SSP Middle School Family Update
November 2, 2022
Important Dates
Wednesday, November 2- Day of the Dead/Día de los muertos event, 5-7 PM- Secondary Building in the Stockyard (near Cafeteria)- Scroll Down for details
Monday, November 7- Asynchronous Learning Day, Students do not come to school, but log in to work from home. Conferences and Book Fair 12-8.
Tuesday, November 8- No School, Professional Development Day
Wednesday, November 23-Friday November 25- No School, Thanksgiving Break
Dear Middle School Families,
Learning and Working Hard!
I know that at home this week my kids are still sorting and trading candy and thinking about beginning to think about winter sports. We also need to make sure we are doing grade checks and getting into a routine around, "show me your Schoology."
Another routine I highly recommend that sometimes slips in Middle School is a strict bedtime. Students who come to school tiered struggle with social and emotional connections as well as academics. Chronically tired students also tend to have lower self esteem, anxiety and depression. Please make sure that students do not have electronic devices in their bedrooms at night. This includes school issued chromebooks.
Strong Academic Focus
One thing that all students and teachers have been working with over the past few weeks is the IB Approaches to Learning. The abbreviation for these are ATLs. Every unit that we teach has ATL skills that help students answer the question: How can I be an effective learner?
I have included two graphic organizers that include all of the ATL skills. As a staff, we have narrowed down this long list to 3 main ATLs that we are talking with students most often about:
- Take Responsibility for my own actions and choices
- Advocate for my own rights and needs
- Manage time and tasks effectively
When you talk with your child's teacher at conferences next week, you will get to see how your child has reflected on their own progress with these 3 ATL skills, and what goals they have for the next few months of school.
We know that when students do the above things effectively and efficiently, they are successful students and feel proud of their academic achievement. We also know that the above skills look and feel differently (with some similarities) in each classroom. Phy ed and Math will not always look the same when students are managing their time and tasks.
I'm really proud of the students and staff. We have been working hard learning about all types of things:
-6th grade Science students have been practicing how to read thermometers and run experiments on different temperature water, and in Language in Literature they have been writing about Fall Festivals or Haunted Houses!
-7th grade Individuals and Societies students have been studying the Electoral College and the election of 1860.
-8th grade Language and Literature Students Analyzed the short story the "Monkey's Paw" and 8th grade Scientists are studying the Periodic Table.
We are better together! We help each other learn and grow.
Scroll down to find information about the following topics: Asynchronous Day/ Conferences, Yearbook, Book Fair, reminder about food in classrooms.
Sincerely,
Leah Bourg
Principal, South St. Paul Middle School
lbourg@sspps.org
651-503-4846- Cell
651-306-3659- Office
Day of the Dead/Día de los muertos event
Dear Students and Families,
Please join us to celebrate a Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month: Day of the Dead/Día de los muertos event. You are encouraged to bring a picture or memento of a loved one who has passed to place on the community ofrenda. Learn more about Hispanic/Latinx heritage through food, music, dance, arts & crafts, and community! We hope to see you there!
Estimados Estudiantes y Familias,
Favor de acompañarnos para una celebración del día de los muertos y el mes de la herencia hispana/latinx. Lo invitamos a que traiga una foto o recuerdo de sus seres queridos para ponerlos en la ofrenda comunitaria. ¡Aprenda más sobre la herencia hispana/latinx a través de la comida, música, baile, artesanía y comunidad¡ ¡Esperamos verlos!
¡Gracias!
Lesly Gámez (she/her/ella)
Assistant Director of Equity & Learning
South St. Paul Public Schools District Office
Office (651) 552-5563 | Se habla español
Announcements!
November 7- Asynchronous Day, Family Connect/ Conferences
Students will be working from home this day. Teachers will have an assignment in Schoology for the students to do. This will be an assignment that the students should be able to finish and submit independently, but the student may need some reminders that this is a day that students need to log on from home.
This is the first time we have tried this, and we will be monitoring the pros and cons.
Teachers will be online from 8-12 to receive schoology messages and emails. Then, from noon to 8 pm, the teacher will be meeting with families for conferences.
If you have not yet scheduled your conference, please reach out to your student's Connection's teacher.
Yearbook
The middle school yearbook staff is already hard at work after school designing a great yearbook for next year. Ms. Tyne Grefe is the advisor.
You can purchase your yearbook at this link: https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/3149954/South-St-Paul-Middle-School/2023-Yearbook/20221007141503580111/CATALOG_SHOP/
The yearbook staff invites students and parents to submit photos for the yearbook. If you’ve got great photos of school and other events or you and your friends just having fun, we’d like to see them. Our photographers can’t be everywhere. Help us get as many photos as possible to create a terrific book everyone will want to have.
Middle School Student/Family Photo Upload site: https://images.jostens.com/0Myq5kKCEfQ6iYR-dg_r2Sw
Book Fair
Ms. Marie Hydukovich is the dedicated Media Specialist at the Secondary Building this year. Ms Hydukovich is working to host a book fair over the week and a half through Scholastic. This is the first year since I started as Principal of the Middle School in 2020 that we have had a dedicated Media Specialist. Part of having Ms. Hydukovich in our building full time is her dedication to stock our media center with high quality, materials...Especially for Middle School Students! The Book Fair will help us do that because the school gets credits for each item sold.
