Munising Public Schools

Congratulations Jace Trombly for being Mather Elementary's Student of the Week!

Mather Elementary Reads Over 3,000 Books! Although our original goal was 5,000 books, unexpected snow days and delays couldn’t stop our readers from shining! With over 3,000 books read, Superintendent Mike Travis approved the ultimate reward: Principal DeFrancesco duck-taped to the wall in the school lobby on Friday March 21st! 🥇 1st Place: Mrs. Johnson’s 2nd Grade Class – Over 680 books read 🥈 2nd Place: Mr. Johnson’s 2nd Grade Class – 566 books read 🥉 3rd Place: Mrs. Kelto’s 4th Grade Class – 298 books read 🏅 4th Place Tie: Ms. Wittman’s and Ms. Hetherington’s Classes – 259 books read each These top readers not only earned bragging rights but also helped tape Principal DeFrancesco to the wall. The students who read the most books even kept her company by reading aloud to her! She stayed taped up for over two hours, while all students were invited to come down and witness the fun! Students also enjoyed: • Reading in forts with flashlights • Teachers swapping classrooms to read to different groups • A cozy and fun Pajama Day! • Popsicle deliveries to classrooms that met their reading goals A special shout-out to Nora Niven, Nolan Graves, and Petra Bogater, who were among the first to solve the Reading Month Scavenger Hunt by piecing together a hidden quote from Dr. Seuss that was scrambled throughout the school: “You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book.” The celebration isn’t over — we’ve extended the reading competition over break so even more classrooms can meet their goals! A HUGE thank you to: - Peoples State Bank employees for coming in to read with our students -PRNL Rangers and Community Members who visited classrooms to read throughout the month. -Representative Karl Bohnak for reading to our GSRP, 2nd, and 4th grade students 🚲 Don’t forget! Bikes for Books forms are due Friday, April 4th in the office! Thank you to the Masons for sponsoring this fantastic opportunity — we’ll be giving away 4 bikes and 4 helmets to our lucky readers! What a fantastic month filled with fun, teamwork, and a love for reading! Way to go, Mather Elementary — we are so proud of you!

FREE Preschool Developmental Screening – SIGN-UP REQUIRED! Do you have a child who will be 3–5 years old by December 1, 2025? Families in the Munising area are invited to a FREE developmental screening to check on important developmental milestones and receive support for your child’s early learning. Screenings will be held this Wednesday, April 2nd — but you must call first! ✅ IMPORTANT: You MUST call to sign up in advance. 📞 Call 906-228-6522 to reserve your spot and receive details about your screening time and location. Support will also be available for families interested in applying for GSRP or Head Start for the 2025–2026 school year. Please note: Participation in the screening does not guarantee enrollment in either program. Please see the attached flyer for more information specific to your area. We look forward to meeting you and your child!

MPS TRANSPORTATION NOTICE FOR FRIDAY 3/21 PM - Due to a driver out this afternoon. The district will be running 4 Bus Routes for the PM run. Drop off times may vary slightly and toward the end of the routes may be 10-15 minutes later than usual. Details regarding the 4 routes can be seen in the picture below and is also available on the district's website.

Tonight, our incredible young 6th grade scientists took center stage at the Fuel & Energy Research Showcase, presenting their research on the impacts of gasoline and biofuels in the high school cafeteria. Each student created a poster highlighting what they discovered during their studies, and proudly shared their findings in a gallery-style presentation for families and community members to enjoy. From environmental impacts to alternative energy solutions, the students impressed us all with their curiosity, knowledge, and communication skills. A special thank you to Ms. Megan Sysco for leading this engaging and meaningful learning experience! Your passion for science and your students truly shines through in events like this. And thank you to our families, staff, and community members for your continued support. For those who couldn’t attend, students will still have an opportunity to present their projects individually. Way to go, future scientists! You make MPS proud!

Important Announcement! Due to Munising Public Schools' 3-hour delay today, March 20, 2025, ECSE half-day classes are canceled for the day. Thank you for your understanding, and stay safe!

Due to accumulation of heavy wet snow and high winds, Munising Public Schools will be under a 3 hour delay on Thursday, March 20th. Munising MIddle/High School will begin at 11:00 am and Mather Elementary at 11:15 am.

MPS WEATHER NOTICE - WEDS. MARCH 19TH: Due to the forecasted arrival of heavy snow and mixed precipitation late this afternoon and into the evening resulting in hazardous travel conditions, Munising Public Schools is canceling ALL evening practices, activities, meetings, and events after school today (3/19). Both school buildings will be closed at 3:15pm today.

March is National Reading Month and we have been celebrating by hosting sustained silent reading every Wednesday of the month at the middle/high school! You can continue to promote literacy at home or during your spring break trip! Visit https://www.rif.org/nrm for some resources to help!

Due to staff illness, the Band Festival Concert is cancelled for tonight.

