Springton Lake Middle School
Every Student. Every Day. No Matter What.
Springton Lake Middle School
Email: RSalladino@rtmsd.org
Website: https://www.rtmsd.org/2/home
Location: 1900 North Providence Road, Media, PA, USA
Phone: (610) 627-6500
Twitter: @SpringtonLakeMS
January 8, 2021
And We're Back...
With winter break and the holiday season now in the rearview mirror, we've completed the first week of school of 2021. Students made a successful transition back to school and we had a very positive and productive week of classes. Next Friday marks the halfway point of the school year - the end of the 2nd marking period and first semester! I have been urging students to be on top of their grades and assignments and to be checking Home Access Center (HAC). We appreciate any reinforcement that you can give this message. Despite the different kind of year, students will still receive a typical report card (to be issued on January 22nd) and the requirements for promotion from one grade to the next have remain unchanged. Our teachers are available to meet with students who may need extra help outside of class - this includes during office hours on Wednesdays and Thursday and during available time on our at-home learning Fridays. Please note that our at-home learning Fridays will continue beyond the end of January and until further notice.
This week's newsletter contains LOTS of important information - so please check it out. Among other things, I address the process for fully-virtual students who would like to return to hybrid instruction, details about material pick-up for fully-virtual students, a parent workshop scheduled for this week, and our annual Day of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
THANK YOU FOR READING!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
Student Cohorts and Option for Return to In-person Learning
Despite the overall rise in COVID cases in Delaware County, our in-school safety plans and protocols continue to remain highly effective. The students and staff are simply doing a great job and we continue to reinforce the importance of masking-up, washing-up, and backing-up - just ask your kids. We will remain diligent and vigilant in an effort to keep everyone healthy and safe.
The end of the 2nd marking period is Friday, January 15, 2021. Earlier this week, I reached out to the families of students enrolled in the fully-virtual cohort to provide the option for students to join one of the in-person hybrid cohorts for the 3rd marking period. This decision will cover the period from January 19th thru the end of the 3rd marking period on Friday, March 26, 2021. We will continue to provide students with a fully-virtual option through the 3rd marking period, at least. Thank you to everyone who already responded. If your child is currently in the FULLY-VIRTUAL COHORT and you have not yet responded, please complete THIS SURVEY as soon as possible.
If you are concerned for any reason and would like to switch your child to the fully-virtual cohort, please email me and we will update our records. This will allow our teachers to plan appropriately for instruction. It will also stop the daily email that you receive with the symptom screener.
If you opt to keep your child in the in-person cohort but they will not be physically present in the building for any reason, including travel over the holidays, it is very important that you complete the daily symptom screener.
Third Marking Period Material Pick-up for Fully-Virtual Students
The next material pick-up for students who will be fully-virtual during the third marking period will take place on Friday, January 15th from 1pm to 4pm. Materials will be staged in the Cafeteria. Students may enter the building directly through the Cafeteria doors. We encourage each fully-virtual student to stop by for any materials that teachers would like to provide - materials will vary by grade and subject. School photo packages that were ordered in November will also be available for pick-up. Students may also return any materials and/or outstanding forms at this time.
Parent Workshop - THIS WEEK
In conjunction with F.A.R. E. (Family Alliance for Respect & Equity) and our PTG, we are pleased to be able to offer the following workshop for parents:
January 14, 2021, 7:00pm to 8:30pm - Spotting Bias in Ourselves and Our Middle-Schoolers
Before we truly begin "the work" of disrupting racism, we have to begin to understand how bias works. Human propensity for intergroup bias and essentialist thinking will be discussed and participants will explore their own biases. We will identify powerful tools for spotting bias in ourselves and our families.
The program is being facilitated by Philly's Children's Movement and will be conducted online via Zoom. Registration is now open thru Wednesday, 1/13 at 8:00 AM and is limited to 50 participants. A link to the Zoom session will be provided via email by late Wednesday afternoon. We hope that you'll be able to join us!
