MPSConnect is a convenient communications tool for you to connect with me. Every message comes to my desktop. Either I or another MPS staff member will do all we can to reply to your message within the next work day.
Michael E. Sharrow, Superintendent
MPSConnect Link: https://www.midlandps.org/content2/706
April 18, 2022 Volume 9 - Edition 35
Midland PS District Vision Statement
Lead with respect, trust and courage.
Ensure an equitable, collaborative and inclusive culture.
Enable all to achieve success.
Did you hear the news? Midland has been named a
2022 Best Community for Music Education!
Midland Public Schools has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Now in its 23rd year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.
To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Midland Public Schools answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.
The Midland Public Schools' Music Program is a great source of pride for our District, and we are honored that Midland will now be recognized as one of the 2022 Best Communities for Music Education. Our talented student musicians and educators earn remarkable honors and awards each year. Their performances, whether on a football field, in an auditorium, in a school gym, at Dow Gardens, or wherever they may be performing, bring great joy and admiration to their audiences. The hundreds of MPS students who take part in the District's music programs each year benefit from our high-quality music educators and programs. This prestigious recognition will provide opportunities for the District to showcase our music programs to future Midland students and audiences. Thank you, NAMM, for this great honor!"
Congratulations, MPS Music Department!
Congratulations, 2022 Midland PS Saginaw Valley SVL Scholar Athletes!
The Saginaw Valley League Athletes are presented annually to one female and one male student athlete from each of the SVL member high schools. The Scholar Athlete award was established to recognize and honor student excellence in athletics, academics and community service.
HH Dow High
Lauren Burgard plans to pursue an undergraduate degree majoring in mechanical engineering with a minor in biomedical engineering
Jack Wolohan plans to study engineering at the University of Michigan
Midland High School
Kiley Haring plans to attend SVSU and pursue a career in nursing
Daniel Berg plans to pursue a pre-med undergraduate degree
Congratulations to these very deserving MPS Scholar Athletes!
Lauren Burgard
Kiley Haring
Jack Wolohan
Daniel Berg
Congratulations 2022 Midland PS Saginaw Valley Teachers of the Year!
The Saginaw Valley League established an award to recognize excellence in teaching. This award is presented annually to one teacher from each of the Saginaw Valley member high schools. To be eligible for this prestigious honor, a teacher must be nominated by letters of support in the areas of creative teaching, involvement in our community, involvement in our school's activities, and enthusiasm and dedication.
Brent Chambers -- HH Dow High's 2022 SVL Teacher of the Year
Mr. Chambers began his MPS career in 1998 and teaches English and World History
Brian Edelbrock -- Midland High's 2022 SVL Teacher of the Year
Mr. Edelbrock began his MPS career in 1995 and teaches Biology & Chemistry
Congratulations to these very deserving MPS Educators!
Brent Chambers
Brian Edelbrock
April Shining Stars
Congratulations to
Cheri Knuth, Paraprofessional at Central Park Elementary
Greydon Koellmann, Long-Term Sub at the Juvenile Care Center (JCC)
Wendy Thomas, MPS Educator at JCC
These MPS team members will be named MPS Shining Stars for April! They will be recognized at tonight's Board of Education Meeting. Thank you to these very deserving Shining Stars for making MPS a better place for students!
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We name MPS Shining Stars every month during the school year. If you know of an MPS team member who goes above and beyond to make MPS a better place for students, please consider nominating them for a Shining Star. Here is the link to the nomination form:
https://www.midlandps.org/Content2/shining-star-nomination-form
Greydon Koellmann
Cheri Knuth
YIKES!
THE GERSTACKER NOMINATION WINDOW CLOSES THIS FRIDAY!
NOW IS THE TIME to nominate an MPS educator for the 67th Annual Midland Public Schools' Gerstacker Awards for Excellence in Teaching. Two elementary educators and two secondary educators will receive this prestigious award at the opening meeting of the 2022-23 school year in August.
The 2022 Gerstacker Excellence in Teaching Award nomination window closes this Friday--April 22
Nominate a deserving MPS teacher TODAY!
For Gerstacker Award nomination information go to www.midlandps.org.
Here is the link for the 2022 nomination form: https://forms.gle/GHzCuoTFpKbY9AC67
Aspirations in Computing Awards
Recently, the National Center for Women in Information Technology (NCWIT) announced the Michigan winners for their annual Aspirations in Computing Award. Congratulations to these impressive young women for being among those recognized across the State of Michigan by this prestigious organization.
