MUMS Family Newsletter
January 23, 2026
Week 18
Dear MUMS community,
While it was a short week, it was a busy one at MUMS! Students received new schedules and began their Quarter 3 mixed team class this week, which is always a good time for a reset!
Report cards will be mailed on Monday so you should receive them midweek next week! Please ask your student about how the new planner expectations are going for them and also check in with them about their new schedule!
Lastly, we are experiencing a high volume of student absences due to illness. Thank you for keeping your child home if they are unwell! We will continue to navigate illnesses in the coming weeks and will continue to remind students to wash their hands often, stay hydrated and get good rest!
Please stay warm this weekend and as always, thanks for your partnership
Best,
Michaela Wisell ~ Principal
If you have questions, please reach out to us:
MUMS office 802-382-1600 or visit the MUMS website.
Michaela Wisell, Principal mwisell@acsdvt.org
Fieh Chan, Assistant Principal fchan@acsdvt.org
Erin Jipner, Student Response Coordinator ejipner@acsdvt.org
Dustin Hunt, Athletics and Activities Director dhunt@acsdvt.org
- Jan. 22nd - 27th: FAST Winter Screener Dates
- Jan. 28th - 8th Grade Class Trip Planning Mtg. @ 5:00pm
- Jan 30th - Options Based Drill
- Feb. 4th - Early Release Day
- Feb. 4th - 8th graders visit the Hannaford Career Center
- Feb. 11th - MUMS Spring Concert @ MUHS
- Feb. 13th - GMMDV Festival - Choir & Jazz
From the MYP Coordinator
Greetings MUMS Caregivers!
Students and teachers have wrapped up quarter 2, and this week are diving into new learning in quarter 3! This also means that report cards will be coming home, and today I’d like to highlight some resources to help you better understand your students’ scores.
First, you’ll notice that for each course, your student is scored in 4 unique areas, or criteria: A, B, C, and D. These criteria vary by course and are content specific. For example, in Science Criterion A is “Knowing and Understanding” but in Lang and Lit Criterion A is “Analyzing”. To see what all 4 criteria are for all subject areas, please look at page 4 of this document (which is also on the MUMS website, Academics > Teaching and Learning Guide).
For each criteria, your student earns a numerical score of 0-8. But you might wonder, what do those numbers actually mean? Teachers arrive at these scores by scoring summative assessments over time, but you can read the general descriptions for each number in this document here. (Here in Mandarin and here in Spanish). This is also included in your students’ report card.
For example you will see:
4
Student produces good-quality work. Communicates basic understanding of most concepts and contexts with few misunderstandings and only minor gaps. Often demonstrates basic critical and creative thinking. Uses knowledge and skills with some flexibility in familiar situations. Only needs support with approaching unfamiliar situations.
Click the document to read a description for each number!
💡Talk to your student: How do you feel about scores the first half of the year? Which areas are strengths? Which areas need more attention? How do your ATLs impact your understanding and achievement in class? What goals do you have for Quarter 3?
8th Grade Boston Class Trip
What: 8th Grade Class Trip Planning Meeting
When: Wednesday, January 28th at 5:00 p.m.
Where: MUMS Library
Families interested in assisting with fundraising efforts and planning for the 8th grade class trip to Boston are encouraged to attend our initial planning meeting next Wednesday. We look forward to your participation.
8th Grade upcoming events 2026
Important Information for 8th graders!
We are reaching out to you to remind you of three upcoming events and important information regarding your transition from 8th to 9th grade!
Wednesday, Feb 4th: Our 8th graders will be visiting the Hannaford Career Center to learn about upcoming class opportunities available to them as they transition to MUHS. This visit will be happening during Period 1, 2 and 3 of the school day.
Thursday, February 5th: MUHS school counselors will meet with 8th graders to introduce themselves and talk about what to expect in the 9th grade at MUHS. These presentations will take place during the school day at MUMS. Students will then have the opportunity during this meeting to choose the elective courses they want to take at the high school, and complete a course registration form. In early March, after MUHS counselors have all of the completed registration forms, you will receive a list of your student’s requested courses with both core MYP classes and electives for your review. Math and Language Acquisition teachers make course recommendations for each student. If you have any questions about those course recommendations, we encourage you to contact the MUMS teacher directly. Please note, these are only course requests, not student schedules. Schedules are created in late spring from these course requests and will be mailed home in early August.
VSAC Talent Search Program:
If neither you or your child’s other biological or adoptive parent have a 4 year college degree, your child may be eligible for the program! Please fill out this quick form and our VSAC Counselor will reach out to you with the application.
If you have any questions about any of this information, please feel free to contact any of the following counselors:
Laura Emilo- 8th grade School Counselor at MUMS
Sam Lewis- MUHS School Counselor (Student Last Names A- Goe)
Emily Schademan- MUHS School Counselor (Student Last Names Gom-Sal)
Adrien Preston- MUHS School Counselor (Student Last Names San- Z)
Student Absences, Dismissals + Bus Notes
If your student will be absent from school, needs an early dismissal, or will take a different bus, please follow these directions:
- Absence / early dismissal: Call 802-382-1297, the MUMS attendance line, before 8:30am (helpful tip: add this number to your phone now as "MUMS attendance line")
- Early dismissal + bus notes: Students must deliver a caregiver's note to the front office when arriving at school (before TA).
- If taking a bus other than their regular bus: Students must bring a caregiver's note and have it signed by a MUMS Administrative Assistant in the front office to be valid.
