Munising Public Schools

On Monday, December 21, 2020 Munising Public Schools was notified by the LMAS District Health Department that a Munising Middle School student was determined to be a “probable positive” for COVID-19. Parents of the students determined to be close contacts are in the process of being notified and students will be following quarantine protocols. Munising Public Schools continues to work closely with the LMAS District Health Department to monitor the health and safety of our students.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon announced today that, effective at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, December 21, students in grades 9-12 will be allowed to return to school in-person. Munising Public Schools students in grades 9-12 should plan on returning to school for in-person instruction on Monday, December 21, 2020. All K-8 students will remain in-person as they have been. Winter sports, including practices, continue to be suspended except for outdoor, non-contact athletics, through January 15, 2021. We look forward to having our high school students back on Monday!

In a new Emergency Order issued today, MDHHS Director Robert Gordon extended the order limiting gatherings in the State of Michigan until Sunday, December 20 at 11:59 PM. Under the new order, all in-person activities for students in grades 9-12 remain suspended. Districts may continue to educate high school students through distance learning, but may not have athletics in-person for any grades. Munising students in grades 9-12 will remain in remote learning until Monday, December 21, when they will return to in-person instruction. Mustang Online students will continue to work on their existing online programs.

Parents/Guardians of Mather Elementary 4th grade students should pick up a Chromebook, class materials and Google Meet schedule between 1:00pm and 4:00pm today in the Mather Elementary office. Devices and materials will also be available for pick up at the office from 8:00am to 3:30pm on Thursday and Friday.

On Tuesday, November 17, 2020 Munising Public Schools was notified by the LMAS District Health Department that a Mather Elementary fourth grade student tested positive for COVID-19. Based on discussion with the health department, we have made the decision to transition all 4th grade students to remote learning for the next two weeks. Parents of the students determined to be close contacts are in the process of being notified and students will be following quarantine protocols. Fourth grade students will return to school on Tuesday, December 1st. Arrangements will be made for parents of 4th grade students to pick up Chromebooks on Wednesday, November 18, and remote learning will begin on Thursday, November 19. Munising Public Schools continues to work closely with the LMAS District Health Department to monitor the health and safety of our students.

Munising Public Schools will be following the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services epidemic order and transition grades 9-12 to remote learning beginning Wednesday, November 18, 2020. High school students will return to in-person instruction on Wednesday, December 9, 2020. All remaining students, early childhood through 8th grade, will continue attending school in-person. We will provide further details on the remote learning process for grades 9-12 on the school website at munisingschools.com and on the Munising Public Schools Facebook page later today.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued an epidemic order this evening that, among other things, will suspend in-person instruction for most students in grades 9-12 beginning on Wednesday, November 18, 2020. Those students will transition to remote learning until at least Tuesday, December 8, 2020. All students should plan on attending school on Monday and Tuesday of this week. A decision regarding continued in-person instruction for Early Childhood through 8th grade students will be made based on input from the LMAS District Health Department. We will notify everyone of the decision as soon as possible.

On Tuesday, November 10, 2020 Munising Public Schools was notified by the LMAS District Health Department that a contracted employee tested positive for COVID-19. No other employees or students were identified as close contacts. The Active Confirmed and Active Probable COVID-19 cases at Munising Public Schools are posted on the MPS COVID-19 DASHBOARD link on the school website at munisingschools.com. Munising Public Schools continues to work closely with the LMAS District Health Department and plans to continue in-person instruction.

Munising Public Schools is now required to follow the MHSAA maximum spectator limits beginning with the winter sports season which starts tonight with Middle School boys basketball against Manistique. There will now be a two-spectator limit per participant through December 31, 2020, when the MHSAA will re-evaluate the spectator limits. Winter sporting events are not open to the public beyond the two-spectator limit.

On Monday, November 2, 2020 Munising Public Schools was notified by the LMAS District Health Department that one student tested positive for COVID-19 and another student is considered to be a probable positive. Several students and staff members were identified as close contacts and will be following quarantine protocols. The close contacts have been notified by the health department. Munising Public Schools plans to continue in-person instruction.

On Tuesday, October 29, 2020 Munising Public Schools was notified by the LMAS District Health Department that a school employee tested positive for COVID-19. One classroom of 1st grade students in Mather Elementary has been identified as close contacts and will be following quarantine protocols. Parents of the students determined to be close contacts have all been notified. The quarantined section of 1st grade students will transition to remote learning through Wednesday, November 11th, and return to in-person instruction on Thursday, November 12th. Munising Public Schools will continue with in-person instruction for all other students.

