SMS Middle Ground
Connecting Home and School: February 2019
Mid-Term Progress Reports
We've reached the halfway mark of our third grading period which means it's time to check
academic progress! Go to your Harmony Family Access account to see your child's current grades. If you have any difficulty accessing your account, call our office! If you have any questions about your child's progress, please check with your child and/or contact the classroom teacher! Our current grading period ends on Thursday, March 21st.The Savvy Social Media Parent
How to Navigate Social Media With Your Child is an eight-page guide from Smartsocial.com. It answers the following questions
- How do I know what my kids are doing on their phones and social media?
- How can I regulate screen time while also developing a positive relationship with my children? and
- How can I help my child focus on their future while staying out of trouble?
The guide includes tactical tips such as Footprint Friday - a quick way to search your child's online presence (what they post and how others tag them). It's worth your while even if you are a veteran of digital monitoring!
Please also check out The Negative Effects of Social Media from Smartsocial.com. It includes some great talking points for you and your kids and it does a nice job outlining the good and bad that come with social media participation.
And finally, Smartsocial.com has compiled a 2019 Parental Control Software & Cell Phone Monitoring Guide. It reviews several available apps and services designed to help you keep track of your phone!
Our December climate survey included some frighteningly low statistics about adult monitoring of student social media. About half the kids with social media reported being monitored regularly by adults. And the parent responses were LOWER than that! If you are wanting to 'up your game' as a digital parent/guardian, these three links are a great place to start!
Calendar Updates: Dates to Know!
Monday, February 18 - School in session (snow make up day #1)
Monday, March 18 - School in session (snow make up day #2)
Tuesday, March 19- School in session (snow make up day #3)
Wednesday, March 20- School in session (snow make up day #4)
Thursday, March 21 - School in session (snow make up day #5)
As of today, spring break starts on Friday, March 22nd. If we miss another school day for weather, March 22nd will also become a make up day. March 25-29 are official spring break days and will not be used for snow make up.
Our School Dance has been moved to Friday, March 15th - 6:30-9:00 PM. We'll reach out to you when it is chaperone season!
Our Spring Dodgeball tournament is now set for Tuesday, March 19th.
Our Spring Art and Talent Show is now Friday, April 5th.
As of the time of this newsletter, our last day of school this year is Wednesday, June 5th.
The first student day of the 2019-2020 school year is Tuesday, August 13th.
Assessment Plans
SMS students take part in two significant assessments in April and May. The third and final NWEA tests are set for Thursday, April 4th, Tuesday, April 9th, and Thursday, April 11th. These tests serve several purposes. Results give us last minute data for ILEARN preparations. NWEA growth and achievement scores will help us make promotion and retention decisions. The scores will also help us build our schedule for fall 2019... who needs remediation? who is ready for acceleration? And finally growth scores are used as a component of teacher evaluations. For all of these reasons, we ask you to encourage best effort on all three exams.
Later in April, we will launch our first ever ILEARN tests. ILEARN is the replacement exam for ISTEP+. This exam will take place over a three week period and will be using a format nearly identical to the NWEA system. The ILEARN tests are untimed for all students. Therefore, we'll likely take one section per day, therefore, extending the test window. The exact schedule has not been finalized but it will be available in the Scoop once we have it. Thanks also for encouraging best efforts on ILEARN!
8th Grade Parent News!
SMS 8th graders finish their middle school careers in style with two very important events. Even though they take place at the end of the year, some kids will start planning now... so read up on our 8th grade Dance and our Graduation Rehearsal!
8th Grade Dance- The SMS 8th grade dance is Friday, May 31st in the SMS Great Room from 6:30-9:00 PM. This annual event is for SMS 8th graders only. Eighth-grade parents are invited to attend. The theme of the dance has yet to be determined but we know that some kids plan attire well in advance! Please remember that the 8th-grade dance is not a prom. We look forward to seeing the class of 2023 in anything from normal school attire to spring dresses and khakis/polos or a dress shirt and tie! Parents are discouraged from arranging limousines, professional photography, gowns, and tuxedos. Students will be expected to attend school all day on dance day. Please do not arrange for hair or nail appointments during the school day. Thank you so much for helping us maintain perspective and maintain the 'specialness' of prom by not simulating one in 8th grade! If you have any questions, contact Miss Nass!
SHS Graduation Rehearsal- Eighth graders spend the final hours of their final middle school day in a unique learning event. We hold the first graduation rehearsal for the Scottsburg High School Class of 2023. We practice a high school graduation with the processional, speeches, and a handshake/diploma line. The SMS counselors use this opportunity to teach kids about the history of cap and gown, diplomas, and more. The SMS administration will officially hand the class off to the SHS administration. This is not a 'dress up' event. Students wear school attire. Parents are invited to join us for the program which will begin just after 1:00 PM. As of now, June 5th is our last school day. That is subject to change, however, if we have any additional school cancellations. More information will be shared in the Scoop prior to the event.
Scottsburg Middle School
Website: www.sms.scsd2.k12.in.us
Location: 425 South 3rd Street, Scottsburg, IN, United States
Phone: 812-752-8926
Facebook: facebook.com/ScottsburgMiddleSchool
Twitter: @ScottsburgMS