Springton Lake Middle School
Every Student. Every Day. No Matter What.
Springton Lake Middle School
Email: RSalladino@rtmsd.org
Website: https://www.rtmsd.org/2/home
Location: 1900 North Providence Road, Media, PA, USA
Phone: (610) 627-6500
Twitter: @SpringtonLakeMS
May 14, 2021
Another Successful Week - and More Positive Strides...
Happy Friday, everyone! I hope that you are all doing well and that you had a great week!
The week was again busy with PSSA testing and our students did a great job. Once again, there were A LOT of moving parts in order to make testing work this year. We even had a new and revised schedule for today that appeared to go well. If nothing else, our students have gained a sense of just how important it is to be flexible!
On the COVID front, we had a successful week with no cases of COVID from in-school exposure. In addition, the number of students currently in quarantine due to out-of-school exposure is extremely low. The COVID tracker is available on the District website and is updated each Friday.
On Sunday, Rose Tree Media School District is partnering with Springfield Pharmacy and Garnet Valley School District to offer a vaccine clinic for students in the 12-15 age group. Families that responded to the survey issued a few weeks ago were provided with a link to register for the clinic that will be held at Garnet Valley High School on Sunday, May 16th. If you did not previously express interest and would like to be added to a wait-list for Sunday, please send me an email with your child's name, grade level, age, your name, and contact information for Sunday. Based upon availability, families of the wait list will be called in the afternoon on Sunday and invited to come immediately. I encourage students who are attending to show their school spirit by wearing Springton Lake gear to the clinic! Many of our administrators and teachers are volunteering throughout the day on Sunday, so please say hello if you attend.
Based upon this week's positive developments and updated guidance from CDC, we have confirmed that we are going to move forward with plans for an 8th grade farewell celebration on Wednesday evening, June 16th - the night before the last day of school. We will be meeting next week with the parent committee that is planning the event and I hope to share more specific details in next week's communication. This is certainly a positive and exciting bit of news for our 8th grade students and families!
As always, thank you for reading this weekly newsletter. I hope that you have a wonderful weekend. Stay safe!
Testing Update - PSSA, Keystone Exams, and MAP
PSSA testing for the year is now complete. While a small number of students will complete make-up testing next week, the regular administration of the English-Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science assessments is now finished. Students appeared to take the testing seriously and they put forth a great deal of effort. I am very proud of the work that I observed and I look forward to seeing the results in the Fall.
As I have shared with the students, we still have a few additional assessments to complete during the remaining weeks of the school year. Students enrolled in Algebra I will take the Algebra I Keystone Exam on May 25th and 26th. The MAP assessment will also be administered to all students over the next several weeks:
In-Person Cohort - Assessment will be done during regular class time between now and end of school year - teachers will share specific details.
6th & 7th Grade Fully-Virtual Students - ELA, online, on May 14th
6th, 7th, & 8th Grade Fully-Virtual Students - Math, online, on May 21st
8th Grade Fully-Virtual Students - ELA, online, on June 4th
Virtual Art Show - Live on June 2nd
The Springton Lake Art Department is proud to announce that the 2020-2021 Springton Lake Virtual Art Exhibit will go live on Wednesday, June 2nd! What a year this was! Beginning in August, the Art Department compiled over one thousand individual kits of supplies for every student. As the students navigated art classes virtually, hybrid, and in person, they had the opportunity to rotate quarterly through Mixed Media, Drawing, Color and Design, and Visual Graphic Design. Along with images of hallway exhibits and clips of students working, an exciting feature to this show is the individual Google Site portfolios that students created to document their artistic journeys through the art program. While learning how to use Google Sites, students have included photos, descriptions, and self-assessments of their work. Please take the time to view the show in June to get to know our program and to see the creativity and talents of our students!
Spring Book Fair
We are pleased to offer a virtual Spring Book Fair that will run from May 17th through May 28th. Children's Book World will be providing the fair for us, and books may be picked up at the Children's Book World store or shipped directly to your home for a fee. The fair will offer a wide variety of titles and will include Summer required reading books as well. Please click on the Spring Book Fair Link to access the fair.
Penncrest High School TOPS Shop - Spring Sale
The Penncrest High School TOPS Shop is selling Spring Penncrest and Springton spirit wear. The 2021 shirts make great 8th grade promotion gifts! The online store will be open through May 17th and apparel ordered will be sent home with your child the week of May 24th. Any questions about the sale may be directed to Dr. Tiffany Orrin.
Hot Off the Presses - The Latest Edition of The Springton Lake Splash
Friday At-Home Learning Days - REVISED Schedule & Plan
For the remainder of the school year, we will be using a revised plan and schedule for our Friday at-home learning days. The revised schedule is being put into place due to the need to administer the online MAP assessment to our fully-virtual cohort. Student in our in-person cohort will complete the MAP assessment in May/June while in school. Fully-virtual students will be scheduled for MAP testing on 5/14, 5/21, & 6/4 from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Specific directions and links will be provided to students by their math and language arts teachers. For all other students, check-in for homeroom will continue to be at 9:30 AM. Homeroom will be live, attendance will be taken, and announcements will be shown. Students will then be prompted to check their grades in HAC and to work on any outstanding assignments and/or upcoming projects, activities, etc. From 9:45 AM to 11:40 AM and then again from 12:30 PM to 1:20 PM, teachers will schedule individual and small group appointments to work with students. Students may also request an appointment to meet with teachers for extra help or clarification with work. Our school counselors will also be available to meet with students. In general, students who are thriving academically may have less work to accomplish on these final Fridays of the school year. There is NO CHANGE to the schedule for students who currently attend in-person on Fridays.
