SMS Weekly Update
3.1.24
Message from the Principal
I hope this message finds you well. I am happy to share that we had a fantastic week with our students. As we approach March, designated as Reading Month, I would like to encourage you to join us in fostering a love for reading at home. Spending time reading together not only strengthens the bond between parents and children but also plays a crucial role in the academic and personal development of middle school-aged children.
Regular reading helps enhance vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills, which are essential for success in various subjects. Moreover, it instills a lifelong love for learning and opens up new worlds of imagination and knowledge. Your involvement in supporting Reading Month will contribute to creating a culture of literacy that extends beyond the classroom. Let's make March a month filled with shared stories, discussions, and the joy of reading. Together, we can inspire a passion for literature and learning in our students that will benefit them throughout their academic journey and beyond.
Looking further ahead, we have our PSAT 8 and M-STEP testing that will start in April. Both of these tests are state-mandated for our students. Both of these tests are digital and will require students to take them on their chromebooks.
Please check your child's Winter NWEA Student Progress Report. You can find this under Student Documents in Mi-Star.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Congratulations to Mrs. Diane Fournier
CLICK HERE to send Mrs. Fournier a congratulatory note and appreciation for her hard work.
March Events
National Women’s History Month, March
Women's History Month is an annual observance dedicated to celebrating the contributions and achievements of women throughout history. It is celebrated each March and is a time to reflect on the significant roles women have played in shaping society, culture, politics and various fields of work. It is celebrated in many countries around the world, including the United States, the UK, Australia and Canada. In the United States, Women's History Month was first officially recognized in 1987, following a petition by the National Women's History Project. During Women's History Month, various events and activities are organized to honor the achievements and struggles of women. These can include lectures, exhibitions, film screenings, panel discussions and performances that highlight women's contributions in various domains. Additionally, it is a time to raise awareness about contemporary women's issues and advocate for gender equality.
https://www.womenshistory.org/womens-history/womens-history-month
https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/womens-history-month/
International Women’s Day, March 8, 2024
International Women's Day is a global day celebrated on March 8 each year. It is a day dedicated to celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, as well as a call to action for gender equality. People all around the world celebrate International Women's Day, including individuals, organizations, governments and businesses. By celebrating International Women's Day, people come together to honor women's accomplishments, inspire future generations and advocate for a more inclusive and equitable society for all genders.
https://www.internationalwomensday.com/about
Ramadan, March 10-April 9, 2024
Ramadan is a month-long Islamic holiday in which Muslims around the world engage in fasting and spiritual reflection. It is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and its exact start date varies year-to-year as it is based on the sighting of the crescent moon. Those who are physically and mentally able to do so, fast from dawn until sunset each day during Ramadan, refraining from food, drinks, smoking, and intimacy during daylight hours. The fast is broken each night with a meal called ifṭār, which is often shared with friends and family. In addition to the physical act of fasting, Ramadan is also a time for increased spiritual reflection, prayer and charitable acts. Ramadan is celebrated by engaging in various spiritual practices, such as reading the Qurʾān, performing additional prayers (called tawarīḥ) and giving to charity. The celebration of Ramadan culminates in a holiday called Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan and the breaking of the fast. On this day, celebrants gather in large groups to perform special Eid prayers and celebrate with food, gifts and new clothes.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ramadan
St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2024
St. Patrick's Day is an annual cultural and religious holiday that celebrates the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick. It is observed on March 17, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick. Originally a religious feast day, St. Patrick's Day has evolved into a vibrant celebration of Irish culture and heritage. It is widely celebrated by people of Irish descent and those who simply enjoy joining in the festivities. The holiday is marked with various customs and traditions including parades, traditional Irish music and dance, consumption of Irish food and drink, social gatherings where people wear green attire, and decorating with shamrocks. While St. Patrick's Day is a festive occasion, it is important to remember the cultural and historical significance of the holiday, as well as show respect for Irish traditions and customs. It is a time to honor Irish heritage and the contributions of Irish immigrants to various countries around the globe.
