MMS Newsletter
“Enter to Learn, Strive to Achieve!”
The MISSION of Middletown Middle School is to engage students as 21st century learners who strive to achieve their goals. We support students through rigor and active participation within a culture of cooperation, organization, determination and excellence to prepare our students for college and careers.
“The Vision of Middletown Middle School is to challenge students of all abilities to achieve excellence in a wide range of academic and cultural pursuits. Students are equipped to meet the demands and opportunities of the 21st century by receiving a differentiated, effective, and rigorous curriculum. Staff believe and demonstrate that all students can master the essential 21st century skills. The culture of Middletown Middle will include high expectations for all, frequent monitoring of student progress, multiple opportunities for student learning, high levels of engagement, exceptional communication, and daily purposeful integration of technology. We will make it a priority to recognize the academic and extracurricular achievements of our school community. Middletown Middle School will have highly-motivated professional staff and authentic partnerships between the school and home.”
Value Statements
Teachers actively engage students by interacting, moving around the classroom, and allowing them to own their learning.
Staff will have knowledge of the whole student so that lessons provide challenge and rigor for all abilities.
Teachers facilitate lessons where students are engaged, not merely compliant.
Teachers facilitate lessons that allow for students to lead and take risks.
Staff will make authentic learning opportunities a priority in the classroom.
Staff collaborates to promote 21st century student learning.
A Message from Mr. Fer
I hope this message finds all of you well and looking forward to a much needed break in a few days. The past five months have been the busiest first half of a school year that I can recall in my twenty years in education. During that time, students, staff and families continued a journey that began in March of the previous school year. As I reflect on our approach to March 2021, it is hard to believe that once March 13th rolls around, it will have been a full year since we left the Middletown Middle School building and transitioned to a fully virtual education community.
The transition was not the easiest, but as a community, we were able to provide support for one another and really focus on making sure that our students experience a learning environment that allows them to grow in every facet of their education. Engineer and economist Klaus Schwab commented on change and transition when he said, "Change can be frightening, and the temptation is often to resist it. But change almost always provides opportunities - to learn new things, to rethink tired processes, and to improve the way we work." We have certainly had the chance to face an abnormal situation, which was difficult and see the opportunity in it ultimately leading to growth, improved processes and hope for the future of education. I am exceptionally proud of the work and efforts of all those in our community where the result has been a collective endeavor we can take pride in while acknowledging there are many areas such as student social-emotional support that will continue to require our constant attention.
As we move forward and close in on an eventual transition to a hybrid learning environment we will again need to readjust and potentially alter our approach to those things related to the everyday education process. In an article from a school system that has already moved into hybrid, five simple yet important suggestions/reminders are made to families in preparation for a transition to ensure students are ready to balance both in-person and online instruction. These include:
Stay Connected With Teachers
Educators are pushed to be more creative and work harder than ever before to prepare in-person and online instruction materials. Subscribe to your preferred method of parent communication (Schoology Notifications, Find out First, etc.) to ensure you and your child are up to date on the latest information.
Prepare for the Week
Review assignments with your child at the beginning of each week (if available) to help them understand and achieve their goals at home and in the classroom. Creating weekly or daily agendas will help your learner stay organized and follow their routine.
Follow Current Health and Safety Guidelines
Communicate with your child the importance of wearing a mask properly to protect peers, teachers and loved ones while at school. At home, practice proper mask-wearing, hand washing protocols, and coughing or sneezing etiquette to reiterate the importance of these health guidelines.
Take Advantage of Tech Resources
FCPS aims to equip each student with the tools they need to thrive. Fully utilizing school-issued devices like Chromebooks will ensure each student is properly connected for virtual learning. If you need assistance with learning more about a tool your child is using, we recommend that you reach out to MiMS so we can help make sure you and your child(ren) are set up for hybrid success.
Stay Powered On
It’s important to have reliable power near your learning area to keep your child’s
computer fully charged while working. Make it a part of your child’s nightly routine to
charge their electronic devices before going to bed, If you find yourself lacking internet
connection on any given day, please contact us so we can assist you. When students show up for hybrid learning, it will be critically important for their Chromebooks to be fully charged as it will be very challenging to have them plug in during the day while maintaining proper spacing.
*Adapted from the article located here.
Middletown Middle School staff members stand ready to assist you in each and every way that ensures your child(ren) are successful now and when the transition to hybrid occurs. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the transition, please make sure to reach out to an administrator or school counselor at any time so we can help. For your reference, I have included a “Hybrid Frequently Asked Questions” document to help in addressing some common questions parents may have. If there is any question you have that is not answered in the document, please contact us.
