Spartan Update 4/15/24
SBMS Spartan Update for the Week of 4/15/24
Message from Principal Paula Nolan
Good afternoon SBMS Community,
Monday is the start of the fourth and final quarter. We are excited to finish strong! If you haven't yet had a chance to connect with Canvas yet, I recommend either downloading that app or using the webpage to keep track of your child's progress and easily connect with teachers. Instructions are at the bottom of each newsletter in the, In Every Issue: How to Connect With Staff section.
In addition to Canvas, I encourage you to take a look at the ParentSquare article I've written for this week's parent newsletter. Next year schools will not be able to text, so if you like getting that instant notification, you will need the app and an account. Details are below. Our text message notifications for the Spartan Update will end after the edition for the week of 4/22.
Thank you for helping your child to return their field trip permission slips for Day of Kindness. It's a big effort to plan 14 simultaneous field trips, and getting those forms back to us back is very much appreciated.
This week I'm adding a new section to our newsletter called, Non-SBMS Events of Interest. While we do not share every event that comes our way (and there are many requests because of our distribution lists), I wanted to provide a space in our newsletters for those events are not SBMS sponsored that may be of interest to our families. That section occurs under our Upcoming Events section towards the bottom of the newsletter. For example, there is a learn to ride a bike event and information about spring workouts for 8th graders who are interested in playing basketball on the SEHS girl's team next year.
Last week I wrote about how our webpage was upgraded by the district and how some pages were removed. We have some of those pages back now and Stephanie (SBMS Secretary) and I are now able to edit the page. Something of note is that our school calendar is much more useful now. There's a link at the bottom of this Spartan Update, or you can go to our website and scroll to the bottom.
Thank you for your time in reading this week's Spartan Update. If there is anything that I can do for you, please feel free to contact me at nolan_p@4j.lane.edu, 541-790-8300, or by clicking the Contact Paula button at the bottom of this newsletter.
Have a nice day,
Paula
Paula Nolan
Principal
Spencer Butte Middle School
SBMS No Place for Hate Pledge
ParentSquare- The New Way 4J Schools Will Communicate
Each week you receive the Spartan Updarte message in your inbox and via text. Next year the district is switching our mass messaging platform to ParentSquare. The biggest difference you will see is that we will no longer have the ability to push text messages to your phones next year. However, if you download the ParentSquare app from your app store of choice and create an account, our messages can be sent as notifications and if you still want texts you can also go into your settings and enable text messages. You will start seeing some messages from SBMS coming via ParentSquare, and we will use text messaging for the Spartan Update for this week (week of 4/15) and the week of 4/22. After the Spartan Update for the Week of 4/22, we will no longer push this info out via text.
By going to this site or downloading the app you can get registered in a few minutes. Setup is pretty easy (I recently did it for my own parent account). Basically, you'll create your account and then you'll be asked to link your children to your account. The site or app will walk you through the process. If you need any help with it, please call us at 541-790-8300.
This platform is being used at all schools and I encourage our community to download it so you get the instant notifications in addition to emails.
A Note from Nurse Jenny- Bringing Food to Classrooms
There may be times you feel inclined to bring food items to share with your student and their classmates. Please know your generosity is so appreciated. As a reminder, there may be students in the classroom that have food allergies and special dietary needs. Please be mindful of the following when considering sharing treats with your student's class:
- All items brought in must be commercially purchased and nutrition/ingredient labels available, per 4J Nutrition Services.
- Please notify teacher's in advance (minimum 5 days) if you plan to bring something in. This allows time for alternative options to be made available for students with food allergies and special dietary needs. Alternatively, check with classroom teachers for dietary restrictions and bring an item safe for everyone. Please be aware, not all requests to bring food items to the classroom may be approved.
- For further information, please see 4J Wellness Policy Overview https://4j.lane.edu/4795_4 and the Healthy Snacks and Party Guidelines https://4j.lane.edu/4797_4
Yearbook Messages From Parents to Their 8th Grader
Each year we set aside a page in the yearbook for parents/guardians to submit a brief message to their 8th-grade student. A short message you have composed reflecting on their year, words of encouragement for next year, or anything along these lines will be appreciated. Please limit messages to 25 words or less so that we'll be able to fit as many as we can on this one page. Submissions must be received no later than Friday, April 26th, and will be added in order of receipt, in case we run out of room. Email to Jennifer Kotlarek (kotlarek@4j.lane.edu). Thank you for supporting our yearbook!
We love to showcase in the yearbook all the wonderful extracurricular activities, as well as drama performances and band concerts, that SBMS students are involved in throughout the school year. If you have pictures you'd like to share, please email Jenn Kotlarek (kotlarek@4j.lane.edu). Be sure to include student name and details of the activity. Thank you for supporting our yearbook.
Message from Edgewood Parents: Spartans Welcome to Help with Family Fun Night!
From Edgewood: Edgewood Family Fun Night is on Friday, 4/19/24 from 5:30-8pm, and we are looking for YOU (SBMS champions) to volunteer to help make this the best one ever!! We have a ton of FUN opportunities, where you can help run games, work in the “hair salon”, make popcorn, and more. To sign up, either email Edgewoodfunnight@gmail.com or you can access a signup genius form here:
Repeat- Track and Field T-shirts Available - $20
If your child is interested in an optional SBMS Track and Field t-shirt we are selling them in the office for $20.00. They can come in before or after school to make a purchase. If your child would like a shirt and your family needs assistance paying for one, please call the office and ask to speak to Heather or Stephanie.