https://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day
Purim, March 23-March 24, 2024
Purim is a festive Jewish holiday celebrated annually in late February or early March. It commemorates the events recorded in the biblical Book of Esther. This holiday is celebrated by Jews around the world, especially those of Persian descent. It is celebrated by reading the Book of Esther, dressing up in costumes, participating in parades or carnivals, feating, and exchanging food and gifts. Special pastries called "hamantaschen," are typically filled with fruit or poppy seeds, and are eaten during the holiday.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Purim
https://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/645309/jewish/What-Is-Purim.htm
Palm Sunday, March 24, 2024
Palm Sunday is a Christian holiday that commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. It falls on the Sunday before Easter Sunday and is celebrated by Christians around the world. The name "Palm Sunday" comes from the practice of people waving and laying palm branches on the ground to welcome Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. This act symbolizes Jesus' humble entry and the crowd's recognition of him as the Messiah. The celebration typically begins with a special church service where palm branches are distributed to the congregation. Processions may also take place, with participants carrying palm branches and singing hymns. The priest or minister usually reads Bible passages recounting Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. It marks the beginning of Holy Week, leading up to Easter Sunday.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Palm-Sunday
Holi, March 25, 2024
Holi is a Hindu spring festival celebrated on the full moon day of Phalguna, usually falling in February or March. It is also known as the "Festival of Colors" or the "Festival of Love" emphasizing joy, love and the victory of good over evil. Holi is celebrated by Hindus around the world, as well as by communities of Indian origin in other countries. The festival is characterized by vibrant colors, music, dance and joyous celebrations. People gather in public spaces and throw colored powders and water at each other, symbolizing the arrival of spring and the blossoming of love and happiness. In addition to the playful color-throwing, Holi also involves feasting, singing traditional songs, and enjoying sweets and other festive foods.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Holi
https://www.britannica.com/story/holi-festival-of-colors
Good Friday, March 29, 2024
Good Friday is a Christian holiday observed on the Friday before Easter Sunday. It commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Many churches hold special services, often in the afternoon or evening, where the Passion of Christ is read or enacted. Sermons and hymns focusing on Jesus' crucifixion are also prominent. It is a time for believers to remember the immense love and forgiveness shown by Jesus by his willing sacrifice. For some, the observance of Good Friday may also include acts of fasting or abstinence from certain activities or luxuries as a sign of mourning and remembrance. It is considered a day of somber reflection, humility, and gratitude for Christians as they remember the crucifixion and death of Jesus, anticipating his resurrection on Easter Sunday.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Good-Friday
Easter, March 31, 2024
Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the hope of new beginnings that it represents. It is one of the most important events in the Christian faith and is observed by Christians worldwide. The celebration of Easter typically involves attending church services, where the resurrection story is told, hymns are sung and prayers are offered. Beyond the religious aspect, Easter has been embraced as a cultural holiday by people from diverse backgrounds. The Holiday is often associated with various traditions and customs such as Easter egg hunts, where children search for chocolate or colored eggs hidden in outdoor or indoor settings. Decorating eggs, exchanging Easter baskets and gathering for family meals are also common practices. Special dishes, such as roast lamb or ham and hot cross buns are also commonly enjoyed.
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/history-of-easter
STUDENTS WITH PERFECT ATTENDANCE FOR MONTH OF JANUARY
Pizza with the Principal
Stevenson's Library
Basketball Championships
RAPS Weekly Focus for February
Inside the Classroom
Students from Mrs. Fournier's class worked with Ms. Dickelman from the STEM Center to build inclined planes using Sphero Blueprints. These designs are part of a unit exploring the technology of the Great Pyramids.
Students in Ms. Mandrelle’s construction classes, students are busy making great projects. Check these out!
Second Step Update - 2/28/24
This week during our Second Step time, we did the fourth lesson in our Thoughts, Feelings & Emotions Unit.
6th Grade - Managing Your Emotions
Summary: In this week’s lesson, your child learned and practiced several emotion-management strategies to help them make good decisions when they’re feeling a strong emotion.
Question: Ask your child what strategy they like to use when they realize they need to manage their emotions. Share a strategy you like to use and see if it’s also helpful for them.
7th Grade - Reframe the Situation
Summary: In this week’s lesson, your child learned ways to reframe a situation by turning unhelpful thoughts into helpful thoughts.
Question: Ask your child to explain the difference between helpful and unhelpful thoughts. Tell your child about an unhelpful thought you had today and how you were able to change it to a helpful thought. Ask your child if they had an unhelpful thought and how you can support them in changing it to a helpful thought.
8th Grade - Strategies for Managing Stress
Summary: In this week’s lesson, your child learned some strategies for managing stress. These strategies include: slow breathing, reframing challenging situations, positive self-talk, and progressive muscle relaxation.
Question: Ask your child what makes them feel stressed and how they cope with that stress. Share your own stressors and helpful ways you manage stress.
Congratulations to our Staff
Congratulations to Mrs. Rourk, Mr. Abate, and and Mrs. Leonard for winning the monthly raffle of Amazon gift cards for their incredible contributions to our school. Thank you to Pastor Mike Beckman and the Kirk of our Savior church members for their generous donation to make this special award and recognition possible.
Spring Picture Day is Coming Up!
Family Meetings are next Week!
Newspaper Club
8th Grade Dance Information and Agreement Form
Please view the attached pdf to read the expectations and agreement that needs to be signed for your child to attend the 8th grade dance in May. Thank you!
Virtual Community Forums
- Threat Assessments and Internet Safety- Please join us for a virtual community forum on Wednesday, March 13 from 6-7 p.m. Link to PDF flyer and Zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87961543561
- Alternatives to Guardianship and Self Determination for students with special needs- Please join us for a virtual community forum on Wednesday, February 28 from 6-7 p.m. Link to PDF flyer and Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/s/89223197925#success
Cold Weather Reminders
We have been experiencing quite a bit of cold weather here in Michigan. We know that winter weather can take a toll on school attendance. Snow, ice and rain can make it hard to get children to school. So can illnesses such as colds, flu, fevers, earaches, etc. Here is some information to help keep your children healthy and in school this winter.
Develop backup plans for getting your children to school. Can someone give them a ride to school if your child usually walks or stands at a bus stop?
