Mid Valley Middle School
Back to School Issue September 2022
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL - STUDENTS
2022-2023 Student Handbook
Middle School Enrichment
7th and 8th Graders have an enrichment class that is used to provide instruction in a variety of topics we feel are important for middle schoolers. The classes are taught on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays with Tuesdays and Thursdays used for band and chorus pull-out along with transition and study time. The 1st Trimester includes Mid Valley’s bullying prevention program, character education and social emotional learning. It will also include study skills. One skill that we will touch on now is that of organization.
Learn About Study Skills
Getting Organized
Grace Fleming (2020), a homework/study tips expert says that, “The middle school years are so important for a student's academic career! This is a time when habits are formed that will remain with students through high school and college. It is important to lay a solid foundation when it comes to time management and taking responsibility for the actions that lead to school success! Middle school is the time to start using a planner the right way.”
One habit that needs to be taught and encouraged in middle school is planning and time management. One question to ask students is “Do you use a planner?” The answer is often "no," which is disappointing. It is almost impossible for a student to be successful at the middle school level and beyond, if they do not know what is due and when. One way is write down or record their assignments and tests in a calendar format on a planner or app. Every student in Mid Valley is issued a Chromebook and has access to Google Calendar, an excellent organizational tool for recording due dates for assignments, projects, and quizzes/tests.
We encourage all students to use the Google Calendar or a written planner. Below is an article by Grace Fleming that includes tips for using a planner. At the bottom of this page are Youtube videos about how to effectively use a written planner and a tutorial about Google Calendar.
Please take the time to review this information with your parents. Study skills are the most important skills to master for students to get good grades.
Sincerely,
The Middle School Teachers
Tips for Using a Planner (excerpt)
By: Grace Fleming
"The assignment is due when? Tomorrow?"
We've all been there at some point. Somehow, that assignment due date just slipped right up on us without our noticing. That is why organizational skills are so important to school performance. Who can afford to score a big fat "0" on a paper, just because we got lazy and didn't pay attention to the due date? Who wants to get an "F" because we forgot to put our completed project in our book bag the night before it was due? Poor organization skills can reduce your final scores by a whole letter grade. That's why you should learn to use a day planner the right way.
Tips for Using a Planner
Make the planner a part of your daily routine. Carry it with you at all times and remember to check it every morning and every night.
Read the full article on ThoughtCo at https://www.thoughtco.com/using-student-planners-1857577
Fleming, Grace. (2020, August 26). Organize Your Time With a Day Planner. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/using-student-planners-1857577
MID VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL CLUBS, SPORTS, & ACTIVITIES
Book Club
Monthly meetings, prepare for annual NEIU Reading Competition. Book list that students can start, goal is to have members read 3-5 books over the course of the school year. Will organize once school starts in September. Mrs. Piorkowki piorkowskis@mvsd.us
Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science- PJAS
Prepare a science project, conduct research and experiments, document results, prepare presentation and present. Regional Event is in March, States in May. Contact Dr. Banik, banikj@mvsd.us,
LEO Club
Middle School Newspaper
If you are a budding journalist or just like to write, look for our organization meeting in September. Mrs. Beck is the contact. beckc@mvsd.us
Middle School Student Council
Student Council is a student-based civic organization designed to help promote school spirit and leadership among students. We will be looking for homeroom representatives and at-large members. Come help us make a difference at MId Valley. Miss Dzanis dzanism@mvsd.us and Mrs. Beck beckc@mvsd.us
Middle School Honor Society
Selection to the National Junior Honor Society is based on scholarship, character, leadership, service, and citizenship. To be eligible for membership consideration, a student must have a cumulative average of 95 (A) or above for six consecutive quarters and must show that they completed five (5) hours of community service. Grades for each particular subject (including minor subjects) must be an 87 (B) or above in order to be acceptable toward the cumulative or quarter averages. Classes in which the student receives a pass/fail or letter grade must achieve a passing grade to qualify. This timeframe starts at the beginning of the seventh grade, thereby being eligible for selection to NJHS in their eighth grade year.
Chess Club
Meets monthly in person in the library. Contact Mrs. Piorkowski (piorkowskis@mvsd.us)
Drama Club
Drama Club sign ups will be held in September. Sign up sheets will be posted on the auditorium doors. The musical will take place the first weekend of April, 2022. Auditions will be in November for actors.
Middle School Chorus
Chorus holds a winter and spring concert. They also participate in Music in the Parks, which is a competition held each year with an award ceremony held at Dorney Park. Contact Mr. Jonathan Mengoni mengonij@mvsd.us Chorus pullout will be Tues and Thur during 6th period.
Outdoor Adventure Club
Activities include: Sky Zone, Snow tubing, Roller skating and hopefully skiing this year. Meetings are monthly. Come to all activities or just the ones that interest you.
Contact Mr. Buza (buzaw@mvsd.us)
Marching and Concert Band
SADD- Students Against Destructive Decisions
Random Acts of Kindness- RAK Club
Random Acts of Kindness Club meets once or twice a month. Contact Mrs Graff (graffc@mvsd.us) .
GSA-Gay Straight Alliance Club
Club meets once or twice a month. Contact Mrs Graff (graffc@mvsd.us).
FALL SPORTS
Freshmen Football
Freshmen football has already started summer practices; Stan Yanoski (Head Coach); practices are currently Monday-Thursday from 9-11:30 AM until school begins. yanoskis@mvsd.us
Tennis
7th and 8th graders are welcome to join as a club sport to learn the basics of the game and attend the practices so they are familiar with it by the time they reach 9th grade and can actually compete on the team. Interested tennis players will need a physical and a completed PIAA form. The Girls season is fall so middle of August until last week of September. The Boys season is spring so middle of March until end of April. Emily Messett is the coach messette@mvsd.us
Jr High Boys Soccer
Jr High Girls Soccer
WINTER SPORTS
Jr. High Girls Basketball
Basketball begins in November and runs through February. You will learn the skills necessary to prepare you for high school play. There are also opportunities throughout the year to practice the skills learned. If you are interested, please contact Coach Hooper hooper@mvsd.us or Coach Larson larsond@mvsd.us
Jr. High Boys Basketball
Contact Coach Abda (abdam@mvsd.us) or Coach Smolley (smolleyj@mvsd.us)
SPRING SPORTS
Jr. High Baseball
Stephen Hooper (hoopers@mvsd.us), who is the head junior high baseball coach. Other assistant coaches are coach Corey Shevchik, coach Stan Yanoski (yanoskis@mvsd.us), coach Carmen Dellia and coach Mario Bonacci. Please contact Coach Ryan Kropa (kropar@mvsd.us) with any questions and keep an eye out on the school’s social media accounts, school website and Mid Valley Baseball’s Facebook page for baseball/spring sports information. Hope to see you in the Spring!!
Jr. High Softball
Coach Sarah Ross (rosss@mvsd.us) The season starts in March but conditioning may start as early as January.
Jr. High Track & Field
Track and Field Preseason workouts for Jr. High typically begin in February. Mandatory Practice starts the first week of March. Track and Field is a sport for all athletes with multiple events. Events are distance running, mid distance and sprints, along with jumps and throwing events. There is an event for everyone. Please follow us on Facebook Mid Valley Track and Field and listen for announcements in school. Contact Coach Kazinetz (kazinetzn@mvsd.us) or Coach Sean Sholtes (sholtess@mvsd.us) our head Jr. High Coach.