UPCOMING DATESMonday, October 9, 2023: MPS Closed in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day Tuesday, October 10, 2023: Board of Education Meeting (Click here for details) Tuesday, October 17, 2023: Early Dismissal for all students (Schedule here) Our 2023-2024 school year calendar can always be found here: https://www.middletownschools.org/page/district-calendar |
Hello & Welcome!
Happy fall equinox eve! This is our first edition of The Middletown Minute (our staff newsletter) of the 2023-2024 school year. This year, we're going to publish it in the news section of our new (and still being built) staff site.
This site (https://www.middletownschools.org/o/staff) will eventually house all of the necessary information and documents that MPS staff need. Everything in one place! Hooray!
ACTION REQUIRED/REQUESTED - IMMEDIATELY
Regulations around Outside Food
Central Office contact on this matter: Randall Mel
The Office of Food, Nutrition and Wellness would like to share the summary of requirements for all staff, families, etc as it pertains to regulations on outside food. This resource can be found on the Food and Nutrition webpage or a direct link here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IL9W4awugvRv8fgFzgNqfK3jqlH4mho1rgdPLOUe5hE/edit. As a reminder, any food sold or provided to students during the school day must comply with the State Department of Education standards under the Healthy Food Certification. Please use the resource provided as it relates to district procedures that are in compliance with these guidelines. This provision does not pertain to food adults provide for themselves or other adults, this is only in relation to the sale or provision of food to students during the school day.
ACTION REQUIRED/REQUESTED - ONGOING
Information for Families: School Based Health Centers
Central Office contact on this matter: Jasmine James
Beginning October 1, 2023, you may begin to see billing statements from CHCI for any deductible or copay responsibilities determined by your plan. If you have health insurance, CHC SBHC will continue to bill services to your insurance. Applying for the Sliding Fee Scale Discount Program could result in reductions to your out-of-pocket costs. See attached letter here for more information: SBHCLetterV4_English.docx.pdf
No More Paper Flyers; Digital Only
Central Office contact on this matter: Jessie Lavorgna
As part of our ongoing commitment to be more environmentally friendly and to ensure stakeholders have quick and easy access to critical information, Middletown Public Schools (MPS) no longer distributes paper flyers. Digital flyer distribution will be the only method by the District. It is at the discretion of each school leader if they would like to continue to distribute paper flyers created for and within their school. We simply will no longer be allowing outside organizations to distribute paper flyers.
If you or anyone else would like to submit a flyer, please read these guidelines and submit your flyer here. All active/current flyers can be viewed here:
https://www.middletownschools.org/page/community-hub
INFORMATIONAL
October 10, 2023: Middletown Board of Education (BOE) Meeting
The first Board of Education Meeting for the 2023-2024 school year will be on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. It will begin at 6:30 PM and will be held in the Auditorium of Beman Middle School. When the agenda is available, it will be posted here: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Organization/2423
After School Programs Start Next Week!
After School Programs will start next week (the week of September 25, 2023) at:
- Beman (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:00 PM to 5:15PM),
- Bielefield and Snow (Mondays through Thursdays from 3:50 PM to 6:15 PM)
- Farm Hill and Spencer (Mondays through Fridays from 3:50 PM to 5:30 PM).
Introducing a New Team Member: Katherine Ferreira
Katherine Ferreira as the District’s new Supervisor of Special Education for Social Emotional Learning. She has been in the position for about a month now. Learn a little more about Katherine through her letter of introduction: 092223 Letter from Katherine Ferreira.pdf
FoodCorps Partnership
Central Office contact on this matter: Randall Mel
The Office of Food, Nutrition and Wellness is proud to announce our continued partnership with FoodCorps; a national non-profit organization that provides Food Educators into our schools to teach students about Nutrition, Gardening, Culinary Skills and much more. We will have Three (3) FoodCorps Service Members attending throughout all our schools this year. To Learn more information about our partnership, check out the link here: Middletown FoodCorps.pdf
Composting in School Cafeterias
Central Office contact on this matter: Randall Mel
The Office of Food, Nutrition and Wellness is proud to continue our partnerships with the City of Middletown and Blue Earth Compost to continue composting our food scraps in all of our kitchens across the district. To Learn more, please see the link here: Composting in School Cafeterias
Toddle TIES 2023 Virtual Conference
Central Office contact on this matter: Meg Hanly
Denise Kraft (PYP Coordinator at Lawrence) and Meg Hanly (PreK-12 STEAM) will be presenting at a FREE global PD event featuring keynote sessions, and strategy sessions from educators from around the world. Over 50,000 educators virtually attend each year. Their strategy session focuses on the use of driving question boards to promote student-centered learning experiences in the elementary science classroom. See more details here.
UConn Engineering Ambassadors Presentation Team Fall 2023
Central Office contact on this matter: Meg Hanly
UConn Engineering Ambassadors, seeking to stimulate interest in STEM among younger students by showing them fun and educational presentations and demonstrations related to various STEM topics through our visits with your school. UConn Engineering Ambassadors will be conducting in-person and virtual visits this semester. If you would like to have our Presentation Team to visit your school or if you would like to come visit our campus, please connect with your building STEAM coach to fill out this form.
Information for Families: Health Care Heroes Story Time (September 23, 2023)
Central Office contact on this matter: Jasmine James
Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Westbrook Youth and Family Services
Program offered in Spanish and English, for children ages 3 to 10.
A Middlesex Health health care hero will read a story featuring a health care provider of color; Youth in attendance get to play surgeon for a day through an interactive activity; Youth in attendance receive a free book that features diverse health care characters. Flyer here. Register here.
Information for Families: Wesleyan Astronomy Kid Night
Central Office contact on this matter: Meg Hanly
Join us for kid-friendly space-related activities led by Wesleyan students, including stargazing with the campus telescopes when it's clear. Aimed at elementary school ages and their parents, but open to all. See more details here.
Information for Families: Wesleyan Space Night
Central Office contact on this matter: Meg Hanly
Join us to learn about what's up in the night sky. Each Space Night starts with a half-hour interactive presentation by a member of our department (astronomy majors, graduate students, or faculty) on a topic of space news or recent discoveries in astronomy, followed by observing through the telescopes when it's clear. Aimed at high school level and above, but all visitors are welcome. More information here.
Information for Families: UConn School of Engineering
Central Office contact on this matter: Meg Hanly
The Pre - Engineering Program (PEP) is a weekly enrichment program for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students that includes hands-on STEM exploratory activities.
Program Dates: Day 1: Saturday September 30th, 2023; Day 2: Saturday October 7th, 2023; Day 3: Saturday October 14th, 2023; Day 4: Saturday October 21st, 2023; Day 5: Saturday October 28th, 2023.
Program Times: 10 am - 1 pm (plus transportation time); 2 hours of STEM engagement; 1 hour of mentoring and community building; Lunch will be provided!
Program fee waivers are available for families with financial need! Cost should NOT be a barrier to participation! Ability to pay will not be what determines eligibility.