Falcon Flash
August 12, 2022
Principal's Message
Dear Stetson Families, August 2022
We hope this summer has been a happy and safe one for you and your family. We have been working hard to prepare for this upcoming school year and look forward to welcoming our families back to Stetson on Monday, August 29, for the first day of school (full day). Our maintenance and custodial staff are putting the final touches on the building, and the school looks beautiful. This year, WCASD middle school Open House will be on Thursday, September 8th at 6:30 pm for 6th grade and Thursday, September 15th at 6:30 pm for 7th and 8th grade. While we will send more detailed information as we get closer to the event, I wanted you to have the dates ahead of time to help with your fall planning.
This communication aims to share valuable information that will lay the foundation for an enjoyable school year. Please carefully review all of the information in this document, especially that relating to school attendance.
Have a great weekend,
Mrs. Puchalla
Back to School Paperwork
As of Tuesday July 26th the back-to-school portal will be open for you to complete the annual paperwork that the district requires at the start of each school year. It helps us tremendously to have it done before the first day of school. You may log in to the Parent Portal to complete the necessary paperwork as of August 26th and don't hesitate to contact the office at 484-266-2701 if you need assistance.
Supply Lists
Please see the recommended Stetson supply list by grade level 2022-2023 Supply Lists. These lists are recommendations and families may substitute based on student preference. More detailed information will be provided by individual teachers during the first week of school.
Bus Information
Tentative bus schedules will be made available to parents on Friday, August 12th through the parent portal. Final bus schedules will be released on Wednesday, August 24th. Each student is responsible for knowing their bus number, stop location, and pick-up time. Students should be at their bus stop at least five minutes before the scheduled pick-up time. Per WCASD policy, students are neither permitted to ride a bus to which they are not assigned nor get off at an unassigned bus stop. Bus passes will not be permitted due to continued limited bus capacity. Bus drivers have the right to assign seats on their buses. BUS ARRIVAL TIMES MAY NOT BE EXACT IN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS SO PLEASE BE PATIENT AS WE WORK TO HIT OUR SCHEDULED TIMES.
Laptop Distribution
All new students to Stetson Middle School and incoming 6th graders who have returned their district iPads from last year will be receiving a new district laptop and charger on their first day of school, Monday August 29th. If you have not returned your iPad to the district from elementary school, please bring it on the first day of school and we will happily collect it and provide you a new laptop and charger for middle school.
Arrival / Dismissal Procedures
Student Drop-Off/Pick-up: Safety is the top priority at Stetson. Please use the designated lane to drop off/pick up students. There will be only one lane available for drop-off and pick-up in the morning and afternoon. Prepare for long lines and plan accordingly. Students may be dropped off as early as 7:30 am. Stay in the car line and follow staff members’ instructions. You will find the carline traffic flow map attached below. Please review the map and feel free to reach out with any questions. Students may only enter or exit cars at the designated cones. Student drop-off and pick-up can be challenging with the high volume of cars that enter the campus. We appreciate your efforts in helping keep our students safe during this time.
Due to the start time of the staff workday, students can only enter school after 7:30 am unless directed by a teacher for a pre-determined appointment. Students dropped off before 7:50 am will be directed to wait in the cafeteria (6th grade) or LGI (7th and 8th grade) until dismissed to lockers/homeroom.
Being on Time to School: Homeroom begins at 8:05 am and ends at 8:15 am. Students arriving late to homeroom (after the homeroom bell rings at 8:05 am) must report to the office for a late pass. The administration will handle lateness following the WCASD Attendance Policies and PA State Laws.
Riding the bus, the car line, and being marked late:
a. All Stetson students who are assigned and ride a bus that arrives late will NOT be marked late due to the bus’s late arrival.
b. A student who is driven to school and dropped off in the car line will be marked late if the student is not in their homeroom when the homeroom bell rings at 8:05 am.
Attendance
Stetson Middle School enforces the WCASD Attendance Policy and PA State attendance laws related to absences and tardies. Students are required to be in attendance daily to keep current with school work. When your child must be absent, please call our absence line as early in the day as possible (please do not call the nurse.) Automated phone calls are sent out by the district to notify families of absences every day, regardless of whether the absence is called in or not. If you would prefer to avoid that automated phone call, you can email a note on the morning of an absence to Heather Mazza at hmazza@wcasd.net, this would also serve as a parent note.
Call 484-266-2710 or email hmazza@wcasd.net
before 9:00 am
IMPORTANT! Submission of Excuse Notes for Absences
After an absence, a parent or doctor’s note must be submitted to the Attendance Secretary or emailed to hmazza@wcasd.net within three days of the student's return to school, or the absence will be considered unexcused/unlawful. Emailed excuse notes are acceptable, as long as they are received within three days of the absence.
