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January 18, 2026
 

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Greetings, Midland Families!

On Thursday evening, I had the pleasure of attending the Navigating the Tween Years parent workshop hosted by our Counseling Team. The session was filled with practical strategies that help parents and students better understand one another, strengthen communication, and grow together in support of overall positive wellness. Thank you to all who attended, and a special thank you to our Counseling Team - Mrs. Edrington and Mrs. Ames for their outstanding work and dedication. It takes a village!

A friendly reminder, no school on Monday, January, 19, 2026 in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

2026 - 2027 Class Placement Information 

I want to share an important update regarding our class placement process for the 2026-2027 school year, as well as to provide insight into the thoughtful decisions that go into building balanced classes with the best interests of each student in mind.

At Midland, we are deeply committed to a culture of collaboration and intentionality, ensuring every decision we make is thoughtful and in the best interest of our Rattlers. Each spring, our teaching teams engage in deep, meaningful conversations as they thoughtfully build class rosters for the upcoming school year. These discussions are rooted in data, professional insight, and a genuine understanding of each student as a learner. Teachers consider academic strengths, social development, learning styles, and peer dynamics to ensure students are placed in environments where they can continue to grow and thrive in the next grade level.

Our staff is collectively committed to providing an exceptional educational experience for every student at Midland. With this goal in mind, we will not be accepting individual teacher requests. This decision was made with great care to ensure that classroom placements are balanced and equitable across the entire grade level. Creating balanced and equitable classes ensures that every student benefits from a diverse, high-quality learning environment where they have the best possible opportunity to succeed.

I appreciate and value your continued trust and partnership as we move forward together to set your child up for a successful school year. Please know that our shared goal remains the same: to build learning environments that support the success, well-being, and growth of each and every Midland Rattler.

Midland Counseling Newsletter! 


As we begin this New Year, I want to remind families of the importance of routine and boundaries in building your child’s sense of security and confidence. Boundaries help students know what is expected of them, what is safe behavior, and that a trusted adult is there to guide and protect them. When children know limits, they feel less anxious. Holding children accountable is showing unconditional love and support. As a parent, you are showing your child, that actions have consequences.


When you hold your child accountable, you are teaching them: How to repair mistakes and that they are capable of growth and improvement. Setting clear expectations around routines (bedtime, homework, screen time) is important. This includes, following through calmly when expectations are not met. You can help your child reflect on their behavior with questions like, “What can we do differently next time?” Children will make mistakes—that’s how they learn. When boundaries are paired with understanding and guidance, children learn that mistakes are not failures but opportunities to grow. - Mrs. Edrington 


Counseling groups support topics:

  • Academic Success Skills
  • Emotional Regulation 
  • Military Child Support
  • Family Changes
  • Worry Warriors 

Upcoming Events:

  • Hope Squad Meetings - 1/14 and 1/28
  • 5th grade SEL Lessons beginning in February 
  • Kindness Week - mid February 

Midland Educational Foundation

IN THE WORKS:

Ratter Run is BACK! We had our kick-off meeting this week and have committee heads ready to hit the ground running! We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help with our 2nd Annual Parent-Led Fun Run! Last year, our community came together to move away from APEX and create a new, Midland-focused fundraiser and we were blown away by the support, donations, and how much the students loved it.

We want to take all that energy and excitement into this year and go bigger and better—but we can’t do that without you! Take a peek at the Google Form HERE to see how to get plugged in.

 Boots & Bling is less than a month away! We are looking for local businesses to sponsor our event. For just $250, your business will be advertised all night at our welcome drink table. Click this link below to sponsor now.

 Classroom baskets for the silent auction have kicked off as well. Look for the email from your room parents about your class basket! Last day to collect items for baskets is January 23rd.

NCSP Soccer

Classes are in session! Classes are held on Thursdays from 1:50-3pm and are available for sign-up through March. Open to all grade levels, TK-5th. 

👉Click here to learn more👈

 The K-Kids Club is looking for volunteers to support their meetings and help their members learn leadership, teamwork, and participate in community service activities. Use the link below to sign up to volunteer at their next meeting on Thursday, January 15 from 1:50 - 3:00 pm.

