MVMS Family Update

Dear MVMS Families,

The countdown is on! We are just days away from our 2nd annual MVMS Academic Showcase, happening on Wednesday, March 13th, from 5 to 7 PM. This is an exciting evening dedicated to celebrating the incredible learning, creativity, and achievements of our students throughout the year.

Come explore student projects, team highlights, and exhibits from our unified arts classes. Be sure to check out live demonstrations from groups like our Robotics Teams and enjoy performances from our talented musicians and ensembles scattered throughout the building.

Hidden in Plain Sight will also be at the Showcase. Hidden In Plain Sight (HIPS) is a drug awareness program for parents, providers and/or guardians. The program focuses on what parents can learn about everyday items that may be indicators of risky behavior and/or drug use for their preteen or teenager. It includes a mock teenage bedroom that parents and caregivers can inspect to understand what may be truly hidden in plain sight.

And don’t forget—food trucks will be on-site, so you can grab a bite to eat and enjoy time with family and friends in the commons. The food trucks that will be on site are Pancho's Tacos, Buddy's Local Eats, and Schmidt's!

This is a community event, so invite your family and neighbors to join in the fun!

We can’t wait to celebrate with you and showcase the hard work of our students and staff. See you on March 13th!

Darin

On March 3rd, 4th, and 5th, MVMS and MVHS are participating in National Say Something Week. The Say Something program teaches youth in grades K-12 to recognize the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis and when and how to get help from Trusted Adults.

Included in the week are lessons that are required by Ohio Law related to suicide prevention, violence prevention, and social inclusion. Communication from Mr. Seder was sent to all families of MVMS and MVHS students regarding these requirements and is below. If you choose to opt out your student from the required lessons, please fill out the Google Form linked below by Wednesday, February 26th.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We hope this letter finds you well. Ohio’s 133rd General Assembly enacted House Bill 123, which updated the prescribed curriculum for health education, adding requirements related to suicide prevention, violence prevention, and social inclusion.

The law includes requirements for student instruction, parent and legal guardian notification, and training for school personnel.

• Students in grades 6 through 12 to receive at least one hour or one standard class period per school year of evidence-based instruction in suicide awareness and prevention;

• Students in grades 6 through 12 to receive at least one hour or one standard class period per school year of instruction in safety training and violence prevention; and

• Students in grades 6 through 12 to receive at least one hour or one standard class period per school year of evidence-based instruction in social inclusion.

This instruction will take place in the coming weeks. Mount Vernon Middle School and High School students will utilize videos and lessons from the Say Something and Start With Hello programs through SandyHookPromiseLearning.org, an Ohio Department of Education-approved curriculum that fulfills Ohio Revised Code Section 3301.221 requirements.

We understand that every family is unique, and the educational needs of each student may vary. As a result, the law allows parents and legal guardians to request that their child be excused from taking instruction in suicide prevention, violence prevention, and social inclusion. Please complete the Google Opt-Out Form if you wish to opt your child out of this particular instruction for the 2024-2025 school year.

Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information regarding this new legislation or the curriculum changes it brings.

Sincerely,

William Seder Jr.

Continuing Open Enrollment is for students who are currently Open Enrolled to Mount Vernon School District and desire to continue open enrollment with the District for the 2025-2026 school year.

• Complete your application through the Parent Portal on the District website. Instructions for Continuing Open Enrollment are located on the Parent Resources Page.
• Continuing Open Enrolled opens March 1, students will have until April 10 to complete this process.

If your address has changed since your last application, please update your child's emergency medical form in the Parent Portal on the District website and you will also need to provide proof of residency. Instructions for Change of Address are also located on the Parent Resource Page.

If you have any questions concerning Continuing Open Enrollment, please contact Jessica Shelton jshelton@mvcsd.us or contact John Frye jfrye@mvcsd.us .

Are you going to be a 7th or 8th grader for the 25-26 school year? Are you interested in coding, building, designing, scouting, and note booking? MVMS is seeking applicants for MVMS VEX Competitive Robotics teams.

Click on the button below to apply for next year's team!

Applications are due March 1st.

Our new incentive program to encourage students to pass the tests or show significant growth was announced in the fall. Below are important updates and a reminder of how the program works.

This year, students who meet specific academic criteria will have the opportunity to attend a special reward trip to Kings Island on Tuesday, June 3rd. We will be utilizing school transportation and students will be placed into groups with a chaperone based upon their grade level.

How the Program Works

Our Focus: Motivating students to either pass or improve on their Ohio State Tests.

Eligibility Criteria for Students:

• Pass all OSTs for their grade level = automatic eligibility for the trip.
• If a student doesn’t pass one or more tests, they can still attend by meeting the following additional criteria:
• Show at least 3+ points of growth in the tests they did not pass.
• Have no more than 10 full absences for the year.
• No major discipline referrals in the second semester.

Grade-Level Breakdown

6th & 7th Grades:

• Pass both tests = eligible.
• Don’t pass one = meet 2 additional criteria.
• Don’t pass both = meet all 3 additional criteria.

8th Grade:

• Pass all 3 tests = eligible.
• Don’t pass one = meet 1 additional criterion.
• Don’t pass two = meet 2 additional criteria.
• Don’t pass any = meet all 3 additional criteria.

Trip Details

• Destination: Kings Island
• Date: Tuesday, June 3rd
• Cost: $25 for those who qualify (financial assistance available upon request)

How the Trip is Funded

The Cookie Dough Fundraiser remains the primary method of covering trip expenses. I am excited to announce that our Cookie Dough Fundraiser was a great success thanks to your support!

How You Can Help

• Motivate your student by reinforcing the importance of putting forth their best effort on the Ohio State Tests.

Your support makes a difference! Together, we can encourage our students to succeed and reward their hard work with an unforgettable trip to Kings Island.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s education.

Calamity Day #6 Remote Learning Assignments were due at the end of the day on Monday, February 10th. Each of your student's teachers will have the Calamity Day #6 Remote Learning Assignment for their class clearly identified in Progressbook for you to check. If you have any questions regarding the Remote Learning Assignment for a particular class, please reach out to the teacher.

Homework help is an after school opportunity for students to receive additional help completing assignments and takes place in the Library most Tuesdays and Thursdays after school until 4 pm. Bussing is available to Columbia, Knox Learning Center, East Elementary, Pleasant Street Elementary, and Dan Emmett Elementary. Come prepared to work and stay on top of your assignments this school year.

If you have not done so already and want to receive text messages for delays and cancellations, please click on the button below to sign up.

At MVMS we use multiple forms of communication to keep you "in the know" of what is happening at our school. Parent updates like this one are sent at least every other week and are posted through our social media sites as well as through our website and instant alerts.

Daily announcements are posted on our website under the daily announcements tab and can be found here.

March

2-7 School Social Worker Week

3-7 Say Something Week

11- Choir Concert - 7 PM (theater)

13- Academic Showcase - 5-7 PM

18- Ensembles Recital- 6-8pm MVMS

20- March Madness Game/PBIS Assembly

20- End of 3rd nine weeks

21- Teacher PD day (no school for students)

24-28 Spring Break

31- Return from Spring Break

Click here to view the 2024-25 District Calendar.

Principal - Mount Vernon Middle School

Email: dprince@mvcsd.us
Website: http://www.mvcsd.us/mountvernonmiddleschool_home.aspx
Location: 302 Yellow Jacket Drive, Mount Vernon, OH, USA
Phone: 740-392-6867
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mount-Vernon-Middle-School-1428107840766187/
X: @DarinLPrince