MMS is All Heart!

We have a lot of information to communicate with you at MMS and these Smore newsletters (sent out each Friday afternoon via Parent Square + posted on the MMS website) will provide a "one stop shop" for families to know what's happening at the middle school. We had such an INCREDIBLE year last year and are working hard to continue to propel forward off that good momentum!

Here's what you'll find in this week's newsletter:

• Open House info (Mon. Aug 4)
• rising 6th grade orientation (Wed. July 23)
• general MMS Supply list
• we are a Capturing Kids' Hearts school -- what is that?
• Sign up to be involved with MMS / MGSD this year!
• MMS information for parents (MMS handbook, website, social media, etc.)
• MGSD Student Code of Conduct
• Meal costs & Free / Reduced Lunch application
• MGSD Parent Portal info / student information
• 7th grade immunization reminders
• news from the MMS PTSO
• and more!

Thanks for reading, and I hope everyone continues to have a wonderful summer break! If you have questions or concerns over the summer, please email our administration team or call the MMS front office. Enjoy the summer, Red Imp families!

Mr. Kosal, MMS principal / 6th grade (pkosal@mgsd.k12.nc.us)

Dr. Browning, assistant principal / 7th grade (mbrowning@mgsd.k12.nc.us)

Mr. Bost, assistant principal / 8th grade (ronbost@mgsd.k12.nc.us)

Ms. Clark, middle school athletic director for MGSD (annclark@mgsd.k12.nc.us)

Facebook: @mooresvillems

Instagram: mooresvillems

Website: https://mms.mgsd.k12.nc.us/

At the August 4th Open House and during the first week of school, individual classroom teachers may communicate specific supply needs for their class. Those specific supplies will also be found on the teachers' course syllabus in Canvas.

Most work done by MMS students can be done using the limited resources below, be completed digitally, or done with use school-provided class sets of instructional tools. Other items from past supply lists can be provided for our students via class sets of supplies (i.e. scissors, glue sticks, etc) and do NOT need to be purchased by our parents. 

If you have any questions, please email Principal Kosal (pkosal@mgsd.k12.nc.us)

Orientation Dates:

 Rising 6th grade Orientation: Wednesday, July 23 from 9:00am - 1:00pm (lunch WILL be provided)

As you may know, Mooresville Middle School participates in the nationwide WEB Program (Where Everybody Belongs), an organization whose sole purpose is to help rising sixth grade and new-to-MMS students feel more comfortable and help them achieve success in their first year at Mooresville Middle School.

Your child can expect to receive an invitation to these events. If he / she has not received the invitation by Monday, July 21, please call the main office (704-658-2720) and request one.

Students are encouraged not to bring backpacks, purses, or other like items as the day is quite active. Because the day is active, please make sure your child wears comfortable clothing that does not restrict movement.

Lunch will be provided for students during 6th grade orientation.

Your child will receive an initial copy of his/her schedule at orientation. If your child cannot attend orientation, don't worry -- he/she will receive their schedule at Open House on August 4th.

This is a student-only function. Parents will have the opportunity to visit and tour Mooresville Middle School during Open House. We look forward to meeting your child on their Orientation Day!

** Because of parking limitations at MMS, we're asking that students and their families attend during the following time frames: 

Rising 6th & 8th grade students: between 5 - 6:00pm

Rising 7th grade students: between 6 - 7:00pm

Red Imp parents & students will also have a chance to see & hear:

• The MMS PTSO (parent-teacher-student organization) will sell MMS spirit wear will be for sale & they'll collect information on families interested in helping out the PTSO this year.
• The MGSD Transportation department will have a representative in the MMS cafeteria to answer questions from parents & students. Bus route information will be available for families at that time.
• Athletics and after-school club information will be available.
• student WEB leaders will be present to help direct traffic and serve as tour guides for students, upon request
• School counselors will be present to set up meetings or give information to parents.
• Our school nurse, Ms. Crenshaw, will be present to answer questions about student medications or health concerns.

We can't wait to see our campus full of Red Imp families in August!

