SMS Trojan News
Principal's Corner
October 5th - October 9th
I hope you and your family enjoyed the first weekend in October, and that you have been and will be able to continue fall family traditions.
We have seen an increase in the number and types of inappropriate websites that students are visiting.
I have listed a few suggestions below to help your family in navigating the online world during this time where school has to be largely digital for the time being.
- Make your own family media use plan. Consider having the ChromeBook charged in the parents room - out of reach/touch - for students at night. Media should work for you and within your family values and parenting styles. Use it thoughtfully and appropriately!
- Set time limits and encourage playtime. Media use, like any other activity, should have reasonable limits. Develop those time limits that are agreed upon nyn the entire family with student input (e.g. 4-5 hours of digital time would should be sufficient for the 2.5 hours of "live" class time with another hour of work to be checking in classes you do not see for that day).
- Screen time doesn't have to be "alone" time. View things together, play things together, and engage with each other as a family! This encourages social interactions, bonding, and learning. Play a video game with your student; it's a good way to demonstrate good sportsmanship and etiquette. Try not to just "monitor" your kids; interact with them so that you can understand what they are doing and be a part of it.
- Be a good role model. Teach and model kindness and good manners online. Pay attention to your own device usage - your kids are watching and learning from you every day!
Don't use technology as an emotional pacifier. Media can be very effective in keeping kids calm and quiet, but it should not be the only way for them to learn to calm down. Children need to be taught how to identify and handle strong emotions, come up with activities to manage boredom, or calm down through breathing, talking about ways to solve the problem, and finding other strategies for channeling emotions (healthychildren.org).
Create tech-free zones. Keep family mealtimes, family and social gatherings, and kid's bedrooms screen free. Recharge devices overnight - outside of your child's bedroom to help him or her avoid the temptation to use them when they should be sleeping. Consider having all devices off-and-away at an agreed upon time (e.g. 9:00 p.m.) along with a central location for all devices in the house that are out of reach of students.
Check out this week's Family Character Dare below for a suggestion on connecting with your child. Our October Middle Years article is also available for you as well.
Grace & Peace,
Mr. Sale
Weekly Character Dare
Family Bucket List
Sit together as a family and see if you can brainstorm a list of 25 things you want to do together this year.
Get creative and collaborative! Make sure the items range from totally doable in a day to something that may seem silly or impossible. Work to check things off each month until you make your next one.
This Week's Classes
This week's classes:
Monday (5th): B-Day live classes
Tuesday (6th): A-Day live classes
Wednesday (7th): B-Day live classes
Thursday (8th): A-Day live classes
Friday (9th): NO CLASSES - Statewide Inservice Day
Please remember that you will have three live classes each day, but that you have school work for ALL of your classes every day.
6th Grade Schedule
7th Grade Schedule
8th Grade Schedule
Helpful Videos to Start the School Year
Helpful Family Links/Videos
Counseling Resources
- Options Counseling: 541-474-5360 for crisis; 541-476-2373 for info services
- Other resources
2. Call to talk to a Counselor:
- Ms. McGarry (A-L): 541-474-5750, ext. 50112
- Ms. Rastellini (M-Z:) 541-474-5750, ext. 50104
South Middle School
Email: bsale@grantspass.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.grantspass.k12.or.us/Subsite08
Location: South Middle School, West Harbeck Road, Grants Pass, OR, USA
Phone: 541-474-5750
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SMSTrojans/