Middletown Messenger
August 2018
From the Principal's Pen
Middletown Families,
Welcome to the 2018-19 school year at Middletown! My name is Justin Matson, and as the principal, I just want to tell you how much I love my job! The members of our staff take great pride in their passion and dedication to teaching and to students.
I would like to thank our staff and families for helping us make the start of school an exciting time for our new students. Our Parent Teacher Association (PTA) worked diligently over the summer to prepare for several opening-of-school events. Stay tuned for upcoming events and other information from the PTA throughout the school year. Middletown Elementary also has a Facebook page that is updated frequently and includes links to SignUpGenius for events and other information.
This Friday, the PTA is scheduling their first ever Back-to-School Movie Night on the back baseball field. Bring a chair, and be prepared to have a great evening. I look forward to seeing many families and students at this event. Come out for a great night of fun, and get to know some of our amazing Middletown families and students.
The safety of your child is of the utmost importance to us, and our office staff will be asking for photo identification of all adults entering the building. Please be prepared with this information when you plan to enter the building. I know this may take an extra minute of your time, but I thank you in advance for your understanding and patience.
Each year, we work diligently to improve our car rider line efficiency and it usually takes a couple weeks for students to get used to the routines and procedures. I also ask that you wait, if at all possible, until after 3:30 p.m. to enter the carpool lines, particularly the line off of Madison Avenue. This will help keep the traffic flow on Madison Avenue safe and clear.
Middletown is focusing on student leadership and building student leadership. We will be initiating many opportunities for students to be leaders of their own learning. Our staff has read The Leader in Me by Stephen Covey, and we will be teaching the seven habits of highly effective people to students throughout the school year. We will keep you updated throughout the year, with ideas for building these habits at home as well. All of our students will also be working on real-world projects throughout the year and adding many of these projects to their digital “Backpack” that they will showcase throughout their JCPS career as a student. We are excited to announce that our fifth-grade students will prepare defenses of their learning before the end of the school year and will meet with teachers and other adults to defend their transition readiness for middle school. There will be more to come regarding this initiative, and I look forward to collaborating with families regarding this exciting work!
If you have a classroom concern, please talk with your child’s teacher first. The teacher needs to hear the concern so he or she can work with you to make your child successful. Our staff comes to school each day to make sure your child is successful.
If you have a concern with academics, please contact our school Goal Clarity Coach, Tina Morris. She works regularly with teachers in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and is dedicated to partnering with you to ensure the success of every student. You may email or conference with her as necessary.
If you have a concern with discipline in school or on the bus, please call or email our counselor, Chas Meinecke, or Ms. Mettling, the assistant principal. Mr. Meinecke and Mrs. Mettling will be more than happy to collaborate with you to help eliminate any barriers to success for your child.
Your partnership and the collaboration of all Middletown families and staff are priorities for us. Together, we will ensure that Middletown Elementary continues to find the brilliance in every child and meet the needs of our incredible students!
Sincerely,
Justin Matson
Ms. Mettling's Systems & Facilities Updates
Dear Families,
This year, our school will implement the Seven Habits of Happy Kids and Leader in Me to introduce students in kindergarten through fifth grade to personal leadership. All students have the ability to lead in their own lives and affect those around them by making positive academic and social choices. During the first two weeks of Paws Time, all teachers will be leading activities that will help students learn practical character and life skills that will lead to those positive choices. These activities are fun and differentiated for each grade level and designed to get students thinking.
Your child is beginning an exciting journey to develop leadership skills. We hope that you ask your child how he/she is doing along the way and have him/her teach you these habits as we grow throughout the school year.
The 7 Habits are:
Habit 1—Be Proactive. I am a responsible person, and I take initiative. I choose my actions, attitudes, and moods. I do not blame others for my wrong actions. I do the right thing without being asked, even when no one is looking.
Habit 2—Begin With the End in Mind. I plan ahead and set goals that are meaningful and make a difference. I am an important part of my classroom and contribute to my school’s mission and vision. I look for ways to be a good citizen.
