Buccaneer Newsletter
August 2nd - August 7th
Para ver este mensaje en otro idioma, vaya a la parte derecha de la página y haga clic en “traducir”. Después seleccione el idioma deseado en el menú. La página se actualizará automáticamente.
August 2nd: Principal's Message
Back to school update
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We are almost ready to begin! I know many of you feel anxious about the lack or fluidity of information; however, know that we are trying to provide you with the best update possible. This letter serves as the latest and most concrete information regarding the opening of school on Monday, August 3. This supersedes any information received PRIOR to this update. Please note that in the case your son/daughter is unable to log-in to class tomorrow because of technical issues, we will be flexible with case by case situations. We understand that the first couple of days are going to be challenging: we are all in this together.
WHO CAN ATTEND SCHOOL ON MONDAY, AUGUST 3?
If you are a projected 7th grader (coming from our feeder districts) and a current 8th grader and a new student who was able to complete the online registration, then you are ready to begin school on Monday, August 3. If you are a new student who has moved to the area or you are an intra/inter-district transfer from another school AND you are not able to complete the online registration process due to an issue, you will NOT be able to attend school on Monday. This will result in you not getting a schedule. We are working as fast as we can to get your enrollment expedited.
I / MY CHILD DID NOT GET A CLASS SCHEDULE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
If you did not get your schedule, this means that you are not in our system yet. Our registrar, Ms. Caro, is working hard with district IT to get you enrolled as soon as possible. The days you are not attending while waiting to be enrolled WILL NOT count against your attendance because technically you are still not our student. This should only happen to brand new students.
WHAT IF I AM MISSING REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS AND IMMUNIZATION RECORDS?
This applies to new students only. The most important document you must first submit is your immunization records. You will have a two-week grace period to submit them. If you still have not submitted immunization records at the end of two weeks, you will be dropped from the system at the end of the day on August 15. Other registration documents must be submitted within 30 days of the first day of school.
I HAVE CLASS SCHEDULE BUT I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
On Friday, July 31, class schedules were released and you might have many questions. Remember, this schedule is a snapshot of your classes as of today. Counselors are still making changes. There may be changes to your schedule as the system updates nightly. DO NOT PANIC. What is in Campus Portal on Monday, August 3, are the classes that you need to attend.
WHAT IF I ENROLLED IN A CLASS ALREADY?
Do not worry. Teachers will delete students from classrooms that are not on their rosters on Monday.
MY CLASS SCHEDULE SHOWS THAT I HAVE NO ADVISORY.
By this weekend, your Advisory Period will show in your schedule. Remember, advisory is always at the beginning of the day from 8:20 am – 8:50 am. Regardless, if you see it or not, join in the live session for your classes because you have already joined using the code or you have received an invite from your teachers.
WHAT IF I / MY CHILD WANTS/NEEDS A CLASS CHANGE?
At this time, we are not making any changes. Our counselors will be sending information about how to make changes once our ten day balancing window has been met.
HOW WILL I / MY CHILD ENROLL IN ALL MY / THEIR GOOGLE CLASSROOMS?
By this time, many of you may have already received an email from one or more of your teachers. Follow the instructions in the email. If you did not receive email that contains a "join" message or contains a classroom code, there will be a master spreadsheet available that will contain the names of all SOM teachers and their class codes by period on our website by Sunday night. I suggest that you wait until Sunday night so that you do not enroll in extra classes because of changes that were made on Friday or Saturday. Please read my instructions below. We have also posted two videos below with additional information.
WHAT VIDEO CONFERENCING TOOL WILL MY TEACHERS USE?
Teachers can choose from either Microsoft TEAMS or Google MEET for synchronous instruction. Each teacher will have included this information in their email.
If your teachers are using TEAMS, install TEAMS onto the IPAD by following these directions [link]. Once TEAMS is uploaded, you will be able to see the TEAMS calendar. If your teachers scheduled class meetings, the meeting invite links will be embedded in the calendar. Your teachers may also inform you that she will start a meeting using the Meet Now feature. If so, then you need to check the general chat/post page of the TEAM and you will see the meeting in progress. Click Join and you will be in the teachers’ live sessions.
WILL I BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND SYNCHRONOUS SESSIONS OR LIVE SESSIONS?
Yes. As a member of all your classes, you will be required to join the synchronous sessions because your teachers will record attendance from the live sessions. They can instruct in the live session for up to 45 minutes. For the first week, they may take it a little slower for adjustment and may end the session earlier than the 45 minutes. If you are kicked out because of connectivity issues, log right back in. If you keep getting kicked out, please email your teachers right away so that they do not mark you absent.
HOW DOES ATTENDANCE WORK?
Teachers will be taking attendance during live sessions during all periods including advisory. Both Google Meets and TEAMS collect attendance, which teachers will download and record on Infinite Campus on the same day. Just like if you were on campus, anyone who is marked absent will receive a robocall from the district reminding your parents to present a note to verify the absence. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to email your teachers and ask what was missed. Alternatively, check your classrooms to see what assignments you need to make up.
AM I EXPECTED TO FOLLOW THE SAME BEHAVIOR POLICY AS IF I WERE IN SCHOOL?
Yes, all school rules apply in distance learning. It is important that you follow all behavior expectations that your teachers will teach you. We call this Netiquette. Below are two sets of pictures that you need to apply every day when attending your online classes.
WHAT IF MY CHILD IS BEING BULLIED OR HARRASSED ONLINE DURING AND OUT OF CLASS?
