Bear Bulletin
October 4, 2020
Topics Included in this Newsletter
- Note from Mrs. Spencer
- October 7th: PSAT for 8th Graders, Remote Learning Day for 6th and 7th Graders
- November 3rd: Election Day and At Home Synchronous Learning Day for SBISD
- Reminder About Campus Visitors
- Attendance Reminders
- SBMS Student Council Applications
- SBMS Tutorials
- A Word From Our Librarian
- SBISD Health Screener for In-Person Learners
Desplácese hacia abajo para la traducción al español de este boletín
Fall Weather and Fun, Here We Come!
Dear Parents,
I am hopeful our nicer weather is hear to stay. While we must continue our social distancing measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, cooler, nicer weather and the sights and sounds of football season and approaching holiday fun makes things feel even more normal. As we continue each day at SBMS, we ask each family to talk through the following with their students:
- SBISD Mask Policy: Please note that all students, staff and the few visitors that need to report to campus must wear an appropriate mask or face covering at all times. Students are doing a great job overall, but we are seeing a few take them off to talk to their classmates, allow their masks to fall below their noses and those with gaitors may need to pull them up over or closer to their ears to keep them fully in place. Masks must be worn appropriately over their nose and mouth. Everyone's commitment to wearing a mask properly and consistently is required so that we can keep everyone safe, healthy and on campus. Failure to wear a mask is considered a health hazard and may result in disciplinary consequences.
- Missing Work: Please take a few moments to review Family Access in Skyward and check for any missing assignments your child may have in any of their courses.
- Backpack Checks: Please take a look in your child's backpack, perhaps alongside your child. Students do not need to bring their textbooks to and from campus and may not need to be bringing all of the items they are bringing to and from school each day. We will do some work during Bear Pride Time class in the next few weeks reviewing what is to be brought, but you may wish to have that conversation this weekend, if you are able.
Lastly, as you prepare for cooler weather later this semester, please note that SBMS will be hosting a winter coat/jacket drive to support students who may not have what they need to be warmly dressed this winter. Please consider saving gently used jackets for this drive to be held November 9th through the 13th. We will be calling this a week for SBMS to be thankful and hosting a canned food drive for that week, as well.
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!
Many thanks,
Stefanie Spencer
October 7th: Remote Learning Day for 6th & 7th and PSAT for 8th Grade
- Students in our Life Skills classrooms will report to campus each testing day for a regular day of instruction.
- All other students will remain at home and have an “asynchronous” remote learning day.
- Students follow their schedule and complete their assigned coursework for the day at home.
- Teachers will post assignments in itsLearning. Teachers take attendance based on student engagement.
- Students must engage with the classwork for each course during the day in order to be counted “remote present” for each class.
- College Board testing days will follow normal school day hours and buses will run their regular routes.
November 3rd: Election Day and At Home Synchronous Learning Day for SBISD
November 3 is a scheduled remote learning day in observance of election day. The day will be considered a “synchronous” day.
- All students will learn from home on Nov. 3.
- All school personnel will report to school or work location at their normal times.
- November 3 is a regular school day and class periods/learning blocks begin live at their regularly scheduled time. Attendance is taken. Teachers will present mini-lessons or information so students may then transition to independent work thereby reducing spent on zoom for students and allowing them to complete their work.
Friendly Reminders Related to Campus Visitors
Just a friendly reminder that as a part of our LearnSBISD plan, SBMS is asking that all nonessential visitors, parents, volunteers and others refrain from visiting the campus. There will be moments when a parent needs to come pick up a child for an off campus appointment or when a child feels unwell, but otherwise, we should not have many visitors on campus. If you can receive the assistance you need by emailing or calling the school, please help us limit the number of visitors to our campus.
Attendance Reminders
Please note that students who have selected in-person learning will be counted absent if they do not attend school in person. Students who have selected in-person learning may not select to stay home and operate virtually as teachers of in-person students will only present content to in-person students. Students who choose to stay home but are in-person will need an absence note excusing the absence per the SBISD attendance policies found in the SBISD Student/Parent Handbook.
Please also note that our start time for school is 8:40 a.m. To be counted present and not tardy, students need to be in their classrooms ready to learn. Please plan your arrival time accordingly to allow your child to be on time to school each day.
SBMS Student Council
Applications are now open for the 2020-21 Student Council!
