Dear Wildcat Families,

Welcome to February, a month of care and new beginnings with a new semester. I encourage students, with the new semester, to think back to their excitement and focus when the school year began in September, and to use that energy to set goals and plan steps to achieve them for the second half of the year. Middle school students, like all of us, need support and encouragement to reach goals. I encourage you to partner with your student to check Skyward regularly to monitor academic progress; join your student in checking their binders, backpacks, and Google Classrooms to ensure that assignments are turned in; and partner with your student to communicate with their teachers. The start of a new semester offers students the opportunity to have a clean slate and a renewed outlook for success on their path to the next school level, high school, college, career, and beyond.

I deeply believe in the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) tagline: Proven Achievement, Lifelong Advantage. We here at MMS are honored to partner with you to ensure that each and every student achieves and has lifelong advantage. Thank you for collaborating and connecting.

Warmly,

Mary Ingraham

2/16 - Natural Leaders 6-7:30pm MMS Library

2/17 - No School

2/20 - No School

2/21 - Tulalip/MSD Indian Ed Family Night @ Getchell HS Bldg. A

2/22 - Family Forum 6-7:30pm MM Library

2/23 - Black Cultural Celebration @ Totem MS 4-6pm

2/24 - AVID Career Day

2/28 - PTSA Meeting 6-7pm MMS Library

3/8 - Course Registration Fair - Open House 5-7pm @ MMS

3/9 - Indian Education Round Dance @ Totem MS 5-8pm

3/14 - Parent Advisory Team 5:30-6:30pm MMS Library

3/16 - Natural Leaders 6-7:30pm MMS Library

The following are lessons that we did with all students during our advisory period. We wanted to share them with you so that you are kept in the loop about our schoolwide expectations and so that we can be consistent during school and outside of school since these expectations guide our students in community building.

This communication aims to clarify policies and expectations regarding the use of telecommunications and other electronic devices in schools. While we understand that such devices are valuable tools for students to communicate with families, particularly after school hours and in emergencies, there are safety concerns related to the inappropriate use of these devices in schools. District Policy 3245: Students and Telecommunications Devices clarifies the use of technology during school hours. Marysville Middle is working with students/families to support class engagement and maintain a safe and orderly environment.

As we have just finished refreshing and clarifying our building-wide expectations, I wanted to note that this is one of our expectations that we work to teach professional use of devices . The goal of building-wide expectations is to help teach students the appropriate use of cell phones and make it easier for students to meet expectations in all environments.

Expectations:

• Cell phone usage is allowed in the cafeteria during lunch

• Every classroom has a flip sign where when on the red not device side cell phones should be off and out of sight, when on the green side teachers have permitted use for educational purposes

• Student cell phones should be out of sight in all other locations and contexts including the hallways, bathrooms, commons, gym, covered area, office, counseling center, and library.

These expectations will allow students to receive periodic communication outside class periods related to urgent matters while decreasing distractions within the classroom environment. Further, there is a phone available in the office for students to call their family when needed.

We are holding a forum in order to partner with families to develop an action plan to increase student sense of belonging and safety here at Marysville Middle. This gathering will be in the Marysville Middle Library on Wednesday, February 23rd from 6:00 to 7:30. During this gathering we will present information, listen closely, and co-create an action plan that focuses on how we can help facilitate all coming back into community after the physical and social isolation of the pandemic. This gathering will be held in both Spanish and English, if you speak another language please reach out to Amy Buck (amy_buck@msd25.org) to request an interpreter.

Meeting Schedule: 5:30 to 6:30 in the MMS library

March 14th

April 11th

May 9th

June 6th

I appreciate the feedback and ideas so much! Thank you so much Team!

En nuestra colaboración, se mencionó la idea de un foro comunitario para reunirnos a todos para resolver problemas y crear conjuntamente un plan de acción para resolver algunos desafíos que enfrenta la escuela en torno a la conexión, el respeto y la seguridad. Estamos implementando estos comentarios y teniendo un Foro Comunitario como nuestra próxima reunión de Líderes Naturales donde también estamos invitando a más familias a unirse a nosotros. Únase a nosotros y traiga comida para compartir el 16 de febrerode 6:00 a 7:30 en la biblioteca para que podamos colaborar una vez más y crear colectivamente pasos hacia adelante para abordar los problemas que estamos viendo. Todos ustedes son un equipo poderoso por el que estoy muy agradecido, ¡gracias!

If you are interested in volunteering here at MMS in any capacity please complete the form below and turn it into the main office. We are looking for volunteers during lunch, passing time, arrival, and dismissal. We also have opportunities to volunteer when students are not on campus including helping in the office and with teachers. We have an amazing group of volunteers and would love to have you join them!

Card Games

Board Games

Legos

Prizes for SWAG Reward Drawings

Facial Tissue

Bottles of Hand Sanitizer

The Curriculum and Assessment pages on our district website have been updated. Curriculum Information and Assessment Information This time of year is when the HIV/AIDS/Human Growth and Development curriculum will begin being taught. Here is the link to this curriculum: Human Growth and Development/HIV/AIDS. If you do not want your students to attend these lessons you can opt out using this Opt Out Form. Questions: melissa_vanzanten@msd25.org, x20039

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s):

Current federal legislation requires that all Multi-Lingual Learners (MLLs), students with a primary home language other than English, are screened for English language proficiency every year. When enrolling in Marysville School District, students are administered a WIDA assessment to determine eligibility for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services.

