MMS Parents/Guardians,

It’s hard to believe we are already approaching the midpoint of the first marking period—time is flying by! We could not be more proud of how smoothly the first month of school has gone. Our Wildcats are showing up each day ready to learn, following the CATS Code, and bringing such a positive attitude to our school.

Fall sports are in full swing, and our teams are already celebrating some early success. It’s been great to see so many students out on the fields and courts representing MMS with pride, teamwork, and school spirit!

Big construction news—both stair towers are now open, and the difference in hallway flow has been tremendous! Finishing touches are wrapping up in our new large group instructional spaces, and we are very excited for classes to begin using them next week. On top of that, our hallway murals will be painted soon, bringing even more Wildcat pride and color to our building.

With the marking period halfway point quickly approaching, now is the perfect time to hop onto Sapphire and check your child’s grades. A quick review will help ensure all assignments are turned in and they’re on track for success.

Thank you for your continued support - it makes such a difference! We’re looking forward to an awesome rest of the fall and can’t wait to celebrate all the great things still to come.

Enjoy your weekend and be well!

Joel Yohn, MMS Principal

Upcoming Events

September 26 - MMS Fall Picture Day
October 3 - No School for Students
October 23 - End of Marking Period 1
October 24 - No School for Students
October 27 - School Closed
October 31 - MMS Report Cards Posted

MMS School Hours

Doors open at 8:10 am for students. The tardy bell rings at 8:30 am.
Dismissal begins at 3:20 pm for students.

Counseling Corner

It’s hard to believe we are half way through September! As the leaves begin to shift and we settle into fall, students are easing into routines, assignments are being submitted, and grades are starting to come in. It’s totally normal for kids to feel a bit anxious right now—new classes, new expectations, social rhythm. You’re not alone in this.

Here are some helpful ways to support your child at home, and ways for you to stay connected to what’s happening in school:

Check Grades & Classroom Activity

Please check your student’s grades regularly via Sapphire. It keeps you aware of their progress, upcoming assignments, and where help might be needed.

If you are not yet comfortable using Sapphire, here is a Parent User Guide to help you along the way- Sapphire Parent User Guide

Ask your child to show you their Google Classroom—look at what’s posted, upcoming assignments, and teacher feedback.

If you are not yet comfortable navigating Google Classroom, here is a user guide to help you along the way- Google Classroom Parent Guide

Encourage Self‑Advocacy & Communication

If there’s anything unclear in Sapphire or Google Classroom—assignments, missing work or grades, encourage your child to reach out to their teacher. Asking questions early helps avoid surprises later.
Encourage your child to speak up for themselves: to ask a teacher for clarification, or for help if a concept isn’t clear. That builds confidence and responsibility.

Fall‑Time Tips That Help

Establish or reinforce a consistent after‑school routine: snack, break, homework, then a check of agenda or digital tools before dinner.
Prioritize enough sleep. As the days get shorter and schedules feel heavier, rest can make all the difference in mood, focus, and energy.
Create small supportive routines: a weekly check‑in over something like “What was good this week at school?” or “What’s ahead that might be stressful or fun?” It helps kids share what they’re feeling and lets you notice things early.

We know this time of year can bring a mix of excitement and worry. Please reach out if you have concerns, questions, or want support in helping your child adjust. We’re here to help!

Warm regards,

Middle School Counseling Team

6th Grade- Emily Normand - Enormand@mbgsd.org

7th Grade- Katie George - Kgeorge@mbgsd.org

8th Grade- Kristie Socha - KSocha@mbgsd.org

Dodge Hunger Dodgeball Tournament

Dodge Hunger Dodgeball Tournament – October 16th

Mark your calendars! MMS will host the annual Dodge Hunger Dodgeball Tournament on Thursday, October 16th from 3:40–6:00 p.m. Students form teams of 8 and compete in a fun, high-energy event — all while raising money to support the MMS Marketplace, which provides weekend food packs and wellness essentials for students in need.

👉 Important: Students must be pre-registered to play in the event. Wristbands will be given to registered players at lunch on the day of the tournament. Students who are not registered must go home at the end of the school day but may return with a parent/guardian to cheer on their friends and watch the games.

