Red Storm Forecast
Stonybrook Middle School October 2018
Message from Mr. Day
Welcome to Fall!
It is the time of year when the weather starts to change, the mornings are a bit cooler and have a lot less sunshine! These changes can impact our level of "excitement" to start the day. It is important for each of us to engage in self-care that allows us to be functioning at our highest cognitive levels. As we prepare for our fall break that is just around the corner, please have ongoing discussions with your child about being prepared daily for school and putting forth his/her best effort each day.
In a recent survey to our students regarding various school related topics, 56% students responded that they "sometimes" complete their classwork while over 50% reported that they sometimes or never come to school ready to learn. These responses confirm the ongoing work that is before us and is evidenced by missing assignments, which we use to drive instruction, and academic performances on assessments. As parents, I am calling on you to ensure that your child puts for the effort to reach his/her potential. Working together in a collaborative partnership between school and home we can help each child grow. Please keep this in mind during your child's daily routines, including screen time on all electronics, sleep patterns, nutrition, and hydration.
One of our focuses this year is on improving our attendance. Research is clear - a missed day of school, regardless of the reason, is learning lost. If you need assistance with your child's attendance, we are here to help in any way we can. Our goal is for all students to have an attendance rating of 96% or better! For the month of September, we recognized 375 students who met this criteria! So far this year, our attendance rate has improved 0.7% over last year...we are heading in the right direction and must continue to do so. We look forward to what the month of October brings for attendance!
Teachers have been preparing for a full day of Parent Teacher Conferences on October 2nd! We look forward to seeing you there to discuss how your child has performed year-to-date and to provide you with some helpful resources to support the needs of your child beyond the school day.
Finally, congratulations to our 7th Grade Football Team as they went undefeated on the season this year! They will be recognized at the Warren Central vs. Carmel game on October 5th and at our school board meeting on October 24th! Great job to these student-athletes and their coaches. They appreciate the support of our cheerleaders and fans!
Go Red Storm!
Mr. Nathan Day
Attention 8th Graders and Parents
Warren Central High School Counselors will be at Stonybrook on November 12th & 13th to talk to our 8th graders about their Freshman year at the high school.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: We will have a parent meeting on November 15th at Career Fest at the high school so that your 8th graders can see the various programs we have to offer at the Career Center and so that we can talk about the electives in greater detail with the parents and answer their questions. More information will be forthcoming closer to the actual date.
October Attendance Notification to Parents
Student attendance, being one of our focus goals this year, is imperative for growth. Examining the attendance process to ensure accuracy is our first step to an improvement plan. Radar (Period 1) class is the initial pause for attendance, taken within the first 20 minutes of the school day. Teachers are working very hard to build relationships with their Radar students. During Radar class, students are monitoring their own attendance by setting goals to be at school.
Period 2/Block A starts at 7:54 a.m., for the second attendance marking. Starting in October, we will be contacting parents around 9:00 a.m. concerning students who were marked absent Periods 1 & 2. Please understand if your child arrives late to school, specifically missing the Radar class, you may get an automated call stating your child is absent as we have already initiated the process. Our goal is to improve attendance, as well as ensuring each student's whereabouts are accounted for, by communicating to parents that their child was reported as being absent from school.
To help create a positive culture, we are creating rewards and incentives for our students. Our first celebration will be October 5 at Roller Cave. Students who were present 96% or higher the month of September will be invited to attend. We want our students to stay healthy, come to school, and learn.
A reminder that anytime your child is absent, a phone call to the school is requested to ensure we can mark our records accordingly. Additionally, please send any documentation related to the absence within 48 hours of the day(s) missed. You may monitor your child's attendance via the Tyler Parent Portal as well.
Student Services - A focus on Community Resources
James Taylor, Director of Student/Social Services for Warren Township, is a great resource for parents and educators alike to connect people with various resources within our local community. Please see his newsletter for more information!
Parent Resource Fair: On October 13 and 20 there is an outstanding opportunity to access many resources all under one roof - Warren Central High School. The newsletter link has more details. This is something you do not want to miss!
Red Storm Athletics
ARTrageous
Stonybrook Robotics Club
Congratulations to our August Students of the month
These students were recognized for demonstrating CORE expectations in varying capacities! We are proud of you!
