Montevideo Middle School

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! We are proud to shine this week’s spotlight on Janelle DeZeeuw! Janelle is a Food Service/District Office Administrative Assistant. She started with the school district in 2017 as a part-time administrative assistant in the middle school office. She moved to her current, full-time position in the district office in 2018. Janelle grew up on a farm north of Montevideo, and she attended Ramsey Elementary School (K-5), Central Middle School (6-9), and Montevideo High School (10-12). Janelle’s husband Jim is a fuel transport driver for CHS. They have two adult boys, Adam and Tyler, who are both engaged to be married. Their youngest son lives and works in Montevideo, and their oldest son lives and works in the Twin Cities area. Janelle & Jim have one pet cat named Moose who tolerates them living in “his” house! Janelle’s hobbies include reading, puzzles, playing games, camping, snowmobiling, boating & ATV trail riding. She also loves to travel, exploring new areas of the state and country. She doesn’t always get her way, but when Janelle and her husband travel, she loves turning off the main route and trying a different way. She says, “You never know what memory you might make, or things you might see or learn about, by getting off the beaten path.” Your dedication and hard work doesn’t go unnoticed, Janelle. Thank you so much for all you do! #StaffSpotlight #greatemployees #staffappreciation

HELLO FEBRUARY! SCHOOL CALENDAR REMINDER Friday, February 2nd is an Early Dismissal - Staff Development Day Friday, February 16 & Monday, February 19 - NO SCHOOL - Presidents' Day Break

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! Shining in this week’s spotlight is Maddie Sletta. Maddie teaches seventh grade science at the Montevideo Middle School, and she is the head coach of the Thunder Hawk softball team. This year is Maddie’s seventh year teaching in Montevideo. Maddie is from New Ulm, Minnesota. She graduated from South Dakota State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, and she received a Master’s degree from Western Governors University in Middle Level Science. Maddie and her husband Tom have a two-year-old son named Ray. They live on a hobby farm outside of town so they have many pets and projects to tend to. Maddie’s hobbies include coaching softball in the spring and summer, gardening, traveling, hunting, fishing and many other outdoor activities. Maddie says, “It’s been fun getting involved with the Thunder Hawk community and getting to know so many great people!” We’re proud to have you on our team, Maddie, and we appreciate your dedication to teaching and coaching and your years of service. Thanks so much for all you do! #StaffSpotlight #greatemployees #staffappreciation

SCHOOL CALENDAR REMINDER: Friday, January 19th - Early Dismissal Day and End of Quarter 2 Monday, January 22nd - No School

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! We are proud to shine this week’s spotlight on Brittany Zamora! Brittany teaches fifth grade at the Montevideo Middle School. She joined our team of educators in August 2015. Brittany’s hometown is Starbuck, Minnesota. She graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) with a degree in Elementary Education, and she received a Master’s degree from Western Governors University in Technology and Instruction. Brittany is a coach for both boys and girls swimming. Her husband Fernando is a math teacher at the Montevideo High School. They have a son named Kyzer and a black lab named Meeko. Brittany’s hobbies include swimming, spending time with family, going to the lake in the summer, fishing and baking. Brittany says, “It has been so much being a Thunder Hawk! It is a great community with awesome people who support each other.” We’re so happy to have you on our team, Brittany! Your hard work, dedication, and passion for teaching and coaching are truly appreciated! #StaffSpotlight #greatemployees #staffappreciation

SCHOOL CALENDAR REMINDER: Monday, January 15th - Staff Development Day No School for Students Friday, January 19th - Early Dismissal Day End of Quarter 2 Monday, January 22nd - No School

Please tune in to the latest Superintendent Stream. Happy Holidays to all! https://youtu.be/Bfwd9QWdYi4

On behalf of the Montevideo Public Schools School Board, we wish you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! Have a safe and joyful winter break!

