MUMS Family Newsletter

Dear caregivers and families,

I hope this message finds you well and that your first week back on a school schedule has been smooth!

We are beginning to enjoy the spring weather, spend more time outside and really begin to think about our transition to the 2024-2025 school year, which is always invigorating!

Having said that, I wanted to let you know that our staff have spent a great deal of time this year exploring how our current schedule does and does not meet our students needs. Throughout this work, we've uncovered the impacts on different content areas, different age groups, team configurations and service delivery models. At the end of the day, we have decided that we could better meet student needs if we transitioned away from our 80 minute 2 day block schedule. Next year's schedule will include shorter classes that meet more frequently, while also continuing to provide opportunities for students to engage with Core teachers, pursue musical experiences and access intervention, extension and personal projects.

While we recognize that change can be hard, we are excited to try something new that we hope will address some of the challenges we've faced with student engagement over the past three years. I cannot thank our staff enough for all of the time they've put into building this new schedule and look forward to living it next school year. You can expect to see our 2024-2025 school-wide schedule on our website over the summer and within school newsletters. You can expect to see your students schedule in their welcome packet the middle of August! As always, if you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me and thanks for all you do to support MUMS every day.

Best,

Michaela

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, Zach & Dustin

Michaela Wisell, Principal

Zach Jerome, Assistant Principal

Dustin Hunt, Dean of Culture and Climate

• May 3rd: VT ACDA Honor's Choir Festival
  
• May 3rd: 8th Grade Trip Permission Slips Due (Expectations for Boston Trip)
• May 17th: 8th Grade Trip to Boston (Itinerary)
• May 23rd: Rising 6th grade caregiver information night
• May 27th: Memorial Day (No School)
• May 31st: Dance (7:00-9:00)

As part of their study of Shakepseare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream, all 7th graders traveled to Town Hall Theater right before April break. They participated in sessions with Courageous Stage staff on songwriting, writing and illustrating texts, acting and stage combat. All of these workshops helped students explore Midsummer’s themes, how relatable the play still is today, and how drama can open up possibilities for our own creativity to emerge. A special thank you to Lindsay Pontius, Clint Bierman, Ms. Haugan, and Mr. Petrosino for providing this tremendous opportunity for all of our MUMS 7th graders. As Shakespeare famously said, “The play’s the thing!”

Pam Quinn and Eileen Sears, MYP Coordinators

Thank you so much to all of the folks who volunteered at our first ever MUMS Career Day on Wednesday! We had folks from the medical fields, trades, law enforcement, emergency services, state agencies, the Parks and Recreation world, Robotics, Performing Arts and so much more! Students enjoyed engaging with and being inspired by our community and the positive energy on our campus on Wednesday was palpable. We are so grateful to the joint collaboration between our counseling office and community and look forward to a similar event in our future!

Given the lack of ability to support this fundraiser, we have cancelled the Car Wash Fundraiser to support the 8th grade trip.

Parents and caregivers: If you’re interested in volunteering for end-of-year activities and field trips, now is the time to register to volunteer! It takes a few weeks for background checks, so please start the process now with this volunteer form to ensure you’re approved. If you think you might already be registered, contact the administrative assistant at your school or email thuestis@acsdvt.org to double check. Once you are approved, you will be emailed at the beginning of each school year to remain an active volunteer.

We ask that caregivers/spectators use the MUMS parking lot while attending MUMS events to the greatest extent possible. Parking on Middle Road can cause congestion.

Come out to cheer our MUMS teams on and Learn about Afterschool Clubs! Find our schedule of activities below.

For those of you interested in purchasing "MUMS Gear" please use this link.

Staff Wish List

• Our Staff Wish List includes lots of things you might have around your home unused, like magazines (for Ms. Ambrose's classes), milk crates (for Ms. Cosgrove's classes), tools, scrap wood, craft supplies and more!

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