The Mustang Round Up
September 5th, 2022
Labor Day Edition.
Happy Labor Day!
That's a wrap! We made it through our first week of school and I'm sure our students were ready for the three-day weekend. The first week back can be stressfull. It's the week when students learn their schedule, get their textbooks, chromebooks, PE clothes and locks, learn about the locker room procedures, get to know six classes of students, attend a Welcome Back Assembly, and so much more. Last Thursday we hosted our first in-person assembly in two years. Broken up into three separate assemblies, the administration welcomed students back and reviewed some of the key expectations from the student handbook. All of our behavior expectations, dress code policy, and appropriate technology-use policies are all included in the student planner, which all students received last week. If a student or parent has questions about student behavior or school and district policy, many of the answers can be found there. In the assembly, we reviewed our Marshall mission statement which says:
It is our mission to provide a learning environment that will enable each student to reach his/her highest potential in a safe, threat -free atmosphere.
They will develop critical thinking and effective communication skills and the ability to make reasoned moral and ethical choices.
They will practice tolerance in preparation for life in a multicultural society.
It is important for our students to understand that our systems and policies at Marshall align to our overall mission for student success. We shared that our expectations and policies exist for two reasons: safety and success. We also emphasized to our students that learning and culture go hand in hand. While our academic expectations are high, so too are our expectations for behavior that builds community and creates a supportive environment for everyone.
Josh Way, Ed.D
Principal
Back to School Night- Sept. 13th (6th Grade) and Sept. 15th (7th and 8th Grade); 5-7pm
This year we are excited to host Back to School Night in person. Sixth grade parents will have their BTSN on Tuesday the 13th and seventh and eight grades will be on Thursday, the 15th. Parents will start the night in their student's 1st period class and watch a video presentation from the administration. Then parents will follow their student's schedule in a modified bell schedule where each class is 10 minutes long. Here's a sample of the bell schedule. This year, we're trying something new on campus before BTSN begins. The school is working with MMO to host some food trucks on campus from 3:30-5:00pm where parents can grab some dinner, mingle with other parents, and get familiar with the campus. More detailed information will be sent out later this week.
Track and Basketball Tryouts DELAYED
Due to the expected heat temperatures tomorrow, Sept. 6th, as a precautionary measure, the district office has decided to delay the start of Middle School Athletic tryouts until Wednesday, September 7. We will continue to monitor heat temperatures and will notify you if there is any change to tryouts beginning Wednesday, September 7.
When try-outs resume, basketball will meet on the blacktop and track will meet in front of the MPR.
Who's Who at Marshall...
MMS is excited to introduce you to our new Counselor, Samantha Mejia. Ms. Mejia will be serving part-time in the counseling office working with students with last names that begin with Ne-Sc.
How many years in education? About 15 years in education and 15 years in social services and government work (weird, since I am only 24), lol;
Why did you choose to work in Middle School?
I had originally chosen to work with high school students and young adults early in my career. During the COVID-19 related closures I was able to connect with Wangenheim Middle and they were gracious enough to let me intern there. That was my first counseling experience with middle school students and I found that I really enjoyed this age and loved the work. It was nice to find students who are deciding what kind of humans they want to be and we (as adults) still have a some credibility at this age.
What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend?
I love gardening. During COVID-19, I started 14 gardens and 7 of them are still viable. I love it, but I am not great at it. Still, we have some little beautiful garden spaces in our yard where my kids and I hang out in the mornings and drink coffee and hot chocolate and watch the little hummingbirds that live there. A mama hummingbird just had 2 sets of babies we saw hatch and we love to watch the new little lizards and baby birds greet us on the weekends.
What impact do you hope to make at Marshall?
I want to be a force of cohesion. I hope wherever I go, staff and students work better together.
ASB Corner
Each week our ASB (Associated Student Body) student council will be sharing announcements and messages for families. This week, we have some fun resources we would love to share with you, so you can be part of the Mustang experience this year. First, get some customizable Spirit Wear for your student, and yourself from our ApparelNow website on the link below. All profits help support ASB and Marshall activities! Second, bookmark the ASB website and sign up for notifications to get information on school activities, Spirit Days, and more. https://sites.google.com/sandi.net/marshallmiddleasb.
Finally, follow us on Instagram @asb.marshall, Facebook @Marshall ASB, and TikTok @theactualmarshallasb for more details on fun activities at our school.
Some Things to Consider...
The start of a new school year is steeped in change. A new year brings with it new opportunities, new friends, and new challenges. When students begin to explore new opportunities many are confronted with the dilemma of needing to stop one activity for another. As parents and educators, we are often perplexed on how to support them if it means potentially quitting some of the activities they used to love. This quick article offers a reflection on the fine line between teens "quitting" and "stopping" an activity.