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! Shining in this week’s spotlight is Molli Tostenson, Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) servicing grades 3-12. Molli is also a JH volleyball coach. This year is Molli’s fifth year with Montevideo Public Schools. Molli grew up in Montevideo and graduated from Montevideo High School. She received an undergraduate degree in Communication Disorders and a Master of Science degree in Speech Pathology from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She is married to Ryan Tostenson (fellow Monte graduate), and they have one daughter Everly (4) and a yellow lab Laela. Molli enjoys spending time with her family and friends, watching sports, going to concerts, golfing, traveling and relaxing at the lake. Molli says, “As a fellow Thunder Hawk graduate, I am blessed to be back in town to help the students in our community become successful communicators! It is also so fun to work alongside some of the teachers I had. I have so much fun watching my nieces and nephews play as Thunder Hawks in all of their extracurricular events. I'm excited to watch my daughter start her education here with a great group of educators and staff!” We’re proud to have you on our team, Molli! Thank you for being an exceptional teacher and for making a difference in the lives of our students. #StaffSpotlight #greatemployees #staffappreciation

SCHOOL CALENDAR REMINDER: Winter Break - No School December 25 - January 1

SCHOOL CALENDAR REMINDER Friday, December 15 is an Early Dismissal-Staff Development Day for Montevideo Public Schools. Winter Break - No School December 25-Janauary 1

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! Shining in this week's Staff Spotlight is Sarah Smiens, District School Nurse! Sarah grew up in and still lives in her hometown of Montevideo. After high school, she continued her education at MN West Community and Technical College and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 2015. She started back to school again in 2021 at Western Governor's University and received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in September of 2022. Since then, Sarah has obtained her MN Public Health Certification and School Nurse License. Sarah is married to her husband Jeremy and has four children-Brett, Erin, Braden, and Gwyn, and one grandchild Cooper. Sarah's hobbies and things she likes to do outside of work include playing cards with her kids, hunting, fishing, babysitting Cooper, watching her daughter Gwyn play sports, and spending time at her lake cabin on Big Stone Lake in the summer with her family. A Fun Fact about Sarah - she held the school record at Sanford Elementary School for girls doing the most pull-ups, and she still has the trophy that she received from Mr. Wasnick! Sarah says, "I love my hometown of Montevideo and being a part of the amazing school system that I was lucky enough to have attended when I was a child." We're proud to have you on our team, Sarah! Thank you for the caring and compassionate work you do for the health and wellness of our students and staff. #StaffSpotlight #staffappreciation

From our Thunder Hawk family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! We are proud to shine this week’s spotlight on Erika Zachman! Erika is the district's Payroll & Accounting Specialist. She has worked for the school district for 6 years. Erika's hometown is Montevideo. She is a 2005 Montevideo High School graduate and a graduate of Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall, MN. Erika and her husband Phil have one daughter, Lyla. In her free time, Erika enjoys traveling, camping, golfing, hiking, kayaking and downhill skiing. Erika says, "I am very fortunate to be a part of this great Thunder Hawk community. I grew up as a Thunder Hawk, and I’m excited that my daughter gets to continue her education as one with the great group of educators and support staff we have here throughout the district." We're lucky to have you on our team, Erika! Thank you for all the hard work you put in daily! Know that it is recognized and greatly appreciated. #StaffSpotlight #greatemployees #staffappreciation

Please join us at Montevideo Middle School tonight for our Fall Band Concert: Monday, November 20th at 7:00 p.m. in the MMS Gymnasium. Presented by 6th & 7th Grade Band, directed by Mr. Riley Frank, and 8th Grade Band, directed by Mr. Hunter Hamby.

REMINDER - Mark your calendar! Wednesday, November 22nd is an Early Dismissal - Staff Development Day for the Thunder Hawks. NO SCHOOL on Thursday, November 23 & Friday, November 24th for Thanksgiving Break.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Let’s get to know our Thunder Hawk staff! This week’s spotlight shines on Adam Eakes! Adam is a paraprofessional at the Montevideo Middle School. In the spring, you’ll find him at the baseball field after school. Adam is also a Montevideo Thunder Hawks Junior High Baseball Coach! Adam grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He has a beautiful family of five: two daughters, two sons, and an amazing wife Karina. In his free time, Adam enjoys spending time with his family. His favorite pastime is baseball, going to games and coaching. We’re proud to have you on our team, Adam! We appreciate all you do to support our students and teachers every day! #StaffSpotlight #greatemployees #staffappreciation

It's Election Day! Your vote matters! Cast your informed vote on the two referendum questions on today's ballot. Polling Location - National Guard Training and Community Center (TACC), 711 South 17th Street, Montevideo, MN Polling Hours - 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

SCHOOL CALENDAR REMINDER: NO SCHOOL on Thursday, November 9 & Friday, November 10, 2023 Conferences November 9: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. November 14: 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

This week is National School Psychology Week, November 6-10, 2023, and we are celebrating School Psychologist Nicole Redmann! Join us in thanking Nicole for going above and beyond to support our students, families and staff! We are grateful to have her serving in our district. #HawkPride #SchoolPsychWeek