Hello MMS!
****THE PRINCIPAL’S CORNER****
Please click HERE for this week’s message from Ms. Gronau.
There is a lot going on this week in the district and at MMS! We wanted to remind you of a few important dates, updates and general happenings this week.
We also wanted to take a short moment to shine light on the past week at MMS, where the Week of Respect culminated in two assemblies titled The myFace Wonder Project, which is based on The New York Times bestseller, Wonder by R.J. Palacio. We worked in collaboration with the MMS administration and Youthnet, to bring The myFace Wonder Project team to the school. The goal of The myFace Wonder Project is to educate children and young adults on the importance of having compassion, celebrating uniqueness, and always choosing to be kind. Our students will also participate in an all grades assembly on Friday of this week, entitled POINT OF VIEW!, designed to help give students a new perspective on the differences that separate them from their peers, their parents, and the others who are around them.
Lastly, if you are able to attend Middle School Curriculum Night and/or the OPEN HSA meeting this week, we strongly encourage you to come out and represent MMS families. It is budget season and MMS needs our active voices and involved parents to ensure our MMS students’ needs are met. Thanks in advance for your support!
Dates to Remember
REMINDERS & UPDATES
4-Hour Day Tomorrow!
Monday, October 9, 2017 is a 4 hour day for students in SOMSD.The day begins at the regular time and ends at 12:30pm. Breakfast program service will occur at the regular time. There will not be lunch service. Please make sure to check the SOMSD Calendar, as this day and three others were added to the district calendar in August as Professional Development dates for the staff. The other days added were December 11, February 5th and April 2nd.
Click here for calendar pdf! or here for the District page.
Middle School Curriculum Night 10/11
Join the district supervisors for Middle School Curriculum night Wednesday, October 11th 7:00pm-8:30pm at South Orange Middle School (SOMS). This is for ALL middle school families, so please attend! You will have the opportunity to attend up to 3 content areas and receive an overview of curriculum goals & content for each area: Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts PE/Health, World Language, Fine & Performing Arts.
Open HSA MEETING – HIB Info Night 10/12:
Please save the date Thursday, October 12th at 7:00pm in the MMS Library. Your HSA will be hosting a Meet & Greet with Ms. Gronau and Mr. Brown. Ms. Gronau will present HIB information to all families in attendance. Learn about Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act and the HIB policy (HIB - short for Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying), this is also a terrific opportunity to mingle with fellow parents and chat with our incredible staff. If you cannot make the open HSA meeting but interested in the District’s policy, please attend the 10/10 meeting at the 7:30pm at the Board of Ed District Meeting Office (see Flyer here).
All Grade Cultural Arts Assembly 10/13
POINT OF VIEW! is a new 40 minute multi-media experience from Camfel Productions designed to look beyond the violence, racism, intolerance, harassment, and hate in this world, giving students a new perspective on the differences that separate them from their peers, their parents, and the others who are around them. While they gain a new sense of their own innate worth, they'll grow to appreciate the diversity of race, language, and culture that make up the community in which they live.
6th Grade Social 10/24
The 6th grade Fall Social is always the best-attended event of the MMS school year and your 6th grader won’t want to miss it! It’s the perfect way for your students to get to know their new classmates in a fun setting. Save the date Tuesday, October 24th. More info and permission slip to come.
Flu Season Reminder
Nurse Porter sends along the reminder that the CDC recommends an annual flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older.
For more information, please refer to:
District’s October Digital Backpack
The District Office published its October backpack. Click Here to see what’s happening around the District.
VOLUNTEER & HELP NEEDED
MMS Library Media Center
The Library Media Center needs parent volunteers to check out, stack books, and help students print out documents through-out the day. Note: All periods are open for parents to help out. But it would be most helpful to have a volunteer while MMS Investigates teacher, Evyn Diegnan, is leading classes.
Please visit the Google Sheet link for Sign-Up Schedule and consider signing up for a regular weekly time period(s) or any time you can spare.
Feel free to contact Tracey Clarke (HSA Special Projects) with any questions: tlclarke226@gmail.com.
HSA Committee Chairs Needed!
We are still seeking chairs and committee members for School Store and Beautification. If you are interested please email MMSHSAinfo@gmail.com.
