Hello MMS!
**** THE PRINCIPAL’S CORNER ****
Please click HERE for this week’s message from Ms. Gronau.
Your MMS HSA hopes you enjoyed a long, snow filled weekend and believe most of you should have received report cards in your mailboxes! As we return to school tomorrow a gentle reminder on the traffic pattern - please avoid idling in teacher parking spots at drop off, specifically on Salter. Please be mindful these are earmarked specifically for teachers. We don’t want them late to teach our kids! (And we don’t want you getting an unnecessary ticket.)
The buzz is in the air. Our Musical Week has finally arrived! We could not be prouder of the MMS students and staff. Tickets are distributed this week and there are some limited tickets available. See below for details.
As always your we appreciates your support, we are recruiting for next years Board, please consider getting involved! And if you have any MMS updates you’d like covered in the Eblasts feel free to email us with additions.
Dates to Remember
2/20 Board of Ed Meeting 7:30 pm
2/23 MMS Musical 7:30 PM
2/24 MMS Musical 7:30 PM
2/25 MMS Musical 2 PM
2/26 Transition to CHS for 8th Graders 7:00 PM
2/27 Special Ed PTO Meeting
GRADE UPDATES
6th
PARENT/GUARDIAN SURVEY
Please take a moment to respond to the parent/guardian survey (link below). The goal is to hear from at least 40% of our families. We want to hear from you!
https://homeroom5.doe.state.nj.us/climate/Parents.php
2018 MMS MUSICAL – Rogers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Broadway Version)
This week is the 2018 MMS Musical and it is not to be missed! Show dates are 2/23, 2/24, 2/25.
SPED PTO MEETING - SECONDARY EDUCATION
ATTENTION, Middle School and High School grade level parents and guardians (and 4th & 5th grade parents who are looking ahead!)
Is SPED PTO’s next meeting on Tuesday, February 27th, 7:30-9 pm, at the BOE building, 525 Academy, Maplewood, on your calendar? IT SHOULD BE! The featured topic is the Special Education Experience: Secondary Grades and the target audience is YOU!
SCHOOL STORE
Our school store is always on the lookout for donations! If you’re making a Costco run, please consider picking up some extra items and donating them. The School Store is run by our wonderful Student Council and uses Cougar Cash for purchases. You can even help without leaving home! Click to order from the school store Amazon wish list!
************************************
VOLUNTEER & HELP NEEDED!!
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
Want to knock the socks off our teachers with gratitude? Please consider chairing one day during the week of May 7-11. We would like to come up with a special program for each day, for example: Massage Monday, Treats Tuesday, etc. Please contact Sara Knutsen at: szknutsen@gmail.com if you’d like to get involved!
WANT TO JOIN THE MMS HSA EXECUTIVE BOARD?!? IT’S FUN!!!
We are in the process of putting together the slate for next year’s HSA Executive Board and would love to have YOU join! We have two opportunities: 1) you can join the Board or 2) serve on this year’s Nominating Committee.
If you are interested in being on the board or serving on the Committee, please e-mail Deb Holt or Sara Knutsen.
SANDY HOOK PROMISE MMS LEADER NEEDED
Seeking Promise Leaders for every SOMSD SCHOOL
A Call to Action! Are you heartsick from our nation's gun violence tragedies,and want to make a difference in your child's school?
Jennifer Ostrega Gold, Sandy Hook Promise Leader in SOMSD since 2016 will lead an informational phone call on Friday, 2/23 at 8:45AM, sharing the violence prevention programming available to our district. Contact jostregagold@gmail.com to receive dial in info for the call.
EBLAST HELP
Interested in helping get the MMS word out? The HSA is looking for assistance managing the weekly eblast. If interested, please contact Thea at: theacogandrew@gmail.com
FIELD DAY Chairpeople Needed!
MMS will host it’s first-ever Field Day this year in conjunction with the South Mountain YMCA. It promises to be a great day of fun for our MMS community but we will need help planning it. Please contact Deb Holt or Sara Knutsen if you’d like to volunteer.
