Port Susan Middle School
Family & Student Update 04/24/2022
Spirit Week
Online Safety & Expectations
Reminder: End of Year Information
Upcoming Dates/End of Year *Mark your calendars:
May 2-20 SBA Testing
May 20 ALL school dance/social from 2:30 - 4 p.m. (more information to come!)
May 23-27 Square Dancing
June 1 & 8 Grade Prep PDW
June 15 NO LATE START (full day)
June 17 End of Year Celebrations and 8th Grade Evening Promotion
June 20 Last Day of School (9:40 a.m. release) & Grades Due by 1p.m.
June 23 Report Cards Go Out
SBA Information
This spring your student in grades 3-8 and 10 will take the Smarter Balanced tests in Math and English Language Arts. Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 will also take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS).
The results from these tests will give a more accurate picture of whether students are on track to be ready for college or career. For students in grade 10, the Smarter Balanced tests can also be used as a graduation pathway.
Most students will take the tests online. Our school will continue with our regular bell schedule, taking the tests during their Language Arts, Math, &/or Science classes.
Language Arts & Math (grades 6, 7, & 8): May 2nd through May 13th
Science (grade 8 only): May 16th through May 20th
For more information about the Smarter Balanced and WCAS tests, visit: https://www.k12.wa.us/student-success/testing/state-testing-overview, and click on the name of the test.
To try out an online Smarter Balanced practice test or WCAS training test, visit: https://login10.cloud1.tds.cambiumast.com/student/V571/Pages/LoginShell.aspx?c=Washington_PT&a=student
If your student would like to use their own headphones, please make sure they are wired and work with our chromebooks (wireless headphones are not allowed for state testing). We have headphones available for student use as needed. *Students will need to use a school issued chromebook for testing, so please bring those fully charged for testing.
Thank you for continuing to work with us to make sure your student is successful. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to better support your student. We want your student to leave us with a solid foundation of skills and a future full of opportunities.
Reminder: Yearbook Sales
Attention: 8th Grade Families
**We Need Pictures**
We'd like to put together a slideshow of memories for our 8th grade students. We have pictures throughout their time here at Port Susan, but would like to reach out and ask that you share any pictures from their time together in school that you have as well. These could be pictures from preschool until the present & the more students in the pictures, the better (5th grade camp, elementary field trips, concerts, sports, etc)!
Please email these pictures directly to aharrington@stanwood.wednet.edu or wholtum@stanwood.wednet.edu by June 1st, 2022.
If you're interested in helping to organize the 8th grade promotion celebration on the evening of June 17th, please reach out to our PTO (portsusanpto@gmail.com) for volunteer opportunities.
Power Hour/Student Support
Spring Sports & Club Information
Week of April 25th - 29th
Monday:
Regular Schedule
Advisory - Lesson
Tuesday:
Regular Schedule
Advisory - Homework Support
Boys Soccer @ Mt Baker MS
Wednesday:
WHITE Wednesday
Track @ Marysville
Thursday:
Regular Schedule
Advisory - Homework Support
Boys Soccer @ North Whidbey MS
Friday:
Regular Schedule
Advisory - Homework Support
Hope you had a wonderful weekend!
Crysty Auckland, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director cauckland@stanwood.wednet.edu
Teacher Emails
Dave Austin (6-8 Fitness & 6 Leadership) daustin@stanwood.wednet.edu
Jonathan Bletscher (6-8 Band) jbletscher@stanwood.wednet.edu
Joan Campbell (6-7 Math) jcampbell@stanwood.wednet.edu
Garry Carlson (6-7 Math) gcarlson@stanwood.wednet.edu
Charlene Franck (7 ELA & 6-8 Art) CFranck@stanwood.wednet.edu
Grace Gale (6 Science & 6-8 STEM/Robotics) GGale@stanwood.wednet.edu
Chelsea Hanson (6-8 ELA/Humanities) CHanson@stanwood.wednet.edu
Nate Hanson (6-8 Computers/Digital Effects) nhanson@stanwood.wednet.edu
Audrie Harrington (6/7 ELA & 7/8 Leadership) aharrington@stanwood.wednet.edu
Deborah Hepper (6/7 Social Studies/History) DHepper@stanwood.wednet.edu
Seth Hills (6/8 History) shills@stanwood.wednet.edu
Lori Johnson (6-8 Assist) ljohnson@stanwood.wednet.edu
Wade Johnson (7/8 Science) wjohnson@stanwood.wednet.edu
Rebecca Klein (6/7 Science) rklein@stanwood.wednet.edu
Meghan Lawrence (6-8 PBS) mlawrence@stanwood.wednet.edu
Ellianna Martin (6-8 Math) emartin@stanwood.wednet.edu>,
Daniel Mccrumb (6 Math/Science & 7/8 Outdoor Ed) DMccrumb@stanwood.wednet.edu
Sarah Oldow (6 ELA/Social Studies) soldow@stanwood.wednet.edu
Catherine Perry (6-8 EL) cperry@stanwood.wednet.edu
Tracy Riley (6-8 ELA) TRiley@stanwood.wednet.edu
Kelcie Rocha (7/8 Math) krocha@stanwood.wednet.edu
Brad Rochon (7/8 Science) brochon@stanwood.wednet.edu
Connie Schmidt (6-8 Health) cschmidt@stanwood.wednet.edu
Sheri Schroeder (8 History/ELA) sleeschroeder@stanwood.wednet.edu
Kym Shoemaker (7/8 Math) kshoemaker@stanwood.wednet.edu
Crystal Titus (6-8 Fitness) ctitus@stanwood.wednet.edu
Kayte White (8 ELA & 6 Cultures) kwhite@stanwood.wednet.edu
Julia Zurcher (7 History & 7/8 Home Ec) jzurcher@stanwood.wednet.edu
Office Support
Jayde Piggot (6 Counselor) jpiggott@stanwood.wednet.edu
Keli Niegemann (7/8 Counselor) kniegemann@stanwood.wednet.edu
Emily Bowne (School Psychologist) ebowne@stanwood.wednet.edu
Kandyce Hansen (Speech Language Pathologist) khansen@stanwood.wednet.edu
Sara Harlan (Librarian) sharlan@stanwood.wednet.edu
District Information
Volunteers
REPLACEMENT CAPITAL PROJECTS AND TECHNOLOGY LEVY
Remember to vote by April 26, 2022
Learn more detailed information about the proposed levy at https://www.stanwood.wednet.edu/levy
This proposed local replacement levy would fund critical facility and technology needs not funded by the state.
