Mustang Minute
March 4, 2022
Upcoming Dates
March 10- Cozy Day
IAR Testing-March 14-18
March 17- Wear Green & Gold Day
March- 24- Spring Vibes Day
Spring Break- March 28-April 1
Topics
- MES Staff Shout Out (Updated)
- Report Cards (NEW)
- Illinois Assessment of Readiness (NEW)
- Mitigation Changes/Bus Riding (NEW)
- Kindergarten Enrollment 2022-2023
- Lost and Found
- Blood Drive
- D24 Employment Openings
- Weekly Theme Days
- Warren Referendum (NEW)
EPIC News (NEW)
Virtual Backpack (Updated)
New Shout Outs
Shout out to Ms. Metzelaar and all she does for her class. The communication and support from her is above and beyond. She makes a point to get to know your kids personally and academically. That means so much! She definitely has made an impact on our daughter this year and we greatly appreciate her!!
Report Cards
We encourage famielsi to discuss the report card with their child. Thsi is a great opportunity to engage them in their progress and maybe set some goals for them.Here are some helpful tips for talking about report cards with your child:
- Ask your child how she thinks she did. This opens up the dialogue for any problems she’s having in the class or reasons for a less than stellar performance. And it sets the tone for parents to listen.
- If the teacher is commenting on your child’s chattiness or inability to listen, don’t set yourself up for an argument. Instead of asking why he’s chatty or why she can’t sit still, ask, “Why do you think the teacher feels you have trouble listening?” Getting your child to explain from the teacher’s point of view enables him to think about how his actions are being interpreted.
- Offer specific praise and encouragement instead of broad statements. Try: “You worked very hard to bring up your math grade this period,” instead of “Great job in math.”
- Separate your child from his grades. No parent wants his child to feel his self-worth is derived from what teachers say about him. Consider statements like, “I love you, but I don’t like this report card” as a way to distinguish between the two.
- Focus on a way to do better. Instead of telling your child to pull up her history grade, talk together to find a way she can improve her scores in that class. Come up with a plan. Write it down. Finally, communicate it to the teacher, so that you’re all on the same page.
- Handle praise with care. If your child consistently brings home amazing report cards, it may be difficult to know what to say. “Good job” loses its meaning and has almost no affect. Consider reminding your child how she got those grades, and prompting her to find some self-satisfaction. “I am not surprised you have all these great grades on your report card. I saw you working very hard this term and it looks like it’s paid off. I bet you feel very proud!”
Illinois Assessment of Readiness
The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) is a state-required test for students in grades 3rd-8th in the state of Illinois. This year, our students will take this the week of March 14th. Students will take the assessment on their iPads within their classrooms and will consist of 3 math tests and 2 English/Language Arts tests. Each day, tests will be done during the morning hours before lunch. The schedule is below.
Also, we provided a link below to access practice tests. You are welcome to take a look at it to see what the tests will look like.
Students who are not in school during testing sessions will need to make- up those assessments on a later date, which would involve students being taken out of the classroom. Therefore, please do your best to arrange appointments outside the testing week. We want to make sure the state assessment makes as little an impact as possible for our students.
Mitigation Changes/ Bus Riding
Anyone missing anything?
We have found many items over the course of the last few months. Stop by the school and see if you find anything that might be yours!!
Blood Drive
The Millburn Federation of Teachers is teaming up with Millburn EPIC and the Millburn Professional and School Related Personnel to host a blood donation drive.
We are anticipating an early-mid April date for the blood drive.
But even before we have a date firmly nailed down, we are looking for volunteers to commit to donating so that Vitalant can best gauge the resources they will need.
Please sign up on the attached form. Forward this email to friends, family members, and neighbors.
Let's have a huge turnout for this event and support the need for blood donations in our community.
More information, including the finalized date, will be forthcoming. In the meantime, if you have any immediate questions, feel free to contact me at srobinson@millburn24.net.
Thank you on behalf of the Millburn Federation of Teachers, Millburn EPIC and the Millburn Professional and School Related Personnel.
Weekly Theme Days
March 10- Cozy Day
March 17- Wear Green & Gold Day
March- 24- Spring Vibes
MES Tutoring
On occasion, we have parents that have reached out and asked us about tutoring services. A times teachers (and even paras) have provided tutoring services to families on their own, not through the school.
We would like to provide a list of available tutors for families. Contact the main office and we can provide you with a list of tutors. Families will then contact tutors directly and work with them on skills that need addressed, pay rates, and availability.
D24 Employment Opportunities
Warren Referendum
For the Millburn Families within the Warren Township High School District, below are links to information regarding the upcoming referendum.
