January 19th, 2024

a message from principal Jay Reutter

Happy Snow Day MMS Families!

I hope you were able to get a little extra sleep this morning or enjoy a quiet coffee this morning while the rest of your family slept.  There is always something magical about the first snow day of the year.  

I was so impressed with our students and staff during our safety drill on Tuesday.  All of our students took it with the seriousness this type of drill requires.  We had several Mason Police Officers and Mason Fire Fighters on hand to observe our drill.  They were equally impressed with our students.  I know our students are amazing but it is a really proud moment when others get to see it.  

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and maybe, head to Pine Hill to do some sledding.

Go Comets!

As we closed out 2023, we also said goodbye to Michelle Lienemann, one the first people you would see when visiting our building. You likely communicated with her about Attendance and/or Athletics. We are excited about her retirement, grateful for the time she was here, and have already replaced her position. 

Please welcome...

Rachel Cote - MMS Athletics & Attendance Admin. Assistant 

CoteR@masonohioschools.com

Rachel started with us at this time last year as our Receptionist. She is part of our Mason community as the Mom of some Comet kids!

Please reach out to her about attendance needs for your student(s) and/or anything with Athletics related to athletic fees, FinalForms, physicals, etc. 

Brittney Whitaker - MMS Receptionist

WhitakerB@masonohioschools.com

Brittney is new to us at MMS but also is the Mom of Comet kids, as well. She will likely be the first person you see when visiting so please help her feel welcome as she gets acclimated to MMS! 

Please reach out to her if you have any general questions about MMS, need to get in touch with your student, drop something off, etc. 

On January 23rd the MHS counseling team will be meeting with our MMS 8th graders during the school day to discuss scheduling.  There will also be a Parent Scheduling Informational Meeting that evening at 7 PM in the MHS Auditorium.

Dear Families of Mason Middle School 8th Graders,

Your 8th Grade Student is in the process of registering for classes at Mason High School if this is their choice for 9th grade.  Part of this journey is to start thinking about career opportunities and other high school options they can explore during the next couple of years.

Mason City Schools continues to partner with the Scarlet Oaks Career Campus to offer great programming to our students.  Our counselors will take interested 8th grade students on a tour of the facility on March 20, 2024 to give them the chance to meet with faculty and students.  They will be able to see what programs are available and hear about the requirements needed for each.  Students have the opportunity to apply to participate in Scarlet programs as sophomores for their junior and senior  year of high school.

Here is the link (8th Grade Teacher Scarlet Resources) with more information which includes everything your student will see and hear in Crew along with the permission form needed for the field trip.  The permission trip form is due to the Crew Teacher by Friday, February 2nd.   Students MUST have their Emergency Medical Authorization filled out online at Gateway  in order to attend https://bit.ly/3uQJcU8 

If you have any questions, the contact info for the 8th Grade School Counselors is listed in the link.

These are exciting times for our 8th grade students and we are glad to continue our partnership with you as they begin this next phase of their educational journey.

Interested in ordering a Yearbook?  Order now before prices increase.  Use the QR code below to order.

MMS Athletics - SPRING Sports Information & Details are Available

If your student is interested in participating in spring sports, please take time to review the Spring Sports Information document now posted on our MMS Athletics website - linktr.ee/MMSathletics. 

The contact information for coaches is linked in the document & on our Coach Directory so feel free to reach out to coaches directly for sport-specific questions. 

Please pay special attention to page 1 of the 2024 Spring Sports & Information Details document to ensure your student has everything they need to participate. 

Go Comets!

The Middle School Esports team is looking for Gamers!  Do you think you have what it takes to compete against other schools all across the country in some of your favorite games?  Games like . . .

• • Rocket League

  • Super Smash Bros

  • Minecraft

  • Brawlhalla

  • Splatoon 3

  • Mario Kart 8, and

  • Chess . . .

are all looking for players!  Our Spring competition is getting organized and if you have what it takes, take a look at the MMS Student Announcements for more information and ask Mr. Fish (fishm@masonohioschools.com) if you have any questions.

GAME ON!

There is a strong link between acts of kindness and the joy of giving thanks. Encourage your children to perform acts of kindness and share their experiences with you. To get started, here’s a resource from Random Acts of Kindness that offers a variety of ideas: Kindness Ideas. Teaching our children the value of both giving and receiving gratitude is a beautiful gift in itself.

If you would like more information on mental health and wellness or would like to get connected to mental health resources, check out the Resources for Mason Families page and reach out to Dawn McCorkle or your child’s school counselor.

Mason City Schools continues to partner with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center to improve access to care within the community. All of our schools are serviced by therapists from CCHMC. School based mental health services offer individual therapy services to students in the school setting. This optional and confidential service is offered in addition to existing services provided by school counselors and psychologists. Independently licensed clinicians deliver these services in the school setting and are trained to work with various challenges facing youth, such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, major life changes, and difficulty with social relationships. School-based therapists are available to provide care through sessions held during the school day. 

