SLA-MS Advisory Memo
SLA-MS News for the week of October 1st!
What is Advisory Memo?
On the School Calendar!
Monday, October 7th:
- HSA Board Meeting at 3.45 pm. Location TBD
Wednesday, October 9th:
- Yom Kippur: School CLOSED for staff and students
Thursday, October 10th:
- Breakfast with Principal Boyle at 9.30 am in the Community Partnership Office (Room217)
- Tik Tok, Teens & Technology: A Primer for Parents at 6 pm - 7.30 pm (For more information on this event check out the "What's Happening in the Community?!" section)
Tuesday, October 15th:
- Picture Day! Only students who are paying for their pictures will be the pictures that will be taken.
- Open House to Potential New Families 9.30 am
Friday, October 25th:
- HALF DAY, 12.20 pm Dismissal, for Professional Development
SLA-MS is a Place of Learning!
SLA-MS is a place of learning. For students to be successful we need your support with:
- Chromebooks - Having a fully charged Chromebook at the beginning of each school day is crucial. It is a student's responsibility to have their Chromebook charged. A fully charged Chromebook should last the entire school day. If your student needs a new charger, there is information on how to order a new one at the following link: https://slams.philasd.org/chromebooks/
- School starts at 8:15!! Being on time is essential to students starting their day off right. Students need to have their breakfast completed before 8:15 am!!
- Student's cell phones are off during the school day. If you need to reach your student, you can call our main office at (215) 400-8320.
School Announcements
The Breakfast & Lunch menu can be found here!
Students ID: If your student needs an ID replacement, they can pay Ms. Hull $5 during Rover ONLY for a reprint of their ID. Receipts for payment will be given, exact change only.
For information on Early Dismissals, School Closings, and District Updates, please go to the School District of Philadelphia Website: Click here to learn more.
Follow us on Social Media! On Twitter: @slamiddle and on Instagram: @slamiddle
Updates to your home address or other contact information such as email need to be given to your student's advisor.
7th and 8th Grade Families:
There will be two upcoming trips for our 7th and 8th graders.
- Team Zephyr's trip will be to the Academy of Music to see Don Quixote Ballet Philadelphia on October 18th at 9 am.
- Team Phoenix trip will be to the Mandell Theater to see the world premiere musical, Alien8 on November 21 at 9 am
Tickets are limited, and the student will have to sign up if they are interested in going.
Chaperones will be needed for both of these trips! If you are interested please, email Ms. Sheena at shneal@philasd.org.
8th Grade Families: There will be an art portfolio development class during 8th-grade high school exploration time (Wednesday afternoons):
*For students interested in applying to an arts-based high school or program only (CAPA, CAPA Kensington, Benjamin Rush!
They will utilize this time to build a substantial body of work that both fulfills the standard requirements for highschool admittance portfolios and is a reflection of each student's vision. This will include an exploration of 2-D and 3-D materials and techniques, and a review/demonstration of professional presentation of work (matting, etc.) If your student is interested, please have them connect with Ms. S to sign up.
2019 High School Selections, Auditions, Interviews, and Open House Schedule can be found here.
The High School Guide is now available, click here to view the guide.
SLA-MS Yearbook Club:
We are currently looking for 1 to 2 Parent Volunteers to help assist a group of our 7th - 8th-grade students with creating SLA-MS 1st Yearbook EVER! Yearbook Club will be held on Wednesdays from 2 pm-3.20 pm. If you are interested, please contact Ms.Sheena at shneal@philasd.org.
Community Exploration and Mini-Course volunteers are needed! We need SLA-MS family and community members to volunteer during the "Community Exploration and Mini-Course" time on Wednesday, 2pm-3:20pm. We need at least five volunteers to be with students during this class time. If interested, contact Ms.Sheena Neal, Community Partnership Coordinator, shneal@philasd.org.
Whats Happening in the Community?!
- Free Music Program for Youth
Dates: Fall ‐ Oct 1 to Nov 21, 2019
Time: 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- FREE EYE CARE FOR KIDS at Jefferson Alumni Hall, 1020 Locust Street on Saturday, October 5, 2019, from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm
For children 17 years and under, from Philadelphia and surrounding counties, who have not had, or who have not passed, an eye screening and who are uninsured.
For more information, email: gksd@pccy.org or call 215-563-5848 x21.
- PHILLY MINI MAKER is October 6 at the Pennovation Center. For more information, click here.
- Tik Tok, Teens & Technology: A Primer for Parents
Thursday, October 10, 6-7:30 p.m
Most middle school students have used the internet at a young age and are comfortable with technology and social media. Founding Techsploration Teacher Meredith Martin is hosting an HSA-sponsored program to provide parents with information and insights about teens and technology. She will address common concerns about group chats, setting limits, and monitoring usage, and will take questions about popular apps like Tik Tok, Instagram, and Snapchat.
- TechGirlz: Introduction To JavaScript
October 10 @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
In this course, students will learn the basic concepts of JavaScript, learn to talk directly to their website, and create their own JavaScript program using Chrome Developer Tools (DevTools) or Launchbox!
Paid parking at Spring Garden/Broad. Subway: Spring Garden stop. Students should have an ID to check-in at security. Materials and snacks will be provided.
Click here to sign up. Please send an email to Shelley Wolfe if you have any questions. Thanks!
- SQUASHSMARTS:
SquashSmarts is a free, intensive out-of-school time program changing the lives of Philadelphia’s public school students.
SquashSmarts works with 5th-12th-grade students who are selected based on commitment, effort, and attitude, not athletic or academic ability. Operating out of two facilities, The Lenfest Center and Drexel University, students attend practices three days each week focusing on building complete student-athletes. Students participate in competitive squash opportunities, community service projects.
For more information, go to www.squashsmarts.org, email info@squashsmarts.org, call 215.221.6860, or get a permission slip from Ms. S!
- BIG BROTHERS BIG BIG SISTERS INDEPENDENCE REGION:
Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region provides students with one- to- one mentoring relationship with adults from the community, right in your child's school. When they meet, Bigs and Littles read together, play sports and games, work on homework, or talk about things that are happening in their lives. To apply, please see Ms.S (Sheena) for an application.
- SUNRISE AFTER SCHOOL:
Sunrise is a free after school program that runs Monday-Friday from 3:20pm - 5:45 pm. For students and parents interested in learning more about the program, please reach out to kkushin@sunriseofphila.org. All students must submit a complete application and receive confirmation of enrollment before they can start Sunrise After School. Space is limited, so sign up FAST! For applications, go to www.sunriseofphila.org/programs.
- Stay tuned to School District of Philadelphia's The Notebook for current articles on district happenings.
- The blog for the School Districts Office of Family and Community Engagement can be found with this link.
SLA-MS Home & School Association
HSA will host a Welcome Meeting for all new Parent Advisory Representatives on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. Please meet in the SLA-MS Cafeteria. During Back to School Night on Sept. 12, teachers asked parents to identify if they were interested in becoming a Parent Advisory Representative for HSA. If you missed that opportunity but would like to represent your advisory (more than one are welcome!), please submit your name and email address to your advisory teacher or contact HSA President Martha Phan at marthajphan@gmail.com.
Trivia Question!
Let's switch things up this week!
Students, you will get to create Trivia Questions for Principal Boyle!
On Friday, in Advisory you will come up with ONE question that your Advisor will then email to Ms.Sheena. (Must include answer). He will answer them during Friday advisory and pick his favorite question. That advisory will get to choose the Monday "Walk Out!" song.