Stonybrook Middle School
The Knightly News, September 2017
Ready to Learn: Be Responsible, Be Respectful, Be Safe
Welcome to Stonybrook Middle School, Students!
We plan to have a great year!!
Checking out the new Chromebooks
Back on the court!
Glad to be back with the buddies
Strong Connections...coming up!
On Friday, September 15th and Monday, September 18th, SMS will be hosting a two day Strong Connections event for all students. Half of each Grade 5-8 class will attend Friday while the other half attends Monday. Letters will be emailed home on Friday, September 8th indicating which day your child will attend. Please contact your child’s homeroom teacher if there is a conflict.
Part of the day’s plan is to take the students to the Steinbach Corn Maze for a little “get to know you” fun! This event is at no cost to parents, however a waiver form must be completed and returned to the school before the student can attend. If your child did not bring home a waiver for you to sign, you can download a copy from our website, sms.hsd.ca under the “Strong Connections” box.
These days are very important for teachers for the planning of each of their students, but they will also be meaningful to students who have the opportunity to make strong connections with their teachers. Students will have opportunities to be active throughout the day.
Corn Maze Waiver
Please take note that it is definitely wasp season - so if your child has an allergy to wasp stings, make sure they have their epipen and/or other medication available for this outing to the corn maze. We want to make sure everyone is safe and has a good time!
Interested in volunteering to help with this event? Please let your child's homeroom teacher know, or call the school! Thanks so much!!
Student Pick Up
When picking up students at the end of the day, please be careful! Traffic is very congested and student safety is a priority. Our school has set up crossing guard stations at Mackenzie & Brandt and Reimer & Brandt, both mornings and afternoons, and we would like students to use those crossing points to cross the street. Be cautious when walking through the staff parking lot as well!
Picture Day!
Address/Phone Number Changes
If your address or phone number changes over the school year (or has changed over the summer), please let us know.
If your email address has changed or you have acquired an email address, we would appreciate receiving that information. Email is an excellent form of communication between parent and teacher and we would like to keep you updated on the progress of your child.
Click on the Stonybrook website by viewing sms.hsd.ca and find email links to your child’s teacher to stay in touch.
HSD Parent Portal
Before creating a Parent Access Account, you will first need to obtain a unique Access ID for each student profile that you want added to your account. The required Access ID's, along with account set up instructions were sent to you earlier in September by HSD. If you have not received this specific email, please contact us (hfriesen@hsd.ca). Upon receipt of your child's Access ID, visit http://hsd.ca/parent-portal to proceed with account set up. It's easy and only takes a few minutes!
Stay connected and informed - Partners in Education!
Important Note: On the Parent Portal you can go to "Permissions and Consent Forms" and sign the Walking Permission Consent Form. This form allows your child to accompany his class off campus. Examples of off-campus walking activities would include going to a nearby park, taking a walk to a close-by field trip event (Steinbach Arts Council/Steinbach Firehall are two such activities), going to Southwood School to read to their reading buddies, etc.
If you would rather get a paper copy of this consent form, please have your child pick one up from the office or their homeroom teacher - or you can download the form right from this newsletter, sign it and send it in!
Security
Security cameras are installed both inside and outside of the school. These cameras help monitor many areas on the school grounds (ex. Bicycle racks). These cameras help make Stonybrook Middle School a safer school for your child.
We are looking forward to having a great year with your child!
Attendance Procedures
Please phone in or send a note when your child is away from school for any reason at all. Students need to sign out at the office when they leave school with your permission, even if they have given a note to their teacher. The adult picking the child up must come in to sign the child out of the office. If you wish to have your child picked up by another friend or relative for an occasion, you must make arrangements with the office prior to that pick up. If your child is absent from school and the office has not been notified, you may receive an automated telephone message asking you to contact the school with a reason your child is absent by phone call or note. You may also email the office with attendance information,at hfriesen@hsd.ca.
Lock Down Drills
Notification of several lock down drills will occur in September and October. These practice drills are done to prepare for events or times when a problem arises due to an intruder in the building. Homeroom teachers have prepared their students to reduce anxiety. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact the school.
A Peanut/Nut and Scent Safe School!
SMS is a peanut/nut safe school, and as we have students who are allergic to nuts, we need your help. Please do not send any peanut and/or nut type products for lunch or snacks. If students should forget and bring those products, the teachers will place it in a Ziploc bag and ask the student to take it back home. We hope this does not cause a great inconvenience to you, and would appreciate your cooperation and understanding.
