Mooresville Middle School
Community Newsletter -- September 23, 2022
A Message from Mr. Kosal:
Together we make a family!
In the name of safety and stability, we have also revised our students' transition plans during class change to ensure less students are in the hallways at any one time (i.e. help overcrowding, bumping, horseplay, etc.) and have added extra staff to supervise during lunch / SHAC / dismissal times. We also work closely with our school resource officer for the Mooresville Police Department to investigate any and all concerning comments and posts turned over by parents, students, and staff.
As the MGSD Parent Square message stated on 9/21/22: "We do want to reiterate that no bomb was found at Mooresville High School and no threats were made to our other schools. Our Mooresville Police Department continues to investigate this hoax and ascertain the individual/s behind it. In addition, we are aware of screenshots of two separate social media posts/snapchats with concerning photos and/or language that are circulating. Thank you to the students and parents who shared these screenshots with both us and the Mooresville Police Department. After investigation, these posts are not new, not connected to MGSD, and have been circulating on social media throughout several districts. That being said, we appreciate our parents and students making us aware of any perceived threats so that we, along with law enforcement, can investigate. Remember that you can always utilize our See Something, Say Something app or access the See Something, Say Something website this link: See Something, Say Something. It can also be found on the homepage of our MGSD website. We would ask all parents to have a discussion with their students about the seriousness of making any threat toward a school or the people within that school."
Remember, our school and district will reach out to families via Parent Square if a legitimate concern to school safety was ever received. Thank you, parents, for the calls and emails to the MMS administration this week. We've done our best to respond to each parent that has reached out, but if somehow we missed your call, Parent Square message, or email, please contact me again directly.
Here's a brief overview of what's to come in today's newsletter. If you have questions, always feel free to call the MMS main office or email the administrators listed below.
In this newsletter, you'll read about:
- Changes to MMS cell phone policy (begins 9/26/22)
- Spirit Theme Days for students next week
- How to be a MMS Motivator
- 'Coffee with Kosal' date / time for September
- School Picture make up day & ordering info
- MMS Teacher- and Staff Member-of-the-month
- PTSO Spirit Store is selling MGSD tervis mugs
- Canvas support for MMS parents
- Upcoming home Red Imp athletic events
- Free Online Tutoring via Edvantage
- Book & Diaper drive, courtesy of Junior Excel club
- invitation to MGSD Hispanic Heritage Event on 10/3/22
- Information about Winter Sports Tryouts
Thanks for reading, and I wish every Red Imp family a restful and relaxing weekend!
Mr. Kosal, interim principal (pkosal@mgsd.k12.nc.us)
Ms. Brown, 7th grade assistant principal (kbrown@mgsd.k12.nc.us)
Ms. Richardson, 8th grade assistant principal (tabitharichardson@mgsd.k12.nc.us)
Mr. Akelman, Assistant Principal of Instruction (dakelman@mgsd.k12.nc.us)
Ms. Clark, MMS Athletic Director (annclark@mgsd.k12.nc.us)
Changes to MMS Cell Phone Policy
Cell phones must be OFF and put away in MMS students’ backpacks between the hours of 7:00am-2:20pm. Students shall not use cell phones or wireless communication (smart watches, rings, etc) devices at all during the school day.
MGSD Student Code of Conduct rule #4 (Electronic or wireless devices - responsibility) cites justification of this rule and the following consequences:
- 1st Offense: staff member confiscates phone; phone is delivered to main office to be logged. Student picks up the phone after dismissal that day from the main office. Parent notification.
- 2nd Offense: staff member confiscates phone; phone is delivered to main office to be logged. Student receives 1 day of In-School Suspension for violation of MMS cell phone policy. Student picks up the phone after dismissal that day from the main office. Parent notification.
- 3rd Offense +: staff member confiscated phone; phone is delivered to main office to be logged. Student receives 2 days of In-School Suspension for violation of MMS cell phone policy. A parent / guardian must retrieve the phone from MMS main office and have a conference with an MMS administrator before retrieving the student’s cell phone.
If a student refuses to hand over their phone, they shall be found in violation of MGSD Student Code of Conduct rule #2 (non compliance with directives from Principals, Teachers, and other School Personnel) and shall be placed in ISS for the remainder of that day, at minimum.
The MMS Student Handbook will be updated on or before 9/26/22 to reflect these changes. Thank you for your support in helping Mooresville Middle School students become re-focused on learning and building positive, in-person relationships with one another.
Make-Up School Picture Day + Ordering MMS School Pictures
Mark your calendars: MMS school picture make-up day is planned for Wednesday, September 28th.
The first round of picture days happened this past week at MMS. If you'd like to see / order pictures of your student, please follow these directions:
Go to terrypardew.com (our school photographer) -> Order online -> click on ‘Mooresville Middle School’ -> pick ‘Yearbook Portraits.' All MMS student pictures should now be available for viewing and purchase! Parents: simply put in their student’s school ID number as the "password" to find your child's photos. Pictures will get shipped directly to your home.
