Simis Scoop
September 29, 2023
Principal's Letter
A Note from Mrs. Murray
Hi Simis Families,
Next week will be the end of the first quarter! Conferences with parents will occur on October 25-27. Teachers will be sending out signup forms for conferences today. Parents can elect for an in-person or virtual conference that best meets their personal schedules. Our goal is to meet with every parent to share an update of student progress at Simis. Conferences are a great time to connect with your child's teacher, ask questions about school, and develop common goals to support student success and growth. We look forward to seeing all parents and guardians at our fall conferences!
Last week PATS hosted the first Speaker Series event at Madison Simis. Dr. Allison Cuoco came to talk with parents about "Supporting Successful Learners." There will be additional speakers coming to Simis this year, and we hope you are able to attend. Each session is picked based on topics our parents, social workers, and teachers have identified as areas where support can be shared. To learn more about the Speaker Series, please visit simispats.org/speakers.
Thank you for your continued partnership!
Lindsay Murray
Simis Homework Practices
At Simis, we understand that families have different values regarding homework. Some agreed upon practices at Simis to support all families are:
- Make homework available to families
- Send homework that is practice of skills students have already learned in class
- Not grade homework
- The teacher will allow parents to communicate with their students if homework is required in their household
The purpose of homework is for students to reinforce learning from the class. If homework is ever causing frustration at home, please talk to your classroom teacher.
LETRS Training
Over the next two years, classroom teachers at Simis are embarking on a professional development journey to obtain their reading endorsements. Even our teachers who already have a reading endorsement are participating to learn up to date practices to best support student learning needs. Teaching reading is complex, and requires a deep understanding of how the brain learns to read. Our teachers are eager to learn specific strategies that they apply in their classrooms to help our students grow!
Update: Spelling or Phonics?
Did you know: traditional spelling tests based off of a word list students memorize are not found to be helpful in developing student mastery of language patterns? As we dive into our LETRS training and learn more about the science of reading, we will continue to update our instructional practices at Simis. An example you may see is that spelling tests will transition to phonics based tests measuring students ability to master various sound letter patterns. In some of our classrooms you may see Sound Walls rather than Sight Word Walls. We are excited to integrate these practices into our instruction to support our students through the science of reading.
Teacher Inservice Day - No School for Students
TCT 1pm Early Release
Wednesday, Oct 4, 2023, 01:00 PM
Teacher Planning Day, No School
Friday, Oct 6, 2023, 07:15 PM
Fall Break - No School
Monday, Oct 9, 2023, 07:00 AM
Fall Break - No School
Tuesday, Oct 10, 2023, 07:00 AM
Fall Break - No School
Wednesday, Oct 11, 2023, 07:00 AM
Fall Break - No School
Thursday, Oct 12, 2023, 07:00 AM
Fall Break - No School
Friday, Oct 13, 2023, 07:00 AM
Library Information
Did you know?
Families can browse through all the selections in the electronic library by browsing in the Destiny Discover website.
Simis Site Council Updates
Updates from the Health Office
Notes from Nurse Megan
If you have borrowed a pair of shorts, please return them clean ASAP.
Hearing & vision screenings will take place next week for all state required groups of students. If you have questions about screenings, please direct them toward the health office.
Please remember that students must stay home for a full 24 hours after any vomiting, diarrhea, or fever (100 or greater). Thank you for being considerate of others and keeping your child home when sick!
If your child is diagnosed with a communicable disease such as strep throat, flu, etc. please notify the attendance clerk or health office.
❓Questions❓ Contact: Nurse Megan RN, MSN, 602-664-7322, mbefort@madisoned.org
Student Wellness
Essential Agreements
Essential Agreements are an IB components found in all classrooms. These contain the agreed upon rules, norms, routines and codes that are used to maintain an atmosphere conducive for teaching and learning. Students across campus have been holding conversations about how they want to feel at school and using these discussions to create their own agreements, unique to each class.
Meta Moment
The teachers recently rolled out the Meta Moment as one of the four tools found in RULER. The meta moment provides a process for responding to emotional situations with strategies that align with one’s best self and that support healthy relationships and personal well-being.
Mood Meter
Many of our students now have mini mood meters on their desks. They can label their emotions throughout the day and notice how they change. As students become more aware of their emotions, they begin to notice how they impact our decisions and behaviors. When students have the ability to name the precise emotion they are experiencing (elation, dismay, anxiety, calmness, curiosity…), they learn to develop strategies for working with a range of emotions.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Notes from Mrs. Powers
In October, we will be focusing on the IB learner profile trait, Inquirers. The IB learner Profile aims to develop learners who are inquirers. Learners who are inquirers nurture their curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. They know how to learn independently and with others. Inquirers learn with enthusiasm and sustain their love of learning throughout life.
In each classroom, you will find a “Wonder Wall”. Students write down their thoughts and wonders on the wall and then have the opportunity to research and share their findings with the class. We value students’ questions and research as they learn new and wonderful things.
Parent/Guardian Opportunities
THRIVE Parent Information Series
Madison School District just placed 4 new modules in our THRIVE section of the Madison website. These short and informative videos with experts in the field provide families with resources to approach and support their child in ways that align with the students of the Alpha and iGeneration.
School Lunch Visitor Registration Form
Sign up for a lunch visit here! Please read the details on the sign up form for more information.
As a reminder, we ask that all parents sit with their child at the visitor's table in the cafeteria and say goodbye as students head out to recess.