MSMS Community Alliance
Read the latest Gator News.
Welcome Gators!
New to MSMS? A great place to start is our FAQ page. We’ve answered many questions about the inner workings of the middle school. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions.
We have set a goal to increase engagement and grow our numbers of active volunteers. To take on a more active role with us, send us an email: MSMScommunications@mrpspie.org
There are opportunities to help with fundraising, school dances, staff appreciation, the Sustainability Store, and more. To be included in a volunteer-specific email list, take our SURVEY.
**Before you volunteer, learn about getting clearance from the school district - there are 3 levels of volunteers. Scroll down this page to find out more information.
We hope your student has a wonderful start to the school year!
8th Grade Class Trip
MSMS is palnning an overnight trip to Boston for 8th graders in the first week of June.
This trip is intended for all MSMS 8th grade students.
The trip will be during the first week of June to give students an experience that expands cultural, geographical, and social horizons.
Jumpstreet, a student travel organization, will be used to book transportation, activities, dining, and lodging. MRPS will provide chaperones and will pay for buses and some of the cultural programming.
The trip will cost approximately $380 per student.
The first payment, a non-refundable $100 deposit, is due to MSMS by 12/20/23.
$100 (non-rfundable) deposit is due by 12/20 - bring cash or a check made out to MSMS to Jenny Bartlett-Hardy, our main office secretary at MSMS, 170 Main Street, Montpelier VT 05602. She will issue paper receipts.
There may be varying levels for families to be able pay the cost. Students will be raising funds to help everyone have a chance to go through craft fair sales and other fundraising activities. If you are able and willing to make a donation for this purpose, please make a note with your payment.
There will be an information night on Wednesday, December 13th, at 7 pm in the MSMS Library, to discuss insurance information, fundraising opportunities, and the Jumpstreet parent portal.
Popcorn Friday is Back!
Every other week, MSMS students can enjoy a bag of freshly popped corn - they love it!
Popcorn for Everyone at MSMS - every other Friday throughout the school year!
Upon the return of Popcorn Friday in October 2022, we reexamined the program with equity in mind - we want all students and staff to enjoy popcorn without worrying about how to pay for it. So we plan to fund Popcorn Fridays entirely outside the school building. With a successful GoFundMe campaign, we were able to fully fund the 2022-23 school year and keep the kids flush with popcorn. Thank you to all popcorn supporters! This funding also helps support MSMS CA’s many other projects, including field trips, classroom support, staff appreciation events, support for clubs, dances, family assistance and much more! A new GoFundMe for 2023-24 will be sent out soon.
Want to work Popcorn Fridays? Look for signup form coming very soon. You don’t have to have experience - each Friday can have one Veteran and one or two beginners. It doesn’t take long to be a pro, and it’s really fun!
NOTE: our popcorn is peanut and tree nut free. We also use canola oil, salt and optional nutritional yeast.
Free digital Mental Health Service at MRPS!
MRPS students (13+), employees and employee household members (13+) now have FREE access to mental health support! Talkspace is a live, digital mental health service that connects members to thousands of dedicated providers from a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform. With Talkspace therapy, you can schedule two live sessions (via chat, audio, or video) with a Talkspace therapist each month. And you can send unlimited messaging to your therapist via text, voice or video messages - anytime, anywhere. Talkspace is completely anonymous, and the only information MRPS will see is the number of people using the service.
Start accessing it today at www.talkspace.com/MRPS - click “Get Started.” Then as you enter your information, type “MRPS” as your organization name. Registration can be done any time. Talkspace communication is confidential and secure. No one will ever know who uses the service or for what purpose.
If you have any questions about Talkspace, you can reach out to Jessica Murray, Director of SEL and Wellness, at jessicamurray@mpsvt.org.
Want to Volunteer at MSMS this Year?
Caregivers have many opportunities to be involved with our school. But to keep our kids safe, the district requires background checks for any adult who volunteers. There are 3 levels of clearance:
LEVEL 1 for work that does NOT involve direct contact with students. (example: preparing food for an event or collecting forms) For this level, simply fill out the Volunteer Application and mail it to MRPS, 5 High School Drive, Unit 1, Montpelier, VT 05602. Or email it to annahipko@mpsvt.org
LEVEL 2 for work that involves contact with students under the supervision of a teacher or other school professional. (example: taking part in a classroom activity or school dance). For this level, you need to contact Anna Hipko - 802-225-8684 or email annahipko@mpsvt.org to make an appointment at her office in the High School. You can fill out the paperwork there, or bring it home and return it later, but it must submitted in person with a photo ID - filling out the forms takes about 20 minutes.