I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed holiday. I hope students are able to take time to step away from school-related items and truly enjoy this well-deserved break. See you all in 2021!
Grateful to serve,
Paul Fer
Principal
Administrative and Office Announcements
Principal Chats for the Year:
February 22
April 19
Advanced Academics
Dianne Thompson, Advanced Academics Specialist
Outside Opportunity - Interested in outside enrichment activities for your child? Check out offerings from College of William & Mary, Center for Gifted Education.
Spring 2021 SEP registration is now open for students grades 3-12. William & Mary’s Center for Gifted Education is excited to offer 2 different spring sessions with courses available in the areas of art, STEM, botany, writing, poetry and many more. Please see our Spring SEP 2021 filer for more information.
William & Mary’s SEP is an academically challenging program with an emphasis on inquiry-based learning for students. The program is not meant to supplement the regular school curriculum; rather, it recognizes the importance of allowing able children to explore additional specialized areas of science, mathematics, humanities, and the arts. Click for More Information.
The Center for Gifted Education is also accepting registrations for our annual Focusing on the Future event. Focusing on the Future is a virtual career and academic planning conference for all Middle and High School students as well as Counselors and Parents. Click to view the conference brochure.
Questions should be directed to program coordinator, Katie Latimer & former MiMS Advanced Academics Specialist! SEP@wm.edu or 757-221-2166
MiMS Enrichment - Students have been enjoying several different enrichment options in the afternoons. We just wrapped up our first session of The Stock Market Game and will look forward to another session starting in February.
Regular activities include: Stories with Holes, Spelling BEE, 6th & 7th/8th Grade READS, STEM Challenges and most recently, reading & discussion of A Christmas Carol to support 6th grade Language Arts.
Students are also engaging in group discussions, brain teaser activities, and other general enrichment activities through our grade level groups.
Additional opportunities will be added based on interests.
Any student interested in joining may message Mrs. Thompson through Schoology.
YEARBOOK INFORMATION
2020-2021 YEARBOOKS are now on sale!
All orders are placed online via https://yearbookforever.com/
Please search Middletown Middle School to shop our yearbook store.
Prices will increase after December 30th, so lock yours in now!
$30 Yearbook Only.
Customized options available.
WE DO NOT ANTICIPATE SELLING EXTRA YEARBOOKS THIS YEAR. PLEASE BE SURE TO PRE-ORDER!
LIFETOUCH is scheduled for FEBRUARY for school portraits.
We will update those arrangements if/as needed.
We will continue to build our yearbook virtually to celebrate our students!
We’d love to feature every student!
HOW TO SHARE PICTURES FOR YEARBOOK
If you would like to submit your child’s picture, please do so by:
Download the Yearbook SNAP app on iphone or android.
Use the code “MIMS2021” to access our MiMS SNAP.
Select “STUDENT LIFE” as the category
Write your child’s first and last name and grade AND PHOTO THEME in the NOTES section.
Submit ONE photo PER THEME, please
Furry family friends are welcome to be in photos. Otherwise, MIMS students only, please!
Please email Dianne.Thompson@fcps.org if you have questions about school pictures or yearbooks.
Thank you!
YEARBOOK INFORMATION CONTINUED....Currently seeking pictures for the following:
Attendance
Thank you
Calendar
Cafeteria Information
Counseling Dept
Counseling Office Secretary/Registrar: Margie Mclister (240-236-4206)
6th grade School Counselor: Ashley Frushour (240-236-4205)
7th grade School Counselor: Liz Bohan (240-236-4256)
8th grade School Counselor: Rachel Butts (240-236-4220)
How to Set Up YouTube Parental Controls
How to Set Up YouTube Parental Controls
Because you can't look over their shoulder all the time.
https://www.fatherly.com/gear/how-to-set-up-the-parental-controls-on-youtube/
Parental Control Apps
Thank you Safeway
Thank you @Safeway for their support and for making us part
of the #NourishingNeighbors family! Safeway Foundation’s
School Spirit campaign has allowed our Counseling office to help
support school hunger in the Middletown feeder school area.
Frederick Community Action Agency
Hours of Operation
Frederick Community Action Agency Hours
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Weekend and evening hours vary
Soup Kitchen Hours
Monday through Sunday
5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Foodbank Hours
- Monday, 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
- Tuesday, 2 to 4 p.m.
- Wednesday 7 to 9 p.m.
- Thursday, 2 to 4 p.m.
- Friday, 2 to 4 p.m.
*Please call 301-600-1506 for more information.
FCPS Information
For the most up to date information from FCPS please go to www.fcps.org
Find all Schoology Information HERE
FCPS School Calendar at a glance
Health Room News
PBIS Virtual School Store Opens at MiMS...Donations are Needed!
The PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Supports) Team has been making efforts to support a positive culture during this school year for all of our students, staff, parents and community. During our first term, we successfully unveiled our “virtual school store”. Teachers are able to reward badges to the students through the Schoology platform and the students can use the badges to purchase real merchandise through the virtual store. With the help and support of our creative and energetic staff, we were able to fill over 200 orders this term!
We have also held our first virtual celebration which was the “Saran Ball Challenge”. Students could use badges for a raffle chance to participate virtually (with the help of a teacher) and compete for candy and prizes. The event was filmed and the students enjoyed watching the excitement unfold during the advisory classes.
In order to support our school store and PBIS badge reward program, PTSA and PBIS have partnered up to kindly ask the community for any donations of gift cards. The PTSA and PBIS Committee appreciates your generous gift card donations. As we prepare for our second term Badge Redemption and School Wide Challenge, we would again like to use gift cards as an incentive. Student feedback indicates high interest in Roblox, Fortnite, Dunkin Donuts, Chipotle, Chick Fil A, and McDonalds. The PTSA will continue to collect these cards at the home of one of its Board members: 7803 Grandview Place. Please place your name on the gift cards so we can maintain accurate records.
Looking ahead: PTSA and the PBIS team are working together to prepare a “wish list” of items that we can use to stock our school store and will share that list at a later date. As always, we are so grateful for the support of the community, parents, staff, students and PTSA, and will continue to support our students the best way we can through our PBIS programs and events!
Open the link below and learn more about our “virtual” school store!!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fnrGCKW1kyW_dZMiqHnSSKkbloh5rabj/view?usp=sharing
Art
Congratulations to McKenzie Hargest. Her Lion’s Club Peace Poster submission is now moving onto the International Level. To quote Council Chair Charles Taylor, “This poster demonstrates an ideal world where community service, taking care of our world and farming the land promote peace. As the illustrator suggested, “the fruit of love is service” through demonstrating and taking care of what is ours. Peace through service is evident throughout the poster as one world bringing about a message of love.”
Mrs. Pilarciks’ 7th and 8th grade visual arts classes have been focusing on the art element of space. 7th graders just completed their drawings of “secret cities” where they used different techniques to create foreground, middleground,and background to create the illusion of space. 8th graders used 1 point linear perspective to draw the interior of their dream room. Here are some of the artworks that were submitted for these assignments.
Band/Orchestra
December:
Band and orchestra students are excited to offer a few virtual concerts on Friday, Dec 18th at 7pm (8th grade), Monday, December 21st at 7pm (7th grade), and Tuesday, December 22nd at 7pm (6th grade). Students will be showcasing their solo and small ensemble music they’ve been working on this term and are excited to share and perform! After the new year, students will be working on compositions and arrangements to share with their peers as well as small ensemble music. Happy holidays from the MiMS music department!
Career & Technology Education
Mr. Seiler-Grade 6 / Technology Exposition
Students have been working on bridges and will continue after winter break. They will be constructing a truss style bridge using craft sticks.
Grade 7 / CSI
Students have just started Web page development. They will be continuing this activity when we return from winter break.
Grade 8 / Pre-Engineering
Students have been working on a Rube Goldberg challenge which will conclude the week we return from winter break. The next activity will be learning about controlling forces of air.
Mr. Dulberger 7th grade Invention & Innovation (CTE) - The 7th grade Invention and Innovation students are applying the Engineering Design Process unit one last time! This time the students are designing and building a fully functional Tech Deck skateboard park. The students will have opportunities to brainstorm in teams, learn digital drawing tools, and receive feedback through media albums on Schoology. In addition, we are learning about the difference between inventions and innovations. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a fun activity called Nailed It, and apply for a “patent.” As we embark upon these hands-on design challenges, it is helpful for students to be utilizing the camera on their device during synchronous learning to share their progress with me and their classmates. The camera allows students to share their progress with me and their classmates.
6th grade Visual Arts - The 6th grade Visual Arts students are learning about the remaining elements of art; texture, form, space, and value. The students recently finished their second studio project where they drew Tim Burton cartoon style self portraits. Next we will focus on form, shape and value with a cityscape project. As we embark upon these new visual arts assignments, it is helpful for students to be utilizing the camera on their device during synchronous learning. The camera allows students to share their progress with me and their classmates.
Mrs. Ledford- Food Science students have finished up their Food Museum projects. Their final projects were engaging and informative! We have now ventured into the kitchen to discover all of the tools and utensils in our cupboards, what they are called and what they are used for. We will tackle math in the kitchen when we learn all about measurements and equivalents. Happy to share that the safety and sanitation lessons went off without a hitch as these students are experts at washing their hands!
