MMS Friday Flier
“Enter to Learn, Strive to Achieve!”
The MISSION of Middletown Middle School is to engage students as 21st century learners who strive to achieve their goals. We support students through rigor and active participation within a culture of cooperation, organization, determination and excellence to prepare our students for college and careers.
“The Vision of Middletown Middle School is to challenge students of all abilities to achieve excellence in a wide range of academic and cultural pursuits. Students are equipped to meet the demands and opportunities of the 21st century by receiving a differentiated, effective, and rigorous curriculum. Staff believe and demonstrate that all students can master the essential 21st century skills. The culture of Middletown Middle will include high expectations for all, frequent monitoring of student progress, multiple opportunities for student learning, high levels of engagement, exceptional communication, and daily purposeful integration of technology. We will make it a priority to recognize the academic and extracurricular achievements of our school community. Middletown Middle School will have highly-motivated professional staff and authentic partnerships between the school and home.”
Value Statements
Teachers actively engage students by interacting, moving around the classroom, and allowing them to own their learning.
Staff will have knowledge of the whole student so that lessons provide challenge and rigor for all abilities.
Teachers facilitate lessons where students are engaged, not merely compliant.
Teachers facilitate lessons that allow for students to lead and take risks.
Staff will make authentic learning opportunities a priority in the classroom.
Staff collaborates to promote 21st century student learning
ACTION REQUIRED
Dear Staff,
You are being asked to participate in FCPS’ system-wide perceptual survey. Please take a few minutes to provide your thoughts and opinions regarding our current climate and your current experience working in FCPS.
Your participation in this survey is voluntary; however, your feedback is critical to the school’s improvement efforts and evaluating district-wide progress related to strategic goals. Your responses will remain confidential. Your responses will be combined with those of other employees at Middletown Middle School.
We are setting aside Monday, November 27th during PL time to complete the 15 minute survey if you choose to.
Please click on the following link to complete the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QY76PGW
Please complete the survey by Wednesday, December 6.
If you have any questions regarding the survey website, please contact Terry Simmers, Lead Data Assistant, in the System Accountability and School Improvement (SASI) department (terry.simmers@fcps.org; ext. 66912). Other questions related to the survey can be directed to Natalie Gay, Coordinator of Data Analysis, in the SASI department (natalie.gay@fcps.org; ext. 66890).
Thank you in advance for your participation and for your service to the students of FCPS.
EW
Teaming on 11/28
Tuesday, 11/28, will not be a Walkthrough Teaming as normally scheduled. We will have a PL from SPED/MATH/LA team on dyslexia, dysgraphia, & dyscalculia during our normal teaming time. Please meet in the green conference room as usual.
Holiday giving message from Kellie Phillips:
This year, as a staff, we are supporting two different families for the holiday season. Please know that your support and generosity is greatly appreciated, but that this is in no way an obligation.
As we have in the past, we are participating in the Middletown Valley People Helping People Holiday Adopt-a-Family Program. We were given a family with a 12 year old boy that attends school here at MMS. We need to spend a minimum of $75 on the child and $25 on a grocery store gift card for the family. Kellie Phillips will be collecting money through Monday, December 4th.
We have also decided to support Steve Welty's family during the holiday season. In addition to family mentioned above, Kellie will be collecting money that we will give to the Welty family as we thought this would be a good way to support Kelly (Welty) and the boys during Christmas. Please give Kellie your donation for the Welty family by Friday, December 15th.
If you are writing a check, please make it out to me (Kellie Phillips) because I will be making all of the purchases. Also, it would be really helpful if you could specify who the donation is for.
Kellie will send out reminders and updates through the Friday Flier and our weekly teamings.
Teachers as Subs
If you are willing to substitute throughout the school day and be paid, please email Chasten that you would like to be added to the list if you were not added at the beginning of the year. She will add you to the list of teachers to contact in emergency situations when Margie is already subbing and we cannot fill a sub job.
Please be aware that just because you are added to the our sub list and Chasten contacts you, that you are not obligated to say yes.
PTSA Membership Form Distribution
Attention: Parents of 8th Grade Students
We will be hosting a Parent Information Night about the Personal Education/Career Plan, also known as the High School Four-Year Plan. This presentation will be parent-focused. Students will be having student-focused presentations through their Science classes in December and January.
What: 8th Grade High School Plan Parent Night
When: Thursday, December 14, 2017 @ 6:30 pm
Where: Middletown Middle School Media Center
As part of the 8th Grade College/Career Unit, all 8th grade students are required to complete a Personal Education/Career Plan, also known as the Four-Year Plan. In December and January , the school counselors will be teaching 8th graders about the Four-Year High School Plan. This lesson is designed to assist 8th graders with two tasks: (1) to begin planning for high school and (2) to begin thinking about post-secondary educational and career options. During this lesson, 8th graders will begin to create a plan for their four years in high school. Specifically, students will learn about high school credits and graduation requirements, consider their individual strengths and weaknesses, review career clusters, and utilize the Naviance/Family Connection (Web-based program) to complete a course plan for high school.
