Midland Messenger

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

Dear Parents and Families,

February is always a fun time at school! We celebrate friendships with Valentines’ Day, celebrate 100 days of being at school, and this year we are also raising money and celebrating with The Kids Heart Challenge (formerly called Jump Rope for Heart). Thank you for participating, as we raise awareness for our kids to be active 60 minutes each day and to be heart healthy. Thank you, also, for your generous donations to support the American Heart Association!

I deeply appreciate you- our Midland families- for helping to make Midland a great school for all kids! You are important to our school!

It's great to be a MUSTANG!

~Dr. Paula Dawson

February 8 ~ 1:55 Dismissal

February 8 ~ PTO meeting, 4-5 pm in library

February 13 ~ 100th Day Dress Up Day

February 14 ~ Wear Red/Pink/White for Valentine's Day!

February 15 ~ 1:55 Dismissal

February 16 ~ PTO Mustang Family Boogie Dance 6-7-pm in the gym

February 17 ~ Heart Challenge Ends

Feb. 20-24 ~ Mid-Winter Break, No School

**For additional future scheduled activities, please check out our Midland calendar at https://midland.fpschools.org/**

This week we are recognizing Midland's support professionals. Please take a moment to express your appreciation to the following important members of our staff: Morgan Stephens our Counselor, Madison Hatfield our Psychologist, Jasmin Kobayashi-Kajiwara and Karen Wee our Speech Pathologists, Bonnie Betts our Occupational Therapist, and Maddie Roberts our Physical Therapist. We are fortunate to have such an outstanding team of professionals to support the learning needs of all our students!

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.

Social Emotional Learning Corner

Content by Mrs. Blaisdell

February 6th

We are continuing our studies in Brain Science.

The Hippocampus—

The Hippocampus is where long-term memories and information we learn are stored. Moving information from the PFC to the Hippocampus takes cognitive rehearsal (practice) and meaningful connection. The better your learning and memories are organized, the easier they are to access in your long-term memory. (Hippocampus)

Kindergarten and First grade are learning the basics of our brain’s job and how we can use what we know about how our brain works to stay in control of our emotions and actions when we are stressed, when we don’t get our way, and when things don’t happen as we hoped. We are learning to use deep breathing and flexible thinking to assure we don’t do and say things we regret and to assure that we are calm and content when it comes time to learn at our best.

Dear Families – Our Kids Heart Challenge is off to a great start and we are learning how to keep our hearts and minds healthy! We are encouraging all families at the school to learn the steps to Hands-Only CPR through Finn’s Mission. Be part of the movement and join the 1.8 million families across the nation learning Hands-Only CPR this year! So far, 34 students have signed up and 7 families have learned Hands-Only CPR! Thank you for supporting our school and the American Heart Association in their mission to save lives!

Next Steps:

• If you have not registered for our team yet, consider registering today at http://www2.heart.org/goto/Midland or download the Kids Heart Challenge app!
• If you have already registered, THANK YOU! Send 10 emails or e-cards to family and friends today (pre-written templates are in your KHC HQ!)
• Start FINN’S MISSION and learn the steps to Hands-Only CPR. When your student completes Finn’s Mission, they will earn an XL Finn’s Keychain!

Special School Incentives:

• The top participating and fundraising classes will get an extra PE class!
• If 75 students register then Ms. Jackson will get silly stringed!
• If 100 students register then Ms. Frederick will get silly stringed!
• If we raise $3,000 then Principal Dawson will get silly stringed!
• The top 2 fundraisers will get to have a principal chaffer for a day!

Is your class on the leaderboard below? Register today and help your class WIN!

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.

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

• Social Media Facebook and Twitter

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.