Monday, October 5, 2026

October 4, 2026

MEMS IAP GOALS

  • Mount Elden Middle School will increase Math AASA scores by no less than 10% for each grade level from the 2025 Spring AASA score to the 2026 Spring AASA scores.

  • Mount Elden Middle School will increase ELA AASA scores by no less than 10% for each grade level from the 2025 Spring AASA score to the 2026 Spring AASA scores.

  • Mount Elden Middle School will increase ELA and Math AASA scores for identified special education students by 10% from the 2025 Spring AASA score to the 2026 Spring AASA score.


QUARTER ONE GOALS FOR PROJECT MOMENTUM:
  • 100% of teachers in all content areas will shift from past school wide literacy framework to Teacher Clarity with a focus on the four content areas of ELA, math, social studies and science, posting a learning intention and success criteria daily with annotated academic language.
  • By the end of quarter one, teachers will identify cusp students on ELA & Math AASA and identify needed supports and strategies to impact these students.
  • Mount Elden Middle School will review all available assessment data for all special education students (both in general education and special education settings) to understand and identify student needs.dd


KINDNESS FUNDRAISER !

One week left! We have raised $6,000 so far! Way to go! Our goal is $10,000!


Staff Spotlight in FUSD Newsletter : Page 10 is a staff spotlight with Alicia Yaeger-Booth, FRC Coordinator speaks about a middle school staff member who worked with and family and Alicia through the Mckinny Vento program.  That is middle school staff member is the one and only DONALD PENNY!  Way to go the extra mile Mr. Penny!



October 6-8
Tues: 12:45-4:00 
Wed. 12:45-4:00, 5:00-7:00 
Potato Bar @ 4:00 in MPR sponsored by Social Committee and Administration
Thurs: 12:45-2:30 

Block Schedule for Parent Teacher Conferences 
Please see revised information sent in an email on Tuesday.
We will push out lessons for extended T-Bird on the early release days.



Magical Staff of the Week:  Jacquie McGregor



OCTOBER:
    Oct 8,9:
            Fall Break
          
 

BLACKOUT DATES AND PROTOCOLS

As a reminder, the following days are blackout days under FUSD policy.
  • The day prior or subsequent to any scheduled holiday.
  • The first or last instructional week of the year.
  • Parent/teacher conference days
    • Employees requesting time off during this time must submit an alternative conference schedule with their request in order to be considered.
  • Make-up days such as snow day make up 
  • Testing days for test administrators and proctors.

You must have principal pre-approval if you must call off for extenuating circumstances.  Please don’t plan a trip without prior approval. Thank you for understanding. 


 “Personal leave will not be granted on unless you receive pre-approval from principal.:


Any day we are above the 10% threshold. When we hit the 10% threshold, I will then need to deny.  It is very helpful when you secure a sub.  

Upcoming Blackout Dates:


Oct 7, 8, 9, 13

Nov 10. 12

OVER 10% threshhold:



Do you have a SHOUT OUT for a fellow colleague?  


From Violet: Emma and Christi for coordinating a great STUCO elections!
Everyone on the Social Committee for setting up such a fun October activity!

From Liv:  Thank you Molly for organizing city council and the mayor to come speak with the kids! 

From Anonymous: Huge shout-out to Nick Armitage, our legendary Math Department Head!  Managing a middle school math department requires solving for X on a daily basis, but you make it look easy. Thank you for keeping our team centered on the coordinate plane, balancing our requests like a perfect multi-step equation, and maintaining your sanity even when the chaotic energy in the hallways approaches infinity.You have an incredible slope—always positive, never zero—and you constantly help us distribute the workload, factor out the stress, and simplify every problem that comes our way. Frankly, if middle school leadership were an equation, you’d be the absolute value of perfection.Thank you for being the ultimate constant in a department full of wild variables—without you, literally nothing would add up.   (And no, I definitely didn't use an AI algorithm to calculate these puns—this level of math humor is strictly natural human intelligence.)

From Morgan J: Kristin Brown and Tammy Nelson for helping me learn more about the SPED world and how to navigate it from a leader's perspective. It's a lot and we are so fortunate to have you at MEMS, Kristin!

From Anonymous: Shout out to Jacquie and Tim for a wonderful Eagle for a Day performance on Friday night!
  
MEMS REPRESENTATIVES:   David Pischke     Liz Canuas                            








Tuesday, September 29, 2026

September 27, 2026



Can you believe it is already October!  It seems crazy to that we have already hot the 9 week mark.  