Early Dismissal
Please try to refrain from making appointments during school hours. If your child must leave school early, a student must present a written request by a parent to the office upon arrival at school. Stetson’s Attendance Secretary, Mrs. Mazza, will then give a pass with the dismissal time to your child to share with their teacher at the designated time. Emailed early dismissal notes are not permissible.
Please see the School Board Policies section of the WCASD website to access more information about the WCASD Attendance Policy.
Items Not Allowed In School
Cell phones and other unauthorized electronic devices are not allowed to be carried on a person during the school day. If a student chooses to bring a device to school, it must be turned off/silenced and stored in the student’s locker for the duration of the school day. Failure to follow this directive will result in the confiscation of the item and possible further disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, the student’s parent/guardian having to pick the item up from school.
Lockers
Each student will have a locker assigned with a built-in lock. Students must lock the locker consistently and the combination kept private to maintain security. It is suggested that all students bring a combination lock to school to secure belongings in a locker during PE and in the athletic locker rooms.
Web Page
Please check Stetson's website often to find updates and school information. You may also keep up-to-date on your child's academic progress by accessing our Parent Portal system. The web address is https://ps.wcasd.net/public/
Physical Education Uniform
Students should wear the standard Stetson PE uniform, gray Stetson t-shirt, black or green gym shorts with white socks, and sneakers. Please print the student's name on the inside of the shorts and in large print on the back of the t-shirt. We will be opening another store in early September and items will be delivered in October. We also have a limited supply of PE shirts on hand to sell (planning in the morning 2nd week of school) for $10.00.
Backpacks/Book Bags
Students are permitted to have backpacks/book bags to transport their books to and from school. Backpacks/book bags should be kept in students lockers throughout the course of the day. Students will have the opportunity to locker as various points throughout the day to obtain classroom materials.
Athletics
Sports offered in the fall for 7th and 8th graders include football, volleyball, field hockey, cross country, boys’ soccer, and girls’ soccer. Families should prepare all student-athletes to start their fall sport on the second day of school, except football. All middle school families can complete the PIAA physical registration information required for sports participation online through https://hello.familyid.com/. We do not accept hard copies of the physical packet. Family ID is a secure, user-friendly registration platform that streamlines the registration process and helps the WCASD be more administratively efficient and environmentally responsible. When you register through FamilyID, the system keeps track of your information in your FamilyID profile. Please see the registration link and introduction letter to FamilyID.
Please have the following information when you register:
Doctor information
Health Insurance Information
Current Physical Exam – dated after June 1, 2022
REGISTRATION PROCESS:
Parent/guardian click the link to register https://www.familyid.com/organizations/g-a-stetson-middle-school
The 6th-grade intramural sports program is held after school (typically starts later in each season) and will focus on basic skills and provide healthy competition. 6th-grade students may use their entrance physical exam for sports participation, so no further physical is required for the year. Students should listen to morning announcements and families should check the Falcon Flash for information. Please call the athletic office voice mail at 484-266-2725 for daily sports information or leave a message for the Athletic Manager, Mr. Willi J Corcoran (wcorcoran@wcasd.net).
Coaches typically hold informational meetings for fall sports during the first week of school. Meetings will be announced on the morning news and afternoon announcements.
Physical/Dental Examinations & Immunizations Requirements
Pennsylvania requires that a physical examination be submitted to the school nurse for ALL 6th GRADE STUDENTS. A copy of any physical dated after June 1, 2021, is acceptable. Also mandated are dental exams for 7th GRADE STUDENTS. Students must meet all PA State immunization requirements within the prescribed timelines, or the school must exclude students from attending school as its recourse per PA laws.
Dispensing of Medications
All medications, even over-the-counter (OTC) medications, must be dispensed by the school nurse. Do not send medications with your child to take during the day. Sending medicines with your child is against school policy and the WCASD Discipline Code. A signed permission note must accompany medications that need to be given during school and a written order from the doctor with type, dosage, and time. A copy of the prescription to the pharmacy is not the same and cannot be accepted. Students are not permitted to bring their medications to school. A parent/guardian must personally deliver the medication to the school nurse, who must secure and dispense the medication. Students are not permitted to dispense medications to themselves. Our Nurse, Mrs. Melissa Czerpak, will be available for early medicine drop-off at various times in August. Please contact her to schedule the medication delivery by calling her at 484-266-2706 or emailing her at mczerpak@wcasd.net.
Stetson Middle School Code of Conduct
All students will be given access to an electronic copy of the WCASD Discipline & Records Policy through the distribution of the 1 to 1 laptops. Additionally, the administration will review the policy manual with each grade level during their town hall meeting the first week of school. It is vitally important to review every page of these documents with your child. Each child will be required to verify through a signature that they have received the policy. Knowing what is expected of each student and what consequences are for various offenses will be important to have a successful experience at Stetson Middle School.