New 9th Graders' Orientation a Big Success

In place of our normal meeting on the evening of June 12, the PTA welcomed the incoming class of 2011 and their parents at MCSM’s New 9th Grader Orientation session. Turnout was excellent and, despite the heat and humidity, the new 9th graders received a very good introduction to the school, including a chance to get lost trying to find their assigned rooms. They filled out necessary information forms and got their summer reading assignments.

This year, the PTA took its most active role ever in greeting the new students and their families. A welcome letter, a survey of parents’ interests for future PTA meeting topics, and several pages of useful information were included in the usual MCSM orientation folder. In the entrance lobby, across from the auditorium, the PTA displayed its new “Welcome/Bienvenidos” banners and maintained an information table with MCSM logo gym bags, CD cases, and ballpoint pens for sale. In the process, parents had a chance to meet and chat with Parent Coordinator Julia Valentin and four members of the PTA Executive Board -- Nevis Almeida, Deirdre Rose, Don Redish, and Steve Koss – along with parents Oriel Sanchez and Clemence Henry.

Don Redish and his 10th grade son Deane, Oriel Sanchez, and Steve Koss were back again Saturday morning when the new 9th graders and their parents returned for math and Spanish language placement exams and had their pictures taken by Ms. Warner for the school ID cards they will receive in September. PTA members helped parents with their forms and answered numerous questions about the school.

Something new was also added for this coming year and beyond – a request for a PTA dues donation. Incoming parents were asked to make a donation of $20.00 to cover all four years, just $5.00 per year. The PTA plans to continue this policy and will make the same request for dues to parents of 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students. Between Tuesday and Saturday alone, the PTA received over $1,000 in dues donations from our incoming class of 2011. They and their families are already making they mark as MCSM enters its Jubilee 25th Anniversary year. Many thanks to those families and to all the parents who volunteered time to make our new students and parents feel welcomed at MCSM.