SMS Weekly Update
2.9.24
Message from the Principal
I hope this message finds you well. I am thrilled to share the exciting news about the incredible week we've had here at Stevenson. I am particularly proud of the seriousness with which our students approached the recent NWEA testing sessions. Their hard work and focus have resulted in significant growth for many of our students, reflecting not only their academic gains but also their determination to embrace a growth mindset. Here at Stevenson, we believe in fostering a mindset that values progress over perfection, and it is heartening to witness so many of our students embodying this philosophy. This collective effort showcases the strength of our learning community and reinforces our commitment to continuous improvement.
As we celebrate this week's achievements, let us carry forward the spirit of growth and learning, always striving to reach new heights together. I know many of our students continue to ask about the status of the competition between the middle schools. Once all three middle schools have completed their testing sessions and NWEA makeups, we will get those results and share them out. Good luck to everyone. Regardless of how we end up in this competition, I am incredibly proud of each of our students.
Thank you for your ongoing support, and here's to many more weeks of inspiration and accomplishment ahead.
National School Counseling Week
This week was National School Counseling Week! Let's take a moment to recognize our incredible counseling team and the hard work they do each and every day to provide quality support and resources to our students and their families. Feel free to send them an email tell them how much you appreciate the hard work they do each day.
Last Names A-Bo & Mi-Z- Ms. Reinink, reininkk@wwcsd.net
Last Names Br-Me- Mrs. Shecter, shecterc@wwcsd.net
February Events
Black History Month, February
Black History Month is a dedicated time to recognize and celebrate the achievements, contributions, and challenges of Black individuals and communities throughout history. It is observed in the United States, Canada, and some other countries during February each year. During Black History Month, people honor the rich heritage and cultural significance of the Black community through various activities, events, and educational programs. These may include exhibits, lectures, performances, and discussions that highlight the achievements of Black leaders, artists, scientists, and activists. Black History Month is celebrated by individuals, schools, universities, community organizations and government institutions. It serves as an opportunity to promote awareness, understanding, and appreciation for Black culture, history and the ongoing fight against racial inequality.
Sources:
https://www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov/
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month
https://asalh.org/black-history-themes/
CTE Month, February
CTE Month, short for Career and Technical Education Month, is an annual celebration held in February that highlights and raises awareness about the importance of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and their impact on students' career development. CTE Month is celebrated across the United States by educational institutions, industry partners and communities to recognize the achievements and contributions of CTE programs and students. It aims to showcase the numerous pathways and opportunities available through CTE, which encompass a wide range of career fields, including technology, healthcare, business, skilled trades and more. During CTE Month, schools organize various activities and events to promote CTE programs. These may include open houses, career fairs, skills competitions, panel discussions, guest speakers, and workshops that allow students, parents, and the community to learn more about the diverse CTE opportunities available and the skills needed for success in the workforce. It reinforces the importance of providing students with practical skills and knowledge that can lead to rewarding careers and economic prosperity.
