Friday, January 27, 2023

Mandarino Minutes for 1-27-23

Dear Upton Middle School families,

End of the Semester -

Today is the end of the first semester. Just a reminder that we do not hand out a paper copy of the report card until the end of the school year. Grades will be final in PowerSchool for the second marking period and semester next Wednesday, February 1st. As always if you have any questions about grades please reach out to the respective teacher/s first.

Variety Show Tonight -

The Upton Middle School variety show is this evening at the John & Dede Auditorium at St. Joseph High School beginning at 7:00 PM. Kids/Students are $2 and adults are $5. Please consider coming and supporting our students!

Reminder for Attendance -

School begins promptly at 7:45 AM. If your child arrives at 7:45am or later, they are considered Tardy until 7:55 AM. Students that arrive after that are considered Absent. If we do not receive a phone call before 10:00 AM with a reason for the late arrival, you will receive an attendance call.

Please see the Handbook, section IV for more information on attendance:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eV_--7Vkpmc8OKWi8TekwVMoNFdv1tzn/view

Black History Month -

Wed, Feb 1, 2023 - Wed, Mar 1, 2023

Black History Month is an annual observance originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It has received official recognition from governments in the United States and Canada, and more recently has been observed in Ireland, and the United Kingdom. https://blackhistorymonth.gov/

Educator of the Week -

Nomination Statement for Burke:

“Burke Lokey is the definition of a MASTA Teacher of the Year. He continuously seeks out new and unique opportunities for his students and achieves the highest standards. In addition to performing at the Michigan Music Conference and the ASTA National Orchestra Festival, he tours with his orchestras both nationally and internationally performing in unique venues and acquiring amazing clinicians for his groups while on his tours. Burke’s leadership in Southwest Michigan has sustained the tradition of excellence in that area of the state created by the Reed family decades earlier.

His professional service is a gift to our organization in addition to his teaching excellence. He has sustained MASTA’s strong financial position through a pandemic and the changing environment of our activities and does it all with calm and professionalism.”

Students of the Week -

Upton staff votes each week on students that go above and beyond in the

classroom. This week’s students of the week are:

Baxter Dorow, Izadora Pacheco, Emily Robinson, Samaika Singh

7th & 8th grade Upton Dance -

The next Upton Dance is for 7th and 8th grade Upton Students ONLY on February 10th from 5:30-7:30pm. Please contact your UPTO to be a chaperone at : uptonmiddlepto@gmail.com

Upton Skate Nights in February -

Thanks so much to Honor Credit Union for their sponsorships of these evenings!

One last plug on the Survey-

SJPS would love your input on the parent & community survey! Please take a short time to give us your feedback on a variety of topics. The deadline is this Tuesday, January 31st.

Parent & Community Survey Link

Feed the Bears Cookbook-

SJPS Foundation - Feed the Bears Cookbook

A collection of favorite recipes from St. Joseph Public Schools Alumni, Teachers, Administrators, Students, Retirees and Friends of the Foundation! Proceeds benefit SJPS Teachers and Students!

The cookbook features full-color student artwork on the cover and section tabs, as well as a recipe index. Stop by the Upton Office to purchase a cookbook for $20.

Or you can order through this link: https://store.sjhsencore.org/p/cookbook/

Late Start next week -

Next Wednesday, February 1st is a late start. School begins at 8:45 am.

Doors open at 8:15 am.

Lunch Next Week -

Monday - Chicken patty, tater tots

Tuesday - Beef nachos, refried beans

Wednesday - Chicken tenders, waffles, hash browns

Thursday - Penne pasta with alfredo or marinara sauce, garlic bread, broccoli

Friday - Cheese bosco sticks with marinara sauce, steamed green beans

* Lunch includes - choice of salad bar, milk and fruit.

Quote of the week-

Have a good Friday and weekend,

Mr. Mandarino

Friday, January 20, 2023

Mandarino Minutes for 1-20-23

Dear Upton Middle School Families,

Schedule next week-

Half days next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday!

School dismisses at 11:00am.

**Boys and Girls Club will run 11:15am - 5:00pm Wednesday - Friday. Sack lunches will be provided**. Your son/daughter must already be signed up to attend this club.

Upton Spelling Bee Winners -

After many weeks of practice, the following 3 students emerged as the Upton Spelling Bee winners. They will represent Upton Middle School in the Cloverleaf Spelling Bee on February 22 at the Mendel Center. Congratulations Swarnali Basu, Suprabha Singh, and Kavya Singh!!!