Any 6th, 7th, or 8th grader may apply. Student Council works to support activities and host events within our school. If your student is looking to get involved within SBMS and would like to take part in continuing to make our school the best it can be, please encourage them to apply. The application can be found at tinyurl.com/sbmsstuco (can only be accessed by students with their SBISD email addresses). Applications are due by Friday, October 16.
If you have any questions, feel free to email Ms. Reinhart at alexa.reinhart2@springbranchisd.com or have your student stop by Room 214.
SBMS Tutorials
Tutorial has begun at Spring Branch Middle School. To allow for social distancing measures to be in place, students will follow specific protocols. These protocols were shared during last week's Monday morning’s Bear Pride Time advisory period to allow students to plan their week, if selecting and attending a tutorial is one of their agenda items.
Please note that the provision of tutoring changes the arrival locations for some students once a week based on their BPT as core content teachers will be conducting tutoring one day a week. Students who have a math teacher as their BPT teacher, for example, may not report to the classroom at 8:10 a.m., but rather will report to the Auditorium, if they are not taking part in a math tutorial. Students reporting to the auditorium will be socially distanced. Students should not report to tutorials unless they need the academic support as space is limited to honor social distancing.
Morning Tutorials:
- Tutorials will be offered both in person and virtually, based on the learning model selected by families.
- Will be held from 8:10-8:40 a.m. Tuesday through Friday according to the following schedule:
- Tuesday: Math Classrooms
- Wednesday: Language Arts Classrooms
- Thursday: Science Classrooms
- Friday: Social Studies Classrooms
- Students will be asked during Monday’s BPT to sign up for the morning tutorial they need to attend so that we can ensure that we provide social distancing in the classrooms. One teacher per team will be designated as the virtual tutor. A link will be provided within the sign up application.
- Students attending a tutorial may arrive at 8:07 a.m. and enter the building.
Please report to the Auditorium on the following days if your BPT teacher is listed and you are not taking part in tutoring:
- Tuesday (Math Department): Gless, Gulec, Waldorf, Manguno, Perkins, Evans, Cullum, Webb Harkey, Priest
- Wednesday (Language Arts Department):Looney, Simmons, Nguyen, Tallady, Reinhart, Beadle, Burrows, Johnson, Woods
- Thursday (Science Department): Garrett, Brittain, Briegel, Rasing, Truong, Stachowiak, Boane, Langlois, Pace
- Friday (Social Studies Department): Eskew, Flores, Taylor, Perez, Johnson, Freberg, Sullivan, Schaper, Colquitt
Afternoon Tutorials:
Teachers will post their afternoon tutorial schedule outside their doors for students who cannot attend morning tutorials. Tutoring will be held from 4:00-4:40 p.m. A late bus is provided by SBMS and leaves from our bus ramp at 4:45 p.m. if students need to use the bus to get home. Otherwise, students may be picked up from the front entrance on Piney Point at 4:45 p.m.
A Word from our SBMS Librarian
News from the SBMS Library!
The library is currently closed for browsing, but you can still access books! Here’s how:
- Log on to Sora to access the district’s ebooks and audiobooks. Students have been taught how to access Sora.
- Place holds for physical library books using our online catalog (Destiny); log on with your SBISD credentials.
- Request book bundles using this Google form (this form can only be accessed by students with their SBISD email).
This year, we are offering concierge service to in-person students; we bring the books to students during BPT or LA. For our virtual learners, we are offering curbside service. Students place holds on books, and when they are ready, they can be picked up on Tuesday or Thursday at the front desk during school hours. Distance learners will be notified via email when their holds are ready to pick up; they will be available for one week after the notification is sent. Please give us 48 hours to fill your requests for available books.
Ready to return library books? In-person students should drop their books on the cart located outside the library door. Virtual learners can return their books to the front desk any time school is open.
For more information, please visit the SBMS Library News ItsLearning page or contact Mrs. Silva at aaryn.silva@springbranchisd.com
SBISD Health Screener for In-Person Learners
Prior to the start of the school year, all families completed the SBISD Health & Safety Protocol Parent Acknowledgement Form. Included in these protocols is ensuring that every child coming to campus has a completed SBISD Health Screener every morning.
As a reminder, the health screener can be accessed via the district website (there is a blue box on the homepage titled ‘HEALTH SCREENER’ or by clicking here.) High school students may complete their own screener, but not those of their siblings.
Parents, it is critical that you report to your child's school if your child has tested positive for COVID-19, has had prolonged (15 or more minutes) direct exposure to someone who is COVID-19 positive, or is displaying symptoms of COVID-19. Please do not send your child to school. Please do complete the health screener and report to your school attendance office or nurse immediately. Please be sure to provide your contact information including a daytime telephone number where you can be reached.
