Midway Mustang Memo
October 2019
Dear Families,
With the onset of autumn many school activities come alive! We had our first International Fall Festival on Saturday, October 12th. It was an exciting day as we learned about the different cultures that make up Midway and celebrated the many heritages. Our PTO coordinated the event and we are extremely thankful for the dedication that made this day a huge success!
If you would like to continue to celebrate the fall season, there will be a Trunk or Treat for elementary students at Denmark High School on Monday, October 28th, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. It will be located in the front parking lot (the lot in front of the main office at the high school), and there is no cost! We have a close community of schools that feed into Denmark High and we are grateful for the activities they plan with us and for us.
Please schedule a conference with your child’s teacher. These conferences provide an opportunity for students to report on how they are making progress towards their academic and personal goals. As a reminder, Wednesday and Thursday, (October 23 & 24) are early release days for conferences. Friday, October 25, is a student holiday.
As parents, you are your child’s first teacher. Helping your child build a rich vocabulary will support success in school and beyond. Reading is an excellent way to foster vocabulary growth. Daily conversations with our children also provide an opportunity to explore and try out new vocabulary. Education Professor Nell Duke from the University of Michigan shares some additional strategies you can use to expand a child’s vocabulary in the article Helping Your Child Build a Strong Vocabulary Happy reading and happy learning!
In addition, we have some enriching resources for developing conceptual knowledge and number sense in math. DreamBox is a website-based program located on your student’s Class Link page. It is funded by our district and enhances math concepts and standards that are taught within the classroom. If you need any assistance accessing or navigating your child’s Itslearning or Class Link page, watch for news about a parent information session forthcoming or reach out to our ITS, Jennifer Lundstrum. jlundstrum@forsyth.k12.ga.us.
Enjoy this fall season with your family! We look forward to seeing you at conferences!
With warm regards,
Jan Munroe, Daphne Rogers, Greg Walkup, and Jennifer Brown
Important Dates
October 21st-November 1st-Read-A-Thon
October 22nd-Read with a High Schooler Night at Denmark
October 23rd and 24th-Early Release/Parent Conferences
October 25th-Student Holiday
October 28th-Trunk or Treat at Denmark
November 25-29th-Thanksgiving Break
Trunk or Treat
What: Denmark Community Trunk or Treat
Where: Front parking lot of DHS (lot in front of main office)
When: Monday, 10/28
Time: 6-7:30
Hosted by: DHS teams, clubs, organizations, departments, classes, etc. (up to 3 trunks per group)
READ-A-THON
Our Read-a-thon will start October 21st, 2019. We are sending home flyers k with your reader explaining how you will activate their personal Read-a-thon page. You will know that we have distributed the take home sheet because we will also place a green Read-a-thon bracelet around your child’s wrist as a reminder.
We understand that, as parents, you have high expectations for the quality of your child’s education but also have limited time. That’s why we chose to hold a Read-a-thon. You will find this to be the easiest fundraiser possible. By simply activating your reader’s personal page and using the promotional tools found there, friends and family anywhere in the world can show their support for your reader by making a donation to our Read-a-thon. Your involvement in the Read-a-thon will help your child develop a lasting love of reading. We hope each one of you will activate your child’s personal page the day your child brings home their paperwork. Hopefully they will be wearing their green bracelet as well.
Technology Information
Here at Midway teachers are educating themselves and students on digital citizenship. We want students to use technology but in a safe responsible manner.
Our Digital Citizenship Plan: Every student at Midway ES will become a responsible digital citizen who knows how to harness the learning potential of digital media in a 24/7 connected world, safely, effectively, ethically, and respectfully. Students at this school will be educated about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms and cyber bullying awareness and response. In order to accomplish this goal, each year students will be provided with direct instruction on how to be a responsible digital citizen.
You can do your part at home by talking to your kids about what sites are appropriate for their age and your family's preferences. The 3Is of Internet safety are a quick snapshot of what parents need to support and protect their children. They are applicable to students of every age and grade level:
- Informed: Parents need a balanced perspective of technology use, and it’s important to present the positives and negatives. Technology is critical to learning and to the future of our students.
- Interested: Become interested in your child’s learning and technology use. Look at their work, and have the child explain what they are doing, why they are doing it, and why it’s significant. Always have your child's user name and passwords for any websites/games.
- In View: Keep devices out of bedrooms and in public spaces. Keeping all devices in view, while sometimes difficult, will help keep young people safe.
Please follow this link for more information on how Forsyth County and parents can help their students stay safe in a digital world. See image below for the many tools available for families at this site.
Midway PTO
The Midway PTO would like to thank all who came out for our first ever International Fun Festival. We would especially like to thank all who represented a country and all those who helped to make the day happen. Judging by the smiles, laughter and great food at the Festival, it was a resounding success!
