Minisink Valley Middle School

REMINDER: The High School FBLA will conclude its annual school supplies drive to benefit the Minisink Valley community on Friday, Aug. 15.

Donations are being collected through Aug. 15 with distribution taking place on Aug. 22 and 23.

For further information or to make arrangements for supply drop off, email advisor Seth Johnson at sjohnson@minisink.com

REMINDER: Don't let your student's school-issued Chromebook battery fully discharge over the summer!

Even when a Chromebook is off, its battery continues to slowly lose charge. If left long enough, the batteries might no longer function and can’t be recharged. At the same time, you shouldn’t keep Chromebooks plugged into a charger while in storage for months. This can reduce battery life and lead to other issues.

Prepare Chromebooks for long-term storage:
--- Charge your Chromebooks so that the battery is at least 80% full. This ensures that even when the battery discharges while unplugged over the summer, it won’t fully run out of power.
--- To slow the discharge rate during storage, do not physically remove the battery from the Chromebook for storage. Instead, take the following steps:
Connect the device to a charger and turn it on.
Hold Refresh and Power at the same time.
While holding these keys, remove the power cable from the device and then release the keys. The device should shut down and remain off.
Confirm the battery disconnect worked by pressing the power button. The device should not power on, despite having a battery charge. The Chromebook won’t power on by touching the power button or opening the lid, until you plug the device back to a power source.

This is the ideal way to store devices. It reduces battery discharge to a minimum, prevents constant charge and discharge from reducing the battery life, and keeps the Chromebook in a stable, powered-off state.

Note: If you can’t put your Chromebook into the battery disconnect state described above, charge the battery to at least 80%. Then, turn off the Chromebook, unplug it from a power source, and store it in a cool, dry place.

Here is a video of the process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfhpbNZk3js

Please email any questions to parentportal@minisink.com

Thank you for your attention to this important information, and thanks for sharing!

PLEASE HELP, no matter what building your student attends!
The Elementary School is continuing with its TREX recycling challenge over the summer months. Since May, the school has collected 235 pounds of soft plastic and needs to collect only 765 more pounds to reach the 1,000-pound mark to receive a special TREX bench for the school! While the school has until April 30, 2026 to collect the remaining soft plastic, it’s looking to the community to help! Stop by the ES main entrance from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday with your donations! Thank you for whatever you can do to help the cause!

Reminder: Download the district's free smartphone app!

The Minisink Valley School District's free smartphone app offers users the ability to stay current with individual school updates and information on district events and activities.

It also provides users with customized notifications related to each school selected by each user, including a quick and easy way to learn breakfast and lunch menus in all buildings each day!

The free app is available for Android and Apple devices in their respective app stores.

To stay up-to-date on the latest district news and events via the app, visit Google Play Store and search for Minisink Valley CSD; or the Apple App Store and search for Minisink Valley CSD NY.

TRACK & FIELD SUMMER BEGINS AUG. 18! CAMP REGISTRATION IS TAKING PLACE NOW! Don't miss out if interested! DETAILS: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ctcuEIbr2FY8u-pdBqPDe65wBgBaTYyW

GIRLS SUMMER BASKETBALL CAMP BEGINS JULY 29! REGISTRATION IS TAKING PLACE NOW! Don't miss out if interested!

Details are here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ctcuEIbr2FY8u-pdBqPDe65wBgBaTYyW

SWIM SUMMER CAMP BEGINS AUG. 4! REGISTRATION IS TAKING PLACE NOW! Don't miss out if interested! Details: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ctcuEIbr2FY8u-pdBqPDe65wBgBaTYyW

VOLLEYBALL SUMMER CAMP BEGINS JULY 28! REGISTRATION IS TAKING PLACE NOW! Don't miss out if interested! Details: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fR6_MDGVbUcgwTdkNjIQdSZMp8l2rwBP/edit

GIRLS SUMMER BASKETBALL CAMP BEGINS JULY 29! REGISTRATION IS TAKING PLACE NOW! Don't miss out if interested! Details are here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ctcuEIbr2FY8u-pdBqPDe65wBgBaTYyW

CHEER SUMMER CAMP BEGINS JULY 21! REGISTRATION IS TAKING PLACE NOW! Don't miss out if interested! Details: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ctcuEIbr2FY8u-pdBqPDe65wBgBaTYyW

BOYS BASKETBALL SUMMER CAMP BEGINS JULY 21! Register now so you don't miss out! Details are here:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ctcuEIbr2FY8u-pdBqPDe65wBgBaTYyW?fbclid=IwY2xjawLPjYpleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFqeDY5SWo3SGdid1VTMnBDAR7Ipparh1awEU6L930Sv4fycstKkX2Sc3CoBGkDfMEAbzgljAARWUmY56QcGw_aem_t75jUH5Sejp8SW7FDInGoQ

GIRLS LACROSSE SUMMER CAMP BEGINS JULY 21! Register now so you don't miss out! DETAILS: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ctcuEIbr2FY8u-pdBqPDe65wBgBaTYyW

THANK YOU to soon-to-be rising seventh-graders Sofia Tropiano and Brielle Sessoms, who grew Zinnias from seeds and planted the seedlings in the Middle School Courtyard. Their hope is students, faculty and staff will return to school In September seeing some gorgeous flowers in bloom to welcome everyone back! Well-done!

