Spartan Herald March 2019
Building Community Empowering Learners Inspiring Creativity
Setting the Bar High - Academics
Hello Schmucker Families,
Hopefully, we will be heading into spring soon! I know we are all looking forward to warmer weather. March is a very important month for academics. We have four weeks before spring break and our teachers are planning many engaging and challenging lessons. As we look forward to ILEARN testing in April, it is imperative that students are focused and doing their very best everyday! We want our student to Set the Bar High for their academic achievement! Here are a few suggestions for families to discuss academics this month.
- You can always see how your child is doing by checking HAC and Canvas.
- Students review their grades and set goals every Friday in Advisory class. Please ask them about their goals and if they are achieving them.
- If you have questions or concerns about your child's progress, please email their teachers. Also, our counselors, Mrs. Eck and Mrs. Hoover, are always willing to help.
- Click here to check out details about ILEARN.
We are so proud of the hard work our students do here each day! Thank you for partnering with us to help our Spartans reach all their academic goals.
With your child in mind,
Lavon Dean-Null
Principal
ChromeBook Care
Our Technology Department has asked that I take a few minutes to outline some key information in reference to Chromebooks. As you all know, going to one-to-one has brought our students into the forefront of public education. However, with that comes new responsibilities for our teachers, students and staff. Due, in large part, to the number of damaged units and the overall number of insurance claims filed here at S.M.S., we need parents to assist children and the P-H-M Corporation with educating our young people about the correct way to care for their Chromebook.
Equipment:
Ownership: PHM retains sole right of possession of the Chromebook and grants permission to the Student to use the Chromebook according to the guidelines set forth in this document. Moreover, PHM administrative staff retains the right to collect and/or inspect the Chromebook at any time, including via electronic remote access; and to alter, add, or delete installed software or hardware.
Substitution of Equipment: In the event the Chromebook is inoperable, PHM has a limited number of spares for use while the Chromebook is repaired or replaced. This agreement remains in effect for such a substitute. The Student may NOT opt to keep a Chromebook or to avoid using the Chromebook due to loss or damage.
Damage or Loss of Equipment:
Responsibility for Damage: The student is responsible for maintaining a 100% working Chromebook at all times. The student shall use reasonable care to ensure that the Chromebook is not damaged. Refer to the Standards for Proper Chromebook Care below, for a description of expected care. The student and parent will be responsible for all damage, including the cost of a replacement Chromebook, caused by misuse or negligence of the Student that is not covered by the warranty.
Responsibility for Loss: In the event the Chromebook is lost or stolen, the Student and Parent will be billed the full cost of replacement.
Actions Required in the Event of Damage or Loss: Damaged and/or lost Chromebooks must be reported immediately to the Student Helpdesk. If the Chromebook is stolen or vandalized while not at PHM or at a PHM sponsored event, the Parent shall file a police report.
Helpful Hints:
Protective cases are available for purchase in the IMC for a one time fee of $20.00. These cases are designed to protect Chromebooks for everyday wear and tear.
Speak with your children about not walking through the halls while playing on their Chromebooks. Our halls are crowded and students need to be alert at all times.
Charging your Chromebook in safe area that does not allow for the chords to tripped over or pulled out will help to save the Chromebook from additional damage.
Random Acts of Kindness
February was such a wonderful month for our Spartan family! Between the Valentine's Day gifts that students were able to purchase for one another, the Random Act of Kindness Week sponsored by our National Junior Honor Society and the 6th Grade Movie Social, we were busy being thankful! Everyday I am reminded of how incredible our students are. We saw students purchase Valentine's for other students who they thought may not otherwise receive one. We felt the impact of students writing positive notes around the school, handing out gum to students they may not know and spreading so much love to our teachers and staff! We witnessed students from different friend groups come together to hang out after school and watch a movie of their choice and socialize with one another. We are fortunate to have wonderful students who do the right thing every single day but the kindness shown this past month was inspiring. Leave it up to our students to remind everyone that, "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."
Important Dates
March 4 & 5 - 5th Grade Instrument Selection Night, 4:30 pm - 8:30 pm, SMS Cafe
March 6 - NJHS Induction Ceremony, 6:00 pm, SMS Cafe
March 7 - NAEP Testing (Make-Up from Snow Day)
March 7 - PTO Meeting, 1 pm at SMS
March 8 - 7th Grade Social
March 9 - Young Authors' Conference, 8:00 am - 12:30 pm
March 11 - 8th Grade Choir Concert, 6:00 pm
March 25 - End of 3rd Grading Period
March 26 - 5-Star Kick-Off Spring Session
March 28 - 6th & 7th Grade Ladies Choir Concert, 6:00 pm
April 1 - 5 - Spring Break
Check out all events on our Website calendar: SMS Calendar
PLEASE READ OUR MARCH PTO NEWSLETTER BELOW:
Next Gen Day
Robotic News!
Penn High School will once again host the FIRST Robotics St. Joseph District Event on Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10.
Plan on coming out and enjoying the excitement of more than 40 high school FRC robotics teams from Indiana and Michigan battling it out on a basketball court-sized field with four-foot tall, 120-pound robots! Join more than 5,000 students, coaches, mentors, parents and fans during this one-of-a-kind two-day event!
Penn-Harris-Madison ENL Services’ Free Community Connections Fair
Please join us at the Community Connections Fair presented by PHM's English as a New Language program. Community businesses, organizations, and school representatives will be at Schmucker Middle School on March 23, 2019, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Some of the featured displays and information booths could include: Teacher's Credit Union, Better World Books, St. Joseph County Parks, Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library, SBCSC Adult Education, Welcoming Michiana, La Casa de Amistad, Eden Child Care, Adult Education, Early Childhood Alliance, ETHOS Innovation Center, Welcoming Michiana, Dr. Angie's Dental Health Exchange, Indiana Migrant Regional Service Center, Saint Joseph Health System, Star Martial Arts, International Cultural Exchange Services, Costco Wholesale, Gallery 2910, Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana Michiana, The Music Village, and PHM ENL.
