Friday, April 14, 2023

Mandarino Minutes for 4-14-23

 Dear Upton Middle School Families,


M-Step Testing - 


Our 8th graders did a great job on the PSAT this week! Next week our M-Step testing begins in 6th-8th grades. Below is our window that we will be testing in. Please try your best to get your daughter/son to school on time each morning!


  • April 18th - April 20th - ELA 6/7th Grades, Science 8th Grade
  • April 25th - April 27th - Math 6/7th Grades, Social Studies 8th Grade


**Please make sure your child’s computer is fully charged each night!**


Art Awards - 


Wednesday evening the following Upton students won 5 of 6 possible art awards at the Roti Roti Art Center in Buchanan. Please take a moment to congratulate the following students if you see them:


Catalina Gonzalez Santa Cruz - 1st Place

Reagan Scott - 2nd Place

Madison Murphy - 4th Place

Crow Zemke - Honorable Mention

Hayden Norrick - Honorable Mention




Upton Dance Club - 


The UMS Dance Club will hold its first practice at Upton TODAY from 3:00 to 4:30pm.  This has been advertised to the students in school numerous times. Anyone is welcome. Please meet in the cafeteria. You should wear comfortable clothes that are easy to move in. We hope to see you there!





4th Rotation Ends - 


Tuesday, April 18th - 4th rotation ends for 6th & 7th graders and 5th rotation will begin on April 19th.  Reminder for students to check PowerSchool for their rotation class.





Solo and Ensemble - 


Good luck on Saturday, April 22nd at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac to our solo and ensemble participants!





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: 

Maya Kern (6th Grade)

Patrick Pham (7th Grade)

Justice Goodwin (8th Grade)



Guest Speakers this week in BEAR Time -
Today for our Career Speaker Series, we were joined by Petty Officer Heather Poole of the U.S. Navy and SJHS Senior Carson Martindale who has joined the Navy as a diver.







SJHS Senior Service Club -

An after school gathering where students of all grades can interact and participate in team-building physical activities, study together, and spend time in a social setting after school on Thursdays, April 20th, and 27th until 4:30 PM.



Late Start Wednesday - 


Wednesday, April 19th is a late start and school starts at 8:45am.  Doors open at 8:15 am and breakfast is available at that time.






Hot Lunch next week - 


Monday - Cheeseburger, french fries

Tuesday - Cheese quesadilla, seasoned corn

Wednesday - Rotini pasta with meat or marinara sauce, seasoned vegetables

Thursday - Hot ham and cheese on pretzel bun, tater tots

Friday - Bosco sticks, marinara sauce, steamed green beans


*all hot lunches served with choice of milk, fruit and salad bar.




Quote of the Week -



Have a good Friday evening and weekend,
Mr. Mandarino








Friday, April 7, 2023

Mandarino Minutes for 4-7-23

 Dear Upton Middle School Families,


Welcome to the 4th Marking Period! -

Yesterday was the start of the 4th marking period. 3rd quarter grades will be official next Wednesday, April 12th in the afternoon. Just a reminder that the report card will be mailed at the end of the school year.




PSAT 2023-

Please be reminded that our 8th grade students will take the PSAT8 on Wednesday, April 12 in the morning.  Information you and your student need is below:


Eighth Grade Parents and Guardians,


On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, your 8th Grader will take the PSAT, a test to indicate preparedness for high school, and later for college and career. The PSAT 8 is the first test in the SAT Suite of Assessments. It sets a readiness baseline, allowing students and teachers to pinpoint areas for focused practice as students progress through high school.


Click on the link, Preparing for the PSAT document, which is helpful for both parents and students. Click on this link for a breakdown of test components. PSAT: Test Details 


Please make every effort to have your student in attendance and on time this day. If your student shows up late, he/she will not be able to test. Students should bring two #2 pencils, sharpened and ready to go.  You may bring a snack and a water bottle with them on test day. It must be kept under their seat until the specified break.

Thank you and good luck to our 8th grade students on Wednesday!




No Late Start this Wednesday -

We do not have a late start this Wednesday, April 12th. School begins at 7:45 AM.


Spanish Club Continued -

The Spanish Club that is starting back up (Same beginners group and advanced groups) next week.