Dress for the weather. Even a short walk in frigid weather can be dangerous. Ensure your child has a warm coat, gloves, hats and boots. Elementary students will also go out for recess if the temperatures, with wind chill, are above 20°. Remind older children that a hoodie is not an outdoor coat.
Resources are available. If you need help with winter clothing, please contact your child's school for assistance.
Sick children should stay home. School attendance is important, but sick children should not be at school. Also, if your child becomes ill during the school day, have a backup plan for who can pick them up if you are unavailable.
If your children needs to stay home for a prolonged period due to illness, talk to your child's teacher to find out about resources and class assignments they can do at home to keep learning once they feel well enough.
What about snow days? Information about our inclement weather procedures can be found on our website.
Early College
Wayne-Westland Early College provides students an opportunity to simultaneously complete the high school diploma and an associate degree at no cost to families. To learn more, visit www.wwcsd.net/earlycollege
Stevenson Staff GEM Award
Do you know of a staff member at Stevenson Middle School that is consistently Going the Extra Mile (GEM) for your child? Please take a moment to nominate them for our Stevenson GEM award. They will be put into a monthly drawing for a prize for their hard work to make Stevenson such a great place for our students.
Order Your Yearbook Today!
IRS Update
The Internal Revenue Service wants to share the following information with families.
Child Tax Credit (CTC): The CTC is a credit that may reduce your tax by as much as $2,000 for each child who qualifies you for the credit. To qualify, the child must be a U.S. citizen under age 17, have a Social Security number, be claimed as a dependent on the taxpayer's tax return, and more. Use the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant tool to determine eligibility: Does My Child/Dependent Qualify for the Child Tax Credit or the Credit for Other Dependents? For more information, please see: Child Tax Credit | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)
Other Dependent Credit (ODC): The ODC is a credit that may reduce your tax by as much as $500 for each eligible dependent. The person is claimed as a dependent on your return; the person can’t be used by you to claim the CTC or Additional CTC; the person was a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. resident alien. Again, use the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant tool to determine eligibility: Does My Child/Dependent Qualify for the Child Tax Credit or the Credit for Other Dependents?
Note: The credit amount for family’s CTC or ODC may be reduced if their modified adjusted gross income (AGI) is more than $400,000 for married filing jointly filing status or $200,000 for all other filing statuses.
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): One refundable tax credit for moderate- and low-income families is the Earned Income Tax Credit. The IRS estimates there are millions of workers who qualify but don't claim the EITC - missing out on thousands of dollars every year. The EITC is as much as $3,995 when claiming one child, $6,604 when claiming two children, and $7,430 when claiming three or more children. Use the EITC Assistant to learn if you're eligible for the tax credit. For more detailed information, see Publication 596, Earned Income Credit.
Note: Adjusted gross income limits are used to qualify families for EITC.
Child and Dependent Care Credit: Taxpayers who paid someone to care for their child, spouse, or dependent so they can work, be a full-time student, or look for work may be able to reduce their tax by claiming the Child and Dependent Care Credit. The total expenses that you may use to calculate the credit may not be more than $3,000 (for one qualifying individual) or $6,000 (for two or more qualifying individuals). Use the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant tool: Am I Eligible to Claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit? For more information, please see: Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses or Topic no. 602, Child and dependent care credit | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov).
Attendance Update
Regular attendance is crucial for your child's academic success. Please make every effort to ensure your child attends school on time every day and stays throughout the whole day. Consistent attendance throughout the school day allows your child to engage in learning and maximize their educational opportunities fully.
Illness: If your child is not feeling well and cannot attend school, please notify us immediately. Students who are ill should not attend school to prevent the spread of illness to others.
Excused Absences: We understand that there may be instances when your child needs to be absent due to illness, medical appointments, family emergencies, or other legitimate reasons. Please notify the school in advance whenever possible to classify the absence as excused.
Unexcused Absences: Unexcused absences negatively impact your child's education. Absences without valid reasons will be considered unexcused, and appropriate actions may be taken per district policy.
Timely reporting of absences helps us maintain accurate attendance records and ensures that your child's absence is properly documented. Absences must be reported within 24 hours.
There are two convenient methods for reporting your child's absence to facilitate efficient communication and accurate attendance records.
You can notify your child's school through the dedicated attendance line. Please leave a detailed message stating your child's name, grade, and reason for absence.
You can report absences directly through MiStar, our secure online portal for student information. MiStar provides a user-friendly interface that allows you to submit absences.
Thank you for your ongoing support in creating a positive and productive learning environment for all our students.
Family Resource Center Information
Mental Health Support
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow us on Facebook: Stevenson Saints Middle School
Follow us on Instagram: @StevensonSaints
If you ever have any questions or concerns, please reach out to one of us directly at domank@wwcsd.net (Student Last Names: Br-Me) or phillipsae@wwcsd.net (Student Last Names: A-Bo & Mi-Z).
Sincerely,
Mrs. Doman and Ms. Phillips
Last Names A-Bo & Mi-Z- Ms. Reinink, reininkk@wwcsd.net
Last Names Br-Me- Mrs. Shecter, shecterc@wwcsd.net