November 2016
Tiger Wire
From the Desk of Ms. Holliday...
Congratulations to our new Student Council Officers!
President: Carter A.
Vice President: Emma H.
Secretary: Meladee D.
Treasurer: Kayleb M.
Mexico Middle School Student Council officers are responsible for providing a forum for the many
voices in our school to be heard, increasing student involvement on issues that really matter to students, involving students in the decision-making process, and increasing student interest in civic issues and involvement. They are the leaders of the student body and are responsible for being positive
role models to their peers. Mr. Vrooman and I look forward to working with our new officers and
continuing to grow our positive culture!
In addition, we have new advisors for Student Council this year. Mrs. Kimberly Julian and Mrs. Lisa
Brooks will advise the Student Council for 2016-2017.
Coming soon… Mexico Middle School Spelling Bee!!!!!!!!!
Round 1 Spelling Bee lists will soon be available in your ELA homerooms for grades
5-8. Additional lists will also be posted in the cafeteria.
Round 1 will take place in your ELA class November 21st or 22nd. The top 20 students from Round 1 will advance to the Final Round on Dec. 15th, which will be held
in the Middle School Auditorium.
MEXICO MIDDLE SCHOOL MISSION
We are dedicated to the goal that each student will leave the middle school with the knowledge, skills, and character necessary for continued
success in our ever-changing society. We will provide a diverse curriculum that supports the individual needs of every student. We will promote
open and honest communication with parents, guardians, community members, students, administration, and staff in order to foster trust and a
mutual appreciation of our differences. Community support is a valuable resource that will be utilized efficiently and effectively to best serve our
students….our future!
From the Desk of Mr. Vrooman…
On November 3, the Mexico Middle School will be hosting a presentation by John Halligan, a father
who lost his son to suicide at the age of 13, for the student body.
Mr. Halligan will speak with students and staff about the dangers of the excessive use of electronics
and the signs and symptoms of childhood depression. He will also discuss cyberbullying and the
role of parents, students, and staff in preventing it from taking place and addressing it when it does.
We invite all of our parents and community members to attend an additional adult presentation here
at the middle school on the night of Wednesday, November 2nd, at 7:00PM so that we can all be better equipped to monitor and protect children in our district as they navigate the internet.
~ November Happenings ~
1 - 3 ............. Bus Emergency Drills
2 ............. Ryan’s Story Parent Presentation – 7:00 pm – MS Auditorium
3 ............. Ryan’s Story Student Presentations
4—5 ............. 6th Grade All-County Festival at Oswego High School
6 ............. Daylight Savings Time Ends – Set clocks back 1 hour
7 ............. Parent/Teacher Conference Letters go home with students
9 ............. End of 10 week marking period
10 ............. Superintendent’s Day – No School for Students
10 ............. Board of Education Meeting – 6:00 pm – High School
11 ............. Veteran’s Day – No School
14 ............. Parent/Teacher Conference responses due to homeroom teacher
16 ............. Parent/Teacher Conferences – Students dismissed at 10:45
16 ............. Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences — 5:00—7:00 PM
17 ............. Parent/Teacher Conferences – Students dismissed at 10:45
18 ............. Picture Retakes
18 ............. 10-week reports mailed home
21 ............. Tiger Pride Pass exchange in homeroom
21 ............. New Learning Labs begin
21—22 ............. Spelling Bee—Round 1
23 - 25.............. Thanksgiving Break – No School
30 ............. Faculty Meeting – Students dismiss at 1:50
LIFE IS BETTER WITH BASKETBALL!
Approximately 30 girls in grades 3rd through 8th have been learning all about the sport of basketball at the Mexico girls’
basketball fall clinic on Monday nights at the MS. The girls participate in various games and drills to improve their skills,
with different theme nights each week! The clinic was organized by Head Varsity coach Dominick Anthony with help
from his modified and JV coaching staff.
Pictured:
5th grader Kaylee Halsey (left) was the overall spirit winner on the “USA” theme night held on October 17th
Have you enrolled your child in the School
Based Health Center yet??
Día de los Muertos
More than 500 years ago, when the Spanish Conquistadors landed in what is now Mexico, they encountered
natives practicing a ritual that seemed to mock death. It was a ritual the indigenous people had been practicing
at least 3,000 years. A ritual the Spaniards would try unsuccessfully to eliminate. A ritual known today as Día
de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.
The ritual is celebrated in Mexico and certain parts of the United States – southern California and Texas. Today, people don wooden skull masks called calacas and dance in honor of their deceased relatives. The wooden skulls are also placed on altars that are dedicated to the dead. Sugar skulls, made with the names of the
dead person on the forehead, are eaten by a relative or friend. The skulls were used to honor the dead, whom
the Aztecs and other Meso-American civilizations believed came back to visit during the month long ritual.
Unlike the Spaniards, who viewed death as the end of life, the natives viewed it as the continuation of life. Instead of fearing death, they embraced it. To them, life was a dream and only in death did they become truly
awake. However, the Spaniards considered the ritual to be sacrilegious. They perceived the indigenous people
to be barbaric and pagan.
In their attempts to convert them to Catholicism, the Spaniards tried to eliminate the ritual, but like the old Aztec spirits, the ritual refused to die. To make the ritual more Christian, the Spaniards moved it so it coincided
with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day (Nov. 1 and 2), which is when it is celebrated today. Previously it fell
on the ninth month of the Aztec Solar Calendar, approximately the beginning of August, and was celebrated
for the entire month. Festivities were presided over by the goddess Mictecacihuatl. The goddess, known as
"Lady of the Dead," was believed to have died at birth.
Students in Srta. Spath’s classes will celebrate this holiday to the fullest extent. After extensive study of this
holiday, 7th grade students will color calaveras and write the name of a deceased family member to create a
memorial wall. Besides reading the Spanish book Tumba by Mira Canion, altars will be created by 8th graders
and dedicated to a famous person who died, Sugar skulls will be made, decorated and ultimately devoured.
They will even try their hand at creating papel picado! Faculty and students are encouraged to come on down
by the Spanish room (70) and vote on their favorite altar.
Is your child missing a hoodie or any clothing items? Stop down to the gym or locker rooms to look through our
LARGE amounts of lost and found!! Also, there are items on the stage in the cafeteria.
GAPP students visit MACS MS
Frau Goble’s German students had several opportunities recently to visit with 23 German
American Partnership Program exchange students from Schneverdingen, Germany. MACS
students and their parents were invited to the traditional OKTOBERFEST where they sampled
German foods such as Bratwurst, Sauerkraut, Spezi, and Apfelkuchen. The German students
also visited Frau Goble’s classrooms for two days. During this time the German teens did
presentations about German culture and teen life. They collaborated with our students to create
posters that compared and contrasted life in Germany and the USA. Some interesting comparisons were the facts that not all German highways have speed limits, many German students
ride bikes and not busses to school, German students have 3 types
of high schools to choose from, and Germans cannot carry
guns. The two groups of students sang songs together and cultivated many new friendships.