LEVEL 3 for work that involves extensive unsupervised supervision of students (example: field trip chaperone, volunteer coach or advisor, substitute teacher) This is a 2-part process:
1. Contact Anna Hipko - 802-225-8684 or email annahipko@mpsvt.org to make an appointment at her office in the High School. You can fill out the paperwork there, or bring it home and return it later, but it must submitted in person with a photo ID - filling out the forms takes about 20 minutes. Once the application is complete, you will get a Fingerprint Authorization Sheet.
2. Get your fingerprints taken: Call the Washington County Sheriff’s Dept. 802-223-3001 to make an appointment - they can usually fit you in the same week that you call. Bring your Fingerprint Authorization Sheet, 2 forms of ID (at least one with photo) and $35 cash or check to the Sheriff’s office at 10 Elm St (the Red Brick Building behind the County Courthouse). NOTE: (If the cost is prohibitive, please email us at MSMS CA - we can reimburse you for this cost.)
If you are unsure of your volunteer status, email annahipko@mpsvt.org. For more information, visit MRPS webpage: mrpsvt.org/volunteer
Substitute Teachers Needed!
NO TEACHING LICENSE OR EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.
Our district needs substitute teachers at all grade levels. To apply, email human resources coordinator, Heather Michaud, at heatherm@mpsvt.org or 802-225-8682 to get an application which includes a reference check. Once your application is approved, you will be contacted for an orientation session and complete onboarding paperwork.
Once you are approved, you will be called when the need arises (this can be the morning you are needed) and you can accept or decline. You can also specify what grade levels you are interested in, or apply for all grades PreK-12.
For more information about employment at the district, visit mrpsvt.org/employment
MSMS would love to add to its Enrichment Programs!
Like to sew, craft, explore or have a skill to share? MSMS Enrichment programs sell out almost immediately! To provide enough for all the interested students, we need more people! If you have a passion you want to share with middle school kids for an hour or two a week, reach out to Drew McNaughton with your ideas!! Programs usually are located at the school and run from 3:00pm-4:30pm, usually spanning 5 - 7 weeks.
MRPS is HIRING
MSMS is searching for a 7/8 grade math teacher and a permanent substitute, and the district is still looking for several other positions. See the listings HERE. For more information, contact Heather Michaud at 802-225-8682 or heatherm@mrpsvt.org.
School Board
The Montpelier Roxbury Schools board of directors meets every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, from 6:30-8:30. You can join in person or virtually, or watch recordings of past meetings. The agenda, location, and joining information are all HERE
The Board wants to hear from you! What should spending priorities be? How can the board support our students to learn and our teachers to teach? How can you get involved? Viewing the meeting minutes, review the budget, attend or view meetings and ask questions. Also, you may contact your School Board directly schoolboard@mpsvt.org
SUPPORT The Family Support Fund
MRPS PIE raises funds to support families in the Montpelier Roxbury School District. The MRPS school social workers will coordinate an equitable distribution of funds to families requesting support across all 4 MRPS schools. This is a way for neighbors to support neighbors in these tough times. Please give what you can and share with your people. All donations go to MRPS Partners in Education, the 501(c)(3) that encompasses all MRPS school caregiver groups, and are tax deductible. https://gofund.me/ed7d65cb
What are MRPS PIE and MSMS CA?
MSMS CA (Main Street Middle School Community Association) is a volunteer organization made up of parents and caregivers with children in Main Street Middle School. We work to improve our school and build community by working together. We have held numerous fundraisers over the years and part of our focus is to identify needs of the school that may be outside of the school budget. The MSMS CA welcomes you to join! For more information, join our email list or drop us a line at MSMScommunications@mrpspie.org
MRPS PIE (Montpelier/Roxbury Public Schools Partners in Education) is a 501(3)c non-profit serving all school communities in our district. They act as an umbrella group for all 4 district school’s caregivers groups, helping to organize, support, and increase fundraising potential for each of our schools. To find out more, click HERE
