MUMS Family Newsletter

We've had another great week at MUMS! Staff and students are in the groove and athletics and clubs are generally underway.

Seeing students after school doing things that they love is always such a gift. Thanks to all of you for providing the support and transportation to make that happen.

Lastly, we hope to see you at next week's "Back to School night" on Thursday 09.19.24 from 6:00-7:30. This event is a caregiver only event designed to give Caregivers the opportunity to visit different locations around MUMS, meet their student’s teachers and learn more about life and systems here at the middle school. We hope to see you all here!

As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns and have a wonderful long weekend!

If you have questions generally, please reach out to us at mwisell@acsdvt.org (Michaela)

or zjerome@acsdvt.org (Zach) or dhunt@acsdvt.org (Dustin) or by calling the MUMS office at 802-382-1600 or by visiting the MUMS website for more information.

Michaela Wisell, Principal

Zach Jerome, Assistant Principal

Dustin Hunt, Activities Director

September 19th - Back to School Night (6:00-7:30)

October 1st - Picture Day

Activities Calendar

Students enjoyed our first all-school assembly last week, and had opportunities to participate in an obstacle course and other team-building activities. We want to congratulate our 6th, 7th, and 8th graders for displaying the IB learner attributes of courage, open-mindedness, and communication. Whether it was cheering on a classmate or taking a risk by volunteering to participate in a team challenge, we are very proud of our students! For more about our IB learner profile, click here.

Eileen Sears, MYP Coordinator

& ACSD Curriculum Leader

esears@acsdvt.org

802-382-1753

Pam Quinn, MYP Coordinator

pquinn@acsdvt.org

802-382-1243

This October, students are hoping we'll put on the 3rd annual Color Fun Run. The first two were such fun events for students and families and served as the primary fundraiser for FoMUMS to support all the great work they do for the MUMS community.

Right now we have 1 volunteer to help coordinate planning, but in order to make the event happen, we need at least 3 and preferably 3-5. With two years of experience to lean on, these wonderful volunteers would

• plan for the color stations
• communicate with myfunrun.com to set up the online donation platform
• plan ways for students & families to be involved in fundraising

FoMUMS has never wanted anyone to bite off more than they can chew, and talking a friend into volunteering with you is a great way to keep things manageable. We know how busy things can be and don't want to add to anyone's overwhelm!

If you'd like to help plan the Color Fun Run or would like to receive more information, please reach out via email to friendsofmums@gmail.com.

MUMS will have Picture Day on Tuesday October 1st. Order forms for LifeTouch will be handed out in TA the week prior. If you prefer to order your student’s school pictures online please visit mylifetouch.com and use the Picture ID EVTRF98G9. If you have any questions please contact Megan Curran at mcurran@acsdvt.org.

In August we sent home our first family newsletter which included forms to be filled out regarding your student (Student Information Form, ACSD Emergency Dismissal/Field Trip Permission & FERPA and COPPA Form, and Health Forms). We are down to 120+ students that we have not received forms from. Please return these forms to the Main Office if you have not done so already or contact Megan Curran at mcurran@acsdvt.org in our guidance office and she can print another copy for you.

• To report your child absent from school or notify us of an early dismissal please leave us a message on our attendance line by calling 382-1297 before 8:30 AM.
• If you send a student to school with an early dismissal note or bus note they should bring them the office before TA.
• All bus notes need to be stamped/signed by one of our Administrative Assistant's in the front office. Students will not be allowed to ride a bus to another location without a note from home that is stamped/signed by the office.

In addition to our phone/email communication, ACSD has a text messaging system. Families must opt-in to receive texts. ACSD will only use text messaging for short, time-sensitive messages (like early dismissal and snow days). Your school may also text you for important school updates. We will test this service on Thursday Sept 19th after the school day. To receive texts, you must opt-in:

• Text “yes” to 67587. You will get a reply confirming your registration. If you ever want to stop receiving texts, just text STOP.

• Make sure we have your wireless number in our student database. This is the number you share on school forms. (If you currently receive school/ACSD calls on your cell phone, we probably have your number.) Please contact your front office if we do not have this number.

Due to growing instances of phishing scams and concern for potential hacks of our computer networks, we will be removing all staff email addresses from our website directory. This change comes at the direction of our Technology Dept and we join many K-12 schools, colleges, and businesses in making this change. Staff phone numbers will still be available in our staff directory. You may also request a teacher’s email by phone or by calling our front office at 802-382-1600. Thank you for your understanding as we balance family communication needs with tech privacy and safety.

Hi folks! Last year, ACSD schools participated in the 802 Smiles Dental Hygiene Program and this was very successful. I'm excited to share that we are once again partnering with dental hygienist, Michael Messina, to offer free dental screenings and preventative care to all ACSD students. There are three documents attached for families to download and review: a family letter, a SDF consent form and an enrollment form.

Do you volunteer in our schools? Join Superintendent Wendy Baker for a discussion about how to streamline, strengthen, and improve our volunteer program at ACSD schools. We will schedule a time to meet this fall to gather your feedback. Interested?
Button or link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1H6laR0CJwNAVk9RKvXDYd2kvHeiw0vzwBb_9qcRNwg4/edit

As a community, we know that smart devices interrupt connection and engagement. Removing these devices helps students become more active, productive, and able to foster relationships with peers and teachers. MUMS has worked to become a cell-phone free school for the past two years. Our cell phone expectations within our handbook reads:

As this school year begins, I want to reiterate our commitment to being a cell-phone free school and share several things we’re doing to enhance this expectation.

