Simis Scoop
September 15, 2023
Principal's Letter
A Note from Mrs. Murray
Hi Simis Families,
Did you know September is Attendance Awareness Month? A goal for Simis this year is to decrease chronic absences. Arizona defines chronic absence as missing 10% or more of the school year (18 excused or unexcused absences total). This month we will begin communicating with families of students who have already missed 10% of the year. Please reach out to simisoffice@madisoned.org if we can support your student's attendance at school.
This month, classes started their Guided Study differentiated learning. This is an important part of our instructional day where individual student needs are able to be specifically addressed in a variety of formats. We monitor student progress and will be sharing the growth each student is making at conferences this October.
Thank you for your continued partnership!
Lindsay Murray
Whole Brain Learning
One guided study group engaging in learning through movement to practice skills. Moving your body while learning can help activate special parts of our brain that help our kinesthetic learners cement new learning!
Differentiated Learning Activites
Teachers design learning experiences for Guided Study based on beginning of the year data, and students work in different groups to explore a variety of reading and mathematical concepts.
Intervention and Extension
Teachers use assessment data to prepare lessons that meet specific learning needs of each student. Some groups receive intervention to close academic gaps, while others have an opportunity to dive deeper into content through critical thinking activities.
Important Dates
TCT 1pm Early Release
Wednesday, Sep 20, 2023, 01:00 PM
TCT 1pm Early Release
Wednesday, Sep 27, 2023, 01:00 PM
Teacher Planning Day, No School
Friday, Oct 6, 2023, 07:15 AM
Library Information
Did you know?
Families can browse through all the selections in the electronic library by browsing in the Destiny Discover website.
Simis Site Council Updates
Updates from the Health Office
Notes from Nurse Megan
The health office is very low on boys & girls shorts in all sizes. If you are cleaning out your closets - please consider donating! If you have borrowed a pair of shorts, please return them clean ASAP.
Hearing & vision screenings will take place next week for all state required groups of students. If you have questions about screenings, please direct them toward the health office.
Please remember that students must stay home for a full 24 hours after any vomiting, diarrhea, or fever (100 or greater). Thank you for being considerate of others and keeping your child home when sick!
If your child is diagnosed with a communicable disease such as strep throat, flu, etc. please notify the attendance clerk or health office.
❓Questions❓ Contact: Nurse Megan RN, MSN, 602-664-7322, mbefort@madisoned.org
Student Wellness
Community Circles
Students share about themselves to build connections. This is a time for reflection, listening and community building.
Essential Agreements and Class Charters
Classes decide how they want to feel at school, and then collaborate to determine what actions need to be demonstrated by members of the class to help everyone feel that way.
Mood Meter
In class, students learn to label their emotions to better understand how they are feeling throughout the day. Our social workers develop lessons for teachers to deliver that build student capacity to own their feelings, and give them strategies to self-regulate at school.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Notes from Mrs. Powers
Action is starting to happen at Simis! Be on the lookout for ways your student is taking action at home and let your child’s teacher know about it. Action can look many different ways. Here are some previous examples:
Creating a classroom library for the class to use
Researching more about a topic from what was taught in class
Setting up a lemonade stand on the weekend to raise money for a cause learned about from research
Creating your own book about the first day of school
Creating a poster about recycling and hanging it up around the neighborhood
Parent/Guardian Opportunities
THRIVE Parent Information Series
Madison School District just placed 4 new modules in our THRIVE section of the Madison website. These short and informative videos with experts in the field provide families with resources to approach and support their child in ways that align with the students of the Alpha and iGeneration.
School Lunch Visitor Registration Form
Sign up for a lunch visit here! Please read the details on the sign up form for more information.