MAPLEWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
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Hello MMS!
**** THE PRINCIPAL’S CORNER ****
Please click HERE for this week’s message from Ms. Gronau.
We hope everyone had a chance to view the amazing performances this weekend of the MMS MUSICAL – Rogers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Broadway Version). Each show was sold out and packed. A special thank you to the fabulous show directors, staff, cast and crew.
We also wanted to share that our students are showing their support to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. In partnership with MMS Principal Dara Gronau, your MMS HSA helped organize a student banner of support to be sent to Marjory Stoneman Douglas in response to a national initiative to show support to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas students who will return back to school on 2/26. (See photo link here.) Entitled "Never Again! We Stand With You", the banner is laminated and will hang in the halls of the high school along with banners from other schools, churches and groups from around the country. The banner was printed at the Local South Orange UPS Store and owner George Berkeley was so touched by the initiative that he printed and shipped the banner at no charge after hearing. He also printed a second banner to hang at MMS so our students can remember what a good thing they did.
The MMS HSA would like to send a special thank you to the entire MMS community, specifically Dawn Yoselowitz and Robin Miller Wiener for highlighting this initiative; To Ms. Gronau and Dr. Ficarra for their quick support; and to the UPS Store and George Berkeley for going above and beyond.
*At this point there is nothing we can share related to how the school would handle a potential student led demonstration in the district. We relayed the concerns and inquiries of parents and have been informed the administrations are discussing. We will share as we find out details.
As always we appreciate your support. We are recruiting for next year's Board, so 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
2/26 Transition to CHS for 8th Graders 7:00 PM
2/27 Special Ed PTO Meeting
3/22 5th Grade - Getting Ready for Middle School
GRADE UPDATES
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
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!
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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? We are 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
************************************
Hello MMS!
**** THE PRINCIPAL’S CORNER ****
Please click HERE for this week’s message from Ms. Gronau.
We hope everyone had a chance to view the amazing performances this weekend of the MMS MUSICAL – Rogers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Broadway Version). Each show was sold out and packed. A special thank you to the fabulous show directors, staff, cast and crew.
We also wanted to share that our students are showing their support to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. In partnership with MMS Principal Dara Gronau, your MMS HSA helped organize a student banner of support to be sent to Marjory Stoneman Douglas in response to a national initiative to show support to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas students who will return back to school on 2/26. (See photo link here.) Entitled "Never Again! We Stand With You", the banner is laminated and will hang in the halls of the high school along with banners from other schools, churches and groups from around the country. The banner was printed at the Local South Orange UPS Store and owner George Berkeley was so touched by the initiative that he printed and shipped the banner at no charge after hearing. He also printed a second banner to hang at MMS so our students can remember what a good thing they did.
The MMS HSA would like to send a special thank you to the entire MMS community, specifically Dawn Yoselowitz and Robin Miller Wiener for highlighting this initiative; To Ms. Gronau and Dr. Ficarra for their quick support; and to the UPS Store and George Berkeley for going above and beyond.
*At this point there is nothing we can share related to how the school would handle a potential student led demonstration in the district. We relayed the concerns and inquiries of parents and have been informed the administrations are discussing. We will share as we find out details.
As always we appreciate your support. We are recruiting for next year's Board, so 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
2/26 Transition to CHS for 8th Graders 7:00 PM
2/27 Special Ed PTO Meeting
3/22 5th Grade - Getting Ready for Middle School
GRADE UPDATES
- 7th
- 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, Mr. O’Dell or Ms. Miller to purchase.
- 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.
- 8th
- 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.
Attached please find the flyer inviting you to an informational session about 9th grade course selection at CHS for the 2018-19 school year. It will be held at SOMS but is open to all current 8th grade families. SOMS is the only location with a large auditorium not currently being used for upcoming musical productions. We hope you can attend this important session.
- 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.
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
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? We are 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
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