MMS Weekly Announcements

Monday, September 7th

No School-Labor Day

Tuesday, September 8th

Gaming Club 8:15 am

Yearbook Club 8:15 am

Open House 6:00 pm

Scholastic Book Fair (Media Center during lunch)

Wednesday, September 9th

Art Club 8:15 am

Book Club 8:15 am

Football Home Game vs. Westside 5:30 pm

Scholastic Book Fair (Media Center during lunch)

Thursday, September 10th

FCA Meeting 8:15 am

Scholastic Book Fair (Media Center during lunch)

Friday, September 11th

DND Club 8:00 am

Progress Reports Published Qt 1

Scholastic Book Fair (Media Center) Closes

Sunday, September 13th

Athletic Boosters Meeting 4pm

Week Five Inspirational Quote:

As we continue our journey to Go for the Gold, remember this week's inspiring quote:

"My only key to true success is having confidence." ~ Tony Hawk

Confidence is believing in yourself, your abilities, and your potential. Challenge yourself to step outside your comfort zone, take on new opportunities, and trust that your hard work will pay off. When you believe you can achieve great things, you're already on the path to gold!

Have a confident and successful week, Hawks!

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, September 8th, from 6:00 PM–8:00 PM for our upcoming Family Night! We are excited to welcome our families to campus and look forward to spending an evening together celebrating our school community. More details will be shared soon.

We can't wait to see you there!

Join us in the Media Center September 8-11 for our Scholastic Book Fair! Students will have the opportunity to browse and purchase books throughout the week during the lunch. Parents can also shop during Open House. We look forward to seeing you there!

https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/mandarinmiddleschool

If you have any questions about the book fair, please contact Ms. Segers (SegersC@duvalschools.org).

Progress Reports will be published for parents by the close of school day on Friday, September 11th. If parents would like to receive a paper copy of their child’s progress report, they must Complete the Request for Paper Communication form located in their Focus Parent Portal.

The Fall 2026 Volunteers Needed Flyer (1) is a great opportunity to get involved and support our school’s athletic programs. Volunteers are needed for concessions, fundraising, and other activities that help promote school spirit and enhance athletic opportunities for our students. Join the next Athletic Boosters meeting on Sunday, September 13th at 4:00 PM to learn more about how you can help!

We are excited to welcome All Pro Dad to our school community! All Pro Dad is a program designed to strengthen relationships between students and the important adults in their lives through meaningful conversations, character-building activities, and shared experiences.

We encourage fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, mentors, and other caring adults to get involved and make a positive impact. Stay tuned for upcoming meeting dates and opportunities to connect!

Together, we can help our students grow, succeed, and Go for the Gold!

Date: Friday, September 18

Location: Teacher's Lounge

Time: 7:45 am - 8:15 am

Mandarin Middle PTSA is excited to host our first annual Grandparents’ Day Lunch where you can enjoy a meal with your student at school. Lunch will include a Chick-fil-a Sandwich, chips, cookie and a bottle of water. After you sign up, please go to Givebacks to order your lunches.

Deadline to order/RSVP will be Tuesday, September 15. Please sign up for your child's grade level lunch.

Date: September 18th

Times:

11:23 -11:53 (6th Grade)

12:04-12:34 (8th Grade)

12:53-1:23 (7th Grade)

RSVP Link: MMS Familes: Grandparents Day Lunch

Lunch Order: Givebacks

Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!

Students will take their school pictures during their PE or Health class with the following teachers:

Tuesday, September 22

• Arce
• Bowers
• Peck

Wednesday, September 23

• Haywood
• Newman
• Johnson

Please encourage your student to dress their best and come ready to smile! We look forward to capturing these special memories. If you have questions about school pictures, please contact Ms. Kelly at KellyC2@duvalschools.org.

MMS PTSA is excited for our first annual Books and Bites Night! Explore creative activity stations, enjoy snacks, and spend quality time with family and friends. It's an evening of reading, creativity, and fun for everyone.

Date: September 23rd

Location: Media Center

Time: 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

MMS Families: Books and Bites

Space is limited to the first 100 guests, so be sure to register early. Parents/guardians must attend with their students and stay at the event the entire time.

Please join us for Movie Night in the Auditorium! PTSA will be providing popcorn for all attendees. Space is limited, so be sure to sign up early to reserve your spot. For student safety, adults must remain with their students for the entire event. We look forward to seeing you there!

Date: September 25th

Location: Auditorium

Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080849ABA92AA4FF2-65616895-movie

September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to remind our students, staff, and families that no one is alone. Together, we can create a caring school community where everyone feels valued, supported, and encouraged to seek help when needed. Our school social worker, Mrs. Nalls, and therapist, Ms. Sophia, are available to support students and families. Remember, reaching out for help is a sign of strength, and every conversation can make a difference.

