September News

Office Hours & Phone Numbers

MJH School Office   -7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.   -309-833-2074

Attendance Office    -7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.   -309-833-2074

Principal's E-Mail Addresses

Brock Bainter bainterb@mcusd185.org

Asst. Principal's E-Mail Address

Brett Burton burtonb@mcusd185.org

SIP Day

September 15, 2023-Half day attendance AM

Picture Re-takes

October 12, 2023

Jr High School Family Athletic Pass

2023-2024 Jr High School Family Athletic Pass will allow immediate family members admission to regular season Jr High Athletic Events only.  (IESA State Series Athletic Events are not included)  $75.00 per Family Pass (Immediate Family Only)  These passes are available in the Athletic Office at the Sr. High School.

Middle  School Hours

8:10 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.

Middle School classes begin at 8:10 a.m.  Outside doors are unlocked at 7:35 a.m. Students arriving before 8:00 a.m. should go to the Commons.  Students are dismissed from the Commons at 8:00 a.m. to go to the restroom, and/or get a drink.  Students need to be in their seats for their first hour class at 8:10 a.m.  Buses arrive between 7:35 and 7:50 a.m.  

Breakfast is served  at 7:35 a.m.  Middle School students should budget their eating time daily, so they are not late for their first hour class at 8:10 a.m.

Attendance/Passes/Bus Pass

If your child is absent from school any portion of the day, the parent/guardian must notify the school by 9:00 am.  A parent may call the office anytime before 7:30 a.m. and leave a message on the voice mail.  After 7:30 a.m., please call and speak with office personnel.

If a child is absent and no notification from the parent has been made, a reasonable effort by the school to notify the parent will be made.  A parent/guardian note is required on the next date of attendance.  This is in addition to the contact made between the parent and school on the day of the absence.   The note should be submitted to the Attendance Office before the student begins classes.  The Attendance Office or Macomb Middle School will issue a pass to re-enter class.

If your child has an appointment during the school day, please send a note to school with the student.  The student should bring the note to the Middle School office and a pass to leave class will be written.  It is very difficult to ensure a timely response if you show up unannounced requesting a student.  For example: PE classes may be hard to find so you may be late for an appointment if we are not notified in advance. 

Bus drivers try to ensure safety for all students on the bus.  Limiting numbers of riders is necessary to ensure safety.  Therefore, if a student needs a bus pass, the student must have a signed note from the parent.  We cannot accept phone calls.  A written request with the parent/guardian signature is required for a bus pass.   

Drop Off/Pick Up Locations & Procedures

Safety is our main concern in creating procedures for drop off and pick up.  With safety in mind, please follow procedures noted below:

Drop Off Procedures
  1. Busses will use the north parking lot entrance (closest to the high school).  All bus students will be dropped off in the West Lot near the main entrance.  
  2. All car riders will use the south entrance on the back side of the middle school.  Cars should follow the drive along the backside of the middle school and proceed around the curve to the front of the building.  Please stay to the right and go around the small circle drive in the east parking lot and pull up along the sidewalk to drop the students off.  Cars should then proceed back around the backside of the building and exit out the south lot.  Please stay to the right so traffic can move in both directions.
  3. Any students walking to school or riding with a sibling to MHS and then walking to MMS, should use the sidewalk between the two parking lots to enter the building.
 
Dismissal Procedures
 
Macomb Middle School will dismiss at 3:10. The north entrance will be for busses only after school from 3:10 to 3:30.  
      
  1.  Busses will use the north parking lot entrance (closest to the high school).  All bus students will be picked up at the West Lot near the main entrance.
  2.  All car riders will use the south entrance on the back side of the middle school.  Cars should follow the drive along the backside of the middle school and proceed around the curve to the front of the building.  Please stay to the right and go around the small circle drive in the east parking lot and pull up along the sidewalk to pick students up.  Cars should then proceed back around the backside of the building and exit out the south lot.  Please stay to the right so traffic can move in both directions. (Same procedures as the morning)
  3. Walkers will exit out the main doors and use the sidewalk between the east and west parking lot.

PARENT EXCUSED DAYS & MENTAL HEALTH DAYS

Students are allowed 9 parent excused days.  These days are to be used for family related reasons. 

Mental Health Days are used for actual social/emotional stress related absences.  When mental health days are reported, families should call the school to report this to the school.  A counselor will be advised so that support can be available at school.      

2023-2024 MCUSD 185 Visitor Notice 

When entering any Macomb CUSD #185 school building, all visitors will be required to leave a PHOTO IDENTIFICATION CARD during their visits. Staff will provide approved visitors with a badge before allowing them into the building.  When leaving the building, visitors will have their photo ID returned.   Sign-in sheets for visitors will no longer be used. 

