Pictured above: Midland High celebrated its National Honor Society Spring Induction ceremony last week. Seventy-one seniors received their graduation honor cords in preparation for graduation next month. Additionally, the National Honor Society Chemic Chapter inducted 76 new members. Congratulations to all the Chemics who received this honor!
Midland Public Schools District Vision Statement: Lead with respect, trust and courage. Ensure an equitable, collaborative and inclusive culture. Enable all to achieve success.
April 8, 2024
Volume 11 Edition 32
MPS Multicultural Calendar - April
Dates of Interest for April:
National Arab American Heritage Month: This month celebrates the culture, contributions, and achievements of Arab Americans. For more information, visit the link here.
Autism Awareness Month: which includes World Autism Awareness Day on April 2 - this month individuals and organizations worldwide celebrate with events to raise awareness about autism. For more information, visit the link here.
- Eid al-Fitr: April 9-11 Celebration and feast honoring the end of Ramadan. For more information, visit the link here.
- Passover: April 22-30 Celebrates the Jewish Exodus from Egypt and the end of Jewish slavery. For more information, visit the link here.
- Earth Day: April 22 Celebrates the protection of the planet from things like pollution and deforestation. For more information, visit the link here.
- Gathering of the Nations: April 25-27 Native Indigenous Nations of North America hold the largest Powwow of over 500 nations. For more information, visit the link here.
State Testing Begins at MPS
Beginning this week, MPS students will participate in standardized testing. Our middle and high school students will start the week of April 8th with the PSAT, SAT, and M-STEP assessments, and elementary students will test later this month and into May. State assessments provide valuable data that helps us understand student achievement and identify areas where we can strengthen our curriculum and instruction. However, we recognize that they can cause disruption to classroom routines and student anxiety. To encourage a calm and supportive testing environment that helps students perform to their best abilities, our Curriculum Team has shared valuable information about how to support students during testing weeks. Click on the button below to view our Test Taking Tips. We appreciate our MPS families supporting our students during this time and offer our best wishes to all students who are testing!
Woodcrest China Art Program
For the past weeks, 4th Grade students at Woodcrest Elementary participated in the China Art Program organized by the Midland County 4-H program. They prepared and drew pictures as instructed by Dr. Dee Howe (MSU Extension 4-H/STEM coordinator), Jingcheng Wang (Chinese teacher), and Lifang Qiu (Chinese teacher) to show life in Michigan. Some of the students' artwork has been selected to receive an awared. Their artwork shows life in Michigan to enhance cultural awareness and understanding. Congratulations!
Robotics News
Dow High Robotics Team 2619, The Charge
The H.H. Dow High School Robotics Team 2619, ‘The Charge’, competed at the Lake City FIRST Robotics District Competition, where they won the Gracious Professionalism Award, which celebrates outstanding demonstration of FIRST Core Values such as continuous Gracious Professionalism® and working together both on and off the playing field.
Team 2619 competed at the Midland District Competition, where won the Team Sustainability Award sponsored by Dow, which celebrates and recognizes a team which has developed sustainable practices to have a positive environmental impact and achieve long-term continuity. They were the captain of the 8th ranked alliance and advanced into the quarterfinals during playoffs.
The Team 2619 Dean’s List Award nominees for 2024 are Lucy Tang and Nimai Patel. The Dean’s List award celebrates outstanding leaders who have led their teams and communities to increased awareness of FIRST and its mission while achieving technical expertise and accomplishment. Lucy Tang advanced from the Michigan State Championship as a FIRST Dean’s List Finalist where she will compete at the FIRST World Championship later in April.
The Team 2619 Woodie Flowers Award nominee for 2024 is Thomas Boomgaard. The Woodie Flowers Award celebrates effective communication and recognizes mentors who lead, inspire and empower using excellent communication.
Midland High Robotics Team 5509, Like a Boss
The Midland High School Robotics Team 5509, ‘Like a Boss’, competed at the Lake City FIRST Robotics District Competition, where they were selected by the first ranked alliance to advance to the playoffs.
Team 5509 competed at the Midland District Competition, where they advanced into the playoff quarterfinals as part of the 6th ranked Alliance.
The Team 5509 Dean’s List Award nominees for 2024 were Zach Barton and Craig Hurst. The Team 5509 Woodie Flowers Award nominee for 2024 was Miranda Irwin, who is also a team alumnus from when the Midland and Dow High Robotics teams were part of one combined robotics team.
THANK YOU to the Dow High staff and to all the event volunteers for their support and flexibility, which helped make this event possible.
Midland High World History Hosts Mr. Don Demko
Students in Ms. Beson-Steger’s freshmen World History classes had the opportunity firsthand to experience an Amazing Storyteller come in and speak about the Battle of Britain as part of their World War II Unit. The infamous Mr. Don Demko, a beloved and retired MPS teacher, returned to Midland High to share the life lessons of Douglas Bader - a decorated Ace Fighter pilot of WWII.
Bader lost both of his legs while attempting to land his plane during WWI. Demko spoke so eloquently of Bader’s struggle to learn to walk again and his desire to rejoin the Air Force and fly again. Bader was told that the only way that would happen would be IF there were another war. Bader rejoined the Royal Air Force after WWII started and was instrumental in helping strategically plan the air defense in the Battle over Britain. Bader was shot down again but survived the crash. On a bombing run over Germany, Douglas Bader was shot down a third time and once again…survived. He was, however, captured, attempted to escape numerous times on his prosthetic legs, and spent the rest of the war in a German prison. Bader was returned to England and promoted to Captain. He spent his life championing the cause of other amputees, including children and veterans. He was knighted in 1976 for his lifetime of service to the disabled.