• Devices: Smart watches and airpods/headphones are now included in the Cell-Phone Free expectation. This means if brought to school, smart watches and airpods/headphones must remain in lockers for the school day. In the past we only confiscated cell phones, but smart watches and airpods/headphones have proved to be a similar distraction.

• Enforcement: If a student has a cell phone, smart watch, or airpods/headphones out during school hours, the device will be confiscated by an adult and remain in the front office for the remainder of the day. The student can pick it up at dismissal. In the past, students were asked to put the device in their locker, however, it often re-emerged throughout the day.

We forecasted both of these changes with students at the end of last year, so this shouldn’t come as a complete surprise to our 7th and 8th graders. However, your partnership is crucial. Here are four things you can say to support our Cell-Phone Free expectation:

• Reinforce this simple message: You can bring your smart device to school, but it must remain in your locker for the entire school day.

• Smart devices can help children communicate with adults to develop healthy independence. However, it’s important to use the devices respectfully and not let them be a distraction at school.

• If you need to reach your child during the day, please refrain from texting or calling them during school hours. You may call our front office at 802-382-1600 and we will gladly deliver the message.

• Encourage your child to visit the counseling office if they need to make a call home.

Lastly, we recognize that there are some caveats which might warrant a student carrying a device on them during the day. Those caveats are always developed and situated in a plan (IEP, 504 or Medical) and agreed on collaboratively with the appropriate team.

Below is some important information as we head back to school:

Annual Health Forms

Please complete the annual health update form that is sent home at the start of the year. It is important for us to have any updates to your student’s medical history, medications, permission for over the counter medications, and permission for emergency care. Reach out to the school front office if you lose yours.

Student Medical Concerns and Emergency Medical Plans

If your student has a medical condition that may require treatment, monitoring, or other needs at school, please reach out by email or phone to make us aware of the issue. If you have an emergency plan from a healthcare provider for concerns such as asthma, allergies, seizures, or diabetes please share these with us as well.

Student Illness

We ask students and staff to stay home with any potentially contagious illnesses or symptoms including the following:

1. Vomiting/diarrhea-must be 24 hours symptom free before returning to school

2. Fever 100.4 or greater -home until fever free without use of medication for 24 hours

3. Any infection requiring antibiotic-keep your student home until they have been on antibiotics for 24 hours

4. Persistent cough that disrupts normal activity

5. Unexplained rash

6. Influenza -stay home until fever free without medication for 24 hours and symptoms are improving

7. Any other symptoms or illness that impedes a student’s ability to learn or staff’s ability to work.

You may return once feeling well enough to be at school and fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications. There is no longer any isolation/quarantine requirement for COVID. If you suspect your student has COVID, please follow the guidelines above for all illnesses.

Vaccine Information

If your student has received any of the school-required vaccines since last year, please send us this info. We do not need dates of flu or COVID vaccines. If your student has a religious exemption, please complete and send us an exemption form yearly.

By clicking on this link, you can access the most updated information and resources on vaccinations through the Vermont Department of Health. This includes annual vaccination rate data, school vaccination requirements, information on exemptions and exemption forms.

Prescription and Over-the-counter Medications

We do not allow students to carry prescribed or over the counter medications on them at school. Exceptions to this include students who carry an inhaler, EpiPen, Benadryl, diabetic supplies or other approved emergency medications.

Daily medications that need to be taken during school hours can be kept in the nursing office. These require orders from the prescribing healthcare provider, caregiver permission for administration at school and should be sent to school in the original pharmacy bottle. We ask that any medications be dropped off by an adult and not sent to school with a student. We have a variety of over-the-counter medications in the health office for students to access for daily concerns such as headache, cramps, upset stomach, seasonal allergies, sore throat, etc. We do need signed permission on the annual health form to administer these.

Vision and Hearing Screening

Per Vermont state requirements, the school nurse will complete vision and hearing screening on MUMS 7th graders. If these screenings are abnormal you will receive a letter with the screening results to review and share with your student’s healthcare provider.

Wishing everyone a great new school year. Please reach out anytime!

Liz Palko, BSN RN

MUMS School Nurse

epalko@acsdvt.org

(802) 382-1270

ACSD Health Services webpage

The Friends of the Union Meeting Hall will be hosting a Frederick Douglass-themed art contest for students in grades 6th-8th. The contest will be held inside the Union Meeting Hall, located at 41 Middlebrook Road in Ferrisburgh, during Ferrisburgh Day celebrations on September 15th from 11am to 3pm. There will be cash prizes for 1st ,2nd, and 3rd place winners. The first-place winner will also have their art framed and displayed inside of the Union Meeting Hall.

For full contest details or to enter click here . The deadline for registration is August 30th. Submissions must be dropped off at the Town Hall on Wednesday, September 11th from 8am to 4pm.

Please contact us at unionmeetinghall@gmail.com with any questions.

Linked here is the 2024-2025 supply list. Please remember that if your family is not able to purchase the recommended supplies we are happy to help. Please contact your child's counselor for more information.

• Lauren Daley ldaley@acsdvt.org - Teams 1&2
• Laura Emilo lemilo@acsdvt.org - Teams 3&4

To view monthly school menus click here.

Here is a list of the 2024-2025 ACSD Bus Routes.

We are so excited to welcome parents and community members back into our buildings this year! If you are interested in substitute teaching or volunteering this year, please start an application now!

If you are interested in joining our new Friends of MUMS group, email friendsofmums@gmail.com