Unless otherwise noted, details for all of these events can be found in the MES Upcoming Events section below. All information pertaining to the new elementary school can be found below in the New Midtown Cluster Elementary School Section.

Friday, September 16

• Principal's Coffee Talk - See Principal's Blog section for more info
• No Place For Hate Mural "Hands Across A Community" Dedication
• Last Day for parents of grades 3-5 to opt out of students completing BESS self-rating scale (Info below, forms found on MES Website)

Monday, September 19

• 2022 MES@Inman In Person Book Fair (through Friday, September 23)
• BASC - BESS Window (Closes October 7)

Saturday, September 24

• Third Grade Popsicle Social

Monday, September 26

• Annual SWAG Trash Campaign Deadline

Wednesday, September 28

• Parent University - Orientation 2.0
• EIP Parent Information Session (Virtual)

Friday, September 30

• MES SWAG Campus Cleanup

Saturday, October 1

• Fall Fourth Grade Social

Sunday, October 2

• Kindergarten Playdate
• 1st Grade Playdate

Wednesday, October 19

• Parents in PE Week

Thursday, October 19

• Deadline For Art Submissions - Annual Pumpkin Auction - Monster Bash

Open Now: the MES Foundation Annual Appeal! See all the details in the MES News and Reminders Section below!

COVID-19 Data Update

SURVEILLANCE TESTING: 

This week on Monday, 9/12/22, 253 students and 81 staff members were tested through surveillance testing with 1 APS staff testing positive.

SELF REPORTS: 

Additionally, between 9/9/22 and 9/15/22, we received 3 self-reported COVID cases through the self-report form.

If your child receives a positive test result, please fill out a self report form HERE.

SURVEILLANCE TESTING OPT IN CONSENT FORMS:

Student Consent Form ENGLISH   SPANISH

OPT OUT OF SURVEILLANCE TESTING:

To opt out of surveillance testing, please send an email with your name, your student's name, and your student's date of birth to Viral Solutions - [email protected]. Please copy Nurse Petty on this email as well - [email protected].



Friday, September 16 – No Place For Hate Mural "Hands Across A Community" Dedication

At the end of last year every student at MES participated in a special Midtown Cluster-wide mural project designed by a nationally-recognized artist. The mural is finished and the MES community will dedicate it during special events happening on Thursday, September 15 and Friday, September 16.

On Thursday, September 15, fifth graders will get the first look at the mural and take part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony during their lunch period. As part of this special event, there will be a special dedication by the artist, Yehimi Cambron, as well as a meal/treat to celebrate Yehimi's Mexican heritage.

On Friday, September 16, parents and caregivers can come see the mural during the Principal’s Coffee at 8 am - and all MES students will have the opportunity to take part in the mural celebration as they come through the cafeteria during their lunch period.

The finished mural will be installed in all five buildings that will house elementary school students - and includes contributions from every student who was in Pre-K - fifth grade across the Midtown Cluster in the ‘21-’22 academic year. The exciting project, part of the APS No Place for Hate® program, reminds us that we are unique as individuals, but together we are all part of a larger, vibrant APS Midtown Cluster community. APS has implemented the No Place for Hate® initiative district-wide since 2015. Each year, all APS schools participate in programs around the goal of creating a welcoming community committed to stopping all forms of bias and bullying.

Learn more about this incredible Midtown Cluster-wide collaborative project - and if you’d like to see the mural in progress, check out the artist’s Instagram stories!

Would you like to lend a hand to help make this big reveal special? Please sign up during your child's lunch period and Robin Deutsch Edwards will be in touch with more information about how you can help. Sign Up Here!

Monday, September 19 - Friday, September 23 – Book Fair!

The 2022 MES@Inman In Person Book Fair is next week, September 19 - 23, 2022. It will be located in the Library at MES@Inman. All the details about this year's Book Fair can be found in the Special Edition Digital Dolphin that went out earlier this week and on the Book Fair webpage on the MES website, including details about when to shop (students will visit the fair with their class) and how to pay (including a new gift card option). 

