McMillan Monthly

McMillan Monthly is a newsletter for our community that will feature McMillan news, events, what's happening, and items to look forward to. We look forward to learning and discussions that will take place school-wide this month during Women's History Month! If you would like to contribute to this Monthly Newsletter written by Dr. Andrew Walters, Principal at McMillan, please submit your ideas to andrew.walters@ops.org. Submissions to the Newsletter will be at the discretion of our district.

• McMillan Parent-Teacher Conferences are March 8th and 9th.
  
• Happening at the MAC
• STRIVE FOR 95 Attendance Challenge!
• Take the OPS Culture/Climate Survey - it matters!
• 23/24 OPS Family Calendar is now available
  

• Accessing Parent Portal
• School Improvement Plan Goals - Please take the survey!
  
• March/April at a Glance
• From the Sports Desk with Mr. Curran
  
• Who Should I Contact? (Grade-level counselors and administrators)
• Charge/Bring your iPad - each day!
  
• Student-Led Parent-Teacher Conferences - a summary
  

What to Expect at Student Led Conferences:

1. Please make sure students have their iPads charged and bring them to the conference.
2. Check in with your grade level administrator and counselor outside of designated area (a map will be provided)
   
3. Sit down with your student at the designated tables.
4. Your student will share their work in their portfolio and access their grades in Infinite Campus.
5. There will be questions available for you to ask your student and participate in the conversation.
6. If you have any questions, please indicate to a nearby teacher and they will assist you.

Attendance matters! Students who maintain the STRIVE FOR 95 goal are more likely to be on or above grade level academically, be socially and emotionally connected to the school and staff, and remain on track to high school graduation. Between now and April 15, McMillan is doing a STRIVE FOR 95 Attendance Challenge, with SWAG-BAGS and prizes handed out for improved attendance. See Mr. Chipps in the office for details!

Student Responsibilities

•Establish bedtime and morning routines

•Understand the importance of STRIVE FOR 95 and why attendance matters

•Arrive on time

•Attend school the entire day

•Miss less than 9 days of school throughout the year

Parent/Guardian Responsibilities

•Establish bedtime and morning routines

•Ensure your child(ren) arrive to school on time

•Encourage and acknowledge the importance of STRIVE FOR 95

•Schedule any medical or other appointments after school or on non-school days

•Report any absences to the school attendance secretary

Teacher Responsibilities

•Create a positive classroom culture of why attendance matters

•Encourage and acknowledge the importance of STRIVE FOR 95

•Set and progress monitor attendance goals with students

•Collaborate with school staff to address attendance concerns

•Celebrate students who are meeting attendance goals

Administrative and Support Staff Responsibilities

•Create a positive school culture of why attendance matters

•Encourage and acknowledge the importance of STRIVE FOR 95

•Set and progress monitor attendance goals with staff, students and parent(s)/guardian(s)

•Collaborate with school staff and families to address attendance concerns

•Celebrate students who are meeting attendance

For families, here is the link to ops.org/calendar or OneOPS (staff). Planning for next year is underway, and we look forward to working with you to make the most of it!

The Parent Portal is a service offered to parents and guardians for accessing student records including attendance, grades and missing assignments. The service allows parents and guardians to access information about ALL of their students through one convenient website.

This is a great way for you to see what assignments your students have turned in and what assignments they haven't turned in yet. You will also be able to see the specific grade your student earned for the assignment once the teacher has entered the grade for it. Please click on the attachment below for directions on accessing the Parent Portal. If you need any support with this, please contact our front office staff at 531-299-2440.

Goal 1: By 2023, achievement rates for students in grades 6-8 will increase from overall ELA 32% to 38% meeting or exceeding their growth goals on MAP .

Families - this means we're looking to improve scores in ELA. You can support your student in this area! Allow time for them to read 20 minutes a day, increase conversations to help build vocabulary skills, and encourage them to engage in their ELA class at school.

Goal 2: By 2023, achievement rates for students in grades 6-8 will increase from overall Math 34% to 40% meeting or exceeding growth goals on MAP.

Families - this means we're looking to improve scores in Math. You can support your student in this area! Allow time for them to practice 20 minutes a day on programs like Success Maker/MAP Accelerator/Khan Academy/IXL, talk about math in real life situations, and encourage them to engage in their math class at school.

Goal 3: By 2023, our school will implement strategies to reduce the percentage of students missing 5% (approximately 9 days) or more of the school year by 4%.

Families - this means we're looking to have as many students in class, each day, and striving to have every student have 95% attendance to our school. Attendance numbers ARE LOOKING BETTER for this year, and we appreciate your help with this effort by students, staff, and families.

Goal 4: By 2023, our school will continue to increase positive aspects of school culture as defined by the Climate Survey data and MTSSB Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI).

Families - This means we need you to help tell our story about how we are doing as a school. Take the climate survey BELOW to report your satisfaction with our school.

• March 1 - Boys Swimming at Monroe with Lewis and Clark
  
• March 1 - Wrestling JV All City
• March 1 - Bookblasters Competition
• March 2 - GBB All City
• March 3 - Wrestling Varsity All City
• March 3 - Swimming at Morton with Beveridge
• March 6 - Boys Swimming vs. King/Bryan
• March 6 - HS Course Selection - HS counselors will be visiting the MAC from 7:15 am - 2 pm.
• March 8 - Boys Swimming All City at Burke
• March 8 - Student-led PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES: 3:30 TO 7:00 PM
• March 9 - Student-led PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES: 12:00 TO 7:00 PM
  
• March 9-10 - No School for Middle School Students
  
• March 10 - 3rd quarter ends, grades due, Teacher Planning Day
• Spring Recess - March 13-17

April 2023

• Progress Reports are available - 4/13 to 4/17
• April 14 - No School, Teacher Planning Day
• April 17 - No School, Articulation Day
• April 17 - School Transfer Requests (STR) process for 23-24 begins. Please note that these requests are processed at TAC

Greetings Monarchs! We are so excited about the growth and finish from both our girls basketball team, the girls wrestling program, boys swimming, and boys wrestling. As I write this, I am watching Varsity Wrestling achieve top results, many with undefeated seasons! Your girls basketball team finished with an All City Tournament WIN vs. Monroe at home on Tuesday, and lost to Norris in OT on Thursday, also at home. Boys Swimming has All-City Finals on Tuesday, March 7 - and we look forward to seeing more PR's and better times like we have all season. City champs? We are likely to have some!

Coming up right away after Spring Break are Boys and Girls Soccer coached by Mr. Brown for the boys, and Mr. Hagen for the girls. Please feel free to reach out to these coaches with questions for them, as all 7th and 8th graders are eligible to participate. Your track coaches include Mr. Carder and Ms. Conley. Opportunities exist for Track in various running events, shot put, discus, long jump, triple jump, and running medley's for 7th and 8th grade. REMINDER: If you have not competed in a sport this school, you will need a physical and paperwork from it turned in to Ms. Patty in the Attendance Office. Games and meets for these events will take place starting in April.

We are looking forward to a great Spring Sports Season. Check the schedule as it updates for events, and we hope to see you at our events! - Mr. Curran, McMillan Magnet Middle School Athletic/Activities Director.

Email: andrew.walters@ops.org
Website: https://www.ops.org/mcmillan
Location: 3802 Redick Avenue, Omaha, NE, USA
Phone: 531-299-3923
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McMillanMagnetCenter/
Twitter: @OPS_MacPrncpl