Just a reminder: Tuesday, October 21
Mather Elementary's 3rd grade after-school tutoring is canceled next Tuesday, October 21. Please make alternate after-school plans for your child. Tutoring will resume on the next scheduled date.
Questions? Contact the school office. Thank you!
Mather Elementary's 3rd grade after-school tutoring is canceled next Tuesday, October 21. Please make alternate after-school plans for your child. Tutoring will resume on the next scheduled date.
Questions? Contact the school office. Thank you!
We are looking for individuals wanting to get involved in youth athletics by operating our scoreboard/clock for football, basketball, volleyball and wrestling. It is a paid position! Get fully trained with our experienced staff! Contact Nicole Lasak, if you are interested!!
Smile, Mather Stangs! Picture Retakes are Monday, Oct 20.
If your child missed picture day or needs a new photo, this is their chance. Order online and use code F2510OFF for 10% off.
If your child missed picture day or needs a new photo, this is their chance. Order online and use code F2510OFF for 10% off.
Congrats to Adeline Phillipson, Mather Elementary's Student of the Week! A true STANG leader—respectful, kind, and responsible. Way to go, Adeline!
Middle School Boys Basketball practice starts Monday, October 22nd in the middle/high school gym after school!
MPS TRANSPORTATION NOTICE - FRIDAY 10.10.25
EXCITING NEWS: MPS HIRES 4TH BUS DRIVER & RETURNS TO 4 BUS ROUTES BEGINNING TUESDAY, 10.14.25.
Please help us in welcoming certified bus driver, Chris Bussiere to our Transportation Team. Chris has recently completed all federal, state, and district training and will be taking over the new Camel (AuTrain) bus route. We are very happy that by adding back a 4th route, hour students will spend less time in transit, later morning pick up times and earlier afternoon drop-off times, and will ride on less crowded school buses. Please refer to the new schedule which is also posted here on Facebook and on the district's website under Live Feed. The hunt is currently on for another driver as one of our current drivers is likely retiring in June. If interested becoming a driver, or you have any other questions, please contact Jeff Meyer, Bus Driver Coordinator at jeff.meyer@mps-up.com.
EXCITING NEWS: MPS HIRES 4TH BUS DRIVER & RETURNS TO 4 BUS ROUTES BEGINNING TUESDAY, 10.14.25.
Please help us in welcoming certified bus driver, Chris Bussiere to our Transportation Team. Chris has recently completed all federal, state, and district training and will be taking over the new Camel (AuTrain) bus route. We are very happy that by adding back a 4th route, hour students will spend less time in transit, later morning pick up times and earlier afternoon drop-off times, and will ride on less crowded school buses. Please refer to the new schedule which is also posted here on Facebook and on the district's website under Live Feed. The hunt is currently on for another driver as one of our current drivers is likely retiring in June. If interested becoming a driver, or you have any other questions, please contact Jeff Meyer, Bus Driver Coordinator at jeff.meyer@mps-up.com.
Check out our MS Girls Basketball Brackets for the upcoming Marquette County League Championships starting next Tuesday! Congratulations to our 8th grade girls for being the #1 seed in their bracket!
💚Mather Elementary Reminder:
Mental Health Day is Tomorrow — Friday, October 10th- Wear GREEN!
Hey Mather Mustangs! Tomorrow is Mental Health Day. Let’s all wear GREEN to show we care about our feelings and each other.
Show your STANG heart:
S — Stay Safe: Use calm bodies and words; ask an adult for help when you need it.
T — Take Responsibility: Use your coping tools—deep breaths, a drink of water, quiet space.
A — Act with Kindness: Give a compliment, share a smile, invite someone to play.
N — Never Give Up: Big feelings happen—keep trying your strategies until you feel better.
G — Give Respect: Listen when others talk and include everyone.
Try one tomorrow:
3 deep breaths before lunch
3 kind words to classmates
1 invitation to someone new at recess
Thanks for making Mather a caring place for everyone. Wear GREEN and show your STANG heart! 💚
Save the date for our upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences. Please note, both October 22nd and 23rd will be half days of school for students to better accommodate parent schedules for conferences.
Just a reminder that Monday, October 13th there will no school as teaching staff will be attending a regional professional development conference!
