Each month, Principal Jackie Collins spotlights learning happening at Mahtomedi Middle School. This month, the Principal's spotlight focuses on Community and Partnership.

Middle School Families,

It has been a fantastic start to the school year here at MMS, and we know that would not be the case without support and commitment from families. As a community, we all want to see our children grow and become productive members of our society. We recognize that a partnership among schools, parents/families, and the community is essential for this to happen. 

At the middle school, we are living the strategic plan by building skills that help kids become self-directed and self-aware. Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) is a college and career readiness program that we have been gradually implementing over the past few years. As we have been building our knowledge base and revising our practices to be in alignment with AVID, we are focusing more than ever on teaching students academic strategies for success in classes, enhanced soft skills like clear communication, time management, and organization, and crucial life skills such as self-advocacy, perseverance, and confidence.

One of our goals this year is to educate students and caregivers about the value that AVID practices have brought to our programming. We will achieve this by being intentional in our planning and offering rigorous, student-driven learning experiences, while identifying specific skills and strategies as they are outlined within the AVID program. Making these connections and using a common language will help our learners to identify the skills they are developing and take ownership of their learning. 

We hope some new terminology and highlights of collaborative learning opportunities are part of your child’s response when you ask the question, “What did you do at school today?”

Mahtomedi Public Schools will hold a two-question referendum on November 4 - one for operating revenue and one for facility improvements. Voters will consider two ballot questions:

Question 1 is an operating levy that would provide $575 per student to maintain class sizes, preserve academic programs, and support long-term financial stability.
Question 2 is a $28 million bond for district-wide safety, security, and infrastructure improvements, modern learning spaces, ADA-compliant fine arts updates, and athletic upgrades. The passage of Question 2 is dependent on the approval of Question 1.

To learn more about the referendum, visit our referendum web page at www.mahtomedi.k12.mn.us/elections

Mrs. Carlson's 6th Grade Spanish students have been playing "Barcos y Acorzados" or "Battleship".

The 8th Grade Band played the Mahtomedi school song and "Sweet Caroline" in the Commons on Friday to help us celebrate Homecoming!

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, 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