Stanwood Middle School
Family Update - November 15th, 2020
*This message was originally scheduled to go out yesterday, but our system was down*
Here is the link for our Virtual Veterans Day Assembly: https://youtu.be/9GNWYJd5r0U
A big thank you to all our students and staff that helped put this assembly together!
Conferences at Stanwood Middle School will be held the evening of November 18th and November 19th between 2:45 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. A reminder that we have limited times this year for conferences, which is a change from the past. Our teachers have been working hard to determine which students they feel are in need of conferences and have been reaching out to families this week. We ask that you hold off requesting a conference until teachers have reached out and scheduled conferences.
Also included below is the information from our PTO from last week, make sure you scroll down and take a look!
We've also included information for student clubs and our HIB Poster Contest.
Character Dare
This month our Character Dare for students is focusing on gratitude. Each day on the morning announcements we are sharing our daily gratitude for our SMS community and a quote or fact about the powerful effects of practicing gratitude.
Class Meetings this week
Sixth grade meets at 11:15 Meet Code: SMS2027
Seventh grade meets at 12:15 Meet Code: SMS2026
Eighth grade meets at 1:15 Meet Code: SMS2025
On November 25, we will have class meetings only--all starting at 10 a.m.
As always, please reach out if you need anything!
Thank you and have a great weekend!
Tod Klundt
Principal
Stanwood Middle School
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Signs of Suicide Information
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A message from our Counselor Mrs. Fox!
Easy Way to Organize Homework Each Week
Hello Everyone! One of the main things I am working on with students right now is organization skills. i.e. How to create a new normal and stay caught up on homework. Keeping up on homework is one of the keys to success and less stress in distance learning -- and I know it’s not always easy.
Students are, of course, used to the regular routine of: alarm clock, breakfast, go to school, do homework. With schedules and routines so different these days, we are really asking young people to practice some pretty advanced time management and organization skills. We are here to help!
One of the easiest ways to organize homework is to make a simple to do list. Students and families have different ways of doing this, and honestly, posting a simple list on a piece of paper is one of my best suggestions. For example:
1. Math homework items.. - Monday
2. ELA homework items.. - Tuesday
3. Science homework items.. - Wednesday
…and so on, for each of your student’s classes, keeping in mind that all homework is due on Wednesday night each week. Help your student create the list, and check in with them each day on their progress and goals. I encourage students to cross off each item after they turn it in in Google Classroom. This helps them feel accomplished and build momentum to keep going.
Alternatively, some students create a spreadsheet, and I wanted to offer an example in the picture below. You and your student could create this same spreadsheet using Google Sheets (easily available with your student’s Google account). This is a great way for you and your student to keep track of each assignment for each class each week. You will see in my example columns for each class, and tabs for the due date each week. Your student can “strikethrough” (i.e. cross off in Google Sheets) or highlight each item after they turn it in to make it easy to see what is left to complete.
Please email me at KFox@stanwood.wednet.edu if you have questions or would like help creating this kind of spreadsheet. I am here to help!
Keep up the great work during this unusual time ~ We will get through this together!
Kara Fox
Counselor
Stanwood Middle School
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PTO message and information:
GREETINGS SMS FAMILIES!
Your friendly PTO is having a Spirit Wear sale starting today until Friday Nov 20.
Please complete the form below and return to:
SMS PTO
PO Box 1387
Stanwood, WA 98292
or email back to: stanwoodmiddleschoolpto@gmail.com
Drive by pick up dates will be Wednesday, Dec 9 - Friday, Dec 11, times TBA. If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at the above address or call Dawn Nordin at 206-999-0619.
PTO Spirit Wear Form - Click the PDF below:
All the Clubs at SMS
The SMS Community Club meets Tuesdays at 2:40. A chance for students to get together virtually to chat and share their interests. Meet code: SMS Community
SMS Homework Club with Mr. Bliss meets Tuesdays at 2:40. Students will be able to log on and get help with their classes. Mr. Bliss' speciality is math, but he can offer assistance with all other academic areas as well. Meet code: SMS HW Club
Coming soon:
Family and Consumer Science Club with Mrs. Berg. For more information please email her at jberg@stanwood.wednet.edu
Games of Strategy with Mr. Wall begins Wednesday, December 2 @ 2:40. Join the Google Classroom with the code: 4xhfzv6
For more information please email him at lwall@stanwood.wednet.edu
Virtual HIB Poster Contest
We want to thank all of the students who entered in our virtual HIB Poster Contest. Your extra time, effort, and energy is much appreciated.
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For Parents of 8th Grade Students
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Yearbook Snap App
Even though we are at a distance, our yearbook can bring us together! Mr. Wall and the yearbook staff are asking people to submit photos from summer and the first day of school through the Yearbook Snap App or their computer. The flyer down below explains how to do this!
School Pictures and Student Identification Cards
We will keep you updated and make sure all our families know right away once we have them scheduled!
Message from Food Service
Please click on this link food service page.
Below Is All The Important Information From Previous Family Messages!
1. Video regarding Family Access/Skyward
2. A link to a toolkit for Family Access/Skyward
3. A message from our Counselor Mrs. Fox
4. Our Open House slide show
5. Information regarding accessing student email
6. Information regarding accessing Google Classroom
7. The Weekly Schedule for students
Please see the video below regarding Family Access/Skyward
Click the box below for a toolkit to help with Family Access/Skyward
In case you missed it last time, here is our Open House Staff Slideshow - 2020/2021
Typically a big part of our Open House is our introduction of staff in the gym and then students are able to tour the building and see those staff members in the classrooms. Because we are not able to be in person this year Mr. Wall, our wonderful multimedia, yearbook and keyboarding teacher, has put together a slideshow to allow families to see faces, to see what peoples roles are in the building, and to see contact information for everyone!
Please click the link to see our slideshow:
Accessing Student Email
Google Classroom Access
Students will need to access Google Classroom to get assignments, take quizzes and tests, and see other information teachers post.
Here are directions to access Google Classroom.
Weekly Schedule for Students
Please see the schedule below for what the schedule will look like for a middle school student once we start school.
Students will attend periods 1, 3, & 5 on Mondays and Thursdays as well as periods 2, 4, & 6 on Tuesdays and Fridays (schedule with times shown below).
During these class times, teachers may be instructing students and/or be showing a pre-recorded video along with classroom discussions & activities.
On Wednesdays, students will have the opportunity to check in with their teachers during student hours set up by individual teachers.
The Stanwood-Camano School District does not discriminate in employment, programs, or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the District's Title IX/Affirmative Action Officer and Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator, Maurene Stanton (mstanton@stanwood.wednet.edu), or the Section 504/American Disabilities Act Coordinator, Robert Hascall (rhascall@stanwood.wednet.edu) Stanwood-Camano School District, 26920 Pioneer Hwy, Stanwood, WA 98292. Telephone: (360) 629-1200.
El Distrito Escolar de Stanwood-Camano School District no discrimina en sus programas o actividades por motivos de sexo, raza, credo, religión, color, origen nacional, edad, condición de veterano de guerra o grado militar, orientación sexual, expresión de género o identidad, discapacidad o uso de perro guía entrenado o animal de servicio, y ofrece igualdad de acceso a los Boy Scouts y a otros grupos de jóvenes especificados. El empleado mencionado a continuación ha sido designado para atender consultas y quejas de supuesta discriminación: Título IX / Oficial de Acción Afirmativa y Coordinador de Cumplimiento de Derechos Civiles, Maurene Stanton (mstanton@stanwood.wednet.edu), o la Sección 504 / Coordinador de la Ley de Discapacidades Estadounidenses, Robert Hascall (rhascall@stanwood.wednet.edu), Distrito Escolar Stanwood-Camano, 26920 Pioneer Hwy, Stanwood, WA 98292. Teléfono: (360) 629- 1200