Kavya Singh, Swarnali Basu, Coach Mrs. Gressley, Suprabha Singh

NHS Tutoring Reminder -

Tutoring will ONLY be next Tuesday at the High School. Due to the half days, we will not have tutoring on Wednesday at Upton or Thursday at the high school.

Free tutoring is offered at the high school every Tuesday and Thursday from 3-4pm. Students must come to the Upton office each day for a study session form right away in the morning. This form needs to be filled out by your child’s teacher and returned to the Upton office BEFORE noon on the days that they plan to attend. Students will ride the White Swan bus to the high school and then report to the HS media center. Tutoring ends at 4pm and must be picked up at the HS.

We also have Free NHS Tutoring at Upton on Wednesdays from 3-4pm in the Upton Media Center. No pass is needed to attend on Wednesdays.

Builders Club Fundraiser-

Builders Club is making cake pops to sell at the 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade lunches on Monday, January 23rd, and Tuesday the 24th. Cake pops will be sold for $1.00 and the proceeds will go toward the Emergency Shelter Services. A Builders Club representative will be selling them at all of our lunches.

Upton Variety Show -

The Upton Variety Show will be next Friday, January 27th starting at 7pm at the John & Dede Auditorium located at St Joseph High School. Please come and support our students!

Kids/students are $2 and Adults are $5.

Upton Credit Union -

Upton Bears Student CU is open every Tuesday during all lunch periods, outside the cafeteria. Upton Bears Student CU offers great incentives to promote good saving habits for students. All new members will receive $15 if they open their membership with at least $1 (membership forms are available at the Upton Bears Student CU table or in the school office). All existing members will receive $5 for making their first deposit at Upton Bears Student CU. There is a prize box so students can choose a prize with every deposit. Every deposit is entered into a monthly drawing to win a gift basket with a $25 Visa gift card. Every deposit is also entered into an annual drawing to win either an iPad Mini or a $250 deposit into their savings account at the end of the school year!

December Winner: Nora Schultz

Art Journaling Club-

Soccer Club -

Spring Girls Soccer Club sign-up through 2/1 for our season starting after spring break. Please use this form for information about the club and to sign up https://forms.gle/CdQSouMaHtVXVxNW8. Fees can be paid on Upton's revtrak under Camps https://sjschools.revtrak.net/upton-middle-school/upton-middle-camps/#/f/Upton-MS-Soccer-Club-Girls-Spring-2023. Please email socceruptonmiddleschool@gmail.com with questions.

Looking forward to a great season! Go, Bears!

Volleyball Clinic -

Michigan State Men's Volleyball Clinic's & Volleyball Match with Notre Dame @ St. Joe High School in St. Joseph, MI. Saturday February 11, 2023 featuring MSU Head Volleyball Coach Sante Perrelli and his Spartans Men's Team.

Event Address:

St. Joseph High School Field House

2521 Stadium Drive, St. Joseph, Mi 49085

3 Separate Volleyball Clinics: (click on-line Registration Link down below).

10:00 am - 12:00 pm Adults, Also Middle School & High School Boys
12:30 pm - 2:30 pm Grades 7 -12, Girls
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Grades K - 6, Boys and Girls

Clinic Cost is $35.00 if registered by January 26th

(pay via Credit Card @ the Clinic Registration Link down below).

After January 26th, the cost is $45.00 per person.

2 Hour Volleyball Clinic with Coach Sante Perrelli & MSU Men's Volleyball Team
MSU vs. ND Men's Volleyball T-Shirt (good for autographs after clinics & match).
Free Pass for that nights Men's Volleyball Match between MSU and ND

T-shirt cut off:

Full registration must be received by January 27th, 2023 to guarantee a free t-shirt after January 27, you will not get a shirt.

** Plus - Saturday Night Men's Volleyball Match:

Michigan State vs. Notre Dame Men's Volleyball Match also @ St. Joseph High School. Doors open at 6:15 pm and match begins at 7:15 pm.

All registered clinic attendees will get a pass for free entry into the volleyball match. All others will be $5.00 at the door.

Click Here to Register

Competitive Cheer -

The Upton Middle School Competitive Cheer team will be competing this Saturday morning at Coloma High School at 300 W St Joseph St, Coloma, Mi 49038. Competition begins at 10 a.m. Admission is $5.00.

Come support your Lady Bears!!