Mustang Matters

Greetings MMS Families,

Thank you for another great week for our second week of school! This week the Mustangs settled further into their schoolwork – ramping up content and hopefully the level of challenge and even HW. We also had a great Back to School Night Wednesday evening! The weather cooperated as well so we could have a great turnout, great connections and a great performance to start us off courtesy of our music team and our Mustang drumline. Special shout out to Bruce and Ms. Chapman for running building tours as I had to support my own scholars while connecting with families out front.

We look forward ramping up our after-school programming further this week – we will be sharing an updated list of clubs/dates and offerings by the end of the week but Mustangs will find activities beginning Monday afterschool and are eligible to stay starting right away. If you have questions about clubs or after school activities, please reach out to our after school leads Ms. Jones and Ms. Martinez-Garcia – Terra.Jones@k12.dc.gov; Laura.Martinez-Garcia@k12.dc.gov

Have a great weekend!

Cooke

9/16 – September PTO Meeting – NEW DATE!

• DINNER will be provided! This is our first meeting of the year and a great chance to share ideas, hear about plans for the year and get to know other families! Please let us know if you are interested in assistance with transportation to attend the meeting. We will also offer an option to join by Zoom -- links will be shared next week.
• ¡Se proporcionará CENA! Esta es nuestra primera reunión del año y una gran oportunidad para compartir ideas, escuchar sobre los planes para el año y conocer a otras familias. Háganos saber si está interesado en recibir ayuda con el transporte para asistir a la reunión. También ofreceremos una opción para unirse por Zoom: los enlaces se compartirán la próxima semana.

Parent Resource - September Resource - Now Is the Time for Courage I found this read to be inspiring and practical for both our Mustangs and my own children, and even myself. I strongly believe now IS the time for courage – enjoy and share broadly.

PTO Liaisons have been coordinated to support each grade level and grade level families. You can expect to see them at PTO meetings and connect with them if need be. For 25-26 SY the liaisons are:

- 6th Grade – Jessica Gibian – jessica.gibian@k12.dc.gov

- 7th Grade – Fadwa Hussein – fadwa.hussein@k12.dc.gov

- 8th Grade – Sarah Riggen – sarah.riggen@k12.dc.gov

Shout Outs and Celebrations: Please check out a few shout outs to MacFarland community members who are embracing our belief that we are one MacFarland!

The Our Minds Matter group started this week with leadership from Ms. Kent and Ms. Raphael and partnership with Ms. Teixeira and her advisory. It was great to see this group of young leaders connect and get started early this year on their growth and advocacy for MMS’ future!

I had a chance to observe instruction in so many classes this week but wanted to share a few highlights from some of our inner core classes:

• In Ms. Flemmings class students were asked to identify shapes found in different building structures, then think and write about which might be the strongest and why . . .
• In Dr. Guyton’s class students were learning about careers in music and exploring what might excite them about that pathway . . .
• In Ms. Beckett’s class students were having fun warming up with an activity that asked them to act out an emotion . . .
• In Mr. Rings class students were doing an icebreaker called Who the Wind Blows – having fun and learning about each other! I saw the same great activity in Ms. Lewand’s art class last week!

BTSN prep and set up is extensive!! Ms. Walker-McLean, Mr. Novoa-Marcano and our custodial team led by Mr. Blair worked all afternoon to ensure our setup was ready and on point for the evening. Our Music Dept. coordinated performances and music out front to add ambience, our Wellness Team had materials to engage and support mental health and our teachers and staff were ready with information and engagment as well. Shout out to our APs and grade level leads who prepared presentations for our families! Thank you PTO for supporting parent engagement and thanks to our Mustang families and students who came out to connect!

We also had our SECOND fire drill of the year and lockdown drill as well. Both drills were extremely smooth overall thanks to the coordination and leadership of Ms. Walker-McLean, AP Ojeda and our staff and students. Thank you all for ensuring the process was effective in preparing us in a focused and calm way for any incident.