We appreciate your understanding of our need to modify the Friday schedule for the final month of school. Not only will this plan allow us to accomplish MAP testing for our fully-virtual cohort, but it will also enable us to provide supports and interventions for students with this level of need. Again, this revised plan will be in place through the end of the school year.
Attention 8th Grade Students & Parents - Important Change for June 10th
The 8th Grade Recognition Ceremony (a.k.a. the 8th Grade "graduation") will take place on June 10th at 1:30 PM at Penncrest High School. I previously communicated that this would be a regular day of school for all of our students. As we continue to plan the logistics for the day, we have made the decision that 8th grade students will NOT attend school that morning. Among other things, this will eliminate the need for us to bus all 320 students to Penncrest for the ceremony. Instead, students will be able to report to Penncrest with their families. For those students who still need transportation to Penncrest, we will make that available. I will provide much more information about the logistics for the day, including any expectations for the morning, as we get closer. Again, this change impacts 8th grade students only.
Summer Programs in Rose Tree Media - Registration NOW OPEN!
The Rose Tree Media School District will once again be offering a full slate of summer programs for students of all ages. The programs include baking, arts, music, sports, theatre, and more! The complete brochure and registration information are posted on the District website.
Transportation Survey for 2021-2022 School Year
Planning is currently in process for the 2021-2022 school year. Parents are required to complete the annual transportation survey so that we know which students will be utilizing Rose Tree Media busing. The deadline to complete the form is June 15, 2021. After that time, the School District will assume that your child will NOT be using our transportation services.
Important Calendar Notes
Please make note of the following important calendar items:
Tuesday, May 18th - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS, Teacher Professional Development Day - Election Primary Day in Pennsylvania.
Thursday, June 10th - This will now be a REGULAR day of school for students in grades K-7. This was previously scheduled as a teacher professional development day.
Wednesday, June 16th - This will be the final full day of school for students.
Thursday, June 17th - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL for students, half-day, dismissal at 11:00 AM.
At their regularly scheduled March meeting, the Board of School Directors approved the official school calendar for the 2021-2022 school year. Please be sure to consult the calendar as you consider plans for trips and vacations. The first day of school is Monday, August 30, 2021 - BEFORE Labor Day.
End-of-Year Events
With the end of the school year rapidly approaching, we are working on plans for some of our culminating student events. Our team is looking for ways to provide some of our typical events while also balancing the health and safety parameters that are in place due to COVID-19. While we will have more information to share in the coming weeks, here are some quick highlights:
8th Grade Recognition Ceremony - Thursday, June 10th @ 1:30 PM, Penncrest High School Stadium - tickets for families will be subject to Pennsylvania's gathering-size restrictions in place in June.
Student awards will be presented during informal gathering of each team. We will not be able to host parents this year for our typical formal awards programs.
Off-campus field trips will not take place this year. Instead, Monday, June 14th will be Spartan Pride Day. Each team will plan a series of fun, on-campus activities for students - both indoors and outdoors.
8th Grade Farewell Celebration - Wednesday, June 16th, evening, outdoors at Springton Lake. More details to follow...
Yearbook Day will be Wednesday, June 9th. Students who pre-ordered a copy of the Yearbook will receive it on this day.
Again, more details about all of these events will be forthcoming. We hope that this preliminary information is helpful for your planning purposes.
SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL - Register your Rite Aid Pharmacy Card
Do you shop at Rite Aid Pharmacy for your prescriptions or other personal needs? If so, your purchases can also benefit our school. Take a moment to register and allow our school to earn funds each time that you visit your local Rite Aid.
Future Lions Football Camp
The Penncrest High School football program is offering an evening camp opportunity for aspiring football players. The camp will be facilitated by Penncrest High School football coaches and players. Click here for more information and to register your child.
International Travel Requirements
The Chester County Health Department is following CDC guidelines for international travel. If you are traveling internationally, the CCHD recommends that you get a COVID test 3-5 days after returning from travel and stay home and quarantine for a full 7 days after travel, even if the test is negative. If you do not get tested, you should stay home and quarantine for 10 days after travel. Please contact the school nurse to let her know your date of return and if your student will be testing and quarantining for 7 days if the test is negative or if your student will not be getting a test and quarantining for the full 10 days. The nurse will advise you how to fill out the symptom screening survey after your return.
COVID-19 Questions & Assistance
Parents & guardians who have COVID-related questions during the school day should contact our School Nurse, Ms. Hartner by email or phone - 610-627-6512. For COVID-related questions after school hours, you can reach a school district nurse. Contact information is located on the RTMSD website under District Reopening, After Hours-Covid Questions and Answers. There is a nurse available in the mornings before school from 5am to 7am, in the evenings during the week from 4pm to 9pm, on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm and on Sunday evenings from 4pm to 10pm.
Technology Resources
Need to submit a HELP DESK ticket? Let our Technology Team help!
Need assistance with HAC or Schoology? Contact Mrs. Kelly in the Guidance Department.
Weekly Newsletters - Archived Here!
Did you miss a previous week's newsletter? Need to go back to for reference or to access previous information? All of the previous updates are available to you on our website.
The Spartan Scoop - Week of May 10th
Check our this week's editions of The Spartan Scoop.