We would also appreciate if students would not wear perfume or strong smelling deodorants or lotions, as there are students/staff that have allergies to strong scents.
Students who have these allergies, please have your epi-pen on you at all times; and having a second epi-pen available at the school office is good practice.
Thank you for your cooperation!
Interested in Volunteering at School?
SMS needs volunteers for different events and to meet legal obligations, each volunteer needs to complete a Child Abuse Registry check. Please call the school or send a note with your student if you are interested in helping at the school in some area—and advise us what you are interested in helping with! You can also email Mrs. Rebizant at rrebizant@hsd.ca to be placed on a list.
An immediate need for volunteers would be to accompany students to the Blatz Corn Maze which is part of their Strong Connections Day on Friday, September 15th or Monday, September 18th. If you think you could help, please let us know! Thank you so much for your assistance!
Religious Instruction Information
What's Happening in September
Wednesday, September 13th Picture Day (a.m.)
Friday, September 15th Strong Connections Day 1
Monday, September 18th Strong Connections Day 2
Friday, September 22nd Cross Country Run #1
Thursday, September 28th Terry Fox Run
Friday, September 29th Cross Country Run #2
Friday, September 30th Orange Shirt Day (more info to come)
School Starts at 9:00
School Dismissal is at 3:45
Lunch is at 12:21-1:20
It Takes A Village
You can be a part of this village!
If you have any questions, you may contact Brenda Wolf at pbwolf79@gmail.com or Rita Rebizant at mailto:rrebizant@hsd.ca.
Upcoming Important Event!
A Friendly Reminder! Our Peak of the Market Sales fundraiser will begin on Monday,
October 2nd and will run until Monday, October 18th. We are looking forward to supplying the town with vegetables! Information will be sent home regarding the fundraiser at the
beginning of October.
SMS Staff List
Ms. Crystal Friesen - 5F
Mr. Trevor Neufeld - 5N
Mr. Mike Reimer - 5R
Mrs. Sina Bateman - 6B
Mr. Al Harder - 6H
Mrs. Tanya Kasdorf - 6K
Mrs. Kristie Bouchard - 6KB
Mrs. Katherine Heide - 7H
Ms. Janine Lavallee - 7J
Ms. Alexa Klein - 7K
Mr. Anders Rempel - 7R
Mr. Markus Goertzen - 8G/Band Instructor
Ms. Melissa Mathew - 8M
Ms. Robin Nemeth - 8N
Mr. Erik Wiebe - 8W
Mrs. Lisa Desautels - Guidance/Drama (Art)
Mrs. Krystin Dychko - French
Ms. Kim Gordon - Grade 5/6 Music
Mr. Glenn Hiebert - Resource
Mr. Lyle Koop - Guidance/Resource
Mrs. Annette Loewen - Guidance/Visual Art
Mr. Tyler North - Industrial Arts
Ms. Brigit Krysko - Home Ecology
Mr. Al Thiessen - Phys Ed Teacher
Mr. AJ Neufeld - Vice-Principal
Mrs. Rita Rebizant - Principal
SMS is also hosting 4 teacher candidates from the University of Manitoba and University of Winnipeg Education Program this year.
There is a live link under "Address/Phone Number Changes" and at the end of this newsletter that will connect you with our SMS website, and you will be able to get your teachers' email addresses from there if you wish to make contact with them this way.
We Believe...
The staff and administration of SMS believe in the Middle School philosophy that creates an inviting, supportive and safe place, a joyful community that promotes in-depth learning and enhances students’ physical and emotional well-being. We believe in a healthy school environment where human relationships are paramount. We believe that interactions among staff members and between students should reflect democracy, fairness and mutual respect. We believe that SMS should promote a safe and supportive environment where students are encouraged to take intellectual risks, to be bold with their expectations and to explore new challenges. SMS believes that every student, no matter of creed, color or uniqueness, serves as a genuine part of the community and contributes based on individual strengths.
Adapted from “This We Believe: Successful Schools for Young Adolescents”, National Middle School Association
As we embrace this Middle Years philosophy, we are teaching our students what it means to be “Ready to Learn”, and what responsibility, respect and safety looks like throughout the school, classrooms and playground. Together we are creating life long learners and positive global citizens.
Stonybrook Middle School
Email: hfriesen@hsd.ca
Website: sms.hsd.ca
Location: 77 Lumber Avenue, Steinbach, MB, Canada
Phone: 204-326-6481
Twitter: @StonybrookHSD