Beginner Class - Spring Session Tuesdays, 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm 1. April 11, 2023 2. April 18, 2023 3. April 25, 2023 4. May 2, 2023 5. May 9, 2023 6. May 16, 2023 Intermediate Class - 1 Spring Session Thursdays, 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm. 1. April 13, 2023 2. April 20, 2023 3. April 27, 2023 4. * May 4, 2023 (Possible conflict with this date, Alternate date: May 25) 5. May 11, 2023


UPTO and Teacher Appreciation-

Teacher Appreciation week is rapidly approaching! Be on the lookout for more information on how you can help us honor the entire Upton staff! In the meantime, UPTO is collecting $10 gift cards from local businesses that will be presented at a Staff Appreciation Breakfast. Please drop gift cards in the black drop box near the buzzer outside the main entrance of the school no later than April 21st. Thank you for your support!




For Parents of current 5th, 6th and 7th graders: 

UPTO Mixer @ Community Tap,

Sunday

April 16th 3:30PM-5PM


Drop in for as long or little as you'd like to share ideas with the current Upton PTO, learn about open roles on the PTO for the 23/24 school year and get to know fellow parents and special guests from the Upton administration team. Hint: Schmandarino is a combination of their last names. All attendees will be entered into a drawing for a $20 gift certificate to The Market. Email uptonmiddlepto@gmail.com with questions.


Builders Club Can Drive -

Thanks once again to our wonderful Builders Club for their Upton Can Drive that benefited the Emergency Safe Shelter!



Planetarium Community Night - 


Our next Planetarium Community Night is Monday, April 10th - “The Cowboy Astronomer” at 6:30 PM at the Upton Planetarium.  This is a free event open to the public.




Washington DC 2024 trip meeting - April 13th at 6:30 PM

(For Current 7th graders)


Upton Bears Student CU- March Winner-


Congratulations to Evan Lokey, the March winner of Upton Bears Student Credit Union, a student-led program affiliated with Honor Credit Union. Upton Bears Student CU is open every Tuesday during all lunch periods, outside the cafeteria and offers great student incentives to promote regular saving habits to Start Small and Save Big! To help kick start those habits, all new members will receive $15 if they open their membership with at least $1! To open an account for the student(s) in your life, membership forms can be downloaded here or picked up in the school office. All existing members will receive $5 for making their first deposit at Upton Bears SCU. To encourage establishing a regular savings habit, there is a prize box where students can choose a prize with every deposit they make. All deposits are entered into a monthly drawing to win a gift basket with a $25 gift card. And, for a grand prize every deposit is also entered into the annual drawing for either an iPad Mini or a $250 deposit into their savings account at the end of the year! So, the more deposits made, the more chances to win! To learn more about Honor CU’s Student Credit Union program, click here.




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: 


6th Grade - Rugved Raskar

7th Grade - Ellery Flynn

8th Grade - Maria Teixeira




Educator of the Week -


Congratulations to Susan Hunnell our Upton Middle School Educator of the Week!





5th Grade Parent Night - 


We will be hosting a 5th to 6th Grade Parent ONLY night on April 27th at 6:30pm in the Upton Auditorium.  This is for Parents ONLY of all 5th graders entering 6th grade next year.





Hot Lunch this week - 


Monday - Mini corn dog, french fries

Tuesday - BBQ rib sandwich, cheesy potatoes

Wednesday - Grilled cheese sandwich, tomato soup

Thursday - Mexican rice bowl with chicken, queso, fritos, peppers and corn

Friday - French bread pizza, caesar salad


*Choice of milk, fruit and salad bar with hot lunch.





Quote of the Week -




Have a great Friday and weekend,
Mr. Mandarino



Friday, March 31, 2023

Mandarino Minutes for 3-31-23

 Dear Upton Middle School Families,


End of the Third Marking Period -
  • Next Wednesday, April 5th is the end of 3rd quarter.  
  • Thursday, April 6th is the beginning of the 4th quarter





PSAT 2023 for 8th graders -


Eighth Grade Parents and Guardians,


On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, your 8th Grader will take the PSAT, a test to indicate preparedness for high school, and later for college and career. 