• 64% decrease in discipline referrals since spring 2023 (Educator's Handbook)
• 11% increase in students' positive view of Class Belonging (Panorama student surveys)
• 34% increase in students' positive view of School Safety (Panorama student surveys)
• 66% increase in teachers' positive response to question "students follow the rules for student conduct" (2024 NC Teacher Working Conditions survey)

We are excited to welcome your child back to school for the 2025 - 2026 school year! Part of the process of welcoming our students back includes families updating all of their information, as well as ensuring we have certain permissions in place. It is vital we have this information prior to the new school year starting.

As previously communicated on June 25, we are transitioning to a new student information system (SIS) – Infinite Campus – for this school year. Prior to updating your student’s information for the 2025 - 2026 school year, you will need to set up a parent portal. To set this portal up, you will need an activation link. This link, along with directions, will come from Infinite Campus and should have arrived on Thursday, July 17. Please check your SPAM if you have not received it. If you do not receive the email from Infinite Campus or you have issues setting up your Parent Portal account, please contact your school next week. In addition, you can find a list of FAQs on our website at https://www.mgsd.k12.nc.us/infinitecampus.

Thank you for your attention and patience as we navigate through this new process!

All 2025–2026 bus route information will be shared during the week of July 28. The MGSD Transportation Department has already begun receiving inquiries from parents, so please note when that communication will be occurring with MGSD families. Updates will also be shared via ParentSquare with families who are signed up.

** Families: if you did not sign up at the beginning of the summer (May / early June), there may be a waiting period before bus transportation is secured. You should be prepared to provide transportation temporarily until routing updates can be made with MGSD buses.

All new enrollments will be added to routes as soon as possible. They should also be prepared to provide transportation temporarily until routing updates can be made. We will continue to add students as quickly as possible while ensuring we communicate any changes clearly to drivers, families, and schools.

A rep from the MGSD Transportation Department will be in the Mooresville Middle cafeteria at Open House on Monday, August 4th.

Do you plan for your Red Imp student to walk to / from school? If so, MMS requires ALL students walking to / from campus to have a signed Walking form completed with main office. Click above to print & return OR stop by the main office to complete. Thank you for helping keep our students safe! 

You MUST get Final Forms completed and physical forms submitted BEFORE students are eligible to try out for middle school athletics. Questions? Please email our MGSD middle school athletic director Ms. Clark (annclark@mgsd.k12.nc.us)

Your student is in need of a Meningitis vaccine and a Tetanus booster (Tdap) to start the 2025-2026 school year. There are two Meningitis vaccines available, Meningitis B is recommended while Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) is required. The deadline to send proof of vaccination is the first day of the 2025-2026 school year.

This may seem like plenty of time to have this completed but please do not wait until August to get these immunizations as you may not be able to find them due to the number of people that wait until the last minute. 

If you think your student has already received this vaccine or you are unsure of their vaccination status, please contact your doctor’s office and ask for a copy of the student’s immunization record. Please submit it to the MMS front office as soon as possible. 

There are several options for your student to receive these vaccines including the health department, primary care provider and urgent care centers. In the past, some locations did not update the NC Immunization Registry so please ask for paper documentation and turn them into the front office at MMS. Keep a copy for your records as well.

Lastly, this is a NC State Law to comply with vaccination requirements.  If your student does not have documentation of these required vaccinations by the start of school in August, your student can be excluded from school with unexcused absences until proof of immunization is received. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Nurse Crenshaw (phone & email below). Thank you!

All Red Imp parents are welcome to an all-inclusive first PTSO welcome meeting on Monday, July 28th (4:30pm in MMS gym). With the school year beginning soon, parents should have some information on upcoming events, how to support MMS, and ways they can participate in our PTSO (parent-teacher-student organization)!

