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
We are back in the swing of things here at MES! We focus on nine life skills throughout the year. We pick one life skill to work on each week. We try to focus on each life skill four times a year. The life skills we focus on are: integrity, courage, initiative, perseverance, organization, effort, responsibility, patience, and friendship.
On another note, we believe that attendance and punctuality are very important at MES. Please try your best to have your children to school on time. I know this can be difficult if you are commuting, but we do ask you to try your best. Our start times are listed below. Thank you for your efforts.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday:
7:20 - doors open for breakfast eaters
7:25 - 1st bell/busses unload
7:40 - tardy bell, parents must sign students in after this time
Wednesday:
7:45- doors open for breakfast eaters
7:50- 1st bell/busses unload
8:05 - tardy bell, parents must sign students in after this time
February Calendar
4 - Happy Day Club after school
4 - Board Meeting 4:00PM @ Ad Center
6 - Old Hoosier Give Back
10 - Run the Halls begins for 2nd & 3rd grade
11 - Happy Day Club after school
14 - Class Valentine's Day Parties
17 - NO SCHOOL
18 - Happy Day Club after school
18 - Family Swim Night 6:30-8:00 @ High School
19 - PTO Meeting 3:30
20 - Wear Your No Bully Shirt
21 - Yearbook Orders Due
25 - Happy Day Club after school
Make sure your child is prepared for the cold and snow!
We will go outside for recess as long as the temperature (with wind chill) is above 15 degrees. To play in the snow the children need to have a winter coat, snow pants, snow boots, gloves/mittens and a hat. If you need assistance purchasing any cold weather items, contact the school.
IF YOUR CHILD WILL BE ABSENT FROM SCHOOL PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CALL THE OFFICE @ 514-825-2158 BEFORE 8:30AM
Kindergarten 2025 Enrollment
We have started taking names of potential kindergarten students for the 2025-2026 school year. A child is eligible for kindergarten if he or she will be 5 years old on or before August 1, 2025. 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. Round-up will be on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
YEARBOOK ORDERS
If you still need to order a yearbook you can do so by following this link. Yearbooks cost $13 and orders are due FEBRUARY 21ST. If you do not remember if you ordered a yearbook when pictures were taken, call the school at 574-825-2158. THIRD GRADERS do not need to buy a yearbook. One will be given to them by the Student Leadership Team.
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!
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.
ART NEWS FROM MRS. RUSK
Hacienda in Goshen will be featuring 2nd Grade Bean Art in the restaurant the week of March 3-9. Please stop in to view the unique creations from our talented 2nd graders!
PE NEWS FROM MRS. FREY
Get ready for RUN THE HALLS! This activity will begin February 10th and end March 19th, 2025. This FREE program is for all 2nd and 3rd graders. Permission slips should have come home already. Your child needs to have a ride home after school to participate. I will be looking for parent volunteers to help. Let me know if you are available and interested. Looking forward to Run The Halls!
MUSIC NEWS FROM MR. LOAR
Concert Dates for 2025
Third Grade: March 20, 2025 @ 6PM
First Grade: May 8, 2025 @ 6PM
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 sizes 5 and 6 bottoms and underwear for both boys and girls.
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! Another month has flown by and we hope you’re all doing well! This month we will kick off our new calendar fundraiser that will help to reimburse PTO for the playground remodel! The goal is to try to fill up your calendar by selling off each day of the month for that $ amount. Calendars will come home February 14th and are due back on the 28th, so look for that in folders soon!
Another exciting event happing at the beginning of March you can look forward to is our annual Hacienda Give Back night on Monday March 3rd! Get pumped for not having to cook on a Monday and go grab some yummy food with friends or family that night at Hacienda to support MES! *We have attached the coupon image below but will be sent home also.
If you are unable to join that night you can still help by pre-ordering Hacienda gift cards! Order forms for gift cards will go home February 24th and are due back the 27th. We will pick up and send home pre-ordered gift cards the week of March 3rd.
Our next PTO meeting is scheduled for Wednesday February 19, at 3:30 at the school, with childcare available for school-aged children. We are always looking for new members and would love to have you join us! Hope everyone has a fabulous month! :)
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:
Join us on February 7th for a Super Bowl Party!
February 14th we will have a Valentine's lunch with a special treat!
February 18th we will have a President cookie treat! Eat with us and see which Presidents are on your cookies.
February 27th is National Chili Day. Join us for a hot bowl of chili and a breadstick!
