STEAM Middle School
Wolverine News Volume 24
The Week of May 9th-13th
Upcoming Dates
May 7th: BISD Character March at Burleson High School (9:00 am)
May 8th: Mother's Day
May 9th-12th: STAAR Testing
May 13th: Make-Up STAAR Testing
May 13th: Silent Auction basket donations are due [see the PTO portion below]
May 17th: PTO General Meeting at 6:30
STEAM Schedule for 5/9-5/12
- No morning shuttles (All students will begin the at STEAM)
- Students with at HMS will end the at HMS.
- Students with at KMS will end the at KMS.
- No morning shuttles (All students will begin the at STEAM)
- Students with at HMS will end the at HMS.
- Students with at KMS will end the at KMS.
Wednesday, May 11th
- No morning shuttles (All students will begin the at STEAM)
- Students with at HMS will end the at HMS.
- All KMS-zoned students that travel to KMS for classes will end the at STEAM.
Thursday, May 12th
- Students with at HMS will begin the day at HMS.
- Students with at HMS will end the day at HMS.
- All KMS-zoned students that travel to KMS for classes will begin the at STEAM.
- Students with at KMS will end the at KMS.
IMPORTANT STAAR TESTING INFO
Please review the included document for important STAAR testing reminders as well as protocol involving visitors, appointments, and conferences.
STAAR Testing Calendar
Released STAAR Tests
Below you will find released STAAR tests. We encourage you to review each test that your student will be taking this year. We work hard every day to prepare our students and recognize that understanding the types of questions that they will be asked can be beneficial to both you and your child. You may find the answers to these tests on the final pages of each release, or click here to be routed to a website for the answer key.
STEM Camp
Stay Up-To Date With the STEAM Carnival!
Mrs. Morgan and The Makerspace!
The Makerspace will be closed this week due to testing.
Counseling Corner with Mrs. Harrison
We are in our final round of testing before semester exams! It is not uncommon if nerves and anxiety begin to peak. Feeling uncertain and anxious prior to and during testing is completely normal.
There are many strategies that students may benefit from:
- Take care of yourself. Eat healthy foods and get plenty of sleep before a test. Moderate physical activity or exercise prior to taking the test can reduce body tension.
- Take practice tests. It is proven that those who practice are less likely to become nervous when doing something that is familiar. Take advantage of the included released STAAR tests, this will be useful as the format will be similar.
- Come prepared. Arrive to school on time. Get your things ready the night before so that you are not searching around last minute
- Relax during the test. If you begin to feel tense or nervous during testing take a quick relaxation break. Here are a few ideas: 1. take several deep breaths {in through your nose and out through your mouth, slowly}, 2. squeeze your muscles and hold for 5 seconds, then relax {repeat this 3 times}, 3. think of a peaceful and quiet setting {try imagining yourself in a calm and relaxed setting}, and 4. speak positively; replace negative self-talk.
On the Testing Day:
- Make it a point to listen closely to directions and time reminders.
- Read directions closely.
- Utilize strategies that teachers have given you.
- Use your time wisely.
- For multiple-choiced questions, don't get sidetracked looking for patterns of answers. Do read each choice given carefully; some choices appear correct at first glance but turn out to be wrong once you take a further look.
Attendance
Attendance is of utmost importance. When students are absent, not only do they miss out on direct instruction, but also they have assignments that begin to pile up. While sometimes being absent is unavoidable, especially if a student has a fever or doctor's orders to stay home, if at all possible make sure they attend every day.
In Texas, students are required to attend school no less than 90% of the time, or to be absent no more than 17 days. When students pass 17 days of absences (EVEN excused with a doctor's note and partial absences) they are subject to loss of credit. Loss of credit means that they will not be given credit for courses (a really big deal if they are enrolled in high school classes). We work hard to insure that all of our students have the tools to be successful; thus, we allow students who have 17 + absences the opportunity to make-up seat time in order to avoid credit loss.
If your child has reached the 17 day limit you will be contacted and provided with a plan of action to make sure that seat-time recovery is a viable option.
Sometimes being absent is unavoidable and necessary but, if students are not required to stay home we ask that they have 100% attendance. Please see the Burleson ISD Attendance Letter for more information.
Spring Exam Exemption Policy
Please see the attached document below for the STEAM Spring Semester Exam Exemption Policy. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Harrison.
A Note From Nurse Shields
IMMUNIZATIONS
PLEASE make sure all of your child’s immunizations are up to date for the 2016-2017 school year, and that all shot records are submitted to Nurse Shields in a timely manner. You may start turning in updated shot records NOW for the 2016-2017 school year, if you have them. You can submit them online here or you can email them to Brittney.Shields@bisdmail.net
If you are unsure what vaccines your child will need before starting school in August, you can access that information on the BISD Health Services website or you may call Nurse Shields’ office at 817-245-1510, or email her at the email address above.
Your child must be 100% compliant, and the school must have record of ALL state required vaccines before they will be allowed to start school. If your student is non-compliant, they will not receive a schedule when schedules are distributed.
**Please note: An “Immunization Waiver/Affidavit” is only valid for 24 months. They must also be current in order to be considered compliant**
What is S.T.E.A.M.?
STEAM U and Academic Labs
STEAM U
- During the school day.
- Students will complete assigned modules that will cover Math, Science, & ELA
- Modules are grade level specific.
- Modules are designed to be completed in 20 mins
- Modules for the entire week open on Monday
Academic Labs
- Assigned to students who show a need for support in core subject areas.
- Target specific areas of weakness
- Provide an opportunity for tutoring during the school day
- Students demonstrate their mastery of knowledge in order to be reassigned to STEAM U.
STEAM U and Academic Labs serve as purposeful ways to reach all of our students where they are, while providing targeted opportunities for academic growth.
STEAM PTO
THANK YOU PTO FOR ALL OF YOUR THOUGHTFULLNESS DURING TEACHER APPRECIATION!
Please sign up for STEAM Middle School Carnival!
Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
1. Click this link to go to our invitation page on VolunteerSpot: http://vols.pt/Up8PWX
2. Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account on VolunteerSpot)
3. Sign up! Choose your spots - VolunteerSpot will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy!
Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.
Find us on Facebook: STEAM Middle School PTO - Burleson, Texas.
Have questions or comments for the PTO?
Contact us at BurlesonSTEAMPTO@gmail.com.
Lost & Found Items
Items that remain in the Lost & Found by Friday afternoon will be taken to the Harvest House. Students are encouraged to check for missing items, too many things are being left behind! The Lost & Found is located in the office.
Directory Information
Parents,
Our STEAM social media accounts are updated frequently with the exciting things going on at STEAM. We would like to make sure your student is able to be a part of our STEAM videos and photos that we post on our STEAM social media accounts. Please update your student's directory information if you would like your STEAM student a part of our videos and photos. You may complete the attachment below and return this form to our front office.