Mannheim Middle School

Where EVERYONE Is Valued…and Math Matters!

http://www.mann-ms.eu.dodea.edu

Newsletter Vol. 10

From The Principal’s Desk

Shelia R. Smith

“Thank you for a great school year”

Parents, I know some of you are PCSing and others are deploying or will deploy this summer. I wish for you the very best and you will be in my thoughts.

Thanks for a great school year. Terra Nova scores are back and you should be receiving them in the mail. Last quarter report cards will be mailed the week of June 15^th.

Next year will have its challenges as we decrease in enrollment. We will continue to offer the CORE academics first and fill in with Encores. It is a possibility that some Encores will not be offered to all grade levels. This will all depend on staffing. We are committed to providing your child with the best education.

Leaving us this year will be Mr. L D, 7^th grade Science; Mrs. M B, Video and SPED; Mrs. C J, 6^th grade Reading; and Mrs. A A, 6^th grade Language Arts. Registration numbers will be critical in the returning of these positions. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

Over the summer it is important to keep young minds stimulated by reading, journaling, working math problems, multiplication fact drills, etc.

I do wish you all a wonderful, healthy and fun summer. I look forward to seeing you in August. Take care and thanks for all of your support this year!

SPECIAL KUDOS TO OUR PTSA THIS YEAR!! THANKS FOR GETTING US OFF THE GROUND AND RUNNING AGAIN!!!!

School Improvement Goals:

To improve reading comprehension across the curriculum

To improve math skills across the curriculum

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Do you like working with kids?  MMS needs substitutes. If you are interested, please contact the Main Office at 0621-720-050 or DSN 380-9181

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Important Dates to Remember:

Thursday, June 4, 2009 ------------- DARE Graduation (8^th Grade Students)

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 --------- 7^th & 8^th Grade Awards Ceremony

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 --------- Field Day

Thursday, June 11, 2009 ----------- 6^th Grade Awards Ceremony

Thursday, June 11, 2009 ----------- End of 4^th Quarter (½ Day for Students)

Monday, August 31, 2009 -----------Instruction Resumes

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IMPORTANT MMS TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Main Office: 0621-720-050 CSC Office: 0621-720-0523

380-9181(DSN) Counselor: 0621-720-0513

Fax: 0621-720-0555 Nurse: 0621-720-0524

Attendance: 0621-720-050 Registration: 0621-720-0515

Aafes Cafeteria: 0621-723-515 School Bus Office: 0621-718-809-324/513

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“The Good, the Bad and the Do-Over”

The end of the school year is almost here and with it comes the final writing assignment for Mrs. A’s 6^th grade Language Arts classes.  This essay, “The Good, the Bad and the Do-Over” will allow students to reflect on their 6^th grade experiences and all they have accomplished.  It has been a very productive year, with the students gaining experience in multiple styles of writing, while honing their grammar and public speaking skills.

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NOTES FROM THE NURSE

B K, RNc, BSN

MEDICINE AT SCHOOL~ get ready for next year.

If you child has medication at school he will receive them their last day here (6/11/09). If you want to pick it up yourself please contact me.

Of course, it is best that students not take medicine during school hours. However, when it is necessary for a student to take medication at school, a form must be filled out from your physician or provider. The medicine must be in a pharmacy-labeled container with the student’s name, the name of the medication, and the scheduled dose or doses. Each student must also bring a parent’s written permission to take the medication, and he or she must leave the medication with the school nurse for safekeeping. This includes Tylenol, cough drops, throat lozenges, or other over the counter medications. If you need a form for your child’s medication, you can get one at the Health Office.

*All medication forms are only good for one year

so you must get a new one for 2009-2010 *.

IMMUNIZATION UPDATE

If your child has turned 11 and has not gotten the MCV4,

DTAP, or Hep A, they will need this done

before they start at Mannheim Middle School.

We have also been informed that the CDC (Center for Disease Control)

is looking at requiring a 2^nd Varicella immunization for next year.

It is always best to be protected and get this vaccine before fall.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact the health office.

From the Nurse’s Office

This is a great review

Information on the swine flu is abundant right now on the Internet and news. I would like to share with you some of the information that is very important for us in the school.

