Cubs Newsletter

The 2026-27 school year calendar has been approved by the school board and published on the district website. I have attached it below.

We have been busy making final preparations for the Arts Showcase and Fundraiser - it is exciting to be starting a tradition that will not only shine a spotlight on our talented students, but also ensure that future students, for years to come, will be able to discover and develop their artistic talents and have music, drama, and art part of their daily school experience. Fancy invitations have been mailed to many local dignitaries and supporters of the arts in our community. The students have been practicing. Displays and decorations are being prepped. We have been touched by all the people that have contributed donations to the silent auction. We have slogged through the not-fun stuff like ordering supplies and creating purchase orders. You are ALL invited! Please add this special event to your calendar and enjoy an evening admiring the talents of our amazing Cubs!

This is a special event - we want it to feel that way for the kids and for all those attending. Families are welcome, but please know that this is more formal than a regular concert. Refreshments are being offered for sale - that is one of the ways we are raising funds. As mentioned, we are auctioning off items as well. You are not required to make a donation, buy refreshments, or bid on auction items, but please know that this will be happening. I am most excited to see our students perform together, in this unique format, for the first time.

Some of you have reached out asking how you can donate online - thank you and please use the QR code below. 💓

The Deadline for submitting photos for the 8th grade goodbye slideshow is April 15.

Please send picture in with your student, or email photos to our Yearbook class advisor, Ms. Frederick. Her email address is frederickr@msd281.org. You can also bring those into our front office, if that is more convenient.

You might remember me telling you about the amazing coloring books that our students hand made for a wonderful organization that helps families in our community - Family Promise of the Palouse. Many of you also contributed to the supplies drive. Thank you!! Those items were delivered to Family Promise headquarters in Pullman yesterday. It wasn't a day off for these Cubs! I am so proud of all our kids for the care they put into their drawings. Some of our Cubs spent hours in the workroom helping staff assemble these drawings into books - I'm grateful for all their work too. I'm told that our friends at Family Promise were genuinely shocked at the size of the donation. When more than 550 determined kids and our dedicated educators put their mind to something...watch out! We deliver. 😊

I am happy to announce that we are offering an after-school tutoring and homework program here at MMS starting Monday, April 13th.

It has been one of my goals to make this a reality for years, and we have tried before with varying degrees of success to offer after school homework help to kids in years past. It was top of my list this fall, and because we were able to partner with Community Schools, I was sure this was the year we would finally be able to turn the dream into a reality. Then, reality hit...and hit again... I told staff last week that despite our best efforts, I was going to have to table the idea and try again next year. Then, in a Duke vs UConn "Hail Mary" kinda moment, on Wednesday I sat here in my office looking at Mr. Smith and Ms. Godfrey (our amazing community school leaders) and said, "I might need a moment...did we just do this?" The superintendent signed off, forms were completed, staff were hired, and by the end of the day we had an after-school tutoring program!

What: MMS after school "Homework Club"

When: Monday - Thursday at MMS in Ms. Bird's room #101

We will move to the library if needed, depending on how many kids sign up. The program will run starting April 13th through May 28th - the last Thursday in the school year.

What time: Homework Club ends a bit before 4:30 PM

What about transportation? Students can walk, get picked up, OR ride the bus

Yes - there will be a bus! We will run an "Activity Bus" that will leave MMS at 4:30 PM. It will follow a set route, dropping students off at predetermined bus stops around the community. This is NOT a door step delivery service. Students may need to be picked up, or walk the remainder of the way home from the bus stop.

Students must have a "Ticket to Ride" in order to get on the Activity Bus. Tickets will be given to students as they leave Homework Club. This is not a shuttle service for kids that have been hanging out at the Egan, or playing at the HIRC, or just messing around with friends after school.

Eventually, the goal is to offer a "Ticket to Ride" to students participating in MMS sports, clubs, and other MSD school activities. We will use this opportunity to work out all the kinks, and then as soon as possible, get more kids riding the Activity Bus.

How: Students must be referred by a parent and/or teacher and be officially signed up to attend Homework Club

We are reserving spots first, for students that need this support the most. Then, we will invite as many kids as want to attend Homework Club to join. But - parents need to register students. Your child's teacher might suggest Homework Club; teachers are an important part of making this a success and will communicate regularly with the HW club staff about class assignments and projects. Kids will be working on school work during HW club - not hanging out with friends. If their behavior causes issues, the will not be allowed to continue with HW Club.

Who: Ms. Bird is our Homework Club Leader. MHS senior, Taylor McLuen will be her assistant

The vision for this program is for volunteer tutors from MHS and the UI to work with MMS students under the direction of a Lead HW Club staff member. Next year, we hope to create those volunteer opportunities, but for now we have hired staff and will keep the program small in order to ensure kids get the level of supervision and support they need.

I will get you the official sign-up forms and the Activity Bus route information soon. As I mentioned, this happened fast! We are finalizing details. For now, if you are interested in having your student participate in Homework Club, please call our front office and let us know. That number is 208-882-3577. You can also email me at summerst@msd281.org. It helps us if you let us know right away if you want your student to participate and how they will be getting home.

