June 2020

Dear Students and Parents/Guardians,

Welcome and welcome back to Mitchell Middle School (Home of the Warriors)! We are looking forward to a successful 2020-21 school year with your daughter or son.  The information in this letter is intended to keep you informed of the tentative opening day procedures and general school routines. To view a slideshow that explains our school more please go to: https://bit.ly/MMSorientation. We have also created 4 orientation videos, one for each grade 5 homeroom. These can be viewed here:

We are planning our next year like we would any year but we are staying flexible with dates and times as it depends on the direction we get from the division and province in terms of COVID-19. All the dates that are included in this letter are tentative at the moment. Expect more updates from the province and the division on August 1, 2020. Keep an eye on the school website to keep informed: https://mms.hsd.ca/

The schedule to begin the next school year in September 2020 is as follows:

  • Wednesday, Aug. 26 – School office opens (9 am – 3 pm)
  • Monday, Sept. 7 –  Labour Day (No school)
  • Tuesday, Sept. 8  – No school. Meet the Teacher/Open House 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday, Sept. 9  – First day of classes (regular school hours) 
  • Sept 18 and 21 – Strong Connections
  • Monday, Sept. 28 Parent Council Meeting (9:00 AM) – All parents are encouraged to attend to meet  our Parent Council and learn more about how it supports your children and school activities. 

Meet the Teacher – September 8, 2020
On September 8 from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm parents and students are encouraged to meet teachers, visit homerooms, and see the school. This is a great way to meet staff and learn more about our school. Parents, their children and teachers will have an opportunity to meet one another to discuss your child’s education.  Parents can share important information about their child and review their child’s educational needs for the school year. The purpose of this meeting is to begin open and ongoing communication between home and school.  Parents will also have a chance to meet with non-homeroom teachers such as physical education, learning support, guidance, band and practical arts.  Also, parents can pay for student fees at this time and complete the necessary forms.

Strong Connections
Your child will be scheduled to attend either September 18 or 21, 2020. Strong Connections is an opportunity for teachers and students to build relationships and to learn more about each other. If you have a child that also attends MES every effort will be made to schedule your children on the same day. If your child is scheduled to attend on September 18  they are not expected to attend on September 21 (and vice versa) 

Code of Conduct
In alignment with the Manitoba Education Provincial Code of Conduct and the Hanover School Division Student Conduct policy, Mitchell Middle School’s goal is to provide a safe, secure and caring learning environment, which fosters student’s personal growth, self-respect, and a sense of belonging which encourages them to be responsible citizens in the present and in the future. The complete Mitchell Middle School Code of Conduct can be found in the school handbook on our website: https://mms.hsd.ca/

Student Fees 2020-21 – Supply lists can be found at https://mms.hsd.ca/parents/supply-lists/ 

Grade 5

Class trips/assemblies 15.00 

Phys Ed trips $15.00                         

Total: $30.00
 
Grade 6

Academic Field Trips $25.00

Phys Ed  $15.00 

Total $40.00
 
Grade 7 and 8

General Student Fees: $15.00  

Phys Ed trips $15.00  

Field trips and guest performances  Phys Ed (bowling, curling, golfing) 

Home Ec/Tech Ed Fees: $15.00  

For special projects associated with our Tech. Ed. Programs. 

Arts Fee (drama, art and band): $15.00  

To offset the cost of specialty drama/art supplies and experiences  Band book and music folder 

Total: $60.00

Band instrument rental fee $150 - if an instrument is rented from MMS


Attendance Policy
It is very important that the school be informed by the parent or guardian by phone within 24 hours of the student’s return to school if the absence is to be considered excused.  Messages before 8am may be left on our general office voicemail by calling 204-320-9488 or through email at mms@hsd.ca. Any changes to phone numbers or addresses should be reported to the office as soon as possible to allow us to be able to contact someone in case of an emergency or school closure.  Attendance notifications may also be done through the Parent Portal.

HSD Parent Portal – https://hsd.ca/schools/parent-portal/

Stay Connected and Informed! The HSD Parent Portal is a communications tool designed to enhance and increase parent/guardian involvement in the education of their children.The portal provides parents/guardians with secure online access to our Student Information System. With a single username and password, parents/guardians can access the following information for each of their children attending an HSD school:

  • Student Information -Attendance Information
  • School Fees Account -Permissions & Consent Forms
  • Report Cards -School Information
  • Grad/Credit Summary -Change of Contact Form

Reporting dates for the 2020-21 school year are as follows:

