The Mission of Middlebury Elementary School, in cooperation with family and community, is to develop compassionate, productive, responsible citizens and life-long learners.
Middlebury Elementary School
News from Mr. Hostetler, our Principal
Spring Fever is in the air! I know the students and staff are looking forward to Spring Break! I hope you all have an enjoyable break. I know we are all ready to get outside for some much-needed fresh air. Please remember that while getting outside and enjoying nature is important to students, we also need to remember that school is still in session through May 29th. Please make sure that your child spends time reading each day and completing any schoolwork. It is important to end the school year strong! Also, please remember your child will be required to wear a jacket for recess if the temperature is not 60 degrees or warmer. Finally, although flip flops are comfortable for many, we encourage sending them in tennis shoes or shoes that will keep their feet warmer during these constantly changing spring days.
Traffic Safety
As you drop off your child in the mornings, please be sure that student safety is kept in mind. Vehicles should remain in the drop-off lane all the way through the line. This means that parents should not drop off their students and then pull out of the line into the drive-through lane. Following these simple procedures will help keep everyone safe.
April Calendar
3 - MARCH READING MADNESS CELEBRATION
4 - OLD HOOSIER GIVE BACK
4 - NO SCHOOL
7TH THRU 11TH - NO SCHOOL; SPRING BREAK
14 - WELCOME BACK!
15 - FAMILY SWIM NIGHT 6:30-8:00 AT NHS
16 - PTO MEETING @ 3:30
17 - WEAR YOUR NO BULLY SHIRT
18 - NO SCHOOL; GOOD FRIDAY
22 - KINDERGARTEN ROUND-UP
22 - SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
IF YOUR CHILD WILL BE ABSENT FROM SCHOOL PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CALL THE OFFICE @ 514-825-2158 BEFORE 8:30AM
PLANNING AHEAD FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR
If you know that your child will not be returning to MES...
Please let the school know as soon as possible. It is helpful for us to know in advance when planning classrooms for next year.
Important dates:
Please plan to come to MES on August 6th (time TBD) to pick up your child's 2025-2026 registration packet with forms that need updating for the upcoming school year. This day will be "drive-through" style as in years past. All forms should be completed at home and returned to school on Back to School Night or the first day of school. This is also the day your child will learn who their teacher will be for the fall.
Our Back to School Night is August 11th, and your child can meet their teacher and see their classroom. Back to School Night is from 5:15 - 6:30.
The first day of school will be Wednesday, August 14th at 8:05 - late start Wednesday.
Kindergarten 2025 Enrollment
Please click this link to be taken to the enrollment form or call the office at 574-825-2158. A mailing with more information will be sent closer to kindergarten round up.
2025-2026 BUS INFORMATION
Your efforts to keep Transportation updated with your student's bus needs helps us to provide efficient bus service for as many students as possible. Transportation changes can be submitted online, on our webpage. This includes indicating if your child will NO LONGER be a bus rider, as that will allow another student to ride, as we manage restricted student capacities and a shortage of bus drivers. If there are no changes from this year to the next, a new form is not required.
IF YOUR STUDENT'S BUSING NEEDS CHANGE FOR NEXT YEAR, PLEASE SUBMIT A NEW TRANSPORTATION REQUEST FORM.
To access a printable form click here. To access an online form click here.
Please remember to have requests submitted by July 18, 2025. Any change made after that date WILL NOT BE GUARANTEED A BUS RIDE ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
For questions, please contact the Middlebury Community Schools Transportation Department at 574-825-9410
2-HOUR DELAY INFORMATION
If we have a 2 hour delay, school will start at 9:40am - EVEN IF IT IS A WEDNESDAY. You will get an automated call for all school delays or closures. However, if your have a phone with an extension our system is not able to work around that to leave a message. You can always call the school at 574-825-2158 to see if there is a delay or closing if the weather looks bad. Please make sure we always have an up to date phone number. Please eat breakfast at home on 2-hour delay days, if possible. We will only offer a grab-and-go breakfast to those who cannot eat at home.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Students are expected to be in school except in the cases of emergency, illness, or school-approved absences. Parents should call the school office at 574-825-2158 on the day a student is absent. The school will call if no parent contact is made by 8:30 AM. A doctor's note may be required for an extended illness. If your child cannot participate in PE or recess due to illness or injury he/she must bring a doctor's note stating the reason for being excused.