These Dow High Chargers earned recognition:
Winners: Simran Kalra, Amy Lee, Abigail Yoo
Rising Stars: T'Emimimo Oshin, Ella Roberson
Honorable Mention: Emily Ammerman, Kayla Manley
These Midland High Chemics earned recognition:
Winners: Adeline Doyle, Lauren McGuirk, Kiana Prany, Elliana Rinn, Allison Scheffer
Rising Stars: Keara Banks, Marrigan Cody, Grace Riddle, Morgan Rocha
Honorable Mention: Lauren Applegate, Rachel Mecca
The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing (AiC) honors 9th-12th grade students for their computing-related achievements and interests and encourages them to pursue their passions. Award recipients are selected based on their aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing, as demonstrated by their computing experience, computing-related activities, leadership experience, tenacity in the face of barriers to access, and plans for post-secondary education.
Simran Kalra
Amy Lee
Abigail Yoo
T'Emimimo
Oshin
Ella
Roberson
Emily Ammerman
Kayla Manley
Adeline Doyle
Lauren
McGuirk
Kiana
Prany
Elliana
Rinn
Allison
Scheffer
Keara
Banks
Marrigan
Cody
Grace Riddle
Morgan
Rocha
Lauren
Applegate
Rachel
Mecca
Billy VanSumeren
Coach Dick Blasy
HH Dow High 2022 Hockey Accolades Keep Coming -- Congrats, Billy VanSumeren!
Billy VanSumeren was named the 2022 recipient of the Mr. Hockey Award on April 10 by the Michigan High School Hockey Coaches Association. [Mr. Hockey is equivalent to the Heisman Trophy for Michigan high school hockey players.] Only one Mr. Hockey is awarded out of EVERY HS player in Michigan. Billy is a senior at HH Dow High and recorded 71 points in 28 games.
What a monumental season for Dow High hockey ...
Team earned their First State Championship in school history
Head Coach, Dick Blasy, named Coach of the Year in Division 3
Billy VanSumeren named 2022 Mr. Hockey
W O W !
Photos courtesy of www.mihshockeyhub.com
Adams 4th Graders Develop Vehicle Restraint Systems!
4th grade students at Adams Elementary wrapped up their Project Lead The Way (PLTW) STEM Collisions module recently. After learning all about collisions, their final project was to design a vehicle restraint system to protect a vehicle passenger—an egg! Using the engineering design process, students created vehicles that absorbed energy during a collision. To be successful, students were to drive their vehicles, with their egg passenger, down a ramp and crash into a wall without breaking the egg. For an extra challenge, 4th graders had a chance to use even bigger ramps in Mrs. Washabaugh's class. The Ultimate Egg Challenge used longer ramps and ended with a ladder and an eight-foot ramp. Three of 6 teams survived! Lauren Vanderbrook said, "The egg challenge was exhilarating and exciting at the same time. It taught me that it's important to have a safety restraint of some sort or to wear a helmet when you are in a vehicle. We need to protect our brains, especially during a collision!"
MPS ART SHOWS CONTINUE -- Don't miss the artistic works of our student artists on display!
MPS Middle School Art Show at the Midland Mall - April 20-April 26: Reception is Wednesday, April 20, 4:00-5:30
MPS High School Art Show at the Midland Mall - April 28-May 9: Reception is Thursday, April 28, 4:00-5:30
Midland High AP Art Show in the MHS Girls' Loft - May 5: Reception during 1st & 2nd lunch & after school, 4:00-5:30
Congressional Art Show at the MCFTA: May 6 through June 5
The Elementary Art Show wraps up today at the Midland Mall
Kudos to all of the elementary student artists for sharing their masterpieces with the Midland Community. These photos are beautiful art pieces from the Central Park Explorers.
Thank you to the elementary art educators for all their work in coordinating and making the stunning displays that were enjoyed by members of the community in the Mall!
MI Backpack Home (COVID) Test Program
This winter, MPS forwarded a letter to you from MDHHS regarding a MI Backpack Home Test Program. If your family signed up online for a Home Test, we apologize that you did not receive the test. The good news is the MI Backpack Program COVID tests arrived last week from MDHHS. Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing who signed up online to receive a home test. We have sent tests to each MPS school. MPS families and staff are welcome to go to their school's main office or to the Administration Center to pick up a test. Families are also welcome to call or email your school office staff and ask that a test be put in your child's backpack to take home. Again, we are sorry for the inconvenience and confusion associated with this program. We are just glad we have finally received the tests and interested families will now be able to have a COVID test for their home.
Dow High's Go Green Club Invites Families to an Earth Action Expo on Sunday, April 24
This FUN, FREE Earth Action Expo will take place outside at HH Dow High on April 24 from 12-4 pm and will include hands-on activities, science experiments, model wind turbines, exhibitors, food trucks, and lots more. For more information go to the MPS Student Flyer Board (https://sites.google.com/midlandps.org/studentflyers/) and click on the 'EarthActionExpo2022' flyer.
Please come and enjoy these MPS Spring Concerts performed by our talented middle and high school student musicians!
