Massabesic Middle School

October 18, 2024

Dear MMS Families,

Fall testing wrapped up this week and we were encouraged by early results. We appreciate the hard work that students put in on their state assessments and how well they adapted to a different schedule on testing days.

Our building goal for the 2024-2025 school year is centered around increasing student engagement in all aspects of MMS climate and culture. We are so pleased to see fall sports, clubs and classrooms bustling with activity, and to see the school engagement that MMS students are bringing into the building each and every day. School Counselors will begin their small group sessions this month, which will focus on coping skills, social skills, and leadership. Students have settled into their school year routines and our clubs and activities are full of students every week. Teachers have been working hard to plan exciting and engaging learning activities, including opportunities to learn from guest speakers, visits to research centers and hands on experiences within the classroom. It is busy and exciting!

We recently held our first "Mustang Monday" at the beginning of this month, with rave reviews! Thanks to Ms. Sarah Locke and Ms. Sophie Manning for spearheading and planning these monthly school wide morning meetings. We are looking forward to continuing this on the first Monday morning of each month. If your student has recently done something unique or earned a recognition we may not know about, please reach out to Ms. Locke or Ms. Manning to let them know so that we can include a shout out at the next Mustang Monday.

In this Family Newsletter be sure to check out the Important Upcoming Dates, the Spirit Week Dress Up days flyer, news about clubs, an update about MMS Athletics, our new "Class Spotlight" section and flyers about other fall family activities in the RSU 57 community. Also included below are a note from our School Nurse, Mrs. Dorr, information regarding a Thanksgiving Food Drive, and our October breakfast and lunch menus.

Sincerely,

Kelly Grantham, Principal

Amy Troiano, Assistant Principal

October 21-25 - "Fantastic Fall" Spirit Week (see flyer below)

October 21-25 - School Transportation Appreciation Week

October 23 - Early Release Day

October 29-31 - 6th grade teams visit Gulf of Maine Research Institute

November 1 - End of Quarter 1 - Progress Report

November 5 - NO SCHOOL - In Service Day for Staff - Election Day

November 7 - School Picture Retake Day

November 11 - NO SCHOOL - Veteran's Day

November 13 - Early Release Day

November 27-29 - Thanksgiving Break

8th grade students researched nationally known portrait artist Robert Shetterly’s work and used their learning to make connections to the Sustainable Development Goals in their Interdisciplinary Studies classes. We are excited to have welcomed Mr. Shetterly to MMS yesterday to speak to all 8th graders. MMS students selected portraits from his collection of 280 portraits to be on display in the MMS Library during a month long art installation running now through November 15. We hope that by studying those who have made positive changes in their communities, it will empower our students to do the same in their community.

Our clubs are underway with an exciting number of students participating! Drama Club permission slips are now available—see the announcement regarding Drama Club below. Student Council permission slips are also now available in the Main Office and will be starting up soon.

The Drama Club will hold its 2024-2025 informational meetings after school on Monday, November 4, and Wednesday, November 6. Students only need to attend ONE of those days. At that time, we will unveil our spring 2025 show and give more information about auditions (November 12) and opportunities to work backstage. Mr. Daigle and Mrs. Johns are excited about this year’s show (not a musical) and hope to see lots of students at our informational meetings. Permission slips are available in the office and guidance office. Students must have a signed permission slip to attend the meetings and auditions.

1) 7th Grade screenings for distance vision are underway. If a concern is noted during the screening process, you will receive an email and written notice mailed home from the School Nurse. Letters mailed home will include the results of the vision screening and will recommend further follow-up from an eye doctor. Please have the provider sign the bottom of the form and return it to the MMS School Nurse. If your student has a known impairment currently under the care of an eye specialist, please provide the date of the last visit for the school records. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at jenniferdorr@rsu57.org or at 207-247-6121, ext. 4005.

2) We have a new provider of dental services! We are happy to announce that Mainely Teeth will be visiting our school the week of December 9, 2024. Please refer to the email sent out on 10/17/24 with a copy of the registration packet. If you can print the packet, please send back pages 4-7 (all require parent input/signature) fully completed. If you are interested in registering your student and cannot print off the paperwork, please reach out to the school nurse via email at jenniferdorr@rsu57.org or phone at 207-247-6121, ext. 4005 and request a paper coy be sent home for completion. We are excited to partner with this new dental resource and hope that our community finds it as valuable as we do.

Be sure to let your bus driver know how much they are appreciated for all of their hard work getting our students to and from school safely each school day!

We give thanks to all of our RSU 57 Transportation Staff!

Click here to access the RSU 57 Athletics and Activities page to find out about events happening within the district, get out there and show your Mustang Pride!

Please note that middle school students are encouraged to attend high school sporting events, but must be accompanied by a supervising adult.

Do you have the ParentVUE app? Please be sure to download the Parent VUE app or access the site online to view your student's gradebook, assignments, schedule and more. Student gradebooks are updated frequently and we ask that you regularly check your student's account. Please contact our main office for assistance if you have trouble activating or accessing your account.

Be sure to read the MMS Family Handbook

Website: https://middleschool.rsu57.org/
Location: Massabesic Middle School, Old Alfred Road, East Waterboro, ME, USA
Phone: (207) 247-6121