Dear Wildcat Families,

Welcome to February, a month of care and new beginnings with a new semester. I encourage students, with the new semester, to think back to their excitement and focus when the school year began in September, and to use that energy to set goals and plan steps to achieve them for the second half of the year. Middle school students, like all of us, need support and encouragement to reach goals. I encourage you to partner with your student to check Skyward regularly to monitor academic progress; join your student in checking their binders, backpacks, and Google Classrooms to ensure that assignments are turned in; and partner with your student to communicate with their teachers. The start of a new semester offers students the opportunity to have a clean slate and a renewed outlook for success on their path to the next school level, high school, college, career, and beyond.

I deeply believe in the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) tagline: Proven Achievement, Lifelong Advantage. We here at MMS are honored to partner with you to ensure that each and every student achieves and has lifelong advantage. Thank you for collaborating and connecting.

Warmly,

Mary Ingraham

This communication aims to clarify policies and expectations regarding the use of telecommunications and other electronic devices in schools. While we understand that such devices are valuable tools for students to communicate with families, particularly after school hours and in emergencies, there are safety concerns related to the inappropriate use of these devices in schools. District Policy 3245: Students and Telecommunications Devices clarifies the use of technology during school hours. Marysville Middle is working with students/families to support class engagement and maintain a safe and orderly environment.

As we have just finished refreshing and clarifying our building-wide expectations, I wanted to note that this is one of our expectations that we work to teach professional use of devices . The goal of building-wide expectations is to help teach students the appropriate use of cell phones and make it easier for students to meet expectations in all environments.

Expectations:

• Cell phone usage is allowed in the cafeteria during lunch

• Every classroom has a flip sign where when on the red not device side cell phones should be off and out of sight, when on the green side teachers have permitted use for educational purposes

• Student cell phones should be out of sight in all other locations and contexts including the hallways, bathrooms, commons, gym, covered area, office, counseling center, and library.

These expectations will allow students to receive periodic communication outside class periods related to urgent matters while decreasing distractions within the classroom environment. Further, there is a phone available in the office for students to call their family when needed.

We are holding a forum in order to partner with families to develop an action plan to increase student sense of belonging and safety here at Marysville Middle. This gathering will be in the Marysville Middle Library on Wednesday, February 23rd from 6:00 to 7:30. During this gathering we will present information, listen closely, and co-create an action plan that focuses on how we can help facilitate all coming back into community after the physical and social isolation of the pandemic. This gathering will be held in both Spanish and English, if you speak another language please reach out to Amy Buck (amy_buck@msd25.org) to request an interpreter.

En nuestra colaboración, se mencionó la idea de un foro comunitario para reunirnos a todos para resolver problemas y crear conjuntamente un plan de acción para resolver algunos desafíos que enfrenta la escuela en torno a la conexión, el respeto y la seguridad. Estamos implementando estos comentarios y teniendo un Foro Comunitario como nuestra próxima reunión de Líderes Naturales donde también estamos invitando a más familias a unirse a nosotros. Únase a nosotros y traiga comida para compartir el 16 de febrerode 6:00 a 7:30 en la biblioteca para que podamos colaborar una vez más y crear colectivamente pasos hacia adelante para abordar los problemas que estamos viendo. Todos ustedes son un equipo poderoso por el que estoy muy agradecido, ¡gracias!

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s):

Current federal legislation requires that all Multi-Lingual Learners (MLLs), students with a primary home language other than English, are screened for English language proficiency every year. When enrolling in Marysville School District, students are administered a WIDA assessment to determine eligibility for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services.

After students have been identified as MLLs and receive MLL services, federal legislation requires that students participate annually in an English language proficiency (ELP) assessment. In the state of Washington, we have just transitioned from the ELPA21 assessment to the WIDA assessment and now annually assess all MLL qualifying students using the WIDA assessment who have an ELP level of 1-4.

We will be administering the WIDA assessment during the month of February. The assessment results determine eligibility for MLL (Multi-Lingual Learner) services. The WIDA assessment will be administered at MMS during the school day to only students who are already in the MLL program, and families of those students will be notified of the results once testing is complete.

Please find below four translated versions of the State Assessment Refusal form. If you do not want your student taking the state assessment please fill out the refusal form and turn it in to the main office at MMS. A new form is required each year.

February 15, during periods 4, 5, and 6 in the Fitness Center

The College Bound Scholarship is an early commitment of state financial aid to eligible students who enroll in middle school and meet the requirements of graduating from a Washington State high school with a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher, applies for financial aid by completing the FAFSA or WASFA, and is a part of the Free and Reduced Lunch Program. The College Bound Scholarship covers average tuition at public college rates, some fees, and a small book allowance at over 65 colleges, universities, and technical school in Washington. For more information please see the pamphlet below.

Operation School Bell is a program to assist students who need clothing. It is run by the Assistance League of Everett and since 1965 they have been providing school clothes to over 99,139 children and teens, one child at a time. If you have a student in need of clothing please fill out the application below.

Marysville Community Food Bank offers a program to all families to provide food for the weekends and/or holidays when your child/children are not in school. Please see the application below and if you have any questions or need any help please contact the main office or your student's counselor.

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