Sandtown News from the Middle
November 27, 2017
School Mission, Vision, and Outcomes
Our Mission:
Promote academic achievement of all students through rigor, relevance and positive relationships.
Our Vision:
All students will learn to their full potential by becoming Life, Career, and College ready.
Our Motto:
Success, Nothing Less!
Strategic Plan Long-Term Outcomes:
- Increase student engagement in authentic learning.
- Increase students’ high school readiness.
- Increase student academic achievement.
Message from Principal Cook
Dear Parents & Guardians,
I hope your Thanksgiving Holidays were filled with food, family, and friends. The faculty and staff of Sandtown MS are excited to welcome your students back to school on tomorrow. The 18 days until the end of the semester will be focused on learning and preparing for the upcoming final exams. Students will not be allowed to take semester exams early, so make sure your student is present each day. Students who miss an exam will have to take the make-up version on Friday, January 5, 2018.
As we move into December, the days are starting out with cold temperatures. Please be sure your children are dressed appropriately for outdoor PE, arrival and dismissal. If you need any assistance, please reach out and we will be happy to help.
We are ending November with 8th grade students participating in district benchmark assessments for Science and Social Studies this week. Please ensure your students are present and well-rested. We also have another opportunity for students and families to participate in Family Yoga on Monday evening. If you haven't tried yoga, come learn easy ways to help your student remain focused during these last three weeks and techniques to help your family "de-stress" during the busy holiday season.
December begins this Friday, and is our third RFF Day for Professional Learning for staff. Students will not attend school on this day. The rest of December will pass quickly, so please ensure that your children attend school every day. Research shows:
- Children chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade.
- By 6th grade, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign for students at risk for dropping out of school.
- By 9th grade good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than 8th grade test scores.
Absences can add up quickly. A child is chronically absent if he or she misses just two days every month!
There are several events coming up in December, so be sure to read the rest of this newsletter so you are aware and hopefully able to attend. Items of note: Final Exams, Holiday Band & Orchestra Concert, School Governance Council meeting, PTSA Meeting (8th Grade Parents only), Parent Conference Night #2, and the National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony.
P.S. The Parent-Teacher Conference nights are additional times the teachers are making themselves available to parents. Parents are still able to schedule conferences with teachers on other days during times the teachers are available.
Thank you for your partnership,
Principal Cook
Dates to Remember
Nov 27 Family Yoga Night
Nov 27-28 FCS Science Benchmark Assessment (8th grade students only)
Nov 29-30 FCS Social Studies Benchmark Assessment (8th grade students only)
Dec 1 No School for Students (SMS RFF Professional Learning Day #3)
Dec 11 December Parent-Teacher Conference Night
Dec 12 School Governance Council Meeting
Dec 12 Holiday Band & Orchestra Concert
Dec 13 National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony
Dec 14 PTSA Meeting - 8th Grade Parents Only
Dec 15-20 Final Exams
Dec 21 Last Day of First Semester
Mrs. Cherre Moore - Law & Public Safety Teacher
Education Background: After graduating from West Babylon High School on Long Island (where I grew up and just relocated from), I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Childhood Education with Special Education Certification from SUNY Genesee. I then got my Masters in Special Education from Molloy College in Rockville Centre, NY.
Previous Schools: I was an inclusion TA at the high school level in Lindenhurst, NY before filling a one-year leave replacement as an elementary resource room teacher in the Syosset Central School District. I then taught Special Education for four years in the Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School district. I have been teaching for the last five years at Peninsula Preparatory Academy Charter School in Far Rockaway, Queens.
Family: I am the oldest of four children, and now the third of my siblings to relocate to the Capital Region. I am married with an 11 year old daughter and a two year old son.
Interests outside of school: I love music and enjoy going to concerts. I spend time at Lake George in the summer, and love being outside with my kids. In the past, I have done some singing and acting, but for the last few years I have been focused on being a soccer mom.