This week’s book fair is a great lead-in to our next PTO event, our annual Read-A-Thon. This event challenges our children to commit to reading for at least thirty minutes a day for a week. Please help your child set up their dashboard online using the log-in that will be sent home by your child’s teacher. There will also be a informational flier in his/her Friday Folder.
Once your child’s Read-A-Thon dashboard is set up, they will receive a custom Midway bookmark. On the back, you’ll see everything your PTO does throughout the year.
Please consider sponsoring your child for the Read-A-Thon. Because of your generous contributions, the Midway PTO has started to fulfill the teacher grant requests. So far, we have purchased items for every first grader at Midway to advance their reading skills. These purchases will benefit every first grade class for years to come. Your contributions to the PTO have also created a “Calming Corner” to create a more inclusive and comfortable experience while visiting Ms. Driscoll and Dr. Collins.
We are also in the final stages of purchasing some playground equipment. We will announce this once everything has been finalized through the County and the manufacturer.
Thanks to all who have helped with the many PTO Initiatives so far this year!
Counselor's Corner
Red Ribbon Week
October 21st – 24th
I Believe in Me: Happy, Healthy, and Drug Free
This year Midway has been assigned canned carrots for the Hands Across Forsyth Annual Food Drive. Beginning on Monday students can bring in a can of carrots. We will collect donations through November 5th. Collection boxes will be in the lobby.
Monday, Oct. 21st - “Wear Red Day” Students can wear red shirts, dresses, etc… to help kick off the week and show their commitment to being drug free.
Tuesday, Oct. 22nd “Extra, Extra, Read All About it!” Students will receive a bookmark celebrating reading and being drug free.
Wednesday, Oct. 23rd - “Use Your head, Don’t Use Drugs” Bring in $1.00 to donate to World Vision to help purchase goats and clean water for those in need in Africa and wear a hat.
Thursday, Oct.24th - . “Sock it to Drugs” Students can wear crazy or mismatched socks to sock it to drugs.
Friday, Oct.25th - “Celebrate Kindness” Even though there is no school today, let’s celebrate the end of Red Ribbon Week by doing 2 acts of kindness.
News from Nurse Monahan
Forsyth County will have their annual Flu Shot Clinic on Wednesday, October 23rd from 2:00-6:00 PM at Sawnee Elementary School. There is no cost but if you have insurance, bring your insurance card with you. A parent/guardian must accompany all students.
If your student has vomited, had diarrhea or has had a temperature greater than 100 F they must stay home for at least 24 hours before returning to school. Allow enough time for persistent coughs to improve as well. Please report any contagious illness to the nurse (Flu, Strep, Pink Eye, Mono, Meningitis, Chicken Pox, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Fifths Disease, MRSA, Impetigo etc.) Rest assured that all information is kept confidential. If multiple cases are reported within a short time period within the same class, parents are notified of the situation without any personal information released.
Please remember that all parents/guardians must bring medication to the clinic. This includes over the counter medication like cough drops etc. The clinic is more than happy to keep medication that will alleviate symptoms for a student so they can remain in class comfortably and avoid phone calls home.
From the Midway Café
Hello to cooler weather!!! It’s finally here as we approach November! I love the cool, crisp air in the fall, don’t you?
The year is zipping by & we’re having so much fun in the café.
October 11th, we celebrated National Farmer’s Day. We wanted to recognize those that work so hard to provide the food we eat. There are several farms right here in Georgia that we purchase fruits & vegetables from. We’ve had peaches from Jaemore Farms & apples from Mercier Farms plus much more. Both staff and students participated by wearing their farm attire. I was also able to spend some time with one of Mr. Dillon’s science classes talking about the importance of farms and read a book to them. Check out the pictures.
Our November Harvests of the Month will be sweet potatoes and beets. Both are low in calories & fat, good sources of fiber and many of the nutrients we need. Always a good choice for a healthy diet. Baked sweet potato fries are a regular part of our menu here in the café.
November will also bring our annual Veteran’s Day & Mickey Mouse Birthday celebrations. It’s also the month we remember to be full of thanksgiving for so much good in our lives. We’re thankful for each of you and your children. Come visit when you can and as always, we’re here each day if you need us!
Media Center
Denmark High School will host students from Midway and Brandywine Elementary for a special community event Tuesday October 22nd, 6:30-7:30pm! We look forward to seeing you there!
General Reminders
We already have a growing collection of items in the lost and found. Please write your child's name inside their jackets, sweaters, lunch boxes, water bottles, etc!
Forsyth County Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, or gender in employment decisions or educational programs and activities.
Midway Elementary School
Email: jlundstrum@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Website: www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/midway
Location: 4805 Atlanta Highway, Alpharetta, GA, United States
Phone: 770-475-6670
Facebook: facebook.com/midwayes
Twitter: @MidwayES