Healthy Celebration Ideas
Save the date! Picture Retakes
Lifetouch will be back in the building on Friday, October 26 for any students that may have missed Picture Day or need a retake. If your student missed Picture Day, order forms will be available through their Social Studies teacher. If your student needs retakes, they will need to bring their original pictures on the 26th.
News from the mediaplex
The Scholastic Book Fair will be visiting the Mediaplex September 26 - October 3rd. You may also shop online from September 21-October 4th. http://www.scholastic.com/bf/stonybrooklibrary
Pre-Order Your 2018-2019 Yearbook today
Yearbooks are on Sale Now! You may order your 2018-19 Yearbook online:ybpay.lifetouch.com School ID Code: 12577919 Or pick up an order form from the Main Office.
Nicholson's Notes.. from the counselor's office
Naviance & JA JobSpark 2018!
During the week of September 17th, I had a great time working with our 8th graders during Social Studies classes. 8th graders, logged onto their Naviance accounts and began to explore this great resource.
All students, have an account with Naviance. Naviance is a comprehensive college and career readiness solution that helps districts and schools align student strengths and interests to postsecondary goals, improving student outcomes and connecting learning to life.
8th grade students took the Career Cluster Finder assessment - linking their interests to possible clusters of careers for their futures. The 8th graders will have an opportunity on Wednesday, September 26th to explore some of these clusters and possible interests - while at the JA JobSpark experience.
College Go! Week
September 24 - 28th Radar classes and announcements focused on this special week. College Go! Week is an annual statewide event to promote enrollment in two- and four-year colleges across Indiana. Be sure to check out the LearnMore magazine students received during this week.
Tyler Parent Portal
Clinic News
10 Steps to Your Healthiest School Year Ever!
1. Start off strong with a healthy breakfast. A good breakfast provides energy and will help keep you alert and attentive in class.
2. Drink plenty of water. Water is the best fluid to stay hydrated without the added sugar found in some juice and soft drinks.
3. Don't forget to wash your hands often. Keep hands away from your face, mouth, and nose where germs can enter the body.
4. Boost your immune system. Get plenty of sleep, talk to your doctor about taking a multi- vitamin, and eat colorful fruits and vegetables every day.
5. Eat a nutritious and yummy lunch. Choose foods from all the food groups. Different food groups supply our bodies with energy to think, move, and grow.
6. Cut back on sugar and salty snacks. Limit sodas, sport drinks, candy, chips, and ice cream.
7. Enhance your brain performance. Exercise, play memory games, do crossword puzzles, and eat "brain food" like berries, cold water fish, and nuts.
8. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day-at school or at home. Go for a daily walk with a friend, a parent, or your pet.
9. Do your homework every day after school. It's important to be prepared! Get it done before playing, that way you won't forget about it.
10. Turn off the TV and video games at least one hour prior to bedtime. Take time to relax, take a bath or shower, brush your teeth, and get your backpack ready.
SMS Refrigerator Information
PH: 317-532-8800
FAX: 317-532-8899
ATTENDANCE LINE: 317-532-8800 EXT. 1
SCHOOL NURSE: 317-532-8806
SCHOOL HOURS: 7:30 AM - 2:50 PM
TRANSPORTATION: 317-532-2820
DISTRICT OFFICE: 317-869-4300
Principal: Mr. Nathan Day PH: 317-532-8804
Email: nday@warren.k12.in.us
Assistant Principal: Ms. Becky True PH: 317-532-8805
Email: btrue@warren.k12.in.us
Dean: Mrs. Bianca Rivers PH:317-532-8808
Email: brivers@warren.k12.in.us
Counselor: Mrs. Melissa Nicholson PH: 317-532-8800 X8811
Email: mnichol@warren.k12.in.us
Athletic Director: Mr. Jeff Cummings PH: 317-532-8826
Email: jcumming@warren.k12.in.us
Dates to Remember:
Oct. 2nd: Parent/Teacher Conferences (No school for students)
Oct. 4th: Band Concert 3:30 PM in LGI Room
Oct. 8th: Start of 2-week Fall Break
Oct. 22nd: School Reconvenes
Nov. 6th: Professional Development (No School for students)
Nov. 15th: Careerfest @ WCHS (8th Grade Focus)
Nov. 21st - 23rd: Thanksgiving Break