Springton Lake Middle School
Every Student. Every Day. No Matter What.
Springton Lake Middle School
Email: RSalladino@rtmsd.org
Website: https://www.rtmsd.org/2/home
Location: 1900 North Providence Road, Media, PA, USA
Phone: (610) 627-6500
Twitter: @SpringtonLakeMS
April 30, 2021
Positive Momentum!
I hope that you are all doing well and that you had a great week! It's been another busy week at The Lake as we close out the month of April and turn our attention next week to PSSA testing. For the FOURTH consecutive week, there have been no cases of COVID from in school exposure. All cases reflected in the tracker are from out of school exposures. The COVID tracker is available on the District website and is updated each Friday. The numbers of our middle school students currently being impacted by COVID definitely appear to be trending in a very positive direction. With that said, we will remain diligent, aware, and continue practicing mask up, wash up, and back up.
Next week is significant for two important reasons. First, PSSA testing will begin on Monday. Please be sure to review the PSSA section of this newsletter so that you and your child know what to expect. The other important happening next week is that we will be celebrating Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week! This week is designated annually to show our appreciation for the professionals who work with our students each day. If ever there was a year that our teachers deserve that appreciation and recognition - it's this one! Please consider sending a handwritten note or email of thanks to one of our incredible staff members. I feel so fortunate to have such an awesome team of educators at Springton Lake - and I am sure that you do, too!
As always, thank you for reading this weekly newsletter. I hope that you have a wonderful weekend - be well and stay safe!
PSSA Testing Begins on Monday, May 3rd
PSSA testing in ALL grades will begin on Monday, May 3, 2021. Last week, I sent a "Special Edition" of my newsletter that was dedicated to all things PSSA. I hope that you were able to review that information. For your quick reference, I am again including the link here with that information.
Here are a few quick reminders that will help us to have a smooth start to testing...
- Fully-virtual students taking the PSSA should report to the Auditorium Lobby upon their arrival to the building. Other than a book to read when they are finished, they do not need to bring anything else with them on Monday. Parents should complete the symptom screener before students arrive to school.
- Fully-virtual students taking the PSSA will need a ride home from school at the end of the testing session. Students will be required to remain for the entire testing session.
- Students who are not taking the PSSA are required to virtually attend homeroom at 7:55 AM. Otherwise, they will be marked absent. Language Arts teachers have posted a required assignment for those students to complete independently in lieu of testing.
- Students who are not taking the PSSA will be required to report to school at 10:30 AM (10:50 AM on Tuesday ONLY). School transportation is not provided. If a student does not have transportation, virtual class attendance will be permitted/excused on testing days only.
- Because testing days are school days for all students - regardless of participation in the PSSA - I also want families to understand how we will handle attendance. Please review this handy document for those details.
Please note - we are no longer able to accept requests for students to be excused from PSSA testing. The deadline for making this written request was earlier this week. We also ask for your patience and flexibility next week. This is our first time administering required PSSA testing during a pandemic and there are many, many moving parts.
COVID Vaccine for Students Ages 12-15
An important e-mail was sent this afternoon to families of students ages 12-15 regarding the possibility of them receiving a COVID vaccine in the coming weeks. For your reference, this email is included below:
The Rose Tree Media School District, Springfield Pharmacy, and the Delaware County Intermediate Unit [DCIU] have developed a strong partnership to provide the two-dose Pfizer Vaccine to our students ages 16 and older. Pfizer has also developed a vaccine for children from the ages of 12 to 15. Pfizer has reported that approval studies have shown a high antibody response from the vaccine among 12 to 15-year-olds, that participants tolerated the vaccine well, and that it offered 100% protection against the virus in this age group. The FDA is currently reviewing the data and it is likely that there will be emergency FDA approval of this vaccine sometime in early to mid-May.
The District will have the opportunity to provide the vaccine to the 12-15 year old age group as it has for the 16+ year old age group. In anticipation of the FDA emergency approval, we need to know how many families and students in the 12 to 15 year-old age group are interested in getting the vaccine. If your child is or will be between the ages of 12 to 15 years old on or before May 15, 2021, please complete the survey here.
It must be submitted no later than Wednesday, May 5, 2021. Please complete the survey regardless of whether or not you want your child to receive the vaccine. Please complete the survey for EACH child you have in the 12-15 year old age group. For 2-parent/guardian families, please determine which parent/ guardian will complete the survey and please have only ONE parent complete the survey for each child.
Once we have our definitive numbers, we will communicate with you regarding dates, times, and other logistical details once the Pfizer vaccine becomes available for children ages 12 to 15. Please note, your child is not required to get vaccinated or to participate in the vaccination clinic. The district is simply partnering to provide this opportunity as a courtesy service for those interested in having their children receive the vaccine. We appreciate you kindly letting us know of your anticipated interest by completing the short survey.
JOIN US! F.A.R.E. Meeting for Parents & Guardians - May 6th
The next meeting of Springton Lake's F.A.R.E. group - Family Alliance for Respect & Equity - will be on Thursday, May 6th from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. We will be sharing an overview of our equity work this year and provide a forum for some discussion and sharing. All are welcome to join the conversation.
Important Calendar Notes
Please make note of the following important calendar items:
Tuesday, May 18th - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS, Teacher Professional Development Day - Election Primary Day in Pennsylvania.
Thursday, June 10th - This will now be a REGULAR day of school for students in grades K-8. This was previously scheduled as a teacher professional development day.
Wednesday, June 16th - This will be the final full day of school for students.
Thursday, June 17th - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL for students, half-day, dismissal at 11:00 AM.
At their regularly scheduled March meeting, the Board of School Directors approved the official school calendar for the 2021-2022 school year. Please be sure to consult the calendar as you consider plans for trips and vacations. The first day of school is Monday, August 30, 2021 - BEFORE Labor Day.
End-of-Year Events
With the end of the school year rapidly approaching, we are working on plans for some of our culminating student events. Our team is looking for ways to provide some of our typical events while also balancing the health and safety parameters that are in place due to COVID-19. While we will have more information to share in the coming weeks, here are some quick highlights:
8th Grade Recognition Ceremony - Thursday, June 10th @ 1:30 PM, Penncrest High School Stadium - tickets for families will be subject to Pennsylvania's gathering-size restrictions in place in June.
Student awards will be presented during informal gathering of each team. We will not be able to host parents this year for our typical formal awards programs.
Off-campus field trips will not take place this year. Instead, Monday, June 14th will be Spartan Pride Day. Each team will plan a series of fun, on-campus activities for students - both indoors and outdoors.
8th Grade Farewell Celebration - TENTATIVE, Wednesday, June 16th, evening, outdoors at Springton Lake.
Yearbook Day will be Wednesday, June 9th. Students who pre-ordered a copy of the Yearbook will receive it on this day. The LAST CHANCE to pre-order a Yearbook is before May 7th. Go to www.jostens.com and click on Yearbooks ---> Buy Your Yearbook and search for our school. The cost is $30.
Again, more details about all of these events will be forthcoming. We hope that this preliminary information is helpful for your planning purposes.
Face Coverings - Have a "Back-up"
As we continue to emphasize masking as one of our key strategies to keep everyone healthy and safe, we are noticing an increase in the number of students who are needing us to provide replacement masks during the school day due to breakage or soiling. While we are certainly able to do so, we encourage you to have your child keep a "back-up" mask in their book bag for issues or emergencies. We appreciate your assistance!
Get Involved in the PTG!
The SLMS PTG holds its Board elections for next school year on May 11th. We have received nominations for several Board positions, but still need nominations for Treasurer. You can nominate yourself or someone else - and you don't need to be a CPA! Reach out to President@slmsptg.org or VP@slmsptg.org with your nomination or questions. Thank you for your consideration.
Future Lions Football Camp
The Penncrest High School football program is offering an evening camp opportunity for aspiring football players. The camp will be facilitated by Penncrest High School football coaches and players. Click here for more information and to register your child.
International Travel Requirements
The Chester County Health Department is following CDC guidelines for international travel. If you are traveling internationally, the CCHD recommends that you get a COVID test 3-5 days after returning from travel and stay home and quarantine for a full 7 days after travel, even if the test is negative. If you do not get tested, you should stay home and quarantine for 10 days after travel. Please contact the school nurse to let her know your date of return and if your student will be testing and quarantining for 7 days if the test is negative or if your student will not be getting a test and quarantining for the full 10 days. The nurse will advise you how to fill out the symptom screening survey after your return.
Important Update - Attendance Procedures
Students who are enrolled for in-person instruction are expected to attend in-person on a consistent basis unless there is an approved reason to be at home - i.e. exposure to COVID, quarantine due to close contact/contract tracing. Students without an approved reason who do not attend in-person when expected will be marked ABSENT - even if they are present on Zoom.
- Please continue to use the daily symptom screener to monitor symptoms and to let us know if your child will be attending in-person each morning.
- If your child is ill, they should not attend school.
- Students who will be absent from school should call the absence hotline (610-627-6500, option 2) and also send a note within 3 days. This step is required in order for us to excuse the absence.
- Students who will be absent for a pre-planned trip should complete and submit the pre-planned absence form.
- When a student is absent from school, they may access work/assignments on Schoology. At this time, we will also still allow students to have access to the class Zoom session if they are well enough to join - even though they have been marked absent.
Reminders from our School Nurse - Ms. Hartner
In an effort to continue to keep our students safe and healthy, please keep the following key points in mind:
Please complete the daily SYMPTOM SCREENER for your child as early as possible, but no later than 7:30 AM. This will help to minimize class disruptions for your child.
Students must wear an appropriate face covering to school every day. Neck gaiters and bandanas are not permitted and masks with valves are not considered COVID-safe.
Please keep your student home from school if they are ill. In addition to the criteria contained in the screening tool, please keep your student home for non-COVID related illnesses. Refer to the following resource for more information.
Register your Rite Aid Pharmacy Card - Support Our School!
Do you shop at Rite Aid Pharmacy for your prescriptions or other personal needs? If so, your purchases can also benefit our school. Take a moment to register and allow our school to earn funds each time that you visit your local Rite Aid.
COVID-19 Questions & Assistance
Parents & guardians who have COVID-related questions during the school day should contact our School Nurse, Ms. Hartner by email or phone - 610-627-6512. For COVID-related questions after school hours, you can reach a school district nurse. Contact information is located on the RTMSD website under District Reopening, After Hours-Covid Questions and Answers. There is a nurse available in the mornings before school from 5am to 7am, in the evenings during the week from 4pm to 9pm, on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm and on Sunday evenings from 4pm to 10pm.
Technology Resources
Need to submit a HELP DESK ticket? Let our Technology Team help!
Need assistance with HAC or Schoology? Contact Mrs. Kelly in the Guidance Department.
Weekly Newsletters - Archived Here!
Did you miss a previous week's newsletter? Need to go back to for reference or to access previous information? All of the previous updates are available to you on our website.
The Spartan Scoop - Week of April 26th
Check our this week's editions of The Spartan Scoop.