Via email or by appt. – lucas.cooke@k12.dc.gov

Tuesday, Sept. 16th – Open Office Hours/Stop by the school – 4:00-6:00pm

Next Curbside Coffee – Friday, September 19th – out front 8-8:45 September PTO Meeting – 16th 6:00pm - MacFarlandMSPTO@gmail.com

Order your MacFarland t-shirts and hoodies now through the MacFarland PTO for your students, families, and friends! MacFarland-branded t-shirts and hoodies are allowed as uniforms. Order here by next Monday, September 15! Payment can be made in advance via Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, or by cash when the order arrives. Please submit your request here. Thanks and please email macfarlandpto@gmail.com with any questions!

¡Ordene ahora sus camisetas y sudaderas MacFarland a través de la Asociación de Padres y Maestros (PTO) de MacFarland para sus estudiantes, familias y amigos! Las camisetas y sudaderas con la marca MacFarland se permiten como uniformes. ¡Ordene aquí antes del próximo lunes 15 de septiembre! Puede pagar por adelantado por Venmo, Zelle, PayPal o en efectivo al recibir su pedido. Envíe su solicitud aquí. Gracias y, si tiene alguna pregunta, envíe un correo electrónico a macfarlandpto@gmail.com.

REMINDER - Back to School Block Party (9/13)- The DCPS Back to School Block Party will be on Saturday, September 13, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., at Jackson-Reed High School. Families will enjoy free food, activities for all ages, resources, performances, vaccinations, and more. For more information, please click here. Please distribute these flyers to your community.

POC: Amara.Jordan@k12.dc.gov

The goal of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Safe Routes to School

(SRTS) program is to get more students walking and biking to school and doing so safely.

Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts in this anonymous, 10-minute survey to

help us customize our programs and services around the challenges faced at your school.

https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8271328/58f491c68c8e

A través de nuestro programa de Rutas Seguras a la Escuela (SRTS) del Departamento

de Transporte del Distrito (DDOT), queremos conseguir que más niños vayan a pie y en

bicicleta a la escuela y que lo hagan de forma segura.

Le pedimos que participe en esta encuesta anónima de unos 10 minutos y comparta

con nosotros su opinión y experiencia para que podamos adaptar nuestros programas

y servicios a los retos a los que se enfrentan las personas.

https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8271328/1a5e102c9600

Dear MacFarland Families,

We are excited to announce that this year, MacFarland Middle School is launching an after-school orchestra program in collaboration with the DC Youth Orchestra Program (DCYOP)!

This wonderful opportunity is open to all students, free of charge, regardless of previous musical experience. Students may choose to learn a new instrument or continue building their skills on their current instrument while being part of a vibrant and diverse ensemble representing every corner of our school.

Program Details:

• Days/Times: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM (beginning September 15th)

• Cost: Free

• Who Can Join: All MacFarland students, no experience required.

Families interested in registering their child can sign up here by September 12th: Register for DCYOPrelude at MacFarland MS

We also invite you to attend an informational meeting for parents on Wednesday, September 3rd, at 6:00 PM in Mr. Ring's room (1233) during Back to School Night.

We look forward to seeing many of our students join this exciting new program and make music together!

For questions, please contact Mr. Ring (Program Director) at kristopher.ring@k12.dc.gov

Greetings MacFarland Families,

Enrollment season has officially kicked off and you can now re-enroll your child for the 2025-2026 School Year! On behalf of the entire Mustang family, we would like to thank you for the opportunity to educate your child this school year, and we look forward to continuing our work together next year.

Your student has had some amazing experiences this year, such as the 7th grade trip to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, skating excursions, trips to Dave and Busters, the Shakespeare Theater and numerous opportunities to participate in an array of extracurricular programing such as our drumline, broadcast journalism club, and many more! We also can’t forget the awesome Winter Arts Showcase and grade level Honor roll celebrations. We can’t wait to have even more exciting experiences together next year.

