MS EAST ~ EXCITED TO SEE YOU!

We are excited to be increasing the opportunities for student-teacher engagement as we head into the In Person Learning Model on February 1st with 5th grade students and February 16th with 6th-8th graders! This communication is intended to provide an overview for students and families to know what to expect as we enter a new chapter of our school year!

Thank you for your continued support, encouragement, and engagement. We are very grateful to work within a community that cares deeply about their children and their education. We sincerely appreciate your partnership and want you to know how excited we are to have your children back within our school again!

Respectfully,

Jennie Kelly

STMA Middle School East Principal

As a reminder, our school day hours have been adjusted!

Our school day will now be from 8:55 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.

Students may begin to arrive at school when the school doors open at 8:45 a.m.

Teachers will hold daily office hours from 8:15-8:45 a.m.

This change ensures the safety of students being transported to school following current guidelines. This change also provides the opportunity for Middle School East, West and High School students to be transported with building peers only.

Student's attendance for In Person learners will be taken during their SEL and first hour class.

Students enrolled in Distance Learning are expected to attend their full schedule of live classes each day. Starting on February 1st (5th Grade) and February 16th (6th-8th Grade), students will no longer be required to answer the daily attendance question. Instead, attendance will be tracked based on the student's participation in their live classes. If your child is sick or unable to attend live classes for the day, please contact the MSE attendance office, (meattendance@mystma.org; 763-497-2655) as you would if your child was attending in person.

If you have any questions about Distance Learning attendance monitoring, please contact Assistant Principal David Holler (davidh@mystma.org).

Please take time to have your child review/print their school on SchoolVue prior to Monday, February 1st. Upon arrival to school, students will report to their SEL classroom. For many students this is the same classroom as their first hour class. For students who have a Physical Education, Art or General Music for their first hour class, they will report to their SEL/ALB teacher from first trimester. This is where students daily attendance will be taken, announcements given and where students will have their Social Emotional Learning support (SEL time). Please see the fifth grade daily schedule included below.

Students will remain in a learning cohort throughout the school day. Movement throughout the school will be limited to begin with and reviewed after the first few weeks of students' return to school. Students will transition during the day to their Active Learning Block Classes, Lunch time and Recesses.

All students and staff will continue to follow the expectation of wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. Classrooms will be sanitized whenever students transition. We are thrilled that students will have more opportunity to move throughout the day, see friends and have outside recess time. If you need support, please contact our School Counselors:

Last names A-L have Mrs. Knudson juliek@mystma.org

Last names M-Z have Mrs. Mesna jessicame@mystma.org

Our band and choir teachers will be working with students, teachers and families to schedule lessons for their students to continue to learn and grow in their love of music.

Youth Matters has gone digital during Distance Learning. Students still attend sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15 to 4:45 with a MSE teacher to improve their academic skills, work on homework and increase independence. As students return to the in person learning model, so will their Youth Matters services.

If you would like your child to attend Youth Matters, please reach out to Mr. Holler at davidh@mystma.org or open the link to the Youth Matters registration packet for a schedule and more information.

Check out the STMA Digital Learning Page. Here you will find frequently asked questions and quick tips to help navigate the commonly used resources by STMA students.

• STMA Digital Learning Page

Check out these technology resources to help students who may get distracted by online learning.

• Distraction Free Youtube Chrome Extension

• Parental Controls Article

Chromebooks and hotspots will be collected at a later date. Students do not need to return them at this time, but should bring them to school with them.

Check in with Dean of Students, Molly Schleicher, for questions/concerns about devices. mollys@mystma.org or (763) 497-2655

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.

Please know that your school counselors are here to support you!

Last names A-L please contact Mrs. Knudson juliek@mystma.org

Last names M-Z please contact Mrs. Mesna jessicame@mystma.org

Email: jenniferk@mystma.org
Website: https://www.stma.k12.mn.us/Domain/8
Location: 4862 Naber Avenue Northeast, Saint Michael, MN, USA
Phone: 763-497-2655
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stmamse
Twitter: @stma_ms_east