OCTOBER 5, 2025

MSMS Families,

The month of September has concluded and we have transitioned fully into October.  September provided a tremendous start, one of the best ever, to what we believe is going to be an incredible school year.  I am confident that we are on our way to yet another year of Sailor Excellence, a year in which we focus on being our best selves and giving our best effort in every situation!  

This month (October), we will focus on the character trait of ENGAGEMENT!  Engagement can be defined as choosing to “participate or become involved in.”   We will  challenge our students throughout the month to be engaged in their learning, engaged in their school, engaged in their relationships, and engaged in making their three years at MSMS the best they can possibly be.  In order for us to all grow and become better as learners and people, engagement is essential.  Our desire and hope is that our students move through school, through life, with focus, purpose, and intentionality. I believe that in order for them to fully experience every nuance that life has to offer, they must be reminded, encouraged, and challenged to stay engaged in every moment and in every situation. 

As we head through October, please take the time to have intentional conversations with your students regarding engagement. Talk to them about what it looks like, sounds like, and feels like in different settings and situations, in different relationships and encounters.  Together, we can have a greater impact on our students.  

There are a number of reminders this week.  Please take just a few moments to read through them.

• SEPTEMBER MSMS CELEBRATION VIDEO  ||  HERE is a video that we have made for September, celebrating our students, their learning, and overall experience at MSMS.  Feel free to watch it as you find time. 

• PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES  |  2025-2026  ||  Below is a reminder of our Parent Teacher Conferences (PTCs) that will be taking place in October.  MSMS is bringing back one traditional session that will align with high school and elementary buildings.  Know that you are always welcome to reach out to your student’s teachers at any time to check in on their academic success, behavior, or social interactions.

  • FALL PTCs  ||  Tuesday, October 7 (5-8pm)  & Thursday, October 9 (4-7pm)

    • 6th Grade ||  Big (West) Gym

    • 7th Grade ||  Cafeteria

    • 8th Grade  ||  Classrooms

  • WINTER & SPRING PTCs  ||  We will communicate with blocks of time for families to schedule conferences as needed (similar to last year).

• MSMS CANNED FOOD DRIVE  ||   Our annual canned food drive at MSMS will conclude on Friday!  Please consider donating to this good cause...many local community members need help feeding their families.  The cans you bring will be donated to the local food pantry to help our local neighbors, friends, or relatives.  Bring cans to your CREW teacher each day.  

• FALL BREAK  ||   As a friendly reminder, we will be on Fall Break next week (October 13-17).  We hope all of our families enjoy the time!  We will return to school on Monday, October 20. 

• MSMS FUNDRAISER  ||  We are SO GRATEFUL for our MSMS family and friends that supported our second ever MSMS fundraiser!   Here are some details we wanted to share:

  • MSMS will receive over $23,000

    • This will help support performing arts, positive behavior supports, special events, field trips, Peer to Peer, Science Camp, guest speakers, Bon Voyage, teacher needs, crew events, and more!

  • MSMS students received over $2,000 in prizes and cash awards throughout the fundraising time frame.

  • MSMS students (300+) earned the “Best Day Ever” experience that will be held on Thursday, October 9.

    • There will be 6-8 inflatables and a DJ for students to engage in.

    • Valued at over $8,000 for our students.

• HALLOWEEN EXPECTATIONS  ||  Our Administrative Team wanted to share out the Halloween Expectations for 2025.  HERE is the link.  Please take a few moments to review them if your student plans to participate. 

• NEW STUDENT MEETINGS  ||  Beginning after the break, Mr. Ammeraal will again be meeting one-on-one with all of the new students (over 50) at Mona Shores Middle School. He looks forward to connecting, listening, and learning from our newest Sailors!  Additionally, we have invited all of those new students to breakfast Monday morning in the LMC. 

With SAILOR PRIDE,

Doug Ammeraal
Principal
Email  |  ammeraad@monashores.net 
Facebook  |  Mona Shores Middle School
X (Twitter)  |  @msms_sailors
X (Twitter)  |  @dougammeraal
Instagram  |  msms_sailors
Hashtag  |  #msmspride

2025:   BE WHO YOU ARE.
MSMS FOCUS:  Culture  ||  Curriculum  ||  Literacy  ||  Effective Instruction  ||  MTSS  ||  Social Emotional Learning

Be who you are, nothing more and nothing less
Be who you are, don’t try to second guess
You ain’t gotta be the best, all you gotta do is be who you are
And you will find the very best in you.
~Michael Franti