Mustangs Newsletter March 16-31
March 16-31
Upcoming Dates
- March 18-22 - School Spirit Week
- March 19 - Pack Hygiene Kits - 3-5 PM
- March 20 - 7th Grade Choir Field Trip
- March 21 - 8th Grade AVID Field Trip
- March 22 - Last Day Before Spring Break
- March 25-29 - Spring Break
- April 1 - School Resumes - Day 2
- April 9-11 - MCA Reading Test
- April 11 - 7th Grade AVID Field Trip
- April 11-12 - MGMS Presents "Frozen" 7 PM
- April 13 - MGMS Presents "Frozen" 3 PM & 7 PM
School Spirit Week
Hygiene Drive Update
Thank you, Maple Grove families, for your donations toward our hygiene drive for CROSS. As of today, we have collected 12,185 items! We currently have 362 whole kits, and 400 partial kits. We are still collecting items on Monday, March 18 and Tuesday, March 19 and we especially need hand sanitizer. Thank you for your support with this project.
Lego's Wanted
Do you have Lego's that you would like to find a new home for? Ms. Albrecht would like to have your Lego's for an afterschool club. Please bring them to the office or have your student bring them to room B121. Thank you.
Packers Wanted
Join the Fuel Up Team on Tuesday, March 19 from 3-5pm in the cafeteria for our hygiene packing event. All students are welcome to join in the fun. Our goal is to assemble 1000 hygiene kits for CROSS for families in need. We do have late busses on Tuesday at 4:20 if transportation is an issue. Thank you for sharing this news with your student.
MGMS Proudly Presents Frozen Jr.
Disney’s Frozen JR. is playing at Maple Grove Middle School from Thursday, April 11th through Saturday, April 13th. The 6th-8th grade cast of actors and backstage technicians includes 96 students under the direction of Josée Axberg, Terra Favilla, and Sky Marthaler.
You’ll love this fanciful and heartwarming stage adaptation of the top-grossing animated film of all time! Join Anna, Elsa, and all of your favorite characters as they embark on an epic, ice-filled journey of self-discovery, camaraderie, and the real meaning of true love. Adapted for young performers, this musical includes favorite Frozen songs such as “Love Is an Open Door,” “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?,” and “Let It Go,” as well as wonderful new songs from the Broadway production. With its empowering message of love and understanding, Frozen JR. is sure to melt your heart!
“With a beloved story and a passionate group, our students have blossomed into talented storytellers that bring energy, humor, and creativity to the stage. We are so fortunate to have a community that supports young artists and can’t wait to share the show with everyone! Be sure to get your tickets soon, as they are selling fast!”
For information on purchasing tickets please visit https://mgms.seatyourself.biz to preorder, or cash sales are available at the door.
PACT
Similar to elementary school PTOs, PACT (Parents and Community Together) works to build a strong, inclusive community at MGMS. Every MGMS parent, caregiver and staff is a member.
Primary ways to get involved and make an impact include donations, volunteering and advocacy.
Donations
Thank you for your donations to the Hygiene Kit Donation Drive & Packing Event that the Fuel Up Team is hosting. Also, thank you for your donations to other initiatives such as The Closet, the after-school LEGO club, and the 7th grade 3D art supplies. Your generosity is appreciated!
Volunteer Opportunities and Event Information
The Fuel Up Team hosted a Hygiene Kit Donation Drive that ended on March 15. The packing event is on March 19 in the MGMS cafeteria from 3-5. All students are welcome!
Join the PACT Board for the 2024-2025 school year and make a difference at MGMS! All terms are one year.
President - OPEN
The President oversees seven PACT meetings, consults board members before meetings to set and align the agenda, fosters positive relationships with parents/caregivers and staff, ensures that work of the board is aligned with the mission, and oversees definition and completion of annual goals. Good organization and communication skills are important.
Treasurer - OPEN
The Treasurer helps the team create and maintain the budget, as well as manage the account (write checks, record transactions, save PDFs to shared drive for records, etc.). Good organization skills, Excel, and basic financial understanding are important.
Communications Coordinator - Filled
Secretary - Filled
Contact mgmsPACTtreasurer@gmail.com for more information.
