SPMS - Week of August 29

Switzerland Point Middle School

8/26/2011

777 Greenbriar Road

St. Johns, FL 32259

547-8650

Headings

Quick Links

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SPMS Parent Page

Raider Rap Archive

St Johns County Home Page

FL DOE Home Page

Click Here for Free Coupon

Click here for Summer Fun at Adventure Landing

Message from Mrs. Kunze

We made it through the first week!! The students have been awesome! Everyone has learned their locker combination and their classroom locations. We will continue to work on when is a good time to stop at the locker, but overall, we have had an amazing first week of school!!!

The leadership team will meet Monday afternoon to review data on number of students in the hallway after each bell to determine if we need to adjust our passing time between classes. We collected data Thursday and today and will collect again Monday. We will let the students know Tuesday morning if changes are made.

Please remind your child to ensure that their lock is closed when they leave their locker. About 30-40 locks are left open every class change. We can not be responsible for items being stolen out of lockers.

New Employees

We have many new employees at Swiss Point this year. PLEASE help me in welcoming them all! The new teachers just received their laptops last week. They have not received training on entering grades into eSIS or creating their webpage. We are working on this as quickly as possible, please be patient with them.

Brillhart, Lori - 6th grade Science Advanced

Epps, Mary Lou - Para ESE

Hicks, Donna - Math remediation

Johnson, Paula - Custodian

Kennedy, Missy - 8th grade Science Advanced

Kromphardt, Alice - 7th grade LA standard & advanced

Martin, Linda - 7th & 8th grade Science

Moody, Mitchell - Associate teacher

Solomon, Orrie - 8th grade Language Arts

Tumbelty, Allison - ESE - support faciliation in Language Arts

Wilson, Andrew - Art

Wisdahl, Nathan - 8th grade Math

Zentz, Laurie - Band

PLEASE mark your calendars now with important dates. PLEASE try and schedule trips or appointments around exam times.

Sep 8 - Open House (in the evening)

Sep 20 & 21 - Fall portraits through social studies classes

Oct 18 - 21: District Quarter Exams in all core subjects

Jan 9-11: Semester Exams - 20% of semester grade

Feb 28 - FCAT Writing - all 8th graders

March 19-22: District Quarter Exam in all core subjects

Week of April 16 - FCAT: Reading & Math - all grades

Apr 24 - FCAT Science - all 8th graders

Week of April 23 - State End of Course Exam for Geometry Honors - 30% of overall course grade

Week of May 7 - State End of Course Exam for Algebra I Honors - 30% of overall course grade

May 29-31: Semester Exams - 20% of semester grade

Language Exploration Enrichment LEE

Spanish class begins on Sept. 6th on T/TH after school.

Pam Burton, trained middle school LEE Instructor will teach classes. Learn a Language, Share a Culture, Change the World.

For more information, please contact LEE at:

LEEStJohns@aol.com or 904 657-1918 voice mail

Check out our website:

http://leestjohns.pbworks.com/

Be our friend on facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Jacksonville-FL/LEE-Language-Exploration-Enrichment/106795721624

Office Koweski has started an anonymous tip line for our students to report anything they feel school administration should know to keep our school safe. The number is 904-335-8609.

Daily Rotation for the Week
Week of August 29 - September 2 Monday - Black Day Tuesday - Silver Day Wednesday - Black Day- 1pm dismissal Thursday - Silver Day Friday - Black Day

Volunteer Information

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!!!!

We are looking for volunteers to help with the following....

making copies - 2 to 3 hours per day (Could have 5 people that each take a day and work their 2 to 3 hours)

filing in guidance - 2 hours per day or one full day (Could have 5 different people that each work 2 hours per day)

typing Raider Rap - can be done from home - will take around 3 to 4 hours per week

shelving books in the library - 2 hours per day (Could have 5 people that each work two days)

adding students to classes on the computer to set up FCAT Explorer and Discovery Education - once per year - about 15 hours

If you can volunteer or know of a grandparent or retired person from church or your neighborhood who is looking for something to do - we would love to have them!!!