👉Click here if you want to volunteer👈

 LOOKING AHEAD:

Harney Sushi is our next Restaurant Fundraiser: January 22nd from 4-8:30pm

After School Clubs: LEGO Club is returning and Handball is starting! The spring session runs February 4 - March 25th from 1:50-3:00pm. We have another club in the works, but we need your help! We are looking for LEVEL 2 cleared volunteers to join us on Wednesdays. Please contact Carie Fick and Dana Seaton at [email protected] if you (or someone you know) are interested.

PTA 

International Craft Night | January 22 @ 6 p.m.
Explore hands-on crafts, traditions, and activities from around the world—fun for the whole family! Interested in hosting a country or sharing a cultural craft?
We’d love to feature your heritage, traditions, or a craft your family enjoys.

👉 https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/3244741040111/false?popup=true#/invitation

 We’re Building our PTA Team for Next Year
Love being involved or want to try something new? We’re looking for committee co-chairs and volunteers for our exciting lineup of events next school year — the same great events our families know and love!

✨ Opportunities include:
• Poway Days Parade
• Trunk or Treat
• Pancake Breakfast & Santa Shop
• International Craft Night
• Science Fair Night
• Book Fair
• Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week
• Family Dance Night

Whether you want to help lead or just lend a hand, we’d love to have you! 

Interested? Email [email protected]

Support Midland PTA While You Shop
Here’s an easy (and fun!) way to support our school while doing your everyday or holiday shopping! We’re partnering with SchoolStore.net — a simple way to earn money for Midland through your regular online purchases.

🛒 How it works:
1️⃣ Scan the QR code on the lanyard card that came home to visit SchoolStore.net.
2️⃣ Sign up for a free account — be sure to note your username and password!
3️⃣ (Optional) Send 8 emails to family and friends to share our school’s shopping link and you’ll earn a FREE Book Buddy plush!
4️⃣ Log in and click “Shop – National Merchants” to browse over 300 popular retailers like:
Carter’s,  Home Depot, Old Navy,  Walmart …and many more!

A percentage of every purchase made through these links goes right back to Midland to support classroom supplies, student programs, and more. 

Questions? Email us anytime at [email protected]

PTA Membership

Your Midland PTA is looking for your help to build our membership base with as many members as possible!  ANYONE who would like to help our children and our school can join: parents, guardians, teachers, students, grandparents, friends, businesses, etc. - our Rattlers Rock! Thank you for your support!

Sign Up Here: https://jointotem.com/ca/poway/midland-elementary-pta


The Importance of Consistent Attendance

Each school day is a valuable opportunity for your child to learn, grow, and connect with their teacher, their classmates, and their school community. When students are present consistently, they build strong relationships, engage in meaningful learning, and feel a greater sense of belonging.When a student misses school, they miss more than just lessons they miss important social connections and experiences that help them thrive both academically and emotionally. If your family is experiencing any difficulties that are impacting your child's attendance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Administration or Counseling team. We are here to support you and your child every step of the way. Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s success!

Spirit Days at Midland! 

Let’s kick off each week with some Rattler pride! Every Monday is “Midland Monday”, and we love to see our students and staff showing off their school spirit. Wear your Midland gear or anything red or yellow to celebrate our fantastic school community. GO Rattlers! ❤️💛

Upcoming dates and events! 


  • 1/26/26 Non-student Day
  • 1/30/26 Rattler Rock Assembly 
  • 2/2 to 2/6/26 National School Counseling Week
  • 2/9 to 2/13/26 School Kindness Week
  • 2/13/26 Spirit Day Tie Dye Day
  • 2/16 to 2/20 District Recess
  • 2/27/26 Rattler Rock Assembly 
  • 3/2 to 3/6/26 Book Fair
  • 3/10 to 3/12/26 Spring Safety Week 
  • 3/13/26 Spirit Day Western Day
  • 3/27/26 Ratter Rock Assembly 
  • 3/31/26 Spring Picture Day

Useful Links & attachments


Midland Elementary Poway Unified School District


GO Rattlers!
Principal Matt Hunt