Stanwood Middle School
Family Update - May 1st, 2021
This week is National Teacher Appreciation Week--and we can't let this week slide by without acknowledging how fantastic our Spartan Teachers are--we appreciate them everyday, but this week, even a little more. Please join us in thanking our staff for all they do!
A message from our Counselor Ms. Fox!
Adjusting to the New Schedule & Homework Routines
Hello Everyone!
How is everyone adjusting to the new hybrid schedule?
I reminded students in our Wednesday Class Meetings this week that it is completely normal to feel a bit tense, stressed, or anxious during a time of transition — like a change to a new school schedule. Humans do not typically feel super comfortable during change. If you notice that your child is unusually agitated, tired, or emotional right now — you are not alone. Give it a few weeks and see if things don’t settle down a bit after they adjust to the new schedule.
Another aspect of the new schedule is finding a new routine with homework and life. Humans typically thrive on some level of consistency, so this a great time to help your child find a new routine since they do not have live classes three days of the week right now. One of our 8th graders shared a great idea about a routine he uses and I wanted to share with you! He said that on the days he is not at school, he uses our current class bell schedule to organize his time for homework.
Please see the bell schedule below and consider this strategy to help your student establish a new homework routine. This could very well set your student up for success for the rest of the school year! For example, if your student has live class (either in person or virtually) on Thursdays and Fridays, you could use this schedule to help your student do homework for each class on Mondays and Tuesdays: 1st period homework 7:40am-8:30am, short break, 2nd period homework 8:35am-9:25am, short break, and so on. Wednesdays can be a great day to join the Class Meeting, finish any remaining work, and get extra support in the 10am - 2pm homework Google Meet - code PALM with Mrs. Palmer.
We are here to support your children as they navigate these changing waters! It is so wonderful to see so many students in person, and I am still available via Google Meet to meet virtually.
Kara Fox
Counselor
Stanwood Middle School
KFox@stanwood.wednet.edu
PTO Fundraisers
Our fabulous PTO is having a Krispy Kreme fundraiser now through May 12, with delivery on May 19. A dozen doughnuts is $12. Information went home with students in their sixth period classes last week; more information is also available on the PTO Facebook page.
Also, MOD Pizza night is back. Please join the PTO at MOD’s pizza night May 10th. The event is all day from 10am-9pm. Come join us for lunch or dinner. 20% of SMS sales will go to the PTO. Just let them know that you are with Stanwood Middle School when paying. Online/Phone orders do not apply.
Important Survey From the District - Recovery Plan
Thank you for taking the time to help us prepare for reopening schools in the fall by answering the following questions.
The information will be used as part of the district Academic and Student Well-Being Recovery Plan.
There is a parent survey and student survey below:
Parent survey
Spanish Version of Parent Survey for Recovery Plan
English Version of Parent Survey
Student Survey
Spanish Version of 6-12 Student Survey
Asynchronous Attendance Attestation
Every Monday (for our AA group) and Thursday (for our BB group) students will attest to their attendance for their asynchronous days. Students can also order five day meal bags, which will be delivered to them after in-person school on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Speaking of Attendance
Whether your Spartan comes into the building or is staying remote, please call us on either their AA or BB day to let us know why they are absent. With Covid protocols, this is extremely important. Thank you!
Class Meetings
We will continue to meet with students every Wednesday during our weekly class meetings. This week, we will be focusing on reflecting on the lessons that we've delivered throughout the year and finishing strong.
6th graders @ 11:15, Meet Code: SMS2027
7th graders @ 12:15, Meet Code: SMS2026
8th graders @ 1:15, Meet Code: SMS2025
May Sports & Activities
Our second season of sports conditioning starts on Monday. Participants should have an email with all of the information.
In addition to sports, we have the following three clubs during May:
Homework Club: 2:40 on Tuesdays--Meet Code: SMS HW Club
Drama Club: 2:30 on Wednesdays--Meet Code: DRAMA
Karaoke Club: 2:40 on Thursdays--Meet Code: SMS Sings
Extra Help
We want to help all Spartans finish strong this year--in addition to teacher office hours (now Monday/Thursday or Tuesday/Friday), we have several options for students to log in and get extra help:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday @ 12:45 p.m. -1:35 p.m.
with Mrs. Smothermon--Meet Code: SMOT
with Mrs. Davidson--Meet Code: DAVI
Wednesdays @ 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
with Mrs. Palmer--Meet Code: PALM
Message from the District
Stanwood Camano School District Families:
In the March 19th Friday Family Message we announced that the district is partnering with Seattle Children’s to conduct COVID-19 testing on district staff and students. Our nurses have completed their training program and are now doing regular screening testing for high school athletes.
We are pleased to announce that starting Monday May 3rd, we will have the capacity to offer COVID testing any symptomatic students and staff. Currently, if a student or staff member develops COVID-19 symptoms, that staff member or student and their sibling need to stay out for 10 days or until the symptomatic student or staff member has a negative COVID-19 test. With our new capabilities, we can test these individuals, free of charge, at their school. This can lead to the quick isolation of positive individuals, hopefully preventing more exposure. More importantly, this can get our symptomatic students and their siblings back to school much sooner.
The nuts and bolts of this program:
● This test is a confirmatory molecular diagnostic test, similar to what you may have heard called a PCR test. This is a rapid test that gives results in 25 minutes.
● These tests have a 99% sensitivity and 98% specificity, meaning that the false negative rate is 1.3% and the false positive rate is less than 2.4%
● By no means are families or staff required to do Cue testing. The options of seeking testing elsewhere or waiting out the 10 days remain.
● All students would need parental consent before a test can be performed.
