Dear Middle School East Students and Families,

As we embark on the beginning of a new trimester, I am thrilled to extend my warmest greetings to each of you. The start of this term offers us an opportunity to reinforce our commitment to academic excellence and the holistic development of our students.

Throughout the previous trimester, we have seen incredible strides in both academic achievements and personal growth. Witnessing our students' enthusiasm and dedication toward learning and collaboration is heartening. I am immensely proud of their accomplishments and the support they've received from our dedicated educators and families like yours.

This trimester, we are continuing our efforts to nurture a culture of reading and teamwork within our school community. Reading opens doors to new worlds, fosters empathy, and enhances critical thinking skills. I encourage you to join us in fostering a love for reading at home by setting aside time for family reading, discussing books, and visiting the library together.

Moreover, teamwork lies at the core of academic and social success. Collaborative learning enhances communication skills, teaches empathy, and prepares our students for the challenges they'll encounter in their future endeavors. Encourage your children to engage in group activities, share ideas, and appreciate diverse perspectives.

We understand that each student has unique strengths, and our aim is to provide a supportive environment that celebrates these differences. Our faculty remains dedicated to guiding and nurturing every student, ensuring they reach their full potential while feeling valued and respected.

I encourage you to maintain an open line of communication with our school community. Your insights, feedback, and involvement are invaluable in shaping our students' experiences.

Let's embark on this new trimester together, united in our commitment to provide our students an enriching and supportive educational journey. Please take time to give us your feedback on outdoor recess as we approach Winter! We value your input as we make decisions and appreciate your taking the time to do so. Thank you for your continued trust and support.

Warm Regards,

Jennie Kelly

STMA Middle School East Principal

We're so proud of our teachers who continually work to engage students by making education FUN! Check out these photos from some of the amazing teachers that you'll have the opportunity to learn from at Middle School East.

Mrs. Pham: 7th Grade ELA: We finished out the trimester with students writing and then presenting nonfiction narratives. For many, it's super difficult to get up in front of their peers to speak. Not only did they all get up to speak, what they read was a personal story that they had written. Talk about the vulnerability it takes to do that! I was inspired by the awesome display of creativity and bravery from these young people.

Mrs. Gessner - 8th grade Spanish: Each trimester, Mrs. Gessner's classes create accounts on the language-learning app Duolingo. It is not assigned as graded homework, but a way to practice Spanish at home and compete against their classmates to make the leaderboard. Her trimester 2 Spanish students have started off with a bang and are working super hard to practice their skills. If you want to join your child in learning Spanish, Mrs. Gessner would invite you to join in on the competition. Here is a link to join a parents and family members "class" on Duolingo and see if you can earn more points than your child!

A support being provided to many of our sixth grade students this trimester is in the area of Essential Skills. Please check out the four skills that are critical to the success of ALL middle school students! We'd love for you to connect with your child about these skills to support our efforts! Thank you!

• Winter Sports are up and running for 7th and 8th graders!
• View the Winter Activities Brochure
  
• Boys Basketball starts January 2nd. Student Info meeting on December 19th at 3:10 in the MSE Cafeteria.
• Check out the MSE Activities page for more information including game schedules.
• Home / Middle School East Activities
  

Twenty seven 8th graders have volunteered to be leaders during 5th/6th grade lunches.

We believe that mentorship plays a crucial role in creating a positive school environment, and their participation can make a significant impact.

Responsibilities of 8th Grade Buddies:

1. Assist 5th grade students in playing safely at recess.
2. Assist 5th grade students in lining up and walking to lunch safely.
3. Assist 5th and 6th grade students in finding seating during lunch.
4. Encourage positive social interactions and inclusivity among students.
5. Serve as a friendly face and approachable resource for any questions or concerns.
6. Foster a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for all students.

Training sessions will be provided to ensure that 8th-grade buddies are well-prepared for their role. We believe that this program will not only benefit our 5th and 6th grade students but also provide valuable leadership experience for our 8th-grade participants.

We want your feedback! Should middle school students be able to play in the snow at recess? Please complete the form below to have your voice heard.

Fill out the Snow Play Survey

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 or there is lightning.

3. It is snowing heavily.

Please visit with your child regarding your expectations of them to wear a coat, hat, and gloves so they can be comfortable and enjoy their time outside at recess during the cold weather. This is an area of fostered independence for middle school students. While we certainly encourage them to dress appropriately for the outdoors they are responsible for following family expectations.

