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Message from Mrs. Kunze
It is hard to believe that we are finishing the 4th week of schoo! I hope that you are checking parent assistant to keep track of your child's progress. I would like to encourage some of you to discuss with your child their work ethic. It is hard to believe this early in the school year that we have some students who are not preparing for class, not completing assignments and not studying for tests. Please encourage your child to stay focused and to give their best effort!! They can all be successful with effort on their part!
Some of the students who signed up for an advanced course are now realizing that the course is rigorous. PLEASE encourage your child - an "A" is not the only measurement for success! Sometimes earning a "B" or even a "C" in an advanced course and learning how to think, learning how to study and how to change your work habits is more important than not really working to earn an "A" in a standard course. It is much better for students to be pushed now in middle school to learn and make mistakes when these grades won't be on their transcript (except Alg Hon & Geo Hon). One of the biggest complaints that we receive from Honors and PreIB teachers at the high schools are that students don't want to think. They want to be told every little thing to do and just want to memorize facts. I understand that we are pushing students out of their comfort zone, but it is our job to prepare them and us requiring them to think is so very important for their success in high school and beyond.
I would also like to encourage you if you have any questions or concerns regrading one of your child's classes, to please start by talking to the teacher first. All of the teachers at Swiss Point are professionals and will treat your child fairly. No one is going to mistreat your child, because you asked a question or had a concern. We are all in this profession, because we love children. We want to help your child and will do whatever we can!
PTSO Dance
We had the first PTSO "After Party" today in the gym from 2-5pm with about 250 students in attendance. The event was a HUGE SUCCESS! We can not thank PTSO mom, Dyana Giles, enough for organizing the event. (Yeah - she is a 6th grade mom!) Also, a BIG THANK YOU to all of the moms who helped decorate, worked concessions, took pictures, sold tickets at lunch and worked the "interview" booths. We also want to say thanks to some of the 8th grade football players who were "security" and to the winterguard and cheerleaders for their flash mob.
Clinic and student medication reminders
Please do not send any meds in with students. An adult must bring all meds to the clinic! This includes prescription and non-prescription drugs.
An over the counter form and prescription form can be found on the SPMS website and must be submitted with all meds. Click on Parents and then click on Clinic/Health information. Over the counter meds must be in a sealed container.
Students with inhalers can carry them on their own person, however a prescription form, completed by the physician and the parent, must be on file in the clinic as soon as possible.
If you have any questions please call Joan in the clinic at 547-8628.
Please Help Us Recycle at SPMS
Did you know that SPMS recycles all kinds of paper products? You can help from home by saving the following items and sending them to school with your child:
Newspapers, Magazines, Catalogs, Direct Mail, Office Paper, School paper, and Shredded Paper in clear plastic bags.
If your business would like to support our effort and you would like to bring items in bulk we do have a Green and Yellow Recycling Bin behind the school directly on the bus loop that you can access before 7 AM or after 2:15 PM.
Please DO NOT send in cardboard, cereal boxes, kitchen/bathroom paper products, phone books, plastics, metals, garbage.
Our school earns a few dollars from the recycling program but our students learn a great deal about citizenship and caring for our environment.
Gifted referral timeline
Deadline to request gifted screening
- submit to guidance counselor by 10/21/2011
Deadline for submission of private evaluations
- submit to guidance counselor by 1/13/2012
If you have any questions about the gifted process, please contact your school guidance counselor or Tina Kennon, ESE Coordinator, kennont@stjohns.k12.fl.us
DO YOU WANT TO DO MORE TO SUPPORT TO YOUR SCHOOL BUT DON'T HAVE TIME? DO YOU LIKE TO SAVE MONEY? HERE'S AN EASY WAY TO DO BOTH...
