UPDATE (posted 11.23.20) — All Mars Area School District buildings will close to students (K-12) beginning immediately after Thanksgiving Break (Monday, Dec. 1) and continuing through Monday, Jan. 4. All students will move to remote learning during the closure. For details, visit https://www.marsk12.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1993900&type=d&pREC_ID=2090125. 

Mars Area Middle School will be closed to students, beginning Monday, Nov. 23, and continuing through Tuesday, Dec. 1.

The building closure has become necessary because of an increase in the total number of staff members who are on approved leaves and/or in quarantine as well as an extreme shortage of available substitute teachers. Please note that this closure has not been prompted by any new or additional COVID cases at the school or in the District.

All Mars Area Middle School students, who have been attending school for Traditional Instruction, will need to shift to Live-Stream Interactive (LSI) Instruction, Monday, Nov. 23, through Tuesday, Dec. 1. Throughout the building closure, all teachers will continue to offer live instruction and will be available to their students each period of the school day.

DEVICE TAKE-HOME PROGRAM **UPDATE**

To obtain a Mars Area School District-issued technology device during the closure period ONLY, students may contact the Mars Help Desk at [email protected] to secure the device, free of charge, during the closure period only.  Those devices must be returned immediately upon return to the traditional setting. Please be advised that any damages to the device are subject to repair or replacement costs being incurred by the parent/guardian.

To obtain a device that can be taken home during the closure period and throughout the remainder of the current school year, those individuals may contact the Mars Help Desk at [email protected] to secure the device.  As outlined in District Policy 237, this will require the payment of the $100 Technology Fee. This fee covers replacement and/or all repairs as outlined by the policy.

Any questions may be addressed the Mars Help Desk.

Students may return to participate in Traditional Instruction on Wednesday, Dec. 2, pending District administrator re-evaluation of the Middle School staffing situation at that time. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Sincerely,

Dr. Mark Gross, Superintendent
Mars Area School District