The PSAT 8 is the first test in the SAT Suite of Assessments. It sets a readiness baseline, allowing students and teachers to pinpoint areas for focused practice as students progress through high school.


Click on the link, Preparing for the PSAT document, which is helpful for both parents and students.


Click on this link for a breakdown of test components. PSAT: Test Details 


Please make every effort to have your student in attendance and on time this day. If your student shows up late, he/she will not be able to test.


Thank you!

Preparing for the PSAT


Test Day Schedule - Wednesday April 12th


  • Students will report to their 1st hour class for attendance

  • Head to Blue Gym at 7:50

    • If you are bringing your own lunch, please bring it with you to your testing center

  • Students will test in an alphabetically assigned seat. Each student’s name is on a printed tag located at the assigned table.

  • Testing will begin at 8:00. Late students will not be admitted. 

  • Students will eat lunch immediately after the test.


What to Bring on Test Day

  • At least two No. 2 pencils with soft erasers -- NO pens or mechanical pencils will be allowed!

  • Wear layers (sweatshirts or hoodies are fine). Students will NOT be able to bring coats into the testing room

  • Calculators will be provided.

What NOT to bring on Test Day

  • NO Electronic equipment 

    • No cell phones allowed

    • No personal computing devices like laptops, notebooks, bluetooth devices, or tablets

    • No Cameras

    • No Timers

    • No audio players/recorders

    • No wearable technology like digital watches, including smartwatches that can be used to record, transmit, or receive information; or any other prohibited devices

  • NO backpacks

  • NO additional learning aides

    • Highlighters, rulers, earplugs, dictionaries or other books, pens or colored pencils, pamphlets and papers of any kind, including scratch paper. 





News from the Guidance Department -



CAC at Upton -


Thank you to the Child Advocacy Center for joining us this week. In recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention & Awareness Month in April, our students participated in the Statewide "wear blue day" kickoff.  We also made "pinwheels for prevention" in BEAR time this week.






BOP Fundraiser - 


The St Joseph Band and Orchestra Parents Association is hosting a fundraiser for the Bands and Orchestras with Silver Beach Pizza next Tuesday, April 4. 




Track Apparel - 


There are two options for people to buy Track Apparel (link is below) due to the HS already starting and Upton officially starting next week.

 

The first deadline is this Sunday, April 2nd at midnight.  Delivery should be approximately 2 weeks (April 12 or soon after).

 

The store will reopen on Monday, April 3rd for the week and close on Sunday, April 9th at midnight to ensure orders are able to be delivered within approximately 2 weeks (April 19th or soon after).  

 

https://bearstrack23.itemorder.com/shop/product/30963030/





Congratulations to the Wrestling

Team at State - 


The following Upton students went to State for wrestling:


Jacob Brown

Logan Case

Alec Emery

Alex Hochstetler

Gabe King

Caden LeClear

Keegan LeClear

Brayden Malone

Mason Morey

Miles Morey

Collin Sahs

Nathan Schmitt


The following students finished in the top six at state:


Keegan LeClear 3rd
Alec Emery 4th 
Mason Morey 5th
Brayden Malone 5th
Gabe King 6th





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: 



Livia Gomes - 6th Grade

Laina Roche - 7th Grade

Logan Webb - 8th Grade





Educator of the Week -




Baseball Players Needed -


SJBSA is looking for a few more 14U baseball players for this spring season!  Email Ryan Strain at president@sjbsa.org to register before Sunday.  For additional information check out www.sjbsa.org.  





Late Start Next Week -

We have a late start next Wednesday, April 5th. School begins at 8:45 AM. Doors open at 8:15 AM and breakfast is available at that time also.


Note: We do not have a late start on Wednesday, April 12th.





Hot Lunch this week - 


Monday - Chicken patty sandwich, potato wedges

Tuesday - Beef nachos or baked potato, steamed broccoli

Wednesday - Chicken tenders, waffles, hash browns

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

Friday - Bosco sticks with marinara sauce, steamed green beans

*Hot lunches served with choice of milk, fruit and salad bar.







Quote of the Week -



Have a great weekend,
Mr. Mandarino




Mandarino Minutes for 6-9-23

  Dear Upton Middle School Families, Thanks! - We thank you for sharing your daughter/son with us this school year!  We also appreciate your...