Source:
https://www.acteonline.org/why-cte/cte-awareness/cte-month/
Lunar New Year: February 10, 2024 (Year of the Dragon)
Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, is a grand festival celebrated in many Asian countries, including China, Vietnam and Korea. It begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and culminates with the Lantern Festival on the first full moon, which usually falls between January 21 and February 20. Each year in the Lunar calendar is represented by one of 12 zodiac animals, the year 2024 is slated to be the year of the dragon. During Lunar New Year, families come together to celebrate and honor their ancestors. Festivities typically include various customs and traditions that symbolize good fortune, prosperity and the casting away of negativity. Some common traditions include: festive dinners featuring traditional dishes with symbolic meanings, fireworks/firecrackers, red decorations, lion/dragon dances, giving red envelopes filled with money, visiting temples, and a lantern festival on the last day of celebrations. Lunar New Year is a time for joyous celebrations, family gatherings, and paying respect to tradition and heritage. It is an occasion that promotes harmony, unity and the start of a new year filled with good fortune.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lunar-New-Year
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/chinese-new-year
President's Day: February 19, 2024
President's Day is a federal holiday celebrated in the United States. It is observed on the third Monday in February each year and is dedicated to honoring the legacy, achievements, and leadership of past U.S. presidents, particularly President George Washington, whose birthday falls on February 22, and President Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday falls on February 12. President's Day is celebrated by various individuals and institutions across the country. Schools, government offices, and businesses often have the day off to commemorate this holiday. Many communities also organize parades, historical reenactments and events that highlight the contributions and impact of past presidents on American society. It is also common for schools to incorporate activities and lessons about presidents and American history during the week of President's Day. Students may engage in projects, speeches, and presentations that focus on the lives and achievements of former presidents.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Presidents-Day
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/presidents-day
Fat Tuesday (Pączki Day), February 13, 2024
Paczki Day is a Polish-American tradition that celebrates the delicious pastry called "paczki" (pronounced "poonch-kee"). It is observed on Fat Tuesday, the day before the start of Lent. Paczki are deep-fried pastries filled with sweet fillings like fruit preserves, custard, or cream. They are rich, indulgent, and often covered in sugar or glaze. The Tuesday before Lent, the people of Poland used up food so that it would not be spoiled or wasted. Families would use up their eggs, butter, sugar and fruit by treating themselves one last time before Lent began with these rich donuts. This tradition was started in the medieval age during the reign of August III. Today, Paczki Day is widely celebrated in areas with strong Polish communities, such as Michigan, Illinois and Ohio. The pastries are enjoyed in large quantities and shared with family, friends and coworkers. The celebration of Paczki Day also often includes parades, parties and events featuring Polish culture and traditions. It's a joyful occasion to indulge in this delightful treat before the solemn period of Lent begins.
Sources:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/pczki_day_a_polish_tradition_becomes_an_american_tradition
https://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/stories/community/story-behind-michigan-paczki-day
Spelling Bee Champion!
Congratulations to all of our spelling bee participants for a job well done at the District Spelling Bee on Wednesday. Huge shoutout goes to 6th grader, Lilly King, as she won the district title for Stevenson Middle School! Congratulations Lilly!! We are so proud of you!!
MSBOA Recognition
On Saturday, February 3rd, ten of our concert band and orchestra students performed at MSBOA Solo and Ensemble to receive a rating from a judge. I'm happy to report all of our students earned division 1 and 2 ratings, which are the two highest ratings out of the 1-5 scale! Both 1 and 2 ratings earn the students a medal. This is the first time Stevenson Middle School has participated in this event, so for our students to perform so well at a competition they were not familiar with is an incredible accomplishment!
Here were the scores...
-Samantha Jones' Cello Solo: Division 1
-Mikaela LeBlanc's Violin Solo: Division 1
-Harmony Lincoln's Alto Saxophone Solo: Division 1
-Lilly London's Euphonium Solo (Accompanied on Piano by Cameron Ziola): Division 1
-Kylah Mitchell's Clarinet Solo: Division 1
-Aubree Whitehead's Trombone Solo: Division 1
-Aria Bryan's Clarinet Solo: Division 2
-Reagan Turbin's Cello Solo: Division 2
-Awbrey Yohe's Violin Solo: Division 2
Pizza with the Principal
Spirit Week and Pep Rally is Next Week!
Mobile Dentist is Coming Next Week!
February 13, 2024
Great news! Our school has partnered with Smile Programs, these mobile dentists offer dental care at school. Best of all, in most cases there is no cost to you if your child is insured with Medicaid/CHIP! Private insurance and affordable self-pay options are also available.
All interested families must sign their child up and reserve their spot. You can do so at the link below.
All students were given a paper copy of the information needed to register. Have your child turn it in to their 1st hour teacher.
Course Selection for Next School Year
It is that time of year where our students will be selecting courses for next school year. I am including the Course Description Guide (Middle School and High School) in the link below to help you decide with your child, which classes they are interested in taking next school year.
Current eighth-grade students are on their way to do great things in high school. Join the high schools for their Freshman Open House from 5- 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at both:
Wayne Memorial High School
3001 Fourth Street, Wayne, MI 48184
John Glenn High School
36105 Marquette, Westland, MI 48186
8th Grade Dance Information and Agreement Form
Please view the attached pdf to read the expectations and agreement that needs to be signed for your child to attend the 8th grade dance in May. Thank you!
