As we conclude the month of August, we are very excited to share that Average Daily Attendance for the month was 93.8%. 6th grade lead the 94.5%, 7th & 8th grade were both at 93.5%. We did experience a dip into the low 90s last week. Please remember, that students should not be absent more than 6 days in the school year. Parents, you can monitor attendance in Focus. An adequate attendance rate is 95% or higher.

After-school programming continues this Tuesday and Thursday. Each Tuesday and Thursday students can take part in many programs from 3:00-4:30 p.m. We have clubs such as Robotics, Yearbook, Student Council, FBLA, Study Hall, Mythology, and Rock Band. We also have various teachers tutoring. Students must check with their teacher about tutoring availability.

Parents, our PTSA Executive board is conducting its membership drive. Membership is only $10 and forms are available in the September newsletter and uploaded in Focus Announcements.

Upcoming Calendar Events:

• Volleyball and Soccer have home games this Wednesday and Thursday. Rides for students should be at the school no later than 6:00 p.m.
• Annual Open House is scheduled for Wednesday, September 13 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Information will be sent home on September 11.
• Picture Day is September 14. All students will have their picture taken during Social Studies classes. Flyers were sent last week to purchase picture packets. Parents can also use the QR Code which has been uploaded to Focus Announcements.

Last, but not least as required by the State Board of Education rule, we are calling to request that you complete an authorization form if you want your child to be called by a name other than their legal name. The form will be available when you log into the Focus Parent Portal. The completion of this form is required if your child has a nickname, a shorter version of their name, or uses their middle name. Upon completion of the form, we will ensure teachers know the name you have authorized your child to be called. Once a parent makes the formal request and it’s documented and reflected in Focus, you may call the student by that nickname.

Thank you,

SRMS Leadership Team

Front Office Procedures:

• Visitors: All visitors to SRMS are required to provide a Driver’s License to be entered into the district Raptor software when presenting to campus and at every visit after.

• Late Arrivals: Students arriving after 8:15 will need a parent/guardian to sign them into the front office to record their late arrival to school.
• Early Dismissal: Parents present stating their child has an appointment and are dismissed at that time. Students will be called once the parent has presented and been verified in FOCUS. A parent will be called if someone presents to pick up a student but is not on the contact list. Then the parents must email me permission for the individual to pick up before being released.

**Per District policy, no student is to be dismissed 30 minutes prior to dismissal. Cut off time for Sebastian River Middle School is 2:10 pm. If parent/guardian presents after that time an administrator must be contacted for permission for the student to be dismissed.

Communication:

Please follow FOCUS (messages updated weekly on Facebook, Twitter, SRMS website, for important information and calendar activities for the week. The main telephone number for the school is 772-564-5111, Attendance Line is 772-564-5123.

District policy, parents have 48 hours to report any absences. Include student ID # when reporting. If a student is out due to an appointment, please have the student provide a note to the front desk secretary to excuse.

Did you know that your student has an @sdirc.org email account through Microsoft Office? Here's a quick video tutorial on how to access their email account.

All traffic should enter through the North County Aquatic Center. For safety reasons, the entrance from State Road 512 will be closed. A diagram for traffic flow is available on the website. No students will be allowed to walk across the 500-wing parking lot to meet their ride. Students meeting their ride at the pool parking lot should exit the front office and follow the sidewalk toward the fence & Railroad Trail. Students may use the crosswalk just past the gate to access the Railroad Trail to the North County Pool parking lot. All vehicles must enter through the rear entrance to the pool and exit at the traffic light of the school.

When dropping off and picking up students from SRMS, we ask that you follow this route:

Enter at the North County Pool, go to the back of the parking area, follow the line around the flag pole, and exit at the light. It is very important that you follow this procedure so we do not back up traffic along CR 512. We appreciate your assistance.

* Please watch carefully for walkers or bike riders in the crosswalk as you exit. *

Bus Forms: If your child rides a bus and is expected to ride another bus for a day, please have a note completed with contact information and a signature. Please refer to the School Bus Transportation Handbook below for more information.

**Per the Transportation administrator, any requests for a student to ride home with another student must be made and emailed with a copy of the parent’s ID and student ID number included a week prior to the request to her attention and her assistant, sooner if possible. The email needs to include the school principal as well. Mrs. Idlette will then verify with the parent and make sure there is room on the bus for additional students. She will then email the parent, the school and notify the bus driver of the additional rider IF APPROVED. Bus drivers will not allow students to ride home without documentation from the Transportation Director. The email will be printed out and a copy provided to the student and bus duty administrator. This has been the process for the last two years due to bus staffing and student occupancy.

Jennifer.Idlette@indianriverschools.org

Judy.Clark@indianriverschools.org

CC: Todd.Racine@indianriverschools.org

April.Gehrke@indianriverschools.org

If your student forgets their lunch, you can drop it off in the front office. We will be more than happy to ensure that they receive it at the start of their lunch time. Any items dropped off for students during the school day are delivered during lunch.

• Wednesday, August 7th - Orientation from 3-6 p.m.
• Thursday, August 10th - First Day of School
  
• Monday-Friday, August 14th to 18th - Fall Sports Tryouts 3-5 p.m.
• Wednesday, September 13th- Open House from 3:00 to 6:00 pm
• Thursday, September 14th Student Picture Day
  
• Wednesday, October 25th- Conference Night from 3:00 to 8:00 pm
• Thursday, October 26th- Conference Night from 3:00 to 5:00 pm
• Friday, October 27th- NO SCHOOL due to Conferences

This year, Progress Reports and Report Cards will not be printed. Therefore, it is very important that all parents have a Parent FOCUS account.

If you're the parent of a 7th or 8th grader, you may have heard your student talking last year about PBIS Rewards. This is where they can earn Cowboy Credits for modeling what we call the 4 R's: Ready, Righteous, Responsible, and Respectful behavior. We have prizes they can buy with their credits - everything from candy and snacks to school supplies, wireless earbuds, beauty products, and gifts and small trinkets.

You can download the app and see how many credits your student is earning, from which teacher, and what they are buying with their credits. If you've ever struggled to come up with some dinnertime conversation, this is a great way to engage your student..."I see you earned 25 Cowboy Credits today in class...what did you do to get those?' Or, "Are you saving up your Cowboy Credits to buy something big?"

You can sign the Code of Conduct forms electronically in FOCUS, or you can print them out and send them back to school with your student. Below are all of the Code of Conduct forms you need, in English and Spanish.