The eNews is the official electronic newsletter of Mahtomedi Middle School. |
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November 23: MAEF's Fall Fund Drive Ends
November 25: Birthday Cake Day
November 27-28: Thanksgiving Break - No School
December 1: Teacher Professional Day - No School
December 2: 6th Grade Band Concert, 7:00pm, Chautauqua
December 4: 7th Grade Band Concert, 6:30pm, Chautauqua
December 4: 8th Grade Band Concert, 7:45pm, Chautauqua
December 5: Ka$h 4 Kidz Fundraiser Ends
December 9: 7th Grade Choir Concert, 6:00pm, Chautauqua
December 10: Midquarter of Quarter 2
December 11: 6th Grade Choir Concert, 6:30pm, Chautauqua
December 11: 8th Grade Choir Concert, 7:30pm, Chautauqua |
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This Issue's Top Highlights |
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Way to go MMS Families! We are over halfway to our $6,000.00 goal for Ka$h 4 Kidz! Keep the momentum going to help families in our community this holiday season! See below for details. |
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Plan ahead for absences! If you plan on extending your Thanksgiving break, please enter your child's absences into Infinite Campus early to avoid phone calls on your break. |
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Each month, Principal Jackie Collins spotlights learning happening at Mahtomedi Middle School. This month the Principal's Spotlight focuses on Staff Expertise |
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Jackie Collins, Principal, Mahtomedi Middle School |
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It is hard to believe that we are approaching the end of November already! I guess time flies when you are busy planning lessons, instructing, assessing, and making connections with kids.
We are fortunate to have a dedicated group of professionals on staff who strive to offer relevant and meaningful learning opportunities. Their content knowledge, along with experience, creates an environment in which students are challenged to learn new information, synthesize their learning, and then apply the learning in a variety of ways. For example, in the 6th-grade literacy class, students are taught skills in critical reading and writing. These same skills are then called upon in these students' other classes throughout the day. When our teachers work together, combine their expertise, and determine how to best incorporate highly effective teaching strategies and learning opportunities, our students are recipients of rigorous learning experiences.
Like the students, our staff strives to learn each day and get better at their craft. We value our professional learning days in which we have time and space to collaborate and learn from one another. We are charged to plan, create, and then deliver instruction to students that is grounded in the principles of AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination). The philosophy of AVID is that through rigorous academic experiences and quality instruction, all students will be college and career-ready when they graduate. Our learning centers around developing our understanding of WICOR (Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, Reading) strategies and how to incorporate them into daily lessons and learning opportunities for the kids.
When asking your child(ren) about how their day went and what they are learning, their responses may contain some “teacher talk” in which they are describing some of these strategies. One of our goals is to put students in the driver's seat of their learning. Utilizing WICOR innately increases the academic rigor, and students are really digging deep and accepting the challenge.
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Zephyr Service Project: Ka$h 4 Kidz |
Way to go, Zephyrs! We have raised over $4,300.00 toward our $6,000.00 goal to help families in our community this holiday season. Thank you!
Let's keep the momentum going!
Students can bring donations to their Middle School Success classes through Friday, December 5th. Checks can be made out to MMS.
Families can apply for gift assistance through the Google Form until December 5. Gifts will be distributed on December 18 and 19.
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Winter Weather Information |
When cold weather arrives in Minnesota, we want to ensure you have the information you need about weather emergency communications related to closings, delays, and early dismissals. Click here to read the email shared with our school community to learn more about the three types of weather-related messages you may see during emergency weather. Be sure to check your Infinite Campus account to ensure your contact information is up to date.
If your phone or email contact has recently changed, please contact Erica Dunbar at erica.dunbar@isd832.net
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Career Day Volunteers Needed |
The 2026 Mahtomedi Middle School Career Day will take place on Thursday, March 26, 2026. The event is intended to foster career awareness for students and support them in learning from local professionals.
The commitment for career presenters will be 12:45-2:40 pm on Thursday, March 26, 2026. Volunteers will present their career slideshow to three different sessions of students, each lasting approximately 25 minutes, including time for student questions. More guidance will be provided closer to the event.
