Port Susan Middle School
Family & Student Update 04/16/23
Assume Positive Intent
One thing we have discussed at Port Susan is to assume positive intent when working with our students. A big part of this success is our partnership with our families in communication. As an administrator, the communication that comes across in parent emails and conversations makes me thankful that our students have home support. In my conversations with staff, I hear the love for education and push for students to become their best self by our teachers.
It is clear that all adults truly care about the students we come in contact with daily. I encourage you to always reach out if you have a question or concern. If it has an impact on the success of our students, we want to know.
As we work together this spring with you, I encourage everyone to model our ability to listen, believe the words of our students, take a deep breath and continue our work together to educate our students around the importance of maintaining positive relationships and making responsible decisions.
This work is worth it...our kids are worth it...and I'm thankful for all of you!
-Cherae Almanza, Principal
Take their words at face value and adopt a policy of assuming positive intent, even if your logic or history has taught you otherwise - Joy Mohammed
Way to Go!
Square Dancing
Trivia Night! **Canceled**
Attention Parents: We need Pictures
Home Track Meet
Skyward Password
As you know, safety and security is our top priority — that includes securing digital information.
In an effort to further increase network security for our families and students, our Skyward Application (used for grades, attendance, ect.) is moving to a stronger password requirement.
Starting on Wednesday, April 19th, families who use Skyward will be asked to create a new, more secure password when they login. Similarly, students will move to a more robust password as well.
Week of April 17th through 21st
Monday 04/17
Regular Schedule
Lesson Advisory
Tuesday 04/18
Regular Schedule
Academic Support Advisory
Canceled **PTO Trivia Night**
Wednesday 04/19
Red Schedule
Thursday 04/20
Regular Schedule
Academic Support Advisory
**Track Meet (Stanwood High School)**
Friday 04/21
Academic Support Advisory
2023-24 Student Calendar here:
https://www.stanwood.wednet.edu/about/calendar/student_calendar
Linked below are previous communications. Please continue to reach out with any questions you have. You can email me directly (calmanza@stanwood.wednet.edu) or call our office at 360.629.1360
Reminder: 8th Grade Families
Reminder: SBA Testing
This spring your student will take the Smarter Balanced in math and English language arts. Students in grades 8 will also take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) or the WA-AIM science assessment.
The results from these tests will give a more accurate picture of whether students are on track to be ready for college or career. When students reach grade 10, the Smarter Balanced can also be used as a graduation pathway.
For state testing, we will provide headphones and all testing materials for students. If they'd like to use their own/personal headphones, please make sure they are WIRED and plug into our Chromebook (state testing does not allow wireless headphones).
Students will take the tests online. Our school is scheduled to take the tests:
8th Grade Science *May 1st - 2nd
Math CAT *May 8th - 12th
ELA CAT *May 8th - 12th
Math PT *May 15th - 19th
ELA PT *May 15th - 19th
Make up testing
Science by June 2nd
ELA/Math June 9th/6th
For more information about the Smarter Balanced and WCAS tests, visit: https://www.k12.wa.us/student-success/testing/state-testing-overview, and click on the name of the test.
Reminder: Spring Play
We appreciate you!
Cherae Almanza, Principal calmanza@stanwood.wednet.edu
Crysty Auckland, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director cauckland@stanwood.wednet.edu
Teacher Emails
Dave Austin (6-8 Fitness & 6 Leadership) daustin@stanwood.wednet.edu
Jonathan Bletscher (6-8 Band) jbletscher@stanwood.wednet.edu
Joan Campbell (6-7 Math) jcampbell@stanwood.wednet.edu
Tamara Pedersen (6-7 Math) tpedersen@stanwood.wednet.edu
Lori Stunz (7 ELA & 6-8 Art) lstunz@stanwood.wednet.edu
Grace Gale (6 Science & 6-8 STEM/Robotics) GGale@stanwood.wednet.edu
Chelsea Hanson (6-8 ELA/Humanities) CHanson@stanwood.wednet.edu
Nate Hanson (6-8 Computers/Digital Effects) nhanson@stanwood.wednet.edu
Audrie Harrington (6/7 ELA & 7/8 Leadership) aharrington@stanwood.wednet.edu
Joshua Keaton (7/8 History) jkeaton@stanwood.wednet.edu
Seth Hills (6 Social Studies) shills@stanwood.wednet.edu
Lori Johnson (6-8 Assist) ljohnson@stanwood.wednet.edu
Wade Johnson (7/8 Science) wjohnson@stanwood.wednet.edu
Rebecca Klein (6/7 Science) rklein@stanwood.wednet.edu
Meghan Lawrence (6-8 PBS) mlawrence@stanwood.wednet.edu
Ellianna Martin (6-8 Math) emartin@stanwood.wednet.edu>,
Daniel Mccrumb (6 Math/Science & 7/8 Outdoor Ed) DMccrumb@stanwood.wednet.edu
Sarah Oldow (6 ELA/Social Studies) soldow@stanwood.wednet.edu
Catherine Perry (6-8 EL) cperry@stanwood.wednet.edu
Tracy Riley (6-8 ELA) TRiley@stanwood.wednet.edu
Kelcie Rocha (7/8 Math) krocha@stanwood.wednet.edu
Brad Rochon (7/8 Science) brochon@stanwood.wednet.edu
Connie Schmidt (6-8 Health) cschmidt@stanwood.wednet.edu
Sheri Schroeder (8 History & ELA) sleeschroeder@stanwood.wednet.edu
Kym Shoemaker (7/8 Math) kshoemaker@stanwood.wednet.edu
Crystal Titus (6-8 Fitness) ctitus@stanwood.wednet.edu
Kayte White (8 ELA & 6 Cultures) kwhite@stanwood.wednet.edu
Julia Zurcher (7 History & 7/8 Home Ec) jzurcher@stanwood.wednet.edu
Office Support
Jayde Piggot (6 Counselor) jpiggott@stanwood.wednet.edu
Keli Niegemann (7/8 Counselor) kniegemann@stanwood.wednet.edu
Emily Bowne (School Psychologist) ebowne@stanwood.wednet.edu
Kandyce Hansen (Speech Language Pathologist) khansen@stanwood.wednet.edu
Sara Harlan (Librarian) sharlan@stanwood.wednet.edu
Amy Hart (Student Support Advocate) ahart@stanwood.wednet.edu
Taya Zavala (Mental Health Therapist) tzavala@stanwood.wednet.edu
The Stanwood-Camano School District does not discriminate in employment, programs, or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the District's Title IX/Affirmative Action Officer and Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator, Maurene Stanton (mstanton@stanwood.wednet.edu), or the Section 504/American Disabilities Act Coordinator, Robert Hascall (rhascall@stanwood.wednet.edu) Stanwood-Camano School District, 26920 Pioneer Hwy, Stanwood, WA 98292. Telephone: (360) 629-1200.