📝 Registration forms are due by Wednesday, October 8th — no late forms will be accepted.
📌 For more information and to access the registration form, click here: Dodgeball Registration Form

Friday Night Football Games Reminders

Student Entrance & ID: All Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School students should enter through the new student entrance to the right of the main gate, nearest the restrooms. Please have your MASD student ID ready—or show your student profile on Sapphire from your phone—for quick admittance. K-8 students should enter through the regular gate with their supervising adult.
Bag Policy: Students are not permitted to bring backpacks and drawstring bags into the stadium. A small clutch or purse for personal items is permitted.
Younger Student Supervision: Elementary and middle school students must be with a supervising adult upon entry and at all times throughout the game.
Student Expectations: Students are encouraged to enjoy the game alongside their supervising adult. Congregating in groups at the gates, concession stand, restrooms, or grassy areas won’t be allowed. Staff and security will kindly redirect students back to their supervising adult if needed.
School Function Reminder: Athletic events are considered school functions, so the same behavioral expectations apply as during the school day. We hope all students will be there to cheer on our athletes, color guard, and marching band!

Thank you for helping us create a fun, spirited, and safe game-day atmosphere for our Wildcat community. We can’t wait to see you this Friday and all season long.

Go Wildcats!

Fall Picture Day - September 26, 2025

Fall picture day order from front — Fall picture day order form

Cell Phones & Electronic Devices

Please make sure to remind your children to check the Lost and Found!

Cell Phones & Electronic Devices

To help maintain a safe, respectful, and distraction-free environment—especially in areas with less supervision like restrooms—we are updating our cell phone procedures this year. All student cell phones must be turned off and kept inside backpacks throughout the entire school day. Phones should not be carried on the student’s person, visible, or used at any time during school hours.

If a student is found with a phone out, in use, visible, or simply on during the school day, it will be collected by school staff.

First offense: The phone will be housed in the main office and returned to the student at the end of the day.
Additional offenses: The phone will be housed in the main office and must be picked up by a parent or guardian. Additional disciplinary actions may also apply.

We understand you may have concerns regarding your ability to communicate important information to your child. If a student needs to make an emergency call during the day, they are welcome to use the phone in the main office. Likewise, if you need to get a message to your child, our office staff will make sure they receive it promptly.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we work together to create a safe and focused learning environment for all students.

MASD Mobile App

Please take a moment to download the MASD app!

Food Services Information

Food Service Department Information

Free and Reduced School Meals

mySchoolBucks

Health Room News

This month on Wildcat TV students learned what might be an appropriate reason to visit the nurse:

Bleeding from a cut - teachers have band aids for minor cuts in classrooms. If it requires further treatment please go to the nurse.

Difficulty breathing - if you are having trouble breathing, and you weren't just running in PE class, please come to the nurse.

Bee stings

Possible broken bone - if you fell or you were injured and having a lot of pain come to the nurse.

Nausea or vomiting

Fever

Head injury

Coughing

Medication - you must come to the nurse's office if you have any medication that you need to take during the school day.

If you come into school in the morning and have an upset stomach or headache, try eating breakfast or drinking some water if you haven’t tried those things already. Remember we have free breakfast for all students in the cafeteria every morning. If that doesn’t help, please come to the nurse.

Reminders:

7th Grade: Dental exams are due. Dental exams during your student's 6th or 7th grade years will be accepted.

6th Grade: Physical exams are due. Physical exams during your student's 5th or 6th grade years will be accepted. Please send dental or physical exams to school with your student or upload to Sapphire.

Medications in school: If your student needs to take any prescription medication during the school day, we will need a written physician order and the medication in the original bottle with the pharmacy label attached.

If your student has emergency medication for seizures, asthma or allergies, the required forms can be found here, along with the medication, along with the medication policy: https://mechanicsburgasdpa.sites.thrillshare.com/o/masd/page/health-forms

If you have any questions or concerns about your student’s health, please contact the health room at (717) 691-2454, or email Mrs. Kessler skessler@mbgsd.org, or Mrs. Kresge jkresge@mbgsd.org. Thank you for helping us to keep everyone safe and healthy.

New Attendance Notification System

We’re excited to announce that MMS has been selected to pilot the district’s new Attendance Automated Notification System!

What this means for you:

1. Report absences by email only. Please send notice of your student’s absence to mmsattendance@mbgsd.org. (Phone calls are not required.)

2. By 9:30 AM: If we have not received an email, or if you only call without emailing, your student’s absence will be marked unlawful and an automatic attendance message will be sent via text, email and phone call.

3. During the transition: If you receive an absence notification but your student is actually present, please call the office at (717) 691-2452 to clear it up.

We appreciate your patience as this new system is rolled out districtwide. Our goal is a smooth and seamless transition.