MAMS UPDATE~MAY 10, 2021

MAMS UPDATE~MAY 10, 2021
Posted on 05/10/2021

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Mt. Ararat Middle School

66 Republic Avenue, Topsham, ME 04086

Phone:  (207)729-2950     Fax: (207)729-2964

Website:  mams.link75.org

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Megan Hayes Teague, Interim Principal

[email protected]


May 10, 2021

Dear MAMS Families,


In case you hadn’t heard, I am so pleased to let you know that I will be continuing as the permanent principal at Mt. Ararat Middle School. I am very excited to have this opportunity and am thankful for your continued support. I look forward to working with you to make MAMS the best school it can be, and to make the middle school experience wonderful for all students. I’m happy to speak with you at any time to hear your feedback, thoughts, and ideas. Please never hesitate to reach out to me. I truly believe that we are better when we work together! 


In the meantime, there’s a lot happening at MAMS, as we look towards the conclusion of this school year. Here are a few things coming up in our school:

Important Dates:
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Tuesday, May 11: MEA Reading, Grades 6-8
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Thursday, May 13: MEA Math, Grades 6-8
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Friday, May 21: Step Up Day for Rising 7th, 8th, and 9th Graders
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Week of May 24: Step Up Days for Rising 6th Graders
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Week of May 24: MEA Science, Grade 8 Only
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Monday, May 31: Memorial Day, No School
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Wednesday, June 2: REGULAR START WEDNESDAY (7:40AM)
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Tuesday, June 15: Last Day of School


 

The Maine Education Assessment for in-person students will occur on May 11 & 13, 2021 for reading and math (grades 6-8) and the week of May 24 for science (grade 8). The MEA is the State’s test that measures our students’ achievement in mathematics (grades 3-8), reading, writing, and language, (grades 3-8), and science (grades 5 & 8).  Our goal is for every student to engage in these assessments and put forth their best effort. While it is true that State and Federal laws require that we test all students in grades 3-8, for us it means more. When all students participate, the results of these tests help us to inform our programming for students, reflect on our teaching, and they serve as one of the many ways that we are accountable to our community. Though students take the test on a computer, we will provide allowable support - in multiple formats based on our students’ needs - during testing. If you would like to learn a bit more about the test and see some practice questions, please check out the student resource page  HERE. During this time your child’s normal schedule will be modified in order to accomplish the testing. We have arranged the testing to maximize student readiness by distributing the sessions and including motor breaks. If a student is absent during testing, make-ups will be scheduled to allow for all students to complete the tests. We have posted some frequently asked questions HERE. We will make the results of your child’s testing available to you as soon as we have them. We are proud of our students for participating in this challenging assessment and we thank you for your support.  If you have other questions or concerns about your child’s testing experience, we ask that you contact me before testing.  This will help to ensure that we are all prepared to make the testing days as successful as possible for your child. 

 


Yearbook Information! At this time we are awaiting our yearbook proof in order to edit and make any changes necessary before we send away for our final print.  We are asking for students and parents/guardians to understand that our yearbook staff did a remarkable job putting together a yearbook amidst a pandemic with such mandates as: social distancing, attending school in cohorts (for much of the year), and mask wearing.  These expectations do not make for great picture opportunities.  With that said, I believe the yearbook will be a wonderful memory book for each student who has purchased one, and a great way to look back on a year like no other (and hopefully one we never see again)!

 

There is still time to purchase a yearbook, please visit this website: Treering and use code: 1014564198023651


From the Learning Commons. Hear ye, hear ye: ALL library books are due on Friday, May 21. Please start looking under beds and in cars for those lost library books and return them to MAMS no later than 5/21. Please reach out to the Learning Commons if you have any questions.

 

Learning Commons students have tried their hand at writing "golden shovel" poems (after first locating poetry books in the school library). To create a golden shovel poem, students took a line from a poem of their choice and used each word in that line as the end of a line in their new poem. Click here to see a few examples created by 7th grade Team Kennebec students.

 

MSAD #75 Budget Process. Every year, the MSAD #75 Board of Directors and Superintendent develop a school budget for the following year. The annual Budget Hearing will be held in the Orion Performing Arts Center on May 20, 6:30pm, with masks and social distancing.  We welcome all parents and community members to attend this budget hearing and the Budget Validation Referendum Vote on June 8th at your town’s polling locations.

MAMS Focused--Respectful--Responsible Student of the Week. Because of the great value we place on focused, respectful, and responsible behavior in our community, we have established a program to recognize our students. Each Friday, teams are asked to submit the name of one student whom they believe most exemplifies the team's definition of focused, respectful, and responsible behavior. Those students are called to the office, presented a certificate, and entered into a monthly drawing for a gift certificate. Additionally, Ms. Phillips contacts the families to describe the behaviors that led teachers to their choice! Congratulations to the March and April Students of the Week!

