6th Grade Winter Wonderland Social is 12/15

Save the Date! The 6th Grade Winter Wonderland Social is Friday, December 15 from 2:45-4:30 in the Gymnasium/cafeteria.

Join us for FREE Food, Drinks, Games, DJ and Dancing!

Please complete the MANDATORY PERMISSION SLIP to attend.

Want to help? SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER HERE.

SOMSD Parenting Center Toy Drive Volunteers Needed

The Parenting Center is asking for volunteers to help with the toy drive.

Parent/community volunteers are needed to organize, sort and pack toys on Saturday, 12/9 from 10-2 pm and Sunday, 12/10 from 10-3 pm in the Seth Boyden cafeteria.
Volunteers are encouraged to RSVP (but can also show up last minute!) by emailing jportnof@somsd.k12.nj.us to say if they'll be able to help on Sat., 12/9 and/or Sun., 12/10 and at approximately what time they expect to arrive.
The volunteering will take place in the Seth Boyden school cafeteria located at 274 Boyden Avenue, Maplewood and people should come to the cafeteria door in the back parking lot.

Title 1 Caregiver Info Night 12/11

Save the Date for this Virtual Information Night for Title 1 Caregivers.

Link will be sent via email.

BGR 8th Grade Fundraiser 11/30

Are you tired of turkey leftovers? Switch to Burgers!

We’ve got your dinner plans covered for Thursday, November 30!

Place your orders at BGR- Burgers Grilled Right in South Orange and Mention MMS 8th Grade Fundraiser and we'll receive a portion of the proceeds from all sales. Order in-person or online at https://order.thanx.com/bgr.

Be sure to mention MMS 8th Grade Fundraiser when placing your order or picking up.

All funds received will go towards 8th Grade field trips.

Join the Maplewood Library Teen Services Librarian, Ayoola White for these FREE upcoming events for teens!

Across a Field of Starlight- Nov 29, Dec 7, Dec 21 in the MMS Cafeteria (or register to attend on Zoom)

Anime & Manga Drawing Tutorial taught by Comic Artist Doug Baron- Thursday, Nov 30 4-5:30 at the Hilton Branch Library. Registration is required.

Cozy Winter Crafts- Wednesday, December 6, 4pm at the Hilton Branch. Registration is required.

Questions? Contact Ayoola White at ayoola.white@maplewood.bccls.org

SOMSD Parenting Center Toy Drive

Now in its 26th year, the SOMSD's Parenting Center & Rent Party's Annual Toy Drive provides gifts for children in our district. Last year, our toy drive benefitted over 400 children in our two communities. This year, we are once again counting on you to help us bring the spirit of the holidays to those in need in our community.

Contributions/donations are being accepted via:

Make an online tax deductible contribution at https://gofund.me/92ab4bc4

Donate a toy from the Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1BF9K6T6RSYN3?ref_=w_share

Drop off a toy at any district elementary school drop box from November 20 - December 15 (new toys only, please)

Buy One, Donate One at the following local stores:

Sparkhouse and Toy Division.

SOMA Shares Coat Drive

Soma Shares Coat Drive is in full swing!

We specifically need the following sizes:

3 XL women

2 M men

1 L men

1 10-12 boy

1 13-14 boy

Please reach out for drop off locations or if you can use a coat.

Shop our Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/330HM6QZA3IM0...

or donate $$$ directly via this link: https://www.aplos.com/aws/give/SOMAJustice/SOMAShares

Student ID Badge Policy Begins 11/27

REMINDER, all MMS students will receive their ID badges tomorrow, Monday, November 27.

See Ms. Gronau’s letter sent home 11/20:

Dear Maplewood Middle School Students and Caregivers,

At Maplewood Middle School (MMS), we care about the safety and well-being of our students and all who enter our doors. In accordance with updated Policy 7440, which states, “Secondary school students are required to wear their student I.D.s at all times throughout the school day,” MMS students will begin wearing school I.D. badges at all times beginning on Monday, November 27, 2023. This includes our conference period and at any time students are on school grounds.

We will issue student badges with lanyards during the first period on November 27th. Students will be required to wear their badges at all times and we will regularly remind our students to wear their badges. Additionally, we suggest that students keep their ID badges in backpacks overnight at home so they don’t misplace them for school the following morning.

In an effort to prevent student referrals to grade level administrators for not wearing their ID badges, we ask for your support in this effort, as we help our students navigate this change.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at dgronau@somsd.k12.nj.us. We appreciate your partnership in maintaining a safe environment for students, staff, and visitors at MMS.

Sincerely,

Ms. Gronau

Welcome Acting Superintendent, Dr. Gilbert

On Tuesday, November 14, Dr. Kevin Gilbert, the acting Superintendent of SOMSD visited MMS where he welcomed students, met staff members and toured the MMS facilities.

To read Dr. Gilbert's letter, click here.

Save the Date- 8th Grade EOY Events

Save the Date! The 8th Grade Dinner Dance is Tuesday, June 18th, 2024 at the Maplewood Country Club.

The 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony is Thursday, June 20, 2024 at Maplewood Middle School.

*The MMS Moving Up Ceremony is on the last day of school. Should SOMSD change the date of the last day of school, the MMS Moving Up Ceremony will then move to the updated date.