Join UGobbleUp We have partnered with a locally-owned online fundraising program that will benefit our school, local businesses and our community. Register your email at www.ugobbleup.com and you will begin receiving daily coupon deals, exclusive to UGobbleUp.com. When you use those coupon deals, 25% of your purchase price will be donated back to your school. No sales pitch, no volunteer hours, just savings for you and funding for your school. Simply register your email address at ttp://www.ugobbleup.com. But hurry and register now, the first coupon deal is coming on Monday, September 19th. Important Dates to Note this Week: FALL PORTRAITS THIS WEEK (TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY) IN SOCIAL STUDIES CLASSES!!! Important Dates PLEASE mark your calendars now with these upcoming important dates. PLEASE try and schedule trips or appointments around exam times. 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 |
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Daily Rotation for the Week | |
Week of September 19th - 23rd
Monday - Black Day
Tuesday - Silver Day
Wednesday - Black Day- 1pm dismissal
Thursday - Silver Day
Friday - Black Day |
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Volunteer Information | |
Thank you to the following parents who have volunteered to assist us on a regular basis...
Nery DiDeo
Deborah Humphrey
Amy Nourse
Stacy Pendarvis
We are still in need of a volunteer coordinator. Anyone interested can contact Kathleen Roberts at 547-8650. |
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PTSO News
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Hello PTSO Members, the PTSO is active in raising funds and supporting the school in their efforts to educate your students and as always, WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTICIPATION AND SUPPORT whenever and where ever you can!
We are making a few changes to the by-laws and the revised document is posted on the PTSO webpage. We also have the PTSO meeting schedule posted - if you would like to attend any of the meetings, we would love to have you join us. We are also collecting email addresses from our members so we can communicate about volunteer opportunities and relay important information about PTSO.
Our annual magazine fundraiser is still in progress.
This fundraiser is very important to our school community. Your support allows a substantial portion of the subscription price to come back to OUR SCHOOL to fund important programs that benefit our students. Your participation is greatly appreciated! Please complete the order forms that were brought home and return to school. If you prefer, you can shop online at QSP.com. Don't forget to enter our school account number when ordering online (1081276). In either case you are able to renew or order new subscriptions. As a note, all online sales count toward your child's prizes!
Box Top, Campbell Soup & Tyson Label News
It is time to cut labels. Our first contest will begin now and end on 12/1/11. The student who sends in the most labels will win a gift card. Each student who brings in 50 valid labels will receive one Raider Buck. Please make sure to place your labels in a zip lock bag or an envelope with the student's name, grade and homeroom teacher's name listed. Thank you for supporting our school.
2nd Annual Drive Fore Education Golf Tournament
Saturday, November 5th with a 1:30pm start time
The Champions Club at Julington Creek
$75 per golfer and $300 per foursome.
Click here to download a golf registration form
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SAC News
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School Advisory Council Parent Representative Ballot
Time is running out to vote on School Advisory Council parent members, please do so before September 20th.
YOU CAN VOTE ONLINE AT https://surveys.stjohns.k12.fl.us/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=7lMH85l
IF YOU CANNOT VOTE ONLINE CUT AND RETURN THE BALLOT BELOW TO YOUR CHILD'S HOMEROOM TEACHER.
Please place a check by "accept all" or individually check those you approve and return the form to your child's homeroom teacher on or before September 20th.
SPMS SAC PARENT and COMMUNITY REPRENSENTATIVE BALLOT 2011-2012
_____ I Accept All Names Listed Below
New Members Elect:
_____ Lori Madrid
_____ Luis Sanchez
_____ Lena Ford
_____ Stacy Pendarvis
_____ Mina Bustamante
Returning Members:
_____ Kristee Burgess
_____ Christine Sanders
_____ Tina Newman
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Guidance News
| | Guidance Counselors
Ellen Dail - 6th grade & 7th grade A-L
Tanya Moseley - 7th grade M-Z & 8th grade
8th grade Algebra and Geometry students!!!
Your child will be given the opportunity to take the PSAT at Switzerland Point on Saturday, October 15th. This is a national test day for the PSAT and there is not a make-up date. The cost is $20. The PSAT gives your child personalized feedback on their test performance allowing them to see which questions they answered incorrectly and which academic skills they may need to improve. The PSAT is practice for the SAT which your child will take in high school. More information will be coming as the October 15th date approaches. Please email Mrs. Moseley if you have further questions!
