SMS Jaguars: Weekly Reminders
Women's History Month: Universal Remote Learning/F2F: March
FY 21 School Governance Council: Parent Candidates
Reginald Christian
Sheila Brown
Darryl Hatch
Report Cards: Quarter 3 Report Cards Are Available in the Parent Portal-Infinite Campus
Principal's Note: March
Jaguar Family,
Wow! It’s hard to believe roughly a year ago we were approaching COVID-19 as a topic of discussion; our scholars were reporting to school daily, and our old-normal was as normal as it could be. A lot has changed in such a short period of time; even though school years often seem like 3 years for every 1 year. Nevertheless, we have pushed forward through a very interesting and at times, a very difficult year. I am so proud of this team for their efforts. The struggle has not gone unnoticed, and the success and accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. Our students have showcased strength and determination. Every little thing matters this year, as our scholars have needed us more this year than ever before. If there were challenges prior to the pandemic, can you imagine how those challenges have multiplied? If there was evidence of learning loss before, can you imagine how much the learning loss has multiplied? I can imagine so; and it reaffirms the work we do daily, and the work we will have to do in the near future.
For now, I would like for you to take a few moments and reflect. Parents and stakeholders, please take a moment to reflect on how far we have come, and how much our endurance has allowed us to accomplish. It’s also time to also envision the finish line, we are a few days away from the start of the 4th quarter: Tuesday, March 16. How do we close the year with a bang; an impactful finish to the continuation of the unknown? Reflection is such a powerful tool!
We work in a great school with amazing students, parents, and a very supportive community. Thanks for being part of it, and thanks so much for helping to make this year the best it could be. Again, I am truly proud of this team! It’s definitely one that will go down in history as one of a kind. Leading and teaching through a pandemic is an accolade for all!
Please always remember: “You are so awesome! You are so amazing! Your students need you and you are making a difference in their lives. Keep on teaching, Teachers! Keep on leading, Leaders! Keep on supporting, Support Staff! Keep on parenting, Parents! Keep on making and being the difference!”
Again, and as always, thank you for all that you do to ensure we are normalizing excellence!
Your Partner,
Principal Miley
Let’s Talk About Learning Loss!!
Along with celebrations, this month also brings forth a sharp focus on academic studies. Learning loss during the pandemic is a real thing. It’s a topic we approach, but at times shy away from due to the harsh realities of the pandemic. Educators, parents and students have experienced first hand the direct effects of prolonged periods of remote learning. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on our community. How will we begin to recover academic learning and continue to support our parents and teachers? Please review our plans in the near future to support recovering incomplete grades, extended learning opportunities, and the evaluation of learning growth and loss.
Academic Tutorials: Students are invited to attend tutorial sessions with their assigned teacher, or a teacher of the same level and content area. We encourage scholars who need additional support to attend tutorials (Face-to-Face/OR/Virtual).
Extended Learning: Additional learning for scholars who require remediation are available. Remediation services are available based on a scholar’s academic data; specific focus areas are ELA and Math; (Face-to-Face/OR/Virtual). Registration for extended learning is required. Please email Ms. Kenyatta Stacker, Extended Learning Coordinator for more information and to receive a link to registration.
Reboot Learning Sessions (Clearing Semester 1 Incompletes): Students will have an opportunity to recover incomplete work for semester 1. Scholars who did not submit assignments for Semester 1 missed opportunities to document artifacts that serve as evidence of mastery. Thus, scholars may have an “Incomplete” reflected on their final report card for Semester 1. Reboot sessions will allow scholars to recover missing work and ensure a final grade aligned to their mastery level. Reboot Sessions will begin on March 6. Registration ends on Wednesday, March 3.
Learning Modality Commitment – Last Nine Weeks of School Year
As we approach the midterm of the second semester, FCS is requesting parents make a commitment for how they wish their child to learn – face-to-face instruction vs remote learning – for the remainder of the school year. The last 9-week period begins in March and runs until the end of the semester. No action is needed if parents are satisfied with their child’s current learning environment, and only those who wish to change should contact their school between March 1-12. The student’s learning group will remain the same as it stood on March 1, unless the school is notified
Georgia Milestone Assessment Survey: Please complete the survey for your scholar!
This year, the district will continue to offer a variety of state and national assessments to help us understand how our students are performing. The State of Georgia is moving forward with administering the Georgia Milestones to all students in grades 3-8 and high school students taking Algebra I, US History, Biology, and/or American Literature (grade 11).
This year, the Georgia Milestones End of Course tests will count for 0.01% of the final grade in a high school course. For students in grades 3 - 8 the Georgia Milestones will NOT be solely used for promotion or retention decisions.
