April 2020
Click on Coronavirus for more information from Marinette School District



How to Talk to Your Students about COVID-19

The publisher of our Middle Years monthly flyer has put out some suggestions for parents/guardians on how to talk to middle schoolers about the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like, that guidance is linked below:


From Marinette School District Nurse
Mrs. Shannon Jones

Please click on link below to view a very important information on COVID-19

Are your 8th grade kids complaining that they are bored? Do they really really want to use their Chromebooks? Well does Team Gr8 have a solution for you! Each year at recognition the 8th grade students all receive a t-shirt commemorating their last year at MMS. This year we are going to let the kids design the shirt. Team Gr8 will narrow down the designs to the top 3, and then the kids will vote on which one they'd like for their Class of 2024 shirt. Mrs. Keyzers has sent all 8th grade students an invite to a new Google Classroom where she has written some instructions for creating their shirt. This is not a must do activity, but the more participation we have, the more fun it will be! 




During our quarantine time, Ms. Maddox's Class snake, Al, is safe at her house and is taking a bath.





The Marinette School District will be
offering two sessions for our 2020 Summer Learning Program.

Summer Learning Program:
Session 1 - June 15 - 26
Session 2 - June 29-July 2 + July 7-14
(off July 3rd and 6th)
Times: 8:00am-12:30pm
Location: Marinette High School
Registration: Opens February 17th!
Questions? Contact 715-735-2500

Students can attend both sessions
or only one. Students will get to register for 3 classes in each session. Some classes that will be offered are swimming lessons, sports camps, and junior lifeguarding.
Middle Years
Check out this month’s edition of Middle Years . Topics covered include: problem-solving strategies; the dangers of vaping; and non-fiction reading.

Please click on the Peach Jar link where you will find all the latest and greatest flyers from Marinette Middle School.



Mrs. Francour's 7th and 8th grade Literacy Class created book jackets
The 7th & 8th grade alternative literacy class recently created some book jackets on individual books that they read. Book-jacket book reports are a creative way to represent a story that a student has read. They are also a good way to give an overview to others of the book, as well as show what they learned from it. 
Why Nonfiction Reading Is So Important
A Message from Mrs. Martin, Literacy Specialist QAS

Although it is important for kids to read popular literature such as The Hunger Games or classics like The Chronicles of Narnia , research shows that it is also essential to read a variety of nonfiction works, including informational text, biography, and editorial works. Here are a few reasons:

  1. It builds background knowledge, in turn contributing to comprehension.
  2. It increases academic vocabulary.
  3. It prepares students for high school and post-secondary education, where most of the required reading is nonfiction.
  4. It teaches children to be analytic consumers of information, a critical skill in today’s world of social media.
  5. It exposes children to complex texts.

For good examples of nonfiction texts for middle schoolers, see https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/best-nonfiction-books-for-kids .

Just some of our Facebook Posts.
Email [email protected]. We would love to see what you are doing! So keep on sending your pictures.

Everything You Need to Know about Growing a Tween/Teen During COVID-19

During this time that we are living in...with your Tweenager (ages 10 - 12) or your Teenager learning, creating, and moving at home instead of the school, I am sure can be a very “different” experience. For that reason, this month I felt that it was important for me to share a resource that I have been using during this time.

I often talk about the Search Institute and the organization’s work around working with young people. A week or so ago, they sent me an email talking about how to build relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is through positive relationships, by the way, for middle level learners that true learning is possible. I firmly believe that. I have linked the checklist below.

In short, the Search Institute reminds us that in order for young people to learn and grow during this time, we need to be sure that we are taking those relationship-building steps. This will help our tweenagers and teenagers come through this event as best as they can. Here is a breakdown of those relationship-building steps:

  1. Express Care: Show me that I matter to you;
  2. Challenge Growth: Push me to keep getting better;
  3. Provide Support: Help me complete tasks and achieve goals;
  4. Share Power: Treat me with respect and give me a say; and
  5. Expand Possibilities: Connect me with people and places that broaden my world.


As always, if you would like to talk about this topic further, have questions about this, or would just like to sit down and talk, please feel free to reach out to me at (715)735-1505 or [email protected]
Message from Mr. Hanson

Hello MMS families,

In these unprecedented times I hope that you are staying healthy and happy. Normally I share some information with you related to behaviors, attendance, or positive choices at school. “School” has looked very different recently, as we are all aware. Whether you are responsible for the safety and learning of 600 students daily, or just those in your immediate family, it is important to maintain MMS’s three expectations of Respect, Responsibility, and Safety.

I am providing a link below that directs you to an online binder with information on how you can use PBIS at home. PBIS is the system we use to create an environment that is Respectful, Responsible, and Safe for our learners at school. Though I encourage you to investigate the resources found within the link, I’ll summarize below:

  1. Define behavior routines- the charts in the link are especially helpful.
  2. Teach the behavior- be clear about what you expect and how you expect it.
  3. Practice the behavior- learning behaviors is just like learning any skill. It takes practice!
  4. Reinforce positive behaviors- again, the charts can be helpful
  5. Redirect unwanted behaviors- excellent strategies are provided in the link
  6. Respond to the behavior- by re-teaching what is expected and providing logical, consistent consequences

Final Thoughts: Parents are the single most influential factor in a child’s life. When a parent models safe, respectful and responsible behavior, the child develops those same attributes. The earlier in a child’s life an unwanted behavior is addressed the better the chance for developing the desired behavior. Remember, it takes time to change behavior. Be patient. Give yourself permission to review and practice with the child as often as needed. Celebrate! Share a “pat on the back” with your child at each small success.

For more detailed information and resources access the link PBIS at Home. Please reach out to me with any questions about routines, strategies, and behaviors that you can apply while your student(s) learn at home. Wishing all of you health during this time!

Mr. Hanson
Marinette Middle School
1011 Water Street
Marinette, WI 54143
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The Board of Education is committed to providing an equal educational opportunity for all students in the District. The Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of any characteristic protected under State or Federal law including, but not limited to, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability in any of its student program and activities.
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