Monroe Middle School

I would like to welcome you back for the 2024-2025 school year! I hope you all are able to enjoy the remaining days of summer, and our students are excited to start another school year this September. As the MMS Principal and father of an incoming 2nd grader & 9th grader, I am looking forward to the return of a daily school schedule and routine including an MMS building filled with students and staff. This letter serves two purposes: to introduce the MMS administrative team, consisting of myself and Assistant Principal, Lindsay Dahmen, and to make you aware of important dates, times, and information about the upcoming school year.

My name is Matt Brown, and I am entering into my 20th year in education. Previously, I worked as a Special Education Teacher at Verona Area High School. For the last 10 years, I have been the MMS Assistant Principal and completed my 1st year as the MMS Principal last year. I absolutely love this age group, but it definitely has its literal and figurative growing pains in all aspects of working and living with pre-teens and teenagers. As some of you are realizing right along with me, our own children could not be more different no matter how similar their upbringing has been! I know and trust the MMS staff will continue to connect and build your childrens’ academic skills and social emotional well-being to assist them in navigating all that encompasses life as a middle schooler in 2024.

I am Lindsay Dahmen, and I will be starting my second year in the Assistant Principal position at MMS. Prior to this, I served as a Special Education Teacher in our building for 20 years. Initially, I student taught at MMS, and I am thrilled to continue my tenure here. Monroe is an amazing community, and I thoroughly enjoy working with our students at MMS. The middle level is definitely where my heart lies, and I truly cannot see myself working at another level. I am married to my husband, Ryan, and we have two amazing boys, Drake (12) and Luke (10). Drake will be starting his middle school experience as a 6th grader here at MMS, and Luke will be a 4th grader at Northside Elementary School. The boys are involved in a variety of extra curricular activities that keep us very busy. I am excited to work with MMS parents and families as well as members of our community to ensure our students remain disciplined and focused, while receiving the appropriate attention to make social, emotional, and developmental progress while meeting their educational needs.

We are looking forward to the beginning of the new school year and working in partnership with you all to help build upon and grow the best group of young people we can!

August 5

Online Registration via Skyward Opens

If the online registration is not an option for you, our office staff will be available August 12th-14th from 7:30am-3:30pm to assist you. Schedules will also be available at this time.

August 28

Open House at MMS 5:00pm-8:00pm

**MAKE NOTE OF THE ADJUSTED TIMES**

5:00pm-8:00pm: ALL students and parents 6/7/8 are welcome

6:30pm-7:00pm: Volleyball and Cross Country Meeting (upper gym)

7:00pm-7:30pm: 8th Grade Washington DC trip--introductory informational meeting. (Auditorium)

September 2

Labor Day - NO SCHOOL

September 3

6th Grade Orientation Day

In person for ALL 6th grade students and WEB leaders only - 7th and 8th graders do not attend school on 9/3.

September 4

ALL Students 6/7/8 attend in person

MMS Picture Day

October 4

Teacher In-Service - NO SCHOOL

October 17

Student Picture Retakes

Click here for the School District of Monroe 2024-25 District Academic Calendar

We are beyond excited to welcome an incredible team of new members to our school! Introducing Lauren Ritter, our new School Psychologist. We're also thrilled to have Aaron Heim, coming from Abe Lincoln Elementary, as our new Guidance Counselor. Jake Grinnell, making an exciting transition from Parkside Elementary, will be inspiring minds as our 6th-grade math teacher. Jennifer Villavicencio will be providing invaluable support as our ELL interpreter aide, and Becky Nelson, also from Abe Lincoln Elementary, will be bringing her expertise and enthusiasm as an educational assistant. We are also pleased to announce that Brody Milz will be joining us as a student teacher at MMS, working alongside Andrea Hoenecke. Let's give a warm welcome to this amazing team!

Please remind your students that Chromebooks, Chromebook bags and chargers must be brought to school every day and to make sure that their Chromebook is fully charged!

Students should not be dropped off on 13th Street (clocktower side) or 16th Avenue (East side of MMS). There is a designated car drop off on the South end of 15th Avenue (West side of MMS). This is set up to avoid vehicular congestion and students crossing in the middle of the streets.

Please encourage students to use the crosswalks when crossing the street before and after school.

Students should walk bicycles when on the sidewalks.

The playground before school is unsupervised until 7:35a. Please consider not having your student arrive until adult supervision is in place.

Attendance Reminders:

All absences must be called in to the main MMS office line at 608-328-7120 by 11am on the day of the absence in order to be excused. Parents/guardians must speak with or leave a message for the office staff in order for the absence to be documented properly.

If your student is arriving to school late or needs to leave school early, parents/guardians may excuse their student by calling the main MMS office line at 608-328-7120.

Looking for an easy way to find MMS' Back to School info? Click HERE! This link will take you to our school supply list, fee schedule, registration information, and more.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the MMS office at (608) 328-7120. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Registration for MMS is completed online through Skyward and opens Monday, August 5th. For assistance with online registration or to make payments, the office staff will be available on August 12th, 13th, and 14th from 8am to 3pm. If you need help logging in, please call (608) 328-7120.

Processed foods are often high in added sugars, unhealthy fats, and sodium. Many of the convenient snacks and desserts that our kids gravitate towards fall into this category. One easy way to avoid processed foods is to make your own snacks and desserts. The following recipe is a quick, tasty treat that your family can make together. It's a good idea to double this recipe as they disappear quickly.

GRANOLA CUPS (makes ~18 )

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons melted coconut oil

2 cups rolled or quick oats

1 cup all natural nut butter of your choice

¼ cup maple syrup

1 T coconut oil

1 cup dark chocolate chips

nuts for topping (optional)

Directions

Measure 2 T coconut oil, add to a small mixing bowl, microwave for 15 seconds, set aside. In large bowl, use rubber scraper to mix together 2 cups oats, 1 cup peanut butter, ¼ cup maple syrup, & the 2 T melted coconut oil

Use cookie scoop to press mixture into muffin tins. Measure 1 cup of chocolate chips & 1 T coconut oil, place in a small mixing bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, mix well, repeat until melted. Use a spoon to pour chocolate over each granola cup. Freeze for at least 2 hours, then can then be stored in the refrigerator. ENJOY!

~MSD Wellness