We Still Need Supplies for the school store!
Student Council would like to get the MMS School Store up and running so students can spend their Cougar Cash and we need YOUR help! Please consider donating snacks and other items (gift certificates, supplies, etc) to the MMS School Store. $5-$10 gift cards to stores and restaurants in town are also great ideas! Our MMS Students can use their Cougar Cash rewards at the school store. You can donate directly from our Amazon Wishlist (https://amzn.com/w/2XWAR0OJ0D1H8) or pick up school supplies and extra snacks on your next trip to your favorite store! All donations can be left in the main office to the attention of Ms. O'Sullivan and/or the MMS School Store. Questions? Contact Ms. O'Sullivan - mosulliv@somsd.k12.nj.us
FUNDRAISING
MMS Money Makers Kicks off with $1,000 Raised!
The first Money Maker fundraiser event of 2017 on Saturday Sept. 30th was a success. The yard sale organized by MMS parent and Co-Chair Mel Rose raised over $1,000 for MMS!
There is still plenty of time to organize your own MMS Money Maker fundraising event. To learn more about Money Makers or to volunteer to host an event, please send Fundraising Chair Mel Rose a message at melrosenj@gmail.com.
No Frill$
Not interested in throwing a party, or attending one? Is writing a check more your style? We will take your donations, any way you want to support us. Click here, donate your $, it is that easy. Or send in a check or Ca$h, we will take it! (and Thanks!)
We are continuing our goal of supporting open lines of communication with the MMS Administration and the District. Check our website (www.mmshsa.org), sign up for our weekly e-blasts, and join the HSA and Maplewood Middle School Families Facebook pages to stay updated on everything going on around MMS!
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.
There is a lot going on this week in the district and at MMS! We wanted to remind you of a few important dates, updates and general happenings this week.
We also wanted to take a short moment to shine light on the past week at MMS, where the Week of Respect culminated in two assemblies titled The myFace Wonder Project, which is based on The New York Times bestseller, Wonder by R.J. Palacio. We worked in collaboration with the MMS administration and Youthnet, to bring The myFace Wonder Project team to the school. The goal of The myFace Wonder Project is to educate children and young adults on the importance of having compassion, celebrating uniqueness, and always choosing to be kind. Our students will also participate in an all grades assembly on Friday of this week, entitled POINT OF VIEW!, designed to help give students a new perspective on the differences that separate them from their peers, their parents, and the others who are around them.
Lastly, if you are able to attend Middle School Curriculum Night and/or the OPEN HSA meeting this week, we strongly encourage you to come out and represent MMS families. It is budget season and MMS needs our active voices and involved parents to ensure our MMS students’ needs are met. Thanks in advance for your support!
Dates to Remember
- 10/9 4 Hour Day, early Dismissal - 12:30pm
- 10/10 District HIB Forum Night - 7:30 PM (HIB - Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying)
- 10/11 Middle School Curriculum Night - 7 PM @SOMS
- 10/12 Open HSA Meeting and HIB Info Night - 7 PM @ MMS Library Media Center
- 10/13 POINT OF VIEW! Cultural Arts Assembly, all Grades.
- 10/16 District BOE Meeting
- 10/20 Coffee and Conversation with Ms. Gronau at 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM -
@ MMS Library Media Center - 10/24 6th Grade Social
REMINDERS & UPDATES
4-Hour Day Tomorrow!
Monday, October 9, 2017 is a 4 hour day for students in SOMSD.The day begins at the regular time and ends at 12:30pm. Breakfast program service will occur at the regular time. There will not be lunch service. Please make sure to check the SOMSD Calendar, as this day and three others were added to the district calendar in August as Professional Development dates for the staff. The other days added were December 11, February 5th and April 2nd.
Click here for calendar pdf! or here for the District page.
Middle School Curriculum Night 10/11
Join the district supervisors for Middle School Curriculum night Wednesday, October 11th 7:00pm-8:30pm at South Orange Middle School (SOMS). This is for ALL middle school families, so please attend! You will have the opportunity to attend up to 3 content areas and receive an overview of curriculum goals & content for each area: Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts PE/Health, World Language, Fine & Performing Arts.
Open HSA MEETING – HIB Info Night 10/12:
Please save the date Thursday, October 12th at 7:00pm in the MMS Library. Your HSA will be hosting a Meet & Greet with Ms. Gronau and Mr. Brown. Ms. Gronau will present HIB information to all families in attendance. Learn about Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act and the HIB policy (HIB - short for Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying), this is also a terrific opportunity to mingle with fellow parents and chat with our incredible staff. If you cannot make the open HSA meeting but interested in the District’s policy, please attend the 10/10 meeting at the 7:30pm at the Board of Ed District Meeting Office (see Flyer here).
All Grade Cultural Arts Assembly 10/13
POINT OF VIEW! is a new 40 minute multi-media experience from Camfel Productions designed to look beyond the violence, racism, intolerance, harassment, and hate in this world, giving students a new perspective on the differences that separate them from their peers, their parents, and the others who are around them. While they gain a new sense of their own innate worth, they'll grow to appreciate the diversity of race, language, and culture that make up the community in which they live.
6th Grade Social 10/24
The 6th grade Fall Social is always the best-attended event of the MMS school year and your 6th grader won’t want to miss it! It’s the perfect way for your students to get to know their new classmates in a fun setting. Save the date Tuesday, October 24th. More info and permission slip to come.
Flu Season Reminder
Nurse Porter sends along the reminder that the CDC recommends an annual flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older.
For more information, please refer to:
- Your health care provider
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/
- The attached flyer
District’s October Digital Backpack
The District Office published its October backpack. Click Here to see what’s happening around the District.
VOLUNTEER & HELP NEEDED
MMS Library Media Center
The Library Media Center needs parent volunteers to check out, stack books, and help students print out documents through-out the day. Note: All periods are open for parents to help out. But it would be most helpful to have a volunteer while MMS Investigates teacher, Evyn Diegnan, is leading classes.
Please visit the Google Sheet link for Sign-Up Schedule and consider signing up for a regular weekly time period(s) or any time you can spare.
Feel free to contact Tracey Clarke (HSA Special Projects) with any questions: tlclarke226@gmail.com.
HSA Committee Chairs Needed!
We are still seeking chairs and committee members for School Store and Beautification. If you are interested please email MMSHSAinfo@gmail.com.
We Still Need Supplies for the school store!
Student Council would like to get the MMS School Store up and running so students can spend their Cougar Cash and we need YOUR help! Please consider donating snacks and other items (gift certificates, supplies, etc) to the MMS School Store. $5-$10 gift cards to stores and restaurants in town are also great ideas! Our MMS Students can use their Cougar Cash rewards at the school store. You can donate directly from our Amazon Wishlist (https://amzn.com/w/2XWAR0OJ0D1H8) or pick up school supplies and extra snacks on your next trip to your favorite store! All donations can be left in the main office to the attention of Ms. O'Sullivan and/or the MMS School Store. Questions? Contact Ms. O'Sullivan - mosulliv@somsd.k12.nj.us
FUNDRAISING
MMS Money Makers Kicks off with $1,000 Raised!
The first Money Maker fundraiser event of 2017 on Saturday Sept. 30th was a success. The yard sale organized by MMS parent and Co-Chair Mel Rose raised over $1,000 for MMS!
There is still plenty of time to organize your own MMS Money Maker fundraising event. To learn more about Money Makers or to volunteer to host an event, please send Fundraising Chair Mel Rose a message at melrosenj@gmail.com.
No Frill$
Not interested in throwing a party, or attending one? Is writing a check more your style? We will take your donations, any way you want to support us. Click here, donate your $, it is that easy. Or send in a check or Ca$h, we will take it! (and Thanks!)
We are continuing our goal of supporting open lines of communication with the MMS Administration and the District. Check our website (www.mmshsa.org), sign up for our weekly e-blasts, and join the HSA and Maplewood Middle School Families Facebook pages to stay updated on everything going on around MMS!
Gratefully,
Your MMS HSA Co-Presidents,
Sara Knutsen & Deb Holt
mmshsainfo@gmail.com
szknutsen@gmail.com
debcatholt@gmail.com
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