UPCOMING DATESWednesday, October 25, 2023: Meet the Candidates Night Friday, October 27, 2023: Central Office Trunk or Treat Sunday, November 5, 2023: Daylight Savings Time Ends (clocks move back 1 hour) Tuesday, November 7, 2023: Election Day / Full PD Day; No Students Friday, November 10, 2023: Veterans’ Day Observed; District Closed Our 2023-2024 school year calendar can always be found here: https://www.middletownschools.org/page/district-calendar |
ACTION REQUIRED or REQUESTED - IMMEDIATELY
Required: Update Email Signatures: Complete by October 23, 2023
Central Office contact on this matter: Jessie Lavorgna
As a reminder, we have established a uniform email signature format. Please make sure that you are in compliance with that format. More information can be found here: MPS Email Signature Guidelines.pdf Please update your email signature by Monday, October 23, 2023.
Required: Single Point of Entry for Media & Other Comms Practices
Central Office contact on this matter: Jessie Lavorgna
Middletown Public Schools adheres to a single point of entry for media practice. What this means is that the Director of Communications must approve/be aware of all media visits to our campuses and/or interviews conducted on our campuses.
If a media outlet contacts you/your school, please redirect them to the Director of Communications: 860-661-6239 (call or text) or hello@mpsct.org. The only exception to this is sports-related requests.
To better familiarize yourself with our Communication Practices and Guidelines, please consult THIS DOCUMENT, which is always accessible through our staff site, here: https://www.middletownschools.org/o/staff/page/comms
Volunteers Needed! Host a Trunk for the 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat!
Central Office contact on this matter: Yvonne Kitchel
Central Office will be hosting its 2nd Annual Trunk of Treat on Friday, October 27, 2023. We would love for you to join the fun! Please plan on supplying your own items for distribution, as Central Office will have a limited supply of candy. You will be assigned a numbered parking spot. If you require more than one space please email kitchely@mpsct.org with specific details. Set up will begin at 4:00 PM with access into the parking lot limited after 4:30 PM. Sign up today! Click here to host a Trunk!
ACTION REQUIRED or REQUESTED - ONGOING
Reminder: Thrillshare Tutorials
Central Office contact on this matter: Jessie Lavorgna
Needing technical assistance with Thrillshare? Please visit: https://www.middletownschools.org/o/staff/page/comms
Reminder: Flyer Submission
Central Office contact on this matter: Jessie Lavorgna
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
Reminder: District-wide Dress Down Day Proposal Form
Central Office contact on this matter: Jessie Lavorgna
Effective immediately, any MPS employee seeking to propose a district-wide dress down day will need to complete this form: https://forms.gle/hr1C6upBwg3CLcJk7 Each proposal will be considered, but please understand that not all will be approved. No emailed proposals will be accepted. This form is always accessible on our staff site, here: https://www.middletownschools....
Reminder: Proposal for a District Highlight at a BOE Meeting
Central Office contact on this matter: Jessie Lavorgna
Linked below is a form for all MPS Employees to use when they/their students have a project/event/achievement/etc. that they feel should be presented to the Board of Education as part of the District Highlights portion of the meeting. All suggestions are welcomed. If selected, you will be contacted one week prior to the meeting. https://forms.gle/LZ2ZQaNB1dKdCA3J6 This form is always accessible on our staff site, here: https://www.middletownschools....
Reminder: Share Your Good News!
Central Office contact on this matter: Jessie Lavorgna
If you have something you would like shared in The Middletown Minute, The Community Connector, on our website, and/or with local press, submit it here. This form is great for things that have already happened. Let’s spread the news about how amazing our teachers, staff, students, and families are! This form is always accessible on our staff site, here: https://www.middletownschools....
INFORMATION for EMPLOYEES
November 21, 2023: Middletown Board of Education (BOE) Meeting
The first Board of Education Meeting for the 2023-2024 school year will be on Tuesday, November 21, 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
New! Update on Attendance Postcards
Central Office contact on this matter: Jessie Lavorgna or Mike Skott
The attendance postcards, which were distributed on Friday, September 30, 2023, are on an indefinite pause while we work out the issues with PowerSchool. If you don’t know what this is in reference to, please read this article.
