MMS Principal Newsletter
April 23, 2018 @MMSCougarPride
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MS Math Course Selection Forms Due April 30, 2018
Reminder-Middle School Math course selection forms are due Monday, April 30, 2018. For your convenience, the form is linked here: Middle School Math Course Selection Form
You can also access it on the front page of the district website.
If you have questions about the Math options, contact your child's Math teacher.
Personnel Update
Ms. Tavares will take over as team leader for Team King Cats.
We will announce the Leave Replacement Social Studies teacher (replacing Ms. Jackson) once the candidate is confirmed at Monday's board meeting.
Greetings and Updates from Ms. Gronau
MMS Families,
On Monday, April 23, 2018 the South Orange Maplewood School District Board of Education will formally recognize Maplewood Middle School for exiting status as a "Target" (formerly "Focus List") with the New Jersey Department of Education. MMS has been in status since the 2011-2012 school year. We received a letter of recognition from the NJDOE Acting Commissioner Dr. Lamont Repollet for our work closing achievement gaps between sub-groups of students.
This has been a collective effort and we could not have done it without support from MMS families, the school district, and most of all MMS teachers. We are thrilled for this honor and are proud to be recognized at the board meeting.
MMS 6th grader Ben Schwartz will also be recognized for his award as Outstanding Soloist in the Jazz at Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington Regional Competition. Way to go, Ben!
**Please send me any awards your child has won in or out of school so that we can be sure that they receive recognition at upcoming board meetings.
YouthNet is in full swing for Spring! Please scroll down for the full brochure of Spring after school enrichment activities. If you have an economic hardship, your child will not be turned away from participating.
Best,
Ms. Gronau
MMS Principal
4/20 Walkout National Student Walkout
Dear MMS Families,
MMS students supported National School Walkout Day by speaking out against gun and school violence during morning announcements and during lunch periods. In addition, there is a large poster installation in the front hallway, to which students have been adding messages throughout the day.
At the start of 8th period, a group of approximately 40 students participated in National School Walkout Day by leaving the school building. They shared remarks against gun and school violence on the main walkway in front of the school, and then walked one lap around the building before returning to class. MMS Administrators and Maplewood Police Officers were present to ensure student safety, and the students stayed on school property the entire time.
The majority of students who participated in the walkout returned to class before 8th period ended, and thus were marked as “tardy.” If any students failed to return to class, this would have been marked as an unexcused absence.
Our students spoke passionately and from the heart about things that affect them, and affect who we are as a country. They felt strongly that they shouldn’t be silenced, and chose to exercise their right to protest. I commend them for their commitment to engaging in civic discourse.
Sincerely,
Dara Crocker Gronau
Principal
PARCC Schedule
7th grade PARCC-April 30-May 3, 2018
8th grade PARCC-May 8-11, 2018
8th grade NJSLA-May 22-23
Pride Month
The 5 Keys to Middle School Child Resilience and Success
The 5 Keys to Middle School Child Resilience and Success
The MMS faculty and staff ask that you support our work with your child in the following ways:
1) Encourage a Growth Mindset-Having a growth mindset fosters resilience. Use the language of yet. I don’t understand this “yet.” Emphasize the importance of hard work as opposed to innate intelligence. “I did well because of my effort. I’ll do better next time.”
2) Encourage 1-2 Good Peer Relationships-Friends should be a source of support. Often our middle schoolers try to maintain large groups of close friends and that is challenging for anyone of any age! Encourage your child to have 1-2 solid and supportive peer friendships and keep it light and simple with the larger groups.
3) Ensure 9-11 Hours of Sleep Please! Sleep is the best way to foster resilience. Research shows that kiddos this age need 9-11 hours to be at their best. When your child is well-rested, everything is better. Technology is the #1 enemy of sleep! As a school community, we recommend that you keep technology out of your child’s bedroom at night to encourage healthy and consistent sleep.
4) Encourage Coping Strategies-Coping is personal. Everyone does it differently. Encourage your child to think about healthy ways to relax and give them permission to do it!
5) Facilitate Time/Connection with a non-familial adult-Good connections with non-familial adults are very important for your child. They hear things differently from non-familial adults. Encourage your child to participate in a club or activity. Children need our perspective. They are always changing and growing. As adults we can attach a growth mindset to their personality development and their peer interactions.
Maplewood Middle School Remind App Code @k92d29
The MMS Principal has added a school-wide "Remind App" as another way to communicate with families. Many of your child's teachers will share Remind class codes for you and your child to stay up to date about class events and assignments. As needed, the MMS Principal will periodically use the Remind App to share important info with our school community. Our Maplewood Middle School school-wide code Remind code is listed above (@k92d29). The link below explains how to begin getting notifications. It's a simple way to stay in touch. Join us!
https://help.remind.com/hc/en-us/articles/203179887-How-do-I-join-a-class-