If you are interested in purchasing tickets for Saturday's MHSAA Football Playoffs game, please click the link below to purchase tickets. The MHSAA has decided to manage all ticket sales digitally for football playoff games through GoFan. Inland Lakes High School vs. Munising High School Event Link: https://gofan.co/app/events/128566

On Tuesday, October 27, 2020 Munising Public Schools was notified by the LMAS District Health Department that a school employee has a “probable” case of COVID-19. Four students have been identified as close contacts and will be following quarantine protocols. Parents of the students determined to be close contacts have all been notified. The Active Confirmed and Active Probable COVID-19 cases at Munising Public Schools are posted on the MPS COVID-19 DASHBOARD link on the school website at munisingschools.com. Munising Public Schools will continue with in-person instruction.

On Sunday, October 18, 2020 Munising Public Schools was notified by the LMAS District Health Department that a school employee tested positive for COVID-19. No students or other employees were identified as close contacts. The Active Confirmed and Active Probable COVID-19 cases at Munising Public Schools are posted on the MPS COVID-19 DASHBOARD link on the school website at munisingschools.com. Munising Public Schools plans to continue in-person instruction.

Munising Public Schools will return to in-person instruction on Monday, October 19, 2020. All school staff who tested positive for COVID-19 are cleared to return to work by October 19. When students return, Munising Public Schools will continue following our COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan safety protocols that require all students and staff to wear masks throughout the school day. This requirement also complies with the latest Emergency Orders from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Free breakfast and lunch pickup for Mustang Online students will be on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 12:30pm to 1:30pm at the Middle/High School. Multiple meals will be available for pickup both days. Middle/High School students should also bring their fully-charged Chromebook with charger or personal device to school beginning on Monday, October 19. As always, we appreciate everyone’s ongoing support, and we look forward to seeing the students back in school.

On Sunday, October 11, 2020 Munising Public Schools was notified by the LMAS District Health Department that a fourth employee has tested positive for COVID-19. One other employee was identified as a close contact and will be following quarantine protocols. No students were identified as close contacts of the employee. We will continue to provide updates as any new cases arise.

On Friday, October 9, 2020 Munising Public Schools was notified by the LMAS District Health Department that a third employee has tested positive for COVID-19. Four students were identified as close contacts of the employee. The students’ families have been notified by the health department and will be following quarantine protocols. No other employees were identified as close contacts. We appreciate the hard work of the employees of the LMAS District Health Department in their efforts to keep our community healthy and safe.

On Thursday, October 8, 2020 Munising Public Schools was notified by the LMAS District Health Department that a second employee has tested positive for COVID-19. No students or other employees were identified as close contacts. Munising Public Schools is still planning on resuming in-person instruction on Monday, October 19, 2020. Mather Elementary students should continue to work on instructional packets during the week of October 12, and Middle/High School students will continue to attend class via Google Meet during their regular class period schedules for the week of October 12. Free breakfast and lunch for all students will remain available for pick-up daily at the Middle/High School from noon until 1:00pm. School athletic events and extracurricular activities will continue as scheduled. Decisions about athletic contests requiring school transportation will still be made on an event by event basis. As always, we appreciate your support and cooperation.

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held as scheduled this Thursday, October 8th at Mather Elementary and the Middle/High School. Conferences at Mather will be held from Noon-2:30pm and 5:30-7:30pm. Conferences at the Middle/High School will be held from 12:30-3:00pm and 6:00-8:00pm. Conferences will be conducted in teacher classrooms to limit gathering sizes. Please wear a mask in the building and practice physical distancing in classrooms and common areas. There will be no remote learning for students on Thursday, October 8th, the day of conferences. Friday, October 9th is a Professional Development day for all teaching staff. The will be no remote learning for students on Friday, October 9th.

During Munising Public Schools’ remote learning period through October 16, middle and high school students will be attending classes via Google Meet on their regular class period schedule beginning at 8:00am on Tuesday, October 6. The class period schedule is posted on the school website at munisingschools.com. If students cannot attend a Google Meet session, parents should call the school to excuse the student for the absence. Chromebooks can be picked up today in the middle/high school cafeteria for middle and high school students. Staff will be at the school to distribute Chromebooks until 6:00pm. Chromebooks can also be picked up on Tuesday, October 6 from 8:00am to 6:00pm. Students are also allowed to use their own devices. For Mustang Online students, an assignment must be started or completed in each class on Wednesday, October 7. Instructional packets for Mather Elementary students can be picked up today in the Mather Elementary lobby beginning at 4:00pm. Staff will be at the school until 6:00pm to hand out packets. Packets can also be picked up on Tuesday, October 6 from 8:00am to 4:00pm. Students are allowed to come into both school buildings to get any materials they need from their lockers. Middle and high school students should come in and get their musical instruments and music.