The College Board has also announced multiple options for students to complete this year’s AP Exams. Based on these changes, we would like to understand which of our families' plans for spring testing. This information will help us prepare our test sessions and staffing.
The survey will be open until Friday, March 19. Our goal is for ALL FCS students to answer the survey, including those learning face-to-face and those learning remotely.
You will need to complete the survey once for each of your students at FCS.
Remote Learning: March 24 and March 25 (Project Vaccinate 2021)
Remote Learning Days for Staff Vaccine Clinics
As part of our efforts to provide a safe school environment for our students and community at large, Fulton County Schools has been advocating for our personnel to be included in the eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine. Fortunately, Fulton County Schools (FCS) has continued to partner with the Fulton County Board of Health (FCBOH) to support COVID-19 vaccination of district personnel, including two “Super Saturday” clinics held in January at Mercedes Benz Stadium, for those meeting the criteria in Phase 1A+.
As of March 8, all K-12 employees will now be eligible and cleared to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. FCS is again partnering with FCBOH to offer vaccinations to all employees who choose to have the vaccine. “Project Vaccinate 2021” will happen over the course of two weeks. The first dose will be offered to employees March 22-27. The second dose will be offered April 12-17.
During the span of these two weeks, school-based personnel will rotate through the vaccination days by level/zone. For the district to efficiently cycle all employees through the vaccination process, schools (per level) will adhere to the following remote learning/work schedule with school administration for teaching staff.
Given the complexities of coordinating an event of this scale and the time it will take to administer vaccines to so many employees, we anticipate our instructional delivery model will be impacted. All schools in the district will then switch to remote learning for part of these vaccine weeks. FCS will remain in remote the week after spring break to allow the vaccines to be given and to guard against a post spring break surge. The full schedule can be found below.
We understand switching to remote learning for certain days requires planning, and we are providing these dates as early as possible so families can plan accordingly. Principals will follow up directly with more guidance for each school’s plans and how these will impact your student’s instruction.
Remote Learning Lunch Kits: March 24 and 25
As the district transitions to Remote Learning days for vaccination days, School Nutrition will provide all free Meal Kits for face-to-face students.
Remote Learning Lunch Kits: Spring Break, April 5-9
2/21/2020: REBOOT-SATURDAY SCHOOL (CONFIRM PARTICIPATION NOW): 3/6, 3/20, 3/27, 4/17, 4/24, 5/1
Clearing Incompletes and Failures: Semester 1 (Deadline to Confirm Participation is 3/3/2021)
Did your scholar receive an incomplete for Semester 1?
Did your scholar receive a failing grade during Semester 1?
Beginning in March, we will extend learning opportunities to all scholars who need to recover from a failing grade or incomplete coursework: all subjects, including connections courses.
The school-based virtual opportunity is provided to all scholars who have failed or unsuccessfully completed their first semester courses (Incomplete or Failure). The sessions will begin on Saturday, March 6 and conclude on Saturday, May 01. REBOOT Grade Recovery is offered for a total of 6 Saturdays: 3/6, 3/20, 3/27, 4/17, 4/24, 5/1. Scholars will meet with teachers on Saturdays following a traditional bell schedule, including one hour of instruction, per content. Scholars are only permitted and required to attend the classes in which they will need to recover from a failing or incomplete grade.
If your scholar has failed or unsuccessfully completed multiple courses for Semester 1, he/she will need to plan for consecutive hours of instruction. If your scholar has failed or unsuccessfully completed 1 course, he/she will need to plan for one hour of instruction, only. The Reboot and Recover instructional day will begin at 8:30 a.m. conclude at 1:15 p.m., however, each scholar's schedule will vary based on their individual needs.
*Clearing Incompletes and Failures-Semester 1: REBOOT LEARNING-SATURDAY SCHOOL (Reference the participation form) Participation Form: REBOOT & RECOVER
Middle School: Read More to Learn About Summer School & Register!
Middle School Summer School is an opportunity for middle school students to clear incompletes from 2020-2021, accelerate, or recover credits during the time between school years. The summer sessions are condensed versions of content provided during the school year, and students must have their course requests validated by their counselor before being enrolled.
For summer 2021, students who have previously failed a year-long World Language course have the opportunity to retake the course for free through Fulton Virtual School. Students may take up to two credits at no cost. In addition, students who have Incompletes, WFs or F's from 2020-2021 will attend summer school at no cost in order to clear the incompletes, WFs, or F's. Students clearing an Incomplete or recovering credit for a WF or F can participate through
Face-to-Face Summer School courses will also be offered for special education students who require an adapted curriculum (those assessed on the Georgia Alternate Assessment 2.0) that need to clear incompletes, WFs, or F's from 2020-2021. The content will focus on the core content areas: English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.
