MMS HSA
Maplewood Middle School Home and School Association
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MMS HSA Weekly Update #26

2/24/2019

 
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:
  • 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
8th Grade Dates

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)
Attention 8th grade families: The CHS HSA needs you! The CHS HSA is beginning the process of filling out our slate of executive board and committee positions for the 2019-20 school year.  If you would like to volunteer to serve on the board, please contact us at hsa@columbiahsa.org.  Volunteering is a great way to be involved and learn more about CHS happenings.  Click here to view the list of board positions. Thank you!

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
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!"

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.
SEPAC strives to bring together members of the special education community with similar questions, issues and concerns in the same room at the same time.

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
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 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

MMS HSA Weekly Update #25

2/24/2019

 
Hello MMS Families -

We hope that you are enjoying your long weekend!  A reminder that there will be no school this Monday and Tuesday in observance of Presidents’ Day.

This blast has a lot of information so please take a look and contact us with any questions!

Follow the Yellow Brick Road!  This weekend sees the premiere of the much-anticipated MMS Musical, “Wizard of Oz!” Tickets are still available so please click on the link below to purchase.  It’s sure to be a wonderful time!

*We definitely need volunteers interested in serving on the MMS HSA PTA next year.  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. Please consider helping out. Our students still 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:
  • 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
***Follow the Yellow Brick Road - MMS presents The Wizard of Oz!***
  • Friday, February 22nd - 7:30 PM
  • Saturday, February 23rd - 7:30 PM
  • Sunday, February 24th - 2:00 PM   
Buy Your Tickets NOW!
*The shows will sell out, so don't wait!
1) Purchase your tickets online via the MMS Musical Website!
1a) Send your student to pick up an order form from the MMS Main Office!
Cast and Crew
All information is updated on the --> MMS Musical Website

8th Grade Dates

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, 7-9 pm  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)
Attention 8th grade families: The CHS HSA needs you!

The CHS HSA is beginning the process of filling out our slate of executive board and committee positions for the 2019-20 school year.  If you would like to volunteer to serve on the board, please contact us at hsa@columbiahsa.org. Volunteering is a great way to be involved and learn more about CHS happenings. Click here to view the list of board positions. Thank you!

Bathroom Beautification

We are so excited that our plans to beautify the MMS bathrooms are finally going to get underway!

On Saturday , March 2 a group of staff from MMS a 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
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!"

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

ATTN: Middle School and High School parents and guardians (and any 5th grade  parents who are thinking ahead):

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.
SEPAC strives to bring together members of the special education community with similar questions, issues and concerns in the same room at the same time.

ALL ARE WELCOME. Please join us.

Also in February at the BOE Building:

Feb 20 ADD/ADHD Support Group 7:30-9:00 PM

More information for all of these can be found here: https://www.theparentingcenter.info/resources/2018-19-Parent-Groups.pdf


Also in February at The Parenting Center (BOE Building 525 Academy):

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

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.

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

MMS HSA Weekly Update #24

2/14/2019

 

Please click here for a message from Principal Gronau 


Hello MMS Families -

Thank you to organizer Dana Cavanaugh and all the families who donated Tissues and Healthy Kid Supplies over the last few weeks. There are enough tissues in the building, for now, and the students and staff can hopefully fight those germs with some real impact. It was wonderful to see the quickness of a grassroots drive. It certainly takes a village.

We would like to also highlight that this Friday at MMS, the 3rd Annual Table Tennis Tournament will take place in the afternoon. In honor of Black History Month, the MMS MLKA is performing a step show and Ms. Bradshaw and the select chorus and all choral students will sing "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing."  It should be beautiful. The 8th grade sells pretzels and drinks as a fundraiser for the 8th grade activities. If you would like to help, please contact Your MMS HSA 8th Grade Coordinators, Adrianna Donat  adrianna.donat@gmail.com, Thea Cogan-Drew  theacogandrew@gmail.com.   

We definitely need volunteers interested in serving on the MMS HSA PTA next year.  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. Please consider helping out. Our students still 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:
  • Friday, February 15 Table Tennis Competition - Pretzels for Sale!
  • 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

8th Grade Dates
​

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 isHERE. 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
  • Wednesday, June 19 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony, 9 am*
(This date subject to change based on last day of school and snow days)

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

Follow the Yellow Brick Road - Maplewood Middle School presents The Wizard of Oz!
  • Friday, February 22nd - 7:30 PM
  • Saturday, February 23rd - 7:30 PM
  • Sunday, February 24th - 2:00 PM
   Buy Your Tickets NOW!
*The shows will sell out, so don't wait!
1) Purchase your tickets online via the MMS Musical Website!
1a) Send 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!
All information is updated on the --> MMS Musical Website

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!"

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.

Special Ed Update

FEBRUARY SEPAC MEETING: Special Education Experience: The Secondary Years!

Middle School and High School parents and guardians (and any 5th grade parents who are thinking ahead) SEPAC’s next monthly meeting is for you!

Tuesday, February 26,  7:30-9 pm, BOE building, 525 Academy, Maplewood

• 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 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

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 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.

Gratefully yours,


Deb Holt & Sara Knutsen
MMS HSA Co-Presidents 2018-2019

mmshsainfo@gmail.com
debcatholt@gmail.com
szknutsen@gmail.com

MMS HSA Weekly Update #23

2/3/2019

 
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:
  • 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
8th Grade Dates
  • 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!
Thanks to all... Especially Meredith Lambert for working her TAIL OFF putting together and managing all aspects of this outstanding event! 
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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