Toosday's Odds and Ends

What a time for the compressor for the air conditioning unit that cools our office area to break. 85 with no air flow in my office. We've had such terrible weather and it's been so cool that this 85 feels like 117.

Anyway, need a little help in a few areas. I've been begging the students to get their assignments in on time. If there has ever been a time when a short term goal speech would be appropriate, now would be the time. Any help you can give us at home would be great....we're a team.

Secondly, we have a ton (yes 200 pounds) of overdue books. Please ask your child if they happen to have a book or two that they haven't returned. If they are unsure, checking in the Media Center would be my suggestion...then check under their bed, in the back seat of your car, in the bottom of their locker, etc...

Thirdly, as much as I would like to be wearing a bathing suit to work..trust me, that thought has crossed my mind more than once today, I can't. Regardless of how hot it gets. Please have a talk (again) with your son/daughter regarding our dress code. There are many outfits that our young ladies own that are extremely nice and look great to wear out to eat with their parents or wear to Church that don't fit our dress code. Short skirts/shorts, tank tops, spaghetti strap tops, low cut tops, ya da ya da ya da....I hate being the dress code police. HELP....

8th Grade SC4 Trip

Our RESA is sponsoring a field trip for our 8th graders to St. Clair County Community College. The purpose of the day is to give the students a tour and to stress the importance of post high school education. Students will transported by bus, leaving during second hour and will return in time for last hour. Lunch will be provided. The field trip is this Wednesday, May 25th, and a permission slip is required to attend. Unfortunately this fell completely off my radar...obviously since I'm just now putting it on our Blog. Permission slips went home a few weeks ago and students have been reminded a number of times. If this is the first time you've heard of it.....sorry. We'll still take the permission slips tomorrow.

No Name Calling Week

Monday May 23rd to Friday May 27th, SCMS is designating as No Name Calling Week. It's our goal to point out that even name calling that one person thinks they are saying in jest can be hurtful and is unacceptable. If you watch or listen to any form of media you know that we are surrounded by put downs. It's an up hill battle to say the least. Please take a minute to have this conversation with your student. This fight against bullying/name calling has to be a team effort.

Taking one step at a time.........

Texas Hold'em/DC Fundraiser

The response for our second Washington DC Fundraiser has been slow to say the least. I talked to the students a while back and handed out flyers to take home, we sent an automated phone message home and I've posted info on this Blog as well as our SCMS webpage. I'm hoping the info has gotten to the parents. I'm going to remind the kids today at lunch. The forms are due back in the office tomorrow (Friday, May 20th). If you need another flyer/sign up form, we have more in the office.

DC Fundraiser #2

For those parents of 7th grade students going to Washington DC this fall, we are getting ready to sign people up for a series of Teas Hold'ems. The sign up forms are due back in the office this Friday, May 20th. If your son or daughter didn't bring one home (hard to believe a middle schooler would forget), we have more copies in the office.

Incoming 6th Graders Immunizations

Since this week we are having our 6th grade orientation, I'm sure that every 5th grade parent is checking out our SCMS Blog. For that reason, here is a copy of part of the letter you should of received regarding the required immunizations.

Required for all children entering kindergarten, all 6th grade students, and all children changing school districts:
• Two doses of Varicella vaccine or history of chickenpox disease

Required for all children 11-18 years of age who are changing school districts or who are enrolled in the 6th grade:
• One dose of Meningococcal vaccine
• One dose of tetanus/diphtheria/accellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine (if it has been 5 years since last dose of tetanus/diphtheria vaccine).

Any questions please give our office a call.

Next DC Fundraiser

Had a few questions regarding our next Washington DC fundraiser for this year's gorup of 7th graders that are going on the trip. The fundraiser is working a Texas Hold'em and the sign up sheets are coming home today. If you don't get one, no worries, it isn't due back in the office until May 20th (it's not first come first served when assigning dates/times). I'm going to put the information on the sheet that is coming home on our website under the Washington DC link. We'll have extra sign up sheets in the office for those students that were absent or forgot to bring one home.

Report Card Delay

Ok, ok, ok.....gotten a few questions, borderline complaints, on the speed at which report cards are getting home. After looking into it today, I think I've found the problem. Here is the process that we use (that sounds like an excuse). Once the grades are entered, we do a printout, give it back to the teachers so they can verify the grades. Once verified, we print the report cards, stuff the envelopes and get them ready to be mailed. Here is the where I think the delay comes in. Our district mail all goes through our Central Office. Mail is picked up there at noon. Our mail (SCMS) isn't picked up until 1:00, so right there it's a day behind. This current report card happened to be picked up at SCMS on the Thursday before Easter. Because we didn't have school Friday and Monday, my gut feeling is that the report cards didn't get taken to the post office until the Tuesday after Easter....something we didn't anticipate. Sorry. It is something that I am now very aware of (thanks to a few concerned parents) and we'll be working to try to streamline the process.

6th Grade Orientation

Next Wednesday, May 11th, is our annual 6th Grade Orientation. All incoming 5th graders will be be bused to SCMS from their respective elementary schools for an afternoon of activities and an induction to middle school. Once the 5th graders have arrived, our current 6th graders will be dismissed...probably 11:35 (ish).

We also have an information parent meeting at 7:00 pm in our cafeteria for all parents of incoming 6th graders.

Looking forward to meeting everyone on the 11th.