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
January 29, 2021
Winding Down January...Cold Temps & Snow on the Way!
Happy Friday, everyone!
As the month of January winds down, we are experiencing the coldest weather that we have had in a very long time. In addition, depending upon the forecast, snow may be on the horizon for the start of the new week. As per the message sent by the Superintendent in December, we will utilize the snow days built into the calendar before we would switch to an at-home learning day. At this point, there are still two more days that were previously scheduled into the school calendar for inclement weather. So, keep an eye on the forecast and stay tuned.
The schedule of "cycle days" for the remainder of the 3rd marking period is included here. This will NOT change in the event of a snow day - we would simply "skip" that day. Students may find this list helpful as they plan for their day.
If you have not done so already, please take a few moments to access your child's 2nd marking period report card in Home Access Center (HAC). We want to be sure that all students and families are fully-informed regarding academic progress through the 1st semester. Students who are not currently on-track to meet the grade-level promotion requirements will be receiving a letter in the mail from me that describes a plan for support and action.
Thank you for taking the time to read this week's newsletter. I hope that you all have an enjoyable weekend - stay warm and stay safe!
Spartan Students of the Month - January
Congratulations to our January Spartan Students of the Month. The following students were selected by their teachers for consistently demonstrating our core values of Ready, Respectful,. Responsible, & Resilient. While we traditionally honor students at a monthly breakfast celebration that is attended by family members and teachers, we are unable to continue with that tradition at this time. Instead, our Administrative Team has started visiting students’ classes to personally congratulate them and to provide them with a certificate and token of appreciation.
6th Grade
Maggie Magee, Jonas Punzo, Annalisa Galasso, Brendan Kawan, Phoebe Woo, & Aaron McAnany
7th Grade
Lily McCloskey, Elliott Day, Matthew Roberts, Gloria Damon, Amelia Sokolik, & Faris El Merhebi
8th Grade
Kristen Keinath, Mark Walker, Abby Ryan, Oliver Marsh, Caroline Lenderman, & Kyle Cunnigham
Important Information about Student Cohorts - Fully-Virtual & In-Person
Students who are enrolled in one of the in-person cohorts 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 travel, etc. Students without an approved reason who do not attend in-person when expected on a consistent basis will be asked to switch to the fully-virtual cohort. The lack of predictability and consistency is very difficult for our students and for our teachers.
If you have an approved reason for your child to work from home on a day that they are expected in-person, PLEASE complete the daily symptom screener so that we have this documented.
If you are concerned for any reason with your child's program - either in-person or fully-virtual and need to discuss a change, please email me directly with your request and I will be back in touch.
8th to 9th Grade Transition
Now that the second semester is underway, attention begins to shift to next school year. Transition activities for our current 8th grade students will begin next week. On Friday, February 5th, students will participate in a series of virtual information sessions hosted by the Penncrest High School administration and staff. Students will learn about student life, course offerings, and activities. Students will attend these sessions as part of their Friday at-home learning day. Penncrest will also be hosting an informational meeting for parents in the evening on Thursday, February 11th. The program will be virtual and we will share a link with you next week. Selection of courses for next year will take place during the month of February. Parents should also be on the lookout for more information from the 8th grade school counselor, Mrs. Gilroy.
LAST CHANCE - Limited Edition Spartan Strong Hoodies
Show your Spartan Pride with a LIMITED EDITION Spartan Strong hoodie. We have a few hoodies left and available for immediate purchase. - first come, first served! The cost is $35. Once this supply sells out, the design will not be available again. If you are interested, contact Mrs. McCormick via email with your requested size.
At-Home Learning Fridays to Continue
On Fridays, students will continue to participate in at-home learning. We will follow the same modified schedule on Fridays that has been in place since mid-November. Students are due in homeroom at 9:30am, they attend three class periods on a rotating basis, and there is time for teachers to schedule individual and small-group sessions to work with students. The rotation of the periods through the end of April is included here for your reference. Students have been reminded that this IS a day of school and that attendance to all class periods, including appointments with their teachers, is required.
Want to Share Something about Your Family's Culture?
Springton Lake Middle School is committed to providing an environment in our school that is inclusive and intentionally designed to foster a sense of belonging by honoring the dignity of each and every person. The Community Outreach subcommittee of our school's Equity Team is asking for your help in our efforts to showcase customs, traditions, celebrations, and cultural information from our diverse community of families.
We are seeking short, student/family-made video vignettes that we will be able to use periodically as part of our video morning announcements. The videos should be short - 2 to 4 minutes in length, highlight something fun or interesting about your family's culture, and be appropriate to show to all students. Ideally, the video should be narrated/presented by the Springton Lake student. Assistance with video editing may be available, if needed. Based upon the response that we receive, we will begin using the videos starting in February. We reserve the right to edit the videos, as needed. Completed videos may be sent to Mrs. Ronni Miller.
We are excited to provide this opportunity for our students and families to share about themselves and for us all to learn from one another. Remember, we are #SpartanStrong because of you!
