Bear Bulletin
March 6, 2022
Practice STAAR is Tuesday & Wednesday for All Grades! Pls Remind Kids to Do Their Best & Arrive Before 8:40 a.m.! No Lunch Delivery On Those Days!
Topics Included in this Newsletter
- Note from Mrs. Spencer
- Mark Your Calendars, Bears!
- Practice STAAR for 6th-8th To-Dos!
- SBMS #SheBuildsHouston Trip!
- SBISD Rank One Paperwork
- SBMS Soccer Try Outs!
- 8th Grade Dance Underwriting Opportunity Revised Flyer!
- SBISD Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program Information & Resources
- Rising 6th Grader Toolkit (Current 5th Graders)
- SBMS Bear Camp: Mark Your Calendars!
- Save the Date for Spring Branch Super Saturday: Unity in Our Community AND Event T-shirt Design Competition Opens!
- SBMS Yearbook: Be Sure to Order ASAP!
- Information from Nurse Mulvey for 6th Grade Parents
- SBMS PTA Information for 2021-2022
Message from Mrs. Spencer
Good Morning, SBMS Bears,
I hope each of you have a lovely and safe holiday. I will not be doing a newsletter March 13th but will do one on March 20th as we prepare to return to school. I hope spring break offers everyone a chance to rest and enjoy some fun- whether you are able to travel or staying at home!
A few informational items:
- Hallways: Hallways look great with the single grade level transition. We do need to modify some bells, but the smaller numbers of students allows adults to greet students and support them if they are being silly before things escalate more easily than when hallways had all students traversing from class to class.
- Language: We are seeing an increase in unkind language and cursing on the part of students. I will be asking teachers to let parents know this week and beyond should they observe this in students as our students' language needs to represent their best selves. While they are practicing what they perceive as mature behaviors, they are building habits. Habits do not need to include language that unacceptable for most situations. Unfortunately, social media and the like reinforce the use of this language but they need to see the contexts as different and inappropriate even for maturing middle and high school students.
- Cell Phones: We are reemphasizing the use of the cell phone caddies to students. Placing their phones in the caddies reduces social and behavioral issues tremendously and allows students focus on their academics. Brain theory supports this very clearly. Please reinforce your expectations that students follow this school rule and practice. We have been moving to students having to check in their phones each day with assistant principals when they are reluctant or recalcitrant to adhere to this practice.
- SBISD Police Request: Please stop picking up children along the feeder to I-10. It is truly an unsafe behavior for you as a driver, our students and the officer helping with traffic.
- SBMS Lost and Found Items: All items will be disposed of the first week of June. Please ask your child to come visit the Lost and Found in the office- or you are welcome to visit, too!
Let's have a great week, Bears!
Stefanie
Mark Your Calendars, Bears!
Mark your calendars for a few events, Bears:
Reminder: Spring Break is the week of March 14th-18th!
SBMS Practice STAAR Dates:
- Tuesday, March 8th: 6th- 8th Grade Math Practice STAAR
- Wednesday, March 9th: 6th-8th Grade Reading Practice STAAR
- Tuesday, March 22nd: 8th Grade Science Practice STAAR
- Wednesday, March 23rd: 8th Grade Social Studies Practice STAAR
SBMS 3rd 9 Week Honors Assemblies (SBMS Auditorium):
- 6th Grade: April 5th at 8:45 a.m.
- 7th Grade: April 6th at 8:45 a.m.
- 8th Grade: April 7th at 8:45 a.m.
SBMS Events for 8th Graders:
- April 30th: 8th Grade Dance from 7-10 p.m.
- May 26th: 8th Grade Farewell Ceremony at 11 a.m
Raising Canes: Wednesday, March 23rd (Despite Practice STAAR, Promise!)
Additional calendar tools:
- SBMS Google Calendars: SBMS uses a few calendars to help parents stay informed on events at school. The SBMS Public Calendar covers all academic and band/fine arts activities. The SBMS Athletics Activities Calendar covers the different athletic games we offer throughout the year. Please note neither calendar is up to date as of yet. Once game schedules are set by the district and other dates finalized by SBMS in relationship to Fine Arts, we will post these to the calendar.
- SBISD Calendar: English/Spanish
SBMS Practice STAAR To Dos! (i.e. No Lunch Delivery, Pls)
As you read above, we are hosting our SBMS Practice STAARs this week for 6th-8th Graders in Reading and Math and then the week after break we host the 8th Grade Practice Science and Social Studies STAAR tests. These practice exams are super important for the following reasons:
- The outcomes guide teachers on who needs help on what objectives in what subjects.
- Practicing the logistics prevents issues on the day of real STAAR testing and that helps students perform better and protects against mistakes teachers could make that hurt either the confidentiality, security or logistics of the exam.