School News and Annoucements
Response to Intervention (RTI) & Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
In the previous newsletter, I shared an overview of the RTI process and asked that you please encourage your child to make an "all-out" effort to engage fully in the RTI block at school. Our RTI process includes social and emotional learning (SEL) in addition to academic supports in math and reading. On Monday, students began reading "Growing Up With a Bucket Full of Happiness: Three Rules for a Happier Life" by Carol McCloud. Students learn what gives happiness, what takes it away, and what protects it. This concrete concept helps children of all ages grow in understanding, kindness, self-control, resilience, empathy, and forgiveness. Please ask your child each Monday what they learned from their reading in the RTI block.
During the "First 5 Minutes" of each day in the RTI block, students also participate in "Rachel's Challenge" activities. Rachel’s Challenge exists to equip and inspire individuals to replace acts of violence, bullying, and negativity with acts of respect, kindness, and compassion. Rachel’s Challenge is based on the life and writings of Rachel Joy Scott who was the first victim of the Columbine school shootings in 1999. Through her example, Rachel’s Challenge is making a positive impact in the lives of millions of people every year.
On Fridays, students write a target letter of kindness, and the first target was YOU! So, you should have received a special card from your child on Friday. Ask him/her about it if you did not receive it and thank you for your support!
Parent Conference Nights
Our teachers are available on two nights this semester for parent conferences: November 13th and December 11th, from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM. Parents must sign up to reserve a conference. Please use the links below to sign up.
December 11, 2017
Sign-Up Closes Friday, Dec. 7th
6th Grade Core http://tinyurl.com/6thGradeDec11th
7th Grade Core http://tinyurl.com/7thgradeDec11th
8th Grade Core http://tinyurl.com/8thgradeDec11th
Connections http://tinyurl.com/ConnectionsDec11th
8th Grade News - Ms. Baker, Dr. Liles, Ms. Burns
Yearbook Club - Ms. Crowder
Students who applied to be members of the Yearbook Club have been accepted. The Yearbook Club will meet on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 4:25-5:30 PM.
Science Fair Club - Ms. Turner
The Georgia Science & Engineering Fair (GSEF) is Georgia’s premier forum for students to showcase their original research, compete for awards, and interact with top-level professional scientists. The science fair system in Georgia serves not only to recognize students for their achievements, but also to prepare students to succeed and flourish in an increasingly complex and highly technical world by becoming problem solvers, critical thinkers, reflective learners, and more productive and influential members of their communities.
The Georgia Science and Engineering Fair (GSEF) is dedicated to encouraging all Georgia's teachers and school districts to incorporate active science and engineering research into their classrooms in order to help students 1) develop a love for science, 2) learn to isolate important problems and to attack and solve these problems within the framework of organized, logical thought, careful research, and a detailed analysis of facts, and 3) showcase and celebrate their achievements.
The SMS Science Fair Club supports students in the completion of a student-selected, competitive experimental research project. Projects that advance to the regional level will have the opportunity to compete to advance to the state level. The club will have its next meeting on Monday, November 27th from 4:30-5:30 PM. Download the flyer below for more information and the list of future meeting dates.
Social Studies Fair Club - Mr. Lapan
The Vision of the Georgia Council for the Social Studies is to prepare students to be knowledgeable, effective decision makers and engaged citizens in a globally interdependent world.
The Georgia Social Studies Fairs lead students, through competition, to learn, practice, and perfect research processes that can and should be used now and in the future to make informed decisions that impact both today and posterity.
The SMS Social Studies Fair Club supports students in completing a student-selected competitive social studies project. Each project is designed to show research and conclusions about the study of people and their relationships to their physical and social environment.
The club will have its next meeting on Tuesday, November 28th from 4:30-5:30 PM. Download the flyer below for more information and the list of future meeting dates.
Attendance Matters
Research from the Department of Education
Does it really matter if my child misses a few extra days each year? Here is one of the myths about student attendance:
Missing a few days of school each year is normal and doesn’t matter that much.
- Data indicate that missing more than five days of school each year, regardless of the cause, impacts student academic performance and starts shaping attitudes about school.
