The November MMS HSA Board Meeting will Thursday, November 14 at 7:30pm. This will be a VIRTUAL Meeting via Google Meets. All are welcome to attend. Please send an email to info@maplewoodmiddleschool.org for login information. 

Social Media: Strengthening Caregiver Connectivity – Part One, presented in partnership with Effective School Solutions (ESS). The session provided valuable insights into students' everyday challenges in today's digital landscape, including the significant finding that teenagers spend an average of 7 hours daily on screens, with 81% actively engaging on social media platforms. If you missed the event or would like to review the first part of this webinar series again, you can watch the recording on the district's YouTube channel.

During the presentation, Effective School Solutions explored several insightful topics, including the correlation between social media usage and mental health outcomes, particularly focusing on anxiety and depression rates among young users. The discussion covered the neuroscience behind social media engagement, explaining how platform features trigger dopamine responses similar to addictive behaviors. We especially value the learning received around practical concerns about privacy, safety, and the impact of constant social comparison on our students' self-esteem.

We extend our gratitude to Dr. Aubree Guiffre and Elizabeth Kolodiy, LPC, from Effective School Solutions, for sharing their expertise with our community. The district is excited to partner with ESS again for Part Two of this informational series, which will be coming in the following weeks. Part Two of the series will discuss family online activities that provide a comprehensive approach to screen time, building on the understanding gained of social media's impact on youth wellbeing.

Reminder that Monday, November 11, 2024 we begin our Yondr pilot  and we begin our "one and done" at MMS.  We are thrilled to partner with SOMSD and with Team Unscreen in our effort to keep devices away for the day.  Join us!

Students have been reminded of the following for the past 2 weeks:

• Use this form to sign up your child for the Yondr pilot!   MMS Yondr Pilot form for phones and smart watches.  The form will remain open until we run out of pouches.  Find it on Canvas announcements and in Ms. Gronau's email signature!  You do not need to sign up your child by November 11 in order to participate!
• One and done at MMS:  Wearable tech (phones, watches with cellular capability, headphones/earbuds) will be confiscated and a caregiver must come to pick up the item if your child violates district policy by carrying these items on their person during the school day.  Only students with a Yondr pouch may have their wearable tech items with them.  All others are required to place these items in their lockers and this is district policy that MMS has always enforced.
• Frequently asked questions:  Take a look at our MMS Yondr pilot caregiver FAQs.pdf.  We encourage you to sign up your child so they remain distraction free during their school day.

Please reach out to Ms. Gronau if you have any questions.  Let's keep devices "Away for the Day" at MMS!  

Find our updated MMS student and caregiver handbook with our updated cell phone policy at MMS here: MMS Directory.Student and Caregiver Handbook.Restorative Practices Overview.2024-2025 (1).pdf 

THANK YOU to everyone who REGISTERED, SENT PLEDGES, DONATED, PROMOTED and VOLUNTEERED for the 2024 MMS Walkathon! 

We achieved our goal of $20,000 to be used for Grade Level Activities, Community Events, Teacher Appreciation, Assemblies, Ice Cream Socials and MORE! 

CONGRATULATIONS to 6TH GRADE for the MOST REGISTERED WALKERS! You will earn Battle of the Classes Points! 

CONGRATULATIONS to TOP EARNERS (and winners of Spiritwear):

8th Grade Timothy Finnegan, Allison Schwartz

7th Grade Mateo Cruzate, Josephine Doble, Alexander Solis

6th Grade Oliver Choy, Sofia Lewis, Hunter Slosberg, Aiden Ward

CONGRATULATIONS to STARBUCKS or GREENWAY Gift Cards Winners (sent 10 pledges):

8th Grade Nicholas Kolodiy, Frank Umlauf

7th Grade Josephine Doble, Ryder Prothro

6th Grade Patrick Ceglio, Harry Klein, Hunter Slosberg, Leo Umlauf, Aiden Ward

CONGRATULATIONS to COUGAR CASH WINNERS (sent 5 pledges):

8th Grade Jaoquin Caro-Barnhart, Naya Facto, Timothy Finnegan, Ben Gates, Felix Gordon, Leigha Hamilton, Sylvia Kantor, Nicholas Kolodiy, Clark Mason, Riley Sanders, Allison Schwartz, Frank Umlauf

