SLA-MS Advisory Memo
SLA-MS News for the week of December 2nd !
What is Advisory Memo?
On the School Calendar!
Friday, December 6th:
- Movie Night for SLA-MS Students: Students and family are welcome! For more information contact Anne Johnson- Sacks at aylasmama30@gmail.com
Monday, December 9th:
- Ground Breaking Ceremony for SLA- MS NEW Location!
Thursday, December 12th:
- Breakfast with Principal Boyle 9.30 am in Community Partnership Office.
December 23rd- January 2nd:
- Winter Break! The student's last day of school for 2019 is on December 20th and, return on Thursday, Janury 2nd 2020!
Ground Breaking Ceremony
We are pleased to announce that the Ground Breaking Ceremony for our new building will on December 9th at 11 a.m. at 37th and Filbert Streets. We will be bringing a small delegation of students to the event. Part of the ceremony will a speech by an SLA-MS student.
Movie Night @ SLA-MS Friday, December 6th, 2019 6pm-8pm
Parents can drop off or stay and help chaperone (much appreciated!). The movie will be determined by the audience -- we have a selection of age-appropriate movies to choose from. Snacks will be available ($2 pizza slices and $1 drinks and $1 bags of popcorn). If you do drop off your child, please pick them up promptly at 8 PM.
Sponsored by the Home & School Association. If you have any questions, please text or call Anne Sacks at 267-977-5741,
SLA-MS is a Place of Learning!
SLA-MS is a place of learning. For students to be successful we need your support with:
- Chromebooks - Having a fully charged Chromebook at the beginning of each school day is crucial. It is a student's responsibility to have their Chromebook charged. A fully charged Chromebook should last the entire school day. If your student needs a new charger, there is information on how to order a new one at the following link: https://slams.philasd.org/chromebooks/
- We have a limited number of used Chromebook chargers available for sale. These chargers fit the 6th through 8th-grade Chromebooks (not the new 5th-grade Chromebooks, sorry!) and are available for $10 while supplies last. Please send payment - cash only - to Ms. Martin.
- The school day starts at 8:15!! Being on time is essential to students starting their day off right. Students need to have their breakfast completed before 8:15 am!!
- Student's cell phones are off during the school day. If you need to reach your student, you can call our main office at (215) 400-8320.
- Title 1 Information:
For the Parent and Engagement Policy and the School-Parent Compact 2019- 2020 School Year information is all located in the Main Office.
School Announcements
The Breakfast & Lunch menu can be found here!
Students ID: If your student needs an ID replacement, they can pay Ms. Hull $5 during Rover ONLY for a reprint of their ID. Receipts for payment will be given, exact change only.
For information on Early Dismissals, School Closings, and District Updates, please go to the School District of Philadelphia Website: Click here to learn more.
Follow us on Social Media! On Twitter: @slamiddle and on Instagram: @slamiddle
Updates to your home address or other contact information such as email need to be given to your student's advisor.
SLA-MS Drive for Pencils, Tissues, and Hand Sanitizer:
SLA- MS needs more pencils, tissues, and hand sanitizer. If you will like to donate any of those items it will greatly be appreciated. Thank you to Ann Saks Family and Aliyah Floyd for the donations!
LIT Lab @ SLA-MS:
Lit Lab is every Tuesday from 3.20 pm- 4.30 pm in Ms.Hilary room (208). For more information, you can contact Ms.Hilary at hhamilton@philasd.org .
Debate Club Details from Mrs. PH
I am excited to coordinate Debate Club at SLA-MS! I am also very proud of your students for showing interest! I plan to have some "guest debaters" from the City of Philadelphia come to some of our Debate Club meetings so that students can be exposed to real-life policy decision-makers and have a chance to debate with them!
Debate Club will occur on Wednesdays from 3:30 pm-5:00 pm in my classroom (Room 204).
