Munising Public Schools

End-of-Day Smiles at Mather! Our kindergarteners are all lined up and ready to roll after a great day of learning and play! There’s something extra sweet about those end-of-day moments while waiting for the bus with big smiles and even bigger backpacks.

MPS TRANSPORTATION UPDATE FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2025: Due to being short a driver tomorrow (4/18). The district will be running 4 Bus Routes. The routes are pictured below and can be found in the Live Feed section of the district website. Pick-up and Drop-off times could vary 10-20 minutes earlier/later than usual especially toward the end of routes. Delays of up to 20 minutes can be expected for stops in Wetmore, Alger Heights, and within city limits.

We are thrilled to recognize Brynlee Cota as Mather Elementary's Student of the Week for the week of April 7th. Great work Brynlee.

Congratulations to Zoey Fulton. She is Mather Elementary's Student of the Week.

We are looking for volunteers for our upcoming middle school and varsity track meets for timing and working field events. The dates are May 5th, 9th, and 14th. Please contact Athletic Director, Nicole Lasak at nicole.lasak@mps-up.com if you are interested in helping! Thank you!

Congratulations to Zach and his parents!

Preschoolers @ Mather practiced fine motor skills as they opened and closed eggs and filled them with different items trying to get their egg to sink. Science discussion about what they were observing and testing was also a part of the activity.

"The Munising Youth Wrestling Team has competed in 9 Youth Wrestling Tournaments, had several exhibition matches at our Varsity Wrestling home meet, and practice at least two days a week this season. Several Youth Wrestlers have been recognized as Mather Student of the week, inducted into the National Junior Honor Society, and have completed volunteer work in the community. These Youth Wrestlers range in age from 5 to 14 years old. They have bonded over a sport and have become friends and brothers and sisters from love." Last weekend the Munising Youth Wrestling Team had 14 wrestlers compete in Manistique for the last tournament of the season. Elijah Kelsey placed 3rd Winnie Livermore placed 4th Jyelle Leites placed 3rd Shaun Hill placed 2nd Grayson Paajanen placed 4th Hurshel Storm placed 3rd Gian Paajanen placed 1st Cody Grimm placed 3rd Braelyn Leites placed 3rd Nora Storm placed 4th Aubrie Livermore placed 4th Jackson Smith placed 2nd Cameron Sabin placed 4th Keara Wieczorek placed 3rd "We couldn’t be more proud of the growth the 40 Munising Youth Wrestlers" - Coach Amanda Storm

Passport Adventures in the FSP Room! Our Functional Skills Program students have been busy traveling the world—one country at a time! With their passports in hand, this week’s destination took them all the way to Japan, where they crafted their own samurai hats and explored the art of making sushi (with a kid-friendly twist, of course!). These cultural adventures are helping students build social, motor, and language skills through hands-on learning and sensory exploration. Next stop: Italy! 🇮🇹 Get ready for pizza-making fun, creative pasta crafts, and more as we dive into the sights, sounds, and tastes of Italian culture. We’re so proud of our FSP team- Mr. David, Ms Jessica & Ms. Makayla-for creating meaningful, memorable learning experiences for our students. Stay tuned for more travels around the globe! #InclusionMatters #AroundTheWorldWithFSP

🌱 Project: Plant a Seed Day – April 22nd In celebration of Earth Day and the spirit of growth and giving, students at Mather Elementary will be participating in “Plant a Seed Day” on Monday, April 22nd! Each classroom will begin by starting a seed indoors, giving students the opportunity to care for it and watch it grow into a seedling. Once the snow melts and the ground is ready, students will transplant their seedlings into our outdoor class gardens, learning firsthand about responsibility, patience, and the power of nurturing something from the ground up. 🌼 How You Can Help: If you’re able to donate potting soil or seed packets to your child’s classroom, it would be greatly appreciated! These small contributions will make a big impact on our students' learning and connection to the natural world. Please contact your child’s teacher for more information about how you can support this project. Thank you for helping our students grow—both inside and out!

Mather Elementary Quarter 3 Awards Assembly Highlights We gathered this past Tuesday to celebrate our incredible students for their effort, growth, kindness, and leadership. From STANG values to academic achievement, our Quarter 3 Assembly was full of proud moments. All-Star STANG Students Recognized for living out our core values every day: Mary Lynch (K) – Stay Safe Wayland Holly (1st) – Take Responsibility Jensen Cole (2nd) – Act with Kindness Ella Gerou (3rd) – Never Give Up Amelia Bronson (4th) – Give Respect Presley Livermore (5th) – All Five STANG Values Reflex Math Achievements Top Time on Task and Most Individual Growth Huge shoutout to Hadley Lasak, Mason St. Amour, and Cohen Long for their outstanding gains! i-Ready Reading Growth & Time on Task Applause for Reed S, Ivy S., and Joe B. for amazing progress! Most dedicated? Jaxon B. with nearly 10 hours of focused reading! AR Reading Stars 500-Point Pizza Party: Ray Fondriest & Hayden Brey 750 Points Bear: Maude Bogater Books for Bikes Winners: Leila, Josh, Stella, and Kaleb GOLD CARD Honorees Students who model excellence in behavior, academics, and attitude across all grades. Way to go, Loki, Charlotte, Jack, Breckin, Ari, and Ada! Special Shoutouts Assistant Principal Week – Our All-Star STANGs are stepping into leadership roles this week Pay It Forward Day – April 22: Don’t forget to “Start a Seed”! Marshmallow Challenge – April 25 Mather Poetry Night @ Gallery Coffee – April 25 (5:30–7:00 PM) – Join us to celebrate student voices and creativity! Honor Roll students – You continue to set the bar high! Thank you to our students, staff, and families for making this a wonderful celebration of all the growth and grit happening at Mather! Let’s keep being STANG Strong—every day, in every way!

Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten? Kindergarten Screening – Mather Elementary 📍 ARPD Gym 📅 April 23rd 📞 Call 906-387-3102 ext. 1132 to schedule your appointment today! Join us for a comprehensive kindergarten screening conducted by our experienced Mather Elementary team. Your child will take part in fun, age-appropriate activities designed to assess key areas of early development, including: ✔️ Motor skills ✔️ Language and communication ✔️ Early concepts (colors, shapes, numbers, etc.) ✔️ Social and emotional readiness Parents will also have the opportunity to meet our kindergarten teacher, ask questions, and learn more about what makes Mather Elementary a special place to learn and grow. KIndergarten is open for children who will be 5 on September 1, 2025. Please bring original birth certificate, proof of residence & immunization record. We can’t wait to meet you and your future kindergartener!

MPS TRANSPORTATION NOTICE FOR THURSDAY 4/10 & FRIDAY 4/11: We will be short a driver on those days and returning to 4 bus routes. Pictured below are the 4 routes. Delays of 20 minutes could be seen in Shingleton, Alger Heights, Wetmore, and in-town morning pickups. Afternoon drop-offs may also be later for some stops.

Congratulations to Tessa and her parents!

Congratulations to our UPSSA Boys Basketball Award Winners!

Mather Elementary Celebrates National Poetry Month We’re thrilled to announce that we’re partnering with Ana Dolaskie to host a Family Engagement Poetry Night at Gallery Coffee on Thursday, April 25th from 5:30–7:00 PM! Students from Mather Elementary (Grades K–5) will take the stage to share their voices—performing original poems they’ve created in school or reading favorite published pieces. It’s a warm, welcoming event that celebrates creativity, confidence, and student expression. Our students have been practicing throughout the month in celebration of National Poetry Month, and we’re so proud of their courage and creativity. Community and family support is essential—please join us to cheer them on! Your presence helps reinforce the value of their voices and the power of their words. Let’s come together for a night of connection, inspiration, and celebration!

You're Invited! Munising Middle/High School Drama Club Presents: Poisoned in the Garden Get ready for mystery, laughter, and a little bit of mischief! Join us for a special interactive performance of Poisoned in the Garden, a who-done-it where you, the audience, help crack the case! A 100-year-old woman has been poisoned... The suspects? Some of the town’s most prominent (and suspicious) residents. Can our detectives solve the case—or will you beat them to it? Showtimes: 📅 Thursday, April 11 at 5:00 PM 📅 Friday, April 12 at 2:00 PM 📍 William G. Mather Auditorium Admission by donation at the door Produced in cooperation with Drama Notebook Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind performance full of twists, turns, and interactive fun! Come support our talented student performers and help solve the mystery in the garden!

April is Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month At Mather Elementary, we are proud to celebrate the unique strengths, talents, and perspectives of individuals with autism. Autism is a spectrum—and every student with autism is wonderfully unique. This month, we shine a light on understanding, acceptance, and inclusion. 💙 Let’s work together to: Promote kindness and patience Celebrate neurodiversity Create classrooms and communities where everyone feels seen, supported, and valued We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our amazing teachers, support staff, and service providers who work with compassion, creativity, and dedication to support our students with autism every day. Your commitment to inclusive practices and individualized care is what makes Mather such a special place to learn and grow. We believe in embracing differences and supporting every child in reaching their full potential—this month and every month. 💙

Congratulations to our UPSSA All-UP Girls Basketball Award Winners!

Mather Elementary School Kindergarten Registration & Screening Is your child ready to start Kindergarten this fall? We’re excited to meet our newest Mustangs! Join us for registration and a brief screening to help us get to know your child and prepare for a strong start to school. Please call the Mather Elementary Office at (906) 387-2102 to schedule a time. Wednesday, April 23, 2025 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM Alger Parks and Recreation Gym In Michigan, for the 2025–2026 school year, children who turn five years old on or before September 1, 2025, are eligible to enroll in kindergarten. We look forward to welcoming your family to the Mather Elementary community! Call Today -Mather Elementary Office at (906) 387-2102