Dear Matador Families,
If you have not heard yet, the MNPS Board of Education voted last night to remove the mask mandate and to make mask wearing optional for faculty and students after spring break. I know that there are varying opinions on this issue, but I encourage any students wishing to wear masks to continue to do so and those who choose to not continue wearing their masks to do so without fear of judgement or consternation. Please have discussions with your children so that your children know that whatever your family’s choice is regarding whether to keep masking or not, they can do so freely and without worry of being teased, taunted, or questioned. When students return from spring break on Monday, March 21st, masking choice goes into effect. I am so very looking forward to having a choice and moving towards a return to our previous “normal” lives.
Spring break begins on Friday, March 11th, at 12:25 p.m. This is a half day for students. Car riders must be picked up by 12:45 that day. No student can be left at school after this time. There will be no afterschool activities that day and no YMCA Fun Company afternoon care.
I have been asked about lockers for students for the remainder of the year. We hire a company from North Carolina each year to come in and repair lockers and to change all the combinations on the lockers (all 1200+ lockers!). This is a weeklong process that costs almost $5000 each year. Because the lockers were repaired and combinations changed last week and because we have only 9 weeks of school remaining after spring break and due to the costs associated with having this locker work done, we will have to wait until students return in August to resume locker use. I am sorry. I know this will disappoint many of you.
I hope that you all have a wonderful Wednesday! We have two weeks and two days until spring break and we have a lot of work to do until Friday, March 11. If I can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to call upon me.
Sincerely,
Dr. Gary D. Hughes, Executive Principal, JT Moore Middle School