Upcoming Events
8th Grade Girls Interested in Playing Basketball at SEHS
Any 8th grade girl interested in playing basketball at South Eugene High School next year is invited to come and begin Spring workouts with the coaching staff. Workouts from April 9th- May 27th are focused on skill building, fundamentals, learning the offense and our defensive strategies.
Come meet the coaching staff and begin your journey with South Eugene Girls Basketball!
Summer schedule, May 29th-June 29th to come!
April 9th-27th- Meet in big gym
Time and dates:
· All times are 4:15-5:15 each Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday for strength and conditioning
· April 9th-May 27th
Monday-Wednesday-Thursday: 4:15-6:15
Questions: Contact Coach Clark at: clark_j@4j.lane.edu
Want to Learn to Ride a Bike?
Do you or your child want to learn how to ride a bike?
Join 4J Safe Routes to School and partners at either or both of these all-ages, free, learn to ride a bike events this spring. Helmets and bikes will be provided, or bring your own.
- Friday, April 19 from 4pm to 6pm at the Bob Keefer Center (250 S 32nd St., Springfield, OR)
- Click here for flyer
- Link to Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/4WvDEqd6A
- Saturday, May 4 from 1pm to 3pm at Meadow View School (1855 Legacy St., Eugene, OR)
- Click here for flyer
- Link to Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/1KCfazgfl
Remember, these events are free and are for people of ALL AGES who do not yet know how to ride a bike!
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¿Quiere usted o su hijo aprender a montar en bicicleta?
Únase a 4J Safe Routes to School y sus socios en uno o ambos de estos eventos gratuitos para todas las edades para aprender a montar en bicicleta esta primavera. Se proporcionarán cascos y bicicletas, o traiga los suyos.
- Viernes, 19 de abril de 4pm a 6pm en el Bob Keefer Center (250 S 32nd St., Springfield, OR)
- Haz clic aquí para ver el folleto
- Enlace al evento de Facebook: https://fb.me/e/4WvDEqd6A
- Sábado, 4 de mayo de 1pm a 3pm en Meadow View School (1855 Legacy St., Eugene, OR)
- Haga clic aquí para ver el folleto
- Enlace al evento de Facebook: https: //fb.me/e/1KCfazgfl
Recuerde, estos eventos son gratuitos y son para personas de TODAS LAS EDADES que aún no saben montar en bicicleta.
In Every Issue: How to Connect With Staff
We are here as a part of your child's team. Whenever I have the opportunity to speak with a parent about something involving a class I always ask if they've had a chance to connect with the teacher. I ask that question because involving the teacher is the most powerful thing that we can do to help your child in class.
Our teachers love to hear from parents. Whether there is information about something happening in the student's life, a fun story about when your child spoke about the class at home, concerns about academic progress, or questions about the class, connecting with staff is the first and most important step in helping your student to succeed.
There are many ways to connect with staff. Sending an email or message in Canvas is the most direct way of reaching teachers. You can also call the school at 541-790-8300 and leave a message for a teacher to return.
Contacting Teachers Via Email
To find a teacher's email address, please access our directory below.
[Link to SBMS Staff Email List: https://spencerbutte.4j.lane.edu/staff-e-mail-list/ ]
Contacting Teachers Via the Canvas Parent App*
You may find the Canvas Parent app the easiest way to send a message. When in the app you can send a message by tapping on a course name and then the speech bubble emoji in the bottom right corner. Alternatively, you can also navigate to the inbox, tap on the speech bubble emoji, and then select the teacher/course you are intending to send the message to.
Canvas on Desktop*
If you are accessing Canvas via desktop you are able to send a message through the Inbox feature. To use that, follow the directions below:
- Click on the Inbox logo/name on the left hand side of the screen.
- Once you are in the Inbox, look at the top of the webpage and then click the pictogram that looks like a pencil writing on paper.
- After you do that, you can select the course/teacher you are attempting to contact.
*Information about how to access Canvas is below.
This newsletter is produced by Spencer Butte Middle School for the benefit of our school community. Please feel free to contact us directly.
In addition to contacting teachers, Canvas is also the tool that you can use to keep apprised of your child's grades in class.
How can I access Canvas?
You can access Canvas via the Canvas Parent app (available in the Google and Apple app stores) or by going to https://4j.instructure.com/login/canvas
How do I connect my account to my child's?
In Canvas, parents are called Observers. From the 4J Canvas webpage we learn that "As an Observer you will be able to check grades, monitor assignments and due dates, as well as communicate directly with your student’s teachers."
The key part of becoming an Observer is to pair your parent account with your child's account. To do that, you need a pairing code from your child. There are two ways to get your child's pairing code.
Student Supplied Pairing Code
If you would like to get the pairing code directly from your student, please click on the link below with your child to learn how to get the code:
Link to Creating a Pairing Code for an Observer Video: https://www.loom.com/share/33d85e2c1c7d4b6087ae0a708d63afac
Paula Provides the Pairing Code
Another way to get a pairing code is to contact me directly (nolan_p@4j.lane.edu, 541-790-8300, or click the Contact Paula button at the bottom of the page). Once I receive your request, I will generate the code and email it to you.