Mrs. Stuart: 7th and 8th Grade Life Skills classes continue to learn about food preparation and have completed a virtual pancake lab. Recent topics included sanitation and food safety including proper food storage. They have also been learning about personal finances. Students learned about possible post high school options including trade schools and college to help prepare them for future careers.
Mrs. Duvall: In Lab 21, we are in the midst of an exciting group project called the Global Issues Computational Thinking project, where students will be computer coding an animated short expressing either an idea for an invention that will solve a world problem, or a way to raise awareness for their global issue. Students are currently researching their chosen topics, which range from issues like world hunger, illness and disease, racism, and cyberbullying, just to name a few! They will be storyboarding their ideas next week and working on their computer coded animated short after Winter break!
Language Arts
7th Grade: Seventh grade is jumping into cycle 2, which revolves around nonfiction and argument. Students will learn both how to analyze an argument and how to form one. Word wizard will still be every other week. All classes are working on a novel for literature circles. Honors classes are working on a science fiction novel for their project. On grade classes are reading Freak the Mighty or The Maze Runner, depending on which teacher they have.
8th Grade: Students in ELA are working on analyzing arguments and writing their own arguments. Next, we will be reading "The Gift of the Magi" and looking into the allusions and connections often made in literature.
Math Department
6th Grade Math: Students are moving through our Whole Number Fluency unit. We are exploring Greatest Common Factor (GCF) and Least Common Multiple (LCM) in number sets and real world examples. We are also exploring the distributive property and how it applies with greatest common factor. As we progress into the new year, we will be reviewing long division and then begin order of operations.
7th Grade Math (Pathways): Students will be working on their 3rd unit, Ratios and Proportional Relationships-Percent Problems. We will be calculating tax, tip, mark up/mark down, discount, commission, simple interest and percent error. We will be completing a lot of real world activities in this unit, since percentages are around us all the time! We look forward to diving into this unit!
8th Grade Math: Students are working on global scholar this week.
Literacy Specialist
Book Recommendations
As families prepare for the holidays, many parents ask what books or series kids are currently reading. For the fifth year in a row, we have held the 25 Book Challenge at MMS. Last year, we compiled a list of the most highly rated books from our students who participated in the challenge. The list is divided by genre, which may help parents to decide what would appeal the most to their child. Click on the link below to view the books that our kids loved the most last year:
Media Specialist
Book Exchange
The media center is open for business!! Students can check a book out remotely and it can be picked up at the school. Once the book(s) have been checked out the student will receive an email and parents or guardians can come by at any time when the office is open and pick those books up.
For instructions on how to check out books remotely please watch this video or find it in your ELA teacher’s media center folder in Schoology.
Books can be returned at any time to the return box at the front of the school.
Overdue Library Books???
We left school abruptly in the spring. Your child may not have had a chance to return library books (or any school materials) before leaving school. When a student accesses their account (see video above) he/she can also check to see what they might still have out or you can email Mrs. Poscover for that information. mary.poscover@fcps.org Books can be returned at any time to the box at the front of the school.
Library Digital Resources
Looking for reliable, age appropriate sources of material for your student’s distance learning needs? No need to “google” ever again. Look no further than the library media page!!
https://education.fcps.org/mms/mediacenter
FCPS has purchased a number of databases that are trustworthy and aligned to state and national standards. When accessing from home you will need remote access codes. These are available by clicking on the link located at the top of the table of databases. It says “Click HERE for login and password information to access these databases from home.” Use these award winning resources today!
E-books sources
FCPL - Frederick County Public Library’s site. Access to a lot of digital content and ebooks. Students can use the following code to access all materials:
119829 + their 8 digit student ID#
Sora - FCPS’s new ebook platform has hundreds of fantastic books and is easy, easy, easy to use. Try this new product today!!
25 Book Challenge
Mrs. Poscover and the literacy specialist Mrs Casey are challenging students to read 25 books this year! We have set up Schoology courses for each grade level. All rules and regulations are on the challenge sheet students will get when they join the challenge. We would love it if your child accepted! Course codes are as follows:
6th grade: 3N9G-MZGF-PBB5X
7th grade: DP2V-TZ5W-9KKQM
8th grade: 4SC2-KS2C-P4ZJW
Click this link to view the top rated books from last year’s Challengers!!
2019 Student Book Recommendations
Media Page Twitter
Check out Mrs. Poscover’s Twitter feed, located on the media center homepage. There are periodic book recommendations and other exciting news. Looking for your next great read?? It’s a great place to start.