BACKGROUND CHECKS
The safety of our students is top priority. ALL adults who will be interacting with our students are required to fill out a background check YEARLY. Click here to fill out the form online. If you do not have internet access, call the school for a paper copy.
When visitors come to the school they will need to present an ID or driver's license to scan into our security system and receive a visitor badge.
School Breakfast
Mornings can be rushed, but it is important to make time for breakfast. Children can benefit from the School Breakfast Program! Studies show that school breakfast can raise test scores while improving classroom attentiveness and behavior. Make sure your kids start the school day with a healthy meal!
MCS WEBSITE
Here you can find breakfast and lunch menus, photos from our school system, newsletters, and fun educational websites for your child to brush up on their skills.
SIGN IN/OUT
Any student that arrives after the tardy bell or leaves the school before the end of the day must be signed in or out by an adult. If this person is not a parent/guardian, please make sure the office is aware. Thank you!
ART NEWS FROM MRS. RUSK
The MCS Art Show will be on May 9th, 5-7pm, with awards at 6pm in the auditorium. All students with art featured in the show will bring home details at the end of April. Anyone can attend the Art Show. You can come and go as you wish and view the wonderful talent our students have to share!
LIBRARY NEWS FROM MRS. DAVIS
Great job on your March Reading Madness minutes Middies! You all met AND exceeded your goal! We can't wait to share the winners with everyone before Spring Break.
MUSIC NEWS FROM MR. LOAR
Concert Dates for 2025
First Grade: May 8, 2025 @ 6PM
PE NEWS FROM MRS. FREY
Thank you to all the students who participated in this year's Run The Halls. A BIG thank you to our parent volunteers! Here are our Top 5 Runners for 2nd and 3rd grade and our mini marathon token award winners.
Top 5 2nd Grade Girls: Top 5 2nd Grade Boys:
Arya James 21 miles 1. Kolten Fitzsimmons 25.25 miles
Jaylee Daniels 19.75 miles 2. Rowen Strombeck 24.75 miles
Penelope Daniel 19 miles 3. Edison Gorsuch 23 miles
Paityn McHenry 16.25 miles 4. Tanner Hartman 18 miles
Avery Ellinger 16 miles 5. Bentley Keene 16.75 miles
Top 5 3rd Grade Girls Top 5 3rd Grade Boys:
Audrey Yoder 18.5 miles 1. Josiah Holloway 24.75
Kensington Hylkema 17 miles 2. Asher Godman 24.25
Harper Miller 17 miles 3. Carter Wiley 23.5 miles
Reese Beiler 16.75 miles Grayson Yoder 23.5 miles
Clara Bennett 16.25 miles 4. Santi Leos 23.25 miles
Kenzie Christner 16.25 miles 5. Sawyer Jones 20.75 miles
Emmalin Peterson 15.75 miles
Mini Marathon Token Award Winners:
Josiah Holloway, Asher Godman, Kolten Fitzsimmons, Rowen Strombeck, Grayson Yoder, Carter Wiley, Edison Gorsuch, Blake Hartwig, Arya James, Sawyer Jones, Tanner Hartman, Jaylee Daniels, Penelope Daniel, Paityn McHenry, Audrey Yoder, Santi Leos, Clara Bennett, Kenzie Christner, Harper Miller, Bentley Keene, Kensington Hylkema, Reese Beiler, Avery Ellinger, Kadence O'Brien, Emmalin Peterson, Gemma Soucy, Tenley Fred, Noah Wojciechowski, Lexi Lovely, Jaxton Taylor, Tatum Bontrager, Bo Jakubowicz, Lillian Conrad, Mia Miller, Rylan Yoder, Finley Yoder, Brooklynn Sauceda, and Ella Frey
TRANSPORTATION
If you know in the morning that your student will have a change from their normal routine at the end of school, please send a note that morning. If you are unable to do this, please call the school before 1:30PM. Notes are appreciated more than telephone calls. Your cooperation is appreciated.
FREE/REDUCED MEALS
Click here to apply online for free or reduced meals. If you do not have internet access and need a paper copy of the form please call the school. If your financial situation changes at any point during the school year you may apply for free or reduced meals.