MacFarland teachers, staff, and leadership are already thinking about next year, and you can help us prepare by completing re-enrollment for your child for the upcoming 2025-2026 School Year. If you’ve already completed re-enrollment, we want to thank you for doing so! All families are encouraged to re-enroll early to increase the likelihood of securing their chosen electives for the coming year! To re-enroll, please complete the following three steps:

1. Complete the DCPS enrollment packet.

2. Provide proof of DC residency.

3. Submit the completed enrollment packet and proof of DC residency to your school.

We are happy to help you in any way so that you can check re-enrollment off your summer to-do list. If you have any questions about enrollment, please call (202) 671-6033 or email macfarlandmsenroll@k12.dc.gov.

If you need help completing the enrollment process, you can sign up for an appointment through the link below:

• Select a Date & Time - Calendly

We will also be available for walk in assistance during summer office hours (8:00 AM - 3:30 PM) on a first come first serve basis.

Thanks again to you and your family for being part of our school community. It is an honor to serve you, and we look forward to continued partnership with you and your child next year.

Regards,

Principal Cooke

Saludos Familias de MacFarland,

¡La temporada de inscripciones ha comenzado oficialmente y ya puede reinscribir a su hijo/a para el ciclo escolar 2025-2026! En nombre de toda la familia Mustang, queremos agradecerle la oportunidad de educar a su hijo/a este ciclo escolar y esperamos continuar trabajando juntos el próximo año.

Su hijo/a ha tenido experiencias increíbles este año, como la excursión de séptimo grado al Museo Nacional de Historia y Cultura Afroamericana, excursiones de patinaje, visitas a Dave and Busters, el Teatro Shakespeare y numerosas oportunidades de participar en diversos programas extracurriculares, como nuestra batería, el club de periodismo televisivo, ¡y mucho más! Tampoco podemos olvidar la increíble Exhibición de Arte de Invierno y las celebraciones del Cuadro de Honor de cada grado. ¡Estamos deseando compartir aún más experiencias emocionantes el próximo año!

Los maestros, el personal y el equipo directivo de MacFarland ya están pensando en el próximo año, y usted puede ayudarnos a prepararnos completando la reinscripción de su hijo/a para el próximo ciclo escolar 2025-2026. Si ya completó su reinscripción, ¡le agradecemos por hacerlo! Se anima a todas las familias a reinscribirse con anticipación para aumentar la probabilidad de obtener las asignaturas optativas que eligieron para el próximo año. Para reinscribirse, complete los siguientes tres pasos:

1.Complete el paquete de inscripción de DCPS.

2. Presente un comprobante de domicilio en DC.

3. Entregue el paquete de inscripción completo y el comprobante de domicilio en DC a su escuela.

Con gusto le ayudaremos en todo lo que pueda para que pueda tachar la reinscripción de su lista de tareas del verano. Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre la inscripción, llame al (202) 671-6033 o envíe un correo electrónico a edgar.novoa-marcano@k12.dc.gov.

Si necesitas ayuda para completar el proceso de inscripción, puedes hacer una cita a través del enlace abajo:

Selecionar una fecha y tiempo - Calendly

Estaremos disponible para ayudarles también durante las horas de verano de la oficina (8:00 AM - 3:30 PM) de forma de primero en llegar primero en ser atendido.

Si tienes preguntas o preocupaciones pueden llamar a la oficina al (202) 671-6033 o mandar un correo electrónico a macfarlandmsenroll@k12.dc.gov.

Gracias nuevamente a usted y a su familia por formar parte de nuestra comunidad escolar. Es un honor servirle y esperamos seguir colaborando con usted y su hijo/a el próximo año.

