Superintendent Communiqué November 4, 2019 <> Volume 7, Issue 14
MPS INCLUSION & DIVERSITY VISION STATEMENT Everyone in our school community is Michael E. Sharrow, Superintendent valued, safe, treated with kindness and (989) 923-5026 <> @MidlandPS <> [email protected] respect, and works together to make our community and world a better place.
Our young- REVISITING THE PRE-LABOR DAY AND THE SURVEY SAYS … est learners START POLL QUESTION from the In the October 21 & 28 MPS As we reported in last week’s MPS Superintendent Communiques, Communique, the Pre-Primary we asked our stakeholders the Pre-Labor Day Start Center following question in a one- poll results were (PPC) being question poll: very, very close: the “I” in 51% YES KIND! “Are you in favor of a balanced 49% NO calendar approach?” Please respond again … we would like to know whether the fact We received 2,826 responses with the following results:, that Labor Day falls later in September during the next two 36.4% — Support calendar years would impact the Pre- 59.7% — Do not support Labor Day poll results: 3.9% — Neutral 2020 Labor Day is September 7 2021 Labor Day is September 6 Thank you to everyone who shared their opinion with us! Given the later Labor Day in September these two years, the state-required 180 days of instruction and 1098 hours of instruction, would mean the MPS school calendar would reflect a mid-June last day of school for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years.
As you take the one-question poll this time, please keep in mind that per State Law during the week before Labor Day, students would attend school Monday- Thursday and have a four-day weekend. Please know we will take this Did you notice their t-shirts? information into consideration They reflect the PPC’s 2019-20 Poll link: as we consider future MPS emphasis, “Throw Kindness Around https://forms.gle/et7WVK6xsgrEUFTA6 school-year calendars. like Confetti.”
MPS CONNECT is a great communications tool for you to connect with me. Every message comes to my desktop. Either I or a member of our staff will do all we can to reply to your message the next work day. Click here to connect with me: https://goo.gl/forms/ciB8b7FAMXb4pQxN2
Eighty Midland Public Schools’ high school students participated in the MiCareer November 4, 2019 Page 2 of 6 Quest event at SVSU on October 30, 2019. The event focused on in-demand jobs in these five career sectors: • Advanced Manufacturing • Agri-Business • Construction • Health Sciences • Information Technology Students visited all five industry sectors and participated in hands-on, interactive activities showcasing various occupations and had conversations with working professionals from a multitude of companies in our region. Roses to the cast and crew of
performed this past weekend by the Midland High Chemic Drama Department at Central Auditorium.
The fun performances were thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended!
Financial Aid Night for Midland County Seniors is THIS THURSDAY (November 7) at Midland High from 6-7:30 p.m. Assistance will be provided to parents and students to complete the FAFSA financial aid app for college during this evening. Email Karen Dralle to register: [email protected]
Mr. Iwanow (grandparent of a Siebert student) in NOVEMBER recently shared fossils, November 5 NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS gems, and a meteorite with Siebert 4th <> Professional Dev. for MPS staff Grade students! November 7 Elementary Parent-Teacher Conf. <> Elementary schools HALF DAY (check with school for release time) <> Middle/High schools FULL DAY November 23 Santa Parade November 27 HALF DAY FOR STUDENTS <> Check with school for release time November 28-29 NO SCHOOL
Midland Public Schools FIRST Robotics Teams at the Saginaw Spirit Game November 4, 2019 Page 3 of 6 Dow High Robotics Team 2619, The Charge, the Midland High Robotics Team 5509, ‘Like A Boss’, Jefferson's FTC Wired Wolves, and Siebert's Binary Bulldogs & Bulldog Builders The above MPS Robotics Teams were involved in the Nexteer FIRST Robotics Night at the Saginaw Spirit hockey game on October 27. The event included robot demos with other FIRST Robotics teams, activities for kids before the game and Dow High’s robot doing the ceremonial puck drop at center ice!
