Message from Superintendent Deborah Houser:

I want to take a moment to give a big shoutout to our incredible Board of Education members. These folks are the unsung heroes behind the scenes, working tirelessly to make Middletown City School District the best it can be.

Their dedication, passion, and hard work don't go unnoticed. They're the driving force behind the decisions that shape our students' experiences and set the tone for our entire educational community. Thank you to our School Board for their selfless commitment and for making a positive impact every day. We appreciate you!

January is School Board Recognition Month! Please reach out to Middletown City Schools' Board members to let them know how much they are appreciated!

#MiddieRising

Board President Chris Urso, Superintendent Deborah Houser, Board Member Holly Snow, Treasurer Randy Bertram, Vice President Anita Scheibert, and Rosa Parks Elementary Principal Charity Goode, pictured with Panther Influencers. Board members Todd Moore and Cathie Mulligan are not pictured.

Thank you to Mrs. Verlena Stewart

Message from Mrs. Stewart:

"I cannot think of anything more important than our children and our homes, the District of course embodies them both. To be able to work directly with school leadership to influence change, impact policy, and shape our community was an extremely rewarding experience. I am very grateful and very humbled to have served. I learned more about the state of education in one year than I thought possible. We are all called to be good stewards of our youth and community. I know firsthand how hard the District is working and how much this community cares. What comes out of Middletown is very much what we pour into it. I hope Middletown will stay encouraged, take great pride in our school system, and become even stronger advocates for our amazing youth and District."

Stewart was appointed to fill Mrs. Michelle Novak's unexpired term, after Novak resigned in Sept. 2022.

Welcome Mrs. Holly Snow

Message from Mrs. Snow:

"I'm genuinely thrilled about the opportunity to collaborate with everyone and contribute to the community. It's truly humbling to have the support and trust of the community in being elected. The plan is to absorb as much as I can during this initial phase, laying a strong foundation for the rest of my term. I'm particularly eager to hear from staff, students, and the community at large about their fantastic ideas on how we can enhance our school district. I'm looking forward to a productive and collaborative journey ahead."

Snow was sworn in on January 8, 2024.

Dates to Remember:

February is:

Black History Month and Career & Technical Education Month

2/19 - No School, President's Day

2/20 - Final Personalized Learning Day of the school year

District Calendar

#MiddieMinutesMatter:

Middletown City School District (MCSD) is excited to announce the launch of a new attendance campaign, Middie Minutes Matter, designed to tackle chronic absenteeism among students and promote a culture of regular attendance.

Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of the school year, no matter what the reason is for the absence. Missing 10% or more school hours has been identified as a significant challenge affecting student success and overall academic achievement. During the 2022-2023 school year, 44.9% of MCSD students were chronically absent.

Middie Minutes Matter is a comprehensive initiative aimed at raising awareness, engaging the community, and implementing strategies to ensure students attend school regularly.

The campaign will focus on the following key pillars:

Community Engagement:

Middie Minutes Matter encourages active involvement from parents, guardians, educators, and community members to foster a sense of collective responsibility for student attendance.

Outreach:

The campaign will collaborate with families and schools to create an inclusive and supportive environment, encouraging parents and caregivers to actively participate in their student's education.

Data-Driven Solutions:

Middie Minutes Matter will leverage data to identify patterns of absenteeism and tailor interventions accordingly. This approach allows for a targeted and efficient response to the unique challenges faced by different student groups.

Celebrating Attendance:

Recognizing and celebrating attendance is a crucial aspect of the campaign. Achievements and milestones related to attendance will be highlighted with incentives to motivate students and create a positive atmosphere around the importance of being present in school.

By focusing on the importance of attendance, MCSD aims to build a foundation for lifelong success for each student.

Curriculum Department Update:

Making Math Meaningful:

If you walk into any elementary classroom across MCSD, you'll experience AMAZING math content being taught every day. Sure, you'll see the core curriculum, intervention activities, Zearn on laptops, common assessments, and teachers using the workshop model within their math block. But what is moving the needle towards achievement is the attention to the standards, math being visible and accessible for students, and collaboration among students.

We are teaching our students the "why" behind math, not just the "how". All of this work is building the foundation for the rigorous skills needed for Algebra and other advanced math courses offered at the middle and high school levels.

Thank you to all of our math teachers across MCSD who continue to do the work of making math meaningful for our students!

Personalized Learning Day:

February 20 is our final Personalized Learning Day of the school year. Watch the video above to learn all about the student-led day of choice.

Find everything you need for February 20, including the Choice Board here.

Middies in the News:

Student Influencers Dive into a Night of Wildlife Wonders at the Cincinnati Zoo

Twenty-one Panther Influencers from Rosa Parks Elementary embarked on a unique overnight experience at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden.

Read coverage of the trip in the Journal News

Century-old postcard of MCSD building finds its way back to Middletown

A more than 100-year-old postcard of a now-demolished Middletown City School building found its way back to Middletown, thanks to a 95-year-old man from Stockton, CA known as the "Postcard Man."

Read coverage of the postcard story in the Journal News