7th Grade (TIP) Talent Identification Program Information
Duke TIP (Talent Identification Program) seeks to identify students with strong intellectual abilities that would like to voluntarily take the ACT or SAT while in 7th grade. This program is not sponsored by Swiss Point but we are happy to provide parents with the information needed to register with TIP if interested:
1. Please review your child's 5th or 6th grade standardized test scores (FCAT, TerraNova, Iowa, CTBS, SAT, ITBS, etc).
2. If your child scored at or higher than 95% on either the reading OR math portions on a norm referenced test, he/she is eligible to register for TIP. Florida students took the FCAT in 5th and 6th grade which does not provide a percentile score, however, the developmental score can be converted to a percentile score that can be used on the registration form. If your child scored at or above the following developmental scores in 5th OR 6th grade they can register:
5th grade Reading 2142
5th grade Math 2018
6th grade Reading 2220
6th grade Math 2079.
***Please note that all of the qualifying developmental scores are within the FCAT Level 5
3. Please find all of the information about the program, differences between tests (ACT/SAT), when and where the tests are offered and how to register by going to Duke TIP's website at www.tip.duke.edu. If you have any additional questions please call TIP at (919 )668-9100
4. If you do register for one of the tests ($72.00 cost), you will use the following middle school ID: 200293-AB
5. If unable to access the site please send your child to the guidance office for a paper registration to take home.
Support Groups for Grieving Families
Community Hospice of NE Florida conducts therapeutic support groups throughout the year. To learn whether a Community Hospice therapeutic support group might be right for you, call Roxanne Miller at 904-407-6330. Locations for the group meetings are in Mandarin (September 20-Novermber 8) and in St. Augustine (October 5-November 30).
How To Help Your Child Succeed in School
Parents often ask School Counselors for tips on how to help their child be more successful in school. While every student is different, there are some basics that are beneficial:
Be informed:
1. Subscribe to the school e-newsletter so that you will not have to depend on your child to give you accurate information.
2. Write the password to the Parent Assist account in a safe but visible place and use it so you and your child will know how he/she is doing at least every other week. Please remember that we only send report cards home at the end of each quarter and it is your responsibility to check the Parent Assist account for ongoing progress updates.
3. Create shortcuts to your desktop or to your favorites for each of your child's teachers webpages. This will ensure easy access to homework/projects that teachers post on their websites for your child to check against their planner and for you to be aware of.
4. If you have a concern about your child's performance in a class please email the teacher.
Structure your child's home study area and time: Middle school students NEED BOUNDARIES!
It is the parents' responsibility to create and implement those boundaries. Your child should empty his/her backpack every day, organize materials for the next day, finish homework that was not done during study hall, study for assessments and read every school day. We have many students who do not complete or turn in homework and we need their parents' support. The adults (at home and at school) should not have to work harder that the child to ensure they are responsible, but they do need to provide the expectation, place, time and supplies to make sure homework is completed. With Silver and Black days, a visual reminder of the classes for each day, a color coded calendar for the month with both color days marked, and even a different trapper/drawstring bag for each color day will help.
Limit and monitor the use of social media sites/video games/texting:
Middle school students are not adults who have the self-regulatory skills to know how to manage this technology or the risks associated with them. Students need their parents' guidance to benefit and not be hurt by this technology. Additionally, when at school, students will focus on learning and not so much on the "drama" that social media sites such as Facebook may create.
Have dinner together as much as possible:
Dinner is a great time to ask specific questions about your child's day. If you ask open ended questions that do not result in your child responding with "yes, no, nothing, OK, fine" it will give you a chance to learn about your child's social and academic life at school.
Trend of the Week
Snus, a dissolvable tobacco product sold in a small pouch and placed under the lip, similar to dipping tobacco. Tobacco retailers have begun selling snus tobacco products (Camel Snus, Marlboro Snus and Skoal Snus are a few) nationally and they can be found in most places where cigarettes are sold. Snus is gaining popularity among youth in the United States as an alternative to smoking and traditional "chewing" tobacco
Website of the Week
www.madd.org is the website of Mothers Against Drug Driving. It is wealth of knowledge and full of important resources to "stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking."
Victory With Honors Code of Conduct
All St. Johns County students are expected to comply with a code of conduct. Student athletes are expected to follow an additional Victory With Honors athletic code of conduct. This code includes "no student-athlete shall knowingly attend any party or other social gathering where underage drinking and drug use occurs.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Seeking Mentors
Start Something with Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Johns County. As a Big Brother or Big Sister, you can give a child an opportunity to see beyond their everyday world and dream big. For as little as one hour a week, you can change a child's perspective of what the world can offer. To learn how you can Start Something in our community, contact Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Johns County at (904) 829-9986 or www.bbbsstjohns.org.
