The Saber Truth
February 19, 2019
Saber Speak
Dear Saber Families,
This week we look forward to opening our doors to our families and community for our Saber Spotlight, starting at 6pm at Sinaloa Middle School on Thursday, February 21st. Families of current and prospective students are invited to see all the great work that's been happening all this year!
Sinaloa is gearing up to host the middle school Mock Trial competition this year on March 8th and 9th. Our community is actively seeking judges and attorneys (active or retired) as well as law and mock trial college students to help with scoring the competition. If you or someone you know is available, interested, and willing, please reach out and let us know! You can either contact Matt Long, Sinaloa Assistant Principal, or complete the volunteer form here on the Saber Truth.
As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns you may have. Thank you for being part of the Saber family!
Sincerely,
Bradley Torti
Principal, Sinaloa Middle School
Counseling Corner
All to often we fall into the habit of asking our children.... "How was your day?" and the easiest answer a student knows to say, (no matter the age), is typically a one word answer. "Good..Fine..OK" When you see your student in the afternoon, take a second and rephrase that question so you can take a sneak peak into their day and get a longer answer than just one word. Below is a list of 50 questions to start the conversation. The questions relate to students of all ages, so pick a few that can relate to your student, your family.
Check it out!
50 Questions to Ask Your Kids Instead of Asking "How Was Your Day"
(credit to Leslie Means from Her View From Home)
Here’s some of their favorites!
- What made you smile today?
- Can you tell me an example of kindness you saw/showed?
- Was there an example of unkindness? How did you respond?
- Does everyone have a friend at recess?
- What was the book about that your teacher read?
- What’s the word of the week?
- Did anyone do anything silly to make you laugh?
- Did anyone cry?
- What did you do that was creative?
- What is the most popular game at recess?
- What was the best thing that happened today?
- Did you help anyone today?
- Did you tell anyone “thank you?”
- Who did you sit with at lunch?
- What made you laugh?
- Did you learn something you didn’t understand?
- Who inspired you today?
- What was the peak and the pit?
- What was your least favorite part of the day?
- Was anyone in your class gone today?
- Did you ever feel unsafe?
- What is something you heard that surprised you?
- What is something you saw that made you think?
- Who did you play with today?
- Tell me something you know today that you didn’t know yesterday.
- What is something that challenged you?
- How did someone fill your bucket today? Whose bucket did you fill?
- Did you like your lunch?
- Rate your day on a scale from 1-10.
- Did anyone get in trouble today?
- How were you brave today?
- What questions did you ask at school today?
- Tell us your top two things from the day (before you can be excused from the dinner table!).
- What are you looking forward to tomorrow?
- What are you reading?
- What was the hardest rule to follow today?
- Teach me something I don’t know.
- If you could change one thing about your day, what would it be?
- (For older kids): Do you feel prepared for your history test?” or, “Is there anything on your mind that you’d like to talk about?” (In my opinion, the key is not only the way a question is phrased, but responding in a supportive way.)
- Who did you share your snacks with at lunch?
- What made your teacher smile? What made her frown?
- What kind of person were you today?
- What made you feel happy?
- What made you feel proud?
- What made you feel loved?
- Did you learn any new words today?
- What do you hope to do before school is out for the year?
- If you could switch seats with anyone in class, who would it be? And why?
- What is your least favorite part of the school building? And favorite?
- If you switched places with your teacher tomorrow, what would you teach the class?
Simi Valley Education Foundation Gala: An Evening Under the Stars!
To Our Parents in Simi Valley:
Each year Simi Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) provides Simi Valley schools with enhancement grants. These grants provide financial support for specific materials and programs that are designed to improve and enhance our children's learning. We all know that funding is low for our schools and teachers are left with little money to try to piece together these types of things for our kids. That often leaves them empty-handed.
With the support of the community of Simi Valley, the SVEF has been able to provide more than $2.5 million dollars to Simi public schools since our inception in 1989.
Every year SVEF holds a fun night of dinner, dancing, auctions and more all to raise money to fund our enhancement grant program! This year’s theme is An Evening Under the Stars.
All proceeds are distributed among the public schools in Simi Valley for various programs and grants. Working together, we are building futures through education by providing new resources, new opportunities, and a better educational environment for our children.
The highlight of the evening will be our silent and live auctions and your support is truly needed—and appreciated—to make this benefit a success. You are invited to help make this night a success by attending and/or donating an item, service, gift certificate to our silent auction this year.
Now more than ever, public schools need our help, and this is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate your support for the Simi Valley Education Foundation’s efforts. For more information, please call 1-877-746-4543.
Plan now to attend our An Evening Under the Stars by visiting www.svef.org/gala.
For more information or to make a donation, please call (877)746.4543.
SEEKING PTSA OFFICERS!
Want to get more involved at Sinaloa?
The PTSA has a great opportunity for you!
There are openings for several PTSA officer positions: President, VP of Ways and Means, and VP of Membership. Please reach out to any of the members of the Nominating Committee for more information or to get involved!
Nominating Committee:
Jamie Garnett (jmelyn21@gmail.com)
Tacy Torres (tacytorres@hotmail.com)
Maureen Yamada (neeruam13@aol.com)
Royal HS IB Information Night
Mock Trial Seeking Volunteers
Simi Valley seeks judges, attorneys (retired & practicing) and law & mock trial college students to serve as scoring attorneys and presiding judges at our Middle School Mock Trial Competition on March 8 & 9, 2019. Sign up is here: https://goo.gl/forms/JB6mKxog9AW5mXz82
The Simi Valley Middle School Mock Trial Competition seeks adult volunteers to assist with our compeition March 8 & 9th. Sign up today: https://goo.gl/forms/dQh88zLCHBiH0nDN2
Sinaloa's Spring Book Fair - February 19 through February 22
The book fair will be Tuesday, February 19 - Friday, February 22. We will be open before school, during lunch, and after school. We will also be open during Open House on Thursday, 2/21 from 5:30-8:00. The fair can be previewed at Sinaloa Book Fair. There is a link for volunteer sign-up: Book Fair Volunteer Sign-up .
We will be selling gift certificates for the book fair this year for the first time. Parents and students can buy them in the library and a table will be set up outside the library on February 13 & 14 just in time for Valentine's gifts.
Yearbooks are ON SALE NOW!
2018/19 Saber Club Schedule
Attached below is the flyer for this year's clubs. They are a great way for your student to make new friends, try new things, and even get help with homework. Check out the schedule with your student and encourage them to try at least one!
Attendance Policies
Attendance Phone Line: 805-520-6830 Press 1, or Ext. 7021 (Can call anytime day or night)
Para espanol, oprima la estrella. (Llama dia o noche)
ABSENCES - Parents have five (5) days to call-in, email, or send in a note to the attendance office to excuse an absence otherwise it becomes truant. Keep in mind that personal/vacation are verified but still considered unexcused.
TARDIES - If a student is tardy to homeroom or late to school, they need to check-in with the attendance office to get a tardy pass. Students tardy to homeroom will have a 15 minute detention after school unless a parent calls, emails, or sends in a note to excuse the tardy. Excessive tardies to classes will affect "citizenship" grade.
EARLY PICK-UPS - We encourage parents to call-in ahead of time (or send in a note or email) for early pick-ups so that we can have the student in the office ready to go. Anyone checking-out a student must be listed on the student's emergency contact list, be 18 years or older, and must show a valid ID.
Upcoming Events
UPCOMING EVENTS
Feb 4 - Boys Volleyball Practice (3:15-5)
Feb 5 - Topper's Pizza - Math Fundraiser (3:30-9)
Feb 5 - Girls Volleyball Practice (3:15-5)
Feb 6 - CAREER FAIR (8:30-12:10)
Feb 6- Boys Volleyball Practice (3:15-5)
Feb 7 - School Tour (A and D block)
Feb 8 - Spirit Color Dress Day
Feb 8 - Girls Volleyball Practice (3:15-5)
Feb 11 - VOLLEYBALL @ SMS vs HMS (3:30-5:30)
Feb 12 - Lunch Speaker Series (12:10-12:50)
Feb 12 - VOLLEYBALL @ SMS vs HMS (3:30-5:30)
Feb 13 - VOLLEYBALL @ SMS vs VVMS (3:30-5:30)
Feb 14 - Spirit Day - Wear red, white or pink
Feb 14 - School Tour (A and D block)
Feb 14 - VOLLEYBALL @ SMS vs VVMS (3:30-5:30)
Feb 18 - NO SCHOOL
For the full Sinaloa Calendar of Events, CLICK HERE.
Sinaloa Middle School
Website: sinaloa.simivalleyusd.org
Location: 601 Royal Avenue, Simi Valley, CA, USA
Phone: 805-520-6830
Facebook: facebook.com/sinaloamiddleschool
Twitter: @sinaloasabers