Midland Messenger
January 19-22, 2021
Midland Elementary
Email: midland@fpschools.org
Website: http://midland.fpschools.org/
Location: Midland Elementary School, 105th Street East, Tacoma, WA, USA
Phone: 253-298-4500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Midland-Elementary-Mustangs-112865059416899/?ref=settings
Dear Midland Families,
We are very excited to be welcoming students back into the building in the coming weeks! As we continue to plan, you will notice some changes in our staffing and schedules. In order to make our classes smaller for instruction 4 days per week in grades K-2, we are using all available certificated teachers in classrooms. Beginning next week, Mrs. Blaisdell, Ms. Murray, Ms. Ray, and Mrs. Wheeler will have new assignments. Starting January 28th, new Art and Physical Fitness specialist time will be available by video. Additionally, Mrs. Christian, Mrs. Brown, and Mrs. Kamel will be assigned to teach the K, 1, 2 remote classes, so that means we will have some changes in teachers. Below you will see our primary teaching team, beginning January 28th:
Kindergarten in Person: Starting January 28th , 8:55-2:25
Ms. Barry
Mr. DeBruler
Ms. Murray
Ms. Ray
Mrs. Sims
Kindergarten Remote: Starting January 28th, 9:15-11:45 (Cohort A) and 12:25-2:55 (Cohort B)
Ms. Brown/Mrs. Gustafson
First Grade in Person: Starting February 8th!
Mrs. Elliott
Mrs. Granados
Mrs. Stephens
First Grade Remote:
Mrs. Blaisdell
Mrs. Christian
Second Grade In Person: Starting February 8th!
Ms. Cornell
Mrs. Kristovich
Ms. Nyla
Mrs. Quill
Second Grade Remote:
Mrs. Kamel (Mrs. Wheeler will take Mrs. Kamel's class)
Letters are going home this week with notification for your child's teacher. We worked hard to keep as many students with their original teacher as possible. We also tried to honor the Cohort A (AM) and B (PM) requests for those students who will be fully remote, although we did have to balance classrooms between morning and afternoon sessions.
The survey for grades 3-5 will go home to families the week of January 25th for the remote or hybrid instruction. Because students will be alternating days, we will create smaller groups, but students will stay with their homeroom teacher.
There is a lot of information to share! In addition to letters and the Sunday phone call, I will be hosting parent information sessions next week. If you have questions, please be sure to call our office.
It's great to be a MUSTANG!
~Mrs. Dawson
New School Times beginning January 28th!
Kindergarten in person:
8:55-2:25. Students can be dropped off no earlier than 8:45.
Kindergarten Remote:
9:15-11:45 Cohort A
11:45-12:25 lunch and break
12:25-2:55 Cohort B
When can my child return to school?
February 8th: Grades 1-2 return 4 days per week
February 18th: Grades 3, 4, 5 return in Hybrid/Hyflex model: students are in the building 2 days and at home learning 2 days per week.
(These dates are what we are planning, but please note they are subject to change, based on continuing updates from the Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department guidelines.)
Important Dates to Remember:
January 20 ~ Asynchronous learning day
January 25 ~ No School
January 27 ~ Asynchronous learning day
January 28 ~ Kindergarten Hybrid classes begin
Social Emotional Learning Corner by Mrs. Blaisdell
This week’s focus is —Our focus of learning this week will be Feelings/Emotions. At all grade levels, but with varying levels of complexity; we will be discussing using physical, verbal, and situational cues to help us make good guesses as to how someone else might be feeling. We will focus on simple feelings in K-2 and increasing our complexity and vocabulary of emotions in grades 3-5.
As a family— You can talk about cue/clues in facial expressions and body language that help us to guess how someone might be feeling. Take a “picture walk” through a reading book or story book and look at characters. Look at facial expressions and body language to make a guess about how that character might be feeling.
Have a HAPPY week! 😊
Important: Bus Route Information
As some of our students are returning to in-person learning, we wanted to make sure you have the most up-to-date bus information. When it is time for your student to return to our building, please be sure you check their bus routes.
We have adjusted the elementary school pick up and drop off times. The times on the bus cards that families received in the summer are now incorrect, however the location is still correct. For the updated times please see the information listed below:
Use the E-LINK SITE to find your child's bus route and pick-up/drop-off times. When you get to the site, type in the following username and password:
Username: guest
Password: guest
Note: It is important that parents also check back a few days prior to school, as route schedules do change as more students are enrolled.
Social Media
Weather and Emergency Updates
Remote learning will not be cancelled due to inclement weather when schools are closed. Depending on the severity of the circumstances, breakfasts and lunches may be available in limited locations.
Remote learning will be cancelled only if the entire district is closed. Breakfast and lunch services will not be available.
Click here for more information from our district's website.
Attendance Moment:
January is School Board Recognition Month
Midland's Lifetouch Fundraiser
WIFI Opportunity
We have the pleasure of sharing this incredible free WIFI opportunity for families (who qualify) through Rainier Connects - Student Connect Program.
Here’s what you and families need to know:
- Eligible families must reside within the Rainier Connect service area to qualify, please see highlighted map for boundaries or visit https://rainierconnect.smarthub.coop/Shop.html#SelectAddressAndCity:
- Staff can assist families by submitting the Rainier Connect- Student Connect Program Application (link below)
- Families can self-refer utilizing the English/Spanish Rainier Connect- Student Connect Program Application, at www.fpschools.org/resources
Next:
- Once form is submitted, A parent or guardian over 18 years old will need to contact Rainier Connect directly, at 253-683-4405 and mention the Students Connect program.
- An adult must be present during the scheduled installation.
- Rainier Connect must have access to enter the home to complete the installation and confirm the service is working at the time of the scheduled installation.
Technology Help
The help number for the IT department is 253-298-4647 or you can fill out one of the two forms linked below.
PTA Corner
- $12 for a Single Membership
- $20 for 2 Memberships
- $10 for Student Membership
- $12 to Sponsor a Teacher
Email: midlandptapresident@gmail.com
Phone: 253-298-4500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/midlandmustangs/
Franklin Pierce Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.
Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to James Hester, Compliance Coordinator for State and Civil Rights Laws; Wendy Malich, Title IX Officer; or John Sander, 504/ADA Coordinator at 315 129th ST S, Tacoma, WA 98444-5099 or at (253)298-3000.