MMS Update 9-30-24

Half Day of School

School Dismisses at 10:40 am

The MMS Winter Concert Begins at 7:00 pm

at Chenery Auditorium

Winter is here, and with it comes the promise of snow! Whether you embrace the season with outdoor adventures or prefer the warmth and comfort of indoors, we're sure these snowy Kalamazoo moments will spark your excitement. After all, there's no shortage of ways to enjoy the winter landscape, whether exploring it up close or admiring it from a cozy spot inside.

There's something genuinely infectious about children's energy and excitement for simple pleasures, like the first snowfall. Their pure joy reminds us to find delight in the little things, and there's no better place to experience that wonder than at the Kalamazoo Nature Center.

Echo Valley in Kalamazoo offers some of the best winter fun around, with various activities that will thrill adventurers of all ages. One of the main attractions is the toboggan runs, which feature a top-of-the-line all-season sledding surface called Everslide. Used at locations worldwide, Everslide ensures a smooth, fast ride no matter the weather. As you race down the quarter-mile-long runs, you'll reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour before coming to a fun and exciting stop.

Reindeer Ranch in Kalamazoo, founded in 1999 by Gary and Carol Borton, has become a local favorite for anyone looking to learn about and interact with reindeer. The family-run farm offers hands-on, educational tours that provide a unique and memorable experience.

No winter visit to Kalamazoo is complete without a stroll through Candy Cane Lane in Bronson Park. This festive path, lined with towering, oversized candy canes, creates a magical experience for visitors of all ages. Whether young or just young at heart, walking under these whimsical, snow-dusted arches will surely bring a smile to your face. The bright, colorful candy cane structures twinkle in the winter light, creating a scene straight out of a holiday dream.

The Gilmore Car Museum’s Winter Wonderland event is a must-see holiday experience that combines classic cars and festive lights for an unforgettable evening. Guests will begin their adventure by driving through the museum's picturesque campus, where they'll be treated to over 25 themed light displays, including sparkling lighted historic barns and vintage-era car dealerships. Once the scenic drive ends, the magic continues indoors. The museum is transformed into a holiday wonderland, with the Festival of Trees showcasing beautifully decorated trees amid hundreds of stunning classic cars.

The Lillian Anderson Arboretum is one of the most beloved nature spots in Kalamazoo, offering fantastic hiking trails and some truly stunning photo opportunities. Located on 140 acres of diverse landscapes, the Arboretum features a mix of marsh, meadow, pine plantation, and second-growth deciduous forest.

• Students must be in the 50th percentile in NWEA Math and Reading.
• Students must pass their core classes (Math, ELA, Science and Social Studies)
• Students must be at a 90% or higher attendance rate.

Students not meeting these goals may have to attend summer school or be retained in their current grade for the following school year.

NWEA assessments are designed to target a student's academic performance in mathematics, reading, language usage, and science. These tests are tailored to an individual's current achievement level. This gives each student a fair opportunity to show what he or she knows and can do.

PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO GIVE THEIR BEST EFFORT WHILE TESTING!

Every school day counts in a child's academic life...

A missed school day is a lost opportunity for students to learn. In this era of increased accountability for states, districts, and schools, the connection between student attendance and learning is being studied more than ever before. As a result, education agencies are asked with increasing frequency to report attendance data in a standard manner to allow comparisons across organizations and jurisdictions.

The primary rationale for high-quality attendance data is the relationship between student attendance and student achievement.

A special thank you goes out to El Concilio, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo Parks and Recreation, The KPS World Languages Department and the MMS School Community!

The Kalamazoo County Health Department will be coming to Milwood Magnet School on Thursday, December 12, 2024 (10:00 am to 12:00 pm). They will provide immunizations for students in need of updated vaccinations!

Kalamazoo County middle and high school students and their families were invited to discover the many free educational opportunities available to them at the Kalamazoo RESA Career Connect Open House on Tuesday, Dec. 3,. at the Air Zoo. Our MMS students enjoyed the opportunity and learned all about many local careers.