April 19 – Midland High Concert Bands at Central Auditorium – 8:00PM
April 20 – Dow High Concert Bands at Central Auditorium – 8:00PM
April 21 – Midland High Symphonic Band at Central Auditorium – 8:00PM
April 26 – Dow High Symphonic Band at Central Auditorium – 8:00PM
April 27 – Midland High Symphony Orchestra at Central Auditorium – 7:30PM
April 28 – Dow High Symphony Orchestra at Central Auditorium – 8:00PM
April 29 – Dow High Jazz & More at the Midland Country Club
April 29 – Midland High Jazz Chemistry
May 2 – Dow High Choir Concert at Central Auditorium – 6:00PM
May 3 – Midland High Choir Concert at Central Auditorium – 7:00PM
May 5 – Northeast Choir Concert at Central Auditorium – 7:00PM
May 9 – Jefferson Choir Concert at Central Auditorium – 6:00PM
May 10 – Jefferson 7th Grade Band at Central Auditorium – 7:00PM
May 10 – Jefferson 8th Grade Band at Central Auditorium – 7:45PM
May 11 – Northeast Orchestra Concert at Central Auditorium – 7:30PM
May 12 – Jefferson Orchestra Concert at Central Auditorium – 7:30PM
May 17 – Jefferson 6th Grade Band Concert at the Jefferson Gym – 7:30PM
May 18 – Northeast Band Concert at Central Auditorium – 7:30PM
May 21 – MSBOA Middle School Solo and Ensemble at Jefferson Middle School
Looking for FUN SUMMER CAMPS for your elementary, tween or teenage child(ren)???
Midland Public Schools has been receiving amazing summer school/program flyers from our community partners, as well as some from the Great Lakes Bay Region this winter. Here are just a few examples:
Elementary & Middle School age students:
Chippewa Nature Center
Dow Gardens
Greater Midland Community Center
Midland Center for the Arts
YMCA Camp Timbers
The ROCK Center for Youth Development
High School age students (From ConneCTEd https://forms.gle/ztKWcEKA3JotAhsE9 ):
Full tank - Automotive Camp: June 20-22
Farm to Table Experience, Ag/Culinary Camp: June 28-30
Square 1 Skilled Trades Camp: July 11-14 & July 18-21
Operation Innovation -Michigan Means Business: July 26-28
Scrub Life - Healthcare Camp: August 1-3
Bytes- Information Technology Camp: August 8-9
Find Your Future: August 8-9
The ROCK Center for Youth Development
A few other opportunities to check out on our Student flyer Board:
Pasta for a Purpose: April 26 from 5-8 pm -- Fundraiser for DHS Sports
Summer Reading Program at Grade A Dow Library
Power Up: It's a mother-daughter thing! May 18 from 5:30-8:30 pm
Check them out!
Check these and more great spring and summer opportunities out on our MPS Student Flyer Board! https://sites.google.com/midlandps.org/studentflyers/
NOMINATION WINDOW CLOSES IN FOUR DAYS, APRIL 22! YIKES!!!!!
The Gerstacker Nomination Window is NOW OPEN!
Now that Spring Break is behind us, it is a great time to nominate an MPS educator for the 67th Annual Midland Public Schools' Gerstacker Awards for Excellence in Teaching. Two elementary educators and two secondary educators will receive this prestigious award at the opening meeting of the 2022-23 school year in August.
Nominate a deserving MPS teacher today for a 2022 Gerstacker Excellence in Teaching Award before April 22 when the nomination window closes (in just 4 days).
For Gerstacker Award nomination information go to www.midlandps.org.
Here is the link for the 2022 nomination form: https://forms.gle/GHzCuoTFpKbY9AC67
Registration Opens 4/24/2022
Summer eLearning Opportunity
Once school has ended for the year, Midland Public Schools will again be offering the Summer eLearning Program. Through this program, online courses are available to high school students who wish to earn initial credit in select courses. If you are interested in Credit Recovery courses this year, please contact your building administration. While being onsite is not a requirement for daily work or quizzes, tests and exams must be monitored. This can be by appointment onsite or by appointment virtually. Appointments will be scheduled with the teacher on duty between the hours of 9:00 and 12:00 on Mondays - Thursdays, unless other arrangements are made. Students should expect to invest 45-60 hours to complete each course and may work on their course any place where they have an internet connection. Courses will begin on June 6, 2022, and must be completed by August 5, 2022. Students may only register for one course at a time. The cost for each course is $150 for Standard Edgenuity courses (EDG - Edgenuity on course list) and $235 for Edgenuity Instructional Services courses (EDGIS - Edgenuity Instructional Services on course list) for Midland Public Schools' students, and $175 or $250 for students outside of the MPS district. If you would like additional information or to register for a course, please visit www.midlandps.org/content/Summer%20Program.
