SMS GIANT News
January 13, 2023 #20
Upcoming Dates
1/16 School Closed in observance of MLK Day
1/17 2nd Quarter/1st Semester Report cards distributed in 4th period classes
1/17 Renaissance & CJSF Applications available in the B-side of the Office - 3pm
1/19: Early Release Day - 1pm dismissal
1/20: Renaissance Applications Due by 3pm
1/25 Office Hours 1:10-1:45
1/27: Gold Card Luncheon Permission Slips Available
CJSF (California Junior Scholastic Achievement) for 7th and 8th graders
CJSF is an organization for 7th & 8th graders with good grades & citizenship.
Applications will be in the office, “B” side, Friday , January 17th
Students should fill out the application, attach their report card with comments and turn it in to D-6, Ms Montoya. We meet on Thursdays 2:45-3:30. Our first meeting will be January 26, in D-6. If a student qualifies and cannot come to our Thursday meetings, they should apply anyway and will become an inactive member. Our main focus is to do service projects and have fun together. Check out the display case by the B side of the office and get an idea of the type of projects we work on.
January 26, 3:00 p.m. is the deadline to get applications in.
Students should plan to come to our first meeting January 26. We will be electing our officers.
Teacher award Nomination-- we can win $20,000 for SMS!
On behalf of NBC Sports Bay Area & California and Provident Credit Union, we are excited to announce the start of the 16th annual All-Star Teacher Award. Each year, the All-Star Teacher Award recognizes middle and high school teachers in the San Francisco & Sacramento Area for their extraordinary dedication to their students and community.
Below is an overview of the program:
Nomination period:
- Nomination forms can be found online at NBCSportsBayArea.com/AST and must be completed by anyone 18 years or older by Monday, February 6, 2023
Judging period:
- Following the nomination deadline, a panel of judges will select five finalists based on four categories: overall commitment, excellence in teaching, rapport with students, and level of distinction
- Finalists will be notified around February 24, 2023
- Once the finalists have been announced, we will highlight the extraordinary work they do for their school, students, and community on NBC Sports Bay Area & California.
Voting period:
- Public voting will be open from April 3 to June 5, 2023, and available on NBCSportsBayArea.com/AST
- Over the summer, all five finalists will be recognized prior to the start of a San Francisco Giants game at Oracle Park, and the Grand Prize winning teacher’s school will receive $30,000!
Learn more about the 2022 All-Star Teacher Award winner, Jessica Holman, who won $20,000 for her school, Rancho Cotate High School in Rohnert Park.
Attached is a flyer for you to share with your school staff, student body, and parents so they can nominate their favorite teacher. Please note, students under 18 years old will need a parent or guardian to submit a nomination form on their behalf.
REPOST- Special Video message sent via Parent Square to all SMS students and parents.
We have 508 views out of 856 students. I know we can increase that number, please help make it happen as the video reviews the Sequoia Way with students to help them be successful in 2023.
Elective Course Selection for 2023 - 2024
Starting January 10, 2023, the elective window will open. Students in grades 6 and 7 can start selecting their electives for the 2023-2024 school year. During our first week back from break, in class, students will watch a video showing exactly how to select their course in Homelink Account. Please look for the updated Course Catalog on our website and discuss it with your student. Final choices are due by January 18th.
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES...
MLK Family Night 2023!
Attached is the flyer for the MLK Family Night 2023, which is sponsored by our MDUSD AAPAC. The event will be a tribute to the real life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. There will be food, speakers, prizes and community resources given. Feel free to share the flyer with your African American families.
What: AAPAC MLK Family Night
When: Tuesday January 17th, 2023
Where: Riverview Middle School 205 PAcifica Ave. Rm. 415 (Black Family Resource Room)
What: A tribute to the real life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with food, speakers, prizes and community resources.
Who: MDUSD Parents/guardians of African American students/ African American community members.
DAILY VIDEO BULLETIN
OUT AND ABOUT ON CAMPUS.
Former SMS Alumni Aly measures in our Wellness Center
Happy to be outside without the rain
Football resumes after the rain stopped
Playing outside
Students checking out library books
Students help carrying boxes of new books to teachers
Playing a clap game in Mrs. Enloe's drama class
Rainy Day fun in the gameroom
Chess anyone?
Recommendation of when to use COVID-19 tests
For the return to school, students and staff should test the night before (or morning of) return AND repeat 2 days later
Positive test
Stay home from school, follow isolation guidance, let your school know.Ages 12-49 with medical conditions, or older than 50? Ask about treatment! FREE medications for COVID-19 are safe and highly effective at preventing serious illness, and help you test negative sooner.
Negative test but COVID-19 symptoms
Stay home from school until you feel better and at least 24 hours after fever is gone
Re-check with a repeat COVID-19 test in 1-2 days.
Click on the "Post-Break" pdf below for COVID guidance
TITLE IX NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
The Governing Board is committed to providing equal opportunity for all individuals in education. District programs, activities, facilities and practices shall be free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on actual or perceived ancestry, age, color, disability, gender, gender identify, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, actual or potential parental, family, marital status, or association with a person or a group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics (Governing Board Policy 0410).
Contact Us / How to File a Complaint
For questions, concerns or complaints regarding student harassment, discrimination, intimidation and bullying, please contact Jennifer Sachs, Chief of Educational Services, at sachsj@mdusd.org or by phone at (925) 682-8000 x4016.
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Sequoia Middle School
Email: keckl@mdusd.org
Website: sms-mdusd-ca.schoolloop.com/
Location: 265 Boyd Road, Pleasant Hill, CA, USA
Phone: 925-934-8174
Twitter: @SequoiaMSGiants