Bullying / Cyberbullying / Harassment are actions that we take seriously. If you or one of your parents report that you are a victim of bullying, we will investigate report or complaint fully. If you are found to have been the person doing said act, you will be given appropriate consequences including suspension and/or expulsion, depending on the severity of the act. Please read the policy below regarding these types of incidents. The question we focus on during our investigation is: What did the student PERCEIVE the action to be?”
WHAT IF I DID NOT GET MY IPAD?
If you missed the iPad distribution dates, please refer to the information below to schedule an appointment with IT. Otherwise, the make up date will not be until August 13th. More information about this make up date with be forthcoming.
VIDEO GUIDES FOR HOW TO DOWNLOAD APPS ON YOUR IPAD
HOW DO I GET FOOD THESE NEXT TWO WEEKS?
We will be distributing food to our SOM students on Tuesday, August 4th from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm by the front parking round about. You will need to have your barcode and ID number in order to get your food. Please read the job aides below to access your barcode. Barcodes for each SUHSD student will be required to pick up meals.
Complete Registration Process
Registration Information/ Información de matriculación
Thank you for your patience regarding the process for registration. With our current situation, all schools had to make adjustments on how to proceed with registration process. It is now time to complete the registration process by submitting the necessary paperwork. Please note, there are different documents required for incoming 7th graders/new 8th graders and those returning 8th graders. Please access our website for further instructions: som@sweetwaterschools.org for links to submit paperwork.
Student Registrations/ Información de matriculación
- CURRENT Southwest Middle School students and parents can start doing ON-LINE Residency Clearance as long as you have your Infinite Campus Username and Password. For any NEW student registration (new students to Southwest Middle School) please read the information below:
- Familias que tienen alumnos que ya están inscritos este año, pueden iniciar la verificación de residencia en linea (ON-LINE) sí saben su nombre de usuario y contraseña. Para nuestros nuevos estudiantes favor de seguir las instrucciones adjuntas. Gracias.
IMMUNIZATIONS: ALL 7TH & NEW 8TH GRADE STUDENTS
California State Law requires that all students entering school show proof of immunization as part of the enrollment process. Per SDCOE, all immunization requirements must be met prior to 1st day of enrollment to public school, virtual or otherwise. We will need our parents/caregivers to submit immunizations prior to 8/3/2020 for all incoming 7th graders and new 8th graders to be able to start at Southwest Middle. Please scan or take a photo of your complete immunization record and email it to the school nurse at MaryAnn.Tamayo@sweetwaterschools.orgor drop off from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm Monday - Friday this week.
La ley del estado de California requiere que todos los estudiantes que ingresen a la escuela muestren prueba de inmunización como parte del proceso de inscripción. La Oficina de Educación del Condado de San Diego (SDCOE*) establece que se debe cumplir con todos los requisitos de vacunación antes del primer día que alumno asiste a la escuela pública, virtual o de otro tipo. Necesitaremos que nuestros padres /tutores presenten las vacunas antes del 8/3/2020 para todos los estudiantes de séptimo grado y nuevos estudiantes de octavo grado que ingresen a Southwest Middle. Puede enviar el comprobante por correo electrónico a la enfermera de la escuela (sacar una copia o foto) MaryAnn.Tamayo@sweetwaterschools.orgo en puede entrega una copia esta semana de lunes a viernes.
2020-2021 FREE AND REDUCED MEAL APPLICATIONS
——–How to Apply——–
Online Application
To participate in the National School Lunch Program please complete a Free or Reduced price meal application for your child(ren).
Online applications may be completed on the Parent Portal, which keeps data secure, confidential and ensures that the application is completely filled out. This accelerates the application review process and determination of your child’s eligibility status. You may complete and submit an application here.
>>To learn how to fill out an online application, click here for the Power Point Tutorial.
As of right now, Paper applications are NOT available.
NOTICE: On July 1, 2020 SUHSD increased the Paid Lunch Meal Price to $3.10 and Paid Breakfast Meal Price to $1.90.
Please note: Free, reduced and full paid meals are served using an automated accounting system that protects the privacy of all students.
——–Cómo solicitar——–
Solicitud en línea
Para participar en el Programa Nacional de Almuerzos Escolares, favor de llenar una solicitud de comida gratuita o a precio reducido para su hijo (a) o sus hijos (as).
Las solicitudes en línea se pueden llenar en el Portal para padres de familia, el cual mantiene los datos seguros y confidenciales y garantiza que la solicitud se complete en su totalidad. Lo anterior acelera el proceso de revisión de la solicitud y para determinar el estatus de elegibilidad de su hijo (a). Puede llenar y enviar la solicitud aquí.
>>Para informarse sobre cómo llenar la solicitud en línea, favor de hacer clic aquí y consultar el tutorial incluido en la presentación en Power Point.
Hasta el momento, NO contamos con solicitudes en papel.
AVISO: El 1° de julio de 2020, SUHSD aumentó el precio del almuerzo a $ 3.10 dólares y el precio del desayuno a $ 1.90 dólares.
Recuerde: las comidas gratuitas, a precio reducido, o que se pagan en su totalidad, se sirven mediante un sistema de contabilidad automatizado que protege la privacidad de todos los alumnos.
Southwest Middle School Website/ Nuestra página de internet
Thank you.
Southwest Middle School
Website: http://som.sweetwaterschools.org/
Location: 2710 Iris Avenue, San Diego, CA 92154, USA
Phone: (619) 628-4000
Twitter: @SOMBuccaneers