Annual Day of Service - Donations Needed
Our annual Day of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr will look a little different this year. Due to our current social distancing needs, inability to share materials, and hybrid model, we have developed an alternate plan for 2021. We will be running a modified schedule on Tuesday January 18th & Wednesday January 19th. Students will report to their advisory on both days after 6th period in order to participate in a series of school-wide service activities. A menu of asynchronous service options will be available for our virtual students. Although we are very disappointed that we need to adjust plans for this year due to the pandemic, we are happy that we can still carry on King’s vision in some way. We are looking forward to next school year when we can resume our typical full day of events.
We have been in touch with Caring for Friends, one of our service partners, and the organization is still very much in need of Breakfast Bags. Caring for Friends provides meals for the homebound. Now more than ever, the elderly community needs theses generous donations. One of our service activities will involve creating and packing Breakfast Bags in a COVID-safe fashion. In order for this to be possible, we need your help...
The week of January 11th- January 14th, we will be collecting donations of the following items in the main lobby during period 1: cereal bars, oatmeal (individually packaged), granola bars, tea bags, fruit cups, cracker sandwiches, fruit snacks, & hot chocolate (individually packaged). Any assistance with a donation of these items would be greatly appreciated.
Want to Share Something about Your Family's Culture?
Springton Lake Middle School is committed to providing an environment in our school that is inclusive and intentionally designed to foster a sense of belonging by honoring the dignity of each and every person. The Community Outreach subcommittee of our school's Equity Team is asking for your help in our efforts to showcase customs, traditions, celebrations, and cultural information from our diverse community of families.
We are seeking short, student/family-made video vignettes that we will be able to use periodically as part of our video morning announcements. The videos should be short - 2 to 4 minutes in length, highlight something fun or interesting about your family's culture, and be appropriate to show to all students. Ideally, the video should be narrated/presented by the Springton Lake student. Assistance with video editing may be available, if needed. Based upon the response that we receive, we will begin using the videos starting in February. We reserve the right to edit the videos, as needed. Completed videos may be sent to Mrs. Ronni Miller.
We are excited to provide this opportunity for our students and families to share about themselves and for us all to learn from one another. Remember, we are #SpartanStrong because of you!
Pre-order Your 2020-2021 Yearbook Now
June may seem a long way off, but production of this year's yearbook is already underway. Students and parents are invited to share photos of what life looks like for you - what learning looks like at home and how you are spending time together as a family. Eighth grade students will also have the opportunity to have a baby picture and personalized message included in this year's yearbook. Here are all of the important details...
Purchase this year's yearbook NOW - the pre-order cost is $30. Go to www.jostens.com and click on Yearbooks ---> Buy Your Yearbook and search for our school.
8th Grade Baby Pictures - DEADLINE EXTENDED through 02/11. Online ordering will re-open on Sunday, 01/10. Cost is $10. Each section will be 1/8 of a page. You will be able to choose the format of your "ad" and include a photo and personalized message for your graduate. Again, go to www.jostens.com and search for Springton Lake Middle School. Click on Yearbook Recognition Ads. You'll then need to sign-in or create a new account. Follow the prompts to submit your ad. Please include your child's homeroom teacher's name.
To share photos for possible inclusion in the yearbook, click here. The user ID is 415963949. Be sure to include the grade level, names of students depicted, and a description of the photo. Submissions will be accepted through February 21, 2021.
Intramural Basketball Begins on January 25th
Our intramural basketball program for the winter season will begin on Monday, January 25th and run through Thursday, February 25th. Sessions will run from 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM. Due to safety procedures in place because of COVID-19, participation is limited to those students who registered during the month of December. If you did not register, but would still like to participate, contact Mr. Booth to add your name to out WAIT LIST. Students on the wait list will be notified if a spot becomes available.
