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 15, 2021
Halftime!
Happy Friday, everyone!
Well - we did it! The first semester and the first half of the school year is now in the books! While this has been a year like no other, I am so proud of all that we have been able to accomplish together and I have high hopes for the second semester. The teachers spent the afternoon today working on 2nd marking period grades and preparing for the new semester that begins on Tuesday. We plan to publish 2nd marking period report cards on HAC by next Friday afternoon.
Following Monday's holiday in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, the second semester will begin on Tuesday. The new semester brings some new classes for our students - several special area classes will be rotating and, in 6th grade, exploratory world language classes will also change. In addition, we are planning to welcome nearly 50 students back to in-person instruction. These students were previously attending as part of the fully-virtual cohort. It will be great to see them in-person!
Thank you for taking the time to read this week's newsletter. I hope that you all have an enjoyable weekend!
Annual Days of Service - January 19th & 20th
Our annual Day of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr will look a little different this year. Due to our current social distancing needs, inability to share materials, and hybrid model, we have developed an alternate plan for 2021. We will be running a modified schedule on Tuesday January 18th & Wednesday January 19th. Students will report to their advisory on both days after 6th period in order to participate in a series of school-wide service activities. A menu of asynchronous service options will be available for our virtual students.
Bell Schedule for January 19th
Period 1....7:55 - 8:44
Period 3....8:47 - 9:27
Period 8....9:30 - 10:10
Period 4, 5 & 6 - Regular schedule to accommodate grade level lunches
*Advisory - 12:14 - 2:20
Bell Schedule for January 20th
Period 1....7:55 - 8:44
Period 2....8:47 - 9:27
Period 9....9:30 - 10:10
Period 4, 5 & 6 - Regular schedule to accommodate grade level lunches
*Advisory - 12:14 - 2:20
On the days of service, there will not be live Zoom sessions during Advisory. All fully-virtual students will work asynchronously on the activities that will be posted to Schoology. In-person students will participate in activities on the scheduled day (Tuesday is Cohort B and Wednesday is Cohort A). Please remember to bring your own markers/colored pencils/crayons with you to school since we cannot share materials when completing our projects.
Important Information about Student Cohorts - Fully-Virtual & In-Person
As I shared with you already, we have approximately 50 students who have elected to return to in-person instruction effective with the start of the new marking period. 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.
Third Marking Period Material Pick-up for Fully-Virtual Students
Any materials assembled for fully-virtual students that were not picked-up on Friday afternoon will be available inside of the main entrance beginning on Tuesday. We also have a number of Chromebooks that have been submitted for repairs that are now ready for pick-up. Students should take a moment to stop by to be sure that they have what they need to be successful for the third making period.
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 basketball program for the winter season will begin on Monday, January 25th and run through Thursday, February 25th. Sessions will run from 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM. Due to safety procedures in place because of COVID-19, participation is limited to those students who registered during the month of December. If you did not register, but would still like to participate, contact Mr. Booth to add your name to out WAIT LIST. Students on the wait list will be notified if a spot becomes available.
Schedule:
Mondays - 6th Grade Cohort A and 6th Grade Fully-Virtual Cohort
Tuesdays - 6th Grade Cohort B
Wednesdays - 7th & 8th Grade Cohort A
Thursdays - 7th & 8th Grade Cohort B and 7th & 8th Grade Fully-Virtual Cohort
What Participants Need to Know...
- 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)
Intramural cheer will also begin on Monday, January 25th and run through February 25th. Interested students should send an email to Ms. Millar to register. Cheer will also run from 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM and students will attend on their assigned cohort days only. Students in the fully-virtual cohort will attend on Mondays and Wednesdays.
PTG Sponsors Fair Trade Activities
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.
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 11, 2021
Check our this week's editions of The Spartan Scoop.
Monday Morning at The Lake!
Beautiful view to begin the week!
Encore Performance
End of the Marking Period Fun!
We wanted to be sure that the kids remembered that the marking period was ending! Check this out!