Physical Education
Healthy Holiday Nutrition Tips
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Don’t skip meals
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Contribute a healthy dish.
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Choose your splurges
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Think Color.
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Choose drinks wisely.
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Visit the people, not the food.
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Say no to food pushers (politely)
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Savor seasonal treats.
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Eat until you are satisfied, not stuffed.
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Don’t feel guilty
PE/Health
We are hard at work in Health. Please reach out to your students about topics that are being covered in class. There is a ton of information and we know that there are lingering questions out there in terms of the topics we have covered. Please know that in 8th Grade Health we have or are talking about mental health and all the impacts that it has. Including but not limited to depression, eating disorders, and signs of suicide. There is help available please don't hesitate to reach out if needed.
- Child Protective Services (CPS): 301-600-2464
- To get help for physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect.
- Crisis Services: Call 211 or text your zip code to 898-211
- To get help when you feel really anxious or really depressed and need someone to talk with so that you can stay safe.
- You can also text the word HOME to 741741 and crisistextline.org will respond
- Maryland anonymous Tip Line: 1-833-632-7233 or text 240.674.8477 with your concern
- To report threats or situations that put your safety, or others’ safety, at risk.
- Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org
- To get help if you are thinking about suicide
After the winter break we will be starting family life. Please be on the look out for another email form your child's health teach in regards to the "opt" out form. If this is not filled out they will be in the unit. Thanks for the support and help, if you ever have questions we are here to help!
Science
6th Grade: Check off another new experience for this year we call 2020......6th graders have experienced Outdoor School....virtually!! Students were guided through engaging lessons on Ecosystems and Watersheds by the wonderful FCPS Outdoor School staff the week of Dec. 7-11. After a wrap up of these concepts, classes will resume their studies of the Water Module until the end of the term. This includes learning how thermal energy affects molecular movement, how energy and gravity drive the water cycle, and strategies that can be used to insulate to prevent energy loss.
7th Grade: Happy December and Happy Winter.
We (Ms. Martz and Ms. Staley) are delighted to share that our students are "charged" for our Energy Unit. They are excited about electricity and other energy topics. Students are designing "Skater Ramps", "Roller Coasters", and more models to show their Energy knowledge. Students are discussing kinetic energy, potential energy, thermal energy, mechanical energy, electrical energy, static electricity, and more. Students are participating in class discussion, computer simulations, and energy documents. Students are sharing their knowledge in Google Meets and Break-out Rooms. If you have an questions about your student's Science class, please contact Ms. Martz and Ms. Staley anytime.
8th Grade: Students are diving into inheritance. Our focus up to and following winter break will include learning about traits and using a Punnett Square as a tool for predicting traits in offspring. We will then move to asexual and sexual reproduction, meiosis and mitosis (processes of cell division) to finish out the term.
Social Studies
6th Grade: Students will be exploring life in Ancient India. They will learn about daily life in the civilization, including the social structure, economy, and government. Students will finish the unit by researching an achievement of Ancient India and preparing a Shark Tank presentation.
7th Grade: Students are finishing up African Kingdoms and will be transitioning to studying Asia in the Middle Ages through 1750. The unit focuses on the Imperial Dynasties of Tang, Song, Mongol, and Ming. In particular, we will examine their impact, trade, commerce, discoveries, inventions, and culture. The Imperial Japan portion includes the influence other cultures had on Japan, the golden age of Japan, the rise of the Warrior class, and their impact on culture.
8th Grade: Students are in the middle of our "New Republic" unit where the focus is on the first five presidents and their roles in domestic, foreign, economic affairs and significant events in the country. Students will be completing a project in mid-January where they have a choice to create a virtual museum, campaign commercial, or presidential suitcase based on one of the first five presidents (Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, or Monroe). We are looking forward to seeing what they come up with!
Theatre Arts
The Theatre classes have been working on in class Holiday Plays where we are beginning character study, learning how to read scripts and create a small virtual performance.
World Languages
French 1 and Spanish 1 students are focusing on school related vocabulary in order to discuss their classes. They are learning to tell time and conjugate verbs so that they can start forming basic action sentences. Students are encouraged to continue doing assignments daily in order to help them understand and practice what they do during Google Meet classes.
Spanish 2 students are working with verbs, verbs, and more verbs! In order to expand what they can communicate, they are learning to discuss what happened in the past (preterit tense) and what is happening right now (present progressive.) They are also learning how to use reflexive verbs to talk about basic daily activities.
World Language Exploratory students are in their French unit. They have been learning to count to 30, identify classroom objects and will soon learn about holiday celebrations in France.