MMS LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER
The Media Center needs parent volunteers to shelve books, organize sections, check in/out books and help students throughout the day. This is a great opportunity to be at MMS beyond Back to School and School in Action Nights! Volunteer for as much or as little as you would like. Check out the Media Center Class Schedule and signup directly on the Google Sheet Click here! Feel free to contact Tracey Clarke (HSA Special Projects) with any questions: tlclarke226@gmail.com
Check here for more information on what is happening in the MLC.
FUNDRAISING
Go No Frills OR Host an MMS Money Maker! You choose how you want to raise the money and how it will be spent! Please reach out to Fundraising Co Chairs Mel Rose melrosenj@gmail.com or Gabrielle Graziano at gabriellept@aol.com. They can also help you come up with great Fundraising ideas.
Gratefully,
Your MMS HSA Co-Presidents,
Sara Knutsen & Deb Holt
mmshsainfo@gmail.com
szknutsen@gmail.com
debcatholt@gmail.com
**** THE PRINCIPAL’S CORNER ****
Please click HERE for this week’s message from Ms. Gronau.
Your MMS HSA hopes you enjoyed a long, snow filled weekend and believe most of you should have received report cards in your mailboxes! As we return to school tomorrow a gentle reminder on the traffic pattern - please avoid idling in teacher parking spots at drop off, specifically on Salter. Please be mindful these are earmarked specifically for teachers. We don’t want them late to teach our kids! (And we don’t want you getting an unnecessary ticket.)
The buzz is in the air. Our Musical Week has finally arrived! We could not be prouder of the MMS students and staff. Tickets are distributed this week and there are some limited tickets available. See below for details.
As always your we appreciates your support, we are recruiting for next years Board, please consider getting involved! And if you have any MMS updates you’d like covered in the Eblasts feel free to email us with additions.
Dates to Remember
2/20 Board of Ed Meeting 7:30 pm
2/23 MMS Musical 7:30 PM
2/24 MMS Musical 7:30 PM
2/25 MMS Musical 2 PM
2/26 Transition to CHS for 8th Graders 7:00 PM
2/27 Special Ed PTO Meeting
GRADE UPDATES
6th
- Thanks for all your support for the hot chocolate days this winter. The MMS Team Leaders are busy planning activities for the spring. Stay tuned for updates in the upcoming eblasts.
- The students participated in a slogan contest to create a 7th Grade MMS bracelet. The slogan that the grade chose was "Be afraid, here comes 7th grade” and they are excited to wear these for Battle of the Classes. The winning slogan is on black bracelets for students and parents to purchase for $1 each from any of the team leaders!
All profits go back to the 7th grade for field trips and The Poetry Grammys.
Buy one for your 7th grader and for yourself, it’s an easy way to help support the class. Please have your 7th grader see Mrs. Felder, Ms. Schlatmann or Mr. O’Dell to purchase.
- Columbia High School Counseling Department Invites you to join us for our “Transition to High School” Meeting for 8th Grade Parents. Monday, February 26, 2018 at South Orange Middle School Auditorium @7:00 p.m.
The purpose of this meeting is to:
• Review graduation requirements
• Provide a general overview of the course offerings at CHS
• Highlight courses offered in 9th grade
• Review key terms and definitions for high school academics
• Describe the course selection process
You’re also invited to the College Fair at CHS. All parents & students are invited to the Columbia High School College Fair on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 from 7-9 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. More than 120 representatives will provide information on colleges, careers, gap year options and the military. We hope to see you there!
PARENT/GUARDIAN SURVEY
Please take a moment to respond to the parent/guardian survey (link below). The goal is to hear from at least 40% of our families. We want to hear from you!
https://homeroom5.doe.state.nj.us/climate/Parents.php
2018 MMS MUSICAL – Rogers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Broadway Version)
This week is the 2018 MMS Musical and it is not to be missed! Show dates are 2/23, 2/24, 2/25.
- TICKET DISTRIBUTION
They will be distributing tickets to cast and crew this Tuesday - 2/20! Non cast and crew can pickup starting Wednesday. Tickets will also be available to be picked up at "Will Call" before each performance.
