Midland Messenger
August 26-30, 2024
Midland Elementary
Email: midland@fpschools.org
Website: http://midland.fpschools.org/
Location: Midland Elementary School, 105th Street East, Tacoma, WA, USA
Phone: 253-298-4500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Midland-Elementary-Mustangs-112865059416899/?ref=settings
PLEASE LOOK FOR THIS NEWSLETTER IN YOUR EMAIL EVERY MONDAY MORNING FOR IMPORTANT MIDLAND INFORMATION!
From the Principal
Dear Midland Families:
Back to School News!
It was wonderful to see so many of you this past Wednesday at our Open House. We had a large turn out of students and families!
This is the week school starts on Tuesday, August 27th . The school day begins at 8:55 and ends at 3:25. Here is important information you should know:
- Bus routes are posted on the district website and information is below, with the location of bus stops and times. Please be sure to be at the stop 5 minutes before the bus is expected. Parents, we ask that you stay with your children at the bus stop for the first few days.
- Students can be dropped off at Midland starting at 8:40. Students need to be in their classrooms by 8:55 to be on time. We expect the drop off zone to be very busy the first few days, so thank you for your patience in advance.
- Students who are dropped off after 8:55 must be accompanied by an adult into the office to be signed in. Students may not be dropped off and sent into the office.
- If your child is going home differently than how they arrived, please send a note to their teacher. We want to be sure we know how all students are getting home.
- All Midland students have the opportunity to have a breakfast and lunch, at no cost to them. You may send a home lunch, if you prefer.
- Our staff has been working hard to welcome your child. Please be sure to communicate with your child’s teacher if there is something specific they should know about your child.
- Kindergarten families, remember your child only comes one day this week for the morning, and you have a parent conference that afternoon with your child's teacher.
Thanks, and see you on Tuesday!
~ Ms. Frederick
Calendar
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
August 27 ~ First day of school for 1st - 5th grade
Aug. 30 & Sept. 2 ~ NO SCHOOL for Labor Day weekend
September 3 ~ First full day of school for Kindergarteners
September 4 ~ 1:55 Dismissal
September 9 ~ Health and Dental Screening
September 11 ~ 1:55 Dismissal
September 18 ~ 1:55 Dismissal
September 25 ~ 1:55 Dismissal
**For additional future scheduled activities, please check out our Midland calendar at https://midland.fpschools.org/**
Important Attendance Information
September is Attendance Awareness Month!
You have always known that good attendance contributes to successful students, but this year we have some very important procedures, which we will follow:
1) Good attendance is to miss 7 or fewer days in the whole school year.
2) We will contact you for a conference if your child has 3 unexcused or 5 excused absences in a month.
3) Chronic absenteeism is more than 15 days in a school year.
I want to encourage all our Mustangs to be at school ON TIME, EVERY DAY, ALL DAY! It’s important to be here each day to learn. See you in class!
We welcome your communication. Please call or email our attendance team if you need support with your child's regular attendance:
Counselor: Morgan Stephens (mstephens@fpschools.org) 253-298-4510
Assistant Principal: Stephanie Koehnke (skoehnke@fpschools.org) 253-298-4502
Attendance Clerk (office): Kristina Roberts (krroberts@fpschools.org) 253-298-4506
2024-25 Midland Daily Schedule
8:40 Breakfast
8:50 Warning bell, students are in class
8:55 Tardy bell, school begins
11:25-12:20 Kindergarten Recess/Lunch
11:25-12:20 1st Grade Recess/Lunch
11:25-12:20 2nd Grade Recess/Lunch
11:55-12:50 3rd Grade Recess/Lunch
11:55-12:50 4th Grade Recess/Lunch
11:55-12:50 5th Grade Recess/Lunch
3:25 Dismissal
*MOST Wednesdays will be a 1:55 dismissal*
(PLEASE check the calendar for specific dates)
School Safety
Your child's safety is very important to the staff at Midland! If you'd like to walk your child to class in the morning, please be prepared to check in at the office with your driver's license to get a Hall Pass sticker. Then, please be sure to let us know when you are leaving the building. Thank you for helping us keep Midland safe and secure for all students!
Morning Drop Off Information
If you are a parent who is driving their child to school, here are some important items to consider:
- Please use the parent drop off zone in front of the school.
- Please follow the directions of the Safety Patrol on duty.
- Students can be dropped off between 8:40-8:50am.
- Students can pick up breakfast and go directly to class.
- Students need to be in class by 8:55, when the tardy bell rings.
- Students who arrive at or after 8:55 will have to have a parent come into the office to sign them in. *Please note that due to safety concerns, our tardy drop off policy has changed. Parents may not drop off late students to enter the building unsupervised. Parents must park, come into the office, and sign the student in with the time and reason for the tardy.
- After 5 tardies, a parent meeting with an administrator will be required. Students may need to start taking the bus if they continue to be late for school.
Thank you in advance for understanding that our school day begins at 8:55 and students should be present at that time.
Regular School Attendance: What you can do!
- Set a regular bed time and morning routine as well as finishing homework and packing backpacks the night before.
- Keep track of your child's attendance.
- Have a back-up plan in place with family members, neighbors, or other parents for getting your child to school in case something comes up.
- If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors, or other parents for advice on how to make him/her feel comfortable and excited about learning. We are here to help!
- Avoid medical appointments and extended trips when school is in session.
New Student Registration
2024-25 Online Registration for NEW Students
If you have a child who will be five years old by August 31, please enroll now. The 2024-2025 school year is just around the corner! Starting kindergarten is a big deal for kids and their families. It's not just about learning ABCs and 123s - it's about making new friends, discovering new things, and taking a step into a new school community. Visit www.fpschools.org/enroll.
- Find your School!
- Gather your Documents!
- Enroll online!
Updating Family Information On-line
Now is a great time to check the contact information that we have for your child. If you have had any changes, you can always log on to your Family Access Account at fpschools.org and update your address, email, and phone numbers. If you need help, please don't hesitate to call the Midland Office at 253-298-4500.
Right at School Daycare
Before and Afterschool Care for the 2024-25 School Year!
Serving students at ALL 8 Elementary Schools
Right at School will operate before and afterschool programs at all eight Franklin Pierce elementary schools! Right at School offers a safe environment for students to learn, to play, and to grow!
Volunteer Clearance
CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS....
If you are interested in volunteering as a chaperone for field trips or in any other capacity that may come up, please complete the volunteer application as soon as possible. It may take up to two weeks to process an application and we don't want you to be left out of a volunteer opportunity because you are not approved yet! Click here to begin your volunteer application. If you were cleared as a volunteer last year, please complete a new application. Volunteer applications must be completed every year.
PTO
Stay in the know with the PTO! You can catch what's happening in the weekly newsletter as well as the PTO Bulletin Board in the main hallway!
If you'd like to know more about what the PTO does you can send an email to midlandspto@gmail.com
Preschool Developmental Screening
Franklin Pierce Schools Family Resource Center
Franklin Pierce Schools has a resource center for our families. You will find information and help for many situations and needs - food, diapers, formula, community referrals, and more.
Franklin Pierce Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.
Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to James Hester, Compliance Coordinator for State and Civil Rights Laws; Wendy Malich, Title IX Officer; or John Sander, 504/ADA Coordinator at 315 129th ST S, Tacoma, WA 98444-5099 or at (253)298-3000.