Anyone interested can contact Kathleen Roberts at 547-8650.

We are also looking for a few 8th grade moms to help plan and organize the 8th grade dance and awards for the end of the year. For the past two years we have had the dance at the St. Johns Convention Center attached to the Renaissance Hotel at World Golf. Unfortunately, they have raised their prices, so we don't currently have a location. If you are interested in helping, please contact Diane Hurst, 8th grade team leader, at hurstd@stjohns.k12.fl.us

PTSO News

PTSO will start their first fundraiser - QSP Magazine sales - this Wednesday, August 31st. Students will attend an assembly to learn about the fundraiser. PLEASE encourage your child to participate and support PTSO.

Book Fair starting soon!!

Volunteers are needed for the Book Fair. Dates are Friday, September 2nd through Wednesday, September 14. Please contact Sue Watson at gwatson603@aol.com or 230-5508.

If you did not have the opportunity to join PTSO last Saturday, you can join using paypal online on the PTSO page of the SPMS website. You will also be able to join on Thursday, September 8th at Open House.

2nd Annual Drive Fore Education Golf Tournament

Saturday, November 15, 2011 - start time 1:30pm

The Champions Club at Julington Creek

$75 per golfer and $300 per foursome

Click here to download a golf registration form

SAC News

School Advisory Council Meeting
Switzerland Point Middle School

If you are interested in joining our SAC team for 2011-2012 please contact Kristina Bransford at bransfk@stjohns.k12.fl.us. Meetings are once a month for an hour and a half.

Some roles and responsibilities of all members of the School Advisory Council shall:

- maintain a school-wide perspective on issues

- participate in council meetings

- participate in information and training programs

- act as a link between the school council and the community

- encourage the participation of parents and community members

- attend council meetings on a regular basis

- establish and review annually the council's goals, priorities, and procedures

- hold a minimum of eight meetings per year (all meetings shall be public)

- communicate regularly with parents and other members of the community to seek their views and preferences with regard to matters being addressed by the council, and to report on the activities of the council to the school community

Guidance News

Guidance Counselors

Ellen Dail - 6th grade & 7th grade A-L

Tanya Moseley - 7th grade M-Z & 8th grade

Parent Assistant

Parent Assistant is a portal for MS and HS parents to view grades entered into the teachers electronic gradebook. We encourage parents to use this portal to view student progress.

Usernames and passwords for Parent Assistant will be issued at Open House on September 8th. If you have your information from last year, it should be working. Siblings are linked on the same account, so you only have one username and password.

Private Tutoring

The Guidance Department keeps an ongoing list of local tutors who work with students in all subjects for a fee after school hours. If you would like a copy please send your child to Guidance or email Ms. Miller at millern@stjohns.k12.fl.us for a copy to be emailed to you.

Student's Corner

How to Earn Raider Bucks............

Raider Bucks are given for good behavior, demonstrating the character counts pillars and for academic achievement.

How to Spend Raider Bucks...........

1 RB - Eating outside on the patio at lunch

2 RBs - Purchase Friday treat at lunch (usually ice cream)

4 RBs - Purchase ticket to Fun Friday

5 RBs - Purchase Principal's Homework EXTENSION pass

5RBs and up - Quarterly Events

Fun Fridays - will be during study hall by grade level

Students can purchase a ticket at lunch on Thursday or Friday. Tickets will be available to the gym for basketball, outside for kickball or to the multi-purpose room to play on one of our 2 Wii's, play board games or cards with friends.

Sep 2 - 6th grade Fun Friday

Sep 9 - 7th grade Fun Friday

Sep 23 - 8th grade Fun Friday

Quarterly Events

1st Qtr - Movie over 2 days of study hall with popcorn - 5RBs

2nd Qtr - Holiday Store will be open - students can purchase holiday gifts for parents and siblings using Raider Bucks

3rd Qtr - Spring Fling - bands outside during an extended lunch - 5 RBs

4th Qtr - Dodgeball - teachers versus students by grade level

10RBs to play and 5RBs to watch

Policy Reminders

Switzerland Point Standards

Be Respectful

Be Responsible

Be Safe

PLEASE do not drop your child off before 7:15am. We do not have supervision in the building until then. THANK YOU!!

