MUMS Family Newsletter

Dear MUMS community,

MUMS was bustling this week as we all prepared for our second Quarter to close. Students worked hard to make up any missing or incomplete work and teachers worked hard to do their final grading before they begin Report Card Writing. Next week teachers will work to write Report Cards with an eye to printing and mailing them on the 29th of January.

If you have questions about your child's grades, please reach out to the respective teacher as a starting point. If questions persist feel free to reach out to Michaela. Thank you for your patience as we continue to navigate this new reporting tool and as always, we welcome any feedback that could make this process smoother for you or your student.

Additionally, I'm delighted to inform you that as of this coming Monday all of our teachers impacted by the flood will be back in their classrooms, thanks to the hard work of local contractors and our ACSD Facilities team. Some rooms aren't completely finished, but they are ready for students! Kudos to staff and students who have been so flexible over these last few weeks.

If you have questions generally, please reach out to us at mwisell@acsdvt.org (Michaela)

or zjerome@acsdvt.org (Zach) or dhunt@acsdvt.org (Dustin) or by calling the MUMS office at 802-382-1600 or by visiting the MUMS website for more information.

- Michaela, Zach & Dustin

Michaela Wisell, Principal

Zach Jerome, Assistant Principal

Dustin Hunt, Dean of Culture and Climate

• January 19th - Quarter 2 ends
  
• January 22nd - Quarter 3 begins
• January 24th - 8th Grade Visit to PAHCC 8:30am - 10:45am
• February 1st - 8th Grade Parent Info Night at MUHS 6:30pm - 8:00pm
• February 2nd - Districts Music Festival at Vermont State University - Castleton Campus

In Wellness classes, students welcomed guest speaker Linnea Johnson of Atria Collective (formerly WomenSafe) for four lessons on sexual violence prevention in accordance with Act 1, the Vermont Child Abuse Prevention Law. In these lessons Linnea and Ms. Gogarty co-teach lessons on healthy and unhealthy relationships and sexual harassment. Students analyze our district’s Hazing Harassment and Bullying policy and engage in active upstander activities that increase students' confidence to set and communicate their boundaries in all types of relationships. Thank you to Linnea, Atria Collective, Ms. Gogarty, and MUMS health students for helping build our knowledge base, confidence and resilience around these very important topics.

Pam Quinn and Eileen Sears, MYP Coordinators

With a new year often comes a focus on reflecting on habits, goals and dreams. Here is a resource to explore as a family.

ACSD schools are participating in the 802 Smiles Network, which promotes dental health programs in Vermont schools. This means your child is eligible for a free dental screening at school and may be eligible to receive preventive dental services at no cost to you. All you have to do is to fill out the online consent forms by February 1st, 2024. We also have paper forms that will be sent home.

The registered dental hygienist can provide the following free services:

• Dental Screening (simplified dental check-up)

• Fluoride Varnish (brush-on liquid that can help prevent cavities)

• Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) (brush-on combination of silver and fluoride that can help stop cavities from getting bigger)

• Dental Cleanings (helps keep the mouth healthy and clean!)

• Oral Health Education (teaches students how to brush, floss, maintain good oral health)

• Dental Sealants (a thin layer of material placed on back teeth to prevent decay)

Our schools will be served by dental hygienist, Michael Messina. If you choose to participate, Michael will send you a follow-up letter after your child’s screening explaining the services provided, whether additional treatment is recommended, and help connect you to a dental professional, if needed. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the school’s dental hygienist, Michael Messina at michaelmessina.rdh@gmail.com or our school nurse.

If filling out the forms online are too difficult, please ask your child about paper registration forms that were handed out during TA to your child. Filled out paper forms should be delivered our school Nurse Elizabeth Palko.

There has been a request to reinvigorate our School Store in time for the Holidays. For those of you interested in purchasing "MUMS Gear" please use this link.

Staff Wish List

• Our Staff Wish List includes lots of things you might have around your home unused, like magazines (for Ms. Ambrose's classes), milk crates (for Ms. Cosgrove's classes), tools, scrap wood, craft supplies and more!

REMINDER

Flu and covid are on the rise!

If your child is exhibiting any of the following symptoms PLEASE DO NOT SEND THEM TO SCHOOL.

Fever 100.4 and greater

Chills

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Flu like symptoms- general malaise, body aches

The student must be symptom free for at least 24 hours (without the use of medications) before returning to school.

It is strongly encouraged to test your child for covid. Unfortunately, the school is unable to provide covid tests to students at this time, we should be getting more in- but a very minimal amount. Please check your local pharmacy, online, or the local health department. The federal government is also offering 4 free covid tests to each family, see the following website www.covid.gov

Hand hygiene! Encourage your child to hand wash frequently and utilize hand sanitizer. Cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. And don't forget to schedule your child for their annual flu shot and covid booster!

Following these guidelines will help stop widespread flu and covid throughout the school. If you have any questions please reach out. Thank you!

Elizabeth Palko BSN RN

MUMS School Nurse

802-382-1207

epalko@acsdvt.org

We are so excited to welcome parents and community members back into our buildings this year! If you are interested in substitute teaching or volunteering this year, please start an application now!

If you are interested in joining our new Friends of MUMS group, email friendsofmums@gmail.com