Family Mustang Memo
MGMS Parent/Guardian Newsletter November 16-30
In This Issue....
- Upcoming Dates
- Chromebook Problems
- Yearbook Cover Needed
- Attendance Information
- Baby Pictures Needed
- Connect With Your Counselor
- PACT Information
- Free Tutoring
- Free Meals
- Time to Order a Yearbook
- How Are Grades Determined
- Who to Contact
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Upcoming Dates
November 16 - PACT Meeting 6:30-8:00 PM
November 26-27 - NO SCHOOL for STUDENTS - Thanksgiving Holiday
December 14 - PACT Meeting 6:30-8:00 PM
December 21 - January 1 - Winter Break
January 4 - School Resumes
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CHROMEBOOK PROBLEMS
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Attention Aspiring Artists
The Yearbook Cover Contest has begun!
Design a cover that reflects the theme for the year:
We Are All in This Together
(The theme MUST be included in your cover design and be written exactly as you see it here.)
Requirements:
- Design MUST include the school name and year: Maple Grove Middle School 2020-2021
- Design MUST be in COLOR (NOT in PENCIL)
- Design MUST be on 8 ½ x 11 paper or created this size digitally (Plain paper, not lined, no rips, tears, or fringes)
- Design MUST be school appropriate
To Submit:
- If created digitally (8 ½ x 11 size), save your cover design as a .jpeg, .png or doc and upload it to the link below.
- If created on paper (8 ½ x 11 size), take a picture of your 8 ½ x 11 cover design and upload it to the link below
https://forms.gle/ujbw4eKXm2tuzZjL8
Deadline: Monday, November 30th, 2020
We CANNOT accept ANY late submissions
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ATTENDANCE INFORMATION
Attendance Reminder during Distance Learning
- Students need to check in to each class period, Monday-Friday
- Teachers will track attendance by students filling out a Google Form or Schoology quiz daily for each class period, engaging in live sessions, submitting work, and/or engaging in class activities prior to 11:59 PM that day
Teachers will submit attendance the next day for the previous day
- A robo call will be generated by the system and will go out the day after the student was absent from the distance learning day
Using ParentVue to track your child’s attendance
If you have any questions about attendance for specific periods of the day or full day, you can see this in ParentVue. This will show what classes students are being marked absent for. Please connect with your child’s teacher(s) if you see a conflict with your child being marked absent. This would mean your child did submit the attendance form or submitted work for that class but was marked absent.
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8th GRADE BABY PICTURES ARE NEEDED
It’s been a crazy year so far but yearbook planning will commence. YES, we will have a yearbook to capture our 2020-2021 school year!
We need baby pictures from 8th grade students (this includes DLA students).
Take a photo of your favorite baby picture and upload it to share with your peers.
https://forms.gle/HQtZJ9HFmj3TYqUeA
Submission deadline is Friday, January 15, 2021
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CONNECT WITH YOUR COUNSELOR
Our fabulous counselors at MGMS are going to try something new to connect with kids. It is called "Virtual Hall Duty" and every morning Monday-Friday from 7:50-8:10 you can connect with all of our counselors. Some ideas they plan to try out are:
- Calming Music to Start Your Day
- Pop In to Say Hi
- Question of the Day
- Journal Prompt
- Morning Dance Party before Class
- YouTube video of the Day
- Quote of the Day
- Color and Chill
- Meditation
- Study + Organization Tips
Remember to join your MGMS School Counselors M-F from 7:50-8:10am by clicking the link below.
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PACT INFORMATION
Hello MGMS Mustangs and Families,
Welcome to the new 2020/2021 school year, however that looks for your family. PACT’s mission is to strive to make a measurable difference in our community through innovation, curriculum excellence, and honest/transparent communication that builds trust and optimism with our students, faculty and parents.
This year’s meetings will be held virtually to limit extra persons in the building. Our next meeting is: Monday, November 16th from 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Interested in joining us at our next meeting? Meetings are hosted on the Zoom platform. If you are on a mobile device, it works best if you first download the Zoom app to your phone. If from a desk top, there is no need to download an app. Log on to: www.zoom.us. Click “join a meeting”. Enter the meeting ID: 952 929 0098. We look forward to seeing you there!
As our third year as an official PTO 501c3 group we are working really hard to support our community of families, teachers and staff at MGMS. If you are interested in donating to support our MGMS community there are many ways to do so:
- · Venmo: @MGMS-PACT-3
- · PayPal: mgmspact@district279.org
This year may look differently as may have less volunteers in the building but every dollar spent goes back to your school to provide a safe and engaging learning environment. Look for future emails as we connect with teachers and staff on needs and look for changes in the PACT section on the MGMS webpage. Other ways to stay connected:
- · MGMS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MapleGroveMGMS
- · MGMS on Twitter: @mgms_mustangs
- · Principal Smith on Twitter: @patricksmith111
If you questions on how you can participate and get involved, always feel free to reach out to Andrea Dorn, MGMS Volunteer coordinator, at: dorna@district279.org, or PACT President, Ron Sonnek, at rsonnek@sicora.com.
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FREE ONLINE TUTORING
Public libraries are offering free online tutoring 1pm-11pm every day. A public library card is all that is needed.
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For Those Not enrolled in the Distance Learning Academy
Starting November 9, free breakfast and lunch will be offered for curbside pick-up, Monday – Friday from 7:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Beginning November 13, weekend meal bags plus the Friday meal will be available on Fridays. You do not need to sign up for these meals; simply come to pick them up at DOOR #12 which is on the west side of the building, parallel to Hemlock. If you are unable to pick up meals curbside and would like meals provided to you, please call 763-315-7691.
Meals for Those Enrolled in the Distance Learning Academy
Please note: The free 7-day meal boxes are available only on a pre-order basis. If you would like to receive meal boxes, you must sign up by 12:00 p.m. on Thursday the week prior to your first pickup to allow time for processing and meal preparation. Once you have signed up, meals will continue to be prepared for you weekly. If you wish to stop receiving meal boxes, you must cancel by 12:00 p.m. on the Thursday the week prior to the following week’s Friday meal box.
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HOW ARE GRADES DETERMINED
Video Link (5:07)
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WHO TO CONTACT
School Phone: 763-315-7600...............................Website: http://mgms.district279.org
Attendance: 763-315-7603………………………………..Transportation: 763-391-7244
6th Grade
Kaia Paquin, Counselor 6th Grade .......Email: PaquinK@district279.org
Jennifer Hinker, Assistant Principal......Email: HinkerJ@district279.org
7th Grade
Katie Gerdts, Counselor 7th Grade.....Email: GerdtsK@district279.org
Cedric Fuller, Assistant Principal……..Email: FullerC@district279.org
8th Grade
Kaia Paquin, Counselor 8th Grade A-F.......Email: PaquinK@district279.org
Katie Gerdts, Counselor 8th Grade G-K......Email: GerdtsK@district279.org
Caleb Willis, Counselor 8th Grade L-Z & DLA C-K.......Email: WillisC@district279.org
Patrick Smith, Principal .....Email: SmithPatrick@district279.org
Student Management Specialists Assist With All Grades
Nathanial Davies – Email: DaviesN@district279.org
DeAndre Mills – Email: MillsD@district279.org
District Tip Line.........763-391-8660