Bear Bulletin
November 28, 2021
Topics Included in this Newsletter
- Note from Mrs. Spencer
- Mark Your Calendars, Bears!
- SBMS Finals Schedule
- Student Personal Device Reminders and Request
- Mark Your Calendars for SBISD Parent: Healthy Relationships Online and In-Person!
- Information from Nurse Mulvey for 6th Grade Parents
- SBMS Yearbook Information
- SBMS PTA Information for 2021-2022
Message from Mrs. Spencer
Good Morning, SBMS Bears,
I hope each of you enjoyed a lovely holiday. It was so nice to decompress and visit with friends and family this past week! I do not have many updates for you this Sunday, so I have included mostly recycled information from last newsletter in case you missed it in the very busy days leading to our holiday. You may wish to mark your calendar for the Parent U session on healthy relationships and consider reading our article on student personal technology. Now more than ever, our tweens and teens need our guidance and support in relationship to technology to build healthy perspective, relationships and footprints.
- End of Semester Finals Schedule: You may access the schedule here.
- End of Semester Early Dismissal: Just a reminder that the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of our last week of our fall semester are Early Release Days for secondary schools. School will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 15th- Friday, December 17th.
Thanks, all!
Stefanie
Mark Your Calendars, Bears!
Mark your calendars for a few events, Bears:
- SBISD End of Semester Early Dismissal: Wednesday, December 15th- Friday, December 17th at 12:30 p.m.
- Parent U: Promoting Healthy and Safe Relationships Online and In Person: February 17th from 67 p.m. via Zoom.
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
This link will take you to an amended schedule for the last week of the fall semester. During that week, seventh and eighth graders will take a final in all subject areas with few exceptions. Sixth graders will take their PSAs (Priority Standards Assessments) in reading, math and science. They may have unit or regular tests in their other subjects, as well. In the spring, all students in grades six, seven and eight will take finals in most classes.
Please note that on days where there are no finals posted, students will be completing work, submitting missing assignments and making sure their semesters are closed out in regards to their grade levels. Attendance is collected every day that week, so attendance expectations are the same for each day.
Social Media Safety Request from SBMS
Each spring, we regularly see an increase in issues related to student social media interactions. Unfortunately, the increase in concerns has begun early. It would be helpful if every parent could review their child's cell phone and social media applications for the following:
- Ask your child to delete or stop subscribing to fake SBMS accounts (Instagram, maybe elsewhere) where content is unacceptable, unkind or dramatizing.
- Ensure that their accounts are set to private so no one you or they do not know can access their accounts.
- Ensure your children know every single person they are following and have connected with- some of our children haven't realized the need to decline friend requests from strangers. They may need assistance detecting fake accounts.
- Review their DMs (direct messages) in their instagram and their group texts on their cell phones. You do not want them to be part of messaging that cover unkind or inappropriate content.
- Ensure your child is not sharing an account or password with others.
- Review their pictures, as well.
We would strongly prefer that they receive this guidance from you at home so they can come to school ready to learn, free from the hurt feelings some of this is generating and the consequences that could result. It is important that students know that their technology footprint can hinder their options for admission into colleges, the military and possible job opportunities. There could be consequences at SBMS if their participation in something disrupts instruction or can be considered inappropriate or along the lines of bullying or harassment.
Conversations like this are difficult but necessary. They may not wish for you to review their phone, but doing so can prevent issues and actually help them make better choices. It is sometimes helpful to kids when they can say to a friend that they cannot participate in something because their parents monitor them. It is a nice excuse for them to have in their back pocket.
to:
- Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND staff and students are required to stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel.
- Even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days.
- If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected.
- Parents/guardians report absences to the campus following district/campus guidelines;
- If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.
- Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not.
- Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms
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
SBMS 2021-22 Yearbook!
Yearbooks are now on sale for $60! Buy one here or go to tinyurl.com/sbmsyearbook
Tributes/ads for students are also on sale! When buying your yearbook, make sure you scroll to the bottom of the site and you can order a half page, ¼ page, or shoutout ad for your child. Make sure you order and finish designing this ad by JANUARY 31!
The yearbook staff would love your help gathering photos related to the following topics/events for inclusion (we need photos of the highlighted topics the most)
-Bear Camp
-Fine arts concerts/shows (band, orchestra, choir, theatre)
-Dance Club
-Football
-Your child dressed up for Red Ribbon Week
-Honors assemblies
-Volleyball
-Halloween
-Unusual pets
You can upload photos for the yearbook staff using the Balfour Imageshare app on your phone. Note: the project number is 209143 and there is NO upload code. You may also send any photos for the yearbook staff to Sara Boyle, sara.boyle@springbranchisd.com. Contact Sara Boyle, sara.boyle@springbranchisd.com with any other questions about the yearbook!
Upcoming dates:
January 1, 2022: Yearbook price increases to $65
January 31, 2022: Last day to buy and complete an AD/TRIBUTE for your student
March 4, 2022: Last day to PERSONALIZE yearbook (name stamp, activity icon)
March 15, 2022: Last day to send in yearbook photos for inclusion in the book
Sara Boyle
Journalism Teacher, Yearbook and Newspaper Adviser
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
PTA hosts events that support all students, teachers & staff. The tireless volunteers are constantly working for us all. Our amazing fundraising volunteers are raising money to provide staff appreciation lunches, student social activities and teacher supplies. If you don’t have time to volunteer, no worries, you can join the PTA and support our school without any time commitment. Click here https://sbmspta.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/15401 to join today.
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