Middle School Parent's Association



What's Happening
February 24, 2020



Letter from the Presidents


Dear Parents,

Welcome back, we hope you all had a nice February break!

The MSPA has a couple of big events coming out and we need a few extra hands:

1. Basketball Bonanza Raffle, March 2nd - Typically this is coordinated by the fifth grade to help fund the trip to Boston's Freedom Trail in the Spring.  This raffle could be a raffle for many items, a single item or a 50/50.  The sooner tickets begin to be sold (sent home in backpacks) the more money that can be raised.  The Basketball Bonanza will be held on March 2nd.  If you are a fifth grade parent who is interested in taking on this easy fundraiser (or if we have no 5th grade parents interested this could be a fundraiser for any of the other grades) please contact Diane Woods ASAP.

2.  The Basketball Bonanza Concessions table is traditionally run by 6th grade parents to help raise money for Chewonki.  Thank you Amy Lombardo and Eileen Hetrick for being our leads.  There is still time to sign up to make donations to the concessions table.  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508044eaead2ca13-basketball

3.  Calling all 6th grade parents, we would love to have one or two parents take on the Chewonki T-Shirt orders.  This is an easy process, mostly tracking names and order to Port Printing.  If you are interested in taking on this Chewonki tradition please contact Emily Garvin who has done the t-shirt orders for the past couple years since her child was in 6th grade.  

4.  8th Grade Celebration needs a chair or co-chairs.  It's that time of year again, and we sadly and proudly get ready to send our 8th graders on to High School.  To make this a great celebration we are asking for a parent or 2 or 3 or 4 to lead the charge.  If you would like to be the leader(s) please contact Jennifer Pollick and Heather Reeves ASAP.

Sincerely,
Heather Reeves and Jennifer Pollick
Co-Presidents

What's Happening this month:
** MSPA Sponsored Events and Programs

February

28-29 - So ME Honors Festival (7th and 8th grade)
26 - Ultimate Frisbee Parent's Meeting
27 - Officer Galvan's Mexican Fiesta

March

2 - 5:00-8:30pm, Basketball Bonanza**
4 - Early Release Day
7 - 6th Grade Honors Festival
10 - 5/6th grade Math Meet
10 - MSPA Monthly Meeting 8:30am**
12 - Hannaford Gift Card deadline**

18 - Half Day, Conferences
27 - Jazz Cabaret 6:30-9pm



To view the year in advance the MSPA 2019-2020 Calendar can be found here.  It is regularly updated, so save the link.


What's on the Menu this Week?

Monday: 
French Toast Sticks w/Sausage, Salad Bar, Fruit Bar, Milk Variety. Alternatives: Deli Bar, Assorted Bagels, Chicken Patty on a Bun, BBQ Rib Sandwich, Popcorn Chicken

Tuesday: Chicken or Vegetable LoMein, Salad Bar, Fruit Bar, Milk Variety. Alternatives: Deli Bar, Assorted Bagels, Soup Kelly's Choice, Spicy Chicken Patty on a Bun, Breaded Ravioli w/ Marinara, Buffalo Chicken Pasta

Wednesday: BBQ Chicken Dinner, Salad Bar, Fruit Bar, Milk Variety. Alternatives, Deli Bar, Assorted Bagels, Soup Kelly's Choice, Chicken Patty on a Bun, Corn Dogs, Steak and Cheese on a Hoagie

Thursday:  Officer Galvan's Fiesta Day, Salad Bar, Fruit Bar, Milk Variety. Alternatives: Deli Bar, Assorted Bagels, Soup Kelly's Choice, Spicy Chicken Patty on a Bun, Chicken Patty on a Bun, Pretzel Bites

Friday:  Homemade Cheesy Bread, Salad Bar, Fruit Bar, Milk Variety. Alternatives: Deli Bar, Kelly's Choice


Check out your child's class progress
With just three weeks into the February / March challenge, team Arbour / Newton continue to come out strong taking the top spot with $34.00. Kerr who took almost every challenge last year has teamed up with Noreus this year and are getting into the game with a strong hold in 2nd with $26.65. Doane / Geikie continue to make a solid contribution and threaten the top in third with $23.40. 

Remember the CLYNK for Schools Challenge will run through March 20, 2020. Pond Cove is currently in 8th place while CEMS is in 21st place. Please remember to collect, bag and drop off your CLYNK bags at your local Hannaford CLYNK location during this time. There is a $.50 match for every dollar we raise during this time!

Thank you for your commitment to CLYNK! 

Sheri Bragg

Hannaford Grocery Card Fundraiser Feb Update Participants using their Hannaford pre-paid gift cards raised $157.50 in January for the schools - we receive 5% back from our bulk orders each month.  The next deadline is March 12th!image.png
Drop off a check with your filled out form to the MS or Pond Cove front office and you will receive a Hannaford grocery card for the full amount of your check.   Forms can also be found in the lobbies of Pond Cove and the middle school.   You choose which grade your 5% gets allocated to - or you may choose teacher grants.   Funds raised help the grade you choose pay for outdoor programming and the Chewonki trip they will in the 6th grade. 
For questions please email Laura Allen at allenlaura207@gmail.com.   
See here how your child's Chewonki fundraising is going.  

Download the ALL-NEW Box Tops app and just scan your grocery receipt.

Get the app at: https://www.boxtops4education.com
We will still be collecting paper Box Tops and dimes all year! Next Collection Date, February 15.

Basketball Bonanza.

All Middle School Girls and Boys basketball players VS. the Middle School teachers and staff. Event is on 3/2 with doors opening at 5:30pm, National Anthem at 6pm, first game (Girls 8th grade team vs. Female teachers and staff) tips off at 6:05pm, and the second game (Boys 8th grade team vs. the Male teachers and staff) tips off at 7pm. All done by 8pm. There will be give-aways, and half time competitions for those in the stands! Benefits the 8th grade graduation celebration.

CEMS and CESD PROGRAMS
ULTIMATE FRISBEE

Ultimate Frisbee is back at Cape Elizabeth Middle School!   Parent's meeting is Wednesday, February 26, at 7pm in the Community Center Community room (second floor).  Those who played last year will receive registration and medical forms via email in the next few days.  If your daughter or son (5th through 8th grade) is interested in playing Ultimate, please email Peter Kelley at peter@maineultimate.org; we'll add you to our mailing list and send you the necessary forms. 

CEMS BAND CAMP

CEMS Band Camp:  August 17-21
The CEMS Band Camp is a day camp for current middle school band students who are rising 6th, 7th, 8th, or 9th graders. The camp will run from 8:00am- 12:000pm Monday through Friday and concludes with a casual band room performance for family and friends at 11:30pm on Friday. The daily schedule includes full band rehearsals, sectional rehearsals, small ensembles, as well as supervised snack and recreation time. The band camp staff includes CEMS band director Caitlin Ramsey and CEHS band director Mike Scarpone. This program will be run through CE community services. 

Cape Band Buddies:
New for the summer of 2020, we will be starting the Cape Elizabeth Band Buddies! Have your student be a part of this exciting program! This summer opportunity is designed to have younger musicians work with designated high school "Band Buddies" on Mondays throughout the summer. The cost is free! It only requires you to sign up in advance with Mr. Scarpone. Band Buddy sessions are 30 minutes, once a week. This is for all instrumental students at CEMS including incoming Freshman.  Band Buddies sign ups will be emailed out in the late spring.

For additional Band Camp Options please contact Caitlyn Ramsey, CEMS Band Director

CEMS 4th Festival of Curiosity
Friday, June 5, 2020

Science, Technology, Learning & More!

Now that you have marked your calendar for the Festival, we thought we'd continue to give you an inside peek at some of the fabulous organizations and professionals who will come to our event:
  • The Whalemobile – a 43-foot inflatable humpback kids can explore from the inside out!
  • Top Secret Science & Math – hands-on science experiments for students to investigate and discover
  • Curious Creatures – interactive live animal program on biodiversity. (Thank you IDEXX for being our sponsor!)
  • Museum of Science (Boston) Traveling Programs -– three curriculum-based presentations on Heat Flow, States of Matter, and The Sound of Silence
  • Motivational Speaker Pam Garramone on the Science of Happiness and Habits to Cultivate
  • Volunteers from our STEM-enriched community will teach students about their professions and share in-depth knowledge on various topics, from cardiologists to biologists to money managers to athletes, and even attorneys and farmers. 
  • Local businesses and organizations are participating too.
  • Divergent Games: a workshop on puzzles and game strategy
  • Fresnel Theater:  a workshop on leadership & communication
  • Engineers Without Borders: a workshop on their work around the world
  • Sail Maine: a workshop on blending sailing with physics and math
  • Athleta: a workshop on the power of the body
  • Plus, presentation by CELT, Fort Williams, Cape Police Dept, Cape Fire & Rescue Dept, Fort Williams Foundation, Thomas Memorial Library, and so much more!
We are still looking for experts, techies, tinkerers, hobbyists, geeks, and artists to lead workshops to make this year's Festival fantastic! If you have an idea, we would love to hear from you. We're a friendly group. We won't bite if you raise your hand. 

Please let us know if you're our missing talent at festivalofcuriostiy@gmail.com 

And if you can't geek out. Please visit our Facebook page and consider making a direct donation today! This is 100% based on donations and sponsors. 

Substitute Teachers Needed

If you are interested in learning more you can check the link below or contact any of our district principals.  The Middle School is in particular need for substitute teachers, with only a few on sight staff members on any given day to cover absent teachers, it is imperative that the district build it's base of subs.  This is not a volunteer position, you get paid!

Please apply online at 
https://www.cape.k12.me.us/o/cesd/page/job-openings--105
Community Events and Programs
Travel Lacrosse Registration

Grades 3/4 and 5/6 Travel Lacrosse registration Deadline is February 28th.  Call CECS to Register  799-2868

2020 Girls Spring Travel Lacrosse Registration is OPEN through Feb 28th

Registration is OPEN for this up coming spring season.

Please contact Community Services to register your 3rd-6th grade daughters.

Mandatory Meeting will be held on Wednesday March 4th.

Indoor practices start 3/10-4/2
Tuesday/Thursday nights.
3/4 5:30pm-6:30pm
5/6 6:30pm-7:30pm

Outdoor practice will begin as soon as weather permits
3/4 will practice on Tuesday/Thursday 5:30-7pm
5/6 will practice on Monday/Wednesday 5:30-7pm

Games are held on Saturdays starting May 3rd.

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Our mailing address is:
14 Scott Dyer Road, Cape Elizabeth, ME  04107