MMS News & Notes

MMS Parents and Guardians,

Happy October 24th! The kids have done a really nice job the last two weeks (since my last newsletter) academically and behaviorally. Specifically, we have seen a significant improvement in students following expected behaviors on the bus, in our hallways and in the cafeteria. These non-academic times of the day can make or break a student's day. Please thank your child for the respect they are showing their teachers and peers.

Knowing that Tuesday, October 29, marks the end of first marking period, I have had the opportunity to meet with many students to discuss their progress. We have talked about both the importance of finishing the marking period strong along with the benefits of starting fresh with a brand new marking period next week. I feel it has given some of our students, who may have struggled from the start of the year, a new beginning. For many others who have experienced academic success, I have been reminding them not to slow down and continue to give 100% effort each day. I would ask you to please take a few moments to speak to your child this weekend and have him/her reflect upon one celebration from the 1st marking period and one area that is still presenting a challenge.

There will be information sent to you via Sapphire next week regarding our upcoming parent conferences on November 13 and 14. Additionally, there will be a link included allowing you to sign up for a conference time. For your planning purposes, November 13 and 14 will be 1/2 days for MMS students only.

Thank you for your ongoing support throughout the first quarter of the school year. We need to continue to partner with one another as the year is a journey. Hang in there and enjoy this beautiful Fall season. It won't be long until my message includes dusting off your shovels. Enjoy TODAY!

Joel Yohn

MMS Principal

MMS is proud to host the Veterans Legacy Lap on Thursday, November 7th, in the morning. All MMS students and faculty have the opportunity to participate by walking three laps around the school building to honor and celebrate our veterans.

We invite families to join us in this special event. If you would like to honor a veteran or have a veteran who would like to walk with us, please scan the QR code or click on the REGISTER TODAY link.

This is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together, show our appreciation, and recognize the selfless service of those who have made an #iMPACT by serving our country. Register today to honor a veteran or invite your veteran to join you in the Legacy Lap!

At the beginning of the year it is required that one parent log on to the Sapphire portal and update your child's beginning of year information. There is no hard copy to complete it must be done electronically. This will ensure we have the most up to date information for your child. Email address and phone numbers can be updated through Sapphire at any time throughout the year. All forms were due on September 20th. We are still waiting for a number of parents to complete the form.

Please go in today to complete this brief form. (http://sapphire.mbgsd.org). Thank you!

• October 31 - School is in Session at MMS (Act 80 Day for Elmwood Academy Gr 4/5 ONLY)
  
• November 1 - No School for Students (K-12 Act 80 Day)
• November 11 - No School for Students (Prof. Dev. Day for Teachers)
• November 13 and 14 - MMS Only Early Dismissal at 11:30 due to Parent Teacher Conferences
• November 27 - No School for Students (Contracted In-service Day)
• November 28-December 2 - School Closed Thanksgiving Recess

Attention all skiers and snowboarders! Winter will be here before you know it, and MMS ski club is gearing up for another great season. Ski club is open to skiers and snowboarders of all ability levels in 6th through 12th grades. Never skied or snowboarded before? No problem! Options for beginners are available, including lift tickets, lessons, and rentals. Students with Epic Passes are welcome to join as well. Please check out this link or see Mr. Shotts for more information on how you can join.

Yearbooks are on sale now through March 28, 2025. Pre-order your 2024-2025 yearbook online at ybpay.com OR yppay.lifetouch.com and enter school code #1212225 to reserve a code. Be sure to pre-order a copy for your student now to guarantee that they receive one at the end of the school year. Limited copies of the yearbook may be available for purchase at the time of delivery but are not guaranteed.

PTO Pulse:

The October edition of the MMS PTO Pulse is here. Volunteer opportunities, sub sale information, Carson's monthly update, and more - be sure to check it out!

Follow us on Facebook:

Mechanicsburg Middle School PTO @ facebook.com/MbgsdMMSPTO for updates, information, and volunteer opportunities at MMS.

In October, we learned about some tips to improve our mental health over morning announcements on Wildcat TV:

• Practice healthy habits: Get enough sleep, eat well, exercise regularly, and stay hydrated. Your physical health can affect how you feel mentally.
• Develop coping skills: Learn to manage emotions and stress, and practice problem-solving and interpersonal skills.
• Talk to someone: If you're feeling sad or anxious, reach out to a trusted adult, friend, or family member.
• Build healthy relationships: Spend time with friends and family, and invest in social connections.
• Volunteer: Help others in your community to build a sense of purpose and self-worth.
• Spend time outside every day. Sunlight and exercise are natural mood-boosters.
• Take breaks from screens: Step away from your phone and other devices for a while.
• Practice gratitude: Reflect on what you're grateful for or proud of.
• Be mindful: Try relaxation techniques like meditation or mindfulness.

