Principals Message
Welcome Back, Midland Families!
I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the final weeks of summer. I am beyond excited to welcome you to a brand new school year, and even more excited to introduce myself as the new Principal of Midland Elementary! It is a true honor to join this incredible community, and I can’t wait to meet each of you and get started on what I know will be an amazing journey together.
Before we dive into the nuts and bolts of the new school year, I wanted to take a moment to share a little bit about myself. For the past 24 years, I have proudly served in the Poway Unified School District in a variety of roles, including Special Education Teacher, School Counselor, Assistant Principal, and now Principal. Each of these experiences has shaped me as both an educator and a leader, and they’ve strengthened my passion for building strong, trusting relationships, fostering inclusive and engaging learning environments, and promoting a love of lifelong learning for both students and staff.
My wife, Liana, and I are originally from Baltimore, Maryland, and we moved to San Diego in 2001. We’ve been married for 18 years and are the parents of two daughters Lauren and Taylor who both attend schools here in Poway Unified. As a family, we enjoy reading, anything and everything related to lacrosse, and spending time outdoors together.
Midland is a school community that is rich in tradition and excellence, supported by a dedicated and passionate staff, and grounded in thoughtful systems designed to help every student thrive. At Midland, we believe deeply in the power of partnership, and that means YOU. Families play a vital role in everything we do, and I am committed to building strong connections between home and school as we work together to support our students.
Here’s to a year filled with learning, growth, and meaningful connection. I’m thrilled to be on this journey with you and can’t wait to meet you all very soon!
We are excited to invite you to our Annual Meet & Greet on Tuesday, August 12th, from 2:00 to 3:00 PM on campus!
This special event is designed to help ease the transition from summer break into the new school year—especially for our youngest Rattlers in Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and Kindergarten. It’s a great opportunity for students in all grades (TK–5th) to visit campus, locate their classrooms, and meet their teachers with a friendly face-to-face introduction.
To provide a bit of extra support, TK and Kindergarten families will be allowed to briefly enter the classrooms. We kindly ask families of students in grades 1–5 to refrain from entering classrooms during this time. Those teachers will be available in their designated areas and are happy to answer any general questions you may have.
We look forward to welcoming everyone back and starting the year off with positive energy and strong connections!
On the first day of school, we kindly ask parents to walk their child to the classroom and say their goodbyes at the door. While this can be an emotional moment (for students and parents alike!), please rest assured: your child is safe, supported, and will be well cared for. It’s perfectly normal if there are a few tears—this transition gets easier with time, I promise!
Please note that Midland is a closed campus, and walking children to their classroom is a Day 1 event only for parents.
After the first day of school, TK and Kindergarten students will meet their teacher at Gate A each morning and walk together to their classroom.
To help ease the transition and build confidence, Kindergarten students will follow this routine for the first six weeks of school. Our TK students will continue to receive this support throughout the school year.
Starting the morning of August 12, 2025, families will be able to view teacher assignments for students in grades 1 through 5 by visiting: https://MyPlan.powayusd.com
To access your child’s teacher assignment:
- Log in using your parent PUSD login.
- Click on the Canvas login.
- You will see a tile with your child’s teacher assignment information.
If you need help retrieving your login information, please visit: https://password.powayusd.com
As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we know how much you care about your child’s educational experience and want what’s best for them, something we deeply value and share. Each spring, our staff takes great care and pride in thoughtfully creating class rosters. We consider many important factors to ensure balanced, supportive learning environments where all students can thrive. Because of this complex process, we do not honor specific teacher requests.
We appreciate your trust in our team and ask that you continue to partner with us in supporting your child’s growth and success. If you have specific concerns about your child’s needs, please don’t hesitate to reach out directly to me. We’re committed to working together to ensure a smooth and positive school experience. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
To help ensure a smooth and safe start to the school year, please take a moment to review our updated arrival and dismissal procedures:
Breakfast gates open at 7:15 AM.
Arrival for Grades 1–5: All students in grades 1–5 should enter campus through the playground gate near the lunch tables. Supervised playground access begins at 7:25 AM.
TK and Kindergarten Arrival: TK and Kindergarten families may enter through Gate A, located closest to the admin building. If older siblings are helping with a Kindergarten drop-off, they may also enter through Gate A.
Parking Lot Safety: For everyone’s safety, please use the crosswalk when walking through the parking lot. It’s a great opportunity to model safe behavior for our students!
Drop-Off Zone: Follow all traffic laws and use the designated drop-off zone near the ESS building. This helps keep our students safe and traffic flowing.
Dismissal Locations:
- TK & Kindergarten:
Dismissal will take place at Gate A. Kindergarten follows a hand-to-hand dismissal process, so students will only be released to an approved adult. Please be patient as teachers learn which adult is picking up each child. - First Grade:
Students will meet parents at Gate B (just to the left of the admin building). - Second through Fifth Grade:
Dismissal for these grades will occur at Gate C (the large playground gate).
Each year, the MDES Educational Foundation helps bring valuable resources to our schools by funding special projects and providing mini-grants for teachers to enhance their classrooms. These contributions directly benefit our students and help create a richer learning environment.
If you'd like to learn more about the foundation or are interested in making a donation, please CLICK HERE. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference.
Thank you for supporting our students, teachers, and the entire Midland community!
Midland PTA Wants YOU!
Be part of something fun and important! By joining the Midland PTA, you’re helping to create a stronger, more connected school community—and making a direct impact on your child’s education.
As a member, you’ll:
✅ Support fun school events and activities
✅ Help fund important programs and classroom needs
✅ Stay in the know about what’s happening at school
✅ Connect with other awesome Midland families and staff!
Click HERE to read more about how to join this great organization!
You're also invited to our monthly PTSA meetings (check the school newsletter for dates). We’d love your ideas, energy, and input!
Together, we can make Midland an even better place to learn and grow!
Midland Elementary is turning 100 this year, a truly incredible milestone! We are so proud to be part of a school with such a rich history, and we’re excited to begin planning a celebration that honors all that Midland has meant to our students, families, and community over the past century. While some ideas are already taking shape, we would love to hear your thoughts and invite you to be part of the planning. Please keep an eye out for opportunities to share your ideas and get involved as we prepare to wish Midland a very happy 100th birthday!
As we begin this new chapter together, I’m eager to get to know you and build strong connections with our parent community.
In the coming weeks, I’ll be hosting a series of informal meet-and-greet events where we can connect, share ideas, and begin conversations that will help shape the year ahead. These gatherings will also be a great opportunity for you to ask questions and get to know me better.
Details around dates, times, and location on campus are still coming together, but I wanted to give you a heads-up so you can be on the lookout for more information very soon.
Midland Elementary Poway Unified School District
Welcome back to an exciting new school year!
GO Rattlers!
Principal Matt Hunt