New! Save the Date: Saturday, November 18, 2023 for our 1st Annual Native American Heritage Month Community Celebration
Central Office contact on this matter: Dr. Waters or Jessie Lavorgna
The District of Middletown Public Schools' Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion looks forward to seeing you at the District's inaugural
Native American Heritage Month Community Celebration
Saturday, November 18, 2023
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Beman Middle School
Join us for an afternoon of celebration where we will learn about and celebrate Native American Heritage. The event is free and open to all. More information to come!
Check out future Celebrations of Diversity for the 2023-2024 school year here.
Reminder: Catering Services for all MPS Locations
Central Office contact on this matter: Randall Mel
The Office of Food, Nutrition and Wellness is proud to offer Catered Meal Services to any and all of our MPS Locations for meetings or other special events. Please check out our Catering Services Brochure below or contact us at food-nutrition@mpsct.org Link: MPS Catering Brochure.pdf
Reminder: Meet the Candidates on October 25, 2023
All are invited to the Meet the Candidates event on October 25, 2023 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM in Middletown High School’s Auditorium. This event is being hosted by the MHS Chapter of the National Honor Society. All current delegates and candidates of/for the Middletown Board of Education and Mayoral positions have been invited to attend. This will be an informal gathering featuring student and community members; each candidate will have the opportunity to mingle freely with the public, as well as offer a brief introduction to the audience. There is no formal debate planned, simply desserts and conversation. Please register in advance: https://forms.gle/F5hVU3AvqiimbZSv6
Reminder: October is School Principal Appreciation Month!
Central Office contact on this matter: Jessie Lavorgna
October is National School Principal Appreciation Month! We are excited to celebrate the incredible individuals who lead our schools. Principals create the educational atmosphere for their schools, and their vision and commitment are the driving forces behind student and teacher success. Principals work incredibly hard and are essential for making schools thrive. For these and so many more reasons, we are highlighting our remarkable school principals. Learn more about our principals here: https://www.middletownschools.org/page/thank-you-principals
Reminder: After School Programs need Paras!
After School programs at Beman, Bielefield, Snow and Farm Hill are looking for paras to support individual students during the after school programs. Please ask them to contact Jill Garrity at garrityj@mpsct.org, for more information.
Reminder: 2nd Annual MPS Trunk or Treat on October 27, 2023
Central Office contact on this matter: Joyce Carey or Katie Ehlers
The Central Office Climate and Culture Committee will be hosting their second annual Trunk or Treat. This event will be held in Beman’s parking lot on Hunting Hill Avenue on Friday, October 27, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The event is free and open to all community members; children must be accompanied by an adult. Flyer available here: Central Office Trunk or Treat 102723
Information: MPS Employee Info Site
Central Office contact on this matter: Jessie Lavorgna
In case you missed it, we recently launched our MPS Employee Info Site. This site (https://www.middletownschools.org/o/staff) will eventually house all of the necessary information and documents that MPS employees need. Everything in one place! Hooray! If there is something you would like to be available through this site, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/iDDae1NADgsa6Bog7
Information: Meals for Staff in MPS Schools
Central Office contact on this matter: Randall Mel
Did you know that our Cafeterias have customizable meal options for $4.50 or less for all MPS Staff? Contact your school's Cafeteria or check out the link below for more information: Adult Menus 2023-2024.pdf
INFORMATION to share with FAMILIES
You may want to consider pulling the following items the previous section to share with families:
New! Save the Date: Saturday, November 18, 2023 for our 1st Annual Native American Heritage Month Community Celebration
Reminder: Meet the Candidates on October 25, 2023
Reminder: October is School Principal Appreciation Month!
Reminder: 2nd Annual MPS Trunk or Treat on October 27, 2023
Information for Families: What do you think of our Food?
The Office of Food, Nutrition and Wellness is seeking information from our students and families pertaining to our dining services. Our goal is to continue to expand and improve our meal services utilizing community feedback. Through our partnership with FoodCorps, we will be providing taste testing opportunities, as well as introducing over 75 new recipes this school year. Please complete this brief survey if you are interested in providing feedback on our Food and Nutrition Services accessible here: https://tinyurl.com/MPSFoodSurvey or District Food and Nutrition Survey.pdf