Port Susan Middle School
Family & Student Update 04/23/2023
Students are the Priority
My point to all of this is to say thank you to our staff and thank you to our families!
Thank you for...
- Believing that all students can learn
- Supporting our students and reminding them of expectations
- Partnering with us in communication
- Allowing students to share their thoughts to trusted adults
- Encouraging students to be their best self
Starting with compassion increases the odds that you’ll find out what’s really going on.
- Elizabeth Peyton
School Rules/Expectations
As we finish off this school year during this final quarter, I want to remind our families of the following expectations we have to provide a safe environment and prioritize learning throughout the school day.
- Hallway security/cameras: Hats need to be worn backwards; no hoods on; beanies or stocking hats okay. This allows us to identify who is in the building quickly if a concern is brought to our attention.
- Cell phones/Air Pods need to be off/out of sight throughout the learning environment (this includes classroom time, all passing times, as well as in the cafeteria during lunch *all instructional minutes).
- Absolutely NO filming or taking pictures without an instructional purpose (& staff permission) throughout the school day.
Choose Well
5th Grade Visit & ASB Speeches
In addition, we had our ASB candidates give their speeches Friday to our incoming 5th grade students as well as our current 6th & 7th grade students. As always, we are proud of those students that ran for an ASB office. It takes courage to stand in front of your peers and give a speech - they all did great!
Track Meet Success
Dinner and a show!
Port Susan Middle School and Stanwood Middle School students are hosting a comedy murder mystery dinner theatre show.
Performances of “Dinner at Eight, Dead by Nine” will be from 5-7:30 p.m. May 18, 19 and 20 at Port Susan Middle School. Tickets are $15 each.
Save the Date!
Week of April 24th through 28th
Monday 04/24
Regular Schedule
Lesson Advisory
Tuesday 04/25
Regular Schedule
Academic Support Advisory
Wednesday 04/26
White Schedule
Thursday 04/27
Regular Schedule
Academic Support Advisory
Track Meet @ MVHS
Soccer @ Anacortes
Friday 04/28
Regular Schedule
Academic Support Advisory
2023-24 Student Calendar here:
https://www.stanwood.wednet.edu/about/calendar/student_calendar
Linked below are previous communications. Please continue to reach out with any questions you have. You can email me directly (calmanza@stanwood.wednet.edu) or call our office at 360.629.1360
Reminder: 8th grade families
Reminder: SBA Testing
This spring your student will take the Smarter Balanced in math and English language arts. Students in grades 8 will also take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) or the WA-AIM science assessment.
The results from these tests will give a more accurate picture of whether students are on track to be ready for college or career. When students reach grade 10, the Smarter Balanced can also be used as a graduation pathway.
For state testing, we will provide headphones and all testing materials for students. If they'd like to use their own/personal headphones, please make sure they are WIRED and plug into our Chromebook (state testing does not allow wireless headphones).
Students will take the tests online. Our school is scheduled to take the tests:
8th Grade Science *May 1st - 2nd
Math CAT *May 8th - 12th
ELA CAT *May 8th - 12th
Math PT *May 15th - 19th
ELA PT *May 15th - 19th
Make up testing
Science by June 2nd
ELA/Math June 9th/6th
For more information about the Smarter Balanced and WCAS tests, visit: https://www.k12.wa.us/student-success/testing/state-testing-overview, and click on the name of the test.
District Information
Kindergarten Fair
Help spread the word about our new event — a Kindergarten Fair!
The free fair will be an opportunity for families of incoming kindergarten students to get information, connect with resources, meet staff, and have some fun!
Explore a real school bus
Enjoy art activities
Get a picture with your school mascot
And much more!
The Kindergarten Fair will be from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, May 4, in the Stanwood High School Commons.
We’re excited to meet the Class of 2036!
Thank you for your support!
Cherae Almanza, Principal calmanza@stanwood.wednet.edu
Crysty Auckland, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director cauckland@stanwood.wednet.edu
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
Tamara Pedersen (6-7 Math) tpedersen@stanwood.wednet.edu
Lori Stunz (7 ELA & 6-8 Art) lstunz@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
Joshua Keaton (7/8 History) jkeaton@stanwood.wednet.edu
Seth Hills (6 Social Studies) 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
Amy Hart (Student Support Advocate) ahart@stanwood.wednet.edu
Taya Zavala (Mental Health Therapist) tzavala@stanwood.wednet.edu
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.