View this video to see how to turn the screener into an icon (like an app) on your phone or tablet home screen for easier access:
See you soon! Stay tuned for messaging every Friday from SBISD!
Spanish Content/Contenido en español
¡Clima otoñal y diversión, aquí vamos!
Espero que nuestro mejor clima se quede. Si bien debemos continuar con nuestras medidas de distanciamiento social para mitigar la propagación del COVID-19, el clima más fresco y agradable y las vistas y sonidos de la temporada de fútbol y la diversión navideña que se acerca hacen que las cosas se sientan aún más normales. A medida que continuamos cada día en SBMS, le pedimos a cada familia que hable sobre lo siguiente con sus estudiantes:
- Política de máscaras de SBISD: Tenga en cuenta que todos los estudiantes, el personal y los pocos visitantes que necesiten presentarse en el campus deben usar una máscara o una cubierta facial adecuada en todo momento. Los estudiantes están haciendo un gran trabajo en general, pero estamos viendo que algunos se los quitan para hablar con sus compañeros de clase, permiten que sus máscaras caigan debajo de sus narices y aquellos con polainas pueden necesitar jalarlas o acercarlas a sus oídos para mantenerlas. Las máscaras deben colocarse adecuadamente sobre la nariz y la boca. Se requiere el compromiso de todos de usar una máscara de manera adecuada y constante para que podamos mantener a todos seguros, saludables y en el campus. No usar una máscara se considera un peligro para la salud y puede resultar en consecuencias disciplinarias.
- Trabajo faltante: tómese unos minutos para revisar el acceso familiar en Skyward y verifique si su hijo puede tener asignaciones faltantes en cualquiera de sus cursos.
- Cheques de mochila: Por favor, mire en la mochila de su hijo, tal vez junto a su hijo. Los estudiantes no necesitan traer sus libros de texto hacia y desde el campus y es posible que no necesiten traer todos los artículos que traen hacia y desde la escuela todos los días. Trabajaremos un poco durante la clase Bear Pride Time en las próximas semanas revisando lo que se traerá, pero es posible que desee tener esa conversación este fin de semana, si puede.
Por último, mientras se prepara para un clima más fresco a finales de este semestre, SBMS organizará una campaña de abrigos / chaquetas de invierno para apoyar a los estudiantes que no tengan lo que necesitan para estar abrigados este invierno. Por favor considere guardar las chaquetas poco usadas para esta campaña que se llevará a cabo del 9 al 13 de noviembre. Llamaremos a esto una semana para que SBMS esté agradecido y organice una colecta de alimentos enlatados para esa semana también.
¡Disfruta el resto de tu domingo!
Muchas gracias,
Stefanie Spencer
7 de octubre: Día de aprendizaje remoto para sexto y séptimo y PSAT para octavo grado
- Los estudiantes en nuestras aulas de Habilidades para la Vida se reportarán al campus cada día de prueba para un día regular de instrucción.
- Todos los demás estudiantes permanecerán en casa y tendrán un día de aprendizaje remoto "asincrónico".
- Los estudiantes siguen su horario y completan sus cursos asignados para el día en casa.
- Los maestros publicarán las tareas en su aprendizaje. Los maestros toman la asistencia según la participación de los estudiantes.
- Los estudiantes deben participar con el trabajo de clase para cada curso durante el día para ser contados como "presente remoto" para cada clase.
Los días de exámenes del College Board seguirán el horario escolar normal y los autobuses recorrerán sus rutas regulares.
3 de noviembre: Día de aprendizaje sincrónico en casa
El 3 de noviembre es un día programado de aprendizaje remoto y se considerará un día "sincrónico".
Todos los estudiantes aprenderán desde casa el 3 de noviembre.
- Todo el personal de la escuela se reportará a la escuela o al lugar de trabajo en sus horarios normales.
- El 3 de noviembre es un día escolar regular y los períodos de clases / bloques de aprendizaje comienzan en vivo a la hora programada regularmente. Se toma la asistencia. Los maestros presentarán mini-lecciones o información para que los estudiantes puedan luego hacer la transición al trabajo independiente, reduciendo así el gasto en zoom para los estudiantes y permitiéndoles completar su trabajo.