FY 21 Student Wellness Survey: All Scholars
SMS Parent Engagement Session: March 9, 2021
School Governance Council Meeting: March 24, 2021
School Governance Council: Wednesday, March 24, 2021
The School Governance Council has a scheduled a scheduled meeting on Wednesday, March 24 @ 4:30 p.m. The agenda will include a public comment time period (5:30 p.m.).
A preview of the agenda is available on our school's website: The Principal's Newsletter-SMORE and future meetings will be posted on the parent resource board during our on-site sessions.
Your Voice Matters: Let's get ready to share, revise, edit and improve....Excellence Matters
When: April 21, 2021 (5:30-6:30 p.m.)
Where: Virtual: Sandtown Middle School TEAMS Invite
Why: We need to hear from you. We want your input and we need your support in helping us to review our School-Family Compact; Parent and Family Engagement Plan & Staff Training, and discussing our 1% set-aside for Parent and Family Engagement. All of the current documents are available within our monthly SMORE. You may also contact Tanya Swift and request a copy emailed to your email address on file.
Click here to join the meeting on April 21, 2021
Click here to view the agenda for April 21, 2021
We look forward to seeing you online soon!
Federal Programs Input Meeting: All School Staff, Parents, and Community Members are Welcome!
Sandtown Intramurals Beginning March 1 (Weekly Schedule)
Spring Break: April 5-9, 2021
Student Shout-Outs & Special Recognitions
Congratulations: FY22 WHS Magnet Students!
Kudos we are so proud of you!
- Allgood Brayden S.
- Blackman Timothy J.
- Blue Sydney D.
- Clayton Shiloh M.
- Crawley Tyler J.
- Dufu Nana Ama N.
- Harris Devin W.
- Hartwell James D.
- Henderson Haile H.
- Hood Sanai C.
- Ingram Caleb A.
- Lloyd Madison N.
- McCall Mya A.
- Mobley Dallis R.
- Newborn Madison J.
- Richardson Imani E.
- Scott Walter R.
- Tinch Morgan D.
- Townes Kalil L.
- Ware Kailyn L.
Morgan Tinch, Clarinet
Aubrey Roberts, Flute
Kalil Towns, Trombone
We Appreciate Our School's Social Worker: Ms. Kimberly Wilingham
Congratulations Senora' Moore!
SCOLT is comprised of the southern states from Texas to the east coast and Virgin Islands.
No School Days!
- March 12: Professional Development Day (No School for Students)
- March 15: Teacher Workdays (No School for Students)
- April 5-9: Spring Break (FCS District Office Closed; No School for Students
***FCS Schools and District Offices are closed
PBIS: Building Positive Behaviors
- Student Climate Surveys
- PBIS Store-Open This Week!
Never forget a Positive Practice goes a long way!
Academic Focus: Check out grade level information, academic support and more!
The BIG 3: School Goals
Literacy
- By the Spring administration of the iReady Diagnostic Assessment for ELA, 70% of Sandtown Middle School scholars in grades 6-8 (who have taken the Fall assessment) will meet or exceed their Spring 2021 projected growth target as measured by the iReady diagnostic assessment for ELA. (September – February)
Numeracy
- 6th Grade 82% of 6th Grade Students will score proficient or higher on the EOG Administration in Spring 2021; 7th Grade 78% of 7th Grade Students will score proficient or higher on the EOG Administration in Spring 2021; 8th Grade 82% of 8th Grade Students will score proficient or higher on the EOG Administration in Spring 2021.
- 96% of 8th Grade Students enrolled in Algebra I will score proficient or higher on the EOC Administration in Spring.
Social and Emotional Wellness
- All teachers (6th-8th) will implement a minimum of 45 minutes weekly, focused, and engaging lessons that incorporate Re-Think Ed comprehensive curriculum of SEL competencies and standards to 100% of Sandtown Middle students during semester one.
Click here to review specific information for your scholar's grade level.
Click here to review specific information for your scholar's grade level.
Click here to review specific information for your scholar's grade level.
Sandtown Middle School: Instructional Lesson Plans
Lesson planning is a significant element of teaching-learning system. A lesson plan is a step-by-step guide that provides a structure for an essential learning. Before planning a lesson, it is essential to classify the learning outcomes for the class. It is important because it helps the teacher in maintaining a standard teaching pattern and does not let the class deviate from the topic. Pre-planning helps the teacher to be better equipped in answering questions asked by the students during the lecture. An effective lesson plan has three basic components; aims and objectives of the course, teaching and learning activities and, assessments to check student understanding of the topic.