Exciting Science in Mrs. Murk’s 1st Grade Class! Yesterday, Mrs. Murk’s 1st-grade scientists got hands-on with an amazing investigation—dissecting owl pellets! Students carefully examined the pellets to uncover tiny bones and fur, learning all about an owl’s diet and food chain connections. They eagerly identified mouse skulls, bird bones, and other fascinating remains! This hands-on activity sparked curiosity, encouraged scientific thinking, and made learning fun and engaging! Great job, young biologists!

Spreading the word for two great opportunities through our local 4H!

Congratulations to Julia and her parents!

MPS TRANSPORTATION NOTICE - MONDAY, MARCH 17TH 5:45AM: Due to driver illness we will be operating 4 bus routes today. The adjusted routes are listed in the pic below.

The Munising Youth Wrestling Team had 14 Wrestlers compete in Newberry Saturday. They placed 2nd overall as a team out of 7 teams! Congratulations to our Youth Wrestlers who competed in Newberry Saturday! Elijah Kelsey placed 2nd, Winnie Livermore placed 4th, Jyelle Leites placed 1st, Grayson Paajanen placed 2nd, Hurshel Storm placed 3rd, Gian Paajanen placed 1st, Braelyn Leites placed 2nd, Jackson Smith placed 1st, Aubrie Livermore placed 3rd, Nora Storm placed 4th, Ritchie Henry placed 1st, Kyle Williams placed 3rd, Brooklyn Barabas placed 4th, Keara Wieczorek placed 3rd.

Congratulations to Everest Bates for being named Mather Elementary’s Student of the Week! Keep up the great work!

4th & 5th Graders Lunch with Officer Jake @ Mather Elementary! Our 4th and 5th graders had a special opportunity to enjoy lunch with Officer Jake today! This initiative fosters positive relationships between students and law enforcement while promoting open conversations, trust, and community engagement. Benefits of Lunch with Officer Jake: ✔️ Encourages positive interactions with law enforcement in a relaxed setting ✔️ Builds trust, respect, and open communication ✔️ Provides a safe space for students to ask questions and share thoughts ✔️ Strengthens community partnerships and reinforces school safety We are grateful to Officer Jake for taking the time to connect with our students and be a mentor, role model, and friend to our school community. These moments go a long way in fostering a supportive and respectful school culture. Thank you, Officer Jake, for your commitment to our students!

Family Reading Night & Book Fair! What an amazing Family Reading Night! Thank you to everyone who joined us for an evening filled with stories, learning, and fun! Lots of prizes were given out, and it was wonderful to see so many families come together to celebrate the joy of reading. A huge THANK YOU to all of our incredible staff, volunteers, and helpers who made the week of Scholastic Book Fair possible including: Melissa Berube, Jason Brisson, Susan Palomaki, Cindy Mosley and Addison Marceau. So much appreciation goes out to all those who contributed to the success of Family Reading Night: Kalee Martin, Melissa Berube, Jason Brisson, Elisheba Petersen, Via Ouellette Ballas, Lauren Wittman, Dawn Mattson, Phyllis Murk, Jamie Johnson, Ashley LaFlamme, Johanna Bogater, Brianne Butler, PRNL Rangers, Heather Nayback, Kadynce DeFrancesco, Kyley DeFrancesco & Spencer Murk. Also to the Jr. NHS/NHS Volunteers: Julianna Smith, Andrew Uehlein, Karter Goings, Emma Conklin, Natalie Brock, Maddy Kulppi, Destiny Andrews, Dylan Krause & Sully Ford. Your dedication and hard work made this event such a success, and we truly appreciate your support! Thank you for making reading a priority and for creating such a memorable night for our students and families.

Scholastic Book Fair at Mather Elementary! Get ready, Mather families! The Scholastic Book Fair is here, and students will have the opportunity to shop all week long during their library time. This is a wonderful chance for students to explore new books and grow their love for reading! Parent Payment Option: Parents can conveniently pay online to allow their child to shop during library time. This makes it easy for students to pick out their favorite books without the need to bring cash to school. Don’t Forget! Join us for Mather Reading Night & the Scholastic Book Fair on Thursday, March 13th, from 5:00–7:00 PM. It will be a fun-filled evening celebrating literacy and fostering a love for books! We can’t wait to see our students and families enjoying this exciting event. Happy reading!

Empowering Native Education Students at the Critical Issues Conference Last week, a group of our students had the incredible opportunity to attend the Critical Issues Conference, an event dedicated to promoting and supporting Native education. This conference provided a meaningful space for students to engage in discussions about cultural identity, educational opportunities, and leadership within Indigenous communities. Through workshops, guest speakers, and collaborative sessions, students explored ways to strengthen their voices and make an impact in their academic journeys and beyond. A huge thank you to Mrs. Reimer for coordinating efforts and making this experience possible for our students. Your dedication to fostering meaningful learning opportunities is truly appreciated! We are so proud of our students for their engagement and look forward to seeing how they apply what they’ve learned.