Pictured above: On April 30th, the H.H. Dow High and Midland High Softball teams celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first Dow-Midland softball game held in 1974, the first year of softball for Midland Public Schools!
Midland Public Schools District Vision Statement: Lead with respect, trust and courage. Ensure an equitable, collaborative and inclusive culture. Enable all to achieve success.
May 6, 2024
Volume 11 Edition 36
Today marks the beginning of Teacher Appreciation Week! MPS would like to take this opportunity to thank our amazing teaching staff for their dedication and unwavering commitment to our students. We celebrate you this week and every day for fostering a supportive learning environment and going the extra mile to ensure all students feel valued and understood. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a remarkable group of educators leading the way in our schools!
And speaking of amazing staff - don't forget to nominate an excellent MPS staff member for a Gerstacker Award, Distinguished Service Award, or Administrators Inspiring Excellence Award to celebrate members of our MPS team who go above and beyond for our students!
MPS Multicultural Calendar - May
- National Teacher Appreciation Week: May 6-10 - including National Teacher Day on May 7: Celebrates teachers and public school educators and how much we support, respect, and admire them. For more information, visit the link here.
- Mother's Day: May 12 - Here is a link to a resource about being more inclusive when celebrating families.
- Memorial Day: May 27 - A day to commemorate and honor those lost while serving in the US Armed Forces. For more information, visit the link here.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the U.S. on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869—an achievement that relied on the labor of Chinese workers. For more information, visit the link here.
Jewish American Heritage Month:A time to commemorate and celebrate the contributions and achievements of American Jews while also acknowledging the struggles. For more information, visit the link here.
National Mental Health Month: This includes May 9 which is designated as National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. For more information, visit the link here.
MPS Operating Millage Renewal - Tomorrow is Election Day
Midland Public Schools has an operating millage renewal on the ballot tomorrow, May 7th, 2024. The proposal has two parts: renewal of the non-homestead operating millage and renewal of the hold harmless millage that, together, generate approximately $20.2 million annually for MPS.
If these millages are not renewed by Midland voters it will necessitate substantial reductions in the educational program.
If you requested and received an absentee ballot, please return it by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7th. You can also vote in person tomorrow between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Questions or concerns about the millage renewal? Contact us via the MPS Connect button below or call (989) 923-5014.
Thank you for taking the time to vote!
Pictured from left to right: Dow High Space Farmers Morgan Polansky, Meha Shivakumar, Margaret E. Hitt, Sophie Cai, and Ashwin Vemury.
Dow High Space Farmers Selected as Finalists of the NASA HUNCH National Competition
The Dow High Space Farmers from H. H. Dow High School have been selected as finalists for the NASA HUNCH (High School Student United with NASA to Create Hardware) Biomedical Engineering/Health Science and Software Design Review, hosted by Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas. This team includes Margaret E. Hitt (senior, project lead), Morgan Polansky (senior), Sophie Cai (junior), Meha Shivakumar (sophomore), Ashwin Vemury (sophomore), and Luvya Dhar (sophomore). On April 16, 2024, they presented their two-year research and innovative prototype to NASA scientists, engineers, flight surgeons, and astronauts alongside other national finalists.
The team's wireless sweat cortisol biosensor offers practical and effective solutions for managing stress and mitigating related mental health issues during long-duration space flights, which is a significant concern for astronauts, NASA flight doctors, and Human Research Performance groups. As a result of their achievement, the team is invited to present their work at the annual NASA Human Research Performance (HRP) conference in 2025. Congratulations, Chargers!
Celebrating 50 Years of MPS Softball!
April 30th marked the 50th anniversary of softball for Midland Public Schools, and the cross-town rivalry of H.H. Dow High Charger and Midland High Chemic softball! Bob Markey, the first softball coach for Dow High, threw the ceremonial first pitch, and players and coaches from 1974 to now were invited to the field to be recognized. What a great night to honor the history of our MPS softball teams!
T'Emimimo Oshin Selected as Semifinalist for 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program
Congratulations to H.H. Dow High School student T'Emimimo Oshin, one of 13 Michigan students selected as semifinalists by the Commission on U.S. Presidential Scholars of the U.S. Department of Education for the prestigious 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.
Application to the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is by invitation only. Each year, the program identifies a pool of graduating high school seniors who have scored exceptionally well on the SAT or ACT and have performed well academically. Other considerations may include nominations from chief state school officers and various recognition organizations for candidates based on outstanding scholarship. The majority of U.S. presidential scholars are selected based on broad academic achievement. To read the full press release from the Michigan Department of Education, click here.
Congratulations, T'Emimimo!