Viking Robotics Teams 9931 “Viking Vendors” and 12722 “The Viking Force” joined forces on Saturday for an impressive 1st place victory at the Midland Qualifier FTC Robotics Competition (Bullock Creek HS). Their alliance was the winning combination over a field of 37 amazing robots. Merrick Hocking (9931 team representative) extended the alliance invitation to Easton Urbanek (12722) and Easton graciously accepted. The two Viking teams (and a third partner) were the #3 alliance, as they entered the semifinals and came out on top in a 2-point deciding finals match! The win qualifies both teams for the State Championship FTC event in Battle Creek. (Stay tuned for more great results from Saturday’s FTC Robotics Competition in next week’s Communique!)
Midland High Chemics took 1st Place at Annual Michigan Pure fall joy on the faces of these State University High School Programming Competition Young 5’s Kindergarten students at the On Saturday, November 2nd Midland High School students Midland Public Schools’ Aidan Wilbur-Gauthier, Maylee Rielle, and Nathan Striebel earned first place in the advanced division at MSU’s annual high Pre-Primary Center at school programming competition. Carpenter Street School
Also competing for the Chemics were Jeffrey Root, Celine Crane, Ashley Siegmund, Eden Ozkan, Therese Joffre, Nicole James, Alexa Swanson, Julianna Thompson, and Ellie Haycock. Other high schools placing were Ann Arbor Pioneer, Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center, and Detroit Country Day. The Chemics were coached by computer science teacher Robert Fox.
Have you checked out the MPS Student or Community Flyer Boards under the Community tab on the MPS website lately? The Student Flyer Board includes fun activities for students; the CHECK MPS Community Flyer Board has important events & opportunities for parents. We receive flyers from IT our great community partners each and every week. If you haven’t had a chance to go the MPS FLYER Flyer Boards lately, take a moment to click these links: OUT! Student Flyers: https://sites.google.com/midlandps.org/studentflyers/ BOARDS Community Flyers: https://sites.google.com/midlandps.org/communityflyers
Northeast Middle School 8th Grade November 4, 2019 Page 4 of 6 Students were “In the News” in the Thursday, October 17, 2019 Mi-STAR Newsroom
In this Mi-STAR Newsroom article, Northeast co-teachers Carman Kessler and Tim Kipfmiller talked about the Mi-STAR Unit 8.5b they are piloting with their 8th Graders. “There’s a fictitious state official called the HAC, for head of the academic calendar, … who hails from warmer climes, has decreed that Michigan public schools are allowed a maximum of three snow days a year, and those can only be observed when the Lansing schools close. If school anywhere else in the state is cancelled at any other time, it will have to make up those days at the end of the school year.” Kessler went on to say, “That really got my students’ attention,” ... “We had 12 snow days this year, and when they heard about the HAC’s new policy, they said ‘No! that’s not fair!’” Want to read the rest of the article? Click on this link: https://mi-star.mtu.edu/news/mi-star-newsroom/87/
One of my favorite things as Superintendent of Midland Public Schools is to experience our educators “in action” and the learning taking place in our classrooms. For the past few years, I have scheduled classroom visits in November. This past Friday, I had the privilege of several classroom visits at Siebert Elementary School. One of the classrooms I visited was Ms. Susan Shaffer’s 4th grade classroom.
I received this note from Ms. Shaffer and her students: “Thank you so much for visiting our class today. We enjoyed getting to know you. We appreciated you asking us questions and valuing our opinions. We learned all kinds of wonderful information about you and our great school district. We appreciate you answering our many questions. We are thankful for all you do for us at MPS.”
I am looking forward to visiting classrooms in all eleven MPS schools during the month of November.
On Friday, November 1st, nine Dow High students (Alex Little, Emma Congratulations to the Mertes, Kourtney Fischer, Bizzy Haydanek, Salma Elsadany, Joey Meilink, Charger Football Team Olivia Miller, Carys Pendleton, Nicole Peters) had for their first-round the opportunity to participate in a Leadership playoff victory at Workshop held at Northwood University. At the Traverse City Central conference, they networked with students from around last Friday night. Best wishes as the the Tri-City area, brainstormed ideas to improve their Chargers face Muskegon Mona schools and communities, sat in on a panel with the Shores on the Sailors’ home turf in 2019 Northwood Distinguished Women honorees and the second round of playoffs on participated in round table discussions with the Friday, November 8 at 7:00 pm. honorees. These students gained inside knowledge on industry experience and personal success of the 2019 Congratulations to the Distinguished Women. The Northwood Distinguished Midland High Women award honors women from across the country Chemics on a great who have made a difference in their business and 8-1 Varsity Football community. Erin Royalty, HHD CTE business teacher, Regular Season! organized this experience for these Chargers.