50% is to be used for long-term facility needs and 50% is to be used to upgrade the technology used for student learning and staff/personnel computers at all schools.
This is not a new tax. This is a replacement of an expiring levy and will not raise taxes currently being paid if it is approved. We are committed to keeping the rates as stable as possible. The estimated tax rate per $1,000 of the assessed property value is $0.27 for each year of this proposed levy. If approved on April 26, 2022, the total local school tax rate is expected to drop in 2023 and is anticipated to decrease over the next four years. If property values go up, the amount collected ($0.27) is reduced.
If the levy fails a second time, the district may not place it on the ballot again until 2023. Planned capital projects would be delayed and the district would not be able to adequately maintain and upgrade its technology for student learning.
The District cannot wait until November to resubmit the levy for approval. When voters renew levy funding, the amount is approved by calendar years, January through December. However, public school district budgets are written by the school year which starts each September 1, running 12 months to August 31 of the following year. Public school budget planning begins in the spring for the next school year. To do so, school leaders must know how many dollars are available.
Does the increase in home prices in our community affect what taxpayers will pay with this measure?
No. Property tax assessments may fluctuate, but the district only collects the total amount approved by voters. When property values rise, rates go down.
The levy funds technology devices and supports learning for students and staff.
The proposed replacement levy will continue funding the purchase of computers, online curriculum, and technical support for students and their teachers. Specifically,
25% of staff devices will be renewed each year (about 100 devices per year)
25% of student Chromebooks will be renewed each year (about 1100 devices per year)
Out of date Chromebooks are returned for credit to purchase repair and replacement parts for current Chromebooks (screen repair, power cords, etc.)
Purchasing internet hotspots for families and district internet and filtering software
Learning applications/online learning supports (IXL, Robotics Software, Renaissance, assistive technology, Read and Write, Read Naturally, typing programs and more)
Communications tools such as School Messenger and S’more (school newsletters)
Security camera maintenance and licensing
Servers with backup power supplies during power outages (this allows us to maintain some phones and Wi-Fi at schools when the power goes out)
Capital Projects
The levy provides funding for prioritized facility improvements
Older systems such as boilers, roofs, fire sprinkler systems, public address systems, bleachers, security fencing, and sidewalks are at or near the end of their useful life. The proposed levy would fund:
New roof at Cedarhome Elementary;
New boilers at Cedarhome and Elger Bay;
Replacement fire sprinkler lines at Utsalady and Elger Bay Elementary Schools;
Portable maintenance at Port Susan, including new roofs, paint and siding repair;
Upgraded public address systems at Stanwood Middle and Stanwood Elementary Schools; and
Various projects to improve student safety, such as fencing, sidewalks, and bleacher replacements.
Election date
In the April 26, 2022 election, Stanwood-Camano’s Capital Projects and Technology levy requires a simple majority, or 50% + 1 of the votes cast, to pass.
How can I vote?
Please register to vote through the Washington Secretary of State election website if you haven’t already done so. The April 26, 2022, special election is an all-mail election. Registered voters who live in the Stanwood-Camano School District boundary will receive their ballot around April 8, 2022. Ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday, April 26, 2022. No postage is required to return your ballot. There is a secure ballot drop box near the Stanwood Library at 9701 271st St NW and at the Island County Administration Building at 121 N East Camano Drive on Camano Island. The drop box is open until 8 p.m. on Election Night.
Our community has a long history of supporting our schools and local control of educational programs. We are committed to openness and transparency. Please call 360-629-1200 or send an email to scsdinfo@stanwood.wednet.edu with any questions you may have about this proposal.
Our community has a long history of supporting our schools and local control of educational programs. We are committed to openness and transparency. Please call 360-629-1200 or send an email to scsdinfo@stanwood.wednet.edu with any questions you may have about this proposal.