MMS HSA Weekly Update #20MAPLEWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
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Hello MMS Families -
We have updated key dates and a few new ones for 8th grade families - please take a read. We would love to see you at the community events.
We also wanted to highlight a special event taking place next week at MMS - the MLK Silent Peace March on Friday, January 18. The march is made up of all students and MMS Staff. It will begin on the sidewalks surrounding MMS, go through Maplewood Village, and return back to the front of the school. If you are in and around town, it is a beautiful display of respect.
Your MMS HSA dropped off supplies for the students who are working in their advisories to complete messages of peace that they will carry at next week’s March. After the March, the posters and their profound messages, are displayed on a bulletin board outside the Auditorium to continue to remind everyone of Dr, King's message of peace and unity. We are so proud of MMS!
A Few Key Dates:
Follow the Yellow Brick Road! Maplewood Middle School Presents The Wizard of Oz! Save the date and buy tickets now,they’re selling out fast! https://sites.google.com/site/mmsmusical
Yearbooks: Order your yearbooks now, orders end on April 15, 2019. Details here: Yearbook Order Form
Well Wishers Ads: If you’d like to place an ad for your child, orders are due on April 1, 2019. Details here: Well Wishers Info
Tissues and School Store Need Supplies
Tissues are always in demand! Please consider sending your sniffling child back to school in the new year with a new box for their homeroom. Also, The student council also runs a school store and accepts donations, please make sure to send in food allergy compliant snacks. They even have an Amazon Wishlist if getting to the store is too hectic. Click Here for MMS School Store’s Amazon Wishlist
Achieve Grants
Congratulation to out MMS teachers who were awarded fully funded grants this year, Amazing!
It's not too early to think about hosting a party in March for the Achieve Foundation's largest annual fundraiser, Nights of 100 Dinners. You create the guest list, and Achieve sends invitations on your behalf. Instead of bringing a hostess gift or bottle of wine, guests make a donation to the organization. Since its inception in 2005, the Nights of 100 Dinners has raised more than $500,000 to fund Achieve’s programs and benefit all ten schools in the district. Register as a host at tinyurl.com/nhd2019 or email 100dinners@achievefoundation.org to learn more.
MMS Library Volunteers needed!
I know you all are wondering what goes not over in the mysterious land of MMS...well here is your chance to get a little sneak peek into middle school. You will not be working in your child's class like in the elementary schools but just helping out in the library in general. Mr. Degnan needs the most help during his MMS investigates class (highlighted in blue on the schedule). This is a cool class that he teaches and would love a parent to be there to do some projects, filing, man the desk and just be an extra set of eyes and hands. He would love whatever time whenever you can give it but if you can make the MMS Investigates class time that would even be better! Just type in your name in the spot that you can volunteer. Please do not delete anyone's name that is already there. Library signuphttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/170PmsHyDvQG9S2c0e0YJB1y4IMTWJmWplKnPRzvcSV8/edit#gid=1195897959
Special Ed Update
Upcoming in January:
• Using Effective Behavior Strategies with Our Kids to Help Them Create Peace & Harmony at Home & at School, January 15, 7:00 p.m. in the District Meeting Room
Join this one-time group and…
Learn common behavioral triggers and how to identify behavioral triggers.
Learn techniques to improve and enhance communication with your children, adolescents, and young adults.
Learn valuable strategies to maximize the attention you are giving to on task behavior.
Learn ways to establish effective limits and boundary setting.
Led by Dr. Penny Petcher, School Psychologist and District Behavior Management Specialist Questions? Contact Dr. Penny Petcher, ppetcher@somsd.k12.nj.us.
• SEPAC SOMA's January Monthly meeting: Renay Zamloot, Education Advocate presents: How to Become Your Child's Best Advocate
January 16, 7:00 pm in the MMS Auditorium
ALL ARE WELCOME. JOIN US.
Ms. Zamloot’s hands-on, practical approach to parent empowerment, based on her 20+ years of experience in the field, will equip you with tools and strategies to be used at your child’s next IEP meeting. Her unique perspective on the IEP process and unconventional communication style will change the way you view your role as an IEP team member. Ms. Zamloot is not an attorney and her ideas should not be construed as legal advice.