6th Grade News

  • Requested funds from PTO for 6th grade field trip to Springfield (May) 

  • Math: Still waiting on our workbooks! Ask your student: What is the prime factorization of 58? 

  • Reading: Book Clubs will begin soon! Ask your student: Define Identity? 

  • Language Arts/Writing: Working hard on editing and revising! Have your student show you a piece of his or her writing! 

  • Social Studies: WE ARE HISTORIANS! Ask your student: What is the role of an Historian? 

  • Science: Labs are in full swing! Ask your student: What are the characteristics of living things? 

7th Grade News

The seventh graders are adapting to the new building well. They are excited to reunite with friends and meet new friends. We want to gently remind students to return their field trip permission and handbook forms by August 28th. Students can turn in signed permission forms to teachers during Bomber Time. Our first walking field trip will be on September 1st. Students will be attending the First Responders event. Also, if you are interested in participating in our school fundraiser, please remember to turn t-shirt order forms and payment by September 1st. If you have any questions, please contact any teachers on the 7th grade team. We look forward to a great year! Go Bombers! 

8th Grade News

The 8th graders are getting ready for their first Park Rangers Day on Friday, September 15th! It's an awesome partnership with the Macomb Park District; the students practice giving back to a dynamic community entity. If you are interested in volunteering to assist our students, please reach out to your student's advisory teacher. We would love to have you join us from 8:45-10:30 in the parks! The 8th grade teachers are also arranging a virtual tour of Auschwitz in March as part of the cross-curricular unit on WWII. 

PE News

Welcome to MMS! The PE department is excited to have a new gym of our own. Our first day to dress for PE will be Tuesday, September 5th. PE clothes can be purchased from your child's PE teacher, or you may purchase your own uniform. The uniform consists of an orange t-shirt and black shorts. The cost of the uniform is $10 per piece. We also sell a "Macomb Bombers" drawstring back for $5.00. PE clothes can be purchased at any time throughout the year. Please have your child ask their PE teacher for an order form and return the form along with payment to their PE teacher or send us an email. Thank you, we look forward to a great and active year!
andersont@mcusd185.org
royerw@mcusd185.org

Choir News

♫ Macomb Middle School Choral Department ♫

♫♪♫ SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER ♫♪♫

♫ Macomb Choir Boosters

Please become a member of the Macomb Choir Boosters. (Membership forms can be found: http://macombchoirs.org/boosters) Membership dues can be mailed to Macomb Choir Boosters, P.O. Box 117, Macomb, IL, 61455. Levels of membership include “Soloist”-$25, “Barbershop Quartet”-$26-$49, “Vocal Ensemble”-$50-$99, “Chamber Choir”-$100-$249 and “Choral Society”-$250-up.

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫

♫ Upcoming Events: ♫

Date Event Place/Time Who is involved

Monday, August 28,

2023 Swing Choir Auditions MMS Choir Room 3:15pm Any interested 6th-8th grade students.

Wednesday, Oct. 4,

2023 ILMEA Virtual Audition (7th-8th) and Nomination (6th) deadline for submissions Virtual Audition submissions must be posted by this date. Select 6th-8th grade students.

Wednesday, Oct 4,

2023 Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grade Fall Choral Concert Fellheimer Auditorium 7:00pm. Required of 6th, 7th and 8th grade.

Oct. 17 – Oct. 31, 2023 Choir Annual Poinsettia Sale N/A All Choir Students grades 6-12.

Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023 ILMEA District 4 Festival WIU Campus, 8:00 – 3:30pm Select 6th-8th grade students.

Thursday, Nov. 30,

2023 Poinsettia distribution Fellheimer Auditorium 2:00-5:00pm Any family that had poinsettia sales.

Monday, Dec. 4, 2023 Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grade Winter Choral Concert Fellheimer Auditorium 7:00pm. Required of 6th, 7th and 8th grade.

Monday, Feb. 12, 2024 Macomb Choirs Pops Concert Fellheimer Auditorium 5:30-8:00pm Required of 6th, 7th and 8th grade.

Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 Middle School Solo/Ensemble Contest Macomb Middle School All day. Any participating 6th-8th grade student.

Friday, March 22, 2024 WIU Honor Choir WIU Campus 9:00am-4:00pm. Select 7th-8th grade students.

Friday, April 26, 2024 IESA Organization Contest Rushville, TBA Required of 6th, 7th and 8th grade.

Wednesday, May 8,

2024 Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grade Spring Choral Concert Fellheimer Auditorium 7:00pm. Required of 6th, 7th and 8th grade.

For event information and a calendar of events, please visit: www.macombchoirs.org