Atentamente,

Director Cooke

At DC Public Schools, we want every student to feel loved, challenged, and prepared to positively influence society and thrive in life. To reach this ambitious goal, every student needs to be in school every day. However, too many of the young people in our city are not coming to school every day.

The Office of the State Superintendent’s (OSSE) finds that one in four kids in DC are chronically absent from school – which means missing 10 percent or more of the school year. At some DCPS high schools, three out of four students are chronically absent.

DCPS believes that every day counts.

Students, families, and the community must be empowered to track our progress in helping every young person get to school. By being transparent about our challenges, our city can work together to reduce the barriers that too many students and families face.

Definitions

• Truancy: Measures the percent of students aged 5-17 who are considered truant. To be “truant” means that a student has 10 or more unexcused absences from school – with or without – parental knowledge, consent, or otherwise securing prior approval from the start of the school year.
• In-school Attendance: Measures the average percent of students who are attending school.
• Chronic Absence Rate: Measures the percent of students who miss 10 percent or more days in a school year from the start of the school year.
• Attendance Entry Rate: Measures the percent of classes for which a school has entered attendance.
• 60/40 rule: Students are considered legally absent for the day if they miss more than 40% of their classes.

Regular school attendance is critical for academic success. Our goal is to ensure that every student attends school regularly and on time. Daily presence in school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success, starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Even as children grow older and more independent, families can continue to play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and in life.

We realize some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. But, we also know that when students miss too much school—excused or unexcused—they can fall behind academically. Your child is less likely to succeed if he or she is chronically absent—which means missing 18 or more days in a school year. Research shows that:

Children that are chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade. By 6th grade, chronic absence is a warning sign for students at risk of dropping out of school. By 9th grade, good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than 8th grade test scores.

Questions/Concerns:

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Ms. Claribel Salgado via email at claribel.salgado@k12.dc.gov or by phone at (202) 671-6033.

• https://dcps.nutrislice.com/menu/macfarland-middle-school

The allergy season is here and many individuals who suffer from frequent asthma attacks are beginning to feel the impact of the various allergens and irritants in the air. For students and families, we are sharingthis link to Children’s National -- https://www.childrensnational.org/get-care/departments/impact-dc-asthma-clinic -- as a resource for helping to manage your students’ asthma related-illnesses. If your child suffers from asthma, be sure to complete and submit the Asthma Action Plan and Medication Plan and Procedure to the Nurse. The Anaphylaxis Plan must be completed for acute allergy sufferers who need to be administered an Epi-pen. Also, if your child is on any medication during school hours—including over-the-counter medications—a Medication Plan and Procedure Form must be completed and submitted to the Nurse along with your child’s Medication Treatment Administration Form, signed by your child’s primary care physician. All these documents must be provided to the Nurse by parents, along with the medication/s your child is taking during school hours. Students are not permitted to self-carry or self-medicate. All the forms mentioned in this message are attached, for your convenience.

For Mental Health Support Resources in English and Spanish for Students, Parents, and Teachers. Topics include: Stress, Grief and Loss, Anxiety, Suicide and Self-Harm, Healthy Relationships, Social Media, and much more! -- Mary`s Center (maryscenter.org)

This school year, DCPS is partnering with Children’s National Hospital to support our students’ health and attendance through the Collaborative for Attendance Resources in Education and Health (CARE-H); CARE-H is now available in all DCPS schools. Through this program, parents or guardians can give permission to DCPS to securely share attendance information with their child’s doctor(s), nurse(s) and medical office staff. This information will help these healthcare professionals to provide special outreach and medical attention to children that might be missing school and their families. Information about this initiative can be found here.

POC: Andrea.Allen@k12.dc.gov

The MacFarland PTO has set up an email list for discussion and connection among current and enrolled MacFarland families. Any family member or guardian of a MacFarland student can join by either of these methods:

Attention families, anyone with a child that would like a Kids Ride Free SmartTrip Card can sign up for one in the main office. We will process and distribute on a rolling basis.