Dear MS Families, 

With report cards on the horizon and a new semester just starting, teachers are spending time in advisory groups discussing the concept of growth mindset. A growth mindset is a psychological perspective or attitude that individuals adopt toward learning, intelligence, and personal development. Psychologist Carol S. Dweck developed the concept. In a growth mindset, people believe their abilities and intelligence can be developed over time through dedication, hard work, learning, and perseverance.

Over the past few weeks advisory groups have been focusing on the concept of growth mindset in their own lives. Students have defined the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset and made personal connections to when they have demonstrated or struggled to demonstrate a growth mindset. As report cards are shared with families next week, please take this opportunity to stretch your child’s growth mindset around some of their more challenging classes. How can parents support this? Tips are taken from minssetkit.org

• ​​Recognize your own mindset: Be mindful of your own thinking and of the messages you send with your words and actions.

• Praise the process: Praising kids for being smart suggests that innate talent is the reason for success while focusing on the process helps them see how their effort leads to success.

• Model learning from failure: When parents talk positively about making mistakes, kids start to think of mistakes as a natural part of the learning process.

For resources on supporting a growth mindset in your child, please check out https://www.mindsetkit.org/growth-mindset-parents

Please join us in-person or online for the MS Family Connection Series 

Who: Ms. Martinez and Ms. Nielsen will host the series. This is open to all MS parents and caregivers 

What: A three-week mini introduction or refresher to Active Parenting

When: February 4, 11, and 18th from 9:15 - 10:15 am 

Where: Room 127 & Live streamed

Why: Each year we host our 6-week Active Parenting course to support MS families in building communication and cooperation with their tweens. This year we hosted the course in the fall and our spring parent connection series will be based on three aspects of Active Parenting–Communication Barriers, Goals of Tween Behavior, and Structures for Communication and Problem Solving. We will be hosting the session in person and online. We will share a live stream link in the WGO as we get closer to the Feb 4th date. 

How: For these sessions, you will either join in person or online. There is no sign-up required and you can attend any or all of the sessions.

Livestream Links:

• Feb 4

• Feb 11

• Feb 18

Course Registration 25-26 

Save The Date! MS Course Registration 

• As we prepare for the next school year, the MS team is actively working on our schedule and course registration process. In the coming weeks you and your child will be receiving the 2025-2026 Middle School Program of Studies. Additionally, on February 24th we will host a parent meeting to go over the course registration process for all current Grade 6 and Grade 7 families.  

• Please save the date for Monday, February 24 at 5:30 pm. This meeting will take place on-campus in the ACS theater The MS office will send you a formal invitation and reminders for this event. We look forward to sharing more important information with you soon. If you can’t make it, we will record the session and share the presentation and slides in the WGO. 

From the HS Office to the 8th graders

• Below, we have provided all the documents you will need in order to be prepared for helping your son/daughter select their courses for next year.

• Please make sure that you have reviewed the 4 Year Plan and the Program of Studies prior to the scheduled meeting your child has selected with either Ms. Kurdi, Ms. Collings, or Mr. Wilusz.

• 4 Year Plan

• Program of Studies

• Program of Studies Presentation (Slides)

• Parent Meeting Recording

• Lastly, take note of the following important Course Selection dates:

• January 30th @ 1:00 p.m. - Info Meeting w/ Grade 8 Students

• February 6th @ 1:00 p.m. - Grade 8 Course Selections

Warmly, 

Molly