Thunderblast Weekly
January 1, 2023
New Year's Resolutions
Last year, on New Year's Eve, I made a resolution with a friend that I would do 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, and 100 squats everyday in 2022. I came out of the gate firing on all cylinders. I got my dog involved. I even got COVID during the snowstorms in January and when I missed 3 days of workouts, I did 300 reps of each exercise during recovery. I was most successful in my goals when I checked in with my friend to see how he was doing. Yes, my resolve did taper off as the year went on, but I was more physically fit in 2022 than in 2021, so I consider it a win.
Below are excerpts from the Thunderblast I sent on January 2, 2022. I left all the bullets that are still relevant. COVID mitigation protocols are no longer at the forefront.
- We are also asking for your help with students during transitions being appropriate in the bathrooms, cleaning up after themselves at lunch and breakfast, and limiting hallways passes.
- If students are walkers, we must be better when we are unsupervised on the walk home.
- Talking about how students are using their phones outside of school is an important conversation for each family to have.
- Lastly, the semester close is right around the corner. Now is the time to look at Schoology and StudentVUE/ ParentVUE to make sure all assignments are complete.
- We are very proud of the partnership and mutual respect we have fostered with families and will continue to make that a top priority.
Last year, at our January faculty meeting, we introduced 9 new staff members. I am happy to say, although substitutes are in shortage, the overall staffing shortage this year has been much better. We have been fully staffed since August. We still have work to do with phones, transitions, and dismissal, but our student behavior numbers are much better this year (shared in December 4th Thunderblast).
Like last year, I will closeout this resolution section with pride in our community and a commitment to continuous growth. We had a tough final week of school. From August 25 to December 9, we had 127 referrals for student behavior to administration. From December 12 to December 16, that number increased to 151 and there was a snow day that week! In summary, we averaged 7.94 referrals/ week for the first 16 weeks of the year, and accumulated 24 referrals in the last week before break. Here's to a fresh start!
20 Days Remain to Support the BINGO Fundraiser
We are excited about using these funds for indoor and outdoor beautification, as well as celebrating our students for their day to day hustle through PBIS rewards.
Sponsorship is $5 a box from $10 last year to promote greater participation because we believe in what we are asking the students to do. Sponsorship can be done in the following ways:
- Online- https://bit.ly/3h79Rpw
- Check- Made payable to Seneca Ridge Middle School and can be brought to the front office or house offices.
- Cash- My dad tells me to always be careful when carrying cash.
Our second student to complete all 25 blocks was able to collect 3 of the 5 rewards by Friday. Movie and Staff challenge are worked out with each individual.
Save the Date: Cluster Multi-Cultural Evening on January 19, 2023 at Seneca Ridge!
Unified Mental Health Team (UMHT)
Seneca’s UMHT: One of our goals is to provide families with information on community resources, access to basic needs, mental health and crisis counseling, reducing stress and anxiety, substance abuse resources, and resources to support learning. If interested, check out our resource page.
Does your student need extra help? Click here to view Seneca’s Tutor List.
Seneca’s Counseling Team held their Fall Advisory Council on December 14th, a meeting which included a Seneca parent, students, and various members of our Administration Team. The focus of this meeting was to revew Seneca’s Comprehensive School Counseling Program, to share out our program goals, and to receive feedback. Below, you will find two data charts that highlight our academic goal and our social/emotional goal. The Mindfulness goal is for those students who expressed interest in working on this aspect, and like all interventions, we make sure to partner with families.
We will be working with students throughout the year utilizing small group lessons (parents will be notified if their student is participating in group), structured resource, individual meetings, and other various support strategies. We will be holding our next Advisory Council meeting in the spring. Please feel free to reach out to Erin Bot if interested in attending.
One LCPS United For Wellness (Annual Event)
When? Saturday, Jan. 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30
Where? Lightridge High School (41025 Collaboration Dr, Aldie, VA)
What?
- 30 speakers featuring approaches such as learning about music mediation, interrupting the stress cycle, and building the teen toolkit with yoga and breathing exercises. Other topics include coping with anxiety, mindful parenting, positive relationships with food, and navigating mental health insurance challenges.
- The conference will also include a vendor fair featuring area businesses that support mental health and wellness.
- There will also be a raffle giving away great prizes.
- Refreshments will be provided. Please plan to join us!
Students of the Week
Congratulations to our final SOTW winners of 2022! Because I was busy getting pied in the face at this pizza gathering, I did not get a picture of the students. My apologies. They will be in part of the morning announcements soon.
7th Grade: Evianna Machado, Ashkan Fard, Kati Mandic, Mariam Sprague
8th Grade: Jamie Corrado, Ilyas Meth, Nivedita Krishnan
Spirit Week Highlights!
Santa's Visit
Teacher of the Week
Parents of the Week :)
PTO Corner
- Holy cow, that cookie exchange before break was killer. You guys slayed! Pictures above. We always have local businesses support us as well as some community members who are no longer parents at Seneca. Your team's generosity warms my heart. I can't wait to run the coffee cart around the building with you on Tuesday to ring in the new year!
- We are doing a book club gathering in March. More details to come. This is a great way for parents and students to read together and have powerful discussions as we pave the way for equitable practices at Seneca. Please consider joining us to read The Other Wes Moore, a New York Times bestseller is described as "The “compassionate” (People), “startling” (Baltimore Sun), “moving” (Chicago Tribune) true story of two kids with the same name from the city: One went on to be a Rhodes Scholar, decorated combat veteran, White House Fellow, and business leader. The other is serving a life sentence in prison. In development as a feature film executive produced by Stephen Curry, who selected the book as his “Underrated” Book Club Pick with Literati. 'The chilling truth is that his story could have been mine. The tragedy is that my story could have been his.'"
- Yo! Check out the Spirit Wear below. It also slays!
Important Reminders
Yearbook
Attached is an ad for yearbook sales and here is the link to the order site, https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/general/displayLanding?portal=true. Our School code is 5475.
Check us out!
Email: nick.cottone@lcps.org
Website: https://www.lcps.org/Page/30563
Location: 98 Seneca Ridge Drive, Sterling, VA, USA
Phone: 571-434-4420
Twitter: @SRMS_Official