Red Storm Forecast
Stonybrook Middle School August 2018
Message from Mr. Day
On behalf of all the educators and support staff who make each school day a success, I welcome you to the start of our new school year. On August 8th we had a very busy Back to School Night that highlighted our athletics and academics. I appreciate each family who was able to take a few hours and dedicate it to the collaborative partnership that support each child's success.
SMS realizes that our lives our filled with many requests and demands on our time. We receive many communications on a daily basis. My goal is to continue to find ways to reach out to our parents and guardians to ensure that essential information and opportunities are reaching you regarding your child's educational journey. I encourage you to share feedback with me via our 2018-19 SMS School Improvement Survey.
On, Tuesday August 21st from 5 PM - 8 PM, I invite you to our 3rd Family Forum event that will be held at SMS in our LGI room. Please come whenever you can and stay as long as you can. Our keynote speaker, Dr. Lori Desautels, will share current research on the development of the adolescent brain. A flyer is included in this newsletter. Use our RSVP form to indicate your attendance.
Our primary school goals this year will focus on student attendance, focus on academic foundations through math and language, and student social-emotional well being. We are looking for a parent representative to serve on our School Improvement Committee as well as an individual to serve as a Community Representative. If you are interested or know someone who is, please provide my contact information with them. We will meet approximately once a month to discuss our progress. This is a great way to serve our students, staff, and families!
Go Red Storm!
Mr. Nathan Day
Please welcome our new staff members to Stonybrook middle school!
Paryis Miller, Read 180
Devan Heiber, 8th grade Math!
Sarah Smurr, 8th grade Language arts!
I've been teaching for over ten years. I taught four of those years at Ball State University with international students from China and Saudi Arabia. I'm originally from Indiana, but I spent most of my adult life in Boston and half of my childhood in Oregon...so my heart is attached to many places. I'm passionate about education and consider it my vocation. I especially enjoy middle school because they are such a wonderful mess of emotions, curiosity and potential! Favorite quote: Fortune favors the brave.
Brian Lane, 7th/8th grade Choir director!
Mr. Lane is the Vocal Music Director at Stonybrook Middle School and Warren Central High School. Having served students from pre-kindergarten through the adult/collegiate levels, Brian is an award-winning choral music and theatre educator, clinician, certified vocal music adjudicator, guest conductor, performer, accompanist, and organist with experience teaching choral music and theatre in Indiana and Florida. Brian is a member of the Tourette Association of America National Educational Advisory Board where he serves as an advisor to the Tourette Association of America on educational issues/policies and as a fierce advocate for students with Tourette Syndrome and other neurological conditions while working closely with parents in IEP/504 meetings and preparation. Brian is also a guest speaker and clinician for Tourette Syndrome advocacy.
8th grade Math Co-Teacher, Emily Hiter!
Hi! I’m Emily Hiter and this year I will be an 8th grade special education teacher here at Stonybrook! I will be co-teaching math with Ms. Whitaker. This is my first year teaching, and in May I graduated from Olivet Nazarene University with a degree in Special Education. I enjoy reading and spending time with family and friends. I cannot wait to see what this year has in store!
Ada McCullough, 7th/8th grade - Engineering and Technology!
My name is Adriana “Ada” McCullough, and I am new to the education field with only having a full year of being a Substitute teacher with Kelly Educational Services under my belt. My BA is in Criminal Justice with a focus in Forensics. This year I have joined the PBIS committee to be more involved in the school.
Just a couple things that I am obsessed with are all things Harry Potter and Disney Related. I just adore a great pun when the day is rough! During my random spurts of downtime, I enjoy practicing martial arts, reading, sports and baking.
Doug Hauser, 8th grade science!
Kim Sweet, Instructional Specialist!
I was raised in Saugerties, New York, around 100 miles north of NY City and am the youngest of six kids. I was a competitive ski racer in junior high and high school and raced at the national level. I earned my bachelors in education from Luther College in Decorah and my masters and specialist degrees in educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
I have been an educator for the past 21 years and have taught students ages 3 to 16, in five different states. Most of my teaching has been in math and ELA in grades 5 through 8. I have even taught drivers' education. I have also served as the head of academics in two schools.
I have a wife named Meg, with whom I'm raising two foster sons and two dogs. I commute from Noblesville. It is my dream to be a contestant on Jeopardy some day. I am super psyched to be at Stonybrook Middle School as an Instructional Specialist.
Elizabeth May, Functional Academics!
I teach 5-8th grade Functional skills
I have been teaching for 10 years. I taught life skills majority of my career so this is a new challenge for me.
I spent the summer moving from Ft Wayne where I had taught for 4 years to New Palestine to be closer to my family. My extended family went on an Alaskan cruise directly before school started. That makes state 49 out of 50 visited. Hawaii is last on the list. My weekends have been filled with baseball. My future stepson plays baseball almost year round.
Parent Involvement Request
In addition, SMS and SIA are looking for parents to be active members in our PTSA organization that serve as an important liaison between our community, parents, teachers, and students to support the needs of the school.
If you are interested, or know of someone who is, please contact Mr. Day.
Mrs. Nicholson's Guidance Corner
Welcome Back to School!
As your middle school counselor, I want students to have a fun and successful school year. My hope is, for students to enjoy coming to school and building great relationships with their peers and school staff. School Counseling supports students in 3 areas: Academic / Social & Emotional / College & Career
If there is anything I can do to help support a student in these areas - please let me know!