Medications in school: If your student needs to take any prescription medication during the school day, we will need a written physician order and the medication in the original bottle with the pharmacy label attached. If your student has emergency medication for seizures, asthma or allergies, the required forms can be found here, along with the medication policy: https://www.mbgsd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=838633&type=d&pREC_ID=1820507

Physical/Dental exams: 6th grade is required to have a physical and 7th grade is required to have a dental exam and immunizations for TDAP and Meningitis. Exams completed in the past year can be accepted. Here is the link for all of the district health forms. It can also be found on the district home page, under District Services – Health Services – Health Forms.

https://www.mbgsd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=838633&type=d&pREC_ID=1820507

If you have any questions or concerns about your student’s health, please contact the health room at (717) 691-2454, or email Mrs. Kessler skessler@mbgsd.org, or Mrs. Kresge jkresge@mbgsd.org . Thank you for helping us to keep everyone safe and healthy.

Mechanicsburg Area School District is privileged to offer a weekend food distribution program free of charge for those who may need or want it. Weekly non-perishable and easy to prepare foods are made available to middle school students and their families who pre-register with The MMS Marketplace and students are reminded that they should not open their food packs until arriving home. Students or their parent/guardian may register for a weekend Food Pack by scanning this QR Code, emailing Mrs. Coffman at mcoffman@mbgsd.org, or by contacting the school counselor to be included in the program.

MMS conducts evacuation drills, relocation drills, and assorted other safety drills monthly. Also, once per semester, we conduct lockdown drills. All drills are conducted in accordance with MASD safety protocols. Additionally, the Upper Allen Police Department often attend to monitor and provide feedback.

Here are some important points to remember:

• It is important to avoid blindly sharing rumors and posts online that refer to school safety threats. Even if the threats are not credible, they can still cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for our students, families, and staff. We ask our families to monitor their children’s social media activity and speak with them about appropriate online behaviors.

• We all play a vital role in school safety. We ask that our families, staff, and students continue to remain vigilant and report any concerning behavior or messaging. The best method to report an issue is to notify your child’s teacher or administrator. If the concern occurs after hours and is of an emergent nature or you wish to remain anonymous, then you can report a concern through the Safe2Say program (through the Safe2Say app, www.safe2saypa.org or by calling 1-844-723-2729).

• STOP the PROP - You may begin to see the red STOP THE PROP stickers strategically placed on doors throughout the district as we raise awareness to the importance of ensuring exterior doors are always closed and locked from the outside.
  

• Remain confident that we will reach out to you should there ever be a cause for concern. Be sure to keep your information updated within the Sapphire Parent Portal to ensure you get school and district messages.

In an effort to ensure that we are providing our students with a safe and orderly parent/guardian drop-off and pick-up area at MMS, we would like to send out the following changes regarding our process as the school year begins.

Traffic:

• To drop off or pick up students, enter MMS Campus at the light near Upper Allen Elementary School. The entrance off Market Street near Lindenwood is closed to vehicles and will be used solely for the school buses.
• Drivers of vehicles picking up or dropping off students are to use the Counseling entrance driveway and students will enter the building at this entrance.
• This area will be coned off into two lanes in order to allow vehicles to serpentine to the drop off point. (Figure A)
• Drivers of vehicles picking up or dropping off students must pull up as far as possible in the driveway towards Upper Allen Elementary School before stopping to ensure that our traffic does not interfere with bus patterns and Market Street traffic.
• Drivers of vehicles picking up or dropping off students should use extreme care and caution when attempting to pass another vehicle in our driveway and when crossing over the designated pedestrian crosswalk.
• Students are to exit vehicles to the right side of the vehicle onto the sidewalk and walk directly to the Counseling Office entrance.

Find us on Facebook and Instagram:

Instagram(New): @mmsprincipals

Facebook: Mechanicsburg Middle School PTO

Mechanicsburg Middle School

1750 S. Market Street

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

Phone: (717)691-4560

Fax: (717-791-7977