MAMS Family Newsletter

Being present and on-time to school each day is extremely important for students' success and well-being. School attendance is a powerful predictor of student outcomes; data shows that, when students are present daily, they learn better and are generally healthier. Please read the graphic below with important data about attendance and student outcomes. Besides these facts, the State of New Jersey has a compulsory education law which states the following legal designations:

• 10 unexcused absences = a student is considered "truant."
• 15 absences (excused + unexcused) = a student is considered "truant."
• 18 absences(excused + unexcused) = a student is considered "truant" and "chronically absent."

In addition to NJ law, our district’s attendance policy #5200 also details the importance of attending school and possible consequences for excessive absences. For students with high absenteeism, MAMS staff may take the following corrective steps:

• Attendance letters sent through Genesis parent portal
• Attendance phone calls
• Attendance meetings with counselor/case manager, assistant principal, principal
• Retention in the current grade
• Court referral for truancy
• Referral to Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP)

Our staff have already begun taking steps to address excessive absences. Missing just two days of school each month (totaling 20 days) will qualify your child as "chronically absent" and could cause your child to be retained and repeat their current grade. Please try to have your child be in school (and on-time) each day. If you need support or have questions about attendance, please contact your child's counselor.

Don't forget that students will have their school pictures taken on 10/17 and 10/18. School pictures will be taken during Science class so check your student's A/B day schedule. See the flyer below for a link to preorder and the required code.

Student Council has begun preparations for their annual Thanksgiving Day food drive. Beginning next week, students will be hearing about this great food drive during Advisory. The official start date for the food drive will be 10/28. Any help you can lend for this cause is definitely appreciated!

The M.O.S.T. program will be running again this year at MAMS, starting in November. Click below to view the flyer which contains details about program dates/times and includes a link to register (in-person registration is also available next week).

Does your child eat school breakfast or lunch and would like to share feedback about meals? Maschio's, our district's food service provider, will be hosting a voluntary meeting on Friday, 10/18, for a small number of interested MAMS students. Students may share input about current meal options and try some new foods for possible future menus. There will be a sign-up during Advisory on 10/15 for students who are interested (this meeting is limited to 20 students). The meeting will take place during Advisory and part of period 1 (students may miss ~15 minutes of class time).

Are you aware that YMCA offers before- and after-school care for MAMS students? Please see the flyer below for details and use the QR code to register.

View the current PTO flyers below. For information about PTO fundraisers and events, please contact the PTO.