MEMS IAP GOALS

  • Mount Elden Middle School will increase Math AASA scores by no less than 10% for each grade level from the 2025 Spring AASA score to the 2026 Spring AASA scores.

  • Mount Elden Middle School will increase ELA AASA scores by no less than 10% for each grade level from the 2025 Spring AASA score to the 2026 Spring AASA scores.

  • Mount Elden Middle School will increase ELA and Math AASA scores for identified special education students by 10% from the 2025 Spring AASA score to the 2026 Spring AASA score.


QUARTER ONE GOALS FOR PROJECT MOMENTUM:
  • 100% of teachers in all content areas will shift from past school wide literacy framework to Teacher Clarity with a focus on the four content areas of ELA, math, social studies and science, posting a learning intention and success criteria daily with annotated academic language.
  • By the end of quarter one, teachers will identify cusp students on ELA & Math AASA and identify needed supports and strategies to impact these students.
  • Mount Elden Middle School will review all available assessment data for all special education students (both in general education and special education settings) to understand and identify student needs.
If you did not attend a JAMF time to update, please contact tech services to see what you need to do to update your JAMF

We are having a high number of staff not show up for duty.  Remember Admin has duty at the same time as you.  In fact admin are doing 4 duties every day including lunch.  PLEASE Find a DUTY BUDDY when you cannot do your duty.  If you agree to take a duty please make sure you are not signed for that same time and day.  


KINDNESS FUNDRAISER BEGINS IN ONE WEEK! VIDEO LINK

Please show this video on Friday during your classes. (Yes, EACH class so students will see it over and over again. Thank you!


GRADES DUE FRIDAY! Quarter 1 ends this Friday which means grades are due by 4:00 pm. I know that 9 weeks went sooooooo fast.



October 6-8
Tues: 12:45-4:00 
Wed. 12:45-4:00, 5:00-7:00 
Potato Bar @ 4:00 in MPR sponsored by Social Committee and Adminisitration
Thurs: 12:45-2:30 

Block Schedule for Parent Teacher Conferences 
We will push out lessons for extended T-Bird on the early release days.





MEMS REPRESENTATIVES:
    David Pischke
    Liz Canuas 


FRIDAY COLLABORATION

Prep time for grading 
12:45-1:45 

Team CT 
Work on parent teacher conferences 
1:50-2:45

Department CT 
2:50-3:50 


Magical Staff of the Week:  Daphne Lovaas


SEPTEMBER: 
    Sept 28:
      KINDNESS FUNDRAISER              KICKOFF! See email
            
        Virtual 7th grade Parent Sexual                Health meeting

September 30:
            Picture Retakes: packets are available in the office

OCTOBER:
    Oct 2:
            Eagle for a Day
            Grades are do by 4:00 pm
 

BLACKOUT DATES AND PROTOCOLS

As a reminder, the following days are blackout days under FUSD policy.
  • The day prior or subsequent to any scheduled holiday.
  • The first or last instructional week of the year.
  • Parent/teacher conference days
    • Employees requesting time off during this time must submit an alternative conference schedule with their request in order to be considered.
  • Make-up days such as snow day make up 
  • Testing days for test administrators and proctors.

You must have principal pre-approval if you must call off for extenuating circumstances.  Please don’t plan a trip without prior approval. Thank you for understanding. 


 “Personal leave will not be granted on unless you receive pre-approval from principal.:


Any day we are above the 10% threshold. When we hit the 10% threshold, I will then need to deny.  It is very helpful when you secure a sub.  

Upcoming Blackout Dates:


Oct 7, 8, 9, 13

Nov 10. 12

OVER 10% threshhold:



Do you have a SHOUT OUT for a fellow colleague?  

From Terri B: To Jacquie for all of the amazing work she does in T-Bird! it is so        organized and interactive for the students! I appreciate the videos (which help me understand as well) and the activities! Thank you for all of your hard work that alleviate so much for us!

From Administration: Thank you to the electives teachers for organizing and 
putting on an amazing Pep Assembly.   

From Terri B: To Morgan June for her efforts with the after school activities! Morgan does a great job trying to organize so many adults! She works hard to ensure that communication is clear and information is available! Thank you, Morgan for all of your hard work for our students!






Monday, September 21, 2026

SEPTEMBER 21, 2026

 



What a great time at the Arizona Middle Grades Summit receiving our MEMS Arizona Schools To Watch Awards.  Thank you Lawrence, Morgan, Jaime, Sonia, Heidi and James for giving up your Saturday and going with me!

