Each month, Principal Jackie Collins spotlights learning happening at Mahtomedi Middle School. The month, the Principal's spotlight focuses on lifelong learning.

At Mahtomedi Middle School, we have the opportunity to provide our students with a wide variety of experiences in and out of the classroom that allow them to explore subjects and activities that could spark interests that turn into future careers or lifelong hobbies.

Some of these programs are Future Cities and STEM, which focus on exposing students to many different types of engineering challenges and problem solving skills. Digital Arts is a new class at the Middle School that is providing learning opportunities for the teacher as well as the students! As we introduced the Digital Arts class this year, Ms. Timmerman has been learning the new programs right along with our students, and they're doing some fantastic things!

We also provide a variety of other opportunities for students to experience the Arts. We have a number of different choirs and bands, a wide array of artistic activities to explore in art classes, and some challenges for students to think & act outside-the-box in Theater class. Choir, Band, and Theater all provide students the chance to exercise their skills at the next level with performances in concerts and onstage productions at the Middle School. These are showcased in the Glee Singers, Jazz Band, and Theater program.

All of these experiences, as well as so many others in every one of our classrooms, provide chances for our students to find interests that can bring joy to their lives in a variety of ways for years to come. We're glad to be on this journey with them, and it brings US joy to watch them find their passions. Middle school really is a place to keep learning!

Students in Ms. Wagner's 6th grade Science classes have been working together studying various rocks' features to determine if they are igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rocks.

Mrs. Irsfeld's PE classes have been playing Pickleball and they had some fun games with the winners taking home actual big pickles as prizes!

Students in Mr. Beggin's Middle School Success class created Chromebook games for students to practice Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division skills. These games will be used to support students in some of our Middle School Math classes.

In Middle School Success last week, students were asked to complete a Character Dare by giving shout outs to people in the building who they are thankful for and letting them know why. Sixth grade students completed shout out notes and hung them on a bulletin board in the 6th Grade Pod.

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!

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, contact Megan Reitan at lmreitan@gmail.com

• 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