Also, all parents & students will want to visit our table during MMS Open House on August 4th! We'll be set up in the concession stand by the gym to sell MMS spirit gear and communicate our list of events we have planned for the year. Some of those plans are:

• MMS vs. Selma Burke football game - Tuesday, Sept. 23
• 3rd annual MMS Fall Festival - Friday, Sept. 26
• Charlotte Checkers family night - Oct.
• Kendra Scott fundraiser - Nov.
• Indoor Movie Night @ MMS gym - Nov.
• Teacher Appreciation Lunch for holidays - Dec.
• Charlotte Hornets family night - Jan. / Feb. 2026
• Valentine's theme school dance - Friday, Feb. 13
• Teacher Appreciation week lunch (Cinco de Mayo) - May 5
• MMS spirit wear sales - ongoing starting at Open House 2025

We want YOU to help our growing PTSO team! If you'd like to be part of the awesome MMS PTSO, mark your calendars and come hear how you can help us support Red Imp students & staff this year on Monday, 7/28!

We also hope you'll join us online! Follow us on Facebook! Questions for the PTSO? E-mail us at redimpsptso@gmail.com Thank you for your support!

Wednesday, July 30th... 8:30 - 10:00am

Wednesday, August 13th... 3:10 - 4:40pm

Wednesday, September 3rd... 3:10 - 4:40pm

** parents -- we need your input! **

(from the MMS Student / Parent Handbook, found below:) 

Students are expected to dress in a manner which conforms with the accepted standards of the school and community relating to values for maintaining school discipline. Students refusing to abide by adult directives to change attire and follow dress code may be subject to disciplinary action due to Insubordination. 

Students will not wear any clothing that creates, or has the potential to create, a substantial disruption to the school day. Students are not permitted to wear clothing with profane or inappropriate language or that advertises or displays tobacco, vaping, drugs, drug paraphernalia or alcohol. In addition, no sexually suggestive clothing will be allowed (i.e. Big Johnson clothing). 

Students that dress in a manner that violates the dress code will face the following consequences: 

1st infraction- Verbal warning + correct Issue / change clothes + document minor behavior

2nd infraction - Correct Issue / change clothes+ 1-hour In-School Suspension

3rd infraction - Correct Issue / change clothes+ 2-hour In-School Suspension

4th infraction - Office Referral for Insubordination

*Dress Code Infractions reset to zero at the beginning of each semester*

Please note the following guidelines have also been adopted by Mooresville Middle School and are an extension to the Mooresville Graded School District’s guidelines for student dress, which can be found in the MGSD Student Code of Conduct. These additional guidelines for student dress include:

Acceptable Dress for MMS Students

• Students may wear hats and hoods as long as ears are showing (cannot be tied tight around head)

• Rips in jeans/pants/shorts are allowed as long as no underwear or buttock is showing

• Leggings are allowed

• Shorts and skirts must be long enough to not show underwear or buttock

• Pajama pants are allowed

Not Acceptable Dress for MMS Students 

• Gang related materials (ex: bandanas) are not allowed

• Sagging pants are not allowed

• Showing of any undergarment is prohibited

• Vulgar or offensive language, pornography are not allowed

• Shirts must completely cover the midriff area when sitting and standing and expose no cleavage

• Midriff showing is not allowed

• Spaghetti strap tops are not allowed

• Cleavage showing is not permitted

• Buttocks showing is not allowed

• Bedroom slippers are not allowed.

• Sunglasses are not to be worn inside the building.

• Ski masks are not allowed. 

• Blankets and stuffed animals are not allowed to be out during the school day. 

• Any clothing that promotes tobacco, alcohol, controlled substances, weapons and/or has chains or spikes on it are prohibited.

** Students who choose to bring a refillable cup with them to school must ensure that the cup has a sealable lid. The cup cannot be open, pop top, or have a straw in it due to it being easily able to be spilled and cause damage to student computers and other technology. 

Thank you, parents, for helping to create a productive learning environment for our students!

We're very excited here to meet our students and begin the school year! It's going to be a GREAT year at MMS! Parents, please always feel free to contact Principal Kosal, your student's grade level AP, or the MMS main office if you have questions or concerns. Have a great weekend, Red Imps!

Email: pkosal@mgsd.k12.nc.us
Website: https://mms.mgsd.k12.nc.us/
Location: 233 Kistler Farm Road, Mooresville, NC, USA
Phone: (704) 658-2720