Choir News
Circle the State With Song-This past Saturday, February 23rd, at 4:30 PM, 15 students from Schmucker Middle School performed with students from nearby schools in a combined mass choir of 190 singers in the Circle the State With Song Festival! The festival and performance was held at the Goshen College Performing Arts Center. Our students had the pleasure of working with Clinician Dan Andersen, a well-renown choir director from the Indianapolis area. He has been a choir director for 36 years and has no plans to stop teaching anytime soon! One of the very best piano players around and our very own former Spartan, Allison Secaur, was the accompianist for the event!
Band and Orchestra News
Several of our band and orchestra students participated in ISSMA Solo and Ensemble at Northwood High School Saturday, February 2nd. We had 58 soloists, and 40 ensembles perform. Students were given ratings and feedback from the judges with a score to determine the rating for their performance. The top performance score is Gold, followed by Silver, and Bronze.
Here are the medal results!
54 soloist earned Gold
5 soloist earned silver
142 gold medals earned for ensemble players
19 silvers earned for ensembles
These results are because of their hard work and we are so proud of them!!!
8TH GRADE - WASHINGTON, D.C. TRIP
The final payment for the 8th grade Washington DC trip is fast approaching. Your payment is due to Hemisphere Travel by March 28. You should be receiving a statement in the mail from Hemisphere Travel showing the amount you owe for your final payment. This amount will reflect any school fund raiser money that has been applied to your account. Also, there will be a mandatory evening meeting in May for 8th grade students and chaperones going on the trip. We will share the date as soon as possible (it has traditionally been on a Tuesday or Wednesday in the middle of May). Behavioral expectations will be discussed, and you will also receive your Washington DC t-shirts, sling bags, and luggage tags.
Final payment is due Thursday, March 28, 2019. Make payment to hemispheretravel.com
7th Grade Field Trip
The 7th grade class will take a trip to Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry on Wednesday, April 10, 2019. Field trip permission slip packets and payment were due by February 22; the date was extended due to the number of snow days we had in January and February. Students will need to be at school by 7:30 AM on April 10 to board the Royal Excursion buses. Buses will leave promptly at 8:00 AM. Remember to pack a sack lunch or bring extra money to buy your lunch at the museum. Students will be in groups of 10 with at least one parent chaperone, and some groups will also have a teacher accompanying them. We will return to SMS between 5:00 - 5:30 PM. Students who normally ride the bus home will need to make alternate arrangements. Note: If you are one of the 35 parent/guardian chaperones, more information will be sent home to you before Spring Break.
NJHS
The rescheduled NJHS Induction Ceremony is Wednesday, March 6th. Our next regular meeting is Friday, March 8th at 8:15 am.
Intramurals
SMS Girls Track 2019
Because it is such a short season, it is imperative that girls have a current school physical on file in the main office PRIOR to March 19. No girl can participate in anything without the physical.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Coach Foster lfoster@phm.k12.in.us
Note from the Counselors!
Students can use this link to request an appointment.
Student Service Office Supports
21st century scholars
​Free $$ for college!
The 21st Century Scholars program is need-based assistance which will help students have the ability to go to college who otherwise may not be able to afford it. The program can save you and your family thousands of dollars on higher education past high school, as well as connect you and your student to other great resources.
The deadline for this opportunity to enroll is JUNE 30 of a student's 8th grade year. Once this date has passed, students cannot enroll while at the high school. Please take the time to visit http://scholars.in.gov/parents/enroll/ to learn more about the program and enroll your student right away before this opportunity is no longer available. Email or call your child's school counselor if you have further questions.
WSMS
WSMS is recorded to Youtube ALMOST every day. (Technology!) If you would like to watch our daily announcements, check it out!
Here is the link to the channel if you want to publish it to parents.
How Your Child Can Connect to Schmucker Happenings
1. Each morning students produce a newscast on WSMS that highlight upcoming events.
2. Every Monday students are emailed a Student Newsletter. This publication includes the weekly menu, important dates like athletic events and clubs, and important announcements and reminders.
Consent To Publish student work and photographs
PHM requires schools to receive permission from parents to publish student photos and work. If you have not returned this document, please access the link below, print the document and return signed to school. We must receive this document from every student.
COMMUNITY EVENTS/ACTIVITIES
Check out the P-H-M website for an online listing of non-school events & activities agencies have asked us to share with P-H-M families:
Lunch Menus
Families Can Get help with Lunch & Textbook Fees
Student/Family Opportunities
Homework Requests
School Messenger
Protected by Raptor
Canvas
Canvas is a LMS (Learning Management System) that is used in PHM. Teachers can put content online for students, make announcements and provide assignments. All parents are enrolled in the Canvas course of their students as observers. As observers, you can see the content, but are not able to interact with it. Please access the links below to learn more.
To keep you organized, you can also download the Canvas app for your phone or tablet.
Student Hours
9:00am - First Bell
9:05am - Classes Begin
4:00pm - Dismissal
4:10pm - Bus Departure
Lavon Dean-Null
Email: ldean-null@phm.k12.in.us
Website: http://schmucker.phmschools.org/
Location: Schmucker Middle School, Bittersweet Road, Mishawaka, IN, United States
Phone: 574-259-5661
Twitter: @SMSSpartanPride