Language and Literature teachers have been invited to bring their students through starting next week during the school day. The book fair will be open for families during Middle School Family Connect on Monday, November 7th from noon to 8 pm. There will be an online store as well for families that can’t make it here: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/southstpaulsecondary
If you have questions or would like to help with the book fair, please contact Marie Hydukovich at: mhydukovich@sspps.org
Food in Classrooms
Just a reminder that food in classrooms and in the hallways is not allowed, with the exception of breakfast from the cafeteria the first 10 min of 1st hour and personal (not for sharing) snack the first 10 of 6th period. If students have food in the classrooms the teachers have been instructed to take it, and give it back at the end of the day (student will need to come back and get it).
Levy Information- Packer Pride, Packer Promise
To narrow the gap between what the state provides and the actual cost to operate a school district, most Minnesota school districts — including South St. Paul Public Schools — rely upon voter-approved funds to support student learning.
SSPPS has always been mindful of how taxes impact our community members; however our current operating levy is $608 per student below the metro average. That places us near the bottom of all metro school districts (#35 of 43 districts).
Less levy funding means the school district has less money to support students, staff, and programming.
For more information about the operating levy, visit https://www.sspps.org/levy2022.
Learning in Action- November 2022
FAQ- Phone Pouches in the Middle School
What is the policy?
Every student needs to have a Yondr pouch to keep their phone, wireless headphones and smartwatch in during the day. Phones and wearable technology like wireless headphones and smartwatches are not to be used during school. Every student will have a personal Yondr Pouch. Students need to have their pouch in good working order in order to follow the rule. If students damage or lose their pouch, they will need to buy another pouch.
Once the phone, watch, and wireless headphones are in the pouch and the pouch is closed, students will not be able to open it until they leave for the day (2:30, or if they leave early through the office). Unlocking stations will be widely available upon dismissal and students will be able to quickly unlock their pouch and get to their bus, ride, or after school activities.
While in school, students may choose to keep the pouch with them in their backpack or in their locker.
Students will always be able to use the landline phones in their classrooms and in the office if they need to contact their families. They may ask for privacy while using the phone.
Families at home can get a message to their students at school by calling the office or by emailing their student’s accounts. Students will be able to access their school email on their school issued Chromebook.
Why do I have to buy a pouch if my kid doesn’t have a phone?
Many students who don’t have a phone at the start of the year will get a phone or device sometime during the school year. It would be a very difficult job to determine who does or doesn’t have a device.
The pouch is a tool to help students follow the policy and to help educators enforce the policy. It is important that every student has the tools to be successful. When every student starts the year with all the tools they need to be successful, there is less stress on students and staff.
Please talk to the Principal or Assistant Principal if the $20 fee is a burden. We have a few ways to make this affordable and scholarships available. The Yondr program is a program that we believe all students will benefit from. One student’s cell phone has the potential to distract a whole classroom of students. We are asking everyone to participate in removing the distractions by paying this fee. If you can’t pay the fee, please let us know.
Leah Bourg, Principal- 651-507-4846
Julian Stanke, Assistant Principal- 651-457-9405
What happens if my student doesn’t put their phone in the pouch?
If a staff member sees a student cell phone (or wearable technology), the staff member will send the phone (or other devices) to the office with a label that indicates who they took the device(s) from. The parent will be contacted and will need to pick up the phone. This will occur for each offense. If the parent needs to come multiple times, an administrator will schedule an appointment with the parent to review policy, support, and consequences.
What data is the school collecting to see if this policy is helping students?
We have collected data from last school year on the following points:
-Number of students tardy to class each week
-Number of students who earned 0’s, 1’s, 2’s and so on
-Number of students involved in fights during school hours
-Number of bullying reports
-MCA and Fastbridge scores
-Student climate survey (given at end of first Semester)
At the end of the 2022-23 school year we will look at each data point and compare it to the previous year. We will make public the data and the staff reflections around the growth and challenges presented with the cell phone pouch policy. We will also ask for family feedback in the spring in the form of a family survey and at the April/ May 2023 Family Advisory Meeting.
Why can’t we just go to the old fashioned method of, “if the teacher sees your phone, they take it?”
That wasn’t working for a variety of reasons. Just like every student learns differently, every family seems to have a different approach to cell phone etiquette and use. Additionally, some students have very real addictions to social media, and inappropriate use of cell phones. The volume of issues was taking too much staff time.
Teachers have presented the challenges they have faced at the past 3 Family Advisory Meetings. The staff would like to try this phone pouch plan because they believe it will allow them to focus on engaging lessons, building positive relationships, and help students succeed academically.
The staff believe that with the implementation of the pouch program, students will be able to focus on their schoolwork, grow emotionally strong and be passionate about learning.