November 2023 News

Office Hours & Phone Numbers

MJH School Office   -7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.   -309-833-2074

Attendance Office    -7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.   -309-833-2074

Principal's E-Mail Addresses

Brock Bainter bainterb@mcusd185.org

Asst. Principal's E-Mail Address

Brett Burton burtonb@mcusd185.org

Thanksgiving Vacation - No School 

November 22, 23, 24, 2023

MJH Athletic Family Pass

2023-2024 Jr High School Athletic Pass will allow immediate family members admission to regular season Jr High Athletic Events only.  (IESA State Series Athletic Events are not included)  $75.00 per Family Pass (Immediate Family Only)  These passes are available in the Athletic Office at the Sr High School.

JH School Hours

8:10 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.

Middle School classes begin at 8:10 a.m.  Outside doors are unlocked at 7:35 a.m. Students arriving before 8:00 a.m. should go to the Commons.  Students are dismissed from the Commons at 8:00 a.m. to go to the restroom, and/or get a drink.  Students need to be in their seats for their first hour class at 8:10 a.m.  Buses arrive between 7:35 and 7:50 a.m.  

Breakfast is served  at 7:35 a.m.  Middle School students should budget their eating time daily, so they are not late for their first hour class at 8:10 a.m.

Attendance/Passes/Bus Pass

If your child is absent from school any portion of the day, the parent/guardian must notify the school by 9:00 am.  A parent may call the office anytime before 7:30 a.m. and leave a message on the voice mail.  After 7:30 a.m., please call and speak with office personnel.

If a child is absent and no notification from the parent has been made, a reasonable effort by the school to notify the parent will be made.  A parental note is required on the next date of attendance.  This is in addition to the contact made between the parent and school on the day of the absence.   The note should be submitted to the Attendance Office before the student begins classes.  The Attendance Office will issue a pass to re-enter class.

If your child has an appointment during the school day, please send a note to school with the student or call the office by 11:00 a.m.  The student should bring the note to the Middle School office and a pass to leave class will be written.  It is very difficult to ensure a timely response if you show up unannounced requesting a student.  For example: PE classes may be hard to find so you may be late for an appointment if we are not notified in advance.  

Bus drivers try to ensure safety for all students on the bus.  Limiting numbers of riders is necessary to ensure safety.  Therefore, if a student needs a bus pass, the student must have a signed note from the parent.  We cannot accept phone calls.  A written request with the parent/guardian signature is required for a bus pass.

Drop Off/Pick Up Locations & Procedures

Safety is our main concern in creating procedures for drop off and pick up.  With safety in mind, please follow procedures noted below:

Drop Off Procedures

  1. Busses will use the north parking lot entrance (closest to the high school).  All bus students will be dropped off in the West Lot near the main entrance.  
  2. All car riders will use the south entrance on the back side of the middle school.  Cars should follow the drive along the backside of the middle school and proceed around the curve to the front of the building.  Please stay to the right and go around the small circle drive in the east parking lot and pull up along the sidewalk to drop the students off.  Cars should then proceed back around the backside of the building and exit out the south lot.  Please stay to the right so traffic can move in both directions.
  3. Any students walking to school or riding with a sibling to MHS and then walking to MMS, should use the sidewalk between the two parking lots to enter the building.
 
Dismissal Procedures
 
Macomb Middle School will dismiss at 3:10. The north entrance will be for busses only after school from 3:10 to 3:30.  
      
  1.  Busses will use the north parking lot entrance (closest to the high school).  All bus students will be picked up at the West Lot near the main entrance.
  2.  All car riders will use the south entrance on the back side of the middle school.  Cars should follow the drive along the backside of the middle school and proceed around the curve to the front of the building.  Please stay to the right and go around the small circle drive in the east parking lot and pull up along the sidewalk to pick students up.  Cars should then proceed back around the backside of the building and exit out the south lot.  Please stay to the right so traffic can move in both directions. (Same procedures as the morning)
  3. Walkers will exit out the main doors and use the sidewalk between the east and west parking lot.

PARENT EXCUSED DAYS & MENTAL HEALTH DAYS

Students are allowed 9 parent excused days.  These days are to be used for family related reasons. 

Mental Health Days are used for actual social/emotional stress related absences.  When mental health days are reported, families should call the school to report this to the school.  A counselor will be advised so that support is given.

 

2023-2024 MCUSD 185 Visitor Notice 

When entering any Macomb CUSD #185 school building, all visitors will be required to leave a PHOTO IDENTIFICATION CARD during their visits. Staff will provide approved visitors with a badge before allowing them into the building.  When leaving the building, visitors will have their photo ID returned.   Sign-in sheets for visitors will no longer be used. 

Reminder

It is the student's responsibility to pick up items brought to school and dropped off at the office by parents/guardians.

Thank you for helping your student remember to bring all items to school.  For example:  homework, musical instruments, lunch money, etc. 

Asbestos

ASBESTOS CONTAINING BUILDING MATERIALS MANAGEMENT PLAN – This is to notify you that Macomb Community Unit School District #185 has submitted its Management Plan prepared pursuant to the requirements of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA, 40 CFR 763) for XXXXX School. Copies of the Management Plan are available in the Administrative Office of the School District and in the Administrative Office of the school building. These plans are available for your inspection during normal business hours of the office (Monday thru Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) and during other times by special arrangements. We request that appointments be made with us to review the plans. To make arrangements, please contact Mrs. Dana Isackson or Mr. Brock Bainter, Co-Principals at (309) 833-2074.

Telephone Calls

We encourage parents and children to communicate before he/she arrives at school. This provides a sense of security for students throughout the day.  They know what's going on with family.  Please limit phone messages to emergencies, if possible.  If a student needs to make a call during the school day, they should report to the MS Office.  A phone log is maintained.  The office phone is not for making plans with friends.  The main office closes at 4:00 pm. 

Change of Address

Please notify the office of any changes regarding: home address, employer information, home/work/cell phone numbers, emergency contacts.  Family access is available for you to view various students data such as attendance, grades, emergency contacts, food service summaries and other similar types of information. Please keep your account updated.   

Newspaper Club News

The Newspaper Club will meet on November 2nd from 3:15 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. and November 16th from 3:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. in Room 301.  Please contact Mrs. Royer (royerc@mcusd185.org) if you have any questions.

6th Grade News

 

  • Parent-Teacher Conferences went GREAT! We had the opportunity to visit with so many families and students!  

  • Math: We are currently working on Solving Real World Problems using fractions! 

  • Reading:Students have been crossing the FINISH LINE with their novels! We’ve begun presenting our Novel Projects! Soon we will be beginning a new novel unit on Myths. 

  • Language Arts/Writing: We are currently working on research projects involving Myths.  

  • Social Studies: We are studying the Agricultural Revolution! 

  • Science:We are beginning a new lesson on Osmosis and Diffusion. We also have a Genius Hour workday coming up!  

7th Grade News

We would like to thank all the families for attending parent-teacher conferences, we had a great turnout. Please contact the 7th grade team if you would like to schedule a conference if you were unable to during the scheduled times in October.  Also, the seventh graders are working on a second quarter goal which is to be prepared for all classes. Our second quarter incentive will be at the WIU Rec Center.  Please let the seventh-grade team know if you have any questions. 

8th Grade News

The MMS 8th graders have certainly been busy this quarter. We have practiced lots of community partnership. On October 6th, we worked with Macomb Park District in the parks preparing trails, cleaning up litter, and pulling weeds. The following Friday, we took a trip to WIU to learn about different countries' role in WWII as part of a cross-curricular day. Students thoroughly enjoyed learning from WWII reenactors and handling artifacts from that era. On October 20th, we enjoyed the first dance held in our new building. We are looking forward to a great second quarter! 