In addition to shopping the Book Fair, here are three additional ways you can help spread the joy of reading through the fair:

• Teacher Classroom Libraries: Visit the Teacher Book Bins at the fair! These bins will be full of book titles selected by each teacher that will enhance their classroom library. Consider purchasing a book from a bin and donating it to a classroom.
• Keep the Change: Cash donations at the register to help purchase books from Teachers Book Bins at the end of the fair.
• Donate Outgrown Books: New this year! Make room on your shelves for new books by donating ones that you've outgrown to Children Read Atlanta.

We are also looking for Book Fair volunteers to help students find books and keep the fair neat and tidy. If you're interested, please visit the SignUp Genius HERE.

Never attended an in-person book fair? "Browse Days" are the days when students visit the fair with their class to write down titles and prices of items they're interested in on a browse sheet. Hopefully, this will build excitement and provide information for at home discussions about potential purchases before students bring in money in for their "Buy Day". Adults are welcome to shop the fair anytime, but are certainly welcome to join during their classes "Buy Day" as well. You don't have to be a volunteer to join your students' class on "Buy Day" (although we love it when you do!).  

Monday, September 19 - Friday, October 7: BASC-3 BESS Screener Window

Atlanta Public Schools is committed to creating a culture of student support, and supporting the needs of the whole child. One way we are addressing the whole child is by identifying student strengths and areas for growth relative to social, emotional, and behavioral well-being.

In our continuing efforts to support the well-being of all students, we will administer a universal screener of social, emotional & behavioral health. The universal screener that was chosen by the District to help identify student strengths and areas for growth is the BASC-3 Behavior and Emotional Screening Scale (BASC-3 BESS).

For more information about the BESS Screener, please click HERE

Grade Level Playdates * Different Dates

Saturday, September 24 - 3rd Grade Popsicle Social

Location: Noble Park: 1710 Noble Dr NE, Atlanta Georgia

Time: 10:00AM - 12:00PM

3rd Grade Parents: Please mark your calendars for the Fall 3rd grade social! We will provide popsicles and water, and siblings are more than welcome to join. We hope to see you then!

Any Questions? Contact Kate Floyd

Saturday, October 1 - Fall 4th Grade Social

Location: McClatchey Park: Avery Dr. and Westminister NE, Atlanta Georgia

Time: 10:00AM - 12:00PM

Mark your calendars or the first 4th grade social on October 1st, from 10am-noon at McClatchey Park. We will provide popsicles and water, and siblings are more than welcome to join. Hope to see you all there!

Any Questions? Contact Julie Tracy

Sunday, October 2 - 1st Grade Playdate

Location: Sidney Marcus Park: 786 Cumberland Rd NE, Atlanta Georgia

Time: 12:00pm - 2:00pm

Join us for a 1st Grade Playdate! Popsicles will be provided.

Any Questions? Contact Mallory Rahman or Zach Juno

Sunday, October 2 - Kindergarten Playdate

Location: McClatchey Park: Avery Dr. and Westminister NE, Atlanta Georgia

Time: 2:00pm

Join us for a Kindergarten Playdate! Popsicles will be provided.

Any Questions? Contact Halley Blythe

Wednesday, September 28 –

Parent University Orientation 2.0

We're excited to host our first Parent University event - Orientation 2.0 - on Wednesday, 9/28 at 8am in the MES@Inman auditorium.

There have been several information sharing events already this year, but you may still have questions about MES.

What is Family Science Night? What do I do when my kid is sick? How do I help plan the class Holiday party? Why does my kid suddenly know all the words to “Never Gonna Give You Up”? Learn the answers to these questions and more at this PTA-hosted event where experienced MES families will share information and answer questions. 

Questions submitted via this FORM will be used to guide our conversation.

Thursday, September 28 -

EIP Parent Information Session

Please consider attending this virtual event for an overview on the Early Intervention Program.

Time: 5:30 PM

Zoom Link: Click Here

Any Questions: Please reach out to Assistant Principal, Dr. Sinclair

Monday, September 26 & Friday, September 30

The SWAG Committee Has Two Important Dates!

Annual SWAG Trash Campaign - Deadline 9/26

Next MES Campus Cleanup - 9/30

Submit logo or catchy phrase for swag annual trash campaign and turn it in to box in office by Monday, September 26.