After students have been identified as MLLs and receive MLL services, federal legislation requires that students participate annually in an English language proficiency (ELP) assessment. In the state of Washington, we have just transitioned from the ELPA21 assessment to the WIDA assessment and now annually assess all MLL qualifying students using the WIDA assessment who have an ELP level of 1-4.

We will be administering the WIDA assessment during the month of February. The assessment results determine eligibility for MLL (Multi-Lingual Learner) services. The WIDA assessment will be administered at MMS during the school day to only students who are already in the MLL program, and families of those students will be notified of the results once testing is complete.

On Skyward you should be able to see your student's first semester grades with the Report Card to follow in the mail. Please reach out to the office with any questions.

We have a new attendance email to report absences! Please remember to call, email or use Skyward to report absences. It is important to include your child's full name, date(s) of absence, and the reason for the absence. Also, if your student is experiencing Flu/Covid/RSV symptoms please continue to report here. (This is in addition to reporting the absence)

Ways to report absences:

Email: mms-attendance@msvl.k12.wa.us

Phone: 360-965-0901

Web: Skyward

Please find below four translated versions of the State Assessment Refusal form. If you do not want your student taking the state assessment please fill out the refusal form and turn it in to the main office at MMS. A new form is required each year.

February 15, during periods 4, 5, and 6 in the Fitness Center

We have a very full lost and found collection! We will be donating items not picked up every two weeks. Please have your student check for lost items before they go away!

The College Bound Scholarship is an early commitment of state financial aid to eligible students who enroll in middle school and meet the requirements of graduating from a Washington State high school with a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher, applies for financial aid by completing the FAFSA or WASFA, and is a part of the Free and Reduced Lunch Program. The College Bound Scholarship covers average tuition at public college rates, some fees, and a small book allowance at over 65 colleges, universities, and technical school in Washington. For more information please see the pamphlet below.

MMS PTSA General Meeting Dates

fourth Tuesday of Month at 6:00pm in the MMS Library

January 24, 2023

March 28, 2023

May 23, 2023

Winter weather can cause disruptions to our daily school schedule. In the event that one or more of the district's schools are closed due to an emergency, including inclement weather, you will be notified from the district or your child's school through a SchoolMessenger phone message and email.

A recorded message will also be on the district's Emergency Phone Line at 360-965-0252, posted on the district's website at www.msd25.org, on Facebook, and Twitter.

Parents and Guardians: Please make certain that your child's school has your most up-to-date emergency phone numbers and emails.

We are required by law to track attendance for each student AND to inform families if a student misses class. Additionally, if students are not feeling well, please keep them home and call the attendance office, 360-965-0901, so that the absence can be excused.

If your student has an appointment during the school day, it will be much easier on you and the student if you let us know as soon as possible. Your student will be given a pass to leave class at the designated time. This can be especially helpful if you need to get your student during lunch time.

Skyward has all kinds of useful information for students and their families. You can see specific grades on assignments, what might be missing, you can contact the teacher directly, and even change your information. Parents and students have different log-ins, however, sitting down together to check in regularly is a great way to keep on top of assignments, celebrate successes and problem solve if your student is having difficulty in a class. If you need to have your Skyward password reset you should be able to click the "forgot password" link. Or, call the office and we will send you a link to reset it.

Operation School Bell is a program to assist students who need clothing. It is run by the Assistance League of Everett and since 1965 they have been providing school clothes to over 99,139 children and teens, one child at a time. If you have a student in need of clothing please fill out the application below.

Marysville Community Food Bank offers a program to all families to provide food for the weekends and/or holidays when your child/children are not in school. Please see the application below and if you have any questions or need any help please contact the main office or your student's counselor.

With a library card from Sno-Isle Libraries, students can access Brainfuse, a useful website that allows students to get expert help with live tutoring, gain study skills and collaborate with other learners. If you’re stuck on a tough homework assignment, here's how Brainfuse can come to the rescue:

Expert Help

• Connect with an instructor in moments with Live Tutoring
• Get online writing assistance with Writing Lab
• Read lessons, watch videos and take tests with Skill Surfer
• Submit a homework question and get a response within one business day
• Connect with Language Lab and chat with a foreign language tutor or build your vocabulary with games, quizzes, flashcards and spoken pronunciation guides
• Get live assistance with FAFSA as part of a featured service

Study

• Take LEAP lessons and practice tests on a variety of subjects
• Study using online flashcard sets or make your own with FlashBulb™

Collaborate

• Join forces with other learners using Meet™
• Record, create and share notes using Brainwave™

Get started with Brainfuse today!

Grove Tutoring for students is available on Wednesdays from 4:00 to 6:00 pm close to MMS at 4705 Grove Street. The tutoring is free and food is provided. Students just need to sign up at www.grove.church/tutoring.

Email: mary_ingraham@msd25.org
Website: https://www.msd25.org/o/marysville-middle-school
Location: 4923 67th Street Northeast, Marysville, WA, USA
Phone: (360) 965-0900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mmsmsd25/
Twitter: @MMS_msd25