Middle School Agriculture News

We have had a busy start to the school year! Our leadership team was announced, Kollin Knupp, Macie Bartlow, Mayson Cromer, Bentley Karlinski, Olivia Terry, Brittyn Schelbe, Lily Schmalshof, Elanah McFadden, Myleigh Lovell, and Luke Chapla. These 10 work together to plan events for the whole chapter. They also had the opportunity to meet Illinois FFA State President Thaddeus Bergschneider and get Leadership tips from him.
Before parent teacher conferences the chapter packaged survival kits for the teachers! 
In the month of November, we are taking 27 8th grade members to Indianapolis, Indiana for the 96th National FFA Convention and Expo. Also attending Middle School FFA Conference and practicing in two different Career Development Events. We also will be helping our Alumni Chapter with the big auction in November 10! 


Middle School Play - November 10 & 11, 2023

Macomb Middle School is excited to present Trial of the Wicked Witch in Fellheimer Auditorium on November 10th at 7pm and 11th at 2pm and 7pm. Listen to convincing testimony from the Gingerbread Man and Rapunzel, just to name a few—then you decide whether the Wicked Witch is guilty or innocent! Tickets are $7 at the door, but MMS students are free with their ID.

Choir News

♫ Macomb Middle School Choral Department ♫

♫♪♫ NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER ♫♪♫

♫ ILMEA District IV Choir Festival

Congratulations to the following 6th, 7th and 8th graders who have been selected for the Illinois Music Educator’s District IV Elementary and Junior High Music Festival:

Elementary Choir: Logan Carrigan, Alexander Daniel, Yuki Deng, Lillian Diehl, Reese Foulk, Mykel Glaue, Aramina Gottwald, Deena Mangalaraj, Laura Maymi-Neiblas, Kendra Nateras, Caitlyn Potts, Jakobi Powell-Nichols, Keyshawn Sanders, Vera Schmidt, Riley Seggelke, Nora Severs, Noah Sistko, Becklee Steele

Junior High Choir: Julia Blome, Lucy Buchanan, Olivia Hawkins, Alexander Kluesner, Elisha McGruder, Ada Mealiff, Vida Schmidt, Gwen Severs, Anna Szabo, Vianca Venugopalan

They will participate in the festival on the campus of WIU on Saturday, November 4th and will perform in a concert that afternoon. Congratulations!

♫ Annual Poinsettia Fundraiser Sale

Thank you to those who have sold poinsettia plants for our Annual Choir Booster Fundraiser. Poinsettia pick up will be on Tuesday, Nov. 30 from 2-5pm on the Fellheimer Auditorium Stage.

♫ Macomb Choir Boosters

Please become a member of the Macomb Choir Boosters. (Membership forms can be found: http://macombchoirs.org/boosters) Membership dues can be mailed to Macomb Choir Boosters, P.O. Box 117, Macomb, IL, 61455. Levels of membership include “Soloist”-$25, “Barbershop Quartet”-$26-$49, “Vocal Ensemble”-$50-$99, “Chamber Choir”-$100-$249 and “Choral Society”-$250-up.

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♫ Upcoming Events: ♫

Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023 ILMEA District 4 Festival WIU Campus, 8:00 – 3:30pm Select 6th-8th grade students.

Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 Poinsettia distribution Fellheimer Auditorium 2:00-5:00pm Any family that had poinsettia sales.

Monday, Dec. 4, 2023 Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grade Winter Choral Concert Fellheimer Auditorium 7:00pm. Required of 6th, 7th and 8th grade.

Monday, Feb.12, 2024 Macomb Choirs Pops Concert Fellheimer Auditorium 5:30-8:00pm Required of 6th, 7th and 8th grade.

Saturday, Feb.24, 2024 Middle School Solo/Ensemble Contest Macomb Middle School All day. Any participating 6th-8th grade student.

Friday, March 22, 2024 WIU Honor Choir WIU Campus 9:00am-4:00pm. Select 7th-8th grade students.

Friday, April 26,2024 IESA Organization Contest Rushville, TBA Required of 6th, 7th and 8th grade.

Wednesday,May 8, 2024 Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grade Spring Choral Concert Fellheimer Auditorium 7:00pm. Required of 6th, 7th and 8th grade.

For event information and a calendar of events, please visit: www.macombchoirs.org