The Mustang Round Up
October 9th, 2022
Keep on working Mustangs
Hello Families,
Last week I was talking to an 8th grader who was just leaving ASB class after setting up the audio for a club function during lunch. He let out a big sigh and said to me through a smile, "The honeymoon is over...we're getting busy". I was struck with gratitude and appreciation for this young man taking time out of his busy schedule to help out another group. I made sure to thank him for his efforts and remind him these are moments that build resiliency. This act, his effort, is building the person he is becoming. It wasn't until I walked away that I remembered a poem that one of my colleagues, Mike Smith, wrote for a group of student leaders to help encourage them to keep moving forward when things get difficult:
Today I’ll do those countless things that others will not do
So that tomorrow I can choose from things they cannot do.
You see, I am the only me there is and now what I must do
Is be the best ME I can be by what I choose to do.
As the fall stretch kicks in and the first grading period approaches I hope our students keep up the effort. Whether they're a student leader, athlete, or "mathlete", we are the sum of all of our experiences and there will be a time when the hard work pays off. Have a great week!
Go Mustangs!
Josh Way, Ed.D
Principal
We need your help! Please fill out LCFF Survey
Each year the district is responsible for collecting information from our students’ families to
support the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) process. The LCFF is hallmark legislation that fundamentally changed how all local educational agencies (LEAs) in the state are funded, how they are measured for results, and the services and supports they receive to allow all students to succeed to their greatest potential. This year, the California Department of Education is allowing districts to collect information in May 2022 and it will be applied to the 2022 – 23 school year. We believe that starting now will reduce the burden of collecting information during the busy time of opening school in the fall and will potentially yield more complete information that will increase the amount of funding that schools and the district receive from the state. To support the state’s process, San Diego Unified utilizes an online system accessed through the Parent Portal in Power School. In the portal, we ask parents and families to complete a very short questionnaire that increases the district’s opportunity to receive funds from the state. The information is only collected for this process and will not be used for any other purpose. We ask that you sign-up for Parent Portal as soon as possible, if your school offers this option and you’ve not already done so and complete the short survey before the end of this school year. Paper survey forms will be available in October. By completing the survey, you will not only be supporting the district’s efforts, but increasing the chances of your child’s school receiving more of this valuable funding.
We have 52% of LCFF submissions, thank you for your prompt action!
But we still need the other 48%!! Deadline is October, we can do better: 100% is the goal
Sign in to PowerSchool Portal with your parent account (not your student account!)
On the navigation bar, select “LCFF Data Collection"
REMINDER- Free Online Tutoring Now Available for Students: HelpNow
The California State Library provides free online tutoring for California K-12 students, available through public libraries. Through HelpNow, live real-time homework assistance is available 24 hours a day by laptop, tablet, or phone from qualified tutors using state curriculum and standards.
24/7 assistance is available in English and Spanish for Language Arts and Mathematics.
Every day between 10:00 am and 10:00 pm, assistance is available in core K-12 subjects in the following languages:
- English
- Spanish
- Mandarin
- Cantonese
- Vietnamese
- Tagalog
MMO Pledge Drive
Our annual pledge drive is in full swing and is the single largest fundraising event for our school. The MMO works closely with the school administration to provide vital funding. Your financial contribution supports the academic programs within each department, as well as programs to support citizenship, safety and wellness in our students. Donations can be made online at www.mmofoundation.com/donate. All levels of support are welcome and much appreciated!
Who's Who at Marshall...
MMS is excited to introduce you to our awesome Library Technician Kelly Casaday. We are so lucky to have her world traveling energy and enthusiasm here at Marshall! Here's a little more about Ms. Casaday:
How many years in education? I've been Library Tech for 17 years.
What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend? Traveling is my passion. I traveled to all 50 states, many multiple times, and been to 39 countries..when I am not wandering you can usually find me hanging with my dogs and reading a book.
What impact do you hope to make at Marshall? To make them see that reading can take you on the greatest of adventures.
6th Grade Overnight Camp
MMS is so excited to host our 6th Grade Overnight Camp at YMCA Camp Marston in Julian. For those attending, don't forget to watch the Camp Marston Orientation Video and read the Parent Guide. The parent guide has important information about what to pack.
Important Reminders:
- Camp 1 is scheduled for 10/10-10/14. The ELA classes that will be attending this camp are Custer, Lacson (Ethridge-Fan), Kole, and Wright (per. 2).
- Camp 2 is scheduled for 10/17-10/21. The ELA classes that will be attending this camp are Ingles, Karch, McDaniel, and Wright (per. 4)
- Both groups of students will leave MMS on Monday at 9:00am and return on Friday at 12:00pm.
- The required forms:
- Camp 1- SDUSD Permission Slip; Health History Form
- Camp 2- SDUSD Permission Slip; Health History Form
- Once filled out, bring signed copies to their ELA teacher. Forms must be turned in before departure
- *Important- Please note on the Health History Form that any student who is currently under regular doctor’s care for asthma, a heart condition, seizures, diabetes, or recent hospitalization must have a doctor’s authorization prior to departure. The doctor’s authorization form is on the back of the Health History Form posted above.
ASB Corner
Website: https://sites.google.com/sandi.net/marshallmiddleasb/home
ApparelNow: https://apparelnow.com/marshall-middle-school-spiritwear
TikTok: @theactualmarshallasb
Instagram: @asb.marshall
Facebook: @Marshall ASB
New 6th Grade Math Club Opportunity- Noetic Math Competition
Update! Spots for Noetic Math are filling up fast. If your student is interested be sure to sign up by Oct. 14th.
What is Noetic Math? There is a bi-annual National Math contest called the Noetic Math Contest that is designed to inspire kids to excel in math. It consists of 20 challenging problems solved within 50 minutes. In Spring 2022, EBS 5th graders and Dingeman 4th and 5th grade students participated in this contest and did extremely well. Both schools earned a Team Achievement Plaque for scoring in the top 10% of teams in their grade nationally! More importantly, the participants had fun tackling these challenging problems and were proud of their individual and team achievements. This Fall 2022, we would like to have 6th graders from Marshall Middle School participate. Currently not a school-based club, but an off campus parent-led team made up of up to 30 6th grade students from MMS. (There is a chance to form more than one 6th grade team if there is a lot of interest.) This test will be taken online at home. If your child is in 6th grade, LOVES MATH, and would like to participate, please email cforbes1@yahoo.com. Registration is due October 20th, and the contest will take place at your convenience between November 10-23. Please see the attached flyer and website for more details.
Marshall parent Chelsea Clapp has stepped forward to get this team off the ground. If you are interested in helping Mrs. Clapp, email her at cforbes1@yahoo.com.
Some Things to Consider...
The struggle is real...really important. Middle school and early adolescence is challenging. Students (and the adults within proximity) uncover new challenges and struggle often as our students progress through school. It turns out these struggles, especially the mental ones, are not only great opportunities for our kids, but for us too. This article shares insights gleaned from new research on struggle, effort, and the brain. Positive outcomes are important, but don't forget to value the effort.