September

Happy Fall Middle School East Families,

We have kicked off the school year in an extremely positive way! Students have been doing a great job with their attendance to school so thank you parents to ensuring that they are getting the rest, breakfast and morning routines needed to start their day off in a positive manner!

Each school year, we meet with grade levels within the first three weeks of school in what we call, "Class Meetings." These meetings are an opportunity for the Administration and Counseling Departments to share information with students that not only highlights the important messages about our school culture but also identifies for them how to reach out for the help that they might need, identifies thinking strategies while their prefrontal cortex is continuing to develop (until the age of 26!), and exactly what the bottom line behaviors of our school and district are to ensure that they know and understand them so that they know not to do them as administrators, teachers, parents and students don't want to have students needing to be suspended from school . Here is a link to the presentation that we shared with students. Please take a look at it and talk with your child about it to ensure that they know we are all in this together to support them!

Parent Teachers conferences will be held on October 10th and 14th!

October 10th Parent Teacher Conferences - Traditional Conferences - 3:45 - 7:45 p.m.

October 14th Family Knight - 3:45 - 5:45 A Knight for families to come together as a school community to have fun, get to know one another and participate in a variety of activities! There will be Bingo, Karaoke, Tours of the School Forrest, Outdoor Games and much more! What's the Scoop will be available both nights for you to purchase and celebrate your child's success so far this school year! More information to come! We can't wait to see you at one of the two events!

Thank you for all you do in raising such hard working, respectful, and kind children! We love having the opportunity to work with them and appreciate your trust in us!

Respectfully,

Jennie Kelly

STMA Middle School East Principal

Knight's Choir is a year-long 7th and 8th grade auditioned mixed ensemble. All 7th and 8th graders are encouraged to audition! Knight's Choir provides an additional opportunity for singers to sing with their peers in a smaller chamber ensemble setting.

This ensemble will function just as any other club or activity group. Students will be charged an activity fee of $62.50 in order to participate in this group. This fee must be paid after auditions and prior to the first rehearsal. Activity fees can be paid through FeePay found through ParentVue.

The Knights Choir rehearses every Monday morning from 7:30 – 8:10. Consistent attendance is an expectation. Students with three or more unexcused absences will not be able to participate in the next scheduled concert. Knight's Choir will perform at every concert on both the 5th/6th Grade Program, as well as the 7th/8th Grade Program.

Knight's Choir has opportunities to perform throughout the community. Sometimes this may require an extra financial expense. All information regarding additional Knight’s Choir performances will be communicated at later dates in a timely fashion.

Knight Choir auditions will be held from 7:30 am- 8:10 am before school and after school from 3:00 pm-3:30 pm on October 14th and 15th. The sign up sheet with available times will be listed outside of the choir room starting October 7th. Students should be prepared to perform one minute of a song of their choosing and perform it acapella. Students should also be prepared to sing some vocal exercises and sight-read a short piece of music provided by the Director. A list that includes the students who made the 2024-2025 Knights Choir will be posted outside of the choir room and on Google Classroom on October 16th.

October 21th will be the first Knights Choir rehearsal at 7:30 am in the choir room. Again, all fees must be paid by this date to participate.

For any additional questions, concerns, or celebrations, please contact Miss Ansley Cameron- Knight Choir Director at Ansleyc@mystma.org.

Youth Matters starts October 8th!

Click the picture below for additional information.

The Parent Advisory Committee provides a fantastic opportunity for us to collaborate, share ideas, and discuss important matters related to our school community. Your perspectives and insights play a crucial role in shaping our decisions and initiatives.

Dates:

• Monday, September 30, 2024
• 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
• Monday, January 13th, 2025
  • 6:00 - 7:00 PM
• Tuesday, March 25th, 2025 (Date Change)
  • 6:00 - 7:00 PM

Location:

• MSE Media Center
  
  

*If you have any specific topics or questions you would like to address during the meeting, please feel free to let us know in advance by emailing Assistant Principal David Holler at davidh@mystma.org.

If you plan to attend Parent Advisory Committee meetings this year, please RSVP by completing the short Google Form linked below.

2024-25 Parent Advisory Committee Sign Up

We look forward to seeing those who are able to attend and working together to ensure the continued success of our students and school community.

Upcoming Save the Dates:

• October 8th - Picture Retakes
• October 10 - Conferences & Book Fair - 3:45 PM -7:45 PM
• Standard 1:1 conferences
• What's the Scoop? Ice cream truck
• October 11 - 7th & 8th Grade Activity Night (moved from October 4th) - 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Dancing, open gym, photo booth, bingo, and more!
• October 14 - Family Knight & Book Fair - 3:45 PM - 5:45 PM
• What's the Scoop? Ice cream truck
• October 17 & 18 - No School

We are looking for Book Fair Volunteers October 8-14. If you have helped in the past, we are hoping you will help out again this fall. You must have a background check on file at the District Office. Please review the available slots here and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!

Any questions or know of others who are willing to volunteer have them go to the school website under the media page and sign up. If you have questions, email monaleew@mystma.org. We can not do this event without our Volunteer help. You may sign up for multiple slots/dates.

The 7th grade students participated in a full-day event on Friday, October 4th. The Courage Retreat event, held within the school, is a long-standing tradition we have proudly offered our students for several years. It was facilitated by the Youth Frontiers organization.

Youth Frontiers' mission is to inspire character, civility, and community. They conduct student retreats that focus on timeless values like kindness, courage, and respect. In addition, Youth Frontiers offers programs for educators, parents, and community leaders to support those guiding today's youth into tomorrow's leaders.

We are grateful to J & B Meats for generously funding this incredible experience for both our students and staff. If you have any questions, please contact our Counseling Department. Students enjoyed the day which was focused on their social, emotional and courageous leadership development.

On October 16, we will celebrate Unity Day, a day dedicated to promoting kindness and preventing bullying. Students are encouraged to wear orange to show their support for this important cause.

We are pleased to share resources from CharacterStrong, which provide valuable information on effective bullying prevention practices. These resources are designed to support our students and families in fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all.

Thank you for your continued support in promoting a positive school culture!

Family Resources

Protecting Kids Online

Responding to Bullying

What is Bullying & Proactive Strategies

Student Resources

StopBullying.gov/resources/teens

Click Here for more information of what adults can do to support students experiencing bullying.

This month, our School Counselors, Mrs. Kornovich and Mrs. Mesna, along with our Social Worker, Mrs. Buskey, introduced themselves to our students and shared the various services they provide to support your child’s well-being and academic success at school.

From helping students manage stress, to providing guidance on social or academic challenges, to connecting families with additional resources, their goal is to ensure that each student feels supported throughout their middle school experience. This is also a great opportunity for your child to begin learning how to advocate for their needs as they navigate middle school. By knowing who they can turn to for support, they can feel more confident in seeking help when needed, whether it’s for academic concerns, social issues, or emotional well-being.

We encourage students and families alike to view these services as key resources for success during these formative years. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about how school counseling can support your child’s journey, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Please visit our Counseling webpage for additional counseling resources.

Connect with us:

Email: jenniferk@mystma.org

Website: https://me.stma.k12.mn.us/

Location: 4862 Naber Avenue NE, Saint Michael, MN 55376

Facebook: facebook.com/stmamse/

Twitter: @stma_ms_east