We are extremely excited to welcome students back to school for the 2026-2027 school year! In this issue of the Pack Post, you’ll find information regarding Back-to-School Night, important updates from the school nurse, PBIS, before/after-school homework help programs, and other middle school news.
Thursday, September 3, 2026 - 5:30 p.m.
MCHS Drama Club Interest Meeting
MCMS Auditorium
Friday, September 4, 2026
Act 80 Day
No School for Students
Monday, September 7, 2026
Labor Day
No School for Students
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Picture Day
Friday, September 18, 2026
Mini-Thon Gold Out
Wear Gold or a Mini-Thon T-shirt
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 - 6:00 p.m.
Back to School Night
Friday, September 25, 2026
USA Night
Wear Red, White, and Blue
Back to School Night
Back-to-School Night will be held on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. This parents/guardians-only event provides an opportunity to follow your student’s schedule and learn about classroom expectations. The evening will begin with refreshments in the cafeteria before parents/guardians are dismissed to first period promptly at 6:00 p.m. Please obtain your student’s first-period class and room number from your student or Family Access. The first-period teacher will provide a schedule for the remainder of the evening, which will follow Day 1 of our six-day cycle.
Stay Connected With ParentSquare
MCSD is transitioning to ParentSquare, our new school-to-home communication platform. Email invitations were sent to parents and guardians on Wednesday, August 26. If you have not yet registered, please locate your invitation and activate your account so you do not miss important school and district updates. Future editions of The Pack Post will be delivered through ParentSquare.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parents may request a parent-teacher conference at any time. Parents may contact the teacher, school counselor, and/or principal to schedule a parent-teacher conference. All teachers will be available for evening parent conferences on November 24, 2026.
Nurse’s Contact Information:
Nurse Jennifer Staub
Email: jjs20@mcsdk12.org | 717-248-1401 ext. 6509
FLU SEASON is coming! Now is a good time to schedule flu vaccinations for students and families and review the importance of hand-washing and covering coughs and sneezes!
A huge thank you to all of the families who have submitted paperwork, forms, and records to the nurse’s office!
7th Grade Vaccination Requirements: A reminder to parents/guardians of 7th grade students: 7th grade students must have meningitis and Tdap vaccines to start their 7th grade school year. The nurse’s office must have proper documentation of current vaccination status or an exemption filed for the student to attend school. It is not too late to comply with state laws. Vaccination exemptions may be filed with the nurse’s office. You may send a fax to 717-242-5805 (Attn School Nurse), scan records/take photos on phone and email them to Jennifer Staub, RN at jjs20@mcsdk12.org, or drop off records in the MCMS Main Office during school hours.
** Please note: Non-compliant students will be excluded from school on September 9, 2026, and remain excluded until proof of compliance or an appropriate exemption is submitted to the School Nurse. Contact the MCMS Nurse’s Office at 717-242-1401 ext. 6509 with questions.
Nurse’s Forms: Health forms will be distributed during homeroom on the first few days of school. Please complete and return them promptly so the nurse can treat acute illnesses and injuries and provide services such as physical and dental exams. A parent/guardian must complete and sign the Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medication Form before a student may receive OTC medication from the school nurse. Students without a completed form on file cannot receive these medications at school. The OTC Medication Form can be found at the link below.
Dental Information: The school nurse will accept a dental form dated from up to one year prior to the school start date or anytime during their seventh-grade year. It is a state requirement that every student in 7th grade must have a dental exam. Dental forms may be picked up in the nurse’s office or downloaded from the district’s webpage. The Smile Mobile Dentist will be at the middle school October 13-16, 2026. This is a great program that offers dental services to students at school, and it meets the 7th grade dental exam requirements per the Pennsylvania School Health Act. All 6th and 7th grade students are encouraged to take advantage of this program!
MCSD Medication Policy Reminder: The nurse’s office must receive new provider orders each school year for all prescription and over-the-counter medications. Students may not carry any medications on their person or transport them to or from school, including cough drops, medicated creams, or eye drops. The only exceptions are inhalers, epinephrine auto-injectors, and diabetic supplies when a provider’s order specifically permits the student to carry them. A parent/guardian or designated adult must deliver all medications to the school nurse in their original prescription bottles or packaging, along with the required MCSD medication form completed by the prescribing provider. Please contact Nurse Staub at 717-248-1401, ext. 6509, or jjs20@mcsdk12.org if your child needs medication at school.
Vision and Hearing Screenings: The TIU will conduct vision and hearing screenings at MCMS Monday, October 19 - Wednesday, October 21, 2026. The nurse’s office will conduct growth and scoliosis screenings on these days as well. Please ensure students are in attendance for screenings and that they are wearing their eyeglasses or contacts lenses. Please contact the nurse's office to have a student exempt from growth screenings.
PBIS at MCMS
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) helps MCMS create a safe, welcoming, and positive learning environment. Just as students are taught academic skills, they are also taught the behaviors expected throughout the school.
At MCMS, students are encouraged to follow our PACK Expectations: Be ResPonsible, Act Safely, Have Character, and MaKe a Difference.
Teachers and staff use PBIS Rewards to award points when students demonstrate these expectations. Students can use their points to enter schoolwide raffles and purchase items from the PBIS School Store.
Recognizing Outstanding Huskies
The Husky of the Month and Leader of the PACK programs recognize students who make a positive difference at MCMS.
Huskies of the Month demonstrate a strong work ethic, achieve academic success, and have no discipline referrals. Leaders of the PACK model the positive character traits reflected in our PACK Expectations. Students are nominated and selected for both honors by their teachers.