This Giving Tuesday, your generosity can make a lasting impact on young musicians in our community. The Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestras provide students with exceptional opportunities to grow their talent, build confidence, and share the joy of music with our community.

Your donation helps us keep participation costs low and produce free community concerts that inspire excellence in the next generation of musicians.

Join us in empowering youth through the power of music. Donate now at kjso.org/donate and make a difference today!

Thank you for your support,

Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestras

Our 6th graders from the Young Lancer's team learned all about the human body and made life sized models to demonstrate their learning!

If you have a conflict or concerns with another student, please stop in the Student Center and complete an incident report. We will work to help you resolve your problems.

District Beliefs, Expectations & Responsibilities

The Kalamazoo Public School District believes that all students can learn when provided with appropriate instruction and an environment that is safe and orderly. To create such an educational setting requires a comprehensive program of instruction, written and consistently enforced standards of discipline, and the cooperative efforts of students, parents/guardians, school staff and the community. In order to develop and maintain a positive educational setting, discipline standards should balance the need for consistency and uniformity with the need for discretionary authority, and should offer alternatives. The Kalamazoo Public Schools’ Student Code of Conduct is based on the following beliefs:

1. Discipline is a natural element of educational and personal development.

2. Positive behaviors are encouraged through appropriate reinforcement and/or corrective measures.

3. The rights and welfare of the individual as well as the entire school population will be protected. 4. The Student Code of Conduct should lead to a clear understanding of behavioral expectations and consequences for unacceptable behavior.

5. The school will strive to achieve a balance between the rights of students and the need for order and safety for the entire school population.

All students should check their grades. Be sure you have completed all of your work and be sure you don’t have any missing assignments. Talk to your teachers about how you can improve your grades and make the 2nd trimester honor roll.

• Students have 4 minutes to transition from one class to another. They must be on time for each of their classes. They should be in their seats ready to learn when the bell rings.

• 1. No Cell phones/headphones/earbuds/ Air pods

  2. No Hats or Hoods on heads

  3. No Backpacks/winter coats

  4. No sunglasses/bandanas

  5. No Food/drinks (other than water in clear water bottles) in classrooms

• Parents, remember to use PowerSchool to monitor your child's grades and attendance. It is important for all students to arrive to school and class on time every day.

• If you or your child becomes aware of a situation that may create a problem at school, please contact an administrator at the school (269-337-0670). We want to be proactive and maintain the best possible learning environment for our students.

Academic Achievement, Safety and Order are Milwood Magnet School Priorities!

PowerSchool Parent Portal is an online resource that gives parents/guardians access to their student’s:

• Grades and attendance
• Test results
• Report Cards
• Attendance history
• Email notifications that can include your child's grades and school announcements
• Teacher comments
• Calendars

How do I access the PowerSchool Parent Portal?

Click this link.

Parents, remember to use PowerSchool to monitor your child's grades and attendance. If you have any questions or concerns please give us a call at 269-337-0670.

It is important for all students to arrive to school and class on time every day. Remind students to bring their charged Chromebook every day.

We are committed to ensuring that the students are provided with a safe and orderly academic environment, where learning is the primary focus of our students.

Mission of Milwood Magnet School

Milwood Magnet School will engage all students in rigorous learning experiences that promote academic excellence, while fostering a positive inclusive environment that demonstrates our school’s core values: preparation, respect, integrity, determination, and effort.

Vision of Milwood Magnet School

At Milwood Magnet School, our vision is to educate and empower the whole child academically, socially, and emotionally, so they have the skills to be a positive influence in our community.

A spectroscope works by using diffraction to separate the different colors of light. Inside the spectroscope you will see each of the colors that are present in a light source. For example if you look at white light through a spectroscope, you will see all of the colors of the rainbow.

Principal, William Hawkins - Hawkinswm@kalamazoopublicschools.net

Assistant Principal, Aaron Sauter –Sauteram@kalamazoopublicschools.net

Counselor, Joshua Kruger - Krugerja@kalamazoopublicschools.net

Counselor, Rashonda Wiggins - Wigginsrl@kalamazoopublicschools.net