Winter Intramurals - Basketball & Cheer
Our intramural programs for the winter season began this week and they're off to a successful start! Activities will run through Thursday, February 25th. Sessions will take place from 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM.
Basketball Schedule:
Monday - 6th Grade Cohort A and 6th Grade Fully-Virtual Cohort
Tuesday - 6th Grade Cohort B
Wednesday - 7th & 8th Grade Cohort A
Thursday - 7th & 8th Grade Cohort B and 7th & 8th Grade Fully-Virtual Cohort
Cheer Schedule
Monday & Wednesday - Cohort A & Fully-Virtual Cohort
Tuesday & Thursday - Cohort B
What Participants Need to Know...
- Registered participants attend on their assigned day only.
- Parents of fully-virtual participants will need to bring them to the Main Office upon arrival each day to complete the symptom screening.
- Participants will be required to wear a face mask at ALL times - even while playing.
- The locker rooms will NOT be available - students should come dressed to play.
- Participants should bring a water bottle AND two t-shirts - one red and one white.
- Parents are responsible for pick-up promptly at 3:30pm outside of the gym entrance (soccer/baseball field side of building)
Student Council News
Student Council has been working hard to plan activities that will add a bit of extra fun over the next few weeks. Details for a Spirit Week to be held from February 8th through February 11th are now being finalized. In addition to daily themes and a planned treat for kids during lunch, Student Council will also be hosting a virtual BINGO Party on February 10th from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Students should register for the event using the link that was shared in Schoology.
PTG Sponsors Fair Trade Activities - DEADLINES EXTENDED
As you may know, our school has been formally recognized as a Fair Trade school. To further spread awareness of what Fair Trade is all about, our PTG is sponsoring two activities - an art contest that is open to all students and a fundraiser sale of Fair Trade items just in time for Valentine's Day. Please access the links for more details.
The deadlines for the art contest and fundraiser sale have both been EXTENDED through next Friday, February 5th.
Pre-order Your 2020-2021 Yearbook Now
June may seem a long way off, but production of this year's yearbook is already underway. Students and parents are invited to share photos of what life looks like for you - what learning looks like at home and how you are spending time together as a family. Eighth grade students will also have the opportunity to have a baby picture and personalized message included in this year's yearbook. Here are all of the important details...
Purchase this year's yearbook NOW - the pre-order cost is $30. Go to www.jostens.com and click on Yearbooks ---> Buy Your Yearbook and search for our school.
8th Grade Baby Pictures - DEADLINE EXTENDED through 02/11. Online ordering will re-open on Sunday, 01/10. Cost is $10. Each section will be 1/8 of a page. You will be able to choose the format of your "ad" and include a photo and personalized message for your graduate. Again, go to www.jostens.com and search for Springton Lake Middle School. Click on Yearbook Recognition Ads. You'll then need to sign-in or create a new account. Follow the prompts to submit your ad. Please include your child's homeroom teacher's name.
To share photos for possible inclusion in the yearbook, click here. The user ID is 415963949. Be sure to include the grade level, names of students depicted, and a description of the photo. Submissions will be accepted through February 21, 2021.
Want a FREE Meal? You've Come to the Right Place!
Don't forget that the Rose Tree Media School District has been approved to provide FREE meals - breakfast and lunch - to ALL students!
- ALL students under the age of 18 are eligible for the program.
- Participation in the free meal program helps to sustain the Food Services Department (and staff) in the Rose Tree Media School District.
- Participating in this program does not take away from any other family's ability to also participate.
- The USDA will reimburse the Rose Tree Media School District for the meals provided from monies that were not used last year.
- For more information, please contact Becky Smith in our Food Services Department.
Planning to Travel Outside of PA? Here's What You Need to Know...
On November 25th, the PA Department of Health amended an Order on travel restrictions that they had issued on November 17th. The amended Order requires that travelers over the age of 11 entering Pennsylvania from locations outside the Commonwealth, as well as Pennsylvanians who are returning home from locations outside the Commonwealth, produce evidence of a negative COVID-19 test or place themselves in travel quarantine for 14 days upon entering, unless they receive a negative test result during the 14-day travel quarantine period.
The amended Order requires that students either quarantine for 14 days upon entering Pennsylvania OR take a COVID-19 test and receive a negative test result. Students can test upon entering PA (the previous Order required a student to get a test 72 hours prior to entering PA). Students must remain home while awaiting test results. A rapid antigen test or a diagnostic PCR test may be used to meet the testing requirement. Upon receipt of a negative test result, the student can begin attending school. Parents who elect to not have their child tested must keep their child out of school for the full 14-day quarantine period which begins the day they returned to PA. Individuals who are returning to the Commonwealth after traveling outside the Commonwealth for less than 24 hours are exempt from this testing/quarantine requirement.
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.
The Spartan Scoop - Week of January 25, 2021
Check our this week's editions of The Spartan Scoop.
Intramural Sports are Back!
Intramural basketball started this week - a sign of positive things to come, we hope!
Spartan Students of the Month
Spartan Students of the Month
...home delivery, too! We are SO PROUD of all of our Spartan Students of the Month!