October Newsletter 2021
Memorial Middle School
Parent's Calendar for 2021-2022 School Year
October 5............Fall Parent Teacher Conferences
October 7............Fall Parent Teacher Conferences
October 11..........Native American Day Observance - No School
October 12..........Staff In-Service - No School
October 18..........Kick Off Butter Braid Fundraiser
Note from the Principal
Dear Memorial Middle School Parents,
Memorial will be conducting fall parent teacher conferences on Tuesday, October 5th and Thursday, October 7th from 4:15 to 8:15 p.m. In-person and virtual conferences are available on both evenings. In-person conferences will be offered during the first portion of each evening, and virtual conferences during the second portion of each evening. Parent teacher conferences are a great time for teachers and parents to connect. These conversations will allow teachers to share student’s academic progress and for parents to share information about the student’s strengths, needs, and learning styles. Teachers have sent a link to SignUpGenius which will allow parents to schedule a conference by viewing the dates, times, and options available.
Students completed the fall MAP Growth Assessment in Reading, Math, and Language Usage. Please note that teachers will send home a paper copy of the MAP Assessment results with students by Friday, October 8th. Please use this link to access additional information about the assessment.
Family Guide to MAP growth
https://www.nwea.org/resource-center/fact-sheet/29662/family-guide-to-map-growth_NWEA.pdf/
On October 18th, Memorial Middle School will be kicking off our annual Butter Braid school wide fundraiser. The money raised will be used for student incentives, to purchase flexible seating for students in their team areas, as well as to purchase instructional materials to enhance instruction within their classrooms. Students will bring home a Butter Braid sales form on Monday, October 18th. The last day of sales will be Monday, November 1st, and Butter Braids will be delivered to school for pick up on Monday, November 15th.
We thank you for all that you do to support your children and Memorial Middle School. Again, we look forward to our conversations at fall parent teacher conferences.
Sincerely,
Nancy Hagen, Principal
Memorial Middle School
Grading Window Schedule
As we prepare for conferences on October 5th and 7th, we wanted to inform everyone that this fall all middle schools changed to a semester grading format from a quarter format. This means that students will receive a final grade for their coursework at the end of the semester. Throughout the semester students will receive “progress grades” that will be reported during conferences and can be found on Infinite Campus. Please note that grades currently being reported are a “snapshot in time” grade. This means that we want students to continue to grow their academic skills and show academic growth towards mastery. The final grade will not appear on a report card until the end of each semester.
Student progress is reported in two categories: content standards and learning behaviors. The content standards will be reported with a letter grade. The learning behaviors will be reported with a score of 1-4 that aligns with the attached rubric. Middle school years are a time for developing soft skills that will become increasingly valuable as students transition through high school and into adult life. The learning behaviors reported on are: engagement, group communication and collaboration, independent practice, and responsibility. Teachers in the Sioux Falls School District use the instructional opportunities within their day to model, discuss, and practice skills that lead to personal growth. Please note that teachers continually conduct ongoing evaluation of learning and use various means to assess progress, both formal and informal.
Please continue to monitor Infinite Campus for ongoing feedback regarding your students’ academic and learning behavior progress. Please contact your student’s teacher with questions regarding grading or learning behaviors.
Memorial School Fundraiser
September Student of the Month
Alexis Hibner
Carson Breidenbach
Avery Gesling
Kale Gonsor
Taylor Kasten
Ethan Bauchspiess
Cadence Baxter
Deyondre Fick
Tajana Berhe
Dylan McPherson
Zoey Thoresen
Jace May
Kalisa Kraft
Cameron Milbrath
Maya Bickham
Hayden Risty
Katherine Matteson
Tayvin Jungen
Counselor Connections - October 2021
The Counselor Connection
Counseling Assignments:
- Kerri Andela: 6th Grade
- Renee Halde: 7th Grade
- Alex Dobbs: 8th Grade
Counseling Office Phone #: 362-2789 Website: http://memorialcounseling.weebly.com
Our Mission: As professional school counselors we help provide an environment in which students can achieve academic, career, and personal/social success. It is our goal and challenge to help students “Become the Best Version of Themselves.”
Olweus Bullying Prevention Program
PRO Teachers have started holding class meetings about once a month which include topics such as:
Stopping & preventing bullying
The Bullying Circle – Everyone has a role
Being part of the solution vs. part of the problem
Empathy, character development, etc.
If there are concerns about bullying behaviors at school, students can submit a report on our school’s blogspot. The Student Reporting Form is on our school’s website under “Reporting Forms.”
Energizing vs. Draining Friendships
Good friends are hard to find. Take a minute to think about your best friend. What are the qualities they have that make them a good friend? Are there some friendships that are really draining? For more information on what you can do to encourage healthy friendships, you can click on the link above.
Healthy Sleep Habits - Resources
Teen Sleep Crisis
How do I help my middle schooler overcome challenges and grow as a person? Much of this depends on the mindset of the individual and family. The following are resources about developing something Dr. Carol Dweck calls a “Growth Mindset:”
Print & Talk about at the Dinner Table:
Memorial Student Flu Shot clinic
MUSIC DEPTARTMENT CALENDAR
Contact Us
Office Hours are 7:30 am to 4:30 pm (Monday - Friday)
After Hours: (605) 362-2792
- Press 1 for attendance
- Press 2 to leave a message
Cafeteria: (605) 362-2799
Counseling Office: (605) 362-2789
After School Program: (605) 370-9649
Website: http://www.sf.k12.sd.us/memorial/home
Location: Memorial Middle School, 1401 S Sertoma Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57106, USA
Phone: (605) 362-2785
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MemorialMSSF/
Twitter: @MemorialMSSF