MPS Students Take Top Honors in Middle School Battle of the Books
Battle of the Books is a program designed to encourage and reward readers. Grace A. Dow Librarians choose books that encompass various interests and introduce students to a wide range of literature. During Battle season, students discuss the books with their teammates, team manager, and other adults, so reading becomes a shared activity. The season culminates with a Final Battle where students put their knowledge of the Battle books to the test, competing against other students in a head-to-head contest. In this year's Middle School Battle, Jefferson students took top honors!
Team Competition:
- 1st Place: Kinsey Wolf and Stephanie Reder (8th grade - Jefferson Middle School)
- 3rd Place: David Sias and EJ Watt (6th grade - Jefferson Middle School)
Individual Competition:
- 1st Place: Aanya Gupta (7th grade - Jefferson Middle School)
Congratulations to these students and all who participated in the Battle of the Books!
Midland High Meteorology Visit - the Forecast Looks Bright for the Chemics
On May 3rd, Chris Easlick, WNEM TV5 Chief Meteorologist, visited students from Ms. McIntyre's and Ms. Bradfield's geoscience classes at Midland High. Mr. Easlick talked about the different models and radar tools he and his colleagues use to prepare a weather forecast. His presentation was very interesting and engaging. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, Mr. Easlick!
Graduation is Quickly Approaching!
As we move closer to the end of the 2023-24 school year, we look forward to celebrating with our graduating class! Graduation ceremonies will be held at Dow Diamond on May 31st, 2024 as follows:
Midland High School - 4:15 PM
H.H. Dow High School - 7:15 PM
In the event of inclement weather, the graduation ceremonies will move to their respective buildings and take place at 5:30 p.m.
2024-2025 Enrollment
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.
"Claire's Award for Reading Excellence" (C.A.R.E)
Each year, the Midland Morning Rotary Club hosts a "Claire's Day" program to give out the Claire's Award for Reading Excellence (C.A.R.E). This program recognizes 2nd-grade students who have demonstrated significant improvement in their reading skills over the course of the school year. This year, the ceremony was held on Monday, April 29, at the Salvation Army. The following MPS students received the C.A.R.E award:
- J.T. Beurer - Siebert Elementary
- Amelia Camp - Central Park Elementary
- Braxton Costley - Central Park Elementary
- Leylah Dill - Central Park Elementary
- Emma Kent - Chestnut Hill Elementary
- Ian Khani - Chestnut Hill Elementary
- Henrietta Lambert - Adams Elementary
- Madalyn Moravek - Central Park Elementary
- Jaxon Nordstrom - Chestnut Hill Elementary
- Nita Sandstrom - Adams Elementary
In addition, there is an Inspirational Teacher Award. Principals nominate teachers or staff members for their contributions toward reading success. The following staff members were recognized:
- Tricia Clancy - Adams & Plymouth Elementary
- Terry Hagen - Siebert Elementary
- LeeAnn Rielle - Central Park Elementary
Congratulations to these students and staff for their achievements!
Once school has ended for the year, Midland Public Schools will once again offer the Summer eLearning Program. Through this program, online courses are available to high school students who wish to earn initial credit in select courses. The Virtual Summer Program is separate from the Credit Recovery Summer Program run by the buildings. Please contact your school building administration for their Credit Recovery Summer Program information.
While being on site is not a requirement for daily work or quizzes, tests and exams must be monitored. This can be by appointment onsite or by appointment virtually. Appointments will be scheduled with the teacher on duty between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM Monday through Thursday unless other arrangements are made. Students should expect to invest 45-60 hours to complete each course, but they may work on their course anywhere they have an internet connection.
Courses will begin on June 3, 2024, and must be completed by August 8, 2024. Students may only register for one course at a time. The cost for each course is $150 for Standard Edgenuity courses (EDG - Edgenuity on course list) and $250 for Edgenuity Instructional Services courses (EDGIS - Edgenuity Instructional Services on course list) for Midland Public Schools students and $175 or $265 for students outside of the MPS district. Registration begins April 22, 2024. For more information, visit the eLearning webpage on our website here.
Nominate Exemplary MPS Staff for Gerstacker, Distinguished Service, and NEW Administrators Inspiring Excellence Awards!
It is the time of year again when we look to recognize our amazing MPS staff with selection for the annual Gerstacker and Distinguished Service Awards. In addition to these two long-standing awards, MPS, with the support of the Carl and Esther Gerstacker Donor-Advised Fund at the Midland Area Community Foundation, will recognize an Adminstrator who inspires excellence in the MPS Community with the first annual Administrators Inspiring Excellence Award!
Please see the nomination announcements for these three awards as well as links to the nomination forms below. Thank you for your help in recommending our MPS staff who go above and beyond each day to support our staff, students, and community! The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, May 24th, 2024. Awards will be presented to the winners at our opening staff meeting in August.