It is important that each child: a) does his or her best on the exam to prevent their inclusion in intervention or reteaching opportunities they do not need, b) follows the directions and expectations for our school so that testing ~1150+ goes really well.
SBMS Practice STAAR To-Dos:
- Ensure your student gets a nice night of sleep and eats a nice breakfast. SBMS breakfast line will be open and ready for breakfast eaters at 8:15 a.m.!
- Students need to review their testing locations provided the day before and arrive to that classroom before 8:40 a.m.
- Smart watches and phones MUST be turned off and collected by the teacher. You may wish to leave smart watches home. Students whose device is tailored for medical monitoring (diabetes or cardiac monitoring) will be excused and have been denoted in our testing security plans. Their devices will be monitored by teachers.
- Lunches: Students should bring their lunch or pick one up from our cafeteria. We will not be hosting lunch delivery on practice STAAR or STAAR dates. Raising Canes on the 23rd won't be affected for 8th graders, please know!
- If students have a graphing calculator for 7th or 8th Grade Math or Algebra, please have them bring it to school Monday so formulas can be cleared so they can use it during testing.
Please do NOT pick up children early from school that day. They will be missing classes after testing and it makes things harder for staff. We will not interrupt classrooms who are not done testing. On Tuesday after testing, students will go to periods 4th through 7th. On Wednesday after testing, students will go to periods 1st through 3rd and BPT.
SBMS #SheBuildsHouston Trip!
Last week, we took 70+ girls to the #SheBuildsHouston conference in Alief ISD and the girls had a great time learning about construction industry jobs for women. We explained to the girls before their trip that this was such a great opportunity to learn about different roles for a few reasons: 1. Different trades can offer you ideas for your life's work, 2. Learning different roles can assist in your ultimate future plans (i.e. Oil and Gas executives need to understand different roles that support the logistics and acquisition of oil and gas products and by-products), 3. Summer or part-time jobs can be quite lucrative if you have special skills.
Our kids did a GREAT job! Thank you so much for Ms. Richie, Ms. Blackmon, Ms. Brittain, Ms. Holder and Ms. Bruce for their efforts leading up to and on the trip. Many thanks to our parent volunteers! The girls got to work a variety of different tools, sit in construction equipment and learn about a variety of trades. I heard our kids were among the most attentive and responsibly behaved- I am one proud principal. Career and Technical Education has pathways for EVERYONE! We are so excited to see our girls exposed to those options! The girls had a GREAT time!
SBMS Soccer Try Outs & Required Rank One Paperwork!
Calling All Soccer Players! SBMS would love to have lots of 7th and 8th graders join us for try-outs! In order to participate, students must:
- Attend all three days of try-outs: March 21st, 22nd and March 23rd at the times listed above for your grade level.
- Have submitted ALL athletic paperwork (physical from a doctor and your Rank One paperwork). To access Rank One Paperwork, use this link.
Don't let a missing physical or paperwork stand in your way! Spring Break gives parents and students time to go get those physical done and that paperwork submitted if you haven't already done those things. If you need information on medical centers in our area that offer low-cost physicals to student athletes, please contact our any of the following:
- Ms. Spencer, Principal of SBMS
- Ms. Peralta, CIS Case Manager at SBMS
- Ms. Mulvey, SBMS Nurse
- Ms. Whitney, SBMS Campus Athletic Coordinator
Questions? Please see one of the SBMS coaches.
8th Grade Dance Sponsorship & Pep Rally Info- REVISED!
SBISD Career & Technical Education Program Offerings: Learn More!
The mission of the Spring Branch ISD Career and Technical Education (CTE) is to provide challenging career pathways for all students, utilizing real world practices and evolving skill sets, attitudes and behaviors. Check out the options in SBISD by clicking here. Additional resources can be found here.
Beliefs
Career and Technical Education is the bridge that connects students’ academic and technical education to the world of work. We believe in strong Career and Technical Education programs built around coherent sequences of courses that allow every student to graduate with a plan for a future aligned with their T-2-4 goal.
Guiding principles
- Career and Technical Education is for all students, whether they are planning to enter the workforce immediately after graduation or continuing their post-secondary education.
- Career and Technical Education will be aligned with the district’s T-2-4 plan that aims to expose and explore students’ academic and career interests and then provide them opportunities to experience their future options and prepare them to execute a post-secondary plan.
- Career and Technical Education programs will be innovative, forward-thinking, and evolve to meet the future needs of business and industry.
- Career and Technical Education programs will be taught by high quality teachers with industry experience using industry relevant curriculum, resources, and technology.
Rising 6th Grade Toolkit- Share with Your Friends!