First of all, getting the virus on your hands and then placing your hands into your mouth, nose or eyes spreads the influenza virus. Rubbing your eyes, picking your nose, or putting objects into your mouth are the most common ways to acquire the virus. Please encourage your children to keep their hands and fingers away from these areas if possible.

I would like to reinforce the current respiratory precautions during any influenza season.

• Stay home if you or your child is sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash your hands with soap and water or waterless hand cleanser regularly and before eating.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth at all times.
• If you have not had the flu vaccine, get it now. The swine flu is a derivative of the Influenza A virus and there is some evidence that this year’s flu shot may be protective. It takes two weeks for the flu shot to be effective.
• Control your exposure to crowds if possible. Surgical or respiratory masks are NOT needed at this time.
• Seek medical care if you are ill. Call the hospital if your have a fever of 103 or higher or have breathing difficulty.

(Written by P R, RN)

If you have questions or concerns, please call the nurse at Mannheim Middle School.

B K, RNC, BSN

Special Education Services

Submitted by V S

Each public school child who receives special education and related services must have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Each IEP must be designed for one student and must be a truly individualized document. The IEP creates an opportunity for teachers, parents, school administrators, related services personnel, and students (when appropriate) to work together to improve educational results for children with disabilities. The IEP is the cornerstone of a quality education for each child with a disability.

To create an effective IEP, parents, teachers, other school staff--and often the student--must come together to look closely at the student's unique needs. These individuals pool knowledge, experience and commitment to design an educational program that will help the student be involved in, and progress in, the general curriculum. The IEP guides the delivery of special education supports and services for the student with a disability. Without a doubt, writing--and implementing--an effective IEP requires teamwork.

This guide explains the IEP process, which we consider to be one of the most critical elements to ensure effective teaching, learning, and better results for all children with disabilities. The guide is designed to help teachers, parents and anyone involved in the education of a child with a disability-develop and carry out an IEP. The information in this guide is based on what is required by our nation's special education law--the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA.

The IDEA requires certain information to be included in each child's IEP. It is useful to know, however, that states and local school systems often include additional information in IEPs in order to document that they have met certain aspects of federal or state law. The flexibility that states and school systems have to design their own IEP forms is one reason why IEP forms may look different from school system to school system or state to state. Yet each IEP is critical in the education of a child with a disability.

The Basic Special Education Process Under IDEA

The writing of each student's IEP takes place within the larger picture of the special education process under IDEA. Before taking a detailed look at the IEP, it may be helpful to look briefly at how a student is identified as having a disability and needing special education and related services and, thus, an IEP.

Step 1. Child is identified as possibly needing special education and related services.

Step 2. Child is evaluated.

Step 3. Eligibility is decided.

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Step 4. Child is found eligible for services.

Step 5. IEP meeting is scheduled.

The school system schedules and conducts the IEP meeting. School staff must:

• Contact the participants, including the parents;
• Notify parents early enough to make sure they have an opportunity to attend;
• Schedule the meeting at a time and place agreeable to parents and the school;
• Tell the parents the purpose, time, and location of the meeting;
• Tell the parents who will be attending; and
• Tell the parents that they may invite people to the meeting who have knowledge or special expertise about the child.

Step 6. IEP meeting is held and the IEP is written.

The IEP team gathers to talk about the child's needs and write the student's IEP. Parents and the student (when appropriate) are part of the team. If a different group decides the child’s placement, the parents must be part of that group as well.

Before the school system may provide special education and related services to the child for the first time, the parents must give consent. The child begins to receive services as soon as possible after the meeting.

If the parents do not agree with the IEP and placement, they may discuss their concerns with other members of the IEP team and try to work out an agreement. If they still disagree, parents can ask for mediation, or the school may offer mediation. Parents may file a complaint with the state education agency and may request a due process hearing, at which time mediation must be available.

Step 7. Services are provided.

Step 8. Progress is measured and reported to parents.

Step 9. IEP is reviewed.

Step 10. Child is reevaluated.

At least every three years the child must be re-evaluated.