Schedule:
Mondays - 6th Grade Cohort A and 6th Grade Fully-Virtual Cohort
Tuesdays - 6th Grade Cohort B
Wednesdays - 7th & 8th Grade Cohort A
Thursdays - 7th & 8th Grade Cohort B and 7th & 8th Grade Fully-Virtual Cohort
What Participants Need to Know...
- Participants attend on their assigned day only.
- Parents of fully-virtual participants will need to bring them to the Main Office upon arrival each day to complete the symptom screening.
- Participants will be required to wear a face mask at ALL times - even while playing.
- The locker rooms will NOT be available - students should come dressed to play.
- Participants should bring a water bottle AND two t-shirts - one red and one white.
- Parents are responsible for pick-up promptly at 3:30pm outside of the gym entrance (soccer/baseball field side of building)
You're Invited - PTG Meeting on Tuesday, 1/12
Please join us for our next PTG meeting of the school year on Tuesday, January 12th beginning at 7:00 PM. The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom and all parents and guardians are invited to join us! The PTG meetings are are great way to get involved in our school and to receive information about various events and activities.
Springton Splash - First Edition Published
The staff of the Springton Splash, our school's student newspaper, is please to shared their first edition of the school year. Thank you to their sponsor, Mrs. Williams, for her work with the reporting staff. Enjoy!
Want a FREE Meal? You've Come to the Right Place!
Don't forget that the Rose Tree Media School District has been approved to provide FREE meals - breakfast and lunch - to ALL students!
- ALL students under the age of 18 are eligible for the program.
- Participation in the free meal program helps to sustain the Food Services Department (and staff) in the Rose Tree Media School District.
- Participating in this program does not take away from any other family's ability to also participate.
- The USDA will reimburse the Rose Tree Media School District for the meals provided from monies that were not used last year.
- For more information, please contact Becky Smith in our Food Services Department.
Planning to Travel Outside of PA? Here's What You Need to Know...
On November 25th, the PA Department of Health amended an Order on travel restrictions that they had issued on November 17th. The amended Order requires that travelers over the age of 11 entering Pennsylvania from locations outside the Commonwealth, as well as Pennsylvanians who are returning home from locations outside the Commonwealth, produce evidence of a negative COVID-19 test or place themselves in travel quarantine for 14 days upon entering, unless they receive a negative test result during the 14-day travel quarantine period.
The amended Order requires that students either quarantine for 14 days upon entering Pennsylvania OR take a COVID-19 test and receive a negative test result. Students can test upon entering PA (the previous Order required a student to get a test 72 hours prior to entering PA). Students must remain home while awaiting test results. A rapid antigen test or a diagnostic PCR test may be used to meet the testing requirement. Upon receipt of a negative test result, the student can begin attending school. Parents who elect to not have their child tested must keep their child out of school for the full 14-day quarantine period which begins the day they returned to PA. Individuals who are returning to the Commonwealth after traveling outside the Commonwealth for less than 24 hours are exempt from this testing/quarantine requirement.
COVID-19 Questions & Assistance
Parents & guardians who have COVID-related questions during the school day should contact our School Nurse, Ms. Hartner by email or phone - 610-627-6512. For COVID-related questions after school hours, you can reach a school district nurse. Contact information is located on the RTMSD website under District Reopening, After Hours-Covid Questions and Answers. There is a nurse available in the mornings before school from 5am to 7am, in the evenings during the week from 4pm to 10pm, and on Sunday evenings from 4pm to 10pm.
Technology Resources
Need to submit a HELP DESK ticket? Let our Technology Team help!
Need assistance with HAC or Schoology? Contact Mrs. Kelly in the Guidance Department.
The Spartan Scoop - Week of January 4, 2021
Check our this week's editions of The Spartan Scoop.
Home Delivery!
Congratulations to this Spartan Student of the Month for December. Today's at-home learning Friday provided an opportunity for Dr. Sal to make a home delivery!
Home Delivery - Part II
Annual Holiday Greeting on 12-23
Some special guests enjoyed welcoming our students to school prior to Winter Break!