The Cougar Pounce
staying connected @ShuksanMS
May 3, 2020
Hello Shuksan Families!
We are so proud of our students. They are adjusting to many changes and the challenges of doing school at home.
Are students learning new content? How does this work? We will start our third week of new learning on Monday (5/4). Teachers chunk concepts into two-week cycles. Student work submitted Week #1 will impact the Week #2 learning plans.
What do we expect of students?
· Participate
· Complete assignments
· Review teacher feedback
· Revise thinking and work based on teacher feedback
· Ask questions
What should students do with teacher feedback? We will promote student learning by giving students feedback on key assignments. Based on teacher feedback, students can deepen their understanding and revise their work. Please remind your students to look for and use the feedback given to them by their teachers.
Will middle schoolers get grades? That is a big topic of discussion right now with District leaders. You may have read Dr. Baker’s message about high school grading. We have not yet resolved what middle school grading will look like. We do know students will not be penalized for missing, incomplete or work that has yet to meet standard.
We appreciate the efforts students and families make to continue learning at home.
Thank you and take care,
Matt Whitten
¡Hola Familias de Shuksan!
Estamos orgullosos de nuestros estudiantes. Se están adaptando a muchos cambios y a los desafíos de hacer la escuela en casa.
¿Los estudiantes están aprendiendo nuevo contenido? ¿Cómo funciona esto? Comenzaremos la semana #2 de nuevo aprendizaje el lunes (4 de mayo). Los profesores dividen los conceptos en ciclos de dos semanas. El trabajo de los estudiantes presentado en la 1ª semana afectará los planes de aprendizaje de la 2ª semana.
¿Qué esperamos de los estudiantes?
1. Participar
2. Completar tarea
3. Revisar los comentarios de los maestros
4. Revisar el pensamiento y el trabajo usando los comentarios de los maestros
5. Hacer preguntas
¿Qué deben hacer los alumnos con los comentarios de los maestros? Promoveremos el aprendizaje de los estudiantes dando a los estudiantes comentarios sobre las tareas claves. Basado en los comentarios de los maestros, los estudiantes pueden profundizar su comprensión y revisar su trabajo. Recuerde a sus estudiantes que busquen y utilicen los comentarios que les dieron sus maestros.
¿Los estudiantes de secundaria obtendrán calificaciones? Ese es un gran tema de discusión en este momento con los líderes del distrito. Es posible que haya leído el mensaje del Dr. Baker sobre la calificación de la escuela preparatoria. Aún no hemos resuelto cómo será la calificación de la escuela secundaria. Sabemos que los estudiantes no serán penalizados por tarea que falta, tarea incompleta o que aún no ha cumplido con el estándar.
Agradecemos los esfuerzos que los estudiantes y las familias hacen para seguir aprendiendo en casa.
Gracias y cuídense,
Matt Whitten
Learning Questions to Ask Your Student
- Do you know how to map out your weekly assignments?
- Of all the things you are learning, what do you think will be the most useful when you are an adult?
- What happens in school that makes you feel frustrated? Defeated?
6th & 8th Graders -- Want a pizza delivered to you?
All 6th and 8th graders showing exceptional* effort during this time will be entered into a weekly raffle. Every Tuesday we will select 2 students/per grade for a special Friday pizza delivery.
Our winners for last week were: Lily Spencer, Issac Tin, Liv Hampton and Iyana Bak!
*exceptional, extraordinary, outstanding, unusually good!
Counseling Available for Students and Families
We want parents to know that the counseling teams at SMS are still providing services and are here to support students and families. Please reach out to us for anything you would normally seek help for. The best way to contact us is via email.
Let your student know you are there for them and that this time of uncertainty will end eventually. They will need time to process it all, and it hits everyone at different times.
Please go here for more information from our counseling staff, Mr. Giles, Ms. Cowan and Ms. Besson.
BPL Book Group every Wednesday at 12:30 until May 27
Go here for more information!!
Shuksan Middle School
Vice-Principal, Allison Hancock
Dean of Students, Dave Kish
Email: matthew.whitten@bellinghamschools.org
Website: https://shuksan.bellinghamschools.org/
Location: 2717 Alderwood Avenue, Bellingham, WA, USA
Phone: (360) 676-6454
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shuksanmiddleschool/