If interested, please fill out this form by December 19th. If there are more volunteers than spots, presenters will be randomly selected through a lottery system. All volunteers will receive an email by early January. Questions? please contact Counselor, Christian Kolb, at christian.kolb@isd832.net
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Mark your calendars! The Community Education Winter/Spring catalog is coming soon. Registration for classes and events opens on December 9 at 8 am!
How to view the Winter/Spring catalog:
Stay tuned–a virtual edition of our catalog will be available on Eleyo later this month for you to get a first glance at the hundreds of opportunities coming your way this winter/spring.
Print catalogs will be mailed to Mahtomedi families and the community in late November!
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For the safety of our students and staff, please watch your speed at both the Middle School and High School campuses. ALL drivers who exceed the posted 10 mph speed limit may be subject to fines or citations. Thank you for helping keep our campus safe. |
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Students made Thanksgiving cards in their Middle School Success classes this week to share with the residents of St. Andrews Village and Briarcliff to brighten the Thanksgiving Holiday for these special members of our community. |
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Over 200 students joined us for the Mahtomedi Middle School Youth Night last week! Throughout the event, students explored different engaging stations, including a carnival with games and prizes, inflatables, volleyball, basketball, and crafts.
Mahtomedi Community Education started this event two years ago to foster connection and joy for Mahtomedi Middle School students and reflects our commitment to student well-being and belonging. Click here to see photos from this fun event!
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Students are fired up about VOCAB in 6th grade English! |
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Mrs. Irsfeld's PE classes have been learning how to play pickleball and these are the 6th grade champions!
They are seen here proudly holding their prizes...pickles!
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Mrs. Brown's 8th grade Geography classes are working on the US state and capitals. They are looking at the economic and population statistics, cultural features, and comparing North American countries. |
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It's been a busy month for Advanced Academics! Middle School students have participated in many exciting events like Knowledge Bowl, the Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl, and presenting about Math Masters at the Zephyr Showcase. Way to go, Zephyrs! |
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There are always reasons to celebrate! If you know of a staff member who has gone above and beyond, or have heard of a particularly excellent experience that your student had at school, we would love to hear about it! Click here to submit a celebration form and we'll make sure to take note and celebrate along with you! |
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Audition Information for Frozen, Jr. |
The second day of auditions for the Frozen, Jr. are being held after school today in the middle school Choir room. If callbacks are needed, they will be held tomorrow, November 21st, by invitation.
Click here for more details.
Students can see Mrs. Conzemius or Mr. Briggs with questions. |
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MAEF Fall Fund Drive: Empowering Student Experiences |
Your gift to MAEF’s Fall Fund Drive (now through Nov. 23) helps foster innovative learning & celebrate student success in our schools. Because of supporters like you, Zephyr students are discovering new opportunities, sparking curiosity in the classroom, & building bright futures. Click here to make your gift today!
Together, we can make a difference for Mahtomedi students!
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Register your student to participate in the MMS Spelling Bee! Open to all students in grades 6, 7, and 8, this is a fun and challenging activity that your child will remember forever. Students will take a written test during the first round and top scorers will move on to the oral School-wide Bee in January.
The deadline to register is November 21. Enroll your child using this form: REGISTRATION FOR SPELLING BEE
Questions? Contact Kathryn Marget, Advanced Academics Coordinator: kathryn.marget@isd832.net
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Check out these upcoming opportunities to get involved in our school community.
The Middle School Parent Association (MMSPA) is always looking for parent volunteers! If you would like to get involved, please complete this Google Form. MMS has an Amazon Wish List of a variety of items that we utilize regularly. If you are interested in purchasing anything on the list to help us stay well-stocked, we would appreciate it greatly! Community Ed. Registration & Class Descriptions: Youth Enrichment and Youth Athletics MMS Activities Web Page: Information about all the activities offered at MMS
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The School eNews contains information about our students, staff, and programs. The School eNews is published once a week and archives are available at www.mahtomedi.k12.mn.us/page/enews |
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