Manitou Springs Middle School
Friday, February 10th, 2023
Dear Middle School Families,
Next week students have an early release at 12:30 on Thursday, February 16th and no school on Friday, February 17th for virtual parent/teacher conferences. The links to sign up for conferences are below.
Thank you to our Parent Action Committee for creating a sign up for a Staff Breakfast on February 17th. This will get the day off to a great start for our teachers. If you would like to help, please sign up here:
ttps://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4AAFA72AA5F5C70-conference3
Sincerely,
Mr. Cady
Principal, MSMS
Dates for your Calendar
February 17th: Parent/Teacher Conferences - NO SCHOOL
February 20th: (President's Day)
February 23rd: PSAT 8th Grade - February 24th
Parent/Teacher Conference Signup Links
6th grade - https://calendly.com/curban6th/parent-teacher-conferences-spring-2023
Ms. Urban email: curban@mssd14.org
7th grade: https://calendly.com/smcqueeney/7th-conference-scheduling?month=2023-02
Mrs. McQueeney email: smcqueeney@mssd14.org8th grade: https://calendly.com/cduthoymsms/msms-parent-teacher-conferences-spring-2023
Mr. Duthoy email: cduthoy@mssd14.org
Project Lead The Way/Computer Science (Mattison) - https://calendly.com/dmattison/computer-science-virtual-parent-teacher-conferences
Ms. Mattison email: mmattison@mssd14.org
Math Intervention (Cowart) - https://calendly.com/mccowart/math-intervention-cowart-conferences
Ms. Cowart email: mcowart@mssd14.org
Spanish (Stuart) - https://calendly.com/mstuart-4/spanish-stuart-conferences
*Note: I am available for conferences after school on Monday, 2/13, and Wednesday, 2/15, and during the regular conference time on Thursday, 2/16, but not on Friday, 2/17.
Ms. Stuart email: mstuart@mssd14.org
P.E. (Lutz) - https://calendly.com/blutz-1/parent-teacher-conference
Mr. Lutz email: blutz@mssd14.org
P.E./Health (Allen) - https://calendly.com/tallen-13/parent-teacher-conference
Mrs. Allen email: tallen@mssd14.org
Choir (Ms. Steen) https://calendly.com/asteen1/choir-conferences
Ms. Steen email: steen@mssd14.org
Art (Leskee) - https://calendly.com/eleskee/art-conferences
Mrs. Leskee email: eleskee@mssd14.org
Careers in Construction (Bethke)
https://calendly.com/steve-bethke/15min
Mr. Bethke email: sbethke@mssd14.org
Band & Orchestra (Mr. Weimer) -
https://calendly.com/tweimerbandorchestra/band-orchestra-conferences-clone
Mr. Weimer email: tweimer@mssd14.org
Creativity Matters (Duthoy)
https://calendly.com/eduthoy/creativity-matters-ptcs?month=2023-02
Mrs. Duthoy email: eduthoy@mssd14.org
In the school
PSAT 8 Testing
Dear 8th Grade MSMS Families,
On February 24, 2023, your student will have the opportunity to take the PSAT 8 test. Only 8th grade students will be on campus. Standard testing rooms will be released for lunch at noon and dismissed from school at 12:20 p.m. Accommodation rooms will be dismissed to pick up a sack lunch and leave school at 12:33. Due to all the field trips, we are unable to provide transportation at the release times. Please arrange for your student to be picked up after testing. For those students who do not have transportation, an alternative activity will be provided until the regular 3:20 bus routes.
The PSAT 8 test is a baseline for your student in the SAT suite of assessments. It shows your student’s progress in the continuum of career and college readiness. The PSAT 8 is the first in the series and is not like any other assessment your child has taken before. We believe and research shows that taking practice tests like this decrease stress and increase readiness and scores for students. Students in Manitou Springs School District will continue to take these practice tests in the fall and spring until April of their junior year, when they will take the SAT. The SAT is used by colleges all over the country for college acceptance, and at times, placement into courses.
After the students have tested, they will receive a test brochure that will give insight into how they scored against the benchmarks designed by the College Board for College Readiness based on a particular grade level’s standards. If they meet the benchmark they need to continue to take rigorous coursework in order to maintain that as the test gets more rigorous.
The PSAT 8/9 is unique in the math section. The math section on the PSAT 8 includes only two sections while the PSAT 10 and above include three. As your student moves through the SAT suite of assessments, this math portion will change in both depth of knowledge as well as depth of application. While the Evidence Based Reading and Writing will also change, it is most noticeable in the math section.
