Midland Messenger
January 17-20, 2023
Midland Elementary
Email: midland@fpschools.org
Website: http://midland.fpschools.org/
Location: Midland Elementary School, 105th Street East, Tacoma, WA, USA
Phone: 253-298-4500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Midland-Elementary-Mustangs-112865059416899/?ref=settings
From the Principal:
Dear Parents and Families,
At Midland, we are working hard to teach reading skills to all our students in every grade. Did you know that reading practice at home (or being read to) increases a student's vocabulary, along with their fluency and comprehension? The infographic below shows the difference in vocabulary when students practice reading.
Our students visit our school library weekly and check out books of their choice. Nightly reading is one of our homework expectations. Please check in with your child to see what they are reading, and ask some questions about the characters, setting, and the plot.
Thank you for the ways that you support your child's learning!
It's great to be a MUSTANG!
~Dr. Paula Dawson
Important Dates to Remember:
January 18 ~ 3:25 Dismissal (Full day of school)
January 24 ~ Dental Day
January 25 ~ Hearing and Vision rescreening
January 25 ~ 3:25 Dismissal (Full day of school)
January 19 ~ 3:25 Dismissal (Full day of school)
January 27 ~ NO SCHOOL for teacher training
February 1 ~ HOPE Assembly
**For additional future scheduled activities, please check out our Midland calendar at https://midland.fpschools.org/**
Fifth Grade Puberty, CSHE, and HIV Lessons
Comprehensive sexual health education is defined in Washington state as instruction about human development and reproduction that takes place over time and is age-appropriate and inclusive of all students. Required instruction for grades 4–5 focuses on helping students understand and respect personal boundaries, develop healthy friendships, and gain a basic understanding of human growth and development. Grade 5 instruction also includes required HIV prevention instruction. Midland 5th grade teachers will begin this instruction beginning on February 6th. To learn more about the curriculum and parent opt out forms, please click the picture that says, "Puberty, the Wonder Years." This will take you to the district website which is filled with information.
FPS Board of Directors Opening:
The FPS Board of Directors is seeking applicants to represent our area. Applicants must be a resident of Franklin Pierce Schools District 3. Applications will be accepted through 1/31/23 at 4 pm. To learn more about this position, the District 3 boundaries and how to apply, visit www.fpschools.org/boardvacancy.
Social Emotional Learning Corner
Content by Mrs. Blaisdell
January 17th
Brain Science—The Amygdala
*The Amygdala is a set of jellybean sized structures deep in our brain, at the ends of our hippocampus.
*The Amygdala is the brain’s security guard. Ancient human brains had amygdala that responded to unsafe situations with the Fight—Flight—Freeze response to keep them safe in life threatening situations. (like being chased by a saber-tooth tiger 😲)
*Our modern human brains sometimes react with Fight—Flight—Freeze response when we feel unsafe, as well as when we feel stressed or less in control than we would like to be.
*It is important to know that our “thinking brain” shuts down when the Amygdala is in charge. Our thinking and decision-making brain is disengaged and not able to help us to make proper decisions about our behavior and emotional regulation. We must calm the Amygdala with a pause and with breathing. (oxygen stops heading to our thinking brain to prepare for Fight—Flight—Freeze and we can get the thinking brain back in control with deep and relaxing breathes)
*We need our Amygdala to keep us safe. However, we do not need our Amygdala reacting or overreacting when we are simply in a stressful situation or when we are not getting our way.
Attendance Moment:
We know that showing up matters, and that when students show up to learn, they are more likely to be able to stay on-track, stay engaged and meet major educational milestones. Thank you for all you are doing to help your student!
January is School Board Recognition Month
We want to thank Alex Davis, Ron Nerio, Tono Sablan, and Mary Sherman for the many hours they volunteer on behalf of every child in our school district. Their duties include setting the vision and mission of education in the district; establishing policy; adopting an annual budget; approving all expenditures; employment of personnel; curriculum, textbooks and courses; and deciding on school sites, building plans, and construction. We would also like to thank our Student Representatives to the School Board. We appreciate Paige Sasamoto (FPHS), Xavier McMains (WHS), and Ruby Castaneira (GHS) for their service to our school district.
PLEASE HELP KEEP OUR RECORDS UP TO DATE
Do you have new phone numbers? Have you moved? Has your housing situation changed? We cannot emphasize enough how important it is for us to be able to contact you in case of an emergency. Please call our office at 253 298-4500 or send us a note with your most up-to-date address and phone information. You can also Click here to log into Skyward Family Access and update your student's contact information.
CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS....
We anticipate the need for volunteers this year as well. If you are interested in volunteering as a chaperone for field trips or in any other capacity that may come up, please complete the volunteer application as soon as possible. It may take up to two weeks to process an application and we don't want you to be left out of a volunteer opportunity because you are not approved yet! Click here to begin your volunteer application. If you were cleared as a volunteer last year. Please complete an application as well. Volunteer applications must be completed every year.
Weather and Emergency Updates
In the event of emergencies, a team of Franklin Pierce Schools staff work to balance safety and our commitment to support student learning. The choice to delay or cancel the start of a school day includes assessing road conditions and consulting with other local services. Franklin Pierce Schools will attempt to offer updates about delays and closures by 5am.
Staff and families can expect to receive information about school closures and delays in the following ways:
Recorded Telephone Message contact the main office at your child's school to ensure your contact information is up to date
SMS Message for families/staff who have opted-in, click here for Text Message if you would like to opt-in
Email from info@fpschools.org
Website www.fpschools.org
Flash Alert Notification sign up to receive email notifications and download the Flash Alert App, click here.
Local Media including KIRO 97.3 FM, KOMO 1000 AM, KIRO TV Channel 7, KOMO TV Channel 4, and KING TV Channel 5
Before and Afterschool Care for the 2022-23 School Year!
Serving students at ALL 8 Elementary Schools
Right at School will operate before and afterschool programs at all eight Franklin Pierce elementary schools! Right at School offers a safe environment for students to learn, to play, and to grow!
Franklin Pierce Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.
Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to James Hester, Compliance Coordinator for State and Civil Rights Laws; Wendy Malich, Title IX Officer; or John Sander, 504/ADA Coordinator at 315 129th ST S, Tacoma, WA 98444-5099 or at (253)298-3000.