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Message from Mrs. Kunze
"The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials."
-Chinese proverb
Because we value instructional time and want to limit the number of class disruptions, it is a Switzerland Point policy that after school starts we only accept deliveries of lunch money or the actual lunch. We do not accept late homework, projects, PE clothes, band instruments, etc. We ask that you please honor this policy. Checking your child out to walk them to the parking lot to hand them their items and then checking them back in, is not teaching your child responsibility or respect. We need students to be responsible and to be organized. If your child tends to be forgetful, then have him/her sit items by the door the night before or help him make a checklist that he can use in the morning before he leaves. Students need to be taught these life skills now. Thank you in advance for your support with this policy.
New Graduation Requirements
The new graduation requirements for students entering 9th grade in 2012-2013 (current 8th graders) and for students entering 9th grade in 2013-2014 (current 7th graders) have been released from the state. The information has been posted on the Parent Page of the Switzerland Point website. Please use the link below to view this important information.
Dr. Joyner's State of the School Address Click here to view the invitation Yearbooks are on sale NOW! Yearbooks are now on sale for $30 (only $35 with nameplate). All orders must be placed online at www.yearbookordercenter.com Our school # is #359. Don't mis out, order now! 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
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 http://www.ugobbleup.com. |
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Daily Rotation for the Week
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Week of September 26th - 30th
Monday - Black Day
Tuesday - Silver Day
Wednesday - Black Day- 1pm dismissal
Thursday - Silver Day
Friday - Black Day
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Volunteer Information
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Volunteer Designation
Many volunteers from the elementary schools, whose children are now in 6th grade are very enthusiastic about volunteering at SPMS (and it is appreciated!). SPMS is probably not indicated on the approved volunteer file as a facility where the volunteer would like to donate time and must be added before volunteering. Please email Mrs. Casper at casperc@stjohns.k12.fl.us to have SPMS added to your volunteer file. Thank you.
HELLO PARENTS: WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR A GENEROUS PARENT TO HELP US OUT AS A VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR - Anyone who is interested PLEASE 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!
Support the PTSO by purchasing 2011 Spirit Wear
You can download an order form on the SPMS website, here:
Spirit Wear Order Form
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
The School Advisory Council (SAC) meetings are always open to parents (meetings are held the 3rd Wed of each month except December) and dates are posted in the Raider Rap and on the marquee in front of the school. If you'd like to have your voice heard, please join the SAC committee at their next meeting.
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Guidance News | | Guidance Counselors
Ellen Dail - 6th grade & 7th grade A-L
Tanya Moseley - 7th grade M-Z & 8th grade
Attention parents of 8th grade Algebra and Geometry students!!!
Your child is being given the opportunity to take the PSAT at Switzerland Point on Saturday, October 15th from 8am to 11am. 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 excellent practice for the SAT which your child will take in high school. Payment (cash or check payable to SPMS) for the PSAT should be turned in to Guidance beginning this Monday, Oct. 3rd through October 14th. Your child will receive a receipt. A parent info letter and PSAT Study Guide was given to your student this week by Mrs. Robbins. Please email Mrs. Moseley if you have further questions!
Character Counts! at SPMS
Every month our teachers nominate up to two students for their outstanding character. These students receive a nomination slip specifically stating why they were nominated giving them an opportunity to see that their positive behavior, acts of kindness, and respect for others does not go unnoticed.
On the average, we have 30 nominees who are treated to lunch on their special day so if your son/daughter brings home an apple green invitation for them to come and have lunch in the Multipurpose Room it is because we are proud of them and want to recognize them. Most of the 8th graders want to take their lunch back to the cafeteria to impress their peers, 7th graders chose to stay or go depending on where they are with their "coolness" factor but the majority of the 6th graders can't wait to stay and eat on a table covered with a real tablecloth and talk to each other.
Thank you so much for raising young adults who exhibit so many of the character traits we hold dear.
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.
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Student's Corner
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Dreams Come True Club
We will have an informational meeting for our Dreams Come True Club during study hall on Tuesday, Oct. 4th, in the Raider Roost. The Dreams Come True " Kids Helping Kids" Club raises funds for children with a life-threatening illness, and each year our school club is responsible for donating money to make a "dream come true" for a child selected by the Jacksonville based nonprofit organization. SPMS has sponsored a variety of dreams including cruises and trips to Hawaii and Disney. Members of this club are expected to regularly attend meetings, participate in our annual fundraiser, and help with our school talent show, which is our largest fundraiser. We look forward to seeing our former members and want to invite new members who would like to help us with another year of successful fundraising for this worthwhile organization.
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.
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Policy Reminders |
Switzerland Point Standards
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Be Safe
School Safety!
Students, remember YOU help us keep Switzerland Point safe. Report any suspicious activity to Dean Hurst or Deputy Kowieski, or use the school tip line at 335-8609. The latest thing - shooting hornets
Students are taking a small piece of paper and folding it very tightly - this is called a hornet. Then they shoot the hornet at another student using a rubber band. OUCH - THIS HURTS!! Please help us by not allowing your student to wear a rubber band on their wrist. When students have been questioned about shooting hornets, the response is that they are just wearing the rubber band. Students really do not need to have rubber bands on their person. This creates a potential safety hazard, which could lead to a consequence. |
Athletics | |
Congratulations to the girl's and boy's basketball teams as they are UNDEFEATED thus far this season. Both teams have a record of 4 wins and 0 losses. Great job!!!! Raiders #1.
Congratulations to the football team as they continue to win this season. The Raiders are UNDEFEATED!!! with a record of 5 wins and 0 losses.. Way to go!!! Keep up the good work.
SJMSAA Soccer Try-Outs IF ANY STUDENT IS INTERESTED IN TRYING OUT FOR THE SOCCER TEAM, YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER ONLINE THROUGH WWW.SJMSAASOCCER.COM OR BY COMPLETING THE REGISTRATION FORM AND TURNING IT IN TO COACH SINGLETON. COSTS: IF SELECTED THE PROGRAM COST TO THE ATHLETE IS $255 AND INCLUDES UNIFORMS, TRANSPORTATION, EQUIPMENT, OFFICIALS, FIELD MAINTENANCE, AND TRAINING SUPPLIES. REQUIREMENTS: ATHLETES WILL BE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A 2.0 GPA AND A PHYSICAL EXAