Scarborough Middle School
Family Newsletter for 3-26-2021
Hello Scarborough Middle School Families,
On March 18th the school board approved a plan to increase face-to-face student learning time by alternating Wednesdays in our current hybrid model. The Wednesday rotation will begin on April 7th for Cohort A and April 14 for Cohort B. There is no school on Friday, April 16th. By alternating Wednesdays for each cohort, we can incrementally add face-to-face learning time for all hybrid students this spring. Students who are attending school 4 days a week (Cohort D) will only attend Wednesdays on their original Cohort A or B day. The schedule for the in-Person days by Cohort can be found here.
We are excited to have students onsite on Wednesdays. We will be using this time for students to interact with each other and with our teachers for the purpose of continuing their learning. Our teachers will be working with students in a variety of ways that will deepen and extend their learning. Students may be engaged in practicing skills, receiving extra help, making up work, or enrichment activities that extend their thinking via drawing or writing, and may be working on projects, to share just a few examples.
Please see the new Quarter 4 Wednesday Schedule. Cohorts A, B, and C will be following this schedule on Wednesdays. We will be continuing to hold classes for both in person and remote students. Crew teachers will be reviewing the new Wednesday schedule with students and on Tuesday, April 6th, helping them sign up for their RISE classes.
To help our school with logistical planning, please indicate whether your child will be attending school in person, following their cohort's Wednesday schedule. THIS SURVEY IS FOR COHORT A and COHORT B STUDENTS. Our Cohort C families will maintain their remote schedule on Wednesday's. Please fill out the SMS Increasing in Person Learning form for each of your children separately by Tuesday, March 30.
The school hours on Wednesday are 8:00AM-11:30AM. Students may be dropped off as early as 7:20am and students may enter the building at 7:40am. Dismissal will begin at 11:20am.
Below is the current dismissal plan for Wednesdays. Please keep in mind we are in a period of transition and adjusting to the new Wednesday routine, therefore, these times may be adjusted after we have a few in-person Wednesdays.
Bus students will be dismissed to the buses at 11:20am.
Walkers will be dismissed at 11:20am.
8th grade students and their siblings will be dismissed at 11:25am for parent pick-up.
7th grade students and 6th grade siblings will be dismissed at 11:30am for parent pick-up.
6th grade students will be dismissed at 11:35am for parent pick-up.
By having five minutes between dismissals, we are hopeful that this will minimize traffic and wait time. Please do not enter the school campus until your designated pick up time to keep traffic moving.
We appreciate your efforts to transport your child and your patience as we make this as efficient as possible.
Respectfully,
Kathy Tirrell, Principal
David Currier, Assistant Principal
TECH SUPPORT
Scarborough Middle School Families,
This update is in regards to the start of the middle school spring sports season. Practices for 7th & 8th grade springs sports will begin after April vacation on Monday, May 3, 2021. Prior to this date, we will hold mandatory call out meetings by sport. These call out meetings are designed to ensure that all student-athletes understand the expectations regarding COVID protocols in relation to their after school activity. During this meeting, coaches will have time to talk to their student-athletes regarding the season. A schedule for these meetings will be sent out at a later date, to those student-athletes who are registered in the FamilyID system for a middle school spring sport.
You may be aware that during the Fall and Winter season at the middle school, sports took place in-house, with no competition between other schools. The conversation regarding competition between other schools for the spring season is ongoing. When a decision is made regarding competition, we will send out a correspondence detailing that decision, along with any sport specific details and guidelines that families will need to be aware of before starting the season.
It is crucial for students wishing to participate in a spring sport at the 7th and 8th grade levels, that parents of those student-athletes complete the FamilyID online registration process as soon as possible. As the season gets underway, we will begin to use the FamilyID system to send out important information. The FamilyID registration can be found here → or by visiting www.scarboroughredstorm.org/registration
Thank you for your patience and we look forward to starting spring sports at the middle school!!
~SPS Athletics & Activities
Even with our hybrid learning model we are still indeed creating a Yearbook for the middle school! See below for a summary of upcoming deadlines, but also make sure to see additional information at the SMS Yearbook Website.
Remote Learning Pictures - all grades - Due ASAP through April 9th
- We are looking for pictures of students doing remote learning at home! We are accepting pictures from all grades and all cohorts, but would especially love to have pictures of fully remote (Cohort C) students!
8th Grade Dedication Submission - Due Tuesday March 30th
- Send in a brief written dedication along with a picture of your choice.
- Complete this Google Form (preferred) or print and return/scan this order form.
- Cost is $15 - send or mail payment to Scarborough Middle School.
Yearbook Pre-orders - Due Friday April 16th
- Order online through Lifetouch. School ID Code is 12904721.
- Only limited extras are available at the end of the year so make sure to order ahead of time!
For questions about the SMS Yearbook, please contact Will Cabana, Yearbook Advisor at wcabana@scarboroughschools.org.
Here is a link to the Student Advocacy Google Classroom for March. This month's theme is Mindfulness. You will find a number of videos about living a mindful life and a couple of meditations to try on your own.
We hope that you find some strategies and ideas to make your lives more peaceful! As always, we are here as a resource for you and your child. Please feel free to reach out at any time.
Have a Mindful March,
Michelle Grant
migrant@scarboroughschools.org
730-4815
Melissa Jones
730-4818
Wednesday, April 7 - Cohort A in person
Wednesday, April 14 - Cohort B in person
APRIL BREAK
- Friday, April 16 (Staff Flex Day) through Friday, April 23
Scarborough Middle School
Email: msoffice@scarboroughschools.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/scarboroughschools.org/sms/
Location: 21 Quentin Drive, Scarborough, ME, USA
Phone: (207) 730-4800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scarbmeschools/
Twitter: @scarbmeschools