Fire Prevention Week Visit
Huge thanks to Mrs. Murk, Mather's own Firefighter and the Munising Fire Department for visiting Mather yesterday and leading engaging, age-appropriate lessons for Fire Prevention Week. Our students loved learning with a real firefighters—and our kindergartners even took a short walking field trip to the fire station for a tour and hands-on look at the gear and engine!
Key takeaways students practiced:
Creating a home fire escape plan and a family meeting spot
Checking smoke detectors and knowing the sound
“Stop, Drop, and Roll” and crawling low under smoke
When and how to call 911
Never hiding from firefighters—they’re helpers
Families, please take a moment tonight to review your home escape plan and test alarms together. Thank you again to Mrs. Murk and the MFD for keeping our kids informed, confident, and safe.
Huge thanks to Mrs. Murk, Mather's own Firefighter and the Munising Fire Department for visiting Mather yesterday and leading engaging, age-appropriate lessons for Fire Prevention Week. Our students loved learning with a real firefighters—and our kindergartners even took a short walking field trip to the fire station for a tour and hands-on look at the gear and engine!
Key takeaways students practiced:
Creating a home fire escape plan and a family meeting spot
Checking smoke detectors and knowing the sound
“Stop, Drop, and Roll” and crawling low under smoke
When and how to call 911
Never hiding from firefighters—they’re helpers
Families, please take a moment tonight to review your home escape plan and test alarms together. Thank you again to Mrs. Murk and the MFD for keeping our kids informed, confident, and safe.
🌺 Mather Elementary Literacy Luau — Friday, Oct. 24 (8:20 AM–2:00 PM)
Aloha, Mather family! Our second annual Literacy Luau is almost here. Students are invited to wear school-appropriate tropical attire and rotate through engaging literacy skill stations that build reading, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and writing—all with a little island fun.
Volunteers needed! We’d love family and community helpers any time between 8:20 AM–2:00 PM. Even one hour makes a big difference—greeting classes, supporting stations, or being a guest reader.
How to help:
📞 Call the Mather office at 906-387-2102 (or email the office) to sign up and fill out a Volunteer form.
Thank you for partnering with us to make literacy joyful for every child. Mahalo! 🌺
Due to low roster numbers in Gwinn, the 7th grade girls basketball game on Thursday is canceled. The 8th grade game will start at 5:30 pm.
Screen Time & Content: Quick Guide for Families (K–5)
We’re noticing more young students exposed to violent or fast-paced shows/games—even in “cartoon” form. To keep screens healthy and age-appropriate, please review the two flyers attached:
Screen Time & Content (orange): simple tips—choose age-appropriate content, aim for about 1 hour/day of high-quality programming for ages 2–5, co-view when possible, avoid violent content, make a family media plan, and turn off autoplay/enable parental controls.
Family Screen Time Rules (green): no screens during meals, set daily limits, keep bedrooms device-free, and watch/play together.
If you’d like help setting up controls or finding great, calm content, call the office—we’re happy to support. Thanks for partnering with us to keep media healthy and aligned with our STANG values! 🧡
We’re noticing more young students exposed to violent or fast-paced shows/games—even in “cartoon” form. To keep screens healthy and age-appropriate, please review the two flyers attached:
Screen Time & Content (orange): simple tips—choose age-appropriate content, aim for about 1 hour/day of high-quality programming for ages 2–5, co-view when possible, avoid violent content, make a family media plan, and turn off autoplay/enable parental controls.
Family Screen Time Rules (green): no screens during meals, set daily limits, keep bedrooms device-free, and watch/play together.
If you’d like help setting up controls or finding great, calm content, call the office—we’re happy to support. Thanks for partnering with us to keep media healthy and aligned with our STANG values! 🧡
FREE PARENT WORKSHOP - PROTECTING CHILDREN IN OUR NEW DIGITAL WORLD - FOR PARENTS OF STUDENTS GRADES 6-12 - WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8TH 6:00-8:00PM @ MARQUETTE-ALGER RESA, 321 E. OHIO STREET, MARQUETTE, MI
Congratulations to Joy and her parents!
4th Grade Sets Sail with Pictured Rocks Cruises!
Our fourth graders explored Lake Superior and the breathtaking cliffs of Pictured Rocks while learning about sandstone layers and erosion, Great Lakes ecology, and local maritime history.
