Sumner Middle School Update
9/5/22
Reminders About the First Day of School!
Hello Bobcats!
We are looking forward to a phenomenal school year. We can’t wait to start working with your amazing students. Here are a few reminders about the first day of school:
Different Start Times for 6th and 7th/8th Graders on the First Day of School
Our 7th and 8th graders start later on the first day of school so that 6th graders can have an orientation to middle school.
6th graders start school at 7:25am on September 6. Sixth graders will be picked up according to regular weekday bus schedules for a full school day schedule. School lunch will be available for our sixth graders.
7th and 8th graders start school on September 6 at 12:25pm. This is for September 6 ONLY. Bus transportation will be provided five hours later than the regular weekday bus schedule. For example, if your regular morning bus pick-up time is 7:10am, then you need to be at your bus stop at 12:10pm. Students not riding the bus can start arriving at 12:00pm. School lunch will NOT be served to 7th and 8th graders on the first day of school.
To find bus routes for all students, visit the district website and select Transportation.
Cell Phones and Other Personal Electronic Devices (PED) Are Off During the School Day
Students will hear our staff refer to our cell phone policy as Bobcat Mode. Bobcat Mode means we expect students to be active learners who have their phones/airpods/earbuds off and out of sight during the school day–this includes classrooms, hallways, restrooms, locker rooms, the office, etc. The only time students will be allowed to check phones will be before the first bell rings for the day, during lunch, or after school. Having cell phones put away during the school day will reduce distractions for students while increasing student participation and face-to-face social interactions with their peers.
Parents/guardians, if you need to get an urgent message to your child during a time other than lunch, please call our main office at 253-891-5000.
Health Procedures
For the health and safety of all, students should stay home when:
- symptoms of sickness or illness are present (fever, cough, loss of taste/smell, nausea, etc)
- student has recently tested positive for COVID-19 and has been directed to self-isolate
Students will be encouraged to cover coughs/sneezes and wash hands/use hand sanitizer at appropriate times (after restroom use, before eating, etc).
Call our main office at 253-891-5000 and ask to speak to Jenny Williams (Principal), Brett McDaniel (Assistant Principal) or Tara Demma (Registered Nurse) if you have any questions.
Track, Fastpitch and Baseball Start Practice on September 6
Fall sports start on our first day of school, September 6. Track and Fastpitch will practice from 2:30-4:15pm. Baseball will practice from 2:30-4:30pm. If you have any questions about our first season of sports, please contact our athletic coordinator, Cassie Waddle at cassandra_waddle@sumnersd.org.
What Supplies Should My Child Bring the First Week?
The focus of this first week is to get to know our students and teach school expectations. Students should have at a minimum:
- charged chromebook
- paper
- pencil or pens
Here is our school supply list. Contact our counseling office at 253-891-5011 if your child needs a backpack with school supplies. Teachers will go over any specific supply needs with students when they pass out class syllabi over the next few weeks.
Please contact us if you have any questions or need any support or assistance.
Jenny Williams, Principal, jenny_williams@sumnersd.org
Brett McDaniel, Assistant Principal, brett_mcdaniel@sumnersd.org
Tomas Morales, Dean of Students, tomas_morales@sumnersd.org
Shawna Eklund, Counselor for students with last name A-K, shawna_eklund@sumnersd.org
Donna Knutsen, Counselor for students with last name L-Z, donna_knutsen@sumnersd.org