Port Susan Middle School
Student & Family Update 01/23/2022
Thank you!
End of Semester Reminders
Opportunities for Students
I highly encourage students to participate in Power Hour for additional academic support. This is available for ALL students Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday with no sign ups necessary. Students may join one or all three days as needed. Check your grade level classrooms for additional information.
Third Season Sports
Third season's start date has changed to Monday February 7th. Google Sign-ups are available on Grade-level Google Classrooms. Girls Basketball is for 7th and 8th graders, Wrestling is Girls and Boys grades 6th, 7th, and 8th. In order to register for the season, please use this link: Girls Basketball and Wrestling Registration Form (Third Season)
Our office will need to have a hard copy of your athlete's physical as well as the emergency authorization form. If you have these on file from one of the first sports seasons, we do not need another copy.
As we enter this third sports season, you may be aware that the district continues to struggle with transportation. When we are not able to schedule a bus, we use vans and parents to help transport students to their away contests. If you are able to drive your athlete to away games/matches, please fill out this form: Parent Transportation Waiver for Middle School Sports.
Finally, both basketball and wrestling are considered high-risk sports. There are new Covid screening requirements in place. There will be screening testing of all athletes, coaches, trainers and supporting personnel, regardless of vaccination status 3 times weekly.
Among those screening tests, at least one must occur no sooner than the day before the competition; ideally and whenever possible, the day of the event. High-risk sporting activities include basketball, wrestling, water polo, and indoor cheer.
Full details for this update (dated December 17, 2021) can be found in the Washington State K-12 Requirements for Schools.
Please provide your consent online by using this google form: Consent Form for Rapid COVID-19 Antigen Test
Week of January 24th through 28th
Monday:
Regular Schedule
Advisory - Lesson
Tuesday:
Regular Schedule
Advisory - Homework Support
Wednesday:
Wednesday Schedule
Thursday:
Regular Schedule
Advisory - Homework Support
*Spirt Day: Tie Dye (Information Below)
Friday:
No School - Teacher grading day
Thank you PSMS students & families!
Crysty Auckland, Assistant Principal
Our commitment
At PSMS, high quality teaching and learning means that we are a community of learners including both students and staff. Teachers provide routine and structures along with the belief that ALL students have the ability to learn.
Teacher Emails
Dave Austin (6-8 Fitness & 6 Leadership) daustin@stanwood.wednet.edu
Jonathan Bletscher (6-8 Band) jbletscher@stanwood.wednet.edu
Joan Campbell (6-7 Math) jcampbell@stanwood.wednet.edu
Garry Carlson (6-7 Math) gcarlson@stanwood.wednet.edu
Charlene Franck (7 ELA & 6-8 Art) CFranck@stanwood.wednet.edu
Grace Gale (6 Science & 6-8 STEM/Robotics) GGale@stanwood.wednet.edu
Chelsea Hanson (6-8 ELA/Humanities) CHanson@stanwood.wednet.edu
Nate Hanson (6-8 Computers/Digital Effects) nhanson@stanwood.wednet.edu
Audrie Harrington (6/7 ELA & 7/8 Leadership) aharrington@stanwood.wednet.edu
Deborah Hepper (6/7 Social Studies/History) DHepper@stanwood.wednet.edu
Seth Hills (6/8 History) shills@stanwood.wednet.edu
Lori Johnson (6-8 Assist) ljohnson@stanwood.wednet.edu
Wade Johnson (7/8 Science) wjohnson@stanwood.wednet.edu
Rebecca Klein (6/7 Science) rklein@stanwood.wednet.edu
Meghan Lawrence (6-8 PBS) mlawrence@stanwood.wednet.edu
Ellianna Martin (6-8 Math) emartin@stanwood.wednet.edu>,
Daniel Mccrumb (6 Math/Science & 7/8 Outdoor Ed) DMccrumb@stanwood.wednet.edu
Sarah Oldow (6 ELA/Social Studies) soldow@stanwood.wednet.edu
Catherine Perry (6-8 EL) cperry@stanwood.wednet.edu
Tracy Riley (6-8 ELA) TRiley@stanwood.wednet.edu
Kelcie Rocha (7/8 Math) krocha@stanwood.wednet.edu
Brad Rochon (7/8 Science) brochon@stanwood.wednet.edu
Connie Schmidt (6-8 Health) cschmidt@stanwood.wednet.edu
Sheri Schroeder (8 History/ELA) sleeschroeder@stanwood.wednet.edu
Kym Shoemaker (7/8 Math) kshoemaker@stanwood.wednet.edu
Crystal Titus (6-8 Fitness) ctitus@stanwood.wednet.edu
Kayte White (8 ELA & 6 Cultures) kwhite@stanwood.wednet.edu
Julia Zurcher (7 History & 7/8 Home Ec) jzurcher@stanwood.wednet.edu
Office Support
Jayde Piggot (6 Counselor) jpiggott@stanwood.wednet.edu
Keli Niegemann (7/8 Counselor) kniegemann@stanwood.wednet.edu
Emily Bowne (School Psychologist) ebowne@stanwood.wednet.edu
Kandyce Hansen (Speech Language Pathologist) khansen@stanwood.wednet.edu
Sara Harlan (Librarian) sharlan@stanwood.wednet.edu
Crysty Auckland (Athletic Director/Assistant Principal) cauckland@stanwood.wednet.edu
Cherae Almanza (Principal) calmanza@stanwood.wednet.edu
District Information
District Logo Contest for Students 6-12th Grade
Students in grades 6-12 are invited to participate in a special contest to create a new logo for the Stanwood-Camano School District.
