Mesa Community Rattler Roundup
December 1-6, 2024
To the Mesa Community,
December brings us colder temperatures and shorter days. We will be on winter break and enjoying time at home before we know it. Until then, I wanted to take a moment to encourage attendance everyday. We have many important and exciting events happening in the next three weeks that we don't want students to miss. See below for more details.
Attendance Matters
Every day of school is an opportunity for students to engage with their learning, build relationships with peers, and develop skills that will serve them in the future. When students are absent—whether for illness or other reasons—they miss out on vital instruction and the chance to grow academically and socially. Even a single missed class period or day can have a significant impact, especially when absences add up.
Winter Challenges
We understand that the winter months can present unique challenges. Illness, appointments, and family commitments are common reasons for missed school days. If your child is feeling unwell, please be sure to keep them home to recover and prevent the spread of illness. If possible, try to schedule vacations or appointments during school breaks to minimize disruptions to learning.
If your child will be absent or if there are extenuating circumstances, please let us know as soon as possible. We are happy to work with you to support your child’s education.
Thank you for your continued support. Let’s make the most of this winter season by ensuring that our students stay engaged, healthy, and ready to learn.
Warm regards,
Mrs. Draughon
Principal
Upcoming Events
Fine Arts Events/Concerts
- Winter Orchestra Concert - 12/10 @630 pm
- Winter Band Concert - 12/12 @6:30 pm
Field Trips
Challenger Field Trip for Mr. Sandoval 12/10-12/12
8th Grade ENLACE Action Research Conference 12/10
- Challenger Field Trip for Ms. Keith 12/16-12/18
Other events
Planetarium visit to Mesa 12/4
Assembly 12/5
Food bank distribution 12/11
Winter Dance 12/13, 5:00-7:00
12/20 Early release for students
IReady Testing Schedule
ELA December 2nd – 6th
Math December 9th – 13th
Midterm Exam Schedule
12/16 Electives
12/17 Social Studies and ELA
12/18 Math and Science
12/19 Make ups
Winter Break: No School 12/23 - 1/6 (Students return on Tuesday, 1/7)
Message to Spectators
Girls' basketball
This week:
- Girls basketball tournament starts. B team plays @Zia (Mesa v Zia P) @6:15 and A team plays at home (Mesa v Lynn) @6:15.
Boys’ soccer
Soccer tournament on 12/14. Time TBA.
Basketball Entry Information:
- Cashless Entry: We are now cashless for all athletic events.
- Payment Options: Scan the QR code to purchase tickets. Tickets can be bought in advance or at the event using the QR code.
- At-the-Door Payments: If purchasing tickets at the door, please use a credit card, Apple Pay, or similar payment methods.
- Ticket Redemption: DO NOT redeem your tickets until you arrive at the event.
- Transferring Tickets: You can transfer ticket purchases to your child via email. Please remind them not to redeem their tickets until they attend the event.
- Re-entry: Re-entry to events is not allowed.
Mesa Middle School has high expectations for your child’s learning! To help our students be successful, please help us by having them at school on time, everyday! If they must miss any of their classes, we will need the documentation for attendance records.
School starts: 8:50
Tardy bell: 8:55
School ends: 3:55
A missed day is a lost opportunity for students to learn. Research shows students who improve their attendance and grades in middle school have a higher success rate in high school.
Important Reminders to Students
No Cell Phone Policy
In our ongoing efforts to effectively meet student needs and prioritize academics, student safety and well-being, we will not allow the use of cell phones during the school day. Students must turn off their phones and place them into their backpacks upon arrival at school. They may use them after the dismissal bell.
Consistently mitigating the use of devices during instructional activities is crucial not only for academic performance but also for maintaining a safe and focused environment. Staff will be reminding students about this policy daily.
If parents/guardians need to reach their students during the school day, please reach out to our front office.
Behavior Expectations
Please be aware that we have a zero-tolerance policy for any behavior that creates an unsafe or disruptive environment in our learning community. Any student who engages in violent behavior—including fighting, bullying, harassment, or gang-related activities—on school property or during any LCPS-sponsored event may lose the privilege to participate in extracurricular activities. This includes, but is not limited to, field trips, sporting events, and dances.
LCPS POLICY JI- STUDENT EXPRESSION, CONDUCT, AND SAFETY IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE
