Switzerland Point Middle School
Raider Rap October 8, 2023
Upcoming Dates:
October 10: VB vs LMS
- October 13: 1st Quarter Ends
- October 16: No School, Teacher Planning
Congratulations to our TOY, RTOY and SREY!
These employees put their heart and soul into everything they do. Congratulations on these well-deserved awards.
Teacher Of the Year: Ms. Allison Cox
Rookie Teacher Of the Year: Ms. Shelby Overbey
School Related Employee of the Year: Mr. Larry Musseau
Single Point Of Entry Reminder
We know that when we have a lot of substitutes and meetings, our front lot gets full. If you arrive to campus between 7:35 and 1:30 (12:30 on Wednesday) and there are no empty spots, you can park in the loop. You do need to ensure your car is moved by 1:30 (12:30 on Wednesdays).
We appreciate your assistance with this.
Testing Update
Testing Update
Save the Date! Progress monitoring 2 (PM2) dates for FAST testing have been announced (see below):
6th grade FAST ELA Progress Monitor 2 (PM2): December 11th
7th grade FAST ELA Progress Monitor 2 (PM2): December 12th
8th grade FAST ELA Progress Monitor 2 (PM2): December 14th
6th grade FAST Math Progress Monitor 2 (PM2): December 15th (with flipped bell schedule)
7th grade FAST Math Progress Monitor 2 (PM2): December 18th (with flipped bell schedule)
8th grade FAST Math Progress Monitor 2 (PM2): December 19th (with flipped bell schedule)
Make-up testing will be in January.
7th-grade students in Advanced Math will take the 8th-grade Math FAST assessment for both PM2 and PM3 since this aligns best with the standards taught in the 7th-grade advanced course. These students will still test on the 7th grade FAST Math PM2 date (December 18).
PTSO Community Chat
Learn more about all safety things affecting your families within St. Johns County.
You won't want to miss this opportunity. RSVP HERE!
PTSO Spirit Night
Who wants someone else to cook for a night?
Get some amazing food and support a PTSO Partner in Education.
Cantina Louie is a Silver Business Partner, so please thank them for their support!!
Character Counts! Raider Buck Competition
Our Character Counts! Raider Buck competition is under way! Students who are seen displaying one of the pillars of character or kindness can earn Raider Bucks. At the end of the quarter, the class with the most points will win the prize!
Current standings as of October 6th:
1st place: 6th grade 374 points
2nd place: 8th grade 271 points
3rd place: 7th grade 232 points
Character Counts! Pillar of the month
In the month of October we celebrate the pillar of Responsibility. We look for students who:
- Do what they are supposed to do
- Plan ahead
- Persevere: keep on trying!
- Always do your best
- Use self-control
- Be self-disciplined
- Think before you act: consider the consequences
- Be accountable for your words, actions, and attitudes
- Set a good example for others
This month we are focusing on the Character Counts Pillar of Responsibility. Our district believes that every child has the potential to be responsible and we will do all that we can to promote this pillar, but we need your help! Below is a list of ideas to work through with your family!
What can you do at home?
•Communicate unconditional love and approval regardless of whether or not your child makes responsible choices.
•Be more concerned with the process of making good choices - how they come to their
decisions rather than the outcome of their decisions. Praise and encourage the good things,
the effort, and the decision-making process that they went through.
•Offer choices with limits that you find acceptable. This helps to elicit responsibility without
threats or demands.
•Trust your child’s ability to make good decisions. Offer choices they can handle to help build
their experience in making decisions and choices.
•Allow your child to experience the consequences of their poor choices in order to help them
learn. Children learn from mistakes and will gain confidence in the act of being responsible for their choices.
•Encourage responsible television watching. Watch programs with your children and
encourage discussions on how characters handle situations and if they would choose to do
things differently if they were in that situation.
•Limit video game playing to a certain amount of time or link it as a reward for responsible
behavior. Children can learn that following structure and routine is a part of being
responsible.
Character Counts! September Winners
6th Grade
Finley Blomberg
Emma Foraker
Easton Lyon
Jackson Midgley
Alexa Pope
Kellen Pulver
Maahi Tahiliani
Logan Tuomey
7th Grade
Kadence Lambert
Taylor Meachum
Emily Nay
Andrew Paquette
Tanner Richardson
Bella Stolder
8th Grade
Mackenzie Anderson
Louis Amatanagelo
Daliana Bird
Wesley Bishop
Mathew Blanchard
Gage Collins
Taylor Dolaher
Marissa Etheridge
Eliana Goodman
Kara Guthmiller
Brody Jauregui
Nolan Kamp
Andrew Miller
Colby Myers
Brileigh Reese
Brayden Watson
Len Mattiace Foundation Stop the Bullying Campaign Contest
Last spring we had three winners. Two students won prizes of $100, and the top prize winner of the contest won $1000!!!
Contest dates are 9/5-11/3/23 by 5 PM
See the flier below and the website for details.
https://www.lenmattiace.com/st-johns-stop-the-bullying-campaign
Reminders from the Deans
Parents – students must have drinks in a water bottle that has a cap. Please do not send your student to school with a tumbler that has an open lid or straw (like the Stanley cups or other stainless brands). Also please refrain from sending students with Starbucks/Dunkin/etc. These drinks spill easily and cause a disruption in our hallways. Thanks for understanding!
Newsletter from the ILC
Health Screenings
Attention parents of 6th graders:
The St. Johns County School District Health Services will be conducting our annual health screening on November 2, 2023. These screenings will be conducted through your student’s PE class and is only for 6th grade students. Your student will be offered a free screening that includes height, weight, vision, hearing, and scoliosis. If you wish to opt out of the testing, please fill out the form and return it to the clinic no later than 10/25/2023.
You can have your student drop the form off in the clinic or email it to:
Please call if you have any questions or concerns regarding the screenings.
From the Stage Door:
We are pleased to announce that our audition page for the spring musical is now live on Schoology. If you are interested in participating in The Little Mermaid next spring, please check it out! Auditions are December 11th & 12th. Access code for the page: QRS3-4HJG-7XK7T
National Hispanic Heritage Month and Spanish Classes
September 15th - October 15th is National Hispanic Heritage Month. Throughout this month, we will be honoring and celebrating the historically significant and ongoing achievements of the members of the Hispanic and Latino/a/x/e community. The Hispanic Heritage observance began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15th and ending on October 15th. It was enacted into law on August 17th, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402. We also proudly celebrate and recognize the contributions, influence, and achievements of our own Hispanic/Latinx faculty, staff, and students. This month-long celebration also honors the strength of these diverse cultures throughout the United States. This year, we are celebrating the Theme of "Latinos: Driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in America." These three themes - prosperity, power, and progress - are all interconnected. Our economic success leads to more power and influence, which, in turn, drives further progress for our community. It's a cycle propelling us forward and an exciting time to be a Hispanic in America.
SPMS WINTERGUARD
Your SPMS Winterguard will be performing at the OPENING Game for your hometown hockey team, the Jacksonville Icemen!
Support our team by purchasing a $20 ticket TODAY! $5 goes back to your team! Come cheer them on as they take the ice for a fun performance!! Share with your family, friends, neighbors and more!
These funds will help with show costs! Thank you for your support!
Boo Grams
Want to donate candy? We would love some! Please send it to the front office labeled for the winterguard team!
SSYRA-Sunshine State Young Readers Award Program
The Sunshine State Young Readers Award (SSYRA) Program is a statewide reading motivational program for students in grades 3 through 8. The purpose of the SSYRA Program is to encourage students to read independently for pleasure and to read books that are on, above, and below their reading level in order to improve their reading fluency. Sunshine State books are selected for their wide appeal, literary value, varied genres, curriculum connections, and/or multicultural representation. Students can earn prizes by reading the books and taking a short verbal quiz on them in the media center! Students who read 10 or more SSYRA books are eligible to try out for the Battle of the Books team in the winter. Please see the PDF for the annotated list of this year’s books. Please email madison.gowin@stjohns.k12.fl.us for any questions about our SSYRA program!
Special Message on the Marquee
SPMS National Junior Honor Society is sponsoring an opportunity to send a special birthday or congratulations message to your student via the marquee in the front of the school. Cost is $25. Complete the form here to submit your request . Requests are due the Friday prior to the event and will display the following week (Tuesday through Monday). Example: If you turn in the request on Friday, September 17th, then your message will be displayed on Tuesday, September 21st.
Athletics
SPMS athletics consists of both boys and girls volleyball and basketball, in addition to Winterguard.
All other middle school sports are operated by SJMSAA.
The St. Johns Middle School Athletic Association (”SJMSAA”) middle school sports program is not operated or sponsored by the St. Johns County School District. SJMSAA is an independent, private non-profit corporation that uses District middle school names and facilities under a license agreement with the District, and which is solely responsible for the operation of the SJMSAA middle school sports program and its individual teams.
Students need to register through the SJMSAA website prior to tryouts. Once a student makes a team, he/she will be provided with more information on paying and filling out the required forms
Neon Bash-Thank you!
Raider Families! All orders have been submitted to the vendor, so please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery! We will then inventory everything left and put it on the website. There are still stickers, magnets, shoe charms, and bracelets available!
Looking for ways to appreciate your SPMS Staff?
The Sunshine Cart is the PTSO mobile version of staff appreciation! We take the goodies to them so they don’t have to find some time to get to the staff lounge!
This is a great way to help the PTSO show appreciation for all that the SPMS staff does for your student(s)!
Browse the staff appreciation wishlist, pick your favorite goodie and make sure to put your student's name in the notes! They will receive 10 Raider Bucks for donating!!
Thank you for your continued support, Raider Families!! SPMS PTSO Sunshine Cart Wishlist
The PTSO would love your help stocking the Raider Store!
The Raider Store is where students can spend their hard-earned Raider Bucks. Your student earns Raider Bucks from their teachers and staff for showing good character in the classroom and the hallways. They can then spend them in the PTSO-sponsored Raider Store.
We are always looking for new and fun things to stock the store with to keep the students coming back.
Please put your student's name on the gift, and they will be credited 10 Raider Bucks for your donation.
Thank you for your support! SPMS PTSO Raider Store Wishlist Raider Store Volunteer Sign Up
SPMS PTSO
http://www.swisspointptso.com/
The SPMS PTSO is a non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance the learning and work experience of the students and staff at SPMS.
Our membership includes teachers, administrators, parents, and students.
What do we do?
Student Initiatives:
- Neon Bash-Fall Dance for students
- Raider Store-Rewards for students who earn Raider Bucks for academic and behavioral performance
- Grade Level Support
- Character Counts! Rewards
Staff Initiatives:
- Classroom grants-teacher members are eligible for up to $100 in a classroom grant to purchase items to enhance their classroom
- Staff luncheons and breakfast
- Staff Appreciation
- Annual Donation to the school for technology and other needs
How do we pay for these initiatives?
- MEMBERSHIP-this is our biggest fundraiser. By simply joining PTSO, families help us reach our goals
- Spirit Wear-PTSO sells spirit wear each fall
- Fall/Spring Fundraisers-examples include Nothing Bundt Cakes and Poppin' Box
- Business Partners-our area businesses help SPMS through our Partners in Education program
- Corporate Donation Matches, Amazon Smile, Box Tops and private donations
How do you join?
- A family membership is $25 for the school year. The membership includes parents and any siblings at SPMS.
- Membership form can be found at https://switzerland-point-middle-school-ptso.square.site/
We are excited about a wonderful and busy 2023-2024 school year and making a difference at Swiss!
If you are interested in finding out how you can help contact Dawn Evans at dawnevanswebpto@gmail.com
OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT PTSO
There will be various fundraisers throughout the school year to participate in to help fund the PTSO 2023-2024 initiatives.
Box Tops – Download the Box Tops app and scan your receipts for SMPS PTSO to get Box Top credits.
Keep an eye on the PTSO website, Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on what is coming up throughout the year!
Questions/concerns?? spmsptso@hotmail.com
For up to date happenings LIKE us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/SwissPointPTSO/
SPMS PTSO is on INSTAGRAM! Follow us at https://www.instagram.com/spmsptso/
Check the PTSO website for all the latest news! http://www.swisspointptso.com/