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 weather ahead, and we thank you for doing your part at home to make sure that happens.

Winter Break

• No School
• December 25th, 2023 - January 1, 2024

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

• No School
• January 15th, 2024

School Conferences

• January 18, 2024
• 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
• Book Fair will be delayed until March 4th - 8th due to book availability

SAVE THE DATE!

• January 26, 2024
• 5th grade WEB BINGO event - times and details to come!

Extra Change of Clothes

• Please make sure your student has a complete change of clothes (including socks & underwear) in their backpacks or lockers. We have very few items for students to use and having a change of clothes will save you a trip to the school during the day.

Our School's Cell Phone Policy also applies to students that are not feeling well.

• We ask that all students not feeling well visit the Health Office to be checked out. Your student along with the health office staff will determine a plan to call a parent, stay at school or to get picked up.

P.E. Excusal

• if your student needs to be excused from P.E., please email the Health Office Staff a written parent excusal including your child's name, grade and reason for excusal.
• If this excuse is required due to an injury and will be greater than 1 day, please provide a written medical provider's note.

Health Services Staff Contacts:

erinc@mystma.org

andreamis@mystma.org

Winter Break is soon approaching! To avoid those winter blues,

make yourself a winter break bucket list to keep yourself busy

with activities instead of being on your devices! Here are some

ideas for you...

1. Decorate cookies

2. Read a book by the fire

3. Build a snow fort

4. Make paper snowflakes

5. Have an at home day spa

6. Make hot cocoa bombs

Easy Cocoa Bomb Recipe

7. Try a new recipe

8. Make breakfast for your family

9. Go sledding or ice skating

10. Relax - practice mindfulness!

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

Need a break? Not sure how to quiet your mind? Check out STMA's Virtual Calming Room. Between journaling, coloring, mindfulness and mind games, you can find an activity to calm your mind and body. Use these tools to manage your emotions and find new ways to cope with the stress and anxiety of everyday life.

There has been so much going on in KORT during Trimester One. Students continue to follow the weekly schedule with quality reading time, building connections and relationships with the Character Strong program and building community on Fridays.

Mondays - Drop Everything and Read

Tuesdays -Drop Everything and Read

Wednesdays - Character Strong

Thursdays - Character Strong

Friday - Building Community

Want to see what is happening during KORT? Click here to see the calendar of events with links to all KORT lessons. You can view Character Strong lessons by following the link in the slideshow and logging in with the credentials listed in the notes section of the slide. Character Strong is the Social Emotional Learning curriculum that is being implemented in STMA schools Pre-K through 8th grade.

Listed below are the monthly themes for the rest of the school year. Positive behaviors in these areas are acknowledged and rewarded though students being given Knights Honor Cards. These cards may be turned in to move to the front of the lunch line and be entered into a drawing to have the entire lunch table use the Knights Honor Lounge.

January - Perseverance

February - Honesty

March - Cooperation

April - Courage

May - Creativity

Family Character Dare

Even the STMA District Administrative team has been getting in on Character Dares. Principals, Directors and Superintendent Foucault have been sharing out their 10 Things You Don't Know About Me lists, to build relationships and connections within the team.

Here is your challenge MSE families! Create your own list of 10 Things You Don't Know About Me and share it within your family. It's amazing what things you may learn, even about the people closest to us. Thank you MSE families for joining us in the Character Strong journey!

Want to join the Parent Advisory Committee at Middle School East? The purpose of the committee is to receive meaningful feedback from our parent and guardian stakeholder group on a variety of essential topics. We meet three times per year. Be sure to join us for one of the two remaining meetings! Your voice matters to us!

Monday, February 12th, 2024: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Monday, April 22nd, 2024: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Please follow the link in the title banner above to complete the PAC registration form and join in!

Jennifer Kelly, Principal

David Holler, Assistant Principal

Molly Schleicher, Dean of Students/Activities Director

Jennifer Scheel, Principals 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

School breakfast and lunch are free for all students this year, but there are more benefits for those who qualify. Students whose families qualify for free and reduced-fee lunches also get reduced fees for school activities. If you would like to apply please complete an Educational Benefit application. Applications can be completed via Stratapps our online application system, or you can download and print an Educational Benefit 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.

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 Educational Benefits. 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.

During the 2023-24 School Year

MSE Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Classes In Session from: 8:25 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Students may begin to arrive at school when the school doors open at 8:00 a.m.

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