Also in January at The Parenting Center (BOE Building 525 Academy):
Jan 7 Navigating the Middle School Years- Cliques, Squads , Bullying & More with Mr. Stoudemire & Nurse Porter 7:30-9 PM
Jan 14 Special Siblings 4:00-5:30 (Grades 5-8, drop off with snacks, for siblings of people with special needs)
Jan 14 (PM) Screen Smart Kids 7:00-8:30 PM
Jan 16 ADD/ADHD Support Group 7:30-9:00 PM
Jan 15 Selective Mutism Support Group 7:00-8:30 PM
More information for all of these can be found here:https://www.theparentingcenter.info/resources/2018-19-Parent-Groups.pdf
Coming up in February: Restorative Practices – Building Relationships & Resolving Conflicts at Home & at School With: Tanya Lewis, SOMSD Restorative Practices Professional Development Consultant 7:30pm, Clinton School
Visiting Mentor Program
Thanks to everyone who has been in touch with Rachel Fisher! The MMS HSA is compiling a list of Visiting Mentors: individuals who will talk to middle school students about their work and/or how they apply math, science, language arts and fine arts skills in their professions. We are creating a list that will be available to MMS teachers so they can invite community members into their classrooms to share their stories and expertise. If your work involves math, science, language arts skills and/or the arts – or an interesting combination of these areas - and you can imagine turning that work into a lesson or speaking with middle schoolers about it, please contact us at MMSHSAinfo@gmail.com!
Let us know your name, profession or skill, what classes you see yourself working with (math, science, social studies, music, etc), cell phone number and email. We will add you to the spreadsheet and then you may hear from an MMS teacher! This is a first-time effort, so let’s make ourselves available to our community’s kids and see what happens! Thank you MMS Families.
Gratefully yours,
Deb Holt & Sara Knutsen
MMS HSA Co-Presidents 2018-2019
mmshsainfo@gmail.com
debcatholt@gmail.com
szknutsen@gmail.com
************************************
Hello MMS Families -
We have updated key dates and a few new ones for 8th grade families - please take a read. We would love to see you at the community events.
We also wanted to highlight a special event taking place next week at MMS - the MLK Silent Peace March on Friday, January 18. The march is made up of all students and MMS Staff. It will begin on the sidewalks surrounding MMS, go through Maplewood Village, and return back to the front of the school. If you are in and around town, it is a beautiful display of respect.
Your MMS HSA dropped off supplies for the students who are working in their advisories to complete messages of peace that they will carry at next week’s March. After the March, the posters and their profound messages, are displayed on a bulletin board outside the Auditorium to continue to remind everyone of Dr, King's message of peace and unity. We are so proud of MMS!
A Few Key Dates:
- January 18 - MMS MLK Silent Peace March at 9:30am
- January 21 - Schools Closed in observance of MLK Jr. Day
- January 22- Orchestra Concert 7pm
- January 23 - Band Concert 7pm
- February 1 - Trivia Night - save the date! Buy tickets Now!
- February 5 - 4-hour day
- February 22nd- 24th - The Wizard of Oz
- Friday, February 22nd - 7:30 PM
- Saturday, February 23rd - 7:30 PM
- Sunday, February 24th - 2:00 PM
- February 8 - 8th Grade Field Trip to Metropolitan Museum of Art
- March 12 - Columbia (CHS) Counselors visit MMS
- March 18 & 21 - 8th Graders visit Columbia (CHS) during day (details to follow)
- April 1 - Well Wisher Orders due for yearbook - see below
- April 15th - Yearbook orders due (all grades)
- May 23rd - 8th Grade Field Trip to Medieval Times
- Trivia Night - Half the tickets are already gone, don’t wait by your tickets now!
Calling all Brainiacs… You think you have all the answers, all the time? Prove it at the MMS Trivia Night!
Friday, February 1st @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm at The Woodland, 60 Woodland Rd.
$65/person / $35 for SOMA teachers
Experience the Taste of Maplewood with an array of food from restaurants around town.
Teams of up to 10 will compete for bragging rights and a shiny trophy. Come with your own team or we will find you one.
TICKETS SELL OUT FAST!
Reserve your table and team: http://www.mmshsa.org/trivia-night-2019.html
Email: trivianight@mplevents.com with questions or Click here for the flyer:
Sponsored by POLLUCK PROPERTIES GROUP - No Frills / Still Time to Donate!
MMS HSA raises funds through an ongoing No Frills fundraiser, Money Maker (Host your own, seed your own) initiatives, Adults only Trivia Night, and other grade specific events during the school year. Without the support of families, we would not be able to provide the supplemental support to the students and staff. To donate now Click Here
Follow the Yellow Brick Road! Maplewood Middle School Presents The Wizard of Oz! Save the date and buy tickets now,they’re selling out fast! https://sites.google.com/site/mmsmusical
- Friday, February 22nd - 7:30 PM
- Saturday, February 23rd - 7:30 PM
- Sunday, February 24th - 2:00 PM
Yearbooks: Order your yearbooks now, orders end on April 15, 2019. Details here: Yearbook Order Form
Well Wishers Ads: If you’d like to place an ad for your child, orders are due on April 1, 2019. Details here: Well Wishers Info
Tissues and School Store Need Supplies
Tissues are always in demand! Please consider sending your sniffling child back to school in the new year with a new box for their homeroom. Also, The student council also runs a school store and accepts donations, please make sure to send in food allergy compliant snacks. They even have an Amazon Wishlist if getting to the store is too hectic. Click Here for MMS School Store’s Amazon Wishlist
Achieve Grants
Congratulation to out MMS teachers who were awarded fully funded grants this year, Amazing!
- Evyn Degnan, Maureen O'Sullivan, Brian Kaplan, Aloysius Phillips, Marc Kessler, Heather Vorona, Lorraine Sudol, Amy Pitucco.
- Maureen O'Sullivan, Christine Kleinwaks, Meredith Hansen, Debra Silva
It's not too early to think about hosting a party in March for the Achieve Foundation's largest annual fundraiser, Nights of 100 Dinners. You create the guest list, and Achieve sends invitations on your behalf. Instead of bringing a hostess gift or bottle of wine, guests make a donation to the organization. Since its inception in 2005, the Nights of 100 Dinners has raised more than $500,000 to fund Achieve’s programs and benefit all ten schools in the district. Register as a host at tinyurl.com/nhd2019 or email 100dinners@achievefoundation.org to learn more.
MMS Library Volunteers needed!
I know you all are wondering what goes not over in the mysterious land of MMS...well here is your chance to get a little sneak peek into middle school. You will not be working in your child's class like in the elementary schools but just helping out in the library in general. Mr. Degnan needs the most help during his MMS investigates class (highlighted in blue on the schedule). This is a cool class that he teaches and would love a parent to be there to do some projects, filing, man the desk and just be an extra set of eyes and hands. He would love whatever time whenever you can give it but if you can make the MMS Investigates class time that would even be better! Just type in your name in the spot that you can volunteer. Please do not delete anyone's name that is already there. Library signuphttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/170PmsHyDvQG9S2c0e0YJB1y4IMTWJmWplKnPRzvcSV8/edit#gid=1195897959
Special Ed Update
Upcoming in January:
• Using Effective Behavior Strategies with Our Kids to Help Them Create Peace & Harmony at Home & at School, January 15, 7:00 p.m. in the District Meeting Room
Join this one-time group and…
Learn common behavioral triggers and how to identify behavioral triggers.
Learn techniques to improve and enhance communication with your children, adolescents, and young adults.
Learn valuable strategies to maximize the attention you are giving to on task behavior.
Learn ways to establish effective limits and boundary setting.
Led by Dr. Penny Petcher, School Psychologist and District Behavior Management Specialist Questions? Contact Dr. Penny Petcher, ppetcher@somsd.k12.nj.us.
• SEPAC SOMA's January Monthly meeting: Renay Zamloot, Education Advocate presents: How to Become Your Child's Best Advocate
January 16, 7:00 pm in the MMS Auditorium
ALL ARE WELCOME. JOIN US.
Ms. Zamloot’s hands-on, practical approach to parent empowerment, based on her 20+ years of experience in the field, will equip you with tools and strategies to be used at your child’s next IEP meeting. Her unique perspective on the IEP process and unconventional communication style will change the way you view your role as an IEP team member. Ms. Zamloot is not an attorney and her ideas should not be construed as legal advice.
Also in January at The Parenting Center (BOE Building 525 Academy):
Jan 7 Navigating the Middle School Years- Cliques, Squads , Bullying & More with Mr. Stoudemire & Nurse Porter 7:30-9 PM
Jan 14 Special Siblings 4:00-5:30 (Grades 5-8, drop off with snacks, for siblings of people with special needs)
Jan 14 (PM) Screen Smart Kids 7:00-8:30 PM
Jan 16 ADD/ADHD Support Group 7:30-9:00 PM
Jan 15 Selective Mutism Support Group 7:00-8:30 PM
More information for all of these can be found here:https://www.theparentingcenter.info/resources/2018-19-Parent-Groups.pdf
Coming up in February: Restorative Practices – Building Relationships & Resolving Conflicts at Home & at School With: Tanya Lewis, SOMSD Restorative Practices Professional Development Consultant 7:30pm, Clinton School
Visiting Mentor Program
Thanks to everyone who has been in touch with Rachel Fisher! The MMS HSA is compiling a list of Visiting Mentors: individuals who will talk to middle school students about their work and/or how they apply math, science, language arts and fine arts skills in their professions. We are creating a list that will be available to MMS teachers so they can invite community members into their classrooms to share their stories and expertise. If your work involves math, science, language arts skills and/or the arts – or an interesting combination of these areas - and you can imagine turning that work into a lesson or speaking with middle schoolers about it, please contact us at MMSHSAinfo@gmail.com!
Let us know your name, profession or skill, what classes you see yourself working with (math, science, social studies, music, etc), cell phone number and email. We will add you to the spreadsheet and then you may hear from an MMS teacher! This is a first-time effort, so let’s make ourselves available to our community’s kids and see what happens! Thank you MMS Families.
Gratefully yours,
Deb Holt & Sara Knutsen
MMS HSA Co-Presidents 2018-2019
mmshsainfo@gmail.com
debcatholt@gmail.com
szknutsen@gmail.com
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