Pictured above: Alumnae pommers joined in the MHS homecoming celebration by marching in the parade and performing the MHS fight song, representing 34 years of MHS Pom Pon!
Midland Public Schools District Vision Statement: Lead with respect, trust and courage. Ensure an equitable, collaborative and inclusive culture. Enable all to achieve success.
October 2, 2023
Volume 11 Edition 8
Happy National Principals Month to our MPS Principals! We appreciate you!
Neighboring Week Celebration
MPS participated in Midland's Neighboring Week by hosting a "Decal and Donuts" event at the Administration Building. We invited the Midland community to write one word that embodies MPS to them and include their signature, and we plan to use the artwork to create a decal for one of our Grounds & Maintenance Department vehicles. The event was a success and we look forward to expanding it for next year's Neighboring Week!
MPS Multicultural Calender - October
Dates of Interest for October:
- Hispanic Heritage Month concludes on October 15
- Midland County Cultural Awareness Month/Global Diversity Month - for more information and activity ideas, click here
- October 9/12 - Día de la Raza/Indigenous Peoples' Day - (formerly known as Columbus Day) This day has been reframed in recent years to celebrate and honor the cultures that were here long before Columbus and the other Conquistadores ever touched land in the Americas.
- October 10 - World Mental Health Day - for more information, click here
- October 24 - United Nations Day - raises awareness to the international organization founded in 1945, for more information, click here
- October 31 - Halloween (also known as Samhain)
- October 31-November 2 - Día de los muertos - Mexican and Central American celebration that honors deceased friends and families, for more information, click here
Staff Professional Development
MPS Paraprofessionals Collaborate with Literacy Coaches
On September 26th, 19 Elementary Title I Paraprofessionals and Interventionists engaged in an after-school literacy professional development session. This enthusiastic group, led by MPS Literacy Coaches, learned about:
- Principles of Syllable Instruction
- Principles of Teaching High-Frequency Words
- Principles of Alphabet Instruction
Their learning was centered around the book: Reading Above the Fray - Reliable, Research-Based Routines for Developing Decoding Skills by Julia B. Lindsey.
Thank you to this dedicated group of paraprofessionals for their willingness to learn and collaborate with one another. This new learning will be an asset to student learning and growth! We are so thankful for you!
PYP (Primary Years Programme) Bootcamp Training
Our new MPS elementary staff gathered to participate in our PYP Bootcamp training to learn some of the foundational pieces of the Primary Years Programme. This training is provided by Midland Public Schools PYP Coordinators as a precursor to their formal training that will take place later this year. Staff members learned about inquiry-based strategies, participated in hands-on community-building engagements, and explored fundamental elements within the PYP framework. We are excited to have the new staff energy be a driving force as we embark on over a decade of our PYP journey!
Join us for the first performances of the year at Central Auditorium!
- Today, October 2nd, at 6:00 PM - Dow High Choir Cabaret
- October 3rd at 7:00 PM - Midland Choir Presents: Stage & Screen Spetacular
As a reminder, tickets are required for all performances, even if there is no charge for the event. Get your tickets by clicking on the button below!
MPS would like to share offerings with our students who are planning for after high school!
Check this section of the Communique for updated scholarships, open houses, and other opportunities! Here are some upcoming events:
- October 28th, 10 am - 1 pm - SVSU open house - register in advance here
- November 4th, starting at 9:30 am - Northwood University fall open house - must register in advance here
Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival
This year the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival was September 29th. It is one of the most important festivals in China. Chinese classes at Woodcrest Elementary, taught by teacher Jingcheng Wang, learned about and celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival. Students did a variety of activities such as making a booklet, reading a book relating eating mooncakes to the moon phase changes, and tasting authentic lotus paste and salted egg yolk-flavored mooncakes. Big thanks to Sophia Liu and Max Hilliard (from Ms. Staley's class) and Stanley Xue (from Mrs. French's class) for bringing mooncakes as gifts to share with their classmates.
2023 Marching Band Showcase
Don't miss the 2023 Marching Band Showcase, on October 11th at Midland Community Stadium starting at 6 p.m.!
Community Resources
Midland County Emergency Food Pantry Network's Backpack Buddies
In cooperation with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan (FBEM), the Midland County Emergency Food Pantry Network (EFPN) is offering the Backpack Buddies Program to help provide nutritious food for elementary and preschool children throughout Midland County. How it works - packages of food are distributed to enrolled children on Friday afternoons to provide food for the weekend.
Children are eligible for this program if they meet at least one of the following criteria: qualify for the free or reduced school lunch program; live in a household with Food Stamp FIP case number; or live in a household qualifying for WIC assistance. There is no cost to the family or the school to participate in the program. If you would like to enroll a child in the program please complete the enrollment form below and return it to your school’s office.
This year the program will start on September 26th. Students can enroll at any time during the school year.