8th Grade Science - UI Engineering EXPO

Parents - you received an email from Belinda Sell this week about the UI Engineering EXPO. We will be taking all 8th graders to this event to see how engineering is used to solve real-world problems in the morning on Friday, May 1st. If you'd like to help with this event from 9:00 am - 11:00 am, please email Ms. Sell directly at sellb@msd281.org

Students in Ms. Albrecht's Leadership class have identified a need for themselves and their peers to get more sleep. The data from the Idaho Youth Wellness Survey indicated that most of our Cubs are not getting the recommended 10 hours of sleep per night that they need. So, they have planned activities to help educate kids and parents about the importance of sleep and encourage their peers to try getting a full 10 hours every night.

They have asked our Parent Support Team for help funding some of their ideas. We need your help, too! Here is a link to sign up to contribute to this important project. Thanks so much!! MMS Leadership Class: MMS Sleep Campaign

A heads up to our 6th grade parents that every spring Ms. Fealy partners with Safe Routes to School to get all of our 6th graders on bikes and helmets and outside riding! You will be getting more information in the coming days, but now is a good time to get your child's bicycle dusted off and tires pumped up. This is always a fun day for the students. 😃

This coming Wednesday, April 8th, we will have a Lockdown Drill first thing in the morning during Home Room. These kinds of drills are necessary, unfortunately, and we do a couple each year, along with a monthly fire drill, as required by the state. My goal is always to strike a balance - we need kids to know that their safety matters, what to do in an emergency, and how to stay calm and focused in stressful situations, but we don't want to cause them undue stress and anxiety. I want you to know this is happening so that you can help prepare your child, if you know this is something that could be upsetting for them.

If you drop your child off that morning you will most likely see an MPD police car here...sometimes a few additional law enforcement officials join us just to practice. Don't be alarmed if you see their vehicles - their presences doesn't mean something is wrong.

If your child arrives a bit late that day - after the lockdown is initiated - they will be locked out...for real...but just until the drill is over. The exterior doors will be truly and securely locked and our secretaries will not be able to unlock them to let people in until I reset the system. The entire school and staff will be focused on the drill. Students arriving late will need to stay outside. Getting back inside your car for a bit would be best, but if not, they should plan on simply waiting for an adult to let them into the building so they can check in at the office.

The last time we had a lockdown drill, there just happened to be a couple of parents in the building. Guess what - they had to lock down too! That was a first for me, and maybe them too! They had an entirely new experience with our front office staff. 🙂

The UI Women's Lacrosse Club is offering a clinic coming up on April 26th. The clinic is open to all skill levels, including beginners, who are interested in learn and grow lacrosse skills. See the flyer and QR code below for more information.

Moscow Parks and Rec is hosting a 3 on 3 basketball tournament for kids of all ages, and adults. It looks like a lot of fun, and I know we have a lot of Cubs that might like to put together a team. See the flyer below for more details.

Our Women's Wrestling program is offering Open Mat times this spring starting on March 30th. Please see the flyer below for more information.

Good morning,

We are accepting applications for Round #2 of instrument grants (electric guitars and bass guitars) through the Graham Music Foundation Instrument Grant.

The student application packet can be found here.

The application window is open now through Wednesday, March 25, and the committee will review applications on Friday, March 27.

Please spread the word to any students in grades 6-12 who might be interested.

Leah Dahl

Next Week

Monday and Tuesday – Counselors will be in science classes getting 6th & 7th graders registered for next year.

Tuesday – The Cubs Arts Showcase and Fundraiser 6-8 PM at the Best Western

Wednesday – Lock Down drill at 8:20 ish a.m.

On the Calendar

4/15 – Cub PRIDE lesson – Excellence

4/16 – Band Concert

4/20-21 – SEL visits 8th grade science classes

4/21 – 5th to 6th Grade Parent Night 6:00 PM in MPR

4/22 – District 2 Large Ensemble Music Festival

4/23 – Outdoor Rec field trip to UI Experimental Forest

4/24 – Home Track Meet vs Sacajawea

4/28 – 30 – Science ISAT’s for 8th graders during science classes.

4/28 – Transfer to MMS from Charter, Private & Homeschool Enrollment Night 6:00 in MPR

4/29 - Outdoor Rec field trip to UI Experimental Forest

4/30 – Home Track meet vs Jenifer

5/1 – 8th graders attend the UI Engineering Expo in the morning

5/1 – Cub Invite home swim meet – at UI Swim Center 5:00 PM

5/4 – ISATs Day one

5/5 – ISATs Day two

5/5 – Orchestra Spring Concert 7:00 PM

5/6 - Outdoor Rec field trip to UI Experimental Forest

5/7 – Living Voices Performance during 7th period in MPR

5/7 – Band/Choir Spring Concert – MHS Auditorium 7:00 PM

5/8 – Common Read Community Discussion Tables in MPR in the morning

5/8 – Swim away at Sandpoint – busses will leave mid-day

5/11 – ISATS day 3

5/12 – ISATS day 4

5/15 – Clean it up Day! Cub PRIDE Activity

5/18 – No School for Kids – MMS Data Day and Workday for certified staff

5/19 – Band students tour Elementary Schools in the morning

5/21 – EXPO

5/25 – Memorial Day – no school

5/26 – Bike Ride Day in 6th grade PE classes

5/26 – ANOTHER Q-Doba fundraiser - we are so close to having enough $ for a water bottle filler

5/28 – Fire Drill during HR

5/28 – Drama Class Performance

6/1 – MMS Awards Night – 6:00 PM

6/3 – Last day of school for kids 1:30 release time

ISAT calendar and special ISAT bell schedule information is below.

Also 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!