Weekly Wrap Up
Maple Place Middle School 9/16/2022
Principal's Message - Week 2
Dear Maple Place Families,
What an exciting week of school we had this week! Our fall sports season is officially underway with our first Boys and Girls Soccer games being held yesterday against West Long Branch. Our boys came away with a big 11-2 win while our Lady Chargers lost a close game in overtime play. Congrats to all of our fall athletes. We are looking forward to many more awesome games as the season progresses!
Last night we welcomed our Maple Place parents back to the middle school halls for our first in-person Back to School Night since 2019. It was wonderful to get to see all of you moving through the building and filling our classrooms. If you were unable to attend last night, please feel free to reach out to your child's teachers for any important information you may have missed. The link to my presentation for parents is here: Back to School Night Presentation
Today, we ended the week with a celebration of our students' summer work. Students who completed both their summer reading and summer math assignments got to visit the Kona Ice truck this afternoon. Additionally, students who completed both assignments were entered into a drawing to win one of 8 gift cards. Two students were randomly selected at each grade level. The winners were announced this morning during our video announcements.
This coming week Maple Place will be celebrating "Start with Hello Week". (Please see below for more information.) We also have numerous sporting events after school. Don't forget, next Thursday, September 22nd, is an early dismissal day due to Wolf Hill's Back to School Night. Student dismissal will be at 12:15. Please be sure to plan accordingly.
Thank you for your continued support as we dive back into the school year. If there is anything you need, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. mkeiser@oceanportschools.org
Wishing you a relaxing weekend,
Melissa Keiser
@KeiserMelissa
#ChargingAhead
Update from the Health Office:
Please remember to call the absentee line at 732-229-0267. Press one for Maple Place Middle School. Then press one again for the absentee line. Please call your child in absent by 8:30am.
Additionally, we are still missing many updated emergency forms. If you haven't completed the form, please be sure to complete and return the Emergency Form that went home on the first day of school, and return it with your child to his/ her homeroom teacher.
Emergency Form - Grades 5, 7, & 8
Lastly, just a reminder that if your child is sick, please keep them at home. Students should be fever free for 24 hours without medication before returning to school. Be sure to check the teachers' Google Classrooms for any missed work, as classroom updates are posted online.
Upcoming Events:
Start with "Hello" Week
Monday - Kindness is a chain reaction!
Tuesday - Say "Hello" Day!
Wednesday - Wacky Wednesday! (Wear mismatched socks and shoes)
Thursday - Be the Rainbow! (Each grade is assigned a different color: 5th Yellow, 6th Orange, 7th Blue, & 8th Purple)
Friday - Feel Good Friday!
For more details about Start with Hello Spirit Week, please see the linked FLYER.
The Sound of Music:
Mrs. Bach is preparing for both Chorus and Chimes. More information about sign-ups will be forthcoming!
We are looking forward to filling the halls of Maple Place with the sweet sounds of our students' musical talents!
Chargers Sporting Events:
Please see below for the upcoming games for fall sports:
- Tuesday, September 20th: Field Hockey Game vs. West Long Branch - Away
- Tuesday, September 20th: Soccer Games vs. St. Mary's - Boys Home - Girls Away
- Wednesday, September 21st: Field Hockey Game vs. Fair Haven - Home
- Thursday, September 22nd: Soccer Games vs. Shrewsbury - Boys Away - Girls Home
- Tuesday, September 27th: Field Hockey Game vs. Henry Hudson - Away
- Wednesday, September 28th: Soccer Games vs. Rumson - Boys Away, Girls Home
- Thursday, September 29th: Field Hockey Game vs. RCDS - Home
- Friday, September 30th: Soccer Games vs. St. Mary's - Boys Away, Girls Home
Start Strong Testing:
Next week, students in Grades 4-8 will be administered the Start Strong Assessments as a required part of the overall Statewide assessment system. This assessment will assist in identifying the most appropriate level of support students need in English Language Arts, Mathematics and Science based on priority New Jersey Student Learning Standards from the prior academic year.
The Start Strong Assessments:
- Are based on a subset of prioritized prior-year academic standards;
- Can be administered in approximately 45-60 minutes per content area;
- Will provide immediate results to educators through the assessment platform;
- Will include the same accessibility features and accommodations as the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA)
The schedule will be as follows:
September 21: Grade 5-8 English Language Arts
September 22: Grade 5-8 Mathematics
September 23: Grade 6 Science
No special preparation is required for Start Strong, however please encourage your child to answer all the items and give their best effort. We also recommend that your child have a good night's sleep, have a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time on testing days.
Reminders for Testing:
- Please be sure all phones / smartwatches are left at home or left in student lockers or backpacks as they are not permitted in the testing rooms.
- Bring a pair of headphones (no bluetooth / wireless) to school, if needed.
The results of this assessment will be mailed to parents/guardians when they are made available from the NJDOE. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mrs. Martinez, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, at (732) 542-0683 X2210 or by email at gmartinez@oceanportschools.or
Notification of Standardized Assessments:
PTO Reminders
Hello from the PTO! Please see below for important reminders:
- Parents: please fill out and return the forms (as necessary) that were included in the PTO welcome packet. (Students received these in homeroom at the beginning of the week). Deadlines are approaching.
- Pencil grams will be sold at Wolf Hill Back to School Night for $1 a piece (cash only) next Thursday. Please look out for the PTO table that night! Parents can write their children a brief message on the pencil gram and leave it at their desks for them to see the following day.
- Fall Social will be held at Branches on Friday, 9/30 at 7pm. Please get your tickets online or send in payment via check. For more info, visit www.oceanportpto.com.
Dates to Remember:
Wednesday, September 21st - Start Strong Testing - Grades 5-8 - ELA
Wednesday, September 21st - Board of Education Meeting
Thursday, September 22nd - Start Strong Testing - Grades 5-8 - Mathematics
Thursday, September 22nd - 4 Hour Session for Students (12:15 Dismissal), BTSN at Wolf Hill
Friday, September 23rd - Start Strong Testing - GRADE 6 ONLY - Science
Monday, September 26th - District is CLOSED - Rosh Hashanah
Wednesday, October 5th - District is CLOSED - Yom Kippur
Monday, October 10th - District is CLOSED - Columbus Day
Thursday, October 11th - Picture Day!
Please feel free to give us a follow @MaplePlaceMS
Maple Place Middle School
Email: mkeiser@oceanportschools.org
Website: https://www.oceanportschools.org/Domain/8
Location: 2 Maple Place, Oceanport, NJ, USA
Phone: (732) 229-0267
Twitter: @MaplePlaceMS