And check out more event and volunteer information here.
Advocacy
The 2024 Minnesota legislative session started in early February. Every year, the ISD 279 School Board defines a legislative platform to convey the district’s priorities to our elected representatives. Learn more about the 2023-2024 legislative priorities, and contact your legislators to ask them to support the priorities you’re passionate about.
PACT Meetings
Join us to hear updates from Principal Smith and learn about positive MGMS initiatives.
Monday April 15
7:00-8:00 PM
Online only
Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/bgp-ndvo-fcq
Mark your calendar for all remaining meetings:
April 15 (online)
May 20 (in person and online)
PACT website: https://mgms.district279.org/families/pact
Facebook: Maple Grove Middle School - ISD 279
Order Your Student a 2023/24 Yearbook Today
Items Needed for the Closet
MGMS has what is called “The CLOSET” which offers school supplies, hygiene items, snacks, and clothing to our students in need. It is accessed by students through the counselors and social workers often by referrals from teachers and staff. We would appreciate any donations. The items listed below are what is most needed.
- Trapper keepers
- 3" - 3 ring binders
- Women’s deodorant
- Q-tips( travel packs)
- Chapstick
- Sweat/athletic pants in L & XL
- Facial wash & moisturizer
Items can be dropped off in the main office. Thank you for your support.
Hello from People Incorporated,
We are happy to announce that starting the 2023-24 school year, District 279 and People Incorporated has placed a licensed mental health therapist at our school, full-time. Michelle Rosenau, MA, LPCC will be on-site Monday-Friday, year round, to provide mental health therapy services to Maple Grove Middle School students.
Please click on the line below for more information.
Reminders for Parents/Guardians
Absences, Appointments, Attendance - What to Do...
ABSENCES
If your child is going to be late or absent from school, please call the school with the reason for the absence. The telephone call eliminates the need to send a note with your student when he/she returns to school. Excused absences consist of illness, medical appointments, and family emergency situations such as a funeral. Oversleeping, missing the bus, or skipping school are not excused and are considered truancy.
MGMS 24 Hour Attendance Line: 763-315-7603.
APPOINTMENTS/EARLY RELEASE - HERE IS WHAT YOU DO
1. Send a note with your student in the morning
2. When the student gets to school they go to Student Services to get a white pass
3. At the stated time on the pass, your student leaves class and comes to the office with the white pass and signs out in the main office
4. The person picking up can wait in the car (very helpful on cold winter days)
If you didn't send a note, you will need to come in with your driver's license and we will call your student down when you arrive. This procedure is in place to ensure student safety.
ATTENDANCE
If you received a call saying your child was absent one or more periods, please check your ParentVue account for the period your student was absent. Have your child talk to the teacher for the class that they were marked absent. The teacher will then communicate with our attendance person.
3 Accounts Parents Need to Have
We have three accounts parents should have; ParentVue, Schoology and EduTrak. ParentVue allows you to see attendance, testing scores and report cards (we do not mail them out). Schoology allows you to see assignments and communicate with the teachers. EduTrak is how you add money to your student's lunch account, pay fees for sports, or other fines. Attached below is a document that will help you set up accounts and answer any questions you may have.
Who to Contact
School Phone: 763-315-7600...............................Website: https://mgms.district279.org/
Attendance: 763-315-7603………………………………..Transportation: 763-391-7244
6th Grade
Jennifer Hinker, Assistant Principal.....Email: HinkerJ@district279.org
Kaia Paquin, Counselor 6th Grade.......Email: PaquinK@district279.org
7th Grade
Jason Olson, Assistant Principal……..Email: Olsonj@district279.org
Katie Gerdts, Counselor 7th Grade......Email: GerdtsK@district279.org
8th Grade
Patrick Smith, Principal………………….Email: SmithPatrick@district279.org
Megan Woods, Counselor 8th Grade...Email: :WoodsM@district279.org
Student Management Specialists Assist With All Grades
Candice Ledman - (Grade 6) - Email: LedmanC@district279.org
Levy Jones (Grade 7) - Email: JonesL2@district279.org
Nathanial Davies (Grade 8) – Email: DaviesN@district279.org
District Tip Line.........763-265-3636