Dear Middle School East Families,

I hope that this message finds you home safe and sound, warm, and gathered with those dearest to you. The excitement was tangible within the school house on Wednesday as word spread that school would be closed yesterday! Such an enjoyable part of working with middle schoolers is their genuine responses!

During this Winter Break, in addition to the traditions your family embraces and loves, we have two asks of you as partners in your children's success. We need your advocacy in two ways to strengthen the Reset 2023 theme this school year. First, to reinforce the importance of Reading for 15 minutes daily. There truly isn't any single activity that will impact your child more or have a greater return. The goal for all students is to empower their lives within literacy to read, write, spell, listen and speak well. Reading daily significantly builds one's vocabulary and understanding of the world, not to mention the increase in self-confidence and imagination. Yet, finding the right books is a key factor in their interest level. There isn't anything better than a great book or anything harder to get through than one that doesn't interest you. Hopefully, over break, a trip to the local library or nearby bookstore will fit into your family schedule. My mom and greatest role model taught third grade for 34 years. One of her sayings that truth will expectantly inspire you too is, "The more you read the better you read, the better you read the more you read." Click here for a link to Time's "100 Best Young Adult Books of All Time."

The second area we could use your help with is when your child is gone from school. Over the past couple of years, we all know how much things shifted and changed. Some of those things were definitely for the better and we saw tremendous growth. Academically, we needed to diminish the expectations of students who weren't in the classroom setting full-time. This has been a tough climb back for students. How we see many students struggling is with the mindset regarding homework and the number of incomplete assignments, keeping up with the rigor of content - especially in the area of math, and understanding that when they are absent from school that learning continued and there are expectations upon their return.

We greatly appreciate your support and partnership! Our gratitude for the families we are fortunate to work with in such a special community continues to grow. We love your children and appreciate your entrusting their learning to us!

Respectfully,

Jennie Kelly

STMA Middle School East Principal

Thank you to our very own teacher, Grace Dean, for her photography talents!

Follow the link below for a video from Mr. Holler regarding the importance of regular attendance and the impact of missed days of school. The video will be shown to students in KORT following break.

The Middle School East School Store is back! Orders may be placed during the month of December. The store will close and ship on January 3rd and take 5-7 weeks for delivery, meaning all items will be delivered to MSE some time in February.

Check out the information below to learn how you can support our pursuit for equalized funding within our State. Please join us on January 24th to learn more about the district legislative platform.

Thank you Band Director's Jordheim and Olson for joining students and staff together to share their musical talents! Enjoy this clip from before Winter Break!

Adult supervision is available at the crosswalk on Naber Avenue and 47th Street in the morning from 8:00-8:10 and in the afternoons from 3:00-3:10. Please encourage your children who are walking or biking to utilize this crossing. Your continued alertness driving near school grounds is greatly appreciated to ensure student safety.

Does your child need additional support in school? Targeted Services began on October 25th. Complete this Registration Form link to register your child. Click here for an information letter with all the important details.

Youth Matters

Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:00-4:30 p.m.

Breakfast Club

Fridays 7:00-8:00 a.m.

The MSE Targeted Services Program is designed to build independence and confidence through the development of positive habits and skills. This program will provide a learning environment for students needing extra support to improve their academic performance, organization, and study skills. Targeted services teachers will teach study skills, problem-solving skills, and mentor your child to encourage academic success through mini-lessons, feedback, and homework help.

• Boys Basketball (grades 7/8) January 3rd-February 23rd
• Wrestling (grades 7/8) November 21st-January 26th
• Destination Imagination (grades 5-8)
• MATHCOUNTS (grades 6-8)

Girls Basketball Ended their Season on December 20th

As the weather is getting colder, we want to remind families to make sure that children are dressed appropriately before heading to school each day. Our Minnesota weather can change at a moment’s notice, and students need to be prepared for the changes.

At the middle school level, students will be sent outside for a 10 minutes recess during their lunch period each day. 5th grade students have a 10 minute recess later in the day. We will go outside for recess unless;

1. The outside temperature and/or wind chill is 5 degrees or below.

2. It is raining heavily.

3. It is snowing heavily.

Please help your child remember to wear a coat, hat, and gloves so they can be comfortable and enjoy their time outside at recess during the cold weather.

If you have to drop your child off before 8:00 AM, please make sure they have warm clothing. Students who walk to school or wait at school bus stops should be dressed appropriately for cold temperatures and snowy conditions. Our hope is that every student at Middle School East will be prepared for the cold winter ahead, and we thank you for doing your part at home to make sure that happens.

Free and Reduced Price Meals are available to families who qualify. If you would like to apply, please complete a free and reduced application. Applications can be completed via Stratapps our online application system, or you can download and print a Free and Reduced Application Form Here. The forms can also be picked up and returned (completed) to any school office. You will be notified by mail of your child's status. Until notification, you must provide your child with lunch or lunch money.

A new application must be submitted each year. You are encouraged to complete and return your new application as soon as possible.

Please complete only one application per family. The information you give will be used to determine your child's eligibility for free or reduced-priced meals. This information may also be used for other state or federally-funded school benefits.

Factors considered in the application process are the household size and total household income.

• HOUSEHOLD SIZE is considered all persons, related or unrelated: Including parents, children, grandparents who live in your home and share living expenses.
• The TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME is the income each household member received last month before taxes - this includes wages, social security, pension, unemployment, welfare, child support, alimony, and any other cash income.

Foster children are categorically eligible for free meal benefits. An application is not needed yet there does need to be documentation of status by a state or local entity familiar with the child's status. Foster children may be included in the household application as part of the household size.

Additional information about Free and Reduced can be found HERE

Our School Counselors are building positive relationships with students through 5th Grade Minute Meetings. The relationships we have with our students truly matter. Knowing our students and their needs can allow us to be a part of their support system toward success here at school. Our students have enjoyed us visiting their classrooms and taking the time to get to know them individually!

Here’s more about the role of your student's school counselor from ASCA.

Please know that your school counselors are here to support you!

Last names A-L please contact Ms. Kornovich amyko@mystma.org

Last names M-Z please contact Mrs. Mesna jessicame@mystma.org

School Social Worker please contact Mrs. Buskey jessicab@mystma.org

“Every child deserves a champion; an adult who will never give up on them. Who understands the power of connection, and insists they become the best they can possibly be. Is this job tough? You Betcha! But it is not impossible. We can do this. We’re Educators. We were Born to make a difference.”--Rita Pierson

As you prepare for your child's transition to Middle School East, please know that we are here to help your child be successful. Please don't hesitate to call 763-497-2655.

Jennifer Kelly, Principal

David Holler, Assistant Principal

Molly Schleicher, Dean of Students/Activities Director

Gabrielle Scoblic, Administrative Assistant

Amy Kornovich, School Counselor for last names A-L

Jessica Mesna, School Counselor for last names M-Z

Jessica Buskey, School Social Worker

Email: jenniferk@mystma.org
Website: https://www.stma.k12.mn.us/Domain/8
Location: 4862 Naber Avenue Northeast, Saint Michael, MN, USA
Phone: 763-497-2655
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stmamse
Twitter: @stma_ms_east