- From the 6th grade through the 9th grade, student attendance is a better predictor of dropping out than standardized test scores.
- Excused absences and unexcused absences have similar impact on student academic performance.
Thank you for helping to prioritize daily school attendance.
SMS Tutorial Schedule
Tutoring sessions are held by each teacher once per week. Please consult the schedule below for the days & times your child's teachers offer tutoring.
Fall Final Exam Schedule
Dec 15th - 2A & 4A Final Exams
Dec 18th - 2B & 4B Final Exams
Dec 19th - 3A & 5A Final Exams
Dec 20th - 3B & 5B Final Exams
2017-18 School Year
First Semester
August 1 – 4 ........................................... Preplanning for teachers
August 7......................................................... First Day of School
September 4........................................Labor Day (schools closed)
October 6 ......................................Teacher Workday (students off)
October 9 ......................................Columbus Day (schools closed)
November 20 – 24.............. Thanksgiving Holidays (schools closed)
December 21 ....................................... Last Day of First Semester
December 22 – 29 ...........................Winter Break (schools closed)
Second Semester
January 1 – 3...................................Winter Break (schools closed)
January 4.......................................Teacher Workday (students off)
January 5....................Professional Development Day (students off)
January 8.........................................First Day of Second Semester
January 15..............Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (schools closed)
February 19 ......................President’s Day Holiday (schools closed)
March 9*.......................................Teacher Workday (students off)
March 12....................Professional Development Day (students off)
April 2 – 6 .......................................Spring Break (schools closed)
May 24........................................................... Last Day of School
May 25.................................................................. Post Planning
May 28...............................Memorial Day Holiday (schools closed)
* Designated as inclement weather make-up days (if needed).
Our School Release Days
These are the dates approved through the RFF process as part of School Governance. SMS students will NOT attend school on the following dates:
September 1, 2017
November 3, 2017
December 1, 2017
March 8, 2018
Partner in Education Spotlight
APEC After School Enrichment at Sandtown
UPCOMING EVENTS
No School for Students - Request For Flexibility (RFF) Day
Friday, Dec 1, 2017, 08:30 AM
Sandtown Middle School, Campbellton Road Southwest, Atlanta, GA, United States
Parent-Teacher Conference Night
- SIGNUP IS REQUIRED! Please use links on flyer above (School News and Announcements section)
- Conferences are scheduled with individual teachers.
- However feedback, resources, and grade print-outs will be provided from every core teacher during your scheduled conference using our Strategies for Success form.
- Stay for Family Yoga afterwards!
Monday, Dec 11, 2017, 04:30 PM
Sandtown Middle School, Campbellton Road Southwest, Atlanta, GA, United States
Family Yoga Night
Culture & Climate is one of SMS's "Big Rocks" this year. Come experience mindfulness though yoga.
Spending time with your kids is one of the most important gifts you can give them. Here is a great way to connect with your family. Yoga will help you to reach your inner child, challenge your balance, find your flexibility and bring joy to your spirit.
Free to Sandtown MS Students, Parents, and Community! Room C117
Monday, Dec 11, 2017, 06:00 PM
Sandtown Middle School, Campbellton Road Southwest, Atlanta, GA, United States
SMS Band and Orchestra Concert
Tuesday, Dec 12, 2017, 06:30 PM
Sandtown Middle School, Campbellton Road Southwest, Atlanta, GA, United States
National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony
Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017, 06:00 PM
Sandtown Middle School, Campbellton Road Southwest, Atlanta, GA, United States
PTSA - 8th Grade Parent Meeting
Thursday, Dec 14, 2017, 06:00 PM
Sandtown Middle School, Campbellton Road Southwest, Atlanta, GA, United States
Sandtown Middle School
Email: whitesj@fultonschools.org
Website: http://tinyurl.com/SandtownMS
Location: 5400 Campbellton Road Southwest, Atlanta, GA, United States
Phone: (470) 254-6500
Facebook: facebook.com/SandtownMS
Twitter: @SandtownMS