Look at the expressions on the faces of these Young 5’s Kindergarten students at November 4, 2019 Page 5 of 6 the MPS Pre-Primary Center as they experienced their “volcanic pumpkins.” STEM in action for some of Midland PS’s youngest learners.
A FEW HALLOWEEN MEMORIES FROM THE MPS STAFF LAST WEEK
WOODCREST KDG. TEAM SIEBERT KDG. TEAM
ADAMS ELEMENTARY SIEBERT FAIRY GODMOTHERS SPORTING THEIR CONSTRUCTION GEAR!
JEFFERSON HUSKIE TEAM
PLYMOUTH ELEMENTARY TEAM
MPS HR TEAM November 4, 2019 Page 6 of 6 Join our Team Midland Public Schools 600 East Carpenter
MPS Current Job Openings Midland, Michigan 48640 Click on this link for current job postings: MPS Website: https://www.applitrack.com/mps/onlineapp/jobpostings/view.asp www.midlandps.org
Position Location Posting End Date Twitter: Coach, Assistant, Swim, Boys’ HH Dow HS until filled @MichaelSharrow2 @MidlandPS Coach, Assistant, Wrestling HH Dow HS until filled YouTube Channel: Coach, Assistant, Soccer, Girls’ Midland HS until filled https://www.youtube.com/ Coach, Head, Tennis Midland HS until filled user/MidlandPublicSchools Paraprofessional (two positions) Siebert ES 11/12/2019 Student Flyers: School Psychologist District until filled https://sites.google.com/ Teacher, Elementary District until filled midlandps.org/studentflyers/ Community Flyers: https://sites.google.com/
midlandps.org/communityflyers
Administration 923-5001 In addition to the job openings above, Adams Elementary 923-6037 BUS DRIVERS and PARAPROFESSIONALS are needed in our Carpenter Pre-Primary 923-6411 TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT for the 2019-20 School Year! Central Park Elem. 923-6836
Requirements: Chestnut Hill Elem. 923-6634 High school diploma or GED Plymouth Elementary 923-7616 Pass criminal background check Siebert Elementary 923-7835 DRIVERS: Pass pre-employment drug test, physical/back assessment Woodcrest Elementary 923-7940 PARAS: Pass physical/back assessment & Work Keys Jefferson Middle 923-5873
Additional Details: Northeast Middle 923-5772 Flexible schedule, no experience required, AM & PM routes available, paid H. H. Dow High 923-5382 training, regular & sub drivers and paraprofessionals are needed Midland High 923-5181
Salary: Bus driver: $13.54/hour starting salary … within four years: $17.15/hour MPS Board of Education Members: Paraprofessional/Sub Paraprofessional: $9.65/hour to start with steps to $13.12 Pam Singer, President Want to know more? Scott McFarland, Vice President Contact MPS Transportation (923-5041) today for info or to apply! Lynn Baker, Secretary Mary Fredell, Treasurer MPS Midland Public Schools contracts through EDUStaff for Brad Blasy, Trustee NEEDS our substitute teachers. You choose the days, grade Jon Lauderbach, Trustee SUBSTITUTE levels, schools at which you would like to sub! Phil Rausch, Trustee TEACHERS! For more information go to www.edustaff.org TODAY wise thought to ponder ... Nominate a great MPS team member for a SHINING STAR today! “America works best when MPS Team Shining Star Nominations are now being accepted for the 2019-20 we work together to expand school year for MPS staff members who you feel make MPS a better place for the circle of inclusion!” students. Please take a moment to nominate an MPS team member today! — Raja Krishnamoorthi https://www.midlandps.org/shining-star-nomination-form