Habit 3—Put First Things First. I spend time on things that are most important. I set priorities, make a schedule, and follow my plan. I am disciplined and organized.
Habit 4—Think Win-Win. I balance courage for getting what I want with consideration for what others want. If I have a conflict, I look for win-win solutions.
Habit 5—Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood. I listen to other people’s ideas and feelings. I try to see things from their viewpoint. I listen without interrupting. I listen with my ears, eyes, and heart. I am confident in voicing my ideas.
Habit 6—Synergize. I value other people’s strengths and learn from them. I get along well with others, even people who are different from me. I work well in groups. I seek other’s ideas because I know that by teaming with others, we can create better solutions than any one of us could alone. I look for Third Alternatives.
Habit 7—Sharpen the Saw. I eat right, exercise, and get enough sleep for my body. My brain learns in lots of ways and in lots of places, not just at school. I spend time with family and friends for my heart. I take time to find meaningful ways to help people (soul). I balance all four parts of myself.
Mr. Meinecke's-Counselor's Corner
Hello Middletown Elementary School and Community,
I am very honored to again work and serve the Middletown family/community as school counselor for the 2018-19 school year. It is amazing to be working in a culture of excellence and commitment as well as an environment where everyone takes care of one another. At Middletown, we are committed to discovering the brilliance in every student and building each one up as leaders in their homes, school, and community. As counselor I am committed to building upon and strengthening the educational community and will continue to make sure we do whatever it takes to ensure the safety and success of each child we serve.
As counselor at Middletown, I conduct individual and group sessions to address various needs of students as needed. I also oversee the Exceptional Child Education (ECE) Program (a.k.a. special education) to address specific educational and developmental needs of individual students. As counselor, I also oversee various assessments conducted throughout the year (e.g., Advance Program test, Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State [ACCESS] test, and the Kentucky Performance Rating for Educational Progress [K-PREP]).
This year, I am happy to announce that I will be putting together a Counselor Advisory Council that will meet once in the fall and again in the spring. The council will also meet as needed throughout the year. It will consist of various faculty and staff members of the school and will also include two to three parents who will speak on behalf of other parents. The purpose of the council is to help guide and hold me accountable for making sure my role as the school counselor is being done efficiently and effectively. It will help direct me on how to best meet the various needs of our students, teachers, parents, and community. If multiple parents show interest, members will be chosen through a selection process.
AP Information Dinner—We have an upcoming event on Wednesday, September 5. There will be dinner provided for parents and families attending the Advance Program information meeting at 6 p.m. This is for anyone wishing to receive information about the screening/selection process for the Advance Program and what it offers. This coming October, all third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students will take the CogAT screening assessment to identify students who may qualify to be considered to participate in the Advance Program for the following school year. Please R.S.V.P. below if you wish to attend. We thank Southeast Christian Church for providing the dinner.
Career Day/Fair—On Thursday, November 8, we will be having a Career Day/Fair at Middletown Elementary and I would like to invite any parent/guardian willing to participate and share with students information about their careers. More information will be give at a later date, but if you are interested in participating, please let me know by contacting me with the information below. Please know that anyone wanting to participate must pass a background check. To complete this, please click on the link: https://bit.ly/2ByRX9C.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the services I provide or if you are interested in being a part of the Counselor Advisory Council, please feel free to contact me through email at chas.meinecke@jefferson.kyschools.us or by phone at 485-8300.
I thoroughly enjoy serving the students, parents, staff, and community as the school counselor in Middletown and will continue to do so to the best of my ability.
Sincerely,
Chas Meinecke
AP Information Dinner
Wednesday, Sep 5, 2018, 06:00 PM
Middletown Elementary School, North Madison Avenue, Louisville, KY, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Ms. Morris' Academic Goals
MAP Testing
In the coming weeks students will begin taking the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment. This assessment is a diagnostic tool that will help your child’s teacher provide targeted instruction in reading and math. MAP testing data will be used in conjunction with several other measures to assess your child’s academic achievement.