● These tests are less invasive than the older version of COVID-19 tests. The testing swab only needs to go into the nares, rather than the nasopharyngeal area.
● No chemicals are introduced to the person being tested in the process. The test uses sterile, foam-tipped swabs, and activators are applied after they come out of the nose.
● Middle school and high school students may self-swab. Elementary students must be swabbed by a parent or guardian, per the guidelines of the program.
● The process requires the person being tested to create a QR code that links the individual to the test packet. We are not able to conduct testing without this QR code being created.
Beginning next week, if you call in to report that your student is ill with potential COVID-19 symptoms, you will be contacted by your school nurse, offering you testing for your student. You are still under no obligation to consent to this testing. It is simply a way for us to make it convenient for staff and students to get back to school.
Seattle Children’s will be responsible for managing and reporting results to public health departments as required by law.
Reminders we have sent previously:
Please make sure your student, especially 6th graders and other students new to our building, know their first period teachers name. We will have many adults at the entrance to the building, in the hallways and outside classrooms to help direct students. We also have signs posted all over the building. First period teachers will help students with directions to their second period class and we will once again have many adults in the hallways to help guide students safely and comfortably to throughout their day and entire six period day including lunches.
Bus routing. All busses will go the high school first to be screened before coming to Stanwood Middle School. For the process at the high school students receive a stamp on their wrist to verify they have been screened, please make sure your student is aware. Students being dropped off and students walking will be screened at the front of the building. At the end of the day busses will pick up students at the front of the building and parents can pick up students in our east parking lot.
As we plan for Spartans to return to Stanwood Middle School, our top priority is everyone's safety.
You and your Spartan will see videos and posters (examples below) to reflect student expectations to keep everyone safe and healthy at school.
Lunches
All teachers will make sure on Monday and Thursday students know where to go for lunch. Lunch is determined by 4th period classes. Students with classes on the first floor fourth period will have first lunch. Students with classes on the second floor fourth period will have second lunch.
As we work to follow all of the protocols required for our return, it is important that you make sure your Spartan knows the following:
a. Daily Attestation questions + temperature check to be in building.
b. Students will go straight to their first class in the morning.
c. Masks covering nose and mouth at all times.
d. Social distancing in classrooms and hallways at all times.
e. Bathroom breaks during class time only.
f. No food allowed, except in the lunch room. Water bottles are allowed, students just need to ask to step into the hallway to take a drink.
g. Bring charged chromebook and headphones daily.
Here is the link to a video that will help remind everyone of our protocols:
We understand there is a lot of information! Please do not hesitate to call the school if you need anything. We will have lots of adults available to answer student questions, keep everyone safe and make sure students are comfortable.
Cafeteria and West Gym - Set up for lunches
_____________________________________
Teacher Email Addresses
Here is our staff list with email addresses for quick reference in case you need to contact teachers:
AUSTIN saustin@stanwood.wednet.edu
BERG jberg@stanwood.wednet.edu
ROBERSON (BEUTHIEN) hroberson@stanwood.wednet.edu
BLISS pbliss@stanwood.wednet.edu
BRIDENBAUGH kbridenbaugh@stanwood.wednet.edu
BROWN, LBROWN@stanwood.wednet.edu
DIEL KDIEL@stanwood.wednet.edu
DONOVAN adonovan@stanwood.wednet.edu
GELATT DGELATT@stanwood.wednet.edu
GETZINGER JGETZINGER@stanwood.wednet.edu
HOLUM CHOLUM@stanwood.wednet.edu
KINKER bkinker@stanwood.wednet.edu
LUKASIK plukasik@stanwood.wednet.edu
RIKER mriker@stanwood.wednet.edu
ROCKWOOD MROCKWOOD@stanwood.wednet.edu
WALKER (ROSE ) mwalker@stanwood.wednet.edu
SCHONBERG jschonberg@stanwood.wednet.edu
SHOEMAKER KSHOEMAKER@stanwood.wednet.edu
STUART CSTUART@stanwood.wednet.edu
STUNZ LSTUNZ@stanwood.wednet.edu
TEN HOOPEN (Ruhaak) mtenhoopen@stanwood.wednet.edu
THOMAS kthomas@stanwood.wednet.edu
____________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
The Stanwood-Camano School District does not discriminate in employment, programs, or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the District's Title IX/Affirmative Action Officer and Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator, Maurene Stanton (mstanton@stanwood.wednet.edu), or the Section 504/American Disabilities Act Coordinator, Robert Hascall (rhascall@stanwood.wednet.edu) Stanwood-Camano School District, 26920 Pioneer Hwy, Stanwood, WA 98292. Telephone: (360) 629-1200.
El Distrito Escolar de Stanwood-Camano School District no discrimina en sus programas o actividades por motivos de sexo, raza, credo, religión, color, origen nacional, edad, condición de veterano de guerra o grado militar, orientación sexual, expresión de género o identidad, discapacidad o uso de perro guía entrenado o animal de servicio, y ofrece igualdad de acceso a los Boy Scouts y a otros grupos de jóvenes especificados. El empleado mencionado a continuación ha sido designado para atender consultas y quejas de supuesta discriminación: Título IX / Oficial de Acción Afirmativa y Coordinador de Cumplimiento de Derechos Civiles, Maurene Stanton (mstanton@stanwood.wednet.edu), o la Sección 504 / Coordinador de la Ley de Discapacidades Estadounidenses, Robert Hascall (rhascall@stanwood.wednet.edu), Distrito Escolar Stanwood-Camano, 26920 Pioneer Hwy, Stanwood, WA 98292. Teléfono: (360) 629- 1200