Montevideo Middle School

Please tune in to the latest Superintendent Stream. Happy Holidays to all! https://youtu.be/Bfwd9QWdYi4

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! Shining in this week’s spotlight is Molli Tostenson, Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) servicing grades 3-12. Molli is also a JH volleyball coach. This year is Molli’s fifth year with Montevideo Public Schools. Molli grew up in Montevideo and graduated from Montevideo High School. She received an undergraduate degree in Communication Disorders and a Master of Science degree in Speech Pathology from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She is married to Ryan Tostenson (fellow Monte graduate), and they have one daughter Everly (4) and a yellow lab Laela. Molli enjoys spending time with her family and friends, watching sports, going to concerts, golfing, traveling and relaxing at the lake. Molli says, “As a fellow Thunder Hawk graduate, I am blessed to be back in town to help the students in our community become successful communicators! It is also so fun to work alongside some of the teachers I had. I have so much fun watching my nieces and nephews play as Thunder Hawks in all of their extracurricular events. I'm excited to watch my daughter start her education here with a great group of educators and staff!” We’re proud to have you on our team, Molli! Thank you for being an exceptional teacher and for making a difference in the lives of our students. #StaffSpotlight #greatemployees #staffappreciation

SCHOOL CALENDAR REMINDER: Winter Break - No School December 25 - January 1

SCHOOL CALENDAR REMINDER Friday, December 15 is an Early Dismissal-Staff Development Day for Montevideo Public Schools. Winter Break - No School December 25-Janauary 1

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! Shining in this week's Staff Spotlight is Sarah Smiens, District School Nurse! Sarah grew up in and still lives in her hometown of Montevideo. After high school, she continued her education at MN West Community and Technical College and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 2015. She started back to school again in 2021 at Western Governor's University and received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in September of 2022. Since then, Sarah has obtained her MN Public Health Certification and School Nurse License. Sarah is married to her husband Jeremy and has four children-Brett, Erin, Braden, and Gwyn, and one grandchild Cooper. Sarah's hobbies and things she likes to do outside of work include playing cards with her kids, hunting, fishing, babysitting Cooper, watching her daughter Gwyn play sports, and spending time at her lake cabin on Big Stone Lake in the summer with her family. A Fun Fact about Sarah - she held the school record at Sanford Elementary School for girls doing the most pull-ups, and she still has the trophy that she received from Mr. Wasnick! Sarah says, "I love my hometown of Montevideo and being a part of the amazing school system that I was lucky enough to have attended when I was a child." We're proud to have you on our team, Sarah! Thank you for the caring and compassionate work you do for the health and wellness of our students and staff. #StaffSpotlight #staffappreciation

From our Thunder Hawk family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! We are proud to shine this week’s spotlight on Erika Zachman! Erika is the district's Payroll & Accounting Specialist. She has worked for the school district for 6 years. Erika's hometown is Montevideo. She is a 2005 Montevideo High School graduate and a graduate of Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall, MN. Erika and her husband Phil have one daughter, Lyla. In her free time, Erika enjoys traveling, camping, golfing, hiking, kayaking and downhill skiing. Erika says, "I am very fortunate to be a part of this great Thunder Hawk community. I grew up as a Thunder Hawk, and I’m excited that my daughter gets to continue her education as one with the great group of educators and support staff we have here throughout the district." We're lucky to have you on our team, Erika! Thank you for all the hard work you put in daily! Know that it is recognized and greatly appreciated. #StaffSpotlight #greatemployees #staffappreciation

Please join us at Montevideo Middle School tonight for our Fall Band Concert: Monday, November 20th at 7:00 p.m. in the MMS Gymnasium. Presented by 6th & 7th Grade Band, directed by Mr. Riley Frank, and 8th Grade Band, directed by Mr. Hunter Hamby.

REMINDER - Mark your calendar! Wednesday, November 22nd is an Early Dismissal - Staff Development Day for the Thunder Hawks. NO SCHOOL on Thursday, November 23 & Friday, November 24th for Thanksgiving Break.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! This week’s spotlight shines on Adam Eakes! Adam is a paraprofessional at the Montevideo Middle School. In the spring, you’ll find him at the baseball field after school. Adam is also a Montevideo Thunder Hawks Junior High Baseball Coach! Adam grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He has a beautiful family of five: two daughters, two sons, and an amazing wife Karina. In his free time, Adam enjoys spending time with his family. His favorite pastime is baseball, going to games and coaching. We’re proud to have you on our team, Adam! We appreciate all you do to support our students and teachers every day! #StaffSpotlight #greatemployees #staffappreciation

It's Election Day! Your vote matters! Cast your informed vote on the two referendum questions on today's ballot. Polling Location - National Guard Training and Community Center (TACC), 711 South 17th Street, Montevideo, MN Polling Hours - 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

SCHOOL CALENDAR REMINDER: NO SCHOOL on Thursday, November 9 & Friday, November 10, 2023 Conferences November 9: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. November 14: 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

This week is National School Psychology Week, November 6-10, 2023, and we are celebrating School Psychologist Nicole Redmann! Join us in thanking Nicole for going above and beyond to support our students, families and staff! We are grateful to have her serving in our district. #HawkPride #SchoolPsychWeek

SCHOOL CALENDAR REMINDER Friday, November 3rd is an Early Dismissal - End of Quarter 1 for the Thunder Hawks. Early dismissal times are: Ramsey 1:15 pm Sanford 1:20 pm MHS 1:25 pm MMS 1:30 pm

On October 27, 2023, Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan announced the appointment of two new members to the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board. Congratulations to our very own Brandee Shoemaker! #HawkPride Brandee Shoemaker Teacher Outside the Seven-County Metro Area Effective: November 1, 2023 Term Expires: January 6, 2025 New Seat

Reminder: There are 7 days left to cast your early vote! The district office is open from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. The Special Election will be held at the TACC on Tuesday, November 7th. Polling hours will be from 7 a.m.-8 p.m.

October 27th is World Occupational Therapy Day, and we would like to take this opportunity to recognize our OT and OT Assistant! Stacy and Lauren do a wonderful job evaluating needs, developing specific plans and making sure our students are continually improving and reaching their goals. Thank you for supporting and empowering our kids! We are so grateful for your work! #HawkPride #worldoccupationaltherapyday #greatemployees #staffappreciation

Do you have questions about the referendum? Join us for our last community info session tonight at 6:00 p.m. at the high school where we'll be answering any questions you have. #MontevideoForward

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to our elementary schools and middle school! SAVE THE DATE for November 9 & 14 (during school conferences), and get ready to empower your reader with book choice. Watch for more information to come!

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! We are proud to shine the spotlight on Shea Bohlin this week! This is Shea’s second year working in the district’s Grounds and Maintenance Department. He also works as co-manager and holds the office of Quartermaster of our Montevideo VFW. Shea’s hometown is Montevideo, and he is a 2003 Montevideo graduate. Shea was in the Minnesota National Guard for eight years with a deployment to Iraq in 2004-2005. He and his wife Nikki have been married 15 years, and together they have three boys, Jaxon, Rauly and Wynston. In Shea’s free time, he enjoys spending time with his family in the outdoors hiking, kayaking, camping and riding dirt bike. Shea says, “It’s nice to be living in a small town and enjoying a simpler life. I love watching our boys grow up in our hometown and attending the same schools I went to, sharing similar memories with them roaming the halls of Montevideo Schools.” We appreciate you, Shea, and your hard work and dedication to Montevideo Public Schools! Thanks for all that you do! #StaffSpotlight #greatemployees #staffappreciation