The students absolutely loved the dramatic storytelling and WWII Experience:
- “I really liked how he told the story with music- it was intense and made it so interesting!” (Nam Doan, 9th grade)
- “Your story kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.” (Logan Gessford, 9th grade)
- “I learned that you can accomplish anything even with disabilities.” (Aiden Wray, 9th grade)
- “I was shocked to hear that it takes you at least 50 hours to put the story with music.” (Maggie Spears, 9th grade)
- “You are the best storyteller I have ever heard!” (Jack Brown, 9th grade)
- “Having history told to a sound track is insanely captivating.” (Andrew Herman, 9th grade)
Thank you, Mr. Demko, for sharing this story!
Dow High Japanese Club Meets With Midland's Sister City - Handa, Japan
At the request of the Handa Junior High School in Midland's Sister City of Handa, Japan, the Sister City Committee arranged for the Dow High Japanese Club to have several online meetings with the students in Mr. Takada's English class in Handa. In the evenings of March 11,12, and 14—late morning for the Handa students—members of the Dow Japanese Club interacted with the junior high students, listening to presentations in English and answering questions about life in the United States, as well as asking the Handa students about life in Japan. Thank you to the Dow High Japanese Club for sharing your time with our Sister City!
Northeast Middle School Peer 2 Peer Door Decorating Contest
Northeast Middle School Peer 2 Peer Club students receive a mental health topic every month. The students in the club plan activities to align with topic they receive every month. March's topic was "You Have a Purpose."
The Peer 2 Peer Club thought students need to understand the purpose of coming to school everyday, and wanted them to understand how school teaches skills they will use everyday in their personal and professional lives. The Door Decoration Contest idea came through this discussion. All 1st hour classes were invited to participate in the Career Door Decoration Contest. The classes were required to pick a career and decorate the door with facts about the career. They also had to include how the career uses Science, Social Studies, Math, and English. The winners are: 1. Mrs. Ash- 6th grade 2. Mrs. Volmering- 6th grade 3. Mrs. Kalinowski- 8th grade. Great job, Vikings!
Inclusion Chromebook Sticker Project
After the success of the initiative with the Midland County Inclusion Alliance (MCIA) during the last two school years, MPS is again inviting students to participate in the 2024-2025 MPS Chromebook Sticker Artwork design contest, to turn a piece of art into a sticker for all student Chromebooks in the MPS district. The winning design for the 2024-25 school year will be applied to student devices prior to the start of school in August. To enter, see the details and the form in the button below.
Theme:
"Ensure an equitable, collaborative and inclusive culture" is part of Midland Public Schools Mission statement. This year’s theme for our sticker is BETTER TOGETHER – how can we support, encourage, and collaborate with others so we can all grow stronger together?
Program rules:
- Artwork can be done by an individual or as a collaborative piece with 2-3 artists working together on the design.
- All ages welcome – must be an MPS student.
- Submit artwork to your school office by: Friday, April 19th, 2024.
- Please note that artwork selected may require slight revisions.
- If selected, artists understand they will work with MPS on design.
- If selected, media release forms will need to be completed by parents.
Thank you to the Midland County Inlusion Alliance for their collaboration on this exciting project!
Solar Eclipse - April 8th, 2024
Every so often, nature treats us to a spectacle that transcends the ordinary, captivating our imaginations and reminding us of the awe-inspiring beauty of the cosmos. The April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse is one such event. Even though most of Michigan won’t see totality, the sun will be about 95% covered in our area. Below are some tips for safe viewing of the eclipse:
DO:
- Use eclipse glasses or solar viewers that meet the ISO 12312-2 standards, (sometimes written as ISO 12312-2:2015) but do not stare continuously at the sun. Take breaks and give your eyes a rest.
- Use a pinhole projector. See the attached flyer below to learn how to make one.
- Use your hands to cast shadows on the ground. Cross your hands with fingers slightly spread to create a waffle pattern. Look down and you will see the spaces between your fingers project a shadow image of the sun in a crescent shape during the partial eclipse stages.
- Look at shadows on the ground, such as under a leafy tree, during the partial eclipse. You can see the crescent sun shadows projected by the spaces between the leaves.
DON'T:
- Look at the sun directly.
- View through regular sunglasses. No matter how dark they are, they will not protect your eyes.
- Use damaged eclipse sunglasses or solar viewers. If they are torn, scratched or punctured, do not use them and throw them away. If the filters are coming out of their frames, discard them.
- Use homemade filters.
- View through welder's glass. The glass in most welding helmets is not strong enough.
- View through your camera viewfinder.
- View through a telescope without the proper solar filter.
- View through binoculars.
For additional information on viewing the eclipse safely, see the attached flyer or visit the NASA website, linked below.
Online Enrollment
Online enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year is now available by clicking the link below.
If you do not already have a ParentVue account, you will be prompted to create one, and then you will be able to complete the 2024-2025 New Student form for grades DK-12.
Thank you to our MPS Paraprofessionals!
Attention: Incoming Jefferson Students!
MPS Connections - New Episode!
Check out the newest edition of our MPS Connections Podcast - Midland High Chief Science Officers! You can listen by clicking the button below, or watch the YouTube version here.
MPS Operating Millage Renewal
The MPS Board of Education recently voted to place a millage renewal proposal on the May 7, 2024, ballot. This renewal provides a significant source of revenue to the school district’s operating budget, including salaries, utilities, and educational programming for students. You can find more detailed information by visiting our Operating Millage webpage, linked here, as well as in the Frequently Asked Questions document linked in the button below.