RAPS Weekly Focus for February
Wrestling Highlights
Future Educators Class
Get Involved at Stevenson!
Second Step Update - 2/7/24
This week during our Second Step time, we did the second lesson in our Thoughts, Feelings & Emotions Unit.
6th Grade - Emotions and Your Brain
Summary: In this week’s lesson, your child learned how different parts of their brains play a part in managing their strong emotions.
Question: Ask your child to teach you about some of the different parts of the brain and how they manage emotions. Look up a picture or video of the brain and learn some more!
7th Grade - Feel, Think, Do
Summary: In this week’s lesson, your child distinguished thoughts from emotions. They also analyzed how emotions affect their thoughts, and how their thoughts can influence the decisions they make.
Question: Ask your child to explain the difference between an emotion and a thought. Take turns expressing sentiments aloud and having the other person identify if the sentiments are thoughts or emotions. (For example, Emotion: “I’m so mad at the coach for not putting me in the game.” Thought: “That’s it—I quit!”)
8th Grade - Where Does Stress Come From?
Summary: In this week’s lesson, your child learned where stress comes from, identified stressors in their life, and examined which stressors they can control.
Question: Ask your child if they have any stressors they can’t control. Discuss what they do have control over.
Elective Fundraiser
Virtual Community Forums
- Threat Assessments and Internet Safety- Please join us for a virtual community forum on Wednesday, March 13 from 6-7 p.m. Link to PDF flyer and Zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87961543561
- Alternatives to Guardianship and Self Determination for students with special needs- Please join us for a virtual community forum on Wednesday, February 28 from 6-7 p.m. Link to PDF flyer and Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/s/89223197925#success
Cold Weather Reminders
We have been experiencing quite a bit of cold weather here in Michigan. We know that winter weather can take a toll on school attendance. Snow, ice and rain can make it hard to get children to school. So can illnesses such as colds, flu, fevers, earaches, etc. Here is some information to help keep your children healthy and in school this winter.
Develop backup plans for getting your children to school. Can someone give them a ride to school if your child usually walks or stands at a bus stop?
Dress for the weather. Even a short walk in frigid weather can be dangerous. Ensure your child has a warm coat, gloves, hats and boots. Elementary students will also go out for recess if the temperatures, with wind chill, are above 20°. Remind older children that a hoodie is not an outdoor coat.
Resources are available. If you need help with winter clothing, please contact your child's school for assistance.
Sick children should stay home. School attendance is important, but sick children should not be at school. Also, if your child becomes ill during the school day, have a backup plan for who can pick them up if you are unavailable.
If your children need to stay home for a prolonged period due to illness, talk to your child's teacher to find out about resources and class assignments they can do at home to keep learning once they feel well enough.
What about snow days? Information about our inclement weather procedures can be found on our website.
School of Choice Application
The 2024-2025 In-District School of Choice window is January 23, 2024 through March 1, 2024, for current students residing within the Wayne-Westland Community Schools boundaries wanting to attend a different home school.
In-District School of Choice Application (link will open on January 23, 2024 at 7:30 a.m. and will close on March 1, 2024 at 4 p.m.)
*If your child is currently approved for School of Choice, you do not need to apply. Only apply if your current School of Choice student is moving to a different building.
NWEA Testing
NWEA- WWCS MIDDLE SCHOOLS COMPETITION
For the past few years the middle schools of Wayne Westland (Franklin, Adams, and Stevenson) competed to see which school's students had the highest percentage of students meeting their growth goals across the content areas assessed on the NWEA test.
Stevenson Middle School currently houses the massive trophy from winning this competition last year. Students that meet their growth goals will get rewards individually, and if we have the highest percentage of students meeting their growth goals, we will get to keep the trophy and get another year engraved on it. We love a competition! Bring it on Adams and Franklin!