FOOTBALL SUMMER CAMP BEGINS JULY 7! REGISTER NOW so you don't miss out! Click here for details: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ctcuEIbr2FY8u-pdBqPDe65wBgBaTYyW

Kindness is a wonderful trait! Take a peek at today's expression of kindness at the Middle School: The Middle School Drama Club treated all middle school faculty and staff to a coffee/refreshing hot/cold beverage of their choice from Callie's Cocktails and Coffee Mobile Bar. There was so much for them to choose from! Owner Cassie Wilson is a Minisink Valley alumnus and this is her enterprising small business, (www.calliescocktails.com) which is named after her adorable dog Callie! These beverages really hit the spot on this extremely hot morning and were very much appreciated by all. It's going to be really hot today, so please exercise caution and restraint in whatever you! And stay cool and hydrated! Thank you to the Middle School Drama Club for their kindness and generosity!

TODAY's EIGHTH-GRADE PICNIC at the Town of Greenville Park was a fabulous day to honor these soon-to-be high school freshmen! The day was perfect for this outing! Take a peek! There are so many people who made today possible through their planning and organizational efforts. THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to today's successful picnic!

BASEBALL SUMMER CAMP BEGINS JUNE 30! REGISTER NOW so you don't miss out! Click here for details: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17maPASCQQQ368vgQWKSLDqX3D0d2LuCg/edit

Seventh-grade students took a recent field trip to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point! This trip venue was selected for its rich historical significance and its powerful connections to the New York State Social Studies curriculum. As the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution nears, this visit offered students the chance to explore local history with national impact. West Point played a key role in the Revolutionary War and continues to serve as a symbol of leadership, service, and civic responsibility. Students were able to connect their classroom studies of the American Revolution, early U.S. government, civic responsibility and geography to a site of real historical significance. During the visit, students explored the role of West Point in shaping the nation’s military history and its strategic importance during the Revolutionary War. This hands-on experience brought classroom learning to life, deepening student understanding of topics such as the founding principles of our nation, U.S. geography, and the structure of our government and military institutions.

Matthew Finck’s general music students are in the midst of completing their Podcast Unit! Students have broken off into two or three--person teams, created 10 questions to ask their interviewees and then recorded the conversation in Soundtrap, a web-based, digital audio workstation (DAW). Using Soundtrap, the students can create their own songs as well as their own podcasts using the Music Department’s microphones or the Chromebooks’ built-in microphone. They created a podcast name and decided what its focus. Some chose sports while others discussed movies or even celebrity gossip. Soon, they will create music in Soundtrap which they’ll use for their introductions and breaks between their interviews. The last component is creating a parody advertisement, a sponsor for their podcast. (“This podcast is brought to you by…”) Using Soundtrap, students are able to develop interviewing and microphone techniques as well as how to create music using loops that are layered to create full songs. Once everything is recorded using the recording studios, they put it all together and submit their completed episodes. The final step in the completion of this project is when everyone gathers in class to listen to the episodes What fun, out-of-the-box music project that aligns itself with current societal trends! •Podcasts have gained immense popularity due to a combination of factors, including their accessibility, versatility, and ability to engage listeners in a multi-tasking-friendly way. They offer a wide range of content and the convenience of listening “on the go.” The ease of accessing podcasts on smartphones also contribute to their popularity. •Podcasting's growing popularity reflects several societal trends: a desire for longer-form, engaging content; increased use of digital devices for audio consumption; and a shift toward personalized learning and entertainment. Podcasts offer a unique combination of entertainment, education, and social connection, appealing to a wide audience.

INCOMING SIXTH-GRADE FAMILIES: Friendly reminder: Don't miss out on signing up your student for the Middle School's Project Cooperation! Registration deadline is Friday, June 13! Its themes of building leadership, confidence, and self-esteem are those we're sure you want your student to be a part of! The entire Project Cooperation staff is looking forward to a few days of fun, excitement, and adventure. LEARN MORE: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R9GPj_719wo01a0Hz-xTfGY4YnWEU6noBdpepJGrqWA/edit?tab=t.0 REGISTER: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HjWpMCCpbATVJykGSm94yRKl5qrJ5wQGAVJyO_CMjow/edit?tab=t.0