What can my student do to improve his/her college readiness?
*The first thing is to take college readiness classes.
*College Board, the maker of the SAT, recommends students READ, READ, READ.
*Go to the College Board website and look at their tips, to include the free test prep offered through College Board and The Khan Academy website. Your student needs to sign into their College Board account and link it to Khan Academy. Khan academy will then tailor a test review program for them based on their scores. Directions for how to do this are located on the College Board website.
*Once in high school your student can engage in the following courses to increase their skill and knowledge:
Enrolling in honors classes
Enrolling in AP (advanced placement classes)
Enrolling in Chemistry in 11th grade
Taking an advanced math in 11th grade
Enrolling in elective social science classes such as AP Psychology and Sociology
Enrolling in multiple years of World Language
Please feel free to contact me with any questions. I can be reached at 719-685-2127 or abartlett@mssd14.org.
Areashera Bartlett
Assistant Principal
Music Jam:
Tuesday, February 14th will be our first music jam! This will be a weekly or biweekly event depending on student attendance.
-Open to 6th-12th grade D14 students.
-Led by Evan Johnson and special guests.
-All instruments and abilities are welcome.
-The jam leaders can give practice tips for most instruments.
-A drum set, percussion instruments, and a keyboard will be provided.-You can bring songbooks and/or printed music and I will make copies so others can follow along.
Students will practice playing songs as a group. Instructors will help students play with a group and give them practice tips and resources. Students are encouraged to suggest songs with 3-6 chords that are fun for musicians of all abilities to jam to.
Pikes Peak Honor Band
Quinn Scott performed with the Pikes Peak Honor Band Saturday evening, and did an outstanding job. We are so proud of him!
The Horsemen return:
Our FTC Team# 11561 The Headless Horsemen competed at Chatfield Senior High for their 2nd qualifier. They made to 18th out of 36! Though they didn't make it to state, Congratulations is in order as it was against the top teams in the state! Ride on Headless Horsemen!
Extra! Extra! Read All About it!:
Get the hot scoop with the Mustang Newspaper!
Book Speed Dating:
Looking for a good book to cuddle up to? Give this a shot!
A Virtual Tour:
Want to tour Manitou Springs Middle School? Check it out below!
Upcoming Events
Yearbooks
Scholarships for Middle School Students
Did you know that scholarships are available for all grade levels? There are scholarships that you can apply for in middle school. Check out this website: Scholarships for Middle School Students
6th Grade Snack Sign-up:
6th graders eat lunch early, at 10:05am, so they tend to be hungry towards the end of the day. PAC is helping organize snacks for the 6th graders so they can focus on their afternoon classes. The big boxes of snacks they sell at Costco or Sam's are perfect. Please consider signing up HERE.
Employment Opportunities
Community
Mustang Tech Tips!
Tips for Shopping:
Think about the consequences of your actions online and enjoy the conveniences of technology with peace of mind while you shop online. Being a safe and secure when shopping online with these great tips! Take security precautions
Online:
- Conduct research: When using a new website for purchases, read reviews and see if other consumers have had a positive or negative experience with the website.
- When in doubt, throw it out: Links in emails, posts and texts are often the ways cybercriminals try to steal your information or infect your devices.
- Personal information is valuable: When making a purchase online, be alert to the kinds of information being collected to complete the transaction. Make sure you think it is necessary for the vendor to request that information. Remember, you only need to fill out required fields at checkout.
- Use safe payment methods: Credit cards are generally the safest option because they allow buyers to seek a credit from the issuer if the product isn’t delivered or isn’t what’s ordered.
- · Don’t be disappointed: Read return and other policies so you know what to expect if the purchase doesn’t go as planned.
- Protect your money: When shopping, check to be sure the site is security enabled. Look for web addressed with htps:// indicating extra measures to help secure you information.
On the go:
- Don’t get followed: Some stores and other locations look for devices with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth turned on to track your movements while you are within range. Disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use.
- Hotspot-Fu: Limit the type of business you conduct over open public Wi-Fi connections, including logging on to key accounts, such as email and banking.
Other Safety and security tips:
- Keep it clean: All web-connected devices – including PCs, smartphones and tablets – free from malware and infections by running only the most current versions of software and apps.
- Lock it down: Fortify your online accounts by enabling the strongest authentication tools available, such as biometrics, security keys or a unique one-time code through an app on your mobile device. Your usernames and passwords are not enough to protect key accounts like email, banking and social media.
- Smarter passwords: If your passwords are weak, improve them by adding capital letters, numbers and symbols using different passwords for every account.