Middle School Memo

It is hard to believe we are already heading into October! The first several weeks of school have been filled with learning, relationship-building, and plenty of Panther pride. Our students are settling into routines, our classrooms are busy, and we are continuing to focus on helping every student feel connected, supported, and successful at Mt. Morris Middle School.

We recently wrapped up our STAR testing, which gives us valuable insight into student growth in the areas of Math and Reading. I encourage you to ask your student about their score, the effort they put into the assessment, and the progress they are making. These conversations are a great way to help students take ownership of their learning and recognize their growth throughout the year.

We’re also excited to offer after-school tutoring every Monday through Thursday from 2:45–3:45 p.m. This is a great opportunity for students to receive additional support, work on assignments, ask questions, and strengthen their skills. Please encourage your student to take advantage of this valuable resource when they need a little extra help!

October also brings one of our most important opportunities to connect with families—Parent-Teacher Conferences on Tuesday, October 13 from 3:30–6:30 p.m. and Wednesday, October 14 from 2:00–6:00 p.m. We hope you will join us to celebrate your student’s successes, ask questions, and discuss how we can continue working together to support their growth.

As we move further into the school year, please continue talking with your student about attendance, arriving to class on time, completing assignments, and asking for help when needed. Middle school is a time when students are developing greater independence, but they still need all of us working together and cheering them on along the way.

And, of course, we have some fun ahead! Students will be able to dress up for Halloween on October 30th while following our school costume expectations. We love opportunities like this to build community, show our Panther spirit, and make middle school a place where students can learn, belong, and have fun together.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We have had a great start to the year, and I am looking forward to all the learning, growth, and memories still ahead this fall.

Mrs. Gustafson
Principal
Mt. Morris Middle School 🐾

Being at school each day is an important part of student success. When students are absent, arrive late, or leave early, they miss valuable instruction, classroom discussions, and learning experiences that can be difficult to make up.

We understand that there are times when an absence is unavoidable, including illness, family emergencies, or the loss of a loved one. However, whenever possible, we ask families to make every effort to have students at school, on time, and for the entire school day.

If your child will be absent, please contact the school office to let us know. Please also keep in mind that frequent late arrivals and early pick-ups add up to missed instructional time and may result in your student being marked absent for a portion of the school day.

School Begins: 7:40 a.m.
Dismissal: 2:40 p.m.

Thank you for partnering with us to make every school day—and every minute—count! 🐾

This week we will begin our after school tutoring program. We offer after school tutoring Monday through Thursday each week from 2:45 pm - 3:45 pm. Please encourage students who are behind in their assignments and/or have low grades to attend.

Parent teacher conferences for Mt. Morris Middle School will be:

Tuesday, October 13th

3:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Wednesday, October 14th

Progress reports will be printed and available for each student at conferences. Please plan to attend conferences to speak with your child's teachers while seeing their current grades in their classes.

Conferences are open house style, so no appointment is necessary.

Get those smiles ready, Panthers! Picture Day is Thursday, October 8th!

This year, families will have the opportunity to see their student’s images before paying, allowing you to view the photos before deciding what you would like to purchase.

One important reminder when choosing that picture-perfect outfit: students should NOT wear green, as green is used with the photography background technology.

For additional Picture Day information and details, please visit the link below:

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:82d21a67-4141-4d49-8ba4-7e014d0d60d4?viewer%21megaVerb=group-discover

We’re looking forward to seeing all of our Panthers looking their best and showing off those smiles on Thursday! 📸💙🤍🐾

Families, We value your feedback and want to hear about your experiences with our schools! We invite you to complete our School Climate Survey, which asks about your perspectives on student learning, school safety, relationships, and the overall school environment. Your feedback will help us celebrate our strengths and identify opportunities to create an even more positive and supportive learning environment for all students and families. School Climate Survey; Families

On Saturday, October 24th, EAJ will be hosting the annual Haunted Halls community trick or treating event from 5:00-6:30. All of the proceeds go towards the Senior Sendoff; this is a big event for the little ones in the community. Mr. Carr (High School Principal) is asking for our help on behalf of the committee for candy donations.

Mt. Morris Middle School does allow students to dress up in costumes for Halloween. We want students to have fun, but we also have some costume expectations that students must adhere to.

Wednesday, October 7th:

*Count Day

Thursday, October 8th:

*Picture Day

Tuesday, October 13th:

*Parent/Teacher Conferences at 3:30 - 6:30 pm

Wednesday, October 14th:

*Reduced Day: Students Dismissed at 12:20 pm

*Parent/Teacher Conferences at 2:00 - 6:00 pm

Tuesday, October 20th:

*Title1 Parent Night at MS from 5:00 - 6:00 pm

Saturday, October 24th:

*Haunted Halls at EAJ from 5:00 - 6:30 pm

Friday, October 30th:

*Halloween Costumes

*End of First Marking Period

*Reduced Day: Students Dismissed at 12:20 pm

Vision:

The staff of Mt. Morris Middle School is dedicated to providing a quality educational system, in a safe environment, so that all students gain the skills, knowledge, and discipline to become successful. By working together with students, parents, and the community, we will empower our students to excel academically and socially to become contributing members of the Mt. Morris community.

Mission:

• Preparing students for
• Academic excellence
• Working with the community in a
• Safe environment

PRIDE:

Prepared

Respectful

Integrity

Dependable

Educational Excellence

Principal: Courtney Gustafson

Assistant Principal: Jennifer Mason

Website: http://www.mtmorrisschools.org/MMMS/
Address: 12356 Walter Street Mt. Morris, MI 48458

Phone: 810-591-7100 Fax: 810-591-7105