The Middletown Minute for January 17, 2024 (cover image)

UPCOMING DATES

Tuesday, January 23, 2024: BOE Meeting (Rescheduled from 1/9/24 and 1/16/24)

Tuesday, January 23, 2024: Student Early Release for Professional Development

Monday, February 19, 2024: District Closed in observance of Presidents’ Day

Tuesday, February 20 & Wednesday, February 21, 2024: Winter Recess

Our 2023-2024 school year calendar can always be found here: https://www.middletownschools.org/page/district-calendar 

ACTION REQUIRED or REQUESTED - IMMEDIATELY

Nothing at this time.

ACTION REQUIRED or REQUESTED - ONGOING 

Please use the forms linked below (also accessible on THIS PAGE) to submit the following items: flyers to be shared internally and/or externally; cheers to peers, district highlight proposal, and sharing good news. These items, when sent through email, often get looked over.

Reminder: Flyer Submission
(PLEASE don't send flyers to Jessie via email.)

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: 🌟Cheers to Peers! 🌟

Central Office contact on this matter: Jessie Lavorgna 

Complete THIS GOOGLE FORM to give one of our colleagues a shout out.

Every week, the newest round of "Cheers" will be published in The Middletown

Minute. 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

Reminder: 2023-2024 Academic Calendar Updated

One change was recently made to our 2023-2024 Academic Calendar:

Before the most recent calendar update: Schools were scheduled to be closed on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 for Primary Election Day. The state changed the date, so…

After the most recent calendar update: Schools will be closed on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 and open on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. This is the only change and it does not affect the last day of school, which is now scheduled for Thursday, June 13, 2024.

Our 2023-2024 school year calendar can always be found here: https://www.middletownschools.org/page/district-calendar

New! Last Day of School: Thursday, June 13, 2024

Due to the snow day on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, the new last day of school for the 2023-2024 school year is: Thursday, June 13, 2024.

New! 2024-2025 Academic Calendar Coming Soon!

At their January 2024 meeting, the Board of Education will review and likely approve the 2024-2025 Academic Calendar. Once it is approved, it will be shared with all MPS employees and families via email, as well as being posted on our website here: https://www.middletownschools.org/page/district-calendar

Reminder: January 23, 2024: Middletown Board of Education (BOE) Meeting 

The next Board of Education Meeting for the 2023-2024 school year will be on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. 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! In-Classroom Celebration Catering

Central Office contact on this matter: Randall Mel The Office of Food, Nutrition, and Wellness is excited to announce that they now provide catering services for in-classroom celebrations, including birthdays and special occasions. Explore our variety of food options for sale and discover some complimentary meal choices for your celebration on our available ordering form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jXcxtFduscP-fTnrN1Yvvv7IuXW4oi9O9s9FJ6di5d0/copy?usp=sharing

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 to share with FAMILIES

Reminder: January 2024: A Commitment to Kindness

Pledge to be Kind

We could all use a little extra kindness. That’s why we’re committing to kindness this month. Kindness is any action based in compassion with the goal of relieving suffering and/or promoting wellbeing. Kindness is contagious; it spreads & expands action by action. Kindness is Magic.

Reminder: Emergency Response Guide

To ensure all in our community are informed on how Middletown Public Schools communicates with parents, guardians, families, and community members during an emergency, we invite you to read our Emergency Response Guide, accessible on our website: https://www.middletownschools.org/o/mps/page/emergency-response-guide

The information on that page outlines the key elements of Middletown Public Schools’ state of preparedness. We hope that it will answer questions concerning our actions and intentions in the event of an emergency. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at hello@mpsct.org.

Reminder: Early Dismissal for All Students on Tuesday, January 23, 2024

All students will have an early dismissal on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. Breakfast and lunch will be served and bus transportation (to and from school) will be provided this day.

The dismissal schedule for Tuesday, January 23, 2024 is:

  • Middletown High School: Early Dismissal at 11:00 AM

  • Beman Middle School: Early Dismissal at 12:00 PM

  • Elementary Schools: Early Dismissal at 1:00 PM

Preschool schedule for Tuesday, January 23, 2024 is:

  • PreK Full Day at Bielefield, Snow, & Spencer: Early Dismissal at 1:15 PM

  • PreK Half Day AM at Snow: No AM Preschool/Canceled

  • PreK Half Day PM at Snow: Early Dismissal at 10:15 AM