Click below to request a copy of the current lesson plans
Parent (Student) COVID-19 Reporting Portal
Click here to report a COVID-19 Report
At this time we are asking that parents/guardians of FCS students submit a COVID-19 Report ONLY if your student fits into one or more of the following categories:
a) Has tested Positive for COVID-19 in the past 15 days
b) Currently waiting for the results of a test for COVID-19
c) Has been in close contact (within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes) in the past 15 days with someone diagnosed with COVID-19
If your student fits into one or more of the above categories, please begin the form by clicking the "Next" arrow below. Your report will be sent directly to the Fulton County Board of Health.
If your student does not fit into any of the above categories, a COVID-19 report is not required at this time. Please monitor your child's symptoms and follow-up with your healthcare provider or contact the school clinic, if you have any concerns.
Please DO NOT send your child to school if he or she fits into any of the above categories or is otherwise ill or unwell If your student meets any of the above criteria or is ill or unwell, DO NOT send your student to school until you have spoken with your healthcare provider, one of the FCS Student Health Services School Nurses, or a public health official.
Are you new to Sandtown? Check out school information for new and incoming scholars!
Uniforms
Uniforms are highly encouraged, however due to COVID-19 and the associated financial implications, they are not required. Uniforms provide distinctive identification for grade levels and support uniformity throughout our school. We encourage our scholars to adhere to our norm! All of our scholars benefit from Spirit Wear on Friday's!
-We are returning in a Universal Remote Environment; Post-Return we do encourage uniforms
- 8th Grade: Royal Blue
- 7th Grade: Grey
- 6th Grade: Black
Uniform Vendors: Walmart, Old Navy, Brandhouse Ink (School-Based Vendor
*All vendors are independent vendors
*Brandhouse Ink is a school-based business partner and offers our school logo. Orders are independently placed with the vendor.
Car-Rider Information: Only applicable for Face-to-Face (TBD)
All students who are currently assigned a car-rider number will retain their current car rider number for the new school year.
New car riders must have a registration form on file. This year, we kindly request all parents to complete the online form. The process is very simple and will allow for a more effective process. Please complete the car-rider registration form online and someone from our office will email you with your confirmed car-rider tag information within 24-48 hours.
Click here to register for a new car-rider number
Lockers: Parents may pre-pay, as deemed appropriate; lockers are distributed during Face-to-Face/On-Site Learning (TBD)
Lockers are available for purchase, beginning the second week of school. Locker assignments will adhere to social distancing guidelines. Lockers will be spaced out to ensure adherence to social distancing requirements.
Payments for lockers may be submitted via Online School Payment, beginning August 17, 2020. Students will begin receiving their locker assignments within 5 days of the submitted payment. The locker fee for all students is $12 for an annual locker rental. Please list your scholar's first and last name, and grade level when purchasing your locker online.
We highly encourage purchasing a locker shelf to organize items within the lockers for our scholars. The school does not sell the locker shelves, however, they may be purchased from Walmart or Target. See the link for an example: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lockermate-12-inch-Stac-a-shelf-Wire-Locker-Shelf-Pink/605020719
Universal Remote Learning (URL) Reminders: (Successful Tips Below)
- The URL Schedule includes a slight adjustment from the schedule in Infinite Campus; be sure to review the URL Bell Schedule.
- Watch the video on how to log-in to Class Link
- Questions: Email your scholar's teacher using Class Link
- Need a device: Email SMS Device Team
Still need help?
- Contact the URL Hotline
Monday - Friday
Call: 470-254-2300
Important School Documents
Parent and Family Engagement Plan FY21
What is the aim of Title I in Fulton County Schools?
Title I schools receive federal money to provide additional resources to: Support student instruction, Improve teaching strategies, Increase family engagement:
The Jaguar Creed!
- School-wide Affirmation
- Does your scholar know the Jaguar Creed and Pledge?
A single sign-on platform that will allow you to use your FCS username and password to access everything you need. Classlink (Launchpad) delivers instant access to your web resources from all your devices.
SMS Athletics Department: Complete all required forms
Community Resources: Please review our Community Resources Section
Sandtown Middle School: Summer Newsletter
Email: Sandtownprincipal@fultonschools.org
Website: http://school.fultonschools.org/ms/sandtown/Pages/default.aspx
Location: 5400 Campbellton Road Southwest, Atlanta, GA, USA
Phone: (470) 254-6500
Twitter: @SandtownMS