LATE START WEDNESDAY
Remember that school will start later every Wednesday at 8:05AM. Bus routes will run 20-25 minutes later than other days.
HOWEVER If we have a 2 hour delay on a Wednesday, the day will start 2 hours later than a regular Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday. The 2 hour delay time does not include the Wednesday delay time.
MEAL PRICES
BREAKFAST
$1.70 per day
$8.50 per week
LUNCH
$2.45 per day
$12.25 per week
REDUCED BREAKFAST
$0.30 per day
$1.50 per week
REDUCED LUNCH
$0.40 per day
$2.00 per week
If your child receives free or reduced meals and packs their lunch but wants milk, they need to buy milk. Milk costs $0.65.
You can deposit money into your child's lunch account online through the LINQ Connect website or by sending money to school clearly labeled with your child's name.
Negative balance notices are bright pink and sent home daily. Please take care of negative balances as soon as possible.
Middlebury Elementary is an ALLERGY AWARE building. We have many students with various food allergies. PLEASE FOLLOW GUIDANCE FROM YOUR STUDENT'S TEACHER REGARDING SNACKS AND TREATS FOR THE CLASSROOM! In some cases, very specific brands known to be safe will be requested. Thank you for your cooperation so that all classmates feel safe and included in celebrations.
NEWS FROM OUR NURSE, MRS. GLEIM
If your child is sick, please KEEP THEM HOME! Remember - students must not have had a fever (below 100.4), vomited, or had diarrhea for 24 hours (without the help of medicine) before they may return to school.
The clinic would appreciate donations of pants for both boys and girls in smaller sizes: 5 through 7. Thank you!
Please keep a seasonally appropriate CHANGE OF CLOTHES in your child's backpack. Accidents, spills, & playground messes are all possible, and I may not have the right size to loan your child.
Middlebury Schools needs substitute nurses!! If you or someone you know would be interested I'd be happy to talk about it with you!
CHANGES IN CHILDREN'S INFORMATION
Many changes may occur throughout the school year regarding telephone numbers, work numbers, addresses, and transportation arrangements. Please notify the school office when these changes happen and give new information to the office.
Morning Transportation Changes
If you have last minute transportation changes in the mornings (for example, on 2 hour delay days), then a call needs to be made to Transportation @ 574-825-9410 or to your child's bus driver.
ROOMS - classroom communication tool
If you have not yet accepted the invitation from your child's teacher to ROOMS, please do so as soon as possible. This new platform will be the district's main source of communication going forward.
Hi MES Family! Happy April! ) We hope everyone is doing well and enjoying signs that Spring is here! We want to give a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who came out to Hacienda for our Give Back night last month! It was a great night and we appreciate your support!
Looking Ahead: We have been busy coming up with a family fun night that will happen the first week of May(5-9th) during our Spring Book Fair, so mark that week down in your calendar and look forward to hearing more details about it after Spring Break!
Our next PTO meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 16, at 3:30 at the school, with childcare available for school-aged children. Come help us plan our future events- as we are always looking for new members & would love to have you join us! Hope everyone has a WONDERFUL Spring Break and a fabulous month. :)
MES STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Our Middie Staff Spotlight winner for the month was Mrs. Frederick! She is a 2nd grade teacher here at MES and is very well loved. Enjoy a little bit about her below and make sure to say hi if you see her in the hallway!
Hi! My husband and I have two teenage boys, Alex, a 17-year-old junior, and Braden, a 15-year-old freshman at Northridge High School. As a family, we love spending summers out on our boat, where I enjoy watching the boys tube, water ski, and wakeboard. In my free time, I’m a big fan of true crime stories and podcasts. My favorite drink is Crazy Jamaican coffee from The Refinery with my homemade creamer, and my favorite baked good is my mom’s delicious Black Magic cake!
Do you shop at Hardings?
Did you know Harding's offers community rewards? This is a way you can help earn money for MES doing something you would normally do! Information on how to sign up is at this link. When you shop just enter your phone number at check out. So simple!
Cafeteria News:
On April 17th we will celebrate National Animal Cracker Day. April 22nd is Earth Day. Come have some dirt pudding with us!
Have a fantastic Spring Break and remember to make healthy choices and drink lots of water!
