Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School
Home of the Huskies
Home of the Huskies
Updates from Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School
Here are a few updates and reminders that are middle school specific:
We want to recognize Mrs. Peggy Lloyd during National School Psychologist Week. She is a ray of sunshine here at Henderson and works hard to help all of our Huskies. Thanks!
Thanksgiving Break, November 27th - November 29th, No School
For your planning purposes, here are the winter STAR testing dates:
Math (during Flex) - 12/9, 12/10
Reading (during class) - 12/16, 12/17 (6th & 7th) and 12/18, 12/19 (8th)
Want to purchase a yearbook? They are on sale through the Jostens website.
November 18th - November 25th, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School is holding a Food Drive Competition benefitting Welcoming Falls Church and their partner, the Share Yourself Food Pantry. Here are the important details:
All students/staff are assigned to a “House” with a mountain theme, Alps House, Himalayas House or Andes House. The assigned “house” is based on your student's Pack teacher.
Students/staff bring in one or more of these items: Canned Fruit (100% Juice), Canned Meat (chicken, tuna and salmon), Dried Beans - 1 or 2lb bags, Hearty Soup (Progresso, Healthy Choice, Chunky Soup), Macaroni and Cheese, No Sodium Added Canned Corn, No Sodium Added Canned Tomatoes, Non-Instant Oatmeal, Non-sweetened Cereal, Pasta, Pasta Sauce, White Rice -1 or 2lb bags.
Deposit the item in your “house” box located in the main office. Between 12:00 - 1:00 pm each day, the total number of donations will be counted and points will be awarded. Each item is worth 1 point. Each day, one random item will be worth 3x the points! That item will be announced in the morning announcements each day. We will keep a running total of how the "houses" compare and will post updates on Schoology.
The students in the winning house will receive outside time during an upcoming Academic Advising session. This should be fun because the competition crosses grade levels.
Let's gather some food for our local community!
Week of November 18, 2024
Happy November! We have another exciting week planned for Pack this week!
Monday - Dialogue Circle Monday! This Monday, we will be reflecting on the question, “Who or what are you thankful for in your life?” For more information on dialogue circles, click here.
Tuesday - SEL Discussion Tuesday! We will continue to discuss social intelligence in Pack this week. Specifically, we will discuss empathy.
Wednesday - One book Wednesday! We will continue to read chapter 24 in The Seventh Most Important Thing as a Pack class with special audio from Ms. Maco!
Thursday - SEL Discussion Tuesday! We will discuss the benefits of being grateful.
Friday - Fun Friday! We will play a game in Pack called Gratitude Pictionary!
We look forward to another great week!
6th Grade families,
I was talking with students at recess this week about their transition to middle school. The broad theme was one of independence and new freedoms. They enjoy the opportunity to choose (some of their) own classes, manage their homework, and take on leadership roles in extracurricular activities. This newfound autonomy is exciting and empowering to many of our newest Huskies.
With this, even with this increased independence, we know that middle school students still need the guidance and support of trusted adults. Here at MEHMS, we strive to strike a balance between freedom and guidance.
We have an amazing staff who is always here to support our students and their needs.
This being said, check in with your student about their team here. Who are their trusted adults? We hope they mention their favorite teachers, counselors, and even Mr. Pickering’s dad jokes!
Want to chat further about this? Please reach out to me and/or Ms. Filmyer at filmyert@fccps.org.
Have a great weekend!
Rob Carey
6th Grade Administrator
7th and 8th Grade Families,
I just visited several classrooms where students were enjoying Fun Friday activities during Pack time. While I’m accustomed to seeing our students engaged in academic projects and activities, it was so rewarding to witness them coming together for these creative and collaborative challenges.
This week, they worked in groups and were given just 10 seconds to identify items within a specific category. Some of the topics included books turned into movies, professional sports teams, animals that make good pets, types of nuts, and more. Watching students quickly team up, brainstorm, and share answers was a refreshing break from their usual academic routine. It was wonderful to see their teamwork and quick thinking in action!
Believe it or not, we only have seven more school days until Thanksgiving break. Time is flying by!
Best,
Adam White
7th and 8th Grade Administrator