Signs will be posted and there will be a popsicle party for all participants when signs are revealed at the next clean-up day on Sept 30th at 2:45. For all clean up events, please meet at the walker pad. For events occurring during school hours, please check in at the office first. Gloves and bags will be provided. By working together, these events go quickly - we're usually done within an hour.

More details about our Campus Beautification efforts can be found on the MES website. Please send any questions to our Campus Beautification chair, Heather Low

Wednesday, October 19 -Friday, October 21 - Parents In PE Week

Location: MES GYM

Time: 10:00AM - 12:00PM

Join us for a special week of fun and fitness in Physical Education. Come and participate with your child’s PE class to experience how they are learning to lead physically active and healthy lives!

Bring Your Parents to PE is an event designed to give parents an opportunity to experience the same physical education program their child participates in at Morningside.

Please visit Coach Corso's Bring Your Parents To PE Week for more information

Thursday, October 20 -Deadline for Pumpkin Submissions - Annual Pumpkin Auction - Monster Bash

Calling all artists or crafters to help make pumpkins for our annual MES monster bash pumpkin auction. Want to participate just paint a plastic (ever lasting) pumpkin by October 20th.

Have questions or need help getting a pumpkin, contact Heather Low. Proceeds will benefit the media center and art department.

New MES Family Engagement Team!

Looking for parents to volunteer in our MES Family Engagement Leadership Team. This is a new team for our school, made up of 1-2 teacher reps, 2-3 parent reps, plus other staff and led by Parent Liaison Paula Chiodi.

The purpose of this team is to increase parent & guardian engagement for ALL students. Meetings will be held during the school day. We also want reps from this team to attend some of the parent engagement events through the district after school as well.

Please let Paula Chiodi know if you are interested.

Yearbook Update

HAVE YOU ORDERED YOUR YEARBOOK YET?

If not, you can order your yearbook HERE. Prices go up again on Oct 29.

COVER DESIGN CONTEST RESULTS

The votes are in, and the winner of our yearbook cover design contest is Arjun Vaitla! We had a total of 30 submissions this year, and we were blown away by all the amazing artwork. Thank you to everyone who participated! All submitted art will be featured in the yearbook in one way or another.

FIFTH GRADE ADS

5th grade parents, commemorate your child's last year at MES with a special recognition advertisement in the back of the yearbook. Purchase and create your ad directly through Jostens (1/4 page ads are $60 and 1/2 page ads are $110). Don't delay though - the deadline for ads is November 7!

FIFTH GRADE BABY PICTURES

While you are looking for pictures for your ad, pick out your favorite baby picture of your child and send it to us! 5th graders traditionally have their baby pictures displayed on the spread across from their portrait shots. This is separate from the recognition ad, so please send ONE baby picture to [email protected] and include your child's name!

Backpack Buddies

Thanks to our friends at Congregation Shearith Israel, this new program is available for any students/families that would like food assistance. Special backpacks would be provided so students could receive various non-perishable items each weekend.

If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact school social worker, Scott LaSalle at 404-802-8981. You can also email.

Parent Referral for GATE Testing

The window to request a parent referral for Gifted Eligibility Testing this school year is open from September 1 through September 30.

Please visit these links for:

1) Parent Referral Informational Video

2) Frequently Asked Questions with Answers (in English)

3) Frequently Asked Questions with Answers (en Espanol)

3) Online “Request for Parent Referral” Form

If you have any questions, please contact Kristen Duncan at [email protected]

From the Principal's Desk!

If you are available, please attend the Principal Coffee Talk on Friday, September 16^th at 8am. 

Topics for this first coffee talk include highlights from our recent MAP assessment, current up to date happenings at Morningside, a question and answer session, plus a visit to see our newly installed No Place for Hate Mural!



If you cannot attend this coffee talk, there will be another on Friday, October 21st at 8am. The Google Slide with the information shared at the coffee talk will be posted after the session. Please click HERE to view Principal Sofianos' blog posts!



Stay Up to Date with the 2022-2023 APS Calendar

Click HERE to view and start planning for all the breaks

Click HERE to view the Atlanta BOE 2022 Meeting Schedule