Port Susan Middle School
Student & Family Update 04/17/2022
Teamwork
Knights Gear!
Yearbook Sales
End of Year Information
Upcoming Dates/End of Year:
May 2-20 SBA Testing
May 23-27 Square Dancing
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)
8th Grade Parents/Promotion
In addition, as part of our celebration, 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 that you have as well. These could be pictures from preschool until the present & the more students in the pictures, the better!
Please email these pictures directly to aharrington@stanwood.wednet.edu or wholtum@stanwood.wednet.edu by June 1st, 2022.
Power Hour/Student Support
Spring Sports & Club Information
Reminder...SBA Testing
SBA Testing this Spring
Test approximate length:
ELA PT (100-180 min) *May 2nd - 6th
Math CAT (40-60 min) *May 2nd - 6th
ELA CAT (40-60 min) *May 9th - 13th
Math PT (40-90 min) *May 9th - 13th
Science (120 min) *May 16th - 20th
Make up testing
Science by June 3rd
ELA/Math June 10th
- We will keep regular bell schedule
- Testing will be completed through content classroom during regular instruction time. Limit testing to 3 weeks in length and then allow 3 weeks for make up/completion as needed.
Week of April 18th - 22nd
Monday:
Regular Schedule
Advisory - Lesson
Tuesday:
Regular Schedule
Advisory - Homework Support
Wednesday:
RED Wednesday
Thursday:
Regular Schedule
Advisory - Homework Support
Friday:
Regular Schedule
Advisory - Homework Support
Thank you!
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.