EPIC News
- MES Book Fair
- Kids Resale
- Family Fun Run
- Millburn Scholarship
- Millburn District Blood Drive
- Millburn Madness
- Class Liaisons
- Board Positions - Open
- Sponsorship - 24 for 24/Amazon Smile
- EPIC Membership - FREE
Millburn Kids Resale: Millburn Kids Resale is this weekend!
Please come and support Millburn by shopping new and gently used kids items at the resale this weekend! Saturday, all yellow tagged items will be 1/2 off!
Millburn Kids Resale:
Friday, March 4 from 5-8:30pm
Saturday, March 5 from 8am-12pm
We still really need some volunteers for Saturday! Please consider signing up for an open time slot!
https://millburnpto.ptboard.com/sgnvw?group=&signup=VkqS0ujWSySxRRnbGMCWNHN___6FCEAG3n___oG1XKnh
Like us on Facebook at, Millburn EPIC Kids Resale, for the most current information.
MES Book Fair: Read Across America is next week! Help Millburn celebrate by supporting the spring Book Fair! The Book Fair is still open virtually through March 13th.
Check out our interactive flyer and instructions for eWallets by going to https://www.scholastic.com/bf/millburncommconssd24. Be sure to take advantage of Scholastic's eWallets. They are easy to set up and never expire. Also accepted are cash and checks (made payable to Millburn EPIC). We look forward to seeing your students at the Book Fair!
Family Fun Run: Save the Date! The Millburn Family Fun Run is back with both in-person and virtual options for participation! The in-person race is scheduled for April 30, 2022. Virtual participation to complete the 5k is anytime between April 30, 2022-May 7, 2022. More information and registration will be available starting March 7, 2022!
Millburn Scholarship: Do you have a high school senior who is a Millburn Alum or know of someone? EPIC is offering five $1,000 scholarships to Millburn District #24 alumni who will be graduating in 2022 and continuing their education, in a post secondary or a trade school. See the virtual backpack or millburnEPIC.com for information and the application. All entries along with all required paperwork must be submitted by WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022 or they will not be accepted or reviewed.
If you have any questions, please contact Meghan Edelmann at medelmann@millburn24.net.
Millburn District Blood Drive
The Millburn Federation of Teachers is teaming up with Millburn EPIC and the Millburn Professional and School Related Personnel to host a blood donation drive.
We are anticipating an early-mid April date for the blood drive.
But even before we have a date firmly nailed down, we are looking for volunteers to commit to donating so that Vitalant can best gauge the resources they will need.
Please sign up on the attached form. Forward this email to friends, family members, and neighbors.
Let's have a huge turnout for this event and support the need for blood donations in our community.
More information, including the finalized date, will be forthcoming. In the meantime, if you have any immediate questions, feel free to contact Mr. Robinson at srobinson@millburn24.net.
Thank you on behalf of the Millburn Federation of Teachers, Millburn EPIC and the Millburn Professional and School Related Personnel.
Millburn Madness: It is with much disappointment that we must announce the postponement of MIllburn Madness. The health and safety of our school community is always at the forefront of our decision making and we feel it is best at this time to hold our event at a future date. We will be sure to communicate that date once it is decided! Thank you!
Class Liaisons: We are looking for volunteers to help share information with each grade level. Liaisons would communicate with teachers from a grade level letting them asking them to share information with that grade level parents about upcoming events or volunteer opportunities. Liaisons would also be able to help teachers share information with EPIC. If you are interested in this great opportunity please contact us at president@millburnEPIC.com
Board Positions: Are you ready to work with a great group of people and help us to support Millburn? We have an open position.
Middle School Activity Director - Helps coordinate events at the Middle School with the committee chairs.
Please contact us at president@millburnEPIC.com for more information.
Sponsorship: Attention Families!
Please see the $24 for 24 Donation Form located in the virtual backpack and return to school at your earliest convenience. If you have any questions or concerns please email Jenna Kallianis at corporatefundraising@millburnepic.com
Also, if you are an Amazon shopper and have not yet linked your account with our Amazon Smile account, please do! The directions are located in the virtual backpack! To date we have raised nearly $4,000!
Website and Membership: Register FREE today! www.millburnEPIC.com
• Receive messages about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, sponsorships and other ways to help Millburn
• Access to our student directory
Many parents and caregivers like to use the directory to make contact for their children. Keep in mind, only families that register will be able to be in the directory as well as be able to view it and the school cannot give any contact information for students. If you would like to have access to our student directory, please be sure to register.
Were you a part of our directory last year? EASY - just update your information with any student related