Middle School Memo
September Edition
Welcome Back, Panther Families! 💙🐾
Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! It has been wonderful welcoming our students back to Mt. Morris Middle School and seeing our hallways, classrooms, and school community come alive again.
As we begin this new school year, I want to thank our families for your continued partnership and support. Middle school is a time of tremendous growth, and our staff is committed to creating an environment where every student feels welcomed, supported, challenged, and connected.
This year, we are focused on helping our students grow through what they go through. Growth does not always happen overnight—it happens through new experiences, challenges, successes, mistakes, relationships, and the encouragement of the people around us. Our staff is committed to planting the seeds, providing the support, and creating the opportunities our Panthers need to learn, grow, and bloom.
This year, we are excited to Show Our Pride with PAWS throughout Mt. Morris Middle School. PAWS represents the expectations we want our students to demonstrate each day:
P – Practice Kindness
A – Act Safely
W – Work Together
S – Show Accountability
These expectations are about more than behavior—they are about building a positive school community and helping our students develop the skills and habits that will help them be successful both in and outside of school.
This newsletter will be shared monthly to help keep our families informed and connected. Each edition will include important dates, upcoming events, celebrations, reminders, and highlights of the great things happening at Mt. Morris Middle School.
We are looking forward to a wonderful year of learning, growth, and connection. Thank you for trusting us with your children and for partnering with us as we help every student grow.
Here’s to a great school year as we Show Our Pride with PAWS! 💙🐾
Warmly,
Mrs. Courtney Gustafson
Principal
Mt. Morris Middle School
cgustafson@mtmorrisschools.org
💙🐾
Jennifer Mason
Assistant Principal
Alisha Hoover
Administrative Secretary
Ashley Dermer
Attendance Secretary
Kandy Jenkins
School Resource Officer
Jessi Kujat
Counselor
Kristen Fideli
Social Worker
September is Attendance Awareness Month
While September is Attendance Awareness Month, our district’s pledge is to create a culture of achievement for every student, every day, all year long! This year, our commitment is to continue to provide a safe learning environment while we focus on re-establishing good attendance habits and family connections.
“Showing up” is a valuable life habit – it represents more than attendance, it’s an attitude – it’s showing up, being present, and being engaged. It’s also a great way to celebrate the start of our new school year.
According to the research, attending school every day possible:
- Helps kids get back on track and recover lost momentum
- Promotes student learning and increases chances of graduation
- Helps kids feel better about school and themselves
- Improves mental health through socializing, developing friendships, building empathy and forming lasting relationships with peers
- Allows for a personalized learning experience that keep students from falling behind
Evidence shows when families and schools have strong relationships, children are more likely to stay in school, graduate and do well academically and socially. With you and your family on our team, we will successfully prepare, educate and inspire every student.
Thank you for your dedication to show up all year long!
Bell Schedules
Click on the bell to be linked to our daily bell schedules for the 2026/2027 school year
Morning Drop Off
This message is a reminder for families who are dropping their students off at school in the loop in front of the Middle School. We want to remind our families to pull all the way forward into the loop in a single file line. This ensures that there is space in the loop to hold all vehicles, as well as prevents students from having to walk between vehicles that are creating a second lane of traffic in the loop.
Additionally, we are requesting that our families who are dropping off students leave room for our school busses to access the Walter Street south driveway that leads behind the middle school for dropping off bus riders.
For safety, the passageway that leads from the Walter Street south driveway behind the middle school is only for busses from 7:00am- 8:00am.
Please help us in our efforts to always keep our Mt. Morris Middle School Panthers safe!
2026/2027 Breakfast Menu
All students at Mt. Morris Middle School qualify for free lunch. Click on the lunch box to be linked to our menu.
2026/2027 Lunch Menu
All students at Mt. Morris Middle School qualify for free lunch. Click on the lunch box to be linked to our menu.
ParentVue
It is vital that we have the most up to date information regarding your child's contact numbers and contact persons. If your student was enrolled in the district last year, please login to ParentVue https://www.mtmorrisschools.org and update your information. If your number changes or if your child's medical needs change, please login to ParentVue and update your child's emergency information.
Bus Behavior
Please know that riding a bus is a privilege. All students must adhere to the bus expectations located in the student handbook on the building's website. Failure to follow these rules may result in permanent removal from the bus. It is vital for our drivers to be able to concentrate on the road at all times to make sure students arrive to school and home safely.
Athletic Event Procedures and Expectations:
🐾 Mt. Morris students receive complimentary admission to athletic events. However, K-8 students must be accompanied by their parent or guardian.
🐾 EAJ students are required to present a student ID or display an active Studentvue profile at the gate to gain admission to the event.
🐾 All student spectators must remain in the stands unless they are using the restrooms or visiting concession stands. Students are not permitted to bring balls into the stadium or engage in games under the bleachers.
🐾 Students are not allowed to bring bags or backpacks into the stadium. However, bags brought in by parents or guardians are permitted and may be subject to search.
🐾 Students from other schools or districts will not be admitted to the event unless their school is participating. Visiting students may be required to show ID if they are unaccompanied by an adult.
🐾 The school code of conduct is in effect at all school-sponsored activities. Students are expected to dress and behave in accordance with the student code of conduct.
🐾 Students who are on social suspension, school suspension, or expulsion are not permitted to participate in extracurricular activities or events.
Mt. Morris Middle School
Vision:
The staff of Mt. Morris Middle School is dedicated to providing a quality educational system, in a safe environment, so that all students gain the skills, knowledge, and discipline to become successful. By working together with students, parents, and the community, we will empower our students to excel academically and socially to become contributing members of the Mt. Morris community.
Mt. Morris Middle School
Principal: Courtney Gustafson
Assistant Principal: Jennifer Mason
Website: http://www.mtmorrisschools.org/MMMS/
Address: 12356 Walter Street Mt. Morris, MI 48458
Phone: 810-591-7100 Fax: 810-591-7105