Students and families, PageHive is a digital reading platform available through DCPS that helps students access books, track reading progress, and discover new titles based on their interests. Whether reading at school or at home, PageHive makes it easy to build strong reading habits and a love of learning.

Log in through your student portal and start exploring your next great book today

PressReader.com | Page­Hive app helps River City Read­ers

Tardy Policy

Students and families, thank you for helping us make attendance and punctuality a priority! Being on time to class each day supports student success and helps maintain a positive learning environment.

As we reach the midpoint of the first quarter, we would like to remind everyone about our Pep Rally Incentive:

Students who have fewer than 5 tardies for the quarter and no discipline referrals will earn the opportunity to attend our October Pep Rally.

Every minute of learning counts, so please make every effort to arrive at school and class on time each day. We appreciate your partnership in supporting student achievement and school success.

Let's keep up the great work and finish the quarter strong!

Mandarin Middle School is seeking a volunteer Co-Sponsor/Secondary Coach for our FIRST LEGO® League (FLL) team. Help students develop skills in robotics, coding, engineering, problem-solving, and teamwork while preparing for competitions.

Responsibilities:

• Support team meetings, practices, and competition preparation.
• Mentor students in robotics design, coding, and problem-solving.
• Encourage teamwork, creativity, leadership, and independent thinking.
• Assist with competitions, presentations, and team logistics.

Ideal Candidate:

• Experience with coding, robotics, engineering, or technology.
• Enjoys working with middle school students.
• Patient, dependable, and enthusiastic about STEM education.
• Available for practices and competition events.

Volunteer Requirements: All volunteers must complete DCPS volunteer approval requirements and required background checks before working with students.

Interested? Please contact us if you would like to help inspire the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers! 🚀

If you are interested in supporting the Lego League, please contact Ms. Lebitz at HowellS1@duvalschools.org.

Alina D.

Alina has demonstrated initiative by volunteering to assist with small tasks during science class. Alina's willingness to help and contribute to the classroom community is appreciated and helps create a positive learning environment for everyone. ~ Mr. Bacon

Davi C.

When a classmate was having a bad day, Davi took the other student tissues. I rewarded Davi with a Hawk Buck. The next day he asked me if he could give his Hawk Buck to the student so he could cheer the student up. ~ Ms. Lee

Looking for fun and educational activities this month? The South Mandarin Branch Library_Events_Sep 2026 is offering a variety of free programs for children, teens, and families throughout September! Highlights include Little Readers Storytime, Junior Scientists, Comic Creators, Turn Up for Tech, Read with Therapy Dog Yona, Teen Game Day, Teen Movie Night, and Once Upon a Craft. There are also special events such as the Grandparents Day Tea on September 15

We are proud to announce that our school has been recognized as a PBIS Bronze School! This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of our students, staff, and families in creating a positive, respectful, and supportive school environment.

Thank you for demonstrating our school expectations each day and contributing to a culture where everyone can learn and succeed. Together, we will continue to build on this success and strive for even greater achievements in the future!

Congratulations, Hawks!

Parents may upload physician or sick notes directly through the Focus Parent Portal. Once submitted, Mr. Rau in the Guidance Office will review the documentation and make any necessary adjustments to your child's attendance record. If you have any questions, please contact rauc@duvalschools.org.

Please see the attachment for the DCPS Excused Absence Policy:

Hawk Naton help us inform the community! What will voters see on the ballot this November?

The ballot language shows that funding will continue to support teacher and staff compensation, as well as arts and athletics.

We’re sharing the official language so our community can understand exactly what will appear on the November 3 ballot.

Learn more about the 1-mill referendum, including frequently asked questions and funding information, at www.duvalschools.org/vote.

For Teachers. For Students. For Duval. Our Progress Continues.

Does your child need extra help with math? Join us for after-school math tutoring!

• 7th Grade Tutoring: Fridays, 4:25 PM to 5:45 PM
• 8th Grade Tutoring: Mondays, 4:25 PM to 5:45 PM

This is a great opportunity to strengthen math skills, get homework help, and prepare for assessments.

Please RSVP with Ms. Lebitz at HowellS1@duvalschools.org.

We look forward to helping students succeed in math!

If you were unable to view last month’s newsletter, you can access it by clicking the link below.

July Newsletter

https://app.smore.com/n/asjdb

Back to School Newsletter

https://app.smore.com/n/d4v5p

August 17th - 21st

https://app.smore.com/n/qehfd

August 24th-28th

https://app.smore.com/n/a72sp

August 31st - September 4th

https://app.smore.com/n/1bqxs

Please review the link with your child if they are aware of any suspicious activity. The link is a reporting tool that allows anyone to instantly relay information to appropriate law enforcement agencies and school officials. Students can also access the link on their school laptop. Thank you for helping us keep our school safe!

https://getfortifyfl.com