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Student's Corner | |
SAFETY TIP LINE
Officer 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
FUN FRIDAY
The 7th & 8th graders will have their first Fun Friday next Friday, Sep 23rd. Students can purchase tickets for 4 Raider Bucks in the cafeteria next Thursday and Friday.
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Policy Reminders
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Switzerland Point Standards
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Be Safe
Tardies to Class
4 tardies to any class will result in a detention. Get to class on time!
Horseplay
Unintended consequences are often the end result of horseplay. Remember to always keep your hands to yourself!
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Athletics
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SPMS Girls and Boys Basketball
The girls and boys basketball teams will both have their first game Monday night at Sebastian Middle School. The girls start at 5:30pm and the boys play immediately afterwards.
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!
St Johns Middle School Athletic Association (SJMSAA)
FOOTBALL
The RAIDERS football team won their 3rd game yesterday in overtime against Pacetti Bay 12-6. The Raiders are currently 3-0. Their next game is Wednesday, Sep 21st vs. Indian Trails at 6pm at Matanzas High School. |
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Lunch Menu
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Traditional lunch is $2.50
Ala carte pricing can be found using the link on the parent page of the SPMS website.
Monday - Spaghetti & meat sauce/roll OR corn dog, corn on cob, sliced peaches, assorted fresh fruits, fruit juices & milk
Tuesday - oven baked chicken/roll OR deli sandwich on whole grain bun with yogurt, mashed potatoes, pineapple tidbits, assorted fresh fruit, fruit juices and milk
Wednesday - chef boyardee ravioli/roll OR chicken & rice/roll, seasoned green beans, applesauce, assorted fresh fruits, fruit juices and milk
Thursday - twisted sticks with marinara sauce OR pizzas, broccoli florets, mixed fruit cup, assorted fresh fruits, fruit juices and milk
Friday - chicken nuggets/roll OR grilled cheese sandwich, tator tots, diced pears, assorted fresh fruits, fruit juices and milk
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Boy Scout Troop 488 asks for your support as they participate in a fundraising project making and selling subs at the Bartram Oaks Walk Subway on September 30th. Stop in anytime between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm and get a "Sub for Scouts."
Creeks Girls Lacrosse 2012 Registration Starts October 01, 2011
Creeks Athletic Association - Creeks Girls Lacrosse
Ages: Grades K-8th
Cost: Register Early & SAVE!
Early Registration October 1st to November 15 $125
Registration November 15 to December 31 $140
Late Registration January 1-31 2012 $155
This year Creeks Girls Lacrosse will try something NEW!
Uniforms will be the same as last year. If your child played in the past and her uniform still fits, you may opt to keep the uniform and your registration will be discounted $25
If you refer a new player, you will receive a $25 credit towards your registration
If you secure a Sponsor for Creeks Girls Lacrosse with a sponsorship level of $500 or more your daughter's registration is FREE!
New player clinics will be held in October, November and December. Time & dates TBA by October 1, 2011.
Creeks Athletic Association - Flag Football
Cost: $140
Where: Plantation Park, St Johns, Florida
When: Season Runs November 2011 - February 2012
CAA Flag Football is for players 4 as of April 2011 up to the age of 17. Teams will have one scheduled practice during the work week, and one scheduled practice during the weekend. Once games have started there will be only one practice held during the work week. The CAA Flag Football season will run from November 2011 through February 2012. Team Drafts will be held October 17-18. Games will start December 3rd with the final playoffs in February 3rd. There will be a two week, single elimination tournament during the final two weekends of the season.
Important Dates:
Draft Dates are scheduled for October 17, 18, 19 & 20th at Veterans Park. Time frames for individual age brackets will be posted at the conclusion of registration.
Mandatory Coaches Meeting October 25th location TBD
Referee Meeting October 27 & 28th at Veterans Park.
For more information and to register online, visit the CAA Flag Football Website at: caaflagfootball.org
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.
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