Falcon Flash
February 5, 2021
Principal's Message
Hello Stetson Families,
I hope you have all finally dug out of our February winter blast this week! We hope our students enjoyed their snow day break from school on Monday and got a chance to get outside (if you like the winter).
Our course selection presentation was posted on SMS's website Wednesday night for our rising 6th and 7th graders. We apologize for the technical difficulties and the timeliness of the posting. Course selection was introduced to our 6th/7th-grade students during advisory class this week. Parents and cyber students can view all the presentations from our school website at your convenience. Our hybrid/remote 8th graders are rescheduled with their Rustin counselors during the February 9th advisory. Cyber students interested in more information can schedule an appointment with their respected counselor. If you have any additional questions about any of our course selection presentations, please feel free to reach out to any grade level counselors or administrators.
REMINDER:
Car Line pick-up and drop-off have become a safety concern that I need to bring to your attention. We are exhibiting a large volume of cars and we are asking our parents to be patient with our pick-up process. Upon entering our complex, please proceed to Starkweather Elementary School and turn around toward our parking lot. This helps our line expand onto our property rather than blocking the entrance for our busses trying to enter coming from 202. The vehicles must pull all the way around the bend to help the flow of traffic. Students are not permitted to walk through our parking lots, please do not park and expect your child to cross through moving traffic to get to the car. Thank you for cooperating with our traffic procedures. We enjoy seeing your smiles, waves, and family dogs!
We appreciate your support and encouragement to help our students reach their maximum potential. KEEP IT UP! If you should have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to me to discuss them in more detail. School counselors will be available to help support any student that needs it.
Thanks for your time and attention!
Have a great weekend,
Mrs. Puchalla
Hybrid Calendar next week (Including Cyber students)
February 8th--Day 2 PM (periods 5-8) *A Cohort in person
February 9th--Day 3 AM (periods 1-4) *A Cohort in person
February 10th--Day 3 PM (periods 5-8) *All Students Remote
February 11th--Day 4 AM (periods 1-4) *B Cohort in person
February 12th--Day 4 PM (periods 5-8) *B Cohort in person
*ALL MDS Students attend 5 days*
Technology concerns--As technical issues arise during remote learning, please use the following resources:
Tech Support @ Home – WCASD website with important information:
- Schoology Support
- Laptop Support
- Additional Resources
If there is an issue with your 1:1 device please email SMStech_support@wcasd.net
Spirit Week--February 8th - 12th
Monday 2/8--"Love your school and Community" *wear WC or SMS gear
Tuesday 2/9--"Be a good sport to yourself and others" *wear college or pro gear
Wednesday 2/10--"Hats off to essential workers and veterans" *wear a hat
Thursday 2/11--"Be someone's superhero" *dress like a superhero
Friday 2/12--"Celebrate self-love" *wear red
Nurse's Corner
New & Noteworthy at Stetson--Newspaper Club & Art Club
Please take a few minutes to read the Winter 2020-21 edition of the Falcon Flyer, Stetson’s student newspaper.
Our staff of students from sixth, seventh and eighth grades worked very hard this fall and winter to write and design this publication about issues that matter most to our middle schoolers. Please congratulate them on their work. Our club regularly accepts new members. Contact advisor Mrs. Cindy Claffey cclaffey@wcasd.net for more information.
Stetson Art Club is a group of students who share a common interest in the creation of art. Art Club promotes imagination, creativity, and art production. We focus on materials and projects that are beyond what you would do in a regular art class. Students are able to experiment with various art materials in a personalized, open, and exploratory manner. Art Club is both a studio and community service-oriented activity.
The Art club is open to 6th and 7th-grade students during their Advisory Periods on PM days. Our first meeting will be on February 12th, in room D-110. Please return permission slips to Mrs. Phillips(mphillips@wcasd.net).
Advisory--Remote Learners
*If you have questions about course selection--ASK someone or refer to the presentation on our Stetson school website!
All students are required to attend this class in person and remotely. Attendance will be taken each class period. I hope you have gotten a chance to look at the planning sheet (has current grades on it). It was sent to you by your child and is updated weekly. If you have not, please discuss with your child at home and reach out to the grade level administrator if you have any additional questions.
We will continue to work on executive functioning skills, building initiatives, and individual academic support for all students. This time block is also a good opportunity for students to catch up on missing work or touch base with a teacher to ask questions about an assignment.
Counselor Tip--How Parents can help kids continue to socially develop while still at home
2. Give them outs – time/place to escape the “family togetherness” from peers; as the age and stage, time to spend with peer relationships – parents don’t take it personally😊.
3. Understand their need to be online – become familiar with popular apps teens are using; help with necessary parameters; check-in time to time on what they are doing (always be transparent, let them know upfront). Learning on appropriate use and restrictions is a goal, not rebellion.
4. Encourage exercise every day – this is important for overall functioning good health, wellbeing, and keeping balanced; stress relief.
According to: https;//www. healthline.com/health article on Covid-19 Affect Kids Social Development, by Leah Campbell
Eligibility Information for extra curricular school sponsored activities
We are very excited about resuming our winter sports program this week. Now that we have begun, we must also implement the district’s extracurricular eligibility policy. See the policy by clicking the link here http://go.boarddocs.com/pa/wche/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=9Z3GMN447E5E Students who are failing 2 or more core subjects or 1 core subject and 2 or more Unified Arts classes, will be considered ineligible to participate in sports or activities the FOLLOWING week. You will receive notice of this via email.
Some Spring Athletic info
There will be an organizational meeting on Zoom for all 7th and 8th-grade students interested in trying out for Stetson’s baseball team this Spring on Thursday, February 11th at 3:00 PM. Please email Mr. Logan at alogan@wcasd.net for Zoom link to the meeting or if you have any questions about the upcoming season.
Library Information
Students have received an e-mail from the Stetson Library if they have library materials checked out from last spring. Please encourage your child to check their e-mail and look for any library books that should be returned. Books can be returned at any time on a cart outside the office. Students now in high school can return items to the High School Library.
If there are books that you cannot find, please send an e-mail to smslib@wcasd.net so that we can take them off of the account and mark them as lost.
Textbook info--STILL NEED HELP WITH THIS
Attention 7th and 8th Grade Students:
We are requesting that families check at home for any science, math, or social studies textbooks from last year that were not returned. If you find a textbook, please bring it to school during your in-person hybrid day and give it to your current science, math, or social studies teacher. If you are a cyber or remote-only student, the book can be dropped off at Stetson. Thank you for your help as we try to account for any missing textbooks!
PTO information--JOIN US
The PTO is looking for new board members for the 2021-2022 school year. if you are interested in helping out, please email us at this email address, ptostetson@gmail.com. Even if you reached out before, please let us know again that you are interested. Also, we are requesting that you let us know what grade your child(ren) are in.
We are getting some responses--thank you! We appreciate the support!