
Congratulations to our UPSSA Boys Basketball Award Winners!


Mather Elementary Celebrates National Poetry Month
We’re thrilled to announce that we’re partnering with Ana Dolaskie to host a Family Engagement Poetry Night at Gallery Coffee on Thursday, April 25th from 5:30–7:00 PM!
Students from Mather Elementary (Grades K–5) will take the stage to share their voices—performing original poems they’ve created in school or reading favorite published pieces. It’s a warm, welcoming event that celebrates creativity, confidence, and student expression.
Our students have been practicing throughout the month in celebration of National Poetry Month, and we’re so proud of their courage and creativity.
Community and family support is essential—please join us to cheer them on! Your presence helps reinforce the value of their voices and the power of their words.
Let’s come together for a night of connection, inspiration, and celebration!


You're Invited!
Munising Middle/High School Drama Club Presents: Poisoned in the Garden
Get ready for mystery, laughter, and a little bit of mischief! Join us for a special interactive performance of Poisoned in the Garden, a who-done-it where you, the audience, help crack the case!
A 100-year-old woman has been poisoned...
The suspects? Some of the town’s most prominent (and suspicious) residents.
Can our detectives solve the case—or will you beat them to it?
Showtimes:
📅 Thursday, April 11 at 5:00 PM
📅 Friday, April 12 at 2:00 PM
📍 William G. Mather Auditorium
Admission by donation at the door
Produced in cooperation with Drama Notebook
Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind performance full of twists, turns, and interactive fun! Come support our talented student performers and help solve the mystery in the garden!


April is Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month
At Mather Elementary, we are proud to celebrate the unique strengths, talents, and perspectives of individuals with autism. Autism is a spectrum—and every student with autism is wonderfully unique. This month, we shine a light on understanding, acceptance, and inclusion.
💙 Let’s work together to:
Promote kindness and patience
Celebrate neurodiversity
Create classrooms and communities where everyone feels seen, supported, and valued
We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our amazing teachers, support staff, and service providers who work with compassion, creativity, and dedication to support our students with autism every day. Your commitment to inclusive practices and individualized care is what makes Mather such a special place to learn and grow.
We believe in embracing differences and supporting every child in reaching their full potential—this month and every month. 💙

Congratulations to our UPSSA All-UP Girls Basketball Award Winners!


Mather Elementary School
Kindergarten Registration & Screening
Is your child ready to start Kindergarten this fall? We’re excited to meet our newest Mustangs! Join us for registration and a brief screening to help us get to know your child and prepare for a strong start to school.
Please call the Mather Elementary Office at (906) 387-2102 to schedule a time.
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Alger Parks and Recreation Gym
In Michigan, for the 2025–2026 school year, children who turn five years old on or before September 1, 2025, are eligible to enroll in kindergarten.
We look forward to welcoming your family to the Mather Elementary community!
Call Today -Mather Elementary Office at (906) 387-2102


WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2ND IS PARAPROFESSIONAL APPRECIATION DAY
Please join Munising Public Schools in celebrating our awesome paraprofessionals!
The support that they give on a daily basis to our students and staff is critical to our success. Paraprofessional Appreciation Day, is annually observed on the first Wednesday of April. Schools, educators, students, and parents can take this day to show gratitude for the dedication and hard work of paraprofessionals. If you get the chance, don't hesitate to reach out and thank a para :-)


Congratulations to Carson and his parents!


Congratulations Juliana!


MUNISING PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS CLOSED TODAY, MONDAY, MARCH 31ST due to accumulating snow in excess of what was forecasted. School buildings will remain closed for the entire day and all evening events and activities are canceled.


MPS MESSAGE #2 - WEEK OF MARCH 31ST - APRIL 4TH - FOUR (4) BUS ROUTES: Due to being short 1 driver thIs week, we will follow the attached 4 bus routes. This week student riders may experience pick-ups and drop-offs that vary by 10-20 minutes from normal times and students in Wetmore & Alger Hts. may experience being picked up 20 minutes later than usual. Riders are strongly encouraged to be visible and waiting at bus stops.


Important Announcement! Due to Munising Public Schools' 3-hour delay tomorrow, March 31, 2025, ECSE half-day classes are canceled for the day. Thank you for your understanding, and stay safe.


MPS MESSAGE #1: Due to heavy mixed precipitation and slippery road conditions, Munising Public Schools will be under a 3 hour delay on Monday, March 31st. Munising MIddle/High School will begin at 11:00 am and Mather Elementary at 11:15 am.


Munising Middle/High School is looking to hire coaches/advisors for the upcoming school year. We would love you to join our team!!
Please visit www.munisingschools.com for application materials. The postings close on April 11th at 3pm. Contact Nicole Lasak, athletic director/principal for more information.


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!