Averi Gordon 

Salin Bachor 

Kloee Hasselbacher

Addie Allen

Danika Levasseur

Jake Staples

Ava Hanson

Isaac Nickels

Aidan Nickerson

Khloe Rhoades

Krystah Coen

Carli Morin

Abbie Minzner 

Gavin Wallace

Brody Parker

Lana Ammerman

Alexander Rines

Lydia Branson

Celiah Godo 

Bella Phinney

Lily Ouellette

Meagan Crafts 

Even Weymouth 

Aurora Newcomb

Jason Bragg

Ava McDuff

Kamryn Boyington

Bradyn Landry

Elena Willis

Cody Sutherland 

Trevor Adams

Lila LaRose

Nathan McInnis


Important Food Service Announcement

Beginning Thursday, April 8, 2021, the weekly meal pick-up for the District will move to Thursday for the remainder of the 2020-21 year. Due to the changes in the Wednesday schedule, we feel this will be easier for families to pick up meals.

They will be available at the following locations from 12-1:00 pm:

Bowdoinham Community School – Pick-up by the ball field

Bowdoin Central School – Bus Loop

Williams Cone School – Bus Loop

Woodside Elementary School – Bus Loop

Harpswell Community School – Bus Loop

Mt. Ararat Middle School – Bus Loop

We will continue our nightly pick-up on Thursday at Mt. Ararat Middle School from 5-7:00 pm.

If you have any special requests, or need a meal delivery in lieu of pick-up, please email [email protected].

As a reminder, these meals are free to all children age 18 and under through the end of the school year.

Thank you for your continued support of our Food Service Program.

8th GRADE CELEBRATION UPDATE: Planning is off to an enthusiastic start with lots of work ahead to create an amazing end of year 8th grade celebration!  Parents are encouraged to join the "MAMS 2021 8th Grade Celebration" group on Facebook to take part in the process. Many hands make light work for this creative project and there is plenty of room for everyone to help! Contact Tessa Kingsley ([email protected], 607-0090) with any questions.

 

REMINDER: MAMS COVID-19 Rapid Test Pilot Program. One of the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is through testing. That is why MSAD No. 75 began the new year with a Pilot Program at Mt. Ararat Middle School and Mt. Ararat High School (MAMS and MTA) to make testing of students quick and easy, should it be needed. There is no charge for testing.

NOTE: THE TEST WE ARE USING IS ONLY FOR THOSE WHO DEVELOP SYMPTOMS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. IT IS A TOOL TO BE USED BY A SCHOOL NURSE WHEN ASSESSING FOR POTENTIAL SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19.

As part of this Pilot Program, MAMS and MTA have opted into a State of Maine program that will allow us to receive and use Abbott BinaxNOW Ag (antigen) Tests. We will only use this test for students who develop some of the signs and symptoms during the school day.

If a nurse determines testing should be done, we must have a signed consent form on file to proceed. Students will be directed to self-swab with supervision by the school nurse. If you are interested in giving permission to the school nurse to administer the rapid test, then complete the attached Consent form and return it to MAMS, via US mail, as soon as possible.

We are very excited to be able to offer this Pilot Testing Program. If you have questions, please contact Mary Booth, at 729-9961 x 1015.

What To Expect with Covid Test

Rapid Testing Consent Form



Attendance. This is just a reminder to let families know that the school must track student attendance for remote days. On remote days, students are assumed present and available to complete work unless the school is notified otherwise. The process for reporting an absence is the same, regardless of whether your child is in-person or not. If your child will not be available for learning for one of the state excused reasons (personal illness, medical appointment, religious holiday, family emergency, planned absence, or educational disruption due to homelessness or hospitalization), please call the Main Office. We thank you so much for your help in keeping our attendance records accurate!

Student At Risk of Self-Harm Outside of School Hours?  If you and/or your child become aware of a student that may be at risk of self-harm when school is not in session, please DO NOT attempt to contact school personnel during this time.  Staff are not working at their desks and may not be checking email or voicemail during these times.  Therefore, vital safety information could easily be missed and students could be placed at greater risk. Instead, please utilize THIS step-by-step guide for how a parent could respond to such a concern outside of school hours.  This guide is placed prominently on our MAMS webpage, and was created in collaboration with local police, mental health providers, and the local Crisis Response Center.


With Gratitude,

Megan Hayes Teague

Interim Principal


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Megan Hayes Teague
Interim Principal, Mt. Ararat Middle School
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