Early College
Wayne-Westland Early College provides students an opportunity to simultaneously complete the high school diploma and an associate degree at no cost to families. To learn more, visit www.wwcsd.net/earlycollege
Stevenson Staff GEM Award
Do you know of a staff member at Stevenson Middle School that is consistently Going the Extra Mile (GEM) for your child? Please take a moment to nominate them for our Stevenson GEM award. They will be put into a monthly drawing for a prize for their hard work to make Stevenson such a great place for our students.
Order Your Yearbook Today!
IRS Update
The Internal Revenue Service wants to share the following information with families.
Child Tax Credit (CTC): The CTC is a credit that may reduce your tax by as much as $2,000 for each child who qualifies you for the credit. To qualify, the child must be a U.S. citizen under age 17, have a Social Security number, be claimed as a dependent on the taxpayer's tax return, and more. Use the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant tool to determine eligibility: Does My Child/Dependent Qualify for the Child Tax Credit or the Credit for Other Dependents? For more information, please see: Child Tax Credit | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)
Other Dependent Credit (ODC): The ODC is a credit that may reduce your tax by as much as $500 for each eligible dependent. The person is claimed as a dependent on your return; the person can’t be used by you to claim the CTC or Additional CTC; the person was a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. resident alien. Again, use the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant tool to determine eligibility: Does My Child/Dependent Qualify for the Child Tax Credit or the Credit for Other Dependents?
Note: The credit amount for family’s CTC or ODC may be reduced if their modified adjusted gross income (AGI) is more than $400,000 for married filing jointly filing status or $200,000 for all other filing statuses.
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): One refundable tax credit for moderate- and low-income families is the Earned Income Tax Credit. The IRS estimates there are millions of workers who qualify but don't claim the EITC - missing out on thousands of dollars every year. The EITC is as much as $3,995 when claiming one child, $6,604 when claiming two children, and $7,430 when claiming three or more children. Use the EITC Assistant to learn if you're eligible for the tax credit. For more detailed information, see Publication 596, Earned Income Credit.
Note: Adjusted gross income limits are used to qualify families for EITC.
Child and Dependent Care Credit: Taxpayers who paid someone to care for their child, spouse, or dependent so they can work, be a full-time student, or look for work may be able to reduce their tax by claiming the Child and Dependent Care Credit. The total expenses that you may use to calculate the credit may not be more than $3,000 (for one qualifying individual) or $6,000 (for two or more qualifying individuals). Use the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant tool: Am I Eligible to Claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit? For more information, please see: Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses or Topic no. 602, Child and dependent care credit | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov).
Attendance Update
Regular attendance is crucial for your child's academic success. Please make every effort to ensure your child attends school on time every day and stays throughout the whole day. Consistent attendance throughout the school day allows your child to engage in learning and maximize their educational opportunities fully.
Illness: If your child is not feeling well and cannot attend school, please notify us immediately. Students who are ill should not attend school to prevent the spread of illness to others.
Excused Absences: We understand that there may be instances when your child needs to be absent due to illness, medical appointments, family emergencies, or other legitimate reasons. Please notify the school in advance whenever possible to classify the absence as excused.
Unexcused Absences: Unexcused absences negatively impact your child's education. Absences without valid reasons will be considered unexcused, and appropriate actions may be taken per district policy.
Timely reporting of absences helps us maintain accurate attendance records and ensures that your child's absence is properly documented. Absences must be reported within 24 hours.
There are two convenient methods for reporting your child's absence to facilitate efficient communication and accurate attendance records.
You can notify your child's school through the dedicated attendance line. Please leave a detailed message stating your child's name, grade, and reason for absence.
You can report absences directly through MiStar, our secure online portal for student information. MiStar provides a user-friendly interface that allows you to submit absences.
Thank you for your ongoing support in creating a positive and productive learning environment for all our students.
Family Resource Center Information
Mental Health Support
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If you ever have any questions or concerns, please reach out to one of us directly at domank@wwcsd.net (Student Last Names: Br-Me) or phillipsae@wwcsd.net (Student Last Names: A-Bo & Mi-Z).
Sincerely,
Mrs. Doman and Ms. Phillips
Last Names A-Bo & Mi-Z- Ms. Reinink, reininkk@wwcsd.net
Last Names Br-Me- Mrs. Shecter, shecterc@wwcsd.net