MAPLEWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
************************************
Please click here for a message from Principal Gronau
Hello MMS Families -
Happy February!
Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow so it looks like Spring may be on its way!
Thank you to our fabulous events and fundraising gurus who organized an amazing 6th Annual Trivia Night this past Friday. The Woodland looked amazing, the food was delicious, the trivia was challenging and great time was had by all! And the best part, the event raised over $16,000 for MMS!!!
For those of you watching, please enjoy the Super Bowl! We hear the ads are going to be great!
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are interested in serving on the MMS HSA PTA next year, please let us know! We have had a great time serving as your MMS co-Presidents the last two years but our by-laws mandate that we move on. If you have any questions about the President roles, or the other roles available, please reach out to us! debcatholt@gmail.com szknutsen@gmail.com.
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!
A Few Key Dates:
Fundraising
The amazing work and amount of it Lisa Schnorr did full on designing the room. SHE ROCKED IT!!!
Also HUGE shout out to Doreen Chila-Jones who pounded the pavement to get not only the 14 table sponsors but food donations too; along with Jen Minghenelli, they raised $4100!!!
To ALIX AND JEFF: trivia gurus extraordinaire! “Sporty Spice,” Jersey Strong,” and so many more incredibly creative and challenging categories!
To Mary Ellen who worked behind the scenes during the selling process and helping with payments and budget.
To all of the volunteers who helped check in, sell mulligans and more!
And of course thank you to Christine Sirianni & Mindy Sinyak MMS/HSA Fundraising Chairs, Abbi Castellani who designed our materials.
The top teams were:
Prestige Worldwide - 51 points
Quizard of Oz - 50 points (MMS TEACHERS & STAFF!!!)
Breakfast of Champions - 50 points
Trophy Husbands - 49 points
E=MC Hammered - 49 points
Solid B+ - 49 points
Just the Facts, Ma’am - 48 points
Musical
Follow the Yellow Brick Road! Maplewood Middle School Presents The Wizard of Oz!
Buy Your Tickets NOW!
*The shows will sell out, so don't wait!
1) Purchase your tickets online via the MMS Musical Website!
1a) Sent your student to pick up an order form from the MMS Main Office!
Building Volunteers Needed!
1) Are you a talented builder who could help us finish up our projects?
1a) If so, please reach out to Mr. Palmgren at rpalmgre@somsd.k12.nj.us
Cast and Crew Members - Please check your emails!
1) Cast and crew member families should have received "MMS Musical - Reminders #2" on Sunday, 1/27 via email with the emails used to sign up for the musical.
1a) If you did NOT receive the email, please reach out to Ms. O'Sullivan mosulliv@somsd.k12.nj.us ASAP as we are sending out crucial information for the start of full cast and crew rehearsals!
Teacher Updates
From Ms. Graham:
"Special Wednesday Club Offering: Curls on the Move, run by Ms. Graham (**Starts March 6th**). Curls on the Move (COTM) is a hair, health, and self-care curriculum specifically for adolescent girls of African Descent. The club focuses on hands on learning opportunities, self-esteem building, physical activities and more! See Ms. Graham in Room 153 if you are interested in joining. Cost is a separate fee of $60 total for the winter and spring session (12 weeks). More information forthcoming in February!"
From Miss Ogando:
Dear Parents and Guardians: As you may know, our district’s Middle Schools (South Orange and Maplewood) have been participating in an AileyDance Kids residency program since September as a result of a partnership between South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) and Ailey Arts In Education & Community Programs. It’s been an honor to partner with one of the most celebrated and renowned modern dance companies in the world.
Wrapping up this year’s program and launching the school district’s observance of Black History Month, commemorating the culture and contributions of African Americans, we invite you to celebrate your child’s achievements with their classmates and school community in a Main stage performance at SOPAC on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 at 7pm. Reservations are required and can be secured by visiting the SOPAC website at www.sopacnow.org or calling the SOPAC Box Office at 973-313-2787.
Yearbooks and Well Wisher Ads Order Information
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
PLEASE DONATE IF YOU CAN!
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 - Calling all Hosts!
