Mariner Memo
Week of May 11-15, 2020
This Week at Marine City Middle...
Michigan Weather?!? I hope that everyone was able to stay warm this week as a "Michigan Spring" was a relative term. I know that I was shocked to wake up Monday morning to a blanket of snow on my lawn!
This week marked the end of the 4th week of the distance learning plan. Students are doing a great job of working with their parents and their teachers to continue their learning. We look forward to teaching and learning in person, but for now, we are encouraged by the great efforts that students and families are putting into their learning. Keep that great stuff coming students, we only have a few more weeks to go! In this newsletter there are some great examples of the projects and work that students have been doing while learning from home, make sure you check those out.
This week has been a busy week for the MCMS Office Staff as we have been reaching out by phone to call the families that were unable to complete their scheduling form for next year. Thank you to everyone that has helped us by filling out and submitting that form. While our office staff has been reaching out to all rising 7th and 8th grade families to get those forms done, the form for our rising 6th grade students has been opened for submission. If you are reading this and you have a student who will be starting 6th grade at MCMS next year, please complete this form. Thanks!
Rising 6th grade Scheduling Form (Click Here)
In this edition of the Mariner Memo we have our usual updates on food service, distance learning lessons, and P2, but we also have some great examples of student work, a request for student input for P2 banners, and great news to share about our Social Studies Olympiad team.
Thanks for reading. Have a great weekend.
Stay safe and MARINER STRONG!
-Mr. Ming
MCMS Social Studies Olypiad RESULTS
Congratulations to Coach Frederick and all of the students listed below that persevered through a deadline firmly in the stay home order and completed their projects to a high degree. You have all done an amazing job and shown what Mariners are made of!
Michigan Social Studies Olympiad Winners
This Year’s Theme - United States Census
Current Event Editorial Essay - Were Japanese Americans Targeted on the 1940 Census?
Gold- Johnathan Hand
Photojournalism - History of his Home
Silver - Noah Ross
Storyboard Poster - John Glenn
Bronze - Wyatt Duvall
Online Presentation
Silver - Finley Hatcher - The Heather House
Bronze - Mattison Marlatt - Hello Girls - Oleda Joure Christides Veteran of World War
Primary Document Journal
Gold - Kaylee Kettlehut Oleda Joure Christides Veteran of World War I
Silver - Joslyn Schultz - The History of her Great Grandfather, Edwin Steele -
Speakathon
Honorable Mention: Judd Brown - Great Grandfather - Webster Beachler
Historical Newscast - April 1, 1940
GOLD
Anchor - Noah Ross
Co-Anchor - Finley Hatcher
Weatherman- Judd Brown
Entertainment News - Mattison Marlatt
Shopping Expert - Kaylee Ketelhut
Government Census Taker - Johnathan Hand
Distance Learning Lessons Archive
Student Builds
Week 1: CANTILEVERS
Week 2: CATAPULTS
Week 3: FOIL BOATS
Counselor's Corner
Mr. Scheel's phone number for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year is: (810) 366-1523. He can also be reached via email at ascheel@ecsd.us
COUNSELING RESOURCES
ASCA Virtual Middle School Counseling -An abundant source for resources in Social Emotional Development and Wellness. Extremely Comprehensive
Smiling Mind -A site with resources devoted to mindfulness and stress reduction, especially academic stress. Similar to P2.
Food Bag Distribution on Wednesdays
We are also pleased to announce that Food Bag distribution has been approved to continue providing service through June 24th.
Future dates will all take place on Wednesdays at the Marine City Complex and St. Clair High School.
- May 20, 27
- June 3, 10, 17, 24
PTO Update
Congratulations to Jenny VanBuskirk, PTO President and Shelley Ming, PTO Secretary.
These two-year positions were filled during the meeting. Next school year the positions of vice president and treasurer will come up for election.
This Week in the Positivity Project
This year, because of the pandemic that is sweeping the nation, P2 learning is extended and we are going to refocus on some of the character strengths that are most important during these stressful times. Next week we will learn about GRATITUDE. Here's a message about GRATITUDE and why it is so important...
Gratitude is the quality of feeling and expressing thankfulness and appreciation. It is an affirmation that there is goodness in other people and the world, and that we have received that goodness. People with the strength of gratitude have a readiness to show appreciation for kindness and also to return kindness. A leading expert, Robert Emmons, calls gratitude a “relationship-strengthening emotion because it requires us to see how we’ve been supported and affirmed by other people.”
Gratitude is sometimes resisted, especially in more self-sufficient and independent cultures, due to not wanting to experience a sense of indebtedness. However, gratitude is less about feeling indebted and more about being aware of the consideration, kindness, and generosity of others. It’s also important to note that gratitude is not about ignoring the negative aspects of life; it’s simply being aware of and thankful for what is good.
This week, our gratitude is focused on essential workers who continue to serve others during the pandemic.
So, why is gratitude important?
Out of all 24 character strengths, gratitude is the single best predictor of individual well-being. It is correlated with increased energy, empathy, happiness and optimism. And, the great thing about gratitude is that it can be intentionally cultivated. Numerous studies have concluded that gratitude is like a muscle. The more you practice it, the stronger it gets – and the more you’re able to reap its benefits.
On a group level, gratitude is associated with reciprocity and social stability. Grateful people are more likely than their counterparts to feel a commitment to others – and believe in an inter-connectedness of the world and its people. When a person does a favor for you, you tend to feel thankful and be motivated return the favor. Groups that operate with gratitude, then, are usually more cohesive.
Click here for the Google Slides on GRATITUDE that will be open through Sunday