Parents, please plan to attend this informative presentation about the High School Four-Year Plan so you will be prepared to assist your child in developing his/her unique plan. Please keep in mind that this is NOT 9th grade registration. 9th grade registration/orientation night at Middletown High School will be held at 6pm on Thursday, February 1, 2017, at Middletown High School (snow date: Feb. 5th @ 6pm). However, one of the counselors from Middletown High School will be present to help answer questions.
You can RSVP for this event through –https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1d_yRujI1JZb_Y2GGZAJNEYypi52lwfdj84omgoOgr0g/edit
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. And thank you for the continued support and encouragement you give your child(ren)!
Matt Butts
School Counselor
Middletown Middle School
100 Martha Mason St.
Middletown, MD 21769
240-236-4204 phone
240-236-4249 fax
Social Committee
Friends. Are you just not feeling happy? Has life got you down for the count? Do you feel like your get-up-and-go has got-up-and-gone? Then you need to pay your social dues! That's right, just one social dues in the morning will make you a new person! Why, you'll be the envy of others with your new happy, happy, happy outlook on life! So don't wallow in the mud-puddle of life; pay social dues and feel like your old self again. One bottle of social dues is just $10. But if you act now, you'll get a second bottle of social dues absolutely free! Just pay a separate fee of $10. Please consult your physician before taking any new medication. Side-effects include uncontrollable giggling, spontaneous cheering, and urges to dance in circles. Serious side effects include writing silly things in newsletters!
Have a good weekend, and thank you to those who have paid their social dues.
'Tis the Season for the Scholastic Book Fair Warehouse Sale!
December 5th and 6th at the Frederick Fairgrounds. All books are Buy ONE Get ONE FREE this year.
You must pre-register. Check out this flier. The link for registration is on the flier.
Happy Reading!
SLO Conference Documents *ACTION REQUIRED*
Thank you for submitting your SLO. In preparation for upcoming SLO conferences, please review and provide your comments on the Initial Domain 5/SLO Conference document linked below. Make a copy and share with your SLO evaluator.
Initial Domain 5/ SLO Conference
LA/SS Due to Josh: 11/17
From the Media Center:
The library now has two Breakoutedu boxes. If you are planning an activity please let me know and I can set the locks for you. Also, think about using the library space for the event. The large space means we can arrange the groups so they are nowhere near each other and can’t ‘accidentally’ listen in as one group solves a piece of the puzzle.
Also –The library is open every day during ELT. Please send only one student at a time from each ELT. No phone call is required.
Self-Care and Mindfulness Corner
In our busy lives and in this fast paced world we live in, it is even more vital and important that we practice self-care. Self-care is looking after yourself and is anything you do to maintain your physical, emotional, or mental health. Self-care is your way of giving yourself a giant hug and making sure to “fill up your cup”!
Every week check out the Friday Flier for a new self-care tip or mindfulness technique!
Capture Kindess
World Kindness Day is November 13th.
Do you want to make a difference, get inspired, and be part of a global kindness movement?
Join: The #CaptureKindness Challenge
A 14-week opportunity to share and capture acts of kindness!
It kicks off on World Kindness Day (Nov 13, 2017) and culminates on Random Acts of Kindness Day (Feb 17, 2018)! We will end our Kindness Campaign with a “Week of Kindness” February 12-16.
How do I participate and win prizes?
Join the challenge by signing the Kindness Pledge and then do 1 act of kindness each of the 14 weeks.
Need ideas? No sweat! Every week has a different theme and sample ideas based on that theme! The best part? By posting a photo of your weekly act of kindness with the hashtag #CaptureKindness, you can win awesome prizes and inspire more people to join! Let's show the world that kindness is everywhere when we choose to focus on it.
Wednesday Wisdom
Faces at MiMS
Once again this week, we are featuring staff in our special education department. Last week's feature was Dawn Dostalik. This week we are featuring Julie Rippeon.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Hagerstown, MD.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love spending time with my family.
Do you have any pets? If so, what do you have?
No pets.
Where is your favorite place to go on vacation? or Where would you love to travel?
My favorite place so far is the beach.
What is your favorite sports team?
Whatever team my grandsons are on.
What is one interesting fact about you?
I am an artist.
Continuous School Improvement Team (CSI)
The CSI team cancelled this past week's meeting. We will be meeting again on Monday, November 27th, at 3:12 in the Green Conference Room. All are welcome to attend.
Friday, May 11 - Career Day
The Counseling Dept. and valuable committee members will be working through the planning process with putting such a great day together for all of our students at Middletown Middle School.
We look forward to our staff, parent, and community support of this great day of learning for our students. Our parent and community stepped up big time last year to help us have such a wonderfully diverse group of people and careers represented at our Career Day! We look forward to seeing many returning volunteers and hope for some new volunteers willing to step up and share out exciting information about their world of work with our students.
BYOD Device Assistance
Use this link to assist students in using their BYOD devices: BYOD assistance
Chromebook
Please review the Chromebook FAQ to answer several frequently asked questions that have been asked by teachers since we have transitioned to 1:1. We will be continually refining our practices to become more effective as a team.
After School Detention
Shields
Tech Issues
Are you having a technology concern and need Leslie. This year there is a form to fill out to make the process easier for staff. Please use the following Google Form when requesting technology help/fixes: Tech Request Form .