Family Newsletter
Welcome PRMS Families!
Upcoming Events/Dates
Feb. 15 - Valentine's Dance - 3:30 - 5:15 pm
Feb. 16 - No School
Feb. 22 - Parent Teacher Conferences 4 - 7 pm
Feb. 24 - Ski & Snowboard Club Saturday Trip - Bruce, WI
Feb. 27 - Parent Teacher Conferences 4 -7 pm
Feb. 28 - Family Engagement event - Stay tuned!
Mar. 7 - Band Concert
Mar. 14 - Choir Concert
Mar. 15 - End of 3rd Quarter
Mar. 18 - 22 - Spring Break
A message from the Principals Office
We hope this newsletter finds you healthy and happy.
We are very excited to share all the wonderful happenings and initiatives from the last month with you in this edition of our newsletter. There are so many great things to celebrate!
One of the key focuses of this newsletter and upcoming communications with families is to provide support and insight into the minds of middle school-aged students. With the assistance of our dedicated student services team, consisting of counselors and a school social worker, we are planning a series of informational resources addressing the social, emotional, and physical needs of adolescents.
Our staff here at Prairie River are truly amazing. They understand the unique developmental stage our middle school students are in, with one foot still firmly rooted in the elementary mindset while the other ventures into the realm of high school thinking. This transition from concrete to abstract thinking, from dependence to independence, can often lead to increased social conflicts among students.
Through social media feeds, it has come to our attention that there is a misconception about the level of bullying occurring among our students. We want to assure our families that the safety and well-being of our students are of utmost importance to us, and we take any reports or concerns related to bullying very seriously. However, after thorough investigation and discussions with staff and students, it has become evident that the characterization of our school as having a significant bullying issue is inaccurate.
While it is true that there have been instances where students have made mean comments to each other, it is crucial to understand that this behavior does not equate to bullying. Bullying is defined as repeated aggressive behavior with an intent to harm, where there is an imbalance of power between the individuals involved. Mean comments, while hurtful, do not always meet the criteria for bullying.
Our goal with these resources is to foster a deeper understanding and connection between home and school, enabling us to better support the needs of our students. We aim to raise awareness not only of their developmental needs but also to help parents distinguish between different social interactions, such as bullying, mean comments, peer conflicts, and teasing.
By providing these resources and fostering open communication, we believe we can create a more supportive and inclusive environment for our students to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We will continue to emphasize the importance of kindness, empathy, and respectful communication among our students. Our goal is to promote a culture of inclusivity and support where all students feel safe and valued.
Thank you for your continued partnership in your child's education and well-being!
Why Middle School Students Act the Way They Do?
The teenage years are a formative part of every child’s life. The continuous transformation that young boys and girls endure usually provokes negative behavioral issues and poor attitudes. A lot of them experience anxiety and low self esteem. They struggle with self-confidence, and they take a lot of risks. They lose their ability to focus and think of the possible consequences of their actions. They become too emotional and unreasonable. In fact, most students of this age do things that they regret later on.
As parents, teachers and school leaders, it is beneficial to understand this uncomfortable phase that middle school students undergo. We are hoping the chart below can provide you with an overview of behaviors and ways a Middle School student thinks through these years of adolescence. Sometimes, in the heat of the moment, we forget these actions and thought processes are typical for Middle School students because of the developmental process - both physical and emotional - their bodies are experiencing.
Our goal is to have teachers, school leaders, and parents work together to find ways that will improve the decision-making and critical thinking skills of these students. To do that, we need to be reminded of what is a natural part of growing up, and what we need to help students with as they struggle to understand these changes in their bodies and brain development. It takes a village to raise a child.
Reference: Parts of this script were adapted from the Website created and owned by Teachnology, Inc.
Literacy Together
This February, let's kindle the love for reading! 🧡📖 Parents, encourage them to explore genres that pique their interest—whether it's adventure, mystery, or fantasy. Foster open discussions about their chosen books, sharing thoughts and insights. Create a cozy reading nook, and maybe even organize a book club for them to connect with friends over shared stories. Take a trip to the library and open a world of possibilities to explore. Let's make reading a vibrant part of their lives, sparking a lifelong love for the written word! 🌈📚 #TeenReads #LiteraryJourney #FebruaryReads
SAVE THE DATE!
We are working on putting together a Family Engagement event to focus on our Literacy Together initiative and celebrate Dr. Seuss's Birthday and to kick off Read Across Week! This event will take place the morning of Wednesday, February 28th. Stay tuned for more information!
Youth Optimist Winners
Congratulations to Eliza Rogers, January winner, for being name Youth Optimist of the Month!
February's 7 Mindsets Focus will be Attitude of Gratitude
Spirit Day Reminder!
As a reminder, we are still running our School Spirit Challenge!
Please help encourage your student(s) to participate in the Bluejay Friday's
The challenge is for students to display their Bluejay Pride by wearing blue and white or Merrill Bluejay attire. If we can achieve at least 70% school-wide participation, by the end of the quarter, our students will have the chance to pie their teachers in the face at our end of the quarter celebration assembly!
Let's reach our goal!
Family Fun Ski/Snowboard Trip
The PRMS Ski & Snowboard Club is hosting a family fun Saturday Ski Trip to Christie Mountain in Bruce, WI. Even if you were not a part of the Ski & Snowboard Club, you are still welcome to attend the trip! Parents and/or Family members are welcome to attend as well, but must drive separately. Only Students and approved chaperones are to ride the bus.
If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Simon at virginia.simon@mapsedu.org
Hot Cocoa and Warm Wishes
8th grade WEB Leaders met back up with their 5th grade groups to do a check-in. They enjoyed their time drinking hot cocoa while decorating Christmas cards for elderly within our community!
The Nest
Please help us help students in need! "The Nest" is looking for donations of the following items:
- Non-Perishable Food - snacks, quick meal options
- Clothing (new or gently used) - youth, women's or men's sizes - leggings, joggers, shorts
- Personal Care Items - deodorant, toothbrush/toothpaste, body wash, brush/comb, feminine hygiene products
Items can be dropped off in the Main Office at PRMS
Girls on the Run registration is open now until Feb. 19th!
Get registered now! Registration is open to the first 15 students!
Full-ride Scholarships are available to Girls on the Run participants!