Bear Bulletin
January 30, 2022
Afternoon Dismissal Reminder: Please See the Request Below!
Topics Included in this Newsletter
- Note from Mrs. Spencer
- Mark Your Calendars, Bears!
- Thank You, SBISD Board of Trustees!
- Congratulations to the SBMS Band!
- 6th and 7th Grade Course Selection Videos. Forms due February 4th!
- SBISD Credit by Exam: Applications due Feb 14th!
- Eti-Cool Handouts for SBMS 8th Grade
- 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!
- Mark Your Calendars for SBISD Parent: Healthy Relationships Online and In-Person!
- Information from Nurse Mulvey for 6th Grade Parents
- SBMS PTA Information for 2021-2022
Message from Mrs. Spencer
Good Morning, SBMS Bears,
I hope this finds you well on this gorgeous Saturday. I cannot believe we are closing out January this week! Life moves so fast. Over the course of 24 years, I have always enjoyed this time of year because for some reason I always stop and take a look at kids and the "growing up" they have done the past year or years I have known them. PK to 2nd or 3rd is pretty special, but the leaps and bounds kids make in middle school are just amazing. I love seeing the maturity (we may need some more percolating, but it is there!) that our 8th graders have found since becoming 6th graders. The change is incredible!
We had a nice week last week; we are knee-deep in preparing for 5th to 6th transition, 8th to 9th grade transition, our 8th grade manners work through the PTA Character Ed program, and the work of preparing kids for both end of year state testing, but course work for next school year. Things are busy, but we are so proud of what we are seeing on our courts, in our classrooms, in our auditorium and all throughout the building. Please keep encouraging your students do commit to daily practices of studying, practicing, reading and taking a break with friends and family daily. Those habits will be so helpful for high school and college.
A few informational items:
- SBISD Police Request: SBISD Officer Hernandez shared he remains concerned with parents picking up in the former Georgia's or the Tall Plants parking lot. While we do not govern these locations, it is my hope that despite the inconvenience of maybe waiting a few minutes longer to pick up your child by pulling up in front of the school you will honor the request from the officer. For everyone's safety (students, the officer, you as the driver, and others en route on the feeder), we need pick up locations to be relegated to Parent Circle, Band Circle and NOT along the feeder of a highway.
- Student Chromebooks: Testing season is approaching faster than we would like. Please sit down with your child and check to be sure your child's chromebook is in good working order. Make sure the screen and keyboards are working and neither the keyboard has missing keys nor does the screen have any cracks. Does your child have his or her charger in their possession. Is there any bulging of the battery in the back of the device? If there are issues, the child needs to visit with his or her grade level administrative assistant and file a KACE ticket with him or her to request for the repair of the device. IF your child is missing his or her device, an SBISD Police Department report needs to be submitted. IF your child has someone else's device, the child should submit it to the administrative assistant Monday morning. No sharing of devices is allowed.
- 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:
- Feb 4th: 6th and 7th Grade Course Selection Sheets
- Feb 17th: Parent U: Promoting Healthy and Safe Relationships Online and In Person: 6-7 p.m. via Zoom.
- February 17th: SBMS 8th Grade Reading/Language Arts State Field Testing for STAAR.
- February 23rd: 8th Graders Visit Zoned High Schools
Rising 6th Grader Events (Current 5th Graders):
- February 9th: Elementary students from our zoned feeders visit SBMS during the school day.
- February 15th at 6 p.m.: Rising 6th Grade (Current 5th Grade) Parent and Student night at SBMS. Join us for a presentation on the course selection sheets and visit with our Orchestra, Band, Theater Arts and Choir staff.
Rising 9th Grader Events (Current 8th Graders):
- February 23rd: 8th Grade students will visit their zoned high schools, SWHS or MHS.
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
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
Thank You, SBISD Board of Trustees!
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
HUGE Congratulations to the SBMS Band!
Over the weekend, Ms. Engelmann reported the extraordinary outcome of our SBMS Band. Rather than speak for her, below is part of the messaging she sent families:
I am so very proud to share with you the results of the SBISD Solo and Ensemble Contest. Our students worked very hard through December and January and they were very successful.
