M 'n M
Mustangs in the Middle: Feb 2, 2018
In This Edition:
- Monday is a GREEN DAY
- Yearbook Information
- Digital Dangers: Parent Presentation
- Parent Teacher Conferences
- 8th Graders Scheduling for HS Classes
- Red Ribbon Week Redo
- Track Information
- PTA Update
Digital Dangers: Parent Presentation
The Strongsville City Schools Counseling Department would like to invite all parents/guardians to attend a presentation, "Digital Danger Project: Drawing the Line with Social Media". Officer Don Stanko and his team will be speaking to parents/guardians about the newest digital dangers involving social media. In this community presentation, trends in social media use, anonymous app trends, live video streaming, and camouflage apps will be touched upon. The presenters will also provide parenting tips on how to keep your child safe while using social media and when/how to involve law enforcement when things go wrong. The Digital Danger Project's aim is to decrease the misuses of social media and ensure parents are informed about all current social media trends available to children today.
Digital Danger Presentation
When: Monday February 5th @ 6:30PM
Where: SMS Auditorium
Program Description
Do you feel like your child is engaging in increasingly risky online behavior? If you think your child is safe online, think again. Although technology is a wonderful tool, new digital dangers are emerging; prevention practices and policies struggle to keep up.
Scheduling Update
he High School scheduling window is open from February 5th through February 15th. All 8th grade students will have the opportunity to schedule during the school day at SMS (see specific dates for each team listed below), but students are welcome to begin the registration process on their own on their PASS account (Online Registration Instructions). Families may access the SHS Program of Studies 2018-2019 on the High School Website for course descriptions and other relevant information.
Elissa Ray, the 8th grade school counselor, will be available to assist students with registration on the following dates for each team:
Dragons - 2/5 during Math Class
Vanguard - 2/9 during Language Arts
Pirates - 2/12 during Science
Crusaders - 2/13 during Science
Students "Breaking Down" Properties of Light in 3-D
Red Ribbon Week Redo
The theme is "Your Future Is Key, So Stay Drug Free!" Children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs than those who don't, yet only a quarter of teens report having these conversations. We encourage ALL of our parents to have these conversations with their children.
Here are the spirit days for the week of February 12-15:
Monday 2/12: Team Up Against Drugs!
Wear your favorite sports team gear/jersey
Tuesday 2/13: Protect Yourself and stay safe from drugs!
Dress For Extreme Weather
Wednesday 2/14: Valentine's Day- Wear RED!!!
Thursday 2/15: Show Your School Spirit- Stay Strong and Say No to Drugs
Dress in your class colors: 6th- Green, 7th- White, 8th-Black
Identifying Rocks & Minerals through Deductive Reasoning
PTA Update
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! - STAFF DINNER - FEBRUARY 8th CONFERENCES
On Conference Days, teachers and staff members have a limited time to get something to eat between the end of the school day and conferences. For the February 8th Parent Teacher Conference Day, the SMS PTA is providing a hot meal for the entire SMS staff.
We are looking for donations of crock soups & salads, as well as monetary donations and people to help set up. Please have all items to the school by 2:00 pm on Thursday, February 8. Set up volunteers should also arrive at 2:00 pm. Please sign up below. Questions may be directed to Laura Housum at lhousum@gmail.com. Click here to sign-up.
Thank you to Laura Housum for coordinating this staff dinner!
STAFF APPRECIATION COMMITTEE - VOLUNTEERS/CHAIR PERSON NEEDED!
We are still looking for someone to head up the Staff Appreciation Committee. Staff Appreciation is responsible for planning activities (breakfast/lunch) during Staff Appreciation Week in early May.
If you are interested in chairing or co-chairing the Staff Appreciation Committee or would like more information about this committee, please contact Vicki Maloney at vsmaloney02@gmail.com.
PTA MEETING
Our next SMS PTA meeting is Monday, February 12th, at 1pm in the SMS Media Center. We meet on the 3rd floor of the Media Center. Please stop in the Main Office to get a visitor pass on your way in.
This month we will have a tour of the SMS Maker Space following the business meeting. Also, a teacher representative and/or Mr. Deitrick is always in attendance to provide an update and answer questions. We hope to see you there!
If you miss a meeting and want to stay up to date on what is going on, you can now view our meeting minutes on the SMS PTA website.
YARD SIGNS
PTA is still selling yard signs where you can include your child's name and sport or activity to display in your yard. If you have a student involved in winter or spring sports/activities, it's not too late to get a sign to show your pride!
Signs are $20, and you can use the attached form to order one. All of the information needed for ordering a sign is included on the form. Yard Signs
Parent Teacher Conference
Conferences will be held on February 8th and 14th from 4:00-7:00. Conference format may look different depending on which team your child is on. Many of our core teams are using this semester's conference time to speak with parents of students who may be struggling in their academics. Your child's Team Leader may have reached out to you to explain the change in format for the upcoming sessions. If you have any questions, please reach out to one of your child's core team teachers.
Please be mindful that conferences are not intended to discuss course selection for next year as that can be done by email.
Voyager teachers will be available throughout the evening in their rooms and in the commons for individual conferences. Click below for a list of teachers/locations.
Interested in Running Track
Tissues Needed For Makerspace
The SMS Makerspace and Media Center are in need of tissues during this cold and flu season. We appreciate any donations, please have your student drop off in the media center or you can drop off in the main office.
Links
SMS Website: Click Here
PTA Membership: PTA Membership Form
Morning Announcements: WSMS - Morning Announcements
Important Dates
- Feb 5: 6:30 Digital Dangers: Parent Presentation in SMS Auditorium
- Feb 8: 4:00-7:00 Parent Teacher Conference
- Feb 12: 1:00 PTA Meeting 3rd Floor Media Center
- Feb 14: 4:00-7:00 Parent Teacher Conference
- Feb 16-19: No School
- Mar 1: 6:00 5th Grade Parent Night in SMS Auditorium
- Mar 2: 6th Grade Fun Day (Tentative)
Strongsville Middle School
Email: sdeitrick@scsmustangs.org
Website: http://www.strongnet.org/Domain/411
Location: 13200 Pearl Road, Strongsville, OH, United States
Phone: 440.572.7090
Twitter: @smsstangs