Hello MMS Families -
Congratulations to the amazing cast and crew of the MMS Musical, “The Wizard of Oz!” for a performance packed weekend. We could not be more proud of everyone and thank those who attended and showed their support. Speaking of proud, Principal Gronau wants to know if your student is a standout outside of school! Each month building administrators can nominate students from their school for acknowledgement of achievement at the monthly BOE meetings. We know there must be MMS Students worthy of praise. Please email Principal Gronau dgronau@somsd.k12.nj.us directly if you have something to share.
The MMS HSA Needs you next year! We are forming the nominating committee now for the board nominations of the 2019/2020 MMS HSA PTA. Please consider helping out. If you know any new families entering MMS next year, the MMS HSA is a great way to get comfortable with the school. As we all know well, our students still really need us in Middle School. If you have any questions about the President roles, or the other roles available, please reach out to us! debcatholt@gmail.com or 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:
You should have received an email last week with key dates. If you did not receive, it please check your inboxes or SPAM.
Bathroom Beautification
We are so excited that our plans to beautify the MMS bathrooms are finally going to get underway! On Saturday, March 2nd, a group of staff from MMS will be painting and beautifying many of the bathrooms in the school. If you or your kids are interested in volunteering, please let us know. More details to come. Thank you!
szknutsen@gmail.com debcatholt@gmail.com
Fundraising
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!"
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! I know I said we have enough, but we never have enough. 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 email 100dinners@achievefoundation.org to learn more.
Achieve - Mardi Gras in SOMA!
Please join our community members as we kick off Achieve Fundraising and celebrate our public schools! Join us for a Mardi Gras soiree hosted by the Achieve Foundation - Friday, March 1 from 7 - 11 pm at The Woodland. Please click here for more information and to purchase tickets. Hope to see you there!
Special Ed Update
SEPAC’s next monthly meeting is for you!
The topic: Special Education Experience: The Secondary Years!
Date: Tuesday, February 26, 7:30-9 pm
Location: BOE building, 525 Academy, Maplewood
Also Feb 26, Rescheduled date for How to Have Difficult Conversations with Kids with Dr. Adam Price, 7:30 PM, Jefferson School, 518 Ridgewood Rd
Difficult conversations about potentially scary and anxiety-provoking subjects can be uncomfortable. We want to keep our children protected and innocent for as long as we can, but sometimes the world interrupts that innocence. Our children are exposed to news about school shootings, natural disasters, and stories of violence and abuse. At school they participate in fire drills as well as code red and yellow drills. Research has shown that a failure to talk about such important issues can leave children unprepared and unsupported as they try to understand and cope with these difficult topics. Join us for this important workshop. Learn how to create an environment where no topic is off limits – even if your kid’s questions leave you speechless. (https://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/cms/lib/NJ01001050/Centricity/Domain/1/Difficult%20Coversations%204.pdf)
At the Parenting Center in March:
• March 4: Navigating the Middle School Years- Cliques, Squads , Bullying & More- , 7-9:30 PM, BOE Building, 525 Academy
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)
Also coming up in March at the BOE Building:
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 signup https://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.
Eating Disorders Event
Monday, March 4th at 7 p.m. Please see the invitation HERE to an event at Oak Knoll School, please share with your respective pediatricians and other parents who may learn from this event. It’s intent is to help inform everyone on Eating Disorders which are much more common and severe than many understand. With it having the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses, we all have a lot to learn to protect our children.
Digital Backpack
Please click here for a link to this month’s Digital Backpack -- lots of great information and resources on what’s happening for kids in our community!
South Orange Activities
Please see the links below to the many activities that South Orange offers to residents of both South Orange and Maplewood.
Gratefully yours,
Deb Holt & Sara Knutsen
MMS HSA Co-Presidents 2018-2019
mmshsainfo@gmail.com
debcatholt@gmail.com
szknutsen@gmail.com
Congratulations to the amazing cast and crew of the MMS Musical, “The Wizard of Oz!” for a performance packed weekend. We could not be more proud of everyone and thank those who attended and showed their support. Speaking of proud, Principal Gronau wants to know if your student is a standout outside of school! Each month building administrators can nominate students from their school for acknowledgement of achievement at the monthly BOE meetings. We know there must be MMS Students worthy of praise. Please email Principal Gronau dgronau@somsd.k12.nj.us directly if you have something to share.
The MMS HSA Needs you next year! We are forming the nominating committee now for the board nominations of the 2019/2020 MMS HSA PTA. Please consider helping out. If you know any new families entering MMS next year, the MMS HSA is a great way to get comfortable with the school. As we all know well, our students still really need us in Middle School. If you have any questions about the President roles, or the other roles available, please reach out to us! debcatholt@gmail.com or 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:
- Saturday, March 2 - MMS Bathroom Beautification Day
- Thursday, March 7 - MMS/SOMS 8th Grade Mixer
- Tuesday, March 26 - 4 hr day
- Monday, April 1 - Well-wishers orders for yearbook due
- Monday, April 15 - Yearbook orders due
- Thursday, May 16 - School in Action - Save the date
You should have received an email last week with key dates. If you did not receive, it please check your inboxes or SPAM.
