MST Magnet Elementary
Week of January 11th
Welcome Back!
Our theme for the 2015-2016 school year is MST Version 2.0: Uploading Excellence for 20 Years. This year marks our 20th anniversary! MST Magnet Elementary opened in 1995 at the Arapaho building and moved to the present location in 2005 after Richardson Junior High School was closed and repurposed. MST has built a legacy of innovation, creativity, and dedication to student learning that is immeasurable. It is through our partnership with our parents and community towards the devotion to student achievement and our genuine love for MST, that teach year has brought continued success.
Winter Performances were a success!
MST Band
MST Orchestra
Subscribe to MST e-newsletter!
With the new year, we are putting the blue newsletter to bed. This will begin in February. For the past 14 years, students and parents have been receiving the school news through the blue newsletter. It was first published in 2001. To continued to stay informed about MST news, please subscribe to our e-newsletter, which is updated twice a month. You may get all the school news here: https://www.smore.com/8ahje
Attention: All MST Families with Children Eligible for Kindergarten for 2016-2017 School Year
We are now taking enrollment applications for siblings of students currently enrolled at MST. If you plan to enroll a new student in Kindergarten or any other grade level for 2016-17, you will need to come by or call the MST office for the necessary application form. You must submit the application, along with a copy of your child’s birth certificate and a current proof of residence, to the MST office by March 18, 2016.
Spelling Bee & Geography Bee
The MST Spelling Bee was held on Monday, December 14th. Congratulations to 6th grader Arissa Rahman in Mrs. Menifee’s class who was our 1st place winner. The runner up is 4th grader, Adam Zaoui in Ms. McLeroy’s class. Arissa will go on to compete in the District Bee at the RISD Administration Building.
The MST Geography Bee was held on Tuesday, December 15th. Congratulations to our winners:
1st place — Christian Alejos in Ms. Boone’s 6th grade class
2nd place — Abdallah Khan in Ms. Andrew’s 5th grade
We are so proud of all our students who participated in the Spelling and Geography Bees.
Re-Enrollment 2016
When you receive your Re-enrollment Packet on January 26th, please complete the paperwork as soon as possible in order to reserve your spot at MST for 2016-17. It is imperative that we receive your packet so that we can let the Magnet Office know how many spaces we will have available for 2016-17.
At Home 21 Day Healthy Snack Challenge
Let the healthy snacking begin!!
Sign up from January 11—January 24 at
https://www.kids-teaching-kids.com
The challenge begins on January 25th. You must be registered to participate. See the flyer in today’s Tuesday folder for details.
Staff Spotlight - Ms. Templin - 2nd Grade Teacher
My name is Megan Templin. I am from a small town on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, just south of Los Angeles. I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with a minor in Psychology from The University of Arizona. During my senior year, as I contemplated what I wanted to do after graduation, I completed an internship as a teacher’s assistant at an elementary school in Tucson, Arizona and I was hooked. So, after graduation, I moved to Dallas and completed my Master Of Education degree with EC-6 Certification from Southern Methodist University. Over the past couple of years I have spent a considerable amount of time in classrooms and gained valuable experience. I am very thankful and excited to be here at MST Magnet School working as a second grade teacher!
On a personal note, I’m from a close knit family of five. My parents have been married for nearly 32 years. My older brother lives and works in Los Angeles and my younger brother is a student at Texas Christian University. In my free time I enjoy being with friends and family, staying active, cooking, traveling, reading, and keeping up with the latest fashion trends.
Staff Spotlight - Ms. Romes - Fourth Grade Teacher
I was adopted by two amazing parents at birth and was raised in the White Rock area of Dallas. I am an only child so I always had to find ways to keep myself entertained. I attended private school and graduated from Bishop Lynch High School in East Dallas. I completed two years at Eastfield College then received a scholarship to attend A&M-Commerce where I graduated with honors and received my education degree. I have taught for 8 years, all those years being at MST. I am so lucky to have been hired at this school. MST is truly the place to be! I have recently bought a house in Richardson where I live with my two cats. I thoroughly enjoy traveling and experiencing different cultures any chance I get! I have been fortunate enough to have traveled to 13 different countries in my lifetime and can’t wait to add to that list!
Staff Spotlight - Mrs. Cave - 5th Grade Teacher
I was born in Houston, TX and raised in a suburb of Houston. I have a younger brother as well as a younger sister. I come from a family of elementary teachers and staff - mother, aunts, and even grandmothers! In 7th grade I took my first French class and discovered I had a talent and passion for learning a new language. After graduating from Cy-Fair High School, I attended the University of Texas at Austin to pursue my Bachelor of Arts in French, thinking I might teach high school French. My true calling was elementary though, so after graduating in 2003, I continued my education down the road at Texas State University in San Marcos where I earned my Master of Education degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education. I graduated in August 2005 and began teaching at MST
that same month - in fact, I had to miss my graduation! Once at MST I taught 2nd grade for 3 years, 1st grade for 6 years, and now am enjoying my 2nd year in 5th grade, teaching math. I have truly enjoyed the unique experiences of each grade level and the relationships I’ve been able to build with MST coworkers, students and families over the past 11 years here. MST really does feel like home to me!