The students were rated on the performance of their solos and ensembles. Scores are awarded from 1 to 5 with 1 being the best and indicating a Superior performance. Additionally, the judges are allowed to award “OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AWARDS” to Solos or Ensembles that they feel were clearly outstanding from the other performances.
- 43 SBMS Band students received a score of 1 or Superior out of 43 who performed.
- 11 students received “OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AWARDS” for their solos.
- 49 students performed in 12 small ensembles, all of them received scores of 1 or Superior.
- 4 of these ensembles with 15 students received “OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AWARDS” for their ensemble performances.
“WAY TO GO SBMS BAND!!!!”
- Mrs. Engelmann
We are so proud of our SBMS Music Department.This is an OUTSTANDING outcome! Congratulations to staff, students and their families for their hard work!
6th and 7th Grade Course Selection Presentations. Selection Sheets are due Feb. 4th!
Last Friday morning, your students listened to a presentation over course offerings for the 2022-2023 school year. Your students also received a course selection sheet to complete and return to their Science teacher by Friday, February 4. The presentations are included below for your reference.
6th Grade Video: https://youtu.be/wQDOpB5S0tU
6th Grade Slideshow: https://tinyurl.com/sbmscourseslides7
7th Grade Video: https://youtu.be/KVEkEQX5V5g
7th Grade Slideshow: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1lAnewOX3VpmY6P-65W3K94ku_bTmFm7M5_DrPxNnaVU/edit?usp=sharing
SBISD Credit By Exam Window Closes February 14th!
Hello Students and Parents:
The spring window to apply to take a CBE (Credit by Exam) and EA (Exams for Acceleration) is open.
Here is the district flyer for additional information:
The window closes February 14, 2022, no exceptions. The testing window will be on SBMS campus from March 21-April 1.
If you or your child would like to apply, please contact the grade level counselor listed below.
Grade 6: Marissa Richie- marissa.richie@springbranchisd.com
Grade 7: Stephanie Blackmon- stephanie.blackmon@springbranchisd.com
Grade 8: Marco Garcia- marco.garcia@springbranchisd.com
Accessing 8th Grade PSAT Results Information
1. 1. Visit the site: https://studentscores.collegeboard.org/home
2. If you do not have an account, then scroll down to the bottom and click ‘Create Account’
3. Fill in your student’s information: name, birthday, etc.
4. Create a username and password: write this down and keep it somewhere safe! You will use the same account in the future for college board
5. You can complete the parent information as well and allow the system to CC you on all emails
6. Once you complete the account registration you should have access to tests previously taken
Eti-Cool Presentation Handouts for Parents
SBMS 2021-22 Yearbook!
AD PURCHASE DUE DATE: 1/31
AD DESIGN DUE DATE: 2/7
I apologize to any families who have had trouble accessing the Balfour website this week to design ads or purchase a book. They have had heavy site traffic all over the country and closed the ad purchase window early by mistake. BUY YOUR AD BY 1/31 AND DESIGN IT ASAP!!! The website may continue having problems so please design your ad ASAP and email me with any questions. This is a STRICT deadline because the yearbook has to turn in those pages by the end of the week. Visit tinyurl.com/sbmsyearbook to purchase today! (You can also purchase by going to balfour.com and selecting Spring Branch Middle, but make sure you select the SBMS in Houston and not Spring Branch, TX!!!)
Yearbooks are still on sale for $65! Buy one here or go to tinyurl.com/sbmsyearbook to buy your book before they SELL OUT! We only have 85 yearbooks left for sale and may sell out before they arrive to school. We CANNOT order more yearbooks if we sell out when they arrive at the end of the year.
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)
- Basketball
- Any pics of your child with their friends/doing an activity related to SBMS
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. Please keep in mind we are trying to include as many students as possible so we are trying to include individual students a max of 3 times in the book!
Contact Sara Boyle, sara.boyle@springbranchisd.com with any other questions about the yearbook!
Upcoming dates:
- January 31, 2022: Last day to buy an ad for your child!
- March 4, 2022: Last day to PERSONALIZE yearbook (purchase a name stamp or activity icon for your yearbook)
- 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:
- November 7th Bear Bulletin
- October 31st Bear Bulletin
- October 24th Bear Bulletin
- October 17th Bear Bulletin