MAP is a computer adaptive test that students take two to three times a school year. The results provide teachers with information to help them deliver appropriate content for each student and determine each student’s academic growth over time. Computer adaptive tests adjust to each student’s learning level, providing a unique set of test questions based on their responses to previous questions. As the student responds to questions, the test responds to the student, adjusting up or down in difficulty.
MAP can follow students wherever they are starting from, regardless of the grade. For instance, if a third grader is actually reading like a fifth grader, MAP will be able to identify that. Or, if a fifth grader is doing math like a third grader, MAP will identify that. Both things are incredibly important for a teacher to know, so that he or she can plan instruction efficiently. MAP covers reading and math.
After each MAP test, results are delivered in the form of a score that reflects the student’s academic knowledge, skills, and abilities. Think of this score like marking height on a growth chart. You can tell how tall your child is at various points in time and how much they have grown between one stage and another. It is essential for families and teachers to collaborate to help promote this growth in every student! We look forward to working with you to help your child grow.
The Hite/Middletown Family Resource Center
HMFRC Mission: “To mobilize and coordinate students and family-focused activities at times and in locations appropriate to their needs. Through the creation of a local source of information and support, the HMFRC will strive to support students and their families in order to overcome barriers to achievement. By providing this support, the center will assist children to reach their full human potential as caring, competent, lifelong learners who contribute to the community in a positive manner.”
Welcome Back!
Hello, Middletown families! We are very excited for the 2018-19 school year, and we know it will be the best year yet. Please stay tuned for wonderful opportunities, both for students and parents.
Educational Benefits Form
Middletown Elementary is one of 128 JCPS schools participating in the Community Eligibility (CE) Provision under the National School Lunch Program. The CE provision is directed toward schools with a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students. Under CE, all students receive a breakfast/lunch at no charge for the entire school year. However, to determine eligibility to receive additional benefits for our students and to determine funding for our school, we need ALL Middletown families to complete the Educational Benefits Form (EBF) every year. One per family is fine. If you have already submitted the form, thank you! The EBF is used for not only data-collecting purposes but also to identify students who would be considered for fee waivers as well as free and reduced-price meals. Some families may prefer not to disclose financial information; if this applies to you, there is check box in both the hard copy and the electronic copy of the form where you can elect not to disclose, but remember, by filling out the form, you are helping your child's school receive additional funds.
You are now able to fill the form out online at https://jcps.me/ebf. For more information you can also click here.
I am also available and more than happy to help you fill this form out over the phone, or I can send a hard copy home. Please let me know and I will send it home with your child. All you have to do is return it to school when you have completed it.
HMFRC Shout Outs!
Parents, the community, and schools working together helps promote the health, well being, and learning of all students. Family and community involvement fosters amazing partnerships among schools, family and community groups, and individuals. These partnerships result in sharing and maximizing resources, and they help students and youth develop healthy behaviors and promote healthy families. It really does take a village, and the HMFRC is so very appreciative for all the support the Middletown Community and families give to our students!
A huge thank-you goes to to Southeast Christian Church and Lifebridge Ministries for their generous donation of school supplies! Their contributions will not only assist our students in getting ready for the new school year but will also provide continued support throughout the school year.
Also, thank you to Middletown Christian Church for supporting our students at with their donation of 100 backpacks filled with school supplies!
HMFRC Compliments, Concerns, Questions or Suggestions...
The HMFRC is always looking for volunteers and donations; if you have items (we are especially in need of sweatpants) to donate, feel free to send them my way.
My office door is always open, please come visit me Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, you can find me at Hite Elementary.
The Center’s hours are 8:30am-4:30pm.
email: elvira.paguada@jefferson.kyschools.us
Phone: 502.313.4504 (M, W, & F) or 502.313.4473 (T & Th)
Follow the center on Social Media:
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Extracurricular Activities
After School Fencing Program
- Where: Middletown Elementary School
- Grades: 3 and up
- When: Mondays, 4 to 5 p.m. | Fall Session: September 10 to November 12, 2018
**No Class on October 8 and November 5**
- How long: This is an eight-week class.
