THE GALLOPING GAZETTE
MES Weekly School Newsletter
MIDWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL VISION
Empower each child to design the future
MIDWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MISSION
ALL learners are extraordinary communicators, collaborators, creators and critical thinkers.
#mesHEART #allmeansALL #StrongerTogether
Friday September 25, 2020
What a wonderful week as our students shared their school spirit by wearing teal and black or Midway shirts! They rocked with smiles and spirit!
Many thanks to our families who were able to enjoy a delicious meal from Salsarita's! Thank you to our PTO and Salsarita's for making this possible. Ten percent of all sales will be given to our PTO to support our students and their needs. Thank you ALL!
I do want to thank you all for your patience and understanding as data and guidelines are observed in caring for our students and staff, and in determining the next phase. We are excited about phase 2 but we will continue with our safety procedures as our hope is to keep all well and our doors open!
Phase 2: Please remember that on Monday, October 5, the following students return for a 4+1 week. This means that Monday through Thursday will be face-to-face for these students with Friday continuing to be a virtual day. The students returning for this 4+1 week are:
- all Cohorts A & B prekindergarten through 2nd grade students
- all students in a self-contained Special Education Class
- some Cohort A and B English Language Learners (Parents will be notified.)
Our Cohorts A and B 3rd through 5th grade students will continue with the hybrid model, AA and BB days. Cohort C (virtual) students will continue to be virtual five days a week.
Please know that Fridays are very rigorous days for our teachers and staff. This day is vital for teachers to continue virtual learning experiences as both teachers and students are learning the ins and outs of this digital world. We will be so relieved when the remaining Chromebooks arrive mid to late October for our 3rd and 4th grade students! Fridays are also crucial for teacher planning and collaboration of lessons along with professional learning. They have only 30 minutes a day for planning during the week and are displaced from their rooms during that time as related arts lessons are taught in the their classrooms to maintain the family model. Fridays are also an essential day of deeper cleaning in preparation for the students' return on Mondays.
Again, we thank you for your continued support! Together we are accomplishing getting students back in school.
Yours truly,
Jan Fickling
Principal of Midway Elementary
October Calendar
Friday October 2 - National Custodian's Day
Monday October 5 - Phase Two 4+1 model beginsTuesday October 6 - Fall Pictures Cohort A students
Wednesday October 7 - Fall Pictures Cohort B students
Friday date TBD for LOOLA students
Friday October 9 - Parent/Teacher Conferences 7:30 am- 3:00 pm
Tuesday October 20 - PTO Restaurant Pickup Marco's Pizza
Showing our Mustang Spirit!
5th grade LOOLA at work!
Recess Fun!
Turbeville Zoom Class
Fourth graders drew scarecrows during their Zooms today to celebrate the first fall weekend. They had to listen and follow directions, so it was interesting and fun! They were very cute!
MES Health Room
If you have been contacted by the health room about immunizations, please get back to us as soon as possible. DHEC requires immunization compliance for virtual as well as face to face learners.
Just as a reminder, please self screen for symptoms of illness before sending your child to school. If your child is a close contact of a known COVID-19 case, please communicate with us. You can reach the health room at 803-821-0323 or 0324.
Thank you for helping us keep your Mustangs and our staff safe and healthy!
All Lexington District One students eligible for free meals until December 31
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Beginning today, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020, all Lexington County School District One students can receive free breakfast and lunch. The United States Department of Agriculture approved Lexington District One’s free food program for all students until December 31.
All AA and BB students can receive free breakfast and lunch at school on their face-to-face days without completing any form or application. Students simply come to school and enjoy the meals.
But, AA and BB students who also want to take home meals for their e-learning days must complete a form provided by each school.
For AA elementary students, parents must complete a home meal order form by 9 a.m. each Tuesday.
You can find that form here. https://www.lexdistrict1.com/departments/food-service-and-nutrition/index.htm
For BB elementary students, parents must complete a home meal order form by 9 a.m. each Thursday.
You can find that form here. https://www.lexdistrict1.com/departments/food-service-and-nutrition/index.htm
AA and BB middle and high school students will complete the form themselves. The schools will remind students to do this during each day’s morning announcements.
The district’s Online Learning Academy students can also receive free meals. Parents of Online Learning Academy students must complete their form by 6 p.m. each Tuesday when it closes. The link reopens each Friday at 1 p.m for the following week’s meals.
You can find that form here. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd12KelNaIae9brhxAZsD-3CC2lk6Z2iPgQU9dJN8k6z7TmxQ/closedform
The district’s Online Learning Academy families can pick up meals each Friday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at any one of the district’s five designated drive-through locations (Carolina Springs Middle, Forts Pond Elementary, Gilbert Elementary, Oak Grove Elementary, White Knoll Elementary). Online Learning Academy parents must show their student’s school identification card to pick up meals.
Parents with questions should email Ashley Summers at asummers@lexington1.net.
New food policy from our school district
at this time.
On a related note, parents can buy snacks from the MES cafeteria to celebrate student's birthdays. Please see the menu items available and the attached order form or call Jason Trice, MES Cafeteria Manager, 803-821-0325.
School Improvement Council
The Midway Elementary School Improvement Council serves as an advisory committee to our administration and faculty members. School Improvement Council (SIC) members are asked to commit to serving a two year term.
Duties of a Parent Representative for Midway School Improvement Council are as follows:
• Work on behalf of all MES parents to recommend improvements and advocate for positive changes
• Assist the school administration and staff in ensuring Midway meets the learning needs of all students
• Actively encourage families and community members to be strong partners in our students' learning
• Support Midway’s Learning Environment
• Attend SIC meetings on the 3rd Thursday of every school attendance month at 4:30 p.m.
Please complete the linked form if you are interested in serving on the SIC. Forms must be submitted by September 25.
Thank you in advance for considering applying for this Council membership!
Amy Cathey, SIC Chair, and Jan Fickling, Principal of Midway Elementary
Midway PTO
PTO Zoom Meeting
PTO Meeting
Time: Sep 29, 2020 11:15 AM
Join Zoom Meeting:
MES School Counselor's Newsletter
Special Edition of our School Counselors' Newsletter as we are checking to see what support or needs may exist for our families.
Earn money for Midway with Cart to Class at Lowe's Foods
Lexington County School District One is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for all students, parents/legal guardians, staff, visitors, personnel and community members who participate or seek to participate in its programs or activities. Therefore, the district does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or any related medical conditions), color, disability, age, genetic information, national origin, or any other applicable status protected by local, state, or federal law. The district will use the grievance procedures set forth in policy to process complaints based on alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act of 1963; the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008; and Titles I and II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The district designates specific individuals to handle inquiries or complaints. To find out who to contact and how to contact them, please go to our website at http://www.lexington1.net/contact-us.
Please note that due to the public health emergency brought by COVID-19 and the continuing uncertainty regarding the virus’s impact upon district and school operations for the 2020–2021 school year, it may be necessary for the district to alter, amend or otherwise modify the information contained in this document throughout the year.
The district reserves the right to make any necessary changes to the contents of this document, consistent with amendments or revisions to policy or administrative rules, which may be required or occur as a result of changes brought about because of COVID-19. The district will also make reasonable efforts to inform you in a timely manner of any material changes made to any calendar, plan, policy or protocol listed in this document.