Quarterly PBIS Celebrations and Attendance Incentives
At the end of each marking period, MCMS holds a PBIS assembly to recognize students and celebrate the positive choices being made throughout our school. These high-energy assemblies feature fun activities, student-versus-teacher competitions, and plenty of Husky spirit!
Our marking period attendance raffle winners are also drawn during each assembly. Students who meet the announced attendance requirement are automatically entered for chances to win gift cards and other exciting prizes. Our grand prize for the first marking period attendance raffle is a pair of Beats Solo 4 headphones! Every day of attendance helps students learn, connect, and move one step closer to becoming our next winners!
MCMS Academic Help 2026-2027
Need help with homework and studying?
Check out Early Bird or the Husky Homework Huddle!
Both of these programs are available for homework help all year long!
Botvin Life Skills Training
All 7th Grade students at Mifflin County Middle School will be participating in a Health and Personal Development class that uses the Botvin Life Skills Training program. This nationally recognized program will be held once per cycle for 15 weeks during the school year. Your child will bring home information about setting goals, making decisions, keeping friends, staying calm, and communicating with others. The Life Skills Training program is designed to benefit all students by helping them build confidence, strengthen relationships, and make healthy choices. These skills not only support personal development but also play a role in preventing substance abuse and violence – issues that can affect anyone. If you would like more information about our lessons and how you can reinforce these important skills at home or opt your student out of this program, please feel free to contact the MCMS office.
Student Assistance Program
What is the Student Assistance Program (SAP)?
SAP identifies students having difficulty in school because of problems related to substance abuse or emotional difficulties. SAP has many resources that can help students overcome difficulties, improve their outlook, and decrease barriers to learning.
Who can be referred?
Any student who you think may be having problems can be referred to SAP. Students can even refer themselves.
Who can make referrals?
Anyone who cares about a student can make a referral. This includes teachers, counselors, principals, parents, guardians, relatives, students, and community members.
How do you make a referral?
Drop a referral form in the SAP referral box or contact a SAP team member. Forms are in the guidance office.
SAP IS… an identification, intervention, and referral team.
SAP IS… confidential.
SAP IS NOT… a counseling, treatment, or discipline team.
What is Safe2Say Something?
Safe2Say Something is a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. The program teaches youth and adults how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and to “say something” before it is too late. With Safe2Say Something, it’s easy and confidential to report safety concerns to help prevent violence and tragedies.
Senior Citizen, Active Military, and Veteran Free Athletic Passes can be obtained at the MCHS Main Office. All passes are good for life.
Cash Passes are now available. Passes are $40 for adults and $20 for students. Each pass is good for 12 games of your choice throughout the sports season. Passes can be picked up at the MCHS Main Office. Please have exact change.
Many sponsorship opportunities are available to support your MC Huskies! Please contact the athletic office for more information.
Geisinger is the official sports medicine and orthopedics provider of the Mifflin County Huskies. Geisinger supports the big dreams of Mifflin County athletics, and whether your dreams include playing in the pros, hiking, or just getting back on your feet, our doctors and healthcare professionals are here for you every step of the way. Learn more at Geisinger.org/bigdreams.
Skyward Family Access
Skyward Family Access is an excellent resource to keep up to date on your student’s academic progress, and we encourage you to access it regularly. You will need to access it to see your child’s schedule before Back to School Night on September 23. If you need login information, please call Mrs. Murphy, the guidance secretary, at 717-242-1401 ext. 6506 for assistance.
Box Tops for Education
Attention Parents: Help our school earn money! It’s easy! Download the Box Tops app. Follow the prompts and select Mifflin County Middle School as your school. Every time you shop, just scan your receipt, and any earnings will automatically be added. Use the link below for complete directions on downloading the app and scanning receipts.
At Mifflin County Middle School, we strive to create a safe, respectful, and engaging learning environment for all students. To support this goal, we ask that families review the Student Handbook for Secondary Education, which outlines important policies, expectations, and guidelines. The handbook can be found at the link below. We encourage parents and guardians to read through the handbook with their student to ensure everyone is familiar with school rules, attendance policies, and behavior expectations. Please note that as policy updates occur, there may be changes to the Student Handbook.
Mifflin County Middle School is committed to maintaining a positive and responsive school environment. If you have a concern or complaint about Board policy and procedures, programs, personnel, operations or facilities, concerns should be addressed directly with the teacher, staff member or administrator involved. Many issues can be resolved through open and respectful communication. More information on complaint procedures is provided in Policy 906 of the MCSD Policy Manual (see the link above).
Review of Instructional Materials - MCSD Policy 105.1
Mifflin County School District School Board Policy 105.1 requires annual notification to parents/guardians and students that parents/guardians and students have an opportunity to review instructional materials and have access to information about the curriculum, including academic standards to be achieved, instructional materials and assessment techniques. Requests to review instructional materials and access information about the curriculum, including academic standards to be achieved, instructional materials and assessment techniques should be made by submitting a written request to the building principal.
Instructional Supplies - MCSD Policy 110
The building principal will be responsible to ensure that no student in the school is denied participation in any school program for financial reasons and that the privacy of each student is protected. The principal will use the guidelines of the free and reduced price lunch program to determine the ability of students to provide necessary school supplies. Parents/Guardians must complete the Application For Instructional Supplies and submit required documentation when requesting free instructional supplies for students. Please contact the principal for more information and to request the application.
MCSD Policy and School Board Information
Please visit the Mifflin County School District website for information regarding Board Policies, Agendas, and Minutes. Information on this site also includes the current school board members and school board meeting dates. Please visit the link below.
[Wednesday, Sep 2 at 4:04 PM] Correction: The time for the MCHS Drama Club interest meeting on 9/3/26 was originally listed incorrectly in the newsletter. The newsletter has been updated to reflect the correct time. The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. MCMS auditorium.