Mrs. Nicholson
Tips for a Great Year:
Be in school every day! Attendance is the #1 school success factor.
Be organized. In middle school, you have more classes, more teachers, and more homework.
Give your best effort every day. Work hard and be proud!
Get involved in school activities. Sports, clubs, activities!
Get plenty of rest and eat a well-balanced diet and stay hydrated!
Pick up a book vs. an electronic gadget!
Make friends and have fun!
Focus on the CORE!
If you are new to Warren Township, you may have seen things posted in your child's school or our documents that has C.O.R.E - Civility Order Respect Excellence on it and asked what this is for.
One of our primary initiatives for our students is to have a consistent and positive interaction throughout the school day. Our CORE focus and communication is part of a Positive Behavior Intervention Strategy (PBIS) concept that focuses on re-teaching students the expectations to instill intrinsic discipline versus one that is simply punitive based.
At SMS, students were welcomed back to school and kick each day off with a period we call RADAR. The purpose of this class is to start each day on a positive note, a chance to check in, and to revisit/reteach as needed as well as introduce new strategies. Your child may work on mindfulness techniques which help keep us regulated when we feel stress or frustration, or organizational strategies to ensure he or she is ready for each day.
As you visit a classroom or various areas in the school, you will see a matrix that reminds students of what the expectations are for various functions within the room and the school. Students who demonstrate and/or exceed the expectations are awarded CORE Cash which is redeemable for various items, activities, or privileges. This concept is also something that can be done at home to provide a consistent experience for students.
Tyler Parent Portal
Bus Information in 5 Easy Steps
User Name: guest
Password: guest
Select Grade
Enter Address Information
This will show you the bus number, bus stop, time of stop and where the stop is.
MSD Warren Township Transportation 317.532.2820
2018 Pesticide Notification Registry
YOU WILL NEED TO SIGN UP FOR THIS NOTIFICATION EVERY SCHOOL YEAR.
If you would like to participate, please complete the required form found at
Back to School Night - Page 1
Back to School Night - Page 2
Athletic Information
In order to participate or tryout for an athletic team, students must submit a completed physical exam to the Athletic Director, Mr. Cummings. The physical exam must be dated after April 1, 2018, and all signature lines must be signed by a parent/guardian.
Our fall sports are underway. If you have any questions about any fall sport, please contact Mr. Jeff Cummings (jcumming@warren.k12.in.us or 532-8800 x. 8826).
Football
8th Grade Head Coach – John Lickfelt - jlickfel@warren.k12.in.us
7th Grade Head Coach – Corey Murray - cmurray1@warren.k12.in.us
Cheerleading
Corie Sutton - csutton@warren.k12.in.us
Kira Olson - kolson1@warren.k12.in.us
Cross Country
Amber Sweet - aeast@warren.k12.in.us
Adrienne Harris - aharris8@warren.k12.in.us
Volleyball
Stephen Jackson - sjackson6@warren.k12.in.us
Angela Stewart - astewart@warren.k12.in.us
Monteka Pegues - mpegues@warren.k12.in.us
Soccer
Girls Coach – Kelcey Saunders - ksaunder@warren.k12.in.us
Girls Coach – Dani Fegett - cfegett@warren.k12.in.us
Boys Coach – Ron Peckham - rpeckham@warren.k12.in.us
Boys Tennis (Girls will be in spring)
Coach Young
Warren Girls Youth Basketball
We will have 5 teams this fall, one for the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades. Third graders may try out for the 4th grade team. All girls who attend MSD Warren Township schools or live in Warren Township are eligible to try out for the teams.
Players are encouraged to try to attend both tryout dates. 6th GRADERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TRY OUT! AS THEY ARE THE SMALLEST CLASS OF PLAYERS RIGHT NOW!
More information is available at our website, www.warrengirlsbasketball.com.
Clinic News
Please provide to the school your child's Immunization Record if you have not already done so. If you know you child is due for vaccinations this school year, please make an appointment asap to have them done. The Marion County Health Department (MCHD) is a good resource for getting vaccinations. If you have any questions regarding immunizations please call the school nurse at: 317-532-8800 ext. 8806
SMS Refrigerator Information
PH: 317-532-8800
FAX: 317-532-8899
ATTENDANCE LINE: 317-532-8800 EXT. 1
SCHOOL NURSE: 317-532-8806
SCHOOL HOURS: 7:30 AM - 2:50 PM
TRANSPORTATION: 317-532-2820
DISTRICT OFFICE: 317-869-4300
Principal: Mr. Nathan Day PH: 317-532-8804
Email: nday@warren.k12.in.us
Assistant Principal: Ms. Becky True PH: 317-532-8805
Email: btrue@warren.k12.in.us
Dean: Mrs. Bianca Rivers PH:317-532-8808
Email: brivers@warren.k12.in.us
Counselor: Mrs. Melissa Nicholson PH: 317-532-8811
Email: mnichol@warren.k12.in.us
Athletic Director: Mr. Jeff Cummings PH: 317-532-8826
Email: jcumming@warren.k12.in.us
Dates to Remember:
August 21st: Family Forum Night 5:00 PM
Sept. 3rd: Labor Day (No School)
Sept. 4th: SMS Picture Day (Information coming home soon)