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 email100dinners@achievefoundation.org to learn more.
Special Ed Update
Coming up in February:
Navigating the Middle School Years- Cliques, Squads, Bullying & More Feb 4, 7:30-9PM (BOE Building, 525 Academy) with our own Mr. Stoudemire & Nurse Porter:
Parents will discuss and practice with the School Social Worker and School Nurse how to take care of their children, themselves, and each other as they parent teens in Middle School. We’ll explore strategies on how to support, guide, and direct children to succeed in Middle School - to be ready to face the day and have enough resilience to get through it. Questions? Please contact Eric Stoudemire, MMS School Social Worker estoudem@somsd.k12.nj.us or Julie Porter, MMS School Nurse jporter@somsd.k12.nj.us
• Restorative Practices – Building Relationships & Resolving Conflicts at Home & at School with Tanya Lewis, SOMSD Restorative Practices Professional Development Consultant Feb 6, 7:30 PM at Clinton School
• How to Have Difficult Conversations with Kids With: Dr. Adam Price, Psychologist, Lecturer & Parenting Book Author Feb12, 7:30pm at Jefferson School
Also in February at The Parenting Center (BOE Building 525 Academy):
Feb 6 2E (Twice Exceptional) Parent Support Group 9:30 AM
Feb 11 Special Siblings 4:00-5:30 PM (Grades 5-8, drop off with snacks, for siblings of people with special needs)
Feb 19 Selective Mutism Support Group 7:00-8:30 PM
Feb 20 ADD/ADHD Support Group 7:30-9:00 PM
Feb 26 SEPAC Meeting 7:30-9PM Focus on support for Secondary Students (more details to follow)
More information for all of these can be found here:https://www.theparentingcenter.info/resources/2018-19-Parent-Groups.pdf
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
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
************************************
Please click here for a message from Principal Gronau
Hello MMS Families -
Happy February!
Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow so it looks like Spring may be on its way!
Thank you to our fabulous events and fundraising gurus who organized an amazing 6th Annual Trivia Night this past Friday. The Woodland looked amazing, the food was delicious, the trivia was challenging and great time was had by all! And the best part, the event raised over $16,000 for MMS!!!
For those of you watching, please enjoy the Super Bowl! We hear the ads are going to be great!
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are interested in serving on the MMS HSA PTA next year, please let us know! We have had a great time serving as your MMS co-Presidents the last two years but our by-laws mandate that we move on. If you have any questions about the President roles, or the other roles available, please reach out to us! debcatholt@gmail.com szknutsen@gmail.com.
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!
A Few Key Dates:
- February 5 - 4-hour day
- Monday February 18 - No School, Winter Break
- Tuesday, February 19 - No School, Winter Break
- 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
- February 8th - Table Tennis Tournament
- March 7 - SOMS-MMS Mixer - Permission slip HERE
- 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 8th - 8th grade Night at CHS 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Information is forthcoming.
- May 23rd - 8th Grade Field Trip to Medieval Times
Fundraising
- Trivia Night - THANK YOU!
The amazing work and amount of it Lisa Schnorr did full on designing the room. SHE ROCKED IT!!!
Also HUGE shout out to Doreen Chila-Jones who pounded the pavement to get not only the 14 table sponsors but food donations too; along with Jen Minghenelli, they raised $4100!!!
To ALIX AND JEFF: trivia gurus extraordinaire! “Sporty Spice,” Jersey Strong,” and so many more incredibly creative and challenging categories!
To Mary Ellen who worked behind the scenes during the selling process and helping with payments and budget.
To all of the volunteers who helped check in, sell mulligans and more!
And of course thank you to Christine Sirianni & Mindy Sinyak MMS/HSA Fundraising Chairs, Abbi Castellani who designed our materials.
The top teams were:
Prestige Worldwide - 51 points
Quizard of Oz - 50 points (MMS TEACHERS & STAFF!!!)
Breakfast of Champions - 50 points
Trophy Husbands - 49 points
E=MC Hammered - 49 points
Solid B+ - 49 points
Just the Facts, Ma’am - 48 points
- 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
Musical
Follow the Yellow Brick Road! Maplewood Middle School Presents The Wizard of Oz!
Buy Your Tickets NOW!
*The shows will sell out, so don't wait!
1) Purchase your tickets online via the MMS Musical Website!
1a) Sent your student to pick up an order form from the MMS Main Office!
Building Volunteers Needed!
1) Are you a talented builder who could help us finish up our projects?
1a) If so, please reach out to Mr. Palmgren at rpalmgre@somsd.k12.nj.us
Cast and Crew Members - Please check your emails!
1) Cast and crew member families should have received "MMS Musical - Reminders #2" on Sunday, 1/27 via email with the emails used to sign up for the musical.
1a) If you did NOT receive the email, please reach out to Ms. O'Sullivan mosulliv@somsd.k12.nj.us ASAP as we are sending out crucial information for the start of full cast and crew rehearsals!
- Friday, February 22nd - 7:30 PM
- Saturday, February 23rd - 7:30 PM
- Sunday, February 24th - 2:00 PM
Teacher Updates
From Ms. Graham:
"Special Wednesday Club Offering: Curls on the Move, run by Ms. Graham (**Starts March 6th**). Curls on the Move (COTM) is a hair, health, and self-care curriculum specifically for adolescent girls of African Descent. The club focuses on hands on learning opportunities, self-esteem building, physical activities and more! See Ms. Graham in Room 153 if you are interested in joining. Cost is a separate fee of $60 total for the winter and spring session (12 weeks). More information forthcoming in February!"
From Miss Ogando:
Dear Parents and Guardians: As you may know, our district’s Middle Schools (South Orange and Maplewood) have been participating in an AileyDance Kids residency program since September as a result of a partnership between South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) and Ailey Arts In Education & Community Programs. It’s been an honor to partner with one of the most celebrated and renowned modern dance companies in the world.
Wrapping up this year’s program and launching the school district’s observance of Black History Month, commemorating the culture and contributions of African Americans, we invite you to celebrate your child’s achievements with their classmates and school community in a Main stage performance at SOPAC on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 at 7pm. Reservations are required and can be secured by visiting the SOPAC website at www.sopacnow.org or calling the SOPAC Box Office at 973-313-2787.
Yearbooks and Well Wisher Ads Order Information
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
PLEASE DONATE IF YOU CAN!
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 - Calling all Hosts!
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 email100dinners@achievefoundation.org to learn more.
Special Ed Update
Coming up in February:
Navigating the Middle School Years- Cliques, Squads, Bullying & More Feb 4, 7:30-9PM (BOE Building, 525 Academy) with our own Mr. Stoudemire & Nurse Porter:
Parents will discuss and practice with the School Social Worker and School Nurse how to take care of their children, themselves, and each other as they parent teens in Middle School. We’ll explore strategies on how to support, guide, and direct children to succeed in Middle School - to be ready to face the day and have enough resilience to get through it. Questions? Please contact Eric Stoudemire, MMS School Social Worker estoudem@somsd.k12.nj.us or Julie Porter, MMS School Nurse jporter@somsd.k12.nj.us
• Restorative Practices – Building Relationships & Resolving Conflicts at Home & at School with Tanya Lewis, SOMSD Restorative Practices Professional Development Consultant Feb 6, 7:30 PM at Clinton School
• How to Have Difficult Conversations with Kids With: Dr. Adam Price, Psychologist, Lecturer & Parenting Book Author Feb12, 7:30pm at Jefferson School
Also in February at The Parenting Center (BOE Building 525 Academy):
Feb 6 2E (Twice Exceptional) Parent Support Group 9:30 AM
Feb 11 Special Siblings 4:00-5:30 PM (Grades 5-8, drop off with snacks, for siblings of people with special needs)
Feb 19 Selective Mutism Support Group 7:00-8:30 PM
Feb 20 ADD/ADHD Support Group 7:30-9:00 PM
Feb 26 SEPAC Meeting 7:30-9PM Focus on support for Secondary Students (more details to follow)
More information for all of these can be found here:https://www.theparentingcenter.info/resources/2018-19-Parent-Groups.pdf
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
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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