About MMS

We want students to harness the power they wield in their hands with their electronic devices. We expect students to use their personal devices responsibly while at school. At school, devices should be used for learning and making positive contributions to the world around us. 

Mason Middle School is a 1:1 school, and we have many guidelines in place to ensure that students are able to access information and develop content that supports students’ personal learning goals. Our school is committed to helping students set healthy boundaries for themselves when it comes to technology, personal accessibility, and screen time. 

Students’ cell phones and other personal communication devices are unwelcome during the school day from the time students enter MMS through dismissal.

• Lindsey Sweat,  7th Grade  - sweatl@masonohioschools.com
• Laura Tonkin, 7th Grade - tonkinl@masonohioschools.com
• Cheryl Hayes, 8th Grade - hayesc@masonohioschools.com
• Shannon Norman,  8th Grade - normans@masonohioschools.com

The goal of our guidance department is to help you achieve your maximum potential at Mason Middle School. Each counselor will work with designated students during the school year. Students are invited to see their counselors at any time during the school day and are encouraged to obtain a pass from their teacher prior to coming to the Guidance Office.  We invite students to come to our offices to discuss any problems they may be encountering as well as to discuss future educational goals and to seek career information. We will offer support groups for those students who would like to have the opportunity to discuss teen issues such as anger management, self-esteem, and substance abuse in a peer group setting. Parents are encouraged to schedule conferences with the counselors throughout the year.  We welcome and encourage your involvement in our school guidance program. 

The guidance office phone number is 513.398.6012.

Credit Flexibility provides options for middle school students to earn graduation credits through alternative ways outside of regularly scheduled classes.  Credit Flex options include: Online Courses Mastery Assessment of course content Developing an Individual Plan.

For more information please click here.

ESL services are provided for students who qualify.   Services are provided based on results of a language assessment that is administered to all students who have a second language in the home.  For additional information, please contact Mason’s ESL Coordinator, Milena Varbanova, at varbanovam@masonohioschools.com or 513.398.0474 Ext: 24008

Grades at Mason Middle School are determined by tests, quizzes, class participation, homework, and/or special projects. The evaluation of student work is an important function of teachers.  They will use the following scale:  

Grading Scale     

• 90-100=A  
• 80-89=B 
• 70-79=C 
• 60-69=D       
• 0-59=F

Some exceptions to the grading system described may be made in the areas of special education instruction as noted in the Individual Educational Plan.  Notation of curricular modifications and/or accommodations will be made for each graded course. 

Incomplete grades are only given in those cases of illness, emergency, or by prior approval from the administration.  An incomplete on a report card will be changed to an “F” if the missing work is not completed and turned in within ten (10) school days from the time the report card is issued. 

Students participating in enrichment courses will be expected to be self-directed and able to self-monitor based on the goals of the course.  Marks will be assigned as follows:

• A = Invested
• B = Meets expectations
• I = (on progress report) or F at the end of the semester.

At the 9-week point of each grading period, teachers will post an interim report to Home Access Center and Mason Connects.  Parents without computer access may request a paper copy from the Guidance administrative assistant.  Report cards will be posted at the end of the first semester (at about 18 weeks).  The final report card will be posted following the end of the school year.  No report card will be released if any school fees are unpaid.

The intervention specialists in our building work with parents and teachers to choose the most appropriate methods and place for helping children with special needs.  These special needs are identified by an extensive curriculum based assessment and/or multi-factored evaluation.  The purpose of the intervention specialist is to focus on the area of need to see that progress is made as determined by a plan.  Each intervention specialist will focus their work and attention on a specified list of students and teachers.   Phone: 513-398-9035 

• Sara Leigh-Manuell, Teacher Leader (Grade 7): leighmanuells@masonohioschools.com
• Pam Tanghal, Teacher Leader: tanghalp@masonohioschools.com
• Derreck Wagner, Teacher Leader (Grade 8): wagnerd@masonohioschools.com

At Mason City Schools, we believe in educating the whole child by helping students believe in who they are and who they can become by providing supports to foster their educational and social-emotional learning. We believe in building meaningful relationships with every student and helping them take care of themselves mentally, physically, and emotionally. Mason City School’s Prevention and Wellness Department, works in collaboration with the Student Services Department, and is a multidisciplinary team ready to support the needs of all students. The team works to promote student, staff and community wellness through resource and program development, as well as, continuing to build community wellness partnerships. 

In addition to our internal team, our partnerships with Mindpeace, 1N5, Grant Us Hope, Joshua’s Place and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital support these goals by providing access to therapeutic supports and services for students and families. Additionally, as of the 2021-2022 school year, we will have a therapy dog placed on each campus. The therapy dogs will be handled by the Prevention and Wellness Team to support a variety of student needs throughout the school day.

• Brenna Barto - bartob@masonohioschools.com
• Lyndsey Hoffman - hoffmanl@masonohioschools.com

The school psychologist consults with parents, teachers, administrators, counselors, students, and community agencies to collaboratively develop interventions for supporting the individual needs of children with academic and/or behavioral concerns.  The school psychologist is also available for educational, social, emotional, and behavioral assessment.

Mason Middle School has speech and language pathologists to provide services in speech and language development to those children in need.  The speech and language pathologists also provide screenings (to identify speech and language problems), consultation, and intervention-based services when needed.  Health services can provide hearing screenings upon request, to help to identify a need for further evaluation. .

Schoology - Daily Grades & Homework 

Schoology is the online platform where Mason City Schools teachers, students, and families collaborate. It allows users to create, manage, and share content. Schoology is known as a Learning Management System (LMS) that uses a cloud based storage system for managing an online classroom.

Teachers use the site to take attendance, use an online grade book, post discussion questions, homework, files, links, and other information. Students are able to access all class information, take quizzes and tests, upload files through an online dropbox, participate in class discussions, stay organized with a school calendar, download and print files from home, and much more. Families are able to observe their child’s assignments and calendars while staying involved in their education.

Schoology has the look and the feel of Facebook with many different functions that are necessary for the classroom. The site allows for teachers to facilitate collaboration among a class or group of students.

Chromebook

Every student receives a Chromebook so they can take advantage of the vast resources available to them. We recommend that students purchase a case to reduce the likelihood of damage.

Web Filter

Each Chromebook provided by the district as well as the Google Suite go through an internet filter. Therefore, even when students are at home, the Chromebook is being filtered. We know there's no way to filter out all unsavory content but the district is committed to this effort. Check with your Internet Service Provider for additional equipment (router) based filtering options.