HELLO, GOPHERS
Principal's Weekly Newsletter
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Stone Families,
We made it through our first interim of school. First interim grades will be posted on FOCUS September 13th. This is a great time for parents to check in on their student's progress and plans for the future. This is just the halfway mark of the first 9 week grading period. There is plenty of time for continued growth, improvement and learning opportunities.
In addition to ending the first interim, we finished progress monitoring testing for reading and math. We look forward to reviewing student progress, creating plans for intervention and celebrating student achievement. As always, we use data to drive our instruction.
As stated last week, our lead team is currently working to implement PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Supports) schoolwide. Incentives and goals will be set for academic, attendance and behavior growth and achievement! In saying this, we believe community support is vital. If you are interested in supporting Stone's academic, attendance and behavior goals, please email me at lundy.courtney@brevardschools.org.
Sincerely,
Courtney Lundy
Principal
FOCUS Gradebook Parent- Checking Interims
View Interim Grades in FOCUS:
Interim grades (mid-1st 9 weeks) will be available after 5:00pm Friday, September 10. You may view the grades on your parent FOCUS account. You may also request your student(s) to log into their FOCUS account and show you their grades. Here are the instructions for viewing posted grades on FOCUS. https://goo.gl/uehfV1.
Official Interim Report: Parents can click on “Grades” located under the student name in the left window pane. Once they get to the next screen, they should choose the options they wish to view. Check the box for “Show Progress Periods” to see all block marking periods. Directions for parents on how to view these reports can be found online at https://goo.gl/uehfV1.
Tutoring
Tutoring will begin the week of September 27th. The schedule will be posted on our website next week. The zoom link will be available on the flyer once posted to our website.
Tutoring is face to face and online Monday-Friday
7:30-8:30AM
4:30-5:30PM and NO tutoring Friday afternoons
***Students must be picked up on time @ 5:30
We need volunteers. Want to be a Volunteer?
Stone's AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination)
AVID's Schoolwide Expectations in the classroom include the following:
WICOR:
W- Writing
I- Inquiry
C- Collaboration
O- Organization
R- Reading
AVID Binder
The AVID Binder is a system for keeping essential school materials and class assignments organized into one binder.
How can I support my child at home?
Regularly check your child’s backpack and AVID Binder. All papers should be placed in binder rings in the proper class section. Remove unnecessary papers. Ensure all required materials are present. We encourage you to reference the attached checklist
Check your child’s Student Planner daily.
AVID Binder Checklist:
1. Sturdy 3” or larger three-ring binder
2. Student Planner
a. IN the binder
b. Up-to-date
3. Sturdy zippered pencil pouch (in binder)
a. At least 2 (sharpened) pencils
b. At least 3 different color pens
c. At least 3 different colored highlighters
d. Paper Reinforcements
e. Eraser (CAN be on the end of a pencil)
f. Sticky Notes
4. Tabbed/Labeled dividers
a. AVID (with 3 sub-dividers)
b. Language Arts
c. Math
d. Science
e. Social Studies
f. All Other Electives (List below)
i. ________________________________________
ii. ________________________________________
iii.
5. Extra Notebook paper (can be in spiral)
6. Organized (no loose papers and NOTHING in front pockets
Reminder:
Everything must be hole-punched and kept within the 3-rings.
Nothing should be in the “pockets” of the binder or dividers.
SMMS STEAM Update
Our STEAM coordinator (Mrs. Romaine) is currently collaborating and planning with FIT to implement sustainability projects schoolwide.
Title I
Parents and Community Members, please complete the Parent and Family Engagement Plan Survey this week. Your input and feedback will help us use our Title 1 funds to support our students and families this year. How can the Stone MMS help you help your students learn at home this year? What do your students need here at school to be academic superstars? We look forward to hearing your thought and ideas so we can work together to help our students achieve success! You can find the survey in English and Spanish at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/4yn7mdaj. Other languages will be sent directly home with students or you can email Harvey.tiffany@brevardschools.org to request additional surveys. Thank you!
Local Law Enforcement Support
Mental Health Lessons
Additionally, instruction will be provided for students enrolled in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade in substance use and abuse (Rule 6A.1094122) and child trafficking prevention and awareness (Rule 6A 1.904123). Lessons were designed to be developmentally appropriate for each grade level.
These lessons will begin next week.
As we provide this basic instruction to students during the school day, we encourage all families to have ongoing conversations with their children about mental and emotional health and wellness.
Free and Reduced Lunch Application
- Discounts on SAT/ACT testing (School PSAT testing)
- Pandemic EBT benefits
- Summer enrichment programs
- Discounts on technology or internet services
Information for Quarantine Students
Quarantined? Follow these step-by-step instructions to find your teacher's instructions.
Watch the video and follow the steps for each course you are assigned. Play, pause, do, play, pause, do. If you use it as a tutorial, it can help you find the information your teacher has provided.
C-19 Update- BPS
Brevard School Board Approves Temporary Mandatory Face Mask Policy
The Brevard School Board voted 3-2 to implement an emergency policy of making face masks mandatory on school board property, including schools and school buses.
Important Information:
- Each Pre-K-12 student, employee, visitor, vendor, or other person is required to wear a face covering at all times while indoors on school district property.
- A child younger than two years old and a person with a medical certification are not required to have a face covering. Medical Certification: A face covering shall not be required for persons who present school district staff with a certification from a licensed health care provider that the person has a medical, physical, or psychological contraindication that prevents the person from being able to safely wear a face covering.
- Other times a face covering is not required: students with supervisor’s approval, eating and drinking, strenuous physical activity, receiving health care, exigent circumstances.
- A face covering IS NOT needed if a student or adult is outside.
- The mask mandate will reduce quarantines of students and staff, based on CDC guidelines.
This Emergency Policy is effective immediately and will remain in effect for up to 30 days. A five-day grace period may be extended to those who need to obtain exemption documentation.
COVID Testing Sites:
Change in Contact Tracing Procedures
Contact tracing will still target any student who was within 6 feet of a known case (NOT PRESUMPTIVE, either laboratory-confirmed or clinically diagnosed only) for longer than 15 minutes cumulative over a 24 hour period. Contact tracing should be done for the 48 hours prior to the onset of symptoms and through the last day of contact.
NEW Exception: In the K–12 indoor classroom setting, the close contact definition excludes students who were within 3 to 6 feet of a positive case student if both the infected student and the exposed student(s) correctly and consistently wore well-fitting masks the entire time.
What this means in practice – if a teacher can confirm their students are 3 – 6 feet apart and wearing a mask, AND the infected student/teacher is wearing a mask, the student contacts-to-case do not need to be quarantined.
Personal Health:
We strongly recommend if a student is sick or has any symptoms of illness to stay home. Student absences will not count against a student for COVID-related absences.
BPS Indoor Sporting Events and Activities
Limited to 50% spectator capacity.
DJ No request every Friday during all Lunches!
Next Week's Happenings:
- 9/13-24- Mel Fisher Pop Up Museum: Outbreaks through the Ages- Media Center
- 9/13- Interims posted to FOCUS
- 9/15- 8:30AM- Wednesday- Spanish Club- 508
- 9/15- Spanish Heritage Month Begins
- 9/15- 4:30PM- Wednesdsay- Gardening Club- 303
- 9/15- 8:45AM- Wednesday- Student Government Meeting- 106
- 9/18- Saturday- Palm Bay Mulicultural Event
Monthly events Link: Calendar Access (2nd half of our homepage)
Appreciation
Thank you to all our Business Partners and Community Partners!
Thank you to the following Business and Community Partners who have recently supported SMMS:
- Bagel World (Satellite Beach)
- Calvary Chapel
- Elevation Church
- FIT Environmental and Sustainability
- HarrisL3
- Melbourne Parks and Recreation
- Melbourne Police Community/Relations Council
- NAACP
- Northrop Grumman]
- Sue Ann's Bakery
- SuperGlass Professional Windshield Repair & Replacemen
- Thrifty Specialty Produce
- VFW
Stone Magnet Middle School
1101 E. University Blvd. Melbourne, FL. 32901
321-723-0741
Website: https://www.brevardschools.org/Page/153
Twitter @stonemms
Facebook @StoneMS
Instagram @stonemagnetgophers
BREVARD's Mission is to serve every student with excellence as the standard.
STONE's Mission is to create engaged and intrinsically motivated citizens of the 21st century through commitment, dedication, teamwork and scholarship.
STONE AVID's Mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society.