7th Grade Mateo Cruzate, August DeBari, Josephine Doble, Martin Haber, Casey Lehrer, Lily Malgieri, Victoria Martinez, Joshua Ogele, Penelope Phillips, Ryder Prothro, Phoebe Quint, Caden Schrader, Alexander Solis, Owen Sulin, Serafina Visco

6th Grade Ivy Bhandari, Amelia Blaine, Patrick Ceglio, Curtis Diana, Laramie Gordon, Chloe Hazelton, Harry Klein, Sofia Lewis, Zelda McCarthy, Ro McClory, Vida Queiroz Spick, Hunter Slosberg, Leo Umlauf, Aiden Ward, Gabriele Ward

Questions? Email walkathon@maplewoodmiddleschool.org 

Help the SOMSD PTAs, HSAs, Parenting Center, Cougar Cares & The Achieve Foundation support nearly 225 SOMSD families in our school community experiencing food insecurity this holiday season. 

Use the QR Code or donate at https://givebutter.com/akpnue

We had GREAT WEATHER for our 2-day Walkathon! Your students walked, ran, danced, sang and had a blast! 

We are tallying the results and winners and receiving checks but in the meantime...There's still time to Register, Send Pledges and DONATE! 

Register on the pledgestar website...it's FREE (the winning grade receives Battle of the Classes points for participation) 

Send Pledges by email, text or social media...it's FREE to send pledges (5 pledges gets you Cougar Cash, 10 pledges gets you a chance for a Greenway or Starbucks Gift Card)

Donate $25 or whatever you can! ($25 a student gets us to our goal!) 

Questions? Email walkathon@maplewoodmiddleschool.org 

Send Pledges by email, text or social media...it's FREE to send pledges

5 pledges gets you Cougar Cash               

10 pledges gets you a chance for a Greenway or Starbucks Gift Card

Donate $25 or whatever you can! ($25 a student gets us to our goal!) 

Questions? Email walkathon@maplewoodmiddleschool.org 

If your student missed picture day or you need a retake, listen for the announcement on Friday, November 1 for Picture Retakes. Time and location TBD. 

If you are getting retakes, please have your student bring the original photos with them. 

Please complete this form if you are interested in your child participating in the Yondr pilot for the South Orange Maplewood School District at MMS: MMS Yondr interest form  

The form will remain open and students will receive pouches on a first come first served basis.  The start date for the Yondr pilot at MMS is November 11, 2024.

What is the Yondr Pilot at MMS?  Each student will be assigned a Yondr pouch specific to them that they must place their phone in before they enter school each day.

The Yondr pouch can be kept with them during the school day, but their phone must be in it before they enter MMS.  

The Yondr pouch is the student's responsibility; they must bring it to school every day.

Any student not participating in the Yondr pilot must keep their device stored in their locker.  

If an MMS student has their device on them during the school day not in a Yondr pouch, it will be confiscated and a caregiver will have to come and pick it up.  

Students will be reminded of this daily via Canvas and P.A. announcement.  

Have more questions?  Join Ms. Gronau's Yondr pilot office hours on October 29 at 3:30pm!  

Link to meeting here:  meet.google.com/vkq-hsgm-ugv

Find our updated MMS student and caregiver handbook with our updated cell phone policy at MMS here: MMS Directory.Student and Caregiver Handbook.Restorative Practices Overview.2024-2025 (1).pdf 

It's HERE! Walkathon is just DAYS AWAY! This is our BIGGEST FUNDRAISER of the year! We NEED YOUR HELP! 

CURRENTLY WE ARE 75% TO OUR $$ GOAL AND HAVE LESS THAN 25% OF STUDENTS REGISTERED

Register Your Student on the pledgestar website...it's FREE (the winning grade receives Battle of the Classes points for participation) 

Using your computer or phone's browser:

• Go to http://pledgestar.com/Maplewoodmiddle
• Click “Not Registered For This Year’s Event”
• Enter your name and email address, then click “Submit”
• Follow the instructions on-screen to register Walker(s) and add family and friends

Send Pledges by email, text or social media...it's FREE to send pledges

5 pledges gets you Cougar Cash               

10 pledges gets you a chance for a Greenway or Starbucks Gift Card

Donate $25 or whatever you can! ($25 a student gets us to our goal!) 

Questions? Email walkathon@maplewoodmiddleschool.org