MEMS IAP GOALS

  • Mount Elden Middle School will increase Math AASA scores by no less than 10% for each grade level from the 2025 Spring AASA score to the 2026 Spring AASA scores.

  • Mount Elden Middle School will increase ELA AASA scores by no less than 10% for each grade level from the 2025 Spring AASA score to the 2026 Spring AASA scores.

  • Mount Elden Middle School will increase ELA and Math AASA scores for identified special education students by 10% from the 2025 Spring AASA score to the 2026 Spring AASA score.


QUARTER ONE GOALS FOR PROJECT MOMENTUM:
  • 100% of teachers in all content areas will shift from past school wide literacy framework to Teacher Clarity with a focus on the four content areas of ELA, math, social studies and science, posting a learning intention and success criteria daily with annotated academic language.
  • By the end of quarter one, teachers will identify cusp students on ELA & Math AASA and identify needed supports and strategies to impact these students.
  • Mount Elden Middle School will review all available assessment data for all special education students (both in general education and special education settings) to understand and identify student needs.


 Please make sure you are taking attendance.  

COPY PAPER: The cost of copy paper has gone
up $500 per palate. The current cost is $2075. We have already gone through 2 pallets in 6 weeks. If we continue at this rate we will spend $26,936 on paper alone this year. This exceeds our entire supply budget. Please print responsibly and try to provide some materials digitally. Thank you!

Lunch Duty
    First Lunch only
        Can earn up to $200 a month

Late Buses at 3:50 pm.
We are looking to see if anyone would like to pick
up waiting with students after 3:50 until their late bus
comes. We are unsure when this might happen but
could really use some help. If you are interested,
Please contact Tammy.




KINDNESS FUNDRASIER BEGINS IN ONE WEEK! VIDEO LINK

Please show this video on Friday during your classes. (Yes, EACH class so students will see it over and over again. Thank you!


PURCHASE REQUEST FORM (PO): FOR..M LINK

We have new rules we are required for follow. If you need a purchase order you MUST complete the request form.


DNA BENCHMARK TESTING 

The social committee would like to gather this information to help with the "You've Been Boo'd".
          



I met with FEA last week and it was suggested that we conduct a temperature check to see how folks are doing.  Please take the time complete by Wednesday afternoon. 


In the FEA meeting there was also questions/concerns about discipline and tardies.  We addressed tardies last Friday at the                                                     staff meeting and in an email.  Please review the Discipline matrix                                                  the link is below.  If you have any questions regarding a specific                                                     discipline please contact the administrator who handled the                                                         discipline.  


FRIDAY COLLABORATION

Team CT 
PTC Focus
1:00-1:45 pm

1:50-3:50 
Magic AI Training 
Renda Fisk 
in the DOME


Magical Staff of the Week:  Mari Vital-Mendez


SEPTEMBER: 

Sept. 22:
             Math Benchmark Testing         
             
                 Finding NEMO in Navajo @                                  
                    Harkins 5:00 pm

Sept 25:
             Pep Assembly 9:00 am 
                 Assembly Schedule 

KINDNESS FUNDRASIER VIDEO LINK!

BLACKOUT DATES AND PROTOCOLS

As a reminder, the following days are blackout days under FUSD policy.
  • The day prior or subsequent to any scheduled holiday.
  • The first or last instructional week of the year.
  • Parent/teacher conference days
    • Employees requesting time off during this time must submit an alternative conference schedule with their request in order to be considered.
  • Make-up days such as snow day make up 
  • Testing days for test administrators and proctors.

You must have principal pre-approval if you must call off for extenuating circumstances.  Please don’t plan a trip without prior approval. Thank you for understanding. 


 “Personal leave will not be granted on unless you receive pre-approval from principal.:


Any day we are above the 10% threshold. When we hit the 10% threshold, I will then need to deny.  It is very helpful when you secure a sub.  

Upcoming Blackout Dates:


Oct 7, 8, 9, 13

Nov 10. 12

OVER 10% thresh hold:



Do you have a SHOUT OUT for a fellow colleague?  

From Violet: Morgan for organizing vans/sports/games/so many things this week and the rest of the year! You're making sure all the students and staff are handling all they need to be successful!

From Scott: 
 Jacquie - You are able to modify our testing schedules with everyone's interests in mind.  You tackle the impossible job of rescheduling with flair and calm.  THANK YOU!!!!!

From Violet: Heidi and Jenn who have been working hard to support students in and out of my classes this week :)





October 4, 2026

MEMS IAP GOALS Mount Elden Middle School will increase Math AASA scores by no less than 10% for each grade level from the 2025 Spring AASA s...