My own family currently consists of my husband, Drew, and our sweet kitty Lucy. We are thrilled to be welcoming our first child, a boy, in just a couple of months! I forgot to say that in my spare time I love to read, listen to music and take yoga classes!
RISD Council of PTA's Reflections Contest
Congratulations to the winners:
Award of Excellence
Summayiah Karim for the Middle School Division. Summaiyah has advanced to State. This is a big accomplishment as there are 60,000 participants and only 3% of those advance. Congratulations, Summaiyah!
Manha Choudhry for the Intermediate Division
Award of Merit:
Mehjabin Faruk
Aniqa Amjad
Vivien Hammer-Siano
Math Fluency App: Spotlight of the Month
Quick Math — Cost $1.99, IOS for iPhone or iPad
Targeted towards students in grades 3-6, but appropriate
for anyone, students will build fact fluency in the areas of
addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and mixed
operations. This app also provides the opportunity to
build beginning algebra skills through solving for unknowns
by using inverse operations. Use your finger or
stylus to input answers, with the difficulty level increasing
as skills are mastered.
RISD Council of PTA's Used Book Fair
It is time to bring in your gently used:
books, CDs, DVDs...fiction, non-fiction...for children, teens, adults...foreign language...and more....to donate to the Used Book Fair.
Boxes will be located outside each class January 11—January 29th.
The Used Book Fair will be February 11-14 at RISD Professional Development Center, 701 East Beltline Rd.
The proceeds benefit the J.J. Pierce Scholarship Fund and MST PTA receives a portion of the proceeds, based on the number of books that we donate.
Box Tops
Each Box Top for Education is worth a dime. Save them in groups of 25 and turn them in to Mrs. Larkin by February 26.
Counselor's Corner with Ms. Daniel
For 6th Grade:
Newsletter: https://www.smore.com/np248
District Pre-AP Parent Night is Monday, January 25th, 5:30-7:30 pm, Professional Development Center, 701 W. Beltline Rd.
Parents may attend as many or as few sessions in any sequence. This is a come and go event designed for flexibility and convenience.
AVID Interviews will take place the week of January 11-15 at MST for those students who submitted complete AVID applications.
Pre-Registration Parent Meeting at Westwood Junior High
February 9th at 6:30 pm
Pre-Registration Parent Meeting at West Junior High (in the gym): Howdy Night
February 8th from 6:00—8:00 pm
On February 11th at MST, Jr. High counselors will visit with 6th grade students about junior high classes and registration.
Contact Megan Daniel, if you have questions at:
megan.daniel@risd.org or 469-593-7311
Nurse's News
For 5th Grade Camp:
We are excited about the camping experience that your child will soon enjoy. The time is approaching quickly for your child’s class to go to camp. All medical information and medication must be submitted to the school nurse by January 22nd.
We would like to limit the medication administration to prescription medication that must be taken, if at all possible. However, your child will be in a camping environment and will be exposed to the outdoors of North Texas. Many allergic and asthmatic episodes are triggered by allergens, such as grass, pollen and trees. Your child will be in the outdoors and in the woods on hiking trails. If your child has allergies to trees, grass, and pollens, please do send medication to help control the symptoms. All medications must be accompanied by proper paperwork.
If you would like to send medications that are to be taken on an as needed basis for allergies, headaches, menstrual cramps, etc. please make sure the medication is age appropriate. YOU MUST FURNISH THE CHILD’S MEDICATION AND PAPERWORK.
Medication forms are available on edline and from the clinic.
MLK Holiday - No School for Students
Monday, Jan 18, 2016, 08:00 AM
MST Magnet
PTA Meeting & Poetry Night
Come join us for a poetic experience you will surely not forget!
Thursday, Jan 21, 2016, 06:00 PM
MST Magnet
Gifted Referral Information Meeting
This meeting is not for parents of students already receiving services in REACH. Referral forms will be available at MST after January 21st, if you want to participate in the spring screening for gifted identification for the 2016-2017 school year. GT referral forms are due to the school counselor by noon on February 5th.
Thursday, Jan 21, 2016, 06:30 PM
RISD Administration Building, 400 S. Greenville
MST Magnet Elementary
Website: http://www.edline.net/pages/MST_Magnet
Location: 450 Abrams Road, Richardson, TX, United States
Phone: 469-593-7300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mstmagnet
Twitter: @mstmagnet