ALL students attended an expectation assembly this week to review rules. PLEASE talk to your child about having a great year by behaving appropriately. The number one issue that we have is.......STUDENTS KEEPING THEIR HANDS TO THEMSELVES!! This means no horseplaying with friends, which usually leads to someone getting hurt.

Athletics

SPMS BASKETBALL TRY-OUTS for GIRLS & BOYS TEAMS

Try-out dates for both teams are Sep 6th through the 8th.

Boys: 2:10pm to 3:45pm

Girls: 4:30pm to 6pm

Students MUST provide their own transportation. Parent pick-up will be required promptly after each try-out each day.

To try out students MUST have a try-out waiver signed and returned. Waivers are available from ANY PE COACH.

All students that are trying out for the team MUST show up the first day, but are NOT GUARANTEED to stay all three days.

6th graders ARE ALLOWED to tryout.

If you have any questions, please contact Coach Singleton at singlet@stjohns.k12.fl.us

SPMS Winterguard

The Winterguard is selling........

GATOR BOWL TICKETS for $30/ticket

Please contact any SPMS Winterguard team member or

fourshermans@comcast.net

to purchase your tickets TODAY!!

Lunch

Traditional lunch is $2.50

Ala carte pricing can be found using the link on the parent page of the SPMS website.

Monday- Chicken Nuggets w/roll OR Deli Sandwich w/yogurt, mashed potatoes, diced peaches, assorted juices, milk

Tuesday- Tacos with lettuce, tomatoes & cheese OR Breaded Chicken sandwich on bun, whole kernal corn, sliced apples, assorted juices, milk

Wednesday- Spaghetti & Meat sauce w/garlic breadstick OR Chicken Quesadilla Max, Carrots, Fruit Crisp, Assorted Juices, milk

Thursday- Fish sandwich on bun OR Oven Baked Chicken w/roll, baked beans, diced pears, assorted fresh fruits, fruit juices, milk

Friday- Corn dog OR Chef Boyardee Ravioli w/roll, green beans, pineapple tidbits, assorted fresh fruit, fruit juices, milk

Community Events

The United Way of St. Johns County invites you to attend "Treasures at the Fountain" on Saturday October 1 at the historic Fountain of Youth located at 11 Magnolia Drive in uptown St. Augustine.

A "Family Fun Time" will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for children and parents. The event will include a treasure hunt, re-enactors and story telling, face painting, planetarium tours and a healthy lunch. Tickets are $25 per family (limit 6 per family - $5 for each extra family member) and each ticket includes lunch and all activities.

In the evening, a "Grown-ups Groovin' and Cruisin' Time" will be from 6 to 9:30 p.m. the same day and location. Admission to the event is $50 per person (for ages 21 and older) and pricing includes food, drinks, and all entertainment.

To R.S.V.P., go online at www.treasuresatthefountain.com or call the United Way Office at 904-829-9721.

Potential Zoning Changes

Two Town Hall meetings are scheduled to discuss potential zoning changes for the new Elementary School "L" being constructed at 355 Palencia Village Drive, which is slated to open for the 2012-2013 school year. Other high-growth areas may also be addressed.

The meetings will take place at Nease High School, located at 10550 Ray Road, on Tuesday, August 30 at 6:30 p.m. and at Creekside High School, located at 100 Knights Lane, on Thursday, September 1 at 6:30 p.m.

Proposed zoning plans will be released at the Town Hall meetings, along with an opportunity for the public to provide comment. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Joyner, School Board members and district staff will be in attendance.

"Parents and other interested parties are encouraged to attend the Town Hall meetings so that they may hear the various proposals firsthand and express their opinions," said Mr. Tim Forson, Deputy Superintendent for Operations.