Recordatorios amigables relacionados con los visitantes del campus
Recordatorios de asistencia
Tenga en cuenta también que nuestra hora de inicio de clases es a las 8:40 a.m. Para ser contados como presentes y no retrasados, los estudiantes deben estar en sus salones de clases listos para aprender. Por favor planifique su hora de llegada en consecuencia para permitir que su hijo llegue a tiempo a la escuela todos los días.
Consejo Estudiantil de SBMS
Cualquier alumno de sexto, séptimo u octavo grado puede postularse. El Consejo de Estudiantes trabaja para apoyar actividades y organizar eventos dentro de nuestra escuela. Si su estudiante está buscando involucrarse dentro de SBMS y le gustaría participar para continuar haciendo que nuestra escuela sea lo mejor posible, por favor anímelo a aplicar. La aplicación se puede encontrar en tinyurl.com/sbmsstuco. Las solicitudes deben presentarse antes del viernes 16 de octubre.
Si tiene alguna pregunta, no dude en enviar un correo electrónico a la Sra. Reinhart a alexa.reinhart2@springbranchisd.com o pídale a su estudiante que pase por el salón 214.
Tutoriales SBMS
Tenga en cuenta que la provisión de tutoría cambia los lugares de llegada para algunos estudiantes una vez a la semana en función de su BPT, ya que los maestros de contenido básico realizarán tutorías un día a la semana. Los estudiantes que tienen un maestro de matemáticas como su maestro de BPT, por ejemplo, no pueden presentarse en el salón de clases a las 8:10, sino que deben presentarse en el Auditorio si no participan en un tutorial de matemáticas. Los estudiantes que se presenten en el auditorio estarán socialmente distanciados. Los estudiantes no deben presentarse a las tutorías a menos que necesiten apoyo académico, ya que el espacio está limitado para respetar el distanciamiento social.
Tutoriales matutinos:
Las tutorías se ofrecerán tanto de forma presencial como virtual, según el modelo de aprendizaje seleccionado por las familias. Se llevará a cabo de 8: 10-8: 40 de acuerdo con el siguiente horario:
- Martes: aulas de matemáticas
- Miércoles: Aulas de Artes del Lenguaje
- Jueves: Aulas de Ciencias
- Viernes: Aulas de Estudios Sociales
Preséntese en el Auditorio los días siguientes si su maestro de BPT está en la lista y no participa en la tutoría:
- Martes (Departamento de Matemáticas): Gless, Gulec, Waldorf, Manguno, Perkins, Evans, Cullum, Webb Harkey, Priest
- Miércoles (Departamento de Artes del Lenguaje): Looney, Simmons, Nguyen, Tallady, Reinhart, Beadle, Burrows, Johnson, Woods
- Jueves (Departamento de Ciencias): Garrett, Brittain, Briegel, Rasing, Truong, Stachowiak, Boane, Langlois, Pace
- Viernes (Departamento de Estudios Sociales): Eskew, Flores, Taylor, Perez, Johnson, Freberg, Sullivan, Schaper, Colquitt
Tutoriales de la tarde:
Los maestros publicarán su horario de tutorías por la tarde afuera de sus puertas para los estudiantes que no pueden asistir a las tutorías por la mañana. La tutoría se llevará a cabo de 4: 00-4: 40 p.m. SBMS proporciona un autobús que llega tarde y sale de nuestra rampa de autobuses a las 4:45 p.m. si los estudiantes necesitan usar el autobús para llegar a casa. De lo contrario, los estudiantes pueden ser recogidos de la entrada principal en Piney Point a las 4:45 p.m.
Aplicación Health Screener de SBISD
Como recordatorio, se puede acceder al evaluador de salud a través del sitio web del distrito (hay un recuadro azul en la página de inicio titulado "CONTROLADOR DE SALUD" o haciendo clic aquí). Los estudiantes de secundaria pueden completar su propio evaluador, pero no los de sus hermanos.
Padres, es fundamental que informen a la escuela de su hijo si su hijo ha dado positivo en la prueba de COVID-19, ha tenido una exposición directa prolongada (15 minutos o más) a alguien que es COVID-19 positivo o muestra síntomas de COVID- 19. No envíe a su hijo a la escuela. Por favor complete el cheque de salud e informe a la oficina de asistencia de su escuela o enfermera inmediatamente. Asegúrese de proporcionar su información de contacto, incluido un número de teléfono durante el día donde se le pueda localizar.
Vea este video para ver cómo convertir el evaluador en un ícono (como una aplicación) en la pantalla de inicio de su teléfono o tableta para un acceso más fácil:
https://player.vimeo.com/video/454063947