Principal’s Corner

Dear MCMS Families,

We have had an eventful summer and a wonderful start to the 2008-09 school year!

This summer has brought about many updates to our building, including fresh landscaping, new furnishings, clean classrooms, and additional technology.  Most importantly, the summer has brought some new professionals to MCMS.

Our returning veterans bring back experience and expertise which combines with fresh faces and new ideas from within the county and across the country.  We are fortunate to have such a winning combination of professionals working with our students!

It’s been a great start as we have welcomed back returning families as well as new.  Students appear eager to return to school and we hope to maintain that excitement and enthusiasm throughout the school year.

Congratulations to all students for your efforts in reading “The Lightning Thief” over the summer months.  We have kicked off the year with some amazing activities related to the book, thanks to the student committee and staff leadership.  Stay tuned for some fun-filled activities related to the book!

We continue to be proud of the accomplishments of our school and constantly look for ways to engage and stretch our learners, providing daily challenges and opportunities.

We welcome the ideas and opinions of our school community and look forward to your continued partnership.

Sincerely,

Sue Kreuser

Dear Families,

It’s difficult to believe that we have begun our last quarter of the school year!  As we move into spring, we begin a very busy time.  The learning activities in our classrooms offer amazing opportunities for our kids.  Additionally, spring activities are underway, including sports and other after school activities.  Every day is filled with energy, enthusiasm and excitement at MCMS.

Within the next couple of weeks, we will be implementing the use of a variety of technology equipment that will enhance teaching and learning at MCMS.  Teachers will be utilizing document cameras as well as interwrite tablets in their classroms.  A new student response system, called “Quizdom” will be available as well.  This device will allow staff members to see immediate responses from individual students.  Trials with this technology equipment demonstrated high interest in students and staff alike.  We are fortunate to also complete our third portable computer lab, which allows for grade level use.  Our students have been respectful users of all of this technology equipment and certainly are reaping the benefits.  We are grateful for community support from county commissioners as well as our PTO for their support of our technology-filled classrooms.

Although we have an entire quarter of the year remaining, we also have begun to make plans for next year.  Next week, our current students will be registering for the 2008-09 school year.  Transition programs have already taken place with the upcoming sixth graders as well as our ninth graders, preparing for WCHS.

EOG test preparation really takes place all year long, however the next few weeks will provide opportunties for students to review for the May exams.  With the hard work and dedication of staff, students, and parents, we are sure to have favorable outcomes again this spring.  Parents are encouraged to ask students about opportunities for test preparation sessions, including Academic Coaching options as well as after school options. 

The 2008 summer novel has been chosen.  We are encouraging all students, families, and staff members to read “The Lightning Thief.”  This action-packed story is sure to please all!  Stay tuned for more information on the sale of the book at MCMS in June.

We are looking forward to a strong finish!  Thank you for your continued partnership!

Sincerely,

Sue Kreuser 

Dear Families,

It’s winter, 2008, and we’re just heating up at MCMS!  It’s been a great first half of the year!  Although there have been many new exciting learning opportunities and programs at our school, I’d like to highlight just a few.

My Writing Web is a new web-based writing program that is being piloted in the sixth grade.  The program components allow students to practice their writing skills and receive immediate feedback.  Teachers have access to data that identify strength areas as well as areas that need emphasis.

Customtyping.com is a web-based program that we have been using with sixth grade band students.  Our goal is to have the students learn keyboarding skills through independent work several times a week at school as well as at home.

Accelerated Math- this program allows us to assess students’ math abilities and provides information regarding gaps in their mathematical learning.

Math Facts is a program being used for a select group of students who have yet to gain confidence and skills in adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing. 

As you will note, many of our newly implemented programs are web-based computer programs.  As we continue to plan for the future of our students, we will continue to grow our technology supports.  We appreciate our very active PTO, which continues to fund our leased portable computer lab.  We also appreciate the support received by our School Board and county commissioners which have allocated the necessary funds to purchase a second portable computer lab.

This year, our entire building has adopted the Positive Behavior Support program, which is a nationally known program with a North Carolina initiative aimed at providing schools with a system of positive student behavior and responsibility. Although we are still monitoring the implementation and “tweaking” our procedures, we feel that our students are responding favorably to the system.  The overall to the program is teaching the specific behaviors we want to see demonstrated in our classrooms.  The behaviors include respect and responsibility.

Thank you for your continued partnership.  If you have any questions or concerns, we welcome your involvement.  Please contact individual teachers, counselors or administrators so that we may better serve your family.

Sincerely,

Sue Kreuser

September, 2007

Dear MCMS Families,

We have had an amazing start to our school year!  This past week was filled with excitement as our hallways and classrooms reflected the buzz of five hundred students anticipating a new school year.  Our staff worked diligently to be prepared for this return.  Learning activities have taken place all week, while caring relationships have been established.

An area of emphasis for our teaching and learning at MCMS is the infusion of technology in the teaching and learning process.  Observing first-time sixth graders using our portable computer lab this week was priceless!  It’s almost magical to see students show such eagerness and excitement for learning!

The challenge that lies before us is to continue this energy level and excitement for the entire school year.  We’ve got the key ingredients to do so:  an amazing student body; incredibly supportive parents and community members; and an AWESOME staff!

Thank you for an amazing start.  We look forward to your partnership!

Sincerely

Ms. Kreuser 

Welcome to the 2007-08 school year!

 We eagerly await the arrival of our student body!  Our awesome staff has been working hard in preparation for  five hundred students,  soon to be entering our doors!  Classrooms will be filled with academic challenges as well as fun-filled learning activities for all!  Fall sports and other after-school programs will be in full swing before you know it.

We can’t wait to see you!

Mrs. Kreuser