The plan is to participate in the citywide Middle School Tournaments on the following tentative days (subject to change depending on SDP professional development days, etc.):
March 24, 2020
April 4, 2020
April 23, 2020
Please complete this form (https://forms.gle/TxZfbPkS7E2an1ySA) so that I can be sure to know information for students and how they will be getting home, main contact, etc.
If you have any questions, please reach out to me via email at ahopkins@philasd.org.
Thank you!
Mrs. PH
Wifi @ Home!
Although all students are provided a Chromebook at SLA-MS we understand that not all students have access to Wi-Fi at home. With this in mind, we'd like to share some resources that may be helpful with accessing free and low-cost wi-fi.
Many local businesses offer free wi-fi:
Free Library of Philadelphia
McDonald’s
Dunkin Donuts
Burger King
Staples/Office Depot
Target
Keyspots (click here for more info)
Low-cost Wi-Fi:
Internet Essentials From Comcast:
The Internet Essentials program from Comcast allows qualifying customers to purchase an affordable 15 Mbps plan at just $9.95 per month. The service also includes free in-home WiFi and is available without a credit check.
One unique perk to the Internet Essentials program is the ability for customers to purchase a subsidized laptop or desktop computer for $149, which is less expensive than what you’d usually find in-store or online. The computer includes Microsoft Office, Norton Security Suite, and a 90-day warranty.
In order to be eligible for the Internet Essentials program, you must have at least one child eligible for the National School Lunch program as well as meet a number of other criteria.
AT&T Access:
The AT&T Access program offers basic internet service for low-income families. With speeds available up to 10 Mbps for around $10.00 a month, it’s a viable way to stay connected for basic web browsing.
Access is available for families with at least one family member who participates in the SNAP program. If your household doesn't participate in SNAP or another pre-qualification program, AT&T internet deals are generally the lowest consumer-grade option for home internet. However, DSL speeds from AT&T are usually slower than cable for streaming Netflix.
To determine if you’re eligible, visit the Access page and fill out an application.
For more information or help on this matter, you can contact Mrs. Natia Brown at nbrown2@philasd.org .
Whats Happening in the Community?!
- Pop Up Food Pantry run by PEC Tuesdays 2-4 pm Alain Locke
- PEC Food Cupboard Saturdays 10:30-1:30 pm 325 N. 39th St.
- Education Through Sport: Free Basketball Clinic
December 14th, 2019 from 9 am-12 pm at Sheppard Recreation Center (5700 Haverford Ave Phila, Pa 19131) for more information click here.
- Free Music Program for Youth
Dates: Fall ‐ Oct 1 to Nov 21, 2019
Time: 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- SQUASHSMARTS:
SquashSmarts is a free, intensive out-of-school time program changing the lives of Philadelphia’s public school students.
SquashSmarts works with 5th-12th-grade students who are selected based on commitment, effort, and attitude, not athletic or academic ability. Operating out of two facilities, The Lenfest Center and Drexel University, students attend practices three days each week focusing on building complete student-athletes. Students participate in competitive squash opportunities, community service projects.
For more information, go to www.squashsmarts.org, email info@squashsmarts.org, call 215.221.6860, or get a permission slip from Ms. S!
- BIG BROTHERS BIG BIG SISTERS INDEPENDENCE REGION:
Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region provides students with one- to- one mentoring relationship with adults from the community, right in your child's school. When they meet, Bigs and Littles read together, play sports and games, work on homework, or talk about things that are happening in their lives. To apply, please see Ms.S (Sheena) for an application.
- SUNRISE AFTER SCHOOL:
Sunrise is a free after school program that runs Monday-Friday from 3:20 pm - 5:45 pm. For students and parents interested in learning more about the program, please reach out to kkushin@sunriseofphila.org. All students must submit a complete application and receive confirmation of enrollment before they can start Sunrise After School. Space is limited, so sign up FAST! For applications, go to www.sunriseofphila.org/programs.
- Stay tuned to School District of Philadelphia's The Notebook for current articles on district happenings.
- The blog for the School Districts Office of Family and Community Engagement can be found with this link.