Please see the additional attached Children Hospital information.Here,

If you would like more information about mental health and wellness or would like to connect your child with a Cincinnati Children’s Hospital therapist, please reach out to your child’s school counselor or Prevention and Wellness Designer. 

The 2024 Mason Schools Foundation Reading Challenge Needs Volunteers-

 The MSF is a non-profit organization that funds innovative & educational programs that help take ALL Mason students Above & Beyond. Each of the last eleven years, MSF has invested over $100,000 in grants across the district for a total of over $1 million.

The Reading Challenge is the MSF’s main fundraiser that supports all Mason City Schools Students, and volunteers are needed to help at MECC, ME, and MI the week of January 22nd.

If you can help, please consider signing up-

To sign up, please use the following Sign-Up Genius Links:

MECC Reading Challenge

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044DACAD22A4FA7-46604016-mecc

ME Reading Challenge

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044DACAD22A4FA7-46604153-mereading

MI Reading Challenge

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044DACAD22A4FA7-46604201-mireading

 Thank you!

• THIS COMING WEDNESDAY - JOIN US FOR OUR PK-12 TEACHING & LEARNING NIGHT
  Wednesday, January 24, 2024 | 6-8PM | Mason High School Large Commons
  Register | Learn about the Sessions   

Join us for our annual Mason City Schools PK-12 Teaching & Learning Night on January 24th, 2024 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM in the Mason High School Large Commons & Auditorium to learn about new student learning opportunities coming in 24-25, curriculum updates and resources, and much more! Join us for a single session, or multiple sessions. Please register by January 22 so we can ensure adequate space and meet accommodation needs.

MCS Releases Tentative 2024-2025 Key Dates

The Board of Education collaborates closely with the Mason Education Association (the teachers' union) to finalize academic calendars, typically spanning three years. Although the full 24-25 Academic Calendar has not yet been developed and approved, we recognize that many families are trying to plan vacations and holidays. We hope these tentative dates offer a foundation for those plans. An official 24-25 academic calendar will be drafted and adopted during negotiations this spring.

Start of School: The first week of school is projected to begin no earlier than August 12, 2024. This week would likely include Comet Family Welcome Days (orientations.)

Winter Break: December 23, 2024 through January 3, 2025. Spring Break: March 24-28, 2025 

AND A CHILD SHALL LEAD: an MHS Theater Production
January 19,20, 26, 27, 28 | 7:00 PM |Mason High School Studio Theater | Purchase tickets

This is the heroic and true story of children coming of age in Terezin, the "Jewish city" established by the Nazis near Prague as a way station before the death camps. In the face of unspeakable horror, these children use their determination and creativity to build lives filled with hope and beauty -- playing, studying, making art, and writing an underground newspaper -- all at the peril of being executed. Their actual poems and stories are woven into a fast-paced drama, evoking the universality of children caught in the insanity of war. This play is rated PG-13 for adult situations, themes, and mild adult language. It is most suitable for audience members middle school aged and up.

Show time is 7 pm each day with an additional matinee on Saturday, January 20 @ 2pm.

General Admission Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students, children. Reserved patron seats are also available for $15.  Mason Golden Comet Card holders may reserve free tickets by calling the Public Information Office at 513-398-0474 option 7.   All senior citizens are invited to attend the final dress rehearsal on January 19 at 7 pm free of charge.

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY TALENT SHOW
January 26 |5-7:00 PM | Mason High School Auditorium 

Tickets, priced at $8.00, will be available for purchase from Monday, January 22nd, through Friday, January 26th, during lunch on the stage in the Large Commons, and can also be acquired at the door for $10.00 through cash, check, or PayPal.

COFFEE WITH DR. COOPER - Comet Coffee Talks
Monday, January 29 | 8-9:30AM |KIDD COFFEE & WINE
Comet Coffee Talks are open opportunities for the community to connect with the superintendent and other district leaders while supporting a local business. Attendees will hear updates that are taking place throughout the district, and have an opportunity to ask questions, give feedback and engage in productive conversation about the future of our school district.

BREWS WITH THE SUP’T
Monday, January 29 |5:30-7:00PM |Sonder Brewing
Brews with the Sup’t are open opportunities for the community to connect with the superintendent and other district leaders while supporting a local business. Attendees will hear updates that are taking place throughout the district, and have an opportunity to ask questions, give feedback and engage in productive conversation about the future of our school district.

• MMS 2023-24 Handbook

• Student Meal Accounts

• SafeSchools & Bias-Based Incident Reports Tipline

• MMS Athletics Website

• MMS Student Announcements

• Mason Connects Me

• School Menus