- Instructor: The program is under the teaching of Coach Dwain Kent, with oversight from Maestro Les Stawicki, head coach of the Louisville Fencing Center (LFC).
- Uniform: Pants, T-shirt, and fencing glove will be provided by LFC at the first class. Fencers will also need to provide their own white knee-high socks, and tennis/court shoes. Fencers must be wearing the uniform to participate in class activities.
- Equipment: All equipment (mask, jacket, and practice weapon) will be provided by the LFC for student use during the class sessions as needed.
- How much: Beginners pay $140 ($100 for classes and $40 for glove, T-shirt, pants, and USFA Membership.)
- To enroll: Please return forms (please download below) and payment to front office, marked attention Elvira Paguada, HMFRC Coordinator.
If you have any questions, email Coach Kent at dwainkent@gmail.com. (The subject line should indicate “Middletown Fencing.”)
2018 MES Parade PEP Team
It’s time to wear your MES cheer uniform & shake those poms!!!
- Who: Kindergarten - 5th grade girls
- When: Friday, August 31st, 4-5:30 PM and Friday, September 7th, 4-5:30 PM
- Where: MES Gym – snack provided
- Parade: Saturday, September 8th, 10:30-approx. 1:30 PM (Final details to be emailed)
- Cost: $10 (if retired uniform set and poms already owned) $30 (includes retired uniform set includes top, skirt, briefs and poms $30 value) Send check payable to SPIRIT! along with registration form to office BEFORE Thursday, August 30th to reserve your spot in the Parade!
Contact Coach Peplinski with additional questions at Rayanne@spirit-llc.com.
MIDDLETOWN CHEERING BULLDOGS & MASCOT PROGRAM
- CLINIC #1: Tuesday, Aug. 28th 4-6:30 PM (3:50-4:20 is dismissal, changing & snack) Evaluation Chant, Spirit Dance, Tumbling and Stunting will be taught. $5 fee.
- CLINIC #2: Tuesday, Sept. 4th 4-6:30 PM (3:50-4:20 is dismissal, changing & snack) Evaluation Chant, Spirit Dance, Tumbling and Stunting will be reviewed. $5 fee.
- CLINIC #3: Wednesday, Sept. 5th 4-6 PM (3:50-4:20 is dismissal, changing & snack) Evaluation Chant, Spirit Dance, Tumbling and Stunting will be reviewed.
- EVALUATIONS: Thursday, Sept. 6th 4-6:30 PM (3:50-4:20 is dismissal, changing & snack)
- TEAM ANNOUNCED: Thursday, Sept. 6th 6:30 PM after Evaluations and on WDOG the next morning.
Registration Packets located in the School Office.
The Waiver & Release and Permission to Participate must be completed, signed and turned into School Office prior to Tuesday, August 28th to be eligible
Dance at Middletown
Featuring Fortnight Dances with a Professional Twist
2018/2019
- When: September 6th—May
- Time: Thursday’s 3:45-4:45(Parents must be at the front of school by the office unless the child attends cep)
- Ages: 3rd-5th Grade
- Attire: Comfortable clothing that allows the body to move (no skirts please) and tennis shoes. Absolutely no bare feet or flip flops. The children will be allowed to change after they have reported to me in the gym.
- Cost: $40.00 per month, due the first class of the month. Payment for each month is $40 regardless of the duration of the month. Please make all checks payable to Casey Ross-Russell. To ensure registration the deadline will be August 26th
- Download registration form below; please mail registration forms with payment to: Casey Ross-Russell 5407 Highpoint Dr. Crestwood, Ky. 40014
Drama Club
Join us for drama club!