Huge thanks to Ms. Martin, Mrs. Kelto, Mr. Ethan, our dedicated paraprofessionals, amazing parent volunteers, and our generous hosts at Pictured Rocks Cruises for an unforgettable learning experience.
A special thank-you to Officer Patrick Mellon for providing safe transportation support to the docks for a student who needed assistance.
Community partnerships like this deepen learning and show our STANG values in action!
Our fourth graders explored Lake Superior and the breathtaking cliffs of Pictured Rocks while learning about sandstone layers and erosion, Great Lakes ecology, and local maritime history.
Huge thanks to Ms. Martin, Mrs. Kelto, Mr. Ethan, our dedicated paraprofessionals, amazing parent volunteers, and our generous hosts at Pictured Rocks Cruises for an unforgettable learning experience.
A special thank-you to Officer Patrick Mellon for providing safe transportation support to the docks for a student who needed assistance.
Community partnerships like this deepen learning and show our STANG values in action!
3rd Grade at Sand Point Beach! Field Trip
Our third graders spent a sunny day learning with Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore rangers at hands-on stations about the shoreline, wildlife, and Great Lakes stewardship. Thank you to the PRNL Rangers, teachers Mrs. Butler and Mrs. Bogater, our dedicated paraprofessionals, supportive parent volunteers, and our bus drivers for a smooth and memorable trip
Our third graders spent a sunny day learning with Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore rangers at hands-on stations about the shoreline, wildlife, and Great Lakes stewardship. Thank you to the PRNL Rangers, teachers Mrs. Butler and Mrs. Bogater, our dedicated paraprofessionals, supportive parent volunteers, and our bus drivers for a smooth and memorable trip
5th Grade Visits the Farm — Field Trip
Fifth graders had a fantastic hands-on day at the farm exploring animal care routines, crop-to-table connections, pollinators, soil testing, and equipment safety. Students measured, observed, asked questions, and practiced our STANG values all day long.
Thank you to Mrs. Schalow, Mrs. Mattson, our wonderful Paraprofessionals, parent volunteers/chaperones, bus driver, and our generous farm hosts—your time and support turned science and math standards into real-world learning. We appreciate you!
Fifth graders had a fantastic hands-on day at the farm exploring animal care routines, crop-to-table connections, pollinators, soil testing, and equipment safety. Students measured, observed, asked questions, and practiced our STANG values all day long.
Thank you to Mrs. Schalow, Mrs. Mattson, our wonderful Paraprofessionals, parent volunteers/chaperones, bus driver, and our generous farm hosts—your time and support turned science and math standards into real-world learning. We appreciate you!
October Pony Express is here!
This month’s newsletter is packed with updates, celebrations, and key dates. Highlights include:
No School — Oct 13 (Fall Ed Conference)
Parent–Teacher Conferences: Oct 22 (1:00–3:30) & Oct 23 (5:00–7:00) — K–3 by appointment
Literacy Luau — Oct 24: Classes rotate all day; volunteers needed-please call the office
Attendance reminder: Please call the attendance line to report absences (not classroom lines)
Student spotlights; All 5 STANG Citizens—Annika Hand, Brooklyn Brewer, Izaak Richardson, and Hadley Lasak.
Read the full Pony Express for details, helpful resources, and photos. Thank you for partnering with us to Stay Safe, Take Responsibility, Act with Kindness, Never Give Up, and Give Respect—the STANG way!
This month’s newsletter is packed with updates, celebrations, and key dates. Highlights include:
No School — Oct 13 (Fall Ed Conference)
Parent–Teacher Conferences: Oct 22 (1:00–3:30) & Oct 23 (5:00–7:00) — K–3 by appointment
Literacy Luau — Oct 24: Classes rotate all day; volunteers needed-please call the office
Attendance reminder: Please call the attendance line to report absences (not classroom lines)
Student spotlights; All 5 STANG Citizens—Annika Hand, Brooklyn Brewer, Izaak Richardson, and Hadley Lasak.
Read the full Pony Express for details, helpful resources, and photos. Thank you for partnering with us to Stay Safe, Take Responsibility, Act with Kindness, Never Give Up, and Give Respect—the STANG way!
