Dear Mullica Families,
Welcome to the 2023-24 school year at Mullica Township Middle School. The first day of school is September 7, 2023. There are several big changes for middle school students this year. First, the weekly and daily schedules have been overhauled to provide a more consistent student schedule. This school year, the middle school will operate with a four-day schedule rotation. This change will allow all students to have an equal number of meeting times for Physical Education, Health, and Related Arts. Another change will be the addition of Coyote Academic Period (CAP) to students’ schedules. This class replaces SIP and has specific expectations outlined in the student handbook. Students will also end each day with Reading Achievement Period (RAP). RAP will bring students back to their homeroom for 13 minutes dedicated to silent independent reading. Further, the district has aligned the grading scale to match Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District. This places us on a “90 to 100 = A” grade scale.
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) are an integral part of our school community. This year, our PBIS theme is Follow the Coyote Calling. Each month a trait of the calling will be highlighted and celebrated. We invite all students to join in the celebration and show their Coyote spirit by wearing Mullica Spirit Wear, or green and white clothing during the first week of school. Please look for additional information during the first week of school on how you can use PBIS Rewards to track your child’s PBIS Points and communicate with teachers.
The safety and security of our school community are a priority for the Mullica Township School District. Two School Resource Officers (SROs) maintain the security of our building and grounds. As mandated, New Jersey Schools practice for emergency situations by conducting a Fire Drill and a School Safety Drill every month. Our staff will ensure that students are prepared in the case of an emergency. At the conclusion of each drill, students and staff will hear an announcement that the drill has ended and families will be notified of the drill.
Our commitment to our students’ social-emotional well-being continues to be a priority. We are proud to announce that our district has been selected to participate in the DREAMS (Developing Resiliency with Engaging Approaches to Maximize Success) Program through the New Jersey Departments of Education and Children and Families. This program provides educators with resources and training to promote healthy and healing school environments. Additionally, the district has continued its partnerships with AtlantiCare and the Youth Advocacy Program. These programs have brought Ms. Emily Chau and Heather Costello into the Mullica School community. In partnership with our school counselor, Mr. Bill Maher, they are here to support our school community with the social-emotional challenges students face.
In preparation for the school year, please update your child’s information in the OnCourse Parent Portal. This will ensure that you will be able to access your child’s schedule(once it is available) and monitor their grades during the school year. Taking the time to review the Middle School Student Handbook with your child will ensure that they are prepared to meet the expectations at school. It is especially important to review the cellphone and dress code sections of the student handbook. Finally, all students will continue to be provided with a Chromebook to be used at school and at home. Students are responsible for ensuring their device remains damage-free, with the exception of normal wear and tear. The district offers optional Chromebook Insurance to parents for $30 per school year to cover some of the costs that may be incurred if a student accidentally damages their Chromebook. More information on Chromebooks and insurance can be found here.
Collaboration between families and teachers is essential for student success, please plan to attend Back to School Night on September 14th to learn more about what is planned for your child this year. Mullica Township Schools are fortunate to have a very active Parent Teacher Association (PTA) that supports many activities for our students. Please consider joining the PTA and getting involved in our school. More information can be found here.
I look forward to working together with families to make the 2023-24 school year fun and engaging for all of our learners. Please contact me with any questions or concerns.
Respectfully,
Maris C. Lynn