Please keep in mind that all seats are assigned and that the musical staff will not be able to change any seats on the nights/day of performances. Contact mmsmusical@gmail.com with any ticket questions or requests.
Limited Reserved ($10) tickets are still available for all three performances! Tickets can be purchased online at https://sites.google.com/site/mmsmusical/ or by sending in the attached order form with cash or check payment to the main office at MMS.
- SHOW WEEKEND VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The directors need LOTS of help to make show weekend a success. Please sign up using the SIGN UP GENIUS to see how you can help out the cast and crew. The jobs are listed in order of need, so please try to sign up in priority order!
SPED PTO MEETING - SECONDARY EDUCATION
ATTENTION, Middle School and High School grade level parents and guardians (and 4th & 5th grade parents who are looking ahead!)
Is SPED PTO’s next meeting on Tuesday, February 27th, 7:30-9 pm, at the BOE building, 525 Academy, Maplewood, on your calendar? IT SHOULD BE! The featured topic is the Special Education Experience: Secondary Grades and the target audience is YOU!
SCHOOL STORE
Our school store is always on the lookout for donations! If you’re making a Costco run, please consider picking up some extra items and donating them. The School Store is run by our wonderful Student Council and uses Cougar Cash for purchases. You can even help without leaving home! Click to order from the school store Amazon wish list!
************************************
VOLUNTEER & HELP NEEDED!!
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
Want to knock the socks off our teachers with gratitude? Please consider chairing one day during the week of May 7-11. We would like to come up with a special program for each day, for example: Massage Monday, Treats Tuesday, etc. Please contact Sara Knutsen at: szknutsen@gmail.com if you’d like to get involved!
WANT TO JOIN THE MMS HSA EXECUTIVE BOARD?!? IT’S FUN!!!
We are in the process of putting together the slate for next year’s HSA Executive Board and would love to have YOU join! We have two opportunities: 1) you can join the Board or 2) serve on this year’s Nominating Committee.
If you are interested in being on the board or serving on the Committee, please e-mail Deb Holt or Sara Knutsen.
SANDY HOOK PROMISE MMS LEADER NEEDED
Seeking Promise Leaders for every SOMSD SCHOOL
A Call to Action! Are you heartsick from our nation's gun violence tragedies,and want to make a difference in your child's school?
Jennifer Ostrega Gold, Sandy Hook Promise Leader in SOMSD since 2016 will lead an informational phone call on Friday, 2/23 at 8:45AM, sharing the violence prevention programming available to our district. Contact jostregagold@gmail.com to receive dial in info for the call.
EBLAST HELP
Interested in helping get the MMS word out? The HSA is looking for assistance managing the weekly eblast. If interested, please contact Thea at: theacogandrew@gmail.com
FIELD DAY Chairpeople Needed!
MMS will host it’s first-ever Field Day this year in conjunction with the South Mountain YMCA. It promises to be a great day of fun for our MMS community but we will need help planning it. Please contact Deb Holt or Sara Knutsen if you’d like to volunteer.
MMS LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER
The Media Center needs parent volunteers to shelve books, organize sections, check in/out books and help students throughout the day. This is a great opportunity to be at MMS beyond Back to School and School in Action Nights! Volunteer for as much or as little as you would like. Check out the Media Center Class Schedule and signup directly on the Google Sheet Click here! Feel free to contact Tracey Clarke (HSA Special Projects) with any questions: tlclarke226@gmail.com
Check here for more information on what is happening in the MLC.
FUNDRAISING
Go No Frills OR Host an MMS Money Maker! You choose how you want to raise the money and how it will be spent! Please reach out to Fundraising Co Chairs Mel Rose melrosenj@gmail.com or Gabrielle Graziano at gabriellept@aol.com. They can also help you come up with great Fundraising ideas.
Gratefully,
Your MMS HSA Co-Presidents,
Sara Knutsen & Deb Holt
mmshsainfo@gmail.com
szknutsen@gmail.com
debcatholt@gmail.com