MMS Newsletter

MMS will participate in Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action February 3-7, 2025. This week inspires our theme for the entire month.

Our theme for Black History Month is taken from this year’s Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action: “All Ages of Activism.” We will recognize this theme throughout the month in learning experiences, music, art installations, social media highlights, and more!

--Ms. Gronau

dgronau@somsd.k12.nj.us

Upcoming Dates to Know

January 28-In person CHS Sports Information Night 6:30pm in the MMS auditorium

January 29-Last day of Q2 Marking Period

January 30-MMS Winter Orchestra Concert

January 30-SOMSD BOE Meeting

January 31-Black History Month Kickoff Magic Laser Assembly

February 1-Black History Month begins

February 3-1st day of Q3 Marking Period

February 5-8th Grade Medieval Times Permission form due

February 7-MMS Presents Shrek tickets go on sale.

February 11-4 Hour day for students (12:30pm dismissal)

February 13-MMS HSA Meeting

February 17-Presidents Day (SOMSD Closed)

February 21-23-MMS Musical--MMS Presents Shrek

February 27-SOMSD BOE Meeting

March 1-Women's History Month

Conference period is an important time of day. Be sure to attend every day from 2:45pm-3:14 Monday-Friday to get help from a teacher, meet with a staff member, or start your homework in a helpful and supportive place. Attending conference period will set students up for success. Caregivers--be sure to set up your Canvas Observer account so that you can keep track of what's happening every day in your child's class. Scroll down for directions!

--Ms. Gronau

dgronau@somsd.k12.nj.us

Dear families,

We hope this message finds you well. We are reaching out to remind you of the importance of regular attendance and to clarify the process for notifying the school when your child is absent.

Reporting Absences

If your child is absent, please notify the school as soon as possible. You can inform us in the following ways:

• PowerSchool Parent Portal
• Email
• Phone
  

Documenting Absences

If your child is absent for a medical reason, and you have a doctor’s note, please provide it to the front office or attendance office so the absence can be marked as excused. For other absences excused under SOMSD Attendance Policy 5200 and SOMSD Attendance Regulation 5200, please provide the appropriate documentation, such as a note from a medical facility or other relevant organization.

For absences due to religious holidays, a parent note is sufficient to have the absence marked as excused.

What Constitutes a Full School Day

According to N.J.A.C. 6A:32-8.3(a) and (b), a school day in session is defined as a day in which the school is open and students are under the guidance and direction of teacher(s). For a day to be considered a full school day, students must be in attendance for at least four hours. Meeting these standards is crucial to ensure your child’s day counts fully toward their attendance record.

Attendance Requirements for High School Students

For high school families: Attendance is counted per course and per day at the high school level. High school students must be present in each course to earn the necessary credit hours for that course, which is essential for graduation and academic progress.

Understanding Chronic Absenteeism

Attendance is a critical factor in your child’s academic success. Students who are absent more than 10% of the school year are considered chronically absent. Chronic absenteeism can lead to gaps in learning, lower grades, and increased difficulty in maintaining a connection with peers and the school community. It can also affect your child’s progression and development of essential skills that support long-term success.

Accessing Attendance Letters in the PowerSchool Parent Portal

Please note that attendance letters will be turned in this week. If your child has more than four absences this year, you may receive multiple attendance letters. Please reach out to your child’s school administration if you are struggling with attendance. We are here to help.

Note: Attendance letters are not accessible through the PowerSchool iOS and Android applications. Please use a computer or the internet browser on your smartphone to view the reports.

1. Open an internet browser.
2. Visit the district homepage at www.somsd.k12.nj.us.
3. Navigate through Quick Links → Parents → PowerSchool.
4. Enter your username and password in the appropriate fields.
   If you do not have a parent portal account or forget your login credentials, please view the parent portal support webpage by clicking here. You can also email parentportalhelp@somsd.k12.nj.us for assistance.
5. Press the Sign in button.
6. Select eDocuments on the left navigation menu.
7. Select Daily Attendance Letters or Class Attendance Letters (CHS Only).
8. Select the desired attendance letter.
9. A new tab will open in your browser and will display a PDF copy of the letter.

The Achieve tutoring program will begin in October. Sessions at MMS are scheduled on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:15-4:15 PM. If you believe you have any students who may benefit from the program, please take a moment to complete the Google referral form below. Please be sure to include a parent's email address on each referral so the parental consent form can be sent. This program is designed for students who need some additional academic support, however, the tutors are not certified to support students who require special accommodations. Please let me know if you have any questions. Ms. Zavocki will serve as the site supervisor at MMS, so reach out to her if you have any questions about the program.

Click on the link below to make requests for morning and midday music! You can also find in on Canvas!