We are excited to have a new graphic created by one of our own that represents our students, staff, families, and community.
What are we looking for?
We are seeking a new logo that reflects our unique district, highlighting Stanwood and Camano Island, its people, and its geography.
What makes a good logo?
A good logo should be:
Simple
Memorable
Timeless
Versatile
Appropriate
When designing, imagine how your logo might look in different sizes and colors, even in black and white. (A circular format often works best.)
Where will people see the new logo?
Stanwood-Camano school district will use the new logo on the district website, social media announcements, district letterhead, and publications. In other words, people will see it everywhere!
What colors should be used?
Our high school’s traditional colors are red, white, and gray. Please consider any or all of these in your color palette to create your logo design. You are also welcome to create a new color palette as well.
Who decides which logo is selected?
Groups of teachers and administrators will join a committee to narrow the entries down to a smaller number. There will be a vote to see which design our community prefers before making a final decision.
What happens if my logo is selected?
Here is the exciting part! You will have the opportunity to work with the creative design team at Madak, a market agency in Stanwood, to refine and complete the design.
How should I begin?
View examples of school district logos in our area. Here are some school districts you may want to consider searching for: Stanwood Camano School District, Arlington Public Schools, Bellingham Public Schools, Everett Public Schools, Oak Harbor Public Schools, and Mukilteo School District.
Get creative! Choose how you will showcase your design. Here are some possible ideas: paper, poster board, colored pencils, markers, or paint, Google Drawings, Canva, or Adobe Creative Cloud.
What is the submission process?
Paper and poster board:
Submit to Craig Degginger, Director of Communications, Stanwood-Camano School District, 26920 Pioneer Highway, Stanwood, WA 98292. Attach your first and last name to your design.
Digital designs:
Email to scsdinfo@stanwood.wednet.edu.
All submissions are due February 28th, 2022.
We look forward to seeing all of your creative logo designs! For more information, visit https://www.stanwood.wednet.edu/news/logo_design_contest
Craig Degginger
Stanwood Camano School District
Director of Communications
Levy Information
The District is proposing a four-year replacement Capital Projects and Technology Levy on the February 8, 2022 ballot to replace an expiring levy. The proposed local school tax is expected to decrease from current levels. Levies require a simple majority for approval.
The Capital Projects and Technology (Cap/Tech) levy covers two areas:
• Facility improvements and updates that are beyond a general repair or regular maintenance but fall short of bond-level funding needs.
• Instructional technology and related staffing, professional development and technology infrastructure.
Approximately 50 percent of the funds is expected to be used for long-term facility needs, such as:
• New roof at Cedarhome Elementary;
• Replacement fire sprinkler lines at Utsalady and Elger Bay Elementary Schools;
• Portable maintenance at Port Susan, including new roofs, paint and siding repair;
• Upgraded public address systems at Stanwood Middle and Stanwood Elementary Schools;
• Various projects to improve student safety, such as fencing and sidewalks.
Approximately 50 percent of the funds is expected to upgrade technology used for student learning at all schools. Projects include:
• Replacing aging classroom computers, chromebooks and software licenses;
• Maintaining infrastructure that supports technology for student learning, for example, servers, wifi and network;
• Provide for staffing to maintain and operate district technology.
What has SCSD accomplished with local funds?
• Increased the number of computer labs, mobile labs and student-accessible technology at each school;
• Increased the curricular tools and online educational resources;
• Provided professional development and technical support to staff that impacts teaching and learning;
• Replaced fire alarm systems at Cedarhome, Twin City and Stanwood Elementary;
• Playground safety improvements at Cedarhome, Elger Bay and Utsalady Elementary;
• Renovation and roof replacement for the SHS Transition Program facility;
• Seismic upgrades for Stanwood Middle School.