Term #
 
Dates
 
Report Card Writing Days
 
Distribute reports
 
Term 1 
Sept. 9  – Nov. 6
 
Nov. 10
 
Nov 27
 
Term 2
 
Nov. 10 – March 11
 
March 12
 
March 26
 
Term 3
 
March 15 – June 28
 
June 28

Period Schedule

We are making a slight change to our daily schedule next year. We are switching to 5 periods in the morning and 3 in the afternoon with a short homeroom time at the end of every day to ensure all students get the chance to reflect on their day and prepare for the next day. Our new schedule looks like:

AM
 
Lunch and PM
 
8:50 AM Entrance
 
Lunch -  12:20 PM - 12:40 PM (20)
 
8:57 AM ROEs
 
Recess  - 12:40 PM - 1:15 PM (35) - Clubs/Outside
 
9:05 AM Homeroom
 
Homeroom - 1:15 PM  - 1:25  PM (10)
 
Period 1 - 9:10 AM  - 9:50 AM (40)
 
Period 6 -  1:25 PM - 2:05 PM (40)
 
Period 2 - 9:50 AM - 10:25 AM (35)
 
Period 7 - 2:05 PM - 2:45 PM 40)
 
Period 3 -  10:25 AM - 11:00 AM (35)
 
Break - 2:45PM - 2:55 PM (10) 

(*5/6 - 2:35 - 2:50 PM)
 
Break - 11:00AM - 11:10 AM (10) 

 ( *5/6 - 10:55 - 11:10 AM)
 
Period 8 - 2:55 PM - 3:30 PM (35)
 
Period 4 -  11:10 AM - 11:45 AM  (35)
 
End of Day Homeroom

3:30 - 3:40/45 PM (10/15)

Daily Wrap Up/Clean Up/Reflections/Dismissal
 
Period 5 - 11:45 AM  - 12:20 PM (35)


Lunch (Lunch eating time is 12:20 – 12:40  pm with Recess from 12:40 pm – 1:15  pm)
Students eat lunch in homerooms. A canteen is available with drinks and snacks. Microwaves are also available to heat up lunches. Students can purchase Subway sandwiches, and Pizza by the slice every Wednesday and Friday respectively. Students are encouraged to bring a snack to eat during the morning break.

Parent-Teacher Conferences
To encourage ongoing communication between home and school Mitchell MS hosts two parent-teacher evenings throughout the year. This provides the parent an opportunity to come to the school to look at their child(ren)’s work and speak to teachers. Saying that, parents are welcome to come to school anytime during regular hours to speak to teachers and/or look at work.
December 3 from 4:30 pm  – 7:00 pm
February 18  from 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm

New for 2020-21

  • Mrs. Kwiatkowski will be joining our school as a vice-principal. Welcome Mrs. Kwiatkowski!
  • Mrs. Loewen returns from maternity leave to her homeroom in grade 5 (5L)
  • Ms. Patrick returns to teaching grade 6 as Mrs. Burton is taking maternity leave
  • Welcome to Mrs. Robidoux, our new grade 6 homeroom teacher and counselor. Mrs. Robidoux will be teaching grade 6 French and ELA
  • Welcome to Ms. Wareham. Ms. Wareham will be teaching grade 7 Science, ELA and grade 8 Social Studies. She will also be teaching our new grade 8 Option class called STEAM. This will be an arts based class that will incorporate arts, drama, and technology
  • Mrs. Thiessen will be starting an Arts program for all grade 6 classes next year. Grade 6 students will have 3 periods of Music during each cycle as well as 2 periods of Visual Arts
  • Outdoor Ed for grades 6 and 7. Grade 8s get 3 Fitness classes per cycle.

Connect with Mitchell Middle School
To find all of the different ways to learn what happens at MMS and to keep in touch please visit:

June 2020 Term 3 Report Cards

Term 3 report cards will only be available on the Parent Portal. If you have not yet set up an account please contact the office so we can help you get your account set up.

Access to the School Office in June and August
From August 26, 2020  to September 4, 2020 the school office will be open from 9:00 AM until 3:00 pm. 
Starting September 4, 2020 regular office hours will begin at 7:30  am until 4:00 pm daily.  Our school office will be open until 2:30  PM on June 30, 2020. If you have questions or require further information, do not hesitate to contact the school using any of the platforms shown above. We will be happy to assist you or answer any of your questions.   

We hope you have a relaxing and enjoyable summer vacation and that students will be ready to return in the fall, excited to start school again. We look forward to meeting all parents and children in the fall!

Sincerely,

 

Mr. A. Mead, Principal          
amead@hsd.ca

Mrs. S. Kwiatkowski, Vice Principal

skwiatkowski@hsd.ca 

in: General