston Seaport invite

9/9 - Football HOME GAME

9/9 - A team Volleyball HOME GAME at Moscow High School gym 7th grade starts at 4:30

9/14 - A team Volleyball away at Lapwai

9/16 - Cross Country away at Pullman

9/16 - Football HOME GAME vs Jenifer

9/16 - A team Volleyball HOME vs Pullman at MHS gym

9/21 - A team Volleyball away vs All Saints Catholic

9/24 - A team Volleyball HOME GAME vs Jenifer at MHS gym

9/25 - Cross Country away at Spokane for Firman Invite

Note: I update this every week! As dates and plans are finalized, events are added. I will let you know about everything I can - this is NOT just a section for sports. 😁

Parents can find Cub Sports specific information on our webpage here: https://mms.msd281.org/o/mms/page/sports-activities You can also email Mr. Leituala at leitualam@msd281.org or call our office at 208-882-3577.