Please remember to vote by February 8
Snohomish and Island Counties conduct all elections through mail-in ballots. The ballots for the February 8, 2022 election must be postmarked (mailing is free) or placed in a ballot drop site by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, February 8, 2022. Ballot drop boxes are located near the Stanwood Library, 9701 271st St. NW and on Camano Island at 121 N. East Camano Drive.
Strategic Planning
Dr. Rumbaugh's Friday Family Communication
Family Communication
January 21, 2022
Hello Families,
As we head into the second half of the school year, you may notice staffing changes. Late winter and early spring often brings retirements of staff that have been with us for many years. I feel honored to work in a district where many staff have spent their entire careers; this truly is an exception to the norm. Change can be difficult, but with it can come the opportunity to celebrate and honor the great work done over many years. We will spend much of the next month celebrating those in our system that are retiring, so look for those celebrations and join us in honoring our staff. As we move into the 2022-2023 school year, we will begin to build a school system that is designed to honor the goals outlined in our District Strategic Plan. Please join us for virtual community forums on the plan to be held at 7 p.m. February 8 (focus on elementary) and February 10 (focus on secondary).
Our focus will be on students. We aim to ensure students graduate from the Stanwood-Camano School District prepared for the futures they choose. As we welcome new staff into our district, we will both honor what has been accomplished and pursue academic excellence and student well-being. Lastly, we commit to being collaborative as we work to continue designing an exceptional learning environment for all students and staff. You will hear more about our efforts to: Celebrate, Build and Commit!
Food Services Appreciation
I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to our exceptional food service staff! This team works tirelessly to ensure that our students have access to the nutrition necessary to be successful in the classroom. We could not do all that we do without this team!
District Logo Design Contest
Students in grade 6-12 are invited to participate in a special contest to create a new logo for the Stanwood-Camano School District. We are excited to have a new graphic created by one of our own that represents our students, staff, families, and community.
We are seeking a new logo that reflects our unique district, highlighting Stanwood and Camano Island, its people, and its geography. All submissions are due February 28, 2022. We look forward to seeing all of your creative logo designs! Learn more about the contest HERE.
Replacement Capital Projects and Technology Levy - please remember to vote by February 8
The levy covers two areas:
Facility improvements and updates that are beyond a general repair or regular maintenance but fall short of bond-level funding needs.
Instructional technology and related staffing, professional development and technology infrastructure.
Approximately 50 percent of the funds is expected to be used for long-term facility needs, and the other 50 percent of the funds to upgrade technology used for student learning at all schools.
Remote Instruction
Should the district need to transition to remote learning due to COVID-19 infection rates, we want families to know that we have a remote learning model developed and ready for use. We have been told by the Snohomish Health District that COVID-19 infection rates should drop significantly next week. If this is the case, it further reduces the likelihood of transitioning to remote instruction.
Modified Bus Routes in the Event of Driver Shortage
In the event of a driver shortage on a general education route, the following options will be available to parents of a canceled route:
If any of the following routes are canceled:
Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Options: HS/MS parents can drive students to Utsalady Elementary to catch a shuttle that will leave at 7:00 am.
Elementary will run 1 hour later
If any of the following routes are canceled:
Routes 10, 11, 12, 14, 15
Options: HS/MS parents can drive students to Elger Bay Elementary to catch a shuttle that will leave at 7:00 am.
Elementary will run 1 hour later
If any of the following routes are canceled:
Routes 21, 23, 24, 25
Options: HS/MS parents can drive students to LIFEchurch 360 on 188th St. NW to catch a shuttle that will leave at 7:00 am.
Elementary will run 1 hour later
If any of the following routes are canceled:
Routes 22, 31, 32
Options: HS/MS parents can drive students to the Park and Ride at 300th St. NW and Old 99 to catch a shuttle that will leave at 7:00 am.
Elementary will run 1 hour later
If any of the following routes are canceled:
Routes 20, 30, 33, 40, 41, 42, 43
Parents will need to transport students to school.
Elementary will run 1 hour later
We are always hiring drivers! Please see our Employment Page on the district website for more information and application materials.
Respectfully,
Deborah Rumbaugh, Ed.D.
Superintendent
The Stanwood-Camano School District does not discriminate in employment, programs, or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the District's Title IX/Affirmative Action Officer and Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator, Maurene Stanton (mstanton@stanwood.wednet.edu), or the Section 504/American Disabilities Act Coordinator, Robert Hascall (rhascall@stanwood.wednet.edu) Stanwood-Camano School District, 26920 Pioneer Hwy, Stanwood, WA 98292. Telephone: (360) 629-1200.