SMS Weekly Update
1.20.23
HAPPY FRIDAY!
Thank you for reading this weekly newsletter and staying on top of all the amazing things happening here at Stevenson.
Semester 1 Grades
Parent Connection
What information is available to parents through Parent Connection?
- Daily Access to Student Attendance
- Attendance is taken twice a day, morning and afternoon, at the elementary level.
- At the secondary level, attendance is taken hourly.
- Teachers record the daily attendance by the end of each school day.
- Middle school and high school teachers record their grades electronically, therefore assignments and grades may be viewed using Parent Connection.
- Student grades are not necessarily entered daily, so parents should allow a few days for the teachers to record assignment and test grades.
- Parents of secondary students can also view their student’s transcript, grade point average (GPA), and current schedule.
How can I register for Parent Connection?
Parents must register at each child’s building. Because of the confidential nature of the data which is accessed, parents must register in person and bring photo identification. You will be given your PIN (personal identification number) and password at the time of registration along with directions for accessing this new service.
NWEA TESTING IS NEXT WEEK
Next week we'll start with NWEA testing on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. It's important that students are demonstrating good behavior and are not a distraction to others or themselves. If students are not able to follow our schoolwide RAPS behavior expectations in the testing environment, consequences will be issued.
Please take a look at the attached presentation that we went through with our students to make them aware of why we do this test and how the scores are used.
Also, we are in a middle school competition between Frankline Middle School, Adams Middle School, and us to see which school's students have the highest percentage of students who have met their growth goals. Good luck to all students!
Quarter 2 Awards Plan
Parents, if you are able to donate items or your time to celebrate our amazing kids during this time, please sign up in the link below.
FREE Tutoring at SMS!
See the flyer below for more details.
School Store Opened This Week!
The school store catalog is linked below.
SPELLING BEE
1st Place: Eric Lockhart
Runner Up: Mika LeBlanc
The following students will be competing for the district title on February 8th at Adams Middle School.
6th Grade:
Mika Leblanc
Ethan Love
7th Grade:
Jacob Stinson
Owen Kolbe
8th Grade:
Eric Lockhart
Willow Guethlein
Rides Home After Athletic Events
Second Step Update
On Second Step Wednesday this week, we did the second lesson in Unit 3: Thoughts, Emotions, and Decisions. Here’s the breakdown for each grade:
Grade 6:
Lesson 15 is Emotions and Your Brain. Students learned what happens in their brain when they feel a strong emotion. They learned the amygdala can be thought of as the “feelings alarm” in the brain because it responds immediately and automatically to a strong emotion and sends urgent messages to the body and other parts of the brain. The cortex is the “thinking” part of the brain that works more slowly and helps manage emotions and make positive decisions. When the cortex gets overwhelmed, emotions take over! This week, students will take a few moments to think about what’s going on in their brain when they find themselves experiencing a strong emotion.
Grade 7:
Lesson 15 is Feel, Think, Do. Students learned how emotions, thoughts, and decisions are connected. They learned that emotions are feelings, such as happiness, anger, or fear, while a thought is what you say to yourself in your head. This week, students will pay attention to when they’re feeling strong emotions, and focus on how those emotions influence their thoughts and actions.
Grade 8:
Lesson 15 is Where Does Stress Come From? Students learned about what causes stress and why sometimes those things are out of their control. Many students feel stress around school, friends, home, social media, or problems in the world. They learned that a stressor is something that causes stress, and that some stressors are things they cannot change or control. This week, students will be looking for stressors at school and at home, and thinking about:
What stressors are in their control?
How can they use that information to manage their stress?
We won’t have a Second Step lesson next week due to NWEA testing, so stay tuned for the following week’s lesson!
Winter is Upon Us!
FOOD DRIVE FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY
Bring in canned food to donate to your 1st hour teacher all month long for a great cause, sponsored by our NJHS students.
Yarn Club
Today was our RAPS Party!
Check Out A Lesson At Stevenson!
8TH GRADE PARENT NIGHT- SAVE THE DATE
Special Education Parent District Meeting
Wayne-Westland Community Schools is hosting a series of informational sessions to share resources for families of students with special needs. This event is open to the entire community. Please join us from 6:30- 7:30 p.m. at Dyer Senior Center, 36745 Marquette, Westland, Mi 48185 on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, for a session on Alternatives to Guardianship.
Special Needs Attorney Patti Dudek will speak on options for making sure children with special needs have the correct support after they turn 18 years old. Mrs. Dudek will present this important information and offer an opportunity to ask questions.
People with disabilities have many options beyond the traditional guardianship route. This session is designed to help families to make important decisions. Join us in person or virtually at https://meet.google.com/nvo-imkq-gpq
Math and Read 180
Overview of Math and Read 180
Math 180® is a blended-learning, intensive math intervention program that builds algebra competence using best practices for striving students. Personalized software combined with teacher-facilitated instruction accelerate students toward grade-level proficiency, raising achievement scores by an average of 2+ years in one school year.
Read 180® mixes high-interest content and adaptive technology accelerating students to grade-level proficiency, helping them achieve an average of two years growth in one year. Teachers save time while meeting the needs of all learners, thanks to integrated tools for differentiation and development of growth mindset.
Why are students working on this platform?
It is important that we continue to strengthen our classroom instruction by offering this program paired with small group and whole group instruction around our priority content standards in math and ELA classes. After the learning loss some students experienced during COVID shutdown and virtual learning, we have put this in place district wide to accelerate learning and growth in grades 5-9.
What if my student does not need this?
If your student has tested at proficient levels, we have enrichment platforms and additional opportunities for him or her, so that they are getting what is needed as determined by his or her ability level.
8th Grade Washington DC Trip
Check Out These Amazing Upcoming Events
Nurse's Corner
Mental Health Support
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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If you ever have any questions or concerns, please reach out to one of us directly at domank@wwcsd.net (Student Last Names: A-Le) or phillipsae@wwcsd.net (Student Last Names: Li-Z).
Sincerely,
Mrs. Doman and Ms. Phillips