Dear Parents of Rising 6th Graders (Current 5th Graders),
Click on the image above or use this link to access the following resources for our school:
- Rising 6th Grade Parent Meeting Presentation
- Electives Descriptions
- Performing Arts Flyer
- AAC (Advanced Academic Course) Information (previously Pre-AP)
- Course Selection Sheets
- Recording of our Rising 6th Grade Parent Meeting Presentation
For those of you who are interested in learning more about SBMS courses, the SBISD Course Catalog document is an excellent resource. Please refer to the English or Spanish version.
Mark Your Calendars for Bear Camp 2022!
Save the Date for Spring Branch Super Saturday (4/23): Unity in Our Community AND Event T-shirt Design Competition Opens!
Save (and share!) the date to celebrate SBISD’s 75th Anniversary at Spring Branch Super Saturday: Unity in Our Community, April 23 from 9am-noon at Tully Stadium!
Spring Branch Super Saturday will bring together the entire community to showcase the best of Spring Branch students! Designed by a team of more than 80 high school students from throughout the district, Spring Branch Super Saturday is an event for the whole community. Enjoy student showcases, food trucks, live music, arts & crafts, and SO MUCH MORE!
NOW OPEN! Event T-Shirt Design Contest!
Share with your student artists, designers, and creatives for a chance for their design to be worn by hundreds, maybe thousands of people! Deadline for submissions is Feb. 2. More details below!
Key Information:
- Submission Eligibility requirements:
- Must be Spring Branch ISD students (elementary, middle or high)
- Must complete the Google Submission Form (https://forms.gle/y5Dn89zaittZZ2dA8)
- Can be submitted by an individual or a group of students - Design requirements:
- Incorporate the event name and tagline, “Spring Branch Super Saturday: Unity in Our Community”
- Represent all of SBISD (no single school logos)
- Single-color design
- Designed for the front of a t-shirt
- No inappropriate images or phrases
SBMS 2021-22 Yearbook!
Yearbooks are still on sale for $65! Buy one here or go to tinyurl.com/sbmsyearbook to buy your book before they SELL OUT! There are only 50 yearbooks left for sale and we cannot order more!
The yearbook staff would love your help gathering photos related to the following topics/events for inclusion:
- Fine arts concerts/shows or your child practicing/rehearsing for them (band, orchestra, choir, theatre)
- 7A and 7B Girls Basketball, 8A Boys Basketball
- Track/Cross Country
- -NJHS/Student Council
You can upload photos for the yearbook staff using the Balfour Imageshare app on your phone. You will create an account and can upload photos from your camera roll. Note: the project number is 209143 and there is NO upload code. You may also send any photos for the yearbook staff to yearbook adviser Sara Boyle, sara.boyle@springbranchisd.com.
Contact Sara Boyle, sara.boyle@springbranchisd.com with any other questions about the yearbook!
Upcoming dates:
- March 15, 2022: Last day to send in yearbook photos for inclusion in the book
Thank you!
Sara Boyle
Journalism Teacher, Yearbook and Newspaper Adviser
Spring Branch Middle School
A Word from the SBMS Library
Overdue Library Books
Please remind your students to turn in overdue library books. They receive an email notice each week with a list of overdue books. There is a cart located outside the library entrance for book returns.
Aaryn Silva
Librarian
Spring Branch Middle School
6th Grade Parents: A Word From Nurse Mulvey
6th grade Parents:
If your child gets any new vaccines this school year please turn in a copy to the nurse. This will help prevent any delay in enrollment for 7th grade.
A Word from the SBMS PTA
Did you know that PTA does much more than fundraising? PTA's mission is to make every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children. We are an advocacy organization and our list of "PTA Purposes" are:
- To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community and
- place of worship
- To raise the standards of home life
- To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth
- To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers
- may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth
- To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental social and spiritual education
Parents aren't required to volunteer and can still join without providing any time commitment.
Dues as low as $10 allow parents to become voting members, which means they have a VOICE. Parents can save money as a PTA member and receive special discounts and perks, learn how. PTA Membership provides instant support for our students. It's a great way to stay informed about what's happening at our school and connect in meaningful ways with other parents. Our motto is "Every Child. One Voice." Join us Bears!
Find us on social media. For a complete list of links, visit the SBMS PTA website
Missed Last Week's Bear Bulletin?
Please click below by date and you may access previous editions:
- February 13th Bear Bulletin
- February 6th Bear Bulletin
- January 30th Bear Bulletin
- January 23th Bear Bulletin
- January 16th Bear Bulletin
- January 9th Bear Bulletin
- November 7th Bear Bulletin
- October 31st Bear Bulletin
- October 24th Bear Bulletin
- October 17th Bear Bulletin