Again, make-up picture day is scheduled for 9/28/22.
Coffee with Mr. Kosal - Friday, September 30
Mr. Kosal is excited to meet you all and hear your questions and voice your concerns about #RedImpNation! We hope to see you there!
MMS Motivator volunteers:
MMS Staff Member of the Month
MMS Teacher of the Month
Free Online Tutoring for Students
When they sign up, they will get an email from NCVPS with the link for their session, and a link to cancel or reschedule if needed. Please reinforce to students that they should be respectful of tutors' time and not be "no-shows" if they sign up for a time.
Students who do not have Internet access at home or need a quiet place to attend tutoring are welcome at the Selma Burke Community Center.
We hope your students will take advantage of this "EDvantage"!!
How to alert MMS of a student absence:
The email address for parents to alert MMS about student absences is: MMSAttendance@MGSD.k12.nc.us
Parents can upload doctor's notes as well. We hope this process will be easier on everyone instead of always sending a note with the student that gets lost so easily!
This week's message from the MMS PTSO:
Are you interested in helping out with this year's PTSO? Please fill out this survey and let us know how you'd like to get involved!
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Change Wars has been rescheduled to the week of November 14. Keep saving your change to help us raise money for student programs and much needed classroom supplies!
NEW to the line up is Mooresville M tervis tumblers in 16oz or 24oz and a 24oz water bottle!!! We have a limited supply, so visit our online store and order yours today! To make a purchase with cash or check, please send us an email at redimpsptso@gmail.com.
Please join our PTSO facebook group! This online community is for parents/guardians of MMS students and MMS staff. We will share information from the PTSO, MMS and MGSD. It is also a place for you to connect with other parents/guardians and the PTSO. We hope you'll join us: Follow us on Facebook!
Thank you for your support! Questions for the PTSO? E-mail us at redimpsptso@gmail.com
A Notice About Winter Sports
All students trying out for basketball or wrestling MUST be enrolled in Final Forms and have a valid athletic physical before tryouts. Information for Final Forms is on the school website. 7th grade girls basketball tryouts will be at a later time.
BASKETBALL TRYOUTS for 8th grade boys, 7th grade boys and 8th grade girls will be as follows:
Monday, October 3rd - 8th grade girls tryouts from 2:30 - 4:30
7th grade boys from 6:00 - 8:00pm (you must go home and come back)
Tuesday, October 4th - 8th grade girls tryouts from 2:30 - 4:30
Wednesday, October 5th - 7th grade boys tryouts from 2:30 - 4:30
8th grade boys tryouts from 4:30 - 6:00
Thursday, October 6th - 8th grade boys tryouts from 2:30 - 4:00
WRESTLING TRYOUTS: Wednesday, October 5th from 2:30 - 4:30.
Thursday, October 6th from 2:30 - 4:30
GIRLS BASKETBALL (OPEN GYM): If you are interested in trying out for the Girls Varsity 8th Grade team, we will be having open gym from 2:30 - 4:00 everyday this coming week! Once school releases, head straight to the gym. Only girls who have a valid physical and are not involved in Softball, Tennis or Cross Country may participate. Bring everything you need: basketball shoes, proper clothes, and water!
Canvas Assistance for MMS Parents
MMS is excited to host several Canvas Parent Nights to assist our families in learning more about our learning management system. Our first two nights will be Monday, October 17th, and Monday, November 14th. We will meet from 5-6pm in our media center.
Please register using this link. Bring your student and their laptop. If you have any questions, please email amymccomas@mgsd.k12.nc.us
MMS Spirit Photos Wanted!
Send photos to mmsnews@mgsd.k12.nc.us and they may make it onto our daily newscast! We will happily give credit to our photographers. Thanks for your help & your photos!
Upcoming Red Imp Athletics:
We hope to see parents & community members coming out to support our Red Imp athletes next week! Next week is the final opportunity to see our Fall Sports athletes in action, so please come out and support. Scheduled home events (4:00pm is standard start time) at Mooresville Middle School are:
- Tennis vs. West Rowan -- Monday, September 26
- Tennis vs. North Rowan -- Tuesday, September 27
- JV Football vs. West Rowan -- Wednesday, September 28 (i.e. homecoming)
- Cross Country @ East Iredell Middle - Wednesday, September 28
- Softball vs. West Rowan -- Thursday, September 29
- Cross Country @ China Grove w/ Erwin - Thursday, September 29
MMS Social Media Handles - follow us!
Facebook: @mooresvillems
Instagram: mooresvillems
Twitter: @mooresvillems
Website: https://mms.mgsd.k12.nc.us/
Have questions or concerns?
I always appreciate feedback on how to make MMS a better place to work and learn. We're working together all for the purpose of helping our children learn and grow and become better people. We're all in this together!
Email: pkosal@mgsd.k12.nc.us
Website: https://mms.mgsd.k12.nc.us/
Location: 233 Kistler Farm Road, Mooresville, NC, USA
Phone: (704) 658-2720