What: In just eight weeks, you can rehearse and perform a short play! You’ll memorize lines, rehearse movements, and put together props and costumes on your way to a big performance. Your parents will be glad that Drama Club helps build self-confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and creativity. You’ll be glad that Drama Club is a lot of fun. Join us for onstage excitement!
When: Wednesdays | September 19 -- November 7 | 4-5pm *
Who: 2nd-5th Grade
Cost: $99
Registration: Register Here or download the registration form below.
*The last 3 sessions (Oct. 24, Oct. 31, and Nov. 7) will be extended to 5:30 pm to help us prepare for our performance.
Girls on the Run Fall 2018
We are excited to announce that Middletown will have a Girls on the Run team in the fall! Girls on the Run is a ten-week after-school program that combines physical activity with inspiring, fun lessons that teach girls how to handle the difficult social pressures of adolescence. Girls on the Run provides girls in third through fifth grade with the tools they need to become strong, confident, healthy young women who make good choices. The season starts on Sept. 5 and ends with the Girls on the Run Fall 5K on Nov. 17 at Waterfront Park in downtown Louisville, where girls from all over the Kentuckiana area celebrate their accomplishments with their families, friends, and community! Please click here to view a video overview of Girls on the Run.
Practices will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. at school.
The cost of the program, including the Fall 5K, two T-shirts, a water bottle, snacks, a lifetime of important lessons, and much more, is $160. The registration fee can be paid in three monthly installments.
To register your girl for the Fall 2018 season, please click here. Team size is limited, so don’t delay in registering. Registration closes August 30, 2018. Financial need scholarships may be available to those who qualify.
Please email gotrlouky@gmail.com or visit the website at www.gotrlouisville.org to find out more.
Soccer
“Teaching the game” is an instructional soccer program that creates a fun and safe environment to teach children the game of soccer in their own school backyard and culminates in a JCPS school tournament. The program is comprised of 8 practice sessions and 1 tournament session.
PRACTICE
- Cost: $130
- Duration: 8 Weeks
- Practice day: Monday 4:00-5:00pm
- Practice calendar: 9.10, 9.17, 9.24,10.1, 10.15, 10.22, 10.29, 11.12 | Make up dates: 11.19 and 11.26
- Location: your school backyard
- Registration deadline: 9.3.18
- Registration: goo.gl/s8bPNv | Registration late fee: $10 apply after September 2nd
Visit http://www.kickssocceracademy.com and search for Programs/School Program Elementary.
If you experience technical problems email gionatan@kickssocceracademy.com and/or call (502) 759 11 85, Mon./Wed./Fri. from 9:00 to 11.00am
TOURNAMENT
- Day: October 13th 9:00am-11:00am
- Registration deadline: September 15th
- Location: Stopher Elementary
- Cost: $35. The fee covers the Tournament participation and the Player Kit (drawstring sport pack, shirt and water bottle, medal of participation)
- Coaches: KSA coaches and parent volunteer
- Registration: goo.gl/s8bPNv
Visit http://www.kickssocceracademy.com and search for Tournament/Elementary School
PLAYER PACKAGE
- Cost: $ 27.5. You can purchase the Player kit even if you are not planning on participating in the Tournament. The kit will be distributed in week 1/2 of the program
SCOLARSHIP FUND
Please, consider donating to the funds while registering. | Read www.kickssocceracademy.com/scolarshipfund to learn more about what your generosity has allowed us to achieve
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Back to School Movie Night & Family Picnic
- 7pm-Meet feelow Bulldog Families
- 8pm-The Greatest Showman begins (PG Rating)
Bring your own chairs and blankets.
Concessions to be sold by the PTA
Friday, Aug 24, 2018, 07:00 PM
Middletown Elementary School, North Madison Avenue, Louisville, KY, USA - Baseball Fields
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
About Us
Website: www.middletownelementary.org
Location: 218 North Madison Avenue, Louisville, KY, USA
Phone: 502-485-8300
Facebook: facebook.com/middletownelementary
Twitter: @MiddletownES