Registration opens April 24, 2022.
Information regarding the Early Middle College has been posted on the MPS website. Click here to check it out!
https://www.midlandps.org/Content/mps-early-middle-college
MPS students with career goals that include college can now earn
60 college credits before they graduate
Midland Public Schools is excited to offer a new option for our high school students. MPS is launching an Early Middle College (MPS-EMC) program in the fall of 2022 for current 10th grade students. Starting with their 11th grade year, MPS Early College students will take some classes at Delta College or Davenport University to fulfill the general elective credits that are required for most Associate's/Bachelor's degrees. Students enrolled in the Early Middle College program will extend their high school years by one additional year, meaning they will have five years in high school. While this means an additional year of being an MPS student, students will spend 100% of their 5th year on the Delta or Davenport campus. In summary, this program will allow students to have half of their college expenses paid before transferring to a university for a Bachelor's degree. MPS Early Middle College students will be able to walk at commencement with their senior year class, however, they will not receive their diploma until after their fifth year is completed. Successful Early College students will graduate from high school with an Associate's degree or at least 60 transferable credits to the university of their choice. Applications for this exciting new Midland Public Schools' Early Middle College program are available from the student’s high school counseling department.
For those interested, here is some additional info about the Early Middle College program from the Michigan Dept. of Education:
An early middle college (EMC) is a Michigan Department of Education approved five-year program of study. EMCs work closely with postsecondary partners to provide students with an opportunity to earn a high school diploma and one or more of the following: 60 transferable college credits, an associate degree, a professional certification, the Michigan Early Middle College Association (MEMCA) technical certificate, participation in a registered apprenticeship.
A professional certification is any certificate or industry-recognized credential in which the pupil prepared for by taking course work provided by a Michigan public or private college or university.
https://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-81351_51178---,00.html
Schools of Choice applications for the 2022-2023 school year are now available on the MPS website. This includes applications for non-resident students and in-district transfer students.
Please contact Becci Longstreth at longstrethra@midlandps.org or 989-923-5024 with questions.
In this space each week, we include fun events and happenings around the District that MPS families and community members may like to attend. If you have any questions about these events, please call the school office. Phone numbers for all of the school offices are located on the District Details page of this Communique.
Here are some upcoming events in the District:
April 19 – Midland High Concert Bands at Central Auditorium – 8:00PM
April 20 – Dow High Concert Bands at Central Auditorium – 8:00PM
April 20-26 – MPS Middle School Art Show at the Midland Mall (Reception is Wednesday, April 20 from 4:00-5:30)
April 21 – Midland High Symphonic Band at Central Auditorium – 8:00PM
April 24 – Earth Expo at HH Dow High School from 12-4:00PM
April 26 – Dow High Symphonic Band at Central Auditorium – 8:00PM
April 27 – Midland High Symphony Orchestra at Central Auditorium – 7:30PM
April 28-May 9 – MPS High School Art Show at the Midland Mall (Reception is Thursday, April 28 from 4:00-5:30)
April 28 – Dow High Symphony Orchestra at Central Auditorium – 8:00PM
April 29 – Dow High Jazz & More at the Midland Country Club
April 29 – Midland High Jazz Chemistry
May 2 – Dow High Choir Concert at Central Auditorium – 6:00PM
May 3 – Midland High Choir Concert at Central Auditorium – 7:00PM
May 5 – Northeast Choir Concert at Central Auditorium – 7:00PM
May 5 – MHS AP Art Show in the MHS Girls' Loft (Reception during 1st & 2nd lunch and after school from 4:00-5:30)
May 6 through June 5 – Congressional Art Show at the Midland Center for the Arts
May 9 – Jefferson Choir Concert at Central Auditorium – 6:00PM
May 10 – Jefferson 7th Grade Band at Central Auditorium – 7:00PM
May 10 – Jefferson 8th Grade Band at Central Auditorium – 7:45PM
May 11 – Northeast Orchestra Concert at Central Auditorium – 7:30PM
May 12 – Jefferson Orchestra Concert at Central Auditorium – 7:30PM
May 14 – Prom at Great Hall "A Night in the Enchanted Forest" -- 7-10PM (tickets for purchase last week in April)
May 17 – Jefferson 6th Grade Band Concert at the Jefferson Gym – 7:30PM
May 18 – Northeast Band Concert at Central Auditorium – 7:30PM
May 21 – MSBOA Middle School Solo and Ensemble at Jefferson Middle School
May 25-27 – High School Final Exams
May 25 – High School Graduation at Dow Diamond (DHS at 4:00; MHS at 7:15)
May 26 – Rain Date for High School Graduation
May 27 – Last Day of School for Students for the 2021-22 School Year
"Music happens to be an art form that transcends language."
-- Herbie Hancock