- Thursday, March 7 MMS/SOMS 8th Grade Mixer in the CHS Cafeteria, 7-9pm
Volunteer for food items or to Chaperone HERE. The Permission Slip is HERE. Please email Adrianna or Thea if you are interested in helping sell tickets during lunch March 4-7. - Tuesday, March 12 CHS Counselors come to MMS to speak to students - More information on this coming soon
- Monday, March 18 Half of 8th grade class to visit CHS from 9:30-11:30
- Thursday, March 21 Second Half of 8th grade class to visit CHS from 9:30-11:30
- Monday, April 1 Well-wishers orders for yearbook due
- Monday, April 15 Yearbook orders due
- Wednesday, May 8 8th Grade Night at CHS, 6:30-8:30pm
- Thursday, May 23 Field trip to Medieval Times in Lyndhurst, NJ - Permission slips coming home soon
- Tuesday, June 18 8th Grade Dinner Dance at Maplewood Country Club
- Friday, June 21- Last Day of School, pending snow days. 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony, 9am* (This date subject to change based on last day of school and snow days)
Bathroom Beautification
We are so excited that our plans to beautify the MMS bathrooms are finally going to get underway! On Saturday, March 2nd, a group of staff from MMS will be painting and beautifying many of the bathrooms in the school. If you or your kids are interested in volunteering, please let us know. More details to come. Thank you!
szknutsen@gmail.com debcatholt@gmail.com
Fundraising
- 8th Grade If anyone would like to host an 8th grade fundraiser, we would be most grateful. Last year some families raised significant funds with a small event. OR - you can donate directly to the 8th grade fund HERE.
- 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
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!"
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! I know I said we have enough, but we never have enough. 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 email 100dinners@achievefoundation.org to learn more.
Achieve - Mardi Gras in SOMA!
Please join our community members as we kick off Achieve Fundraising and celebrate our public schools! Join us for a Mardi Gras soiree hosted by the Achieve Foundation - Friday, March 1 from 7 - 11 pm at The Woodland. Please click here for more information and to purchase tickets. Hope to see you there!
Special Ed Update
SEPAC’s next monthly meeting is for you!
The topic: Special Education Experience: The Secondary Years!
Date: Tuesday, February 26, 7:30-9 pm
Location: BOE building, 525 Academy, Maplewood
- Moderated discussion lead by SEPAC’s veteran secondary liaisons.
- Insights from the administration of the Special Services Department.
- Topics to be addressed: transition from elementary school to middle school and middle school to high school, academic programs, reading interventions, executive function supports, and more.
- Update on SEPAC advocacy.
- General sharing, support and networking.
Also Feb 26, Rescheduled date for How to Have Difficult Conversations with Kids with Dr. Adam Price, 7:30 PM, Jefferson School, 518 Ridgewood Rd
Difficult conversations about potentially scary and anxiety-provoking subjects can be uncomfortable. We want to keep our children protected and innocent for as long as we can, but sometimes the world interrupts that innocence. Our children are exposed to news about school shootings, natural disasters, and stories of violence and abuse. At school they participate in fire drills as well as code red and yellow drills. Research has shown that a failure to talk about such important issues can leave children unprepared and unsupported as they try to understand and cope with these difficult topics. Join us for this important workshop. Learn how to create an environment where no topic is off limits – even if your kid’s questions leave you speechless. (https://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/cms/lib/NJ01001050/Centricity/Domain/1/Difficult%20Coversations%204.pdf)
At the Parenting Center in March:
• March 4: Navigating the Middle School Years- Cliques, Squads , Bullying & More- , 7-9:30 PM, BOE Building, 525 Academy
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)
Also coming up in March at the BOE Building:
- March 18 Special Siblings 4:00-5:30 PM Youth led support group, with Laura Reichgut LCW, for siblings (Grades 5-8) of people with special needs, drop off, snacks provided.
- March 19 Selective Mutism Parent Group 7-8:30 PM
- March 20 ADD/ADHD Parent Group 7:30-9 PM
- March 25 Screen Smart Kids 7-8:30
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 signup https://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.
Eating Disorders Event
Monday, March 4th at 7 p.m. Please see the invitation HERE to an event at Oak Knoll School, please share with your respective pediatricians and other parents who may learn from this event. It’s intent is to help inform everyone on Eating Disorders which are much more common and severe than many understand. With it having the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses, we all have a lot to learn to protect our children.
Digital Backpack
Please click here for a link to this month’s Digital Backpack -- lots of great information and resources on what’s happening for kids in our community!
South Orange Activities
Please see the links below to the many activities that South Orange offers to residents of both South Orange and Maplewood.
- South Orange 2019 Pickleball Spring & Summer
- South Orange Baseball 2019
- South Orange 2019 Tennis Spring & Summer
- South Orange 2019 Spring and Summer Sports USSI
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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