The MMS Wolf Call
September 23, 2025
In This Issue
- Attendance
- Build the Hill Wolf Den at BLHS Football Game
- PTO News
- Student Item Drop Offs
- School Dismissal and Parking Lot Safety
- Stay Connected to MMS Staff
Attendance
District Attendance Message
STRONG SCHOOL ATTENDANCE MATTERS!
Encouraging regular school attendance is one of the most powerful ways you can prepare your child for success. When you make school attendance a priority, you help your child get better grades, develop health life habits, avoid dangerous or risky behavior, and have a better chance of graduating from high school.
DID YOU KNOW?
Missing 10% of the school year is considered chronically absent. That's only two days a month or 18 days in a school year.
Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
Students who miss as few as one to two days a month can fall behind. This increases the chance that they will not read or master math at the same level as their peers. Missed days = missed learning!
OUR PROMISE TO YOU
We promise to track attendance daily, to notice when your student is missing from class, communicate with you to understand why they were absent, and to identify barriers and supports available to overcome challenges you may face in helping your student attend school.
MMS Attendance Message
Excusing Absences & Late Arrivals
If your student is absent from school due to illness, appointment, or occasional family/personal reasons, please use one of the following three ways to excuse your student:
Call the direct attendance line at (253) 891-5210 and leave a message at any time.
Email students name and absence reason to joelle_atkins@sumnersd.org
Send a parent or doctor’s note with your student to school upon their return and make sure they turn it into the attendance office.
Please be advised: If your student is an athlete, they must return with a doctor/dental note to be eligible to participate.
(As a reminder, school starts Mondays at 8:30am and Tuesday-Friday at 7:25am)
Early Dismissals
We understand there are occasions where you will need to pick up your student early during the school day. Please plan to pick up your student for early dismissal no later than 1:30pm to minimize classroom disruption at the end of the day. The following options are available for an early dismissal:
Send a note with your student the day of early dismissal and have them bring it to the attendance office before school starts.They will be given a dismissal slip and will meet you out in front of the school at the designated time.
Come into the attendance office and sign your student out. We must have a parent, guardian, or emergency contact signature. The student will be called out of class at that time.
Build the Hill Wolf Den at BLHS Football Game
MMS PTO News
You're invited to our first PTO meeting of the school year, Wed., Sept 24th, 6:00pm in the MMS Library - guest speaker Principal Amy Montgomery, introductions to some new staff, volunteer opportunities from Parent Involvement Coordinator Nicole McCoy, and an overview of what you can expect from the PTO this year! We have general membership PTO meetings in Sept, Nov., March and May - come join us! PTO membership is free - if you want to be involved, come get involved! Chick-fil-A MMS PTO Spirit Night, Tues., Oct. 7, 5-8pm! Your dinner purchase means CFA credit back to the PTO to use for staff appreciation later in the year! Be sure to mention "Mountain View" when you order! Now's a great time to get MMS spirit wear for your student and family through the PTO online store! The NEW DESIGN on green and black hoodies is flying off the shelves, so get yours while supplies last! Check out all our inventory at https://linktr.ee/MMSWolfpackPTO! (Please be advised that stock is limited to supply on hand.) Purchases will be sent home with your student within a week. Wolf Wear (spirit wear) is the PTO's primary fundraiser of the year - thanks for your support! The PTO leadership team for the 2025-26 school year is President Janelle Hizzey, Secretary Allison Warmington and Treasurer Angela Jonas! Interested in learning more about PTO leadership? Reach out to president@mmswolfpackpto.org! Fred Meyer Community Rewards – it's easy to link your card - MMS PTO receives cash back when you shop! Log in and search for #RA978 - Mountain View Middle School PTO to designate us as your non-profit organization. PLUS: You still earn your Reward Points & Rebates!
Student Item Drop Offs
We all forget things at home now and then and understand the need to drop items in the office.
Please bring items to the front office clearly marked with your students first and last name along with their grade level. The office staff will get the item to your student as quickly as possible.
School Dismissal and Parking Lot Safety
School Dismissal
Weekly Schedule
Monday- 8:30-2:00
Tuesday-Friday- 7:25 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
To help with campus safety, students who walk home should be off campus by 2:05pm.
If students are parent pick up, they should be off campus by 2:15pm. Please communicate with your student if their ride will be later. They will be asked to wait near the bus loop with the afternoon supervisors.
Parking Lot Safety
We are asking for your continued support in making our parking lot safe for students, staff, other parents and guests who are walking to and from the building. It is essential that each person does his/her part to use good judgment and put safety first.
Here are some helpful reminders:
- Go slow at all times.
- Please drop off your child in the student drop-off zone. This lane is designed so
- students do not have to cross traffic lanes to enter the building.
- Try to avoid parking in a spot to drop off your student.
- Pull forward in the drop-off lane to allow space for other parents to drop off their
- students.
- Please do not stop or park your car in the crosswalk areas.
Thank you in advance for your continued support in keeping our Wolves safe.
Stay Connected to MMS Staff
Call or visit: Our offices are open Monday - Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Our main office number is: 253-891-5200.
During the year, parents/guardians may schedule conferences with teachers/counselors at a mutually agreed upon time by contacting: Dawn Bendon (dawn_bendon@sumnersd.org) or call 253-891-5211.
Email: A majority of our communication to families will be via electronic newsletters/emails. Please check Skyward Family Access to make sure we have a valid email address for you.
As always, please contact us if you have any questions or need support/assistance. Thank you for partnering with us!
Amy Montgomery, Principal (amy_montgomery@sumnersd.org)
Brett McDaniel, Assistant Principal (brett_mcdaniel@sumnersd.og)
Shelley O’Dell, Assistant Principal (shelley_odell@sumnersd.org)
Wendy Lubash, 6th Grade Counselor (wendy_lubash@sumenrsd.org)
Pamela Kacer, 7th Grade Counselor (pamela_kacer@sumnersd.org)
Dyanne Jewett-Borst, 8th Grade Counselor (dyanne_jewett-borst@sumnersd.org)
Mandy Grams, Athletic Coordinator (amanda_grams@sumnersd.org)