Here's the link to the calendar for next school year that was approved by the BoE at their meeting last week:
https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1378/CUSD23/2817365/Calendar-2023-2024.pdf
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming! SAVE THE DATE for March 13-17 and get ready to empower your reader with book choice. Start exploring together: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/mpgs #ScholasticBookFair

Read Across America Week

The MPGS track season begins in one month! If you have a 5th - 8th grade student that is interested in participating in track this year, please have them sign up with Coach Switzer in the gym. Sign ups will continue until our first official practice which will be held on Monday, March 20th. All parents should download our Team App (MPGS Track and Field) for more information. Please contact Mr. A or Coach Switzer if you have any additional questions.
A message from our friends at Chestnut Health Systems:

Online ordering is now open! Yearbooks are $18 each. To order your yearbook visit: inter-state.com/order and enter code 72517G.
Orders are due by March 10, 2023.

Today 3B learned about Mardi Gras and made masks to celebrate!


Our 3rd graders read a book about the Statue of Liberty. Then we tried to sculpt it. It was harder than they thought it would be.

The Hilltop Club is sponsoring a fundraiser for Mikah Martin:

Just a reminder tomorrow 2/17/23 is an 11:26 dismissal day! And there is no school on Monday 2/20/23 for President's Day! Enjoy!!
Parents please help us out by taking the 5 essential survey!!! We would love to hear from you.
To take the survey, please visit http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/
Parents - You're invited to register for the IL ICAC Webinar titled "How to Recognize, Report, & Prevent Sextortion" on Feb 21st @6:30 pm.
Please register in advance for this webinar:
https://ilattorneygeneral-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VcpzQtWGSVmzxuHVnDhQ9w

Today we read our books to stuffed aniimals.

Today, genius hour classes had a guest speaker, Dawn Kruse. She is a volunteer for MADD and shared the story about her daughter, Maddie Kruse, dying from a drunk driver in 2015. Mrs. Kruse also shared facts about drunk driving and the services that MADD provides.




The Student Council is proud to sponsor the 2023 Junior High Valentine's Day Dance taking place Friday, February 10th from 7-9pm in the Grade School cafeteria. Cost is $5 per student. Age appropriate semi-formal attire is encouraged. Tickets will be sold at the door only.

Safer Internet Day:
Please register in advance for this online webinar (Feb 7th 6:30-7:0pm):
https://ilattorneygeneral-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__NSjP3loSkK_1OdQhhHnUw
You are also invited to attend "Self-Generated Content and Sextortion Awareness and Prevention" provided by the ICAC Task Force and the National Criminal Justice Training Center (NCJTC). Don't miss these important opportunities to learn and protect our youth!
Please register in advance for this webinar (Feb 7th 2:00-3:30pm):
https://icactaskforce.org/training/TRI0359792/self-generated-content-and-sextortion-awareness-and-prevention

Some more images from "Kiss the Pig"




Parents: Please take a moment to take the 5Essentials survey. It takes less than 10 minutes and it helps us determine next steps in helping students. We use the data from the survey to set goals. Your opinions matter!
http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/
The survey opens Jan. 24, 2023 and closes March 31, 2023.
If you have any questions, please call 5Essentials Client Services at 1-866-440-1874. Thank you in advance for your participation.
Over the past few weeks, students at MPGS raised money to benefit Eli Maynard and his family as he battles cancer. Staff volunteered to "kiss the pig" if they were the top money earner. PE teacher, girls basketball coach and Athletic Director Ryan McVickers raised the most money, thanks to a "viral" video! After the initial goal of $2000 was reached, the goal was raised to $2500! Superintendent Lamkey, Principal Lora & SRO Josh Pharis were pulled into the fun and in total, our students raised a whopping $4,186.13 for the Maynard family. Well done MPGS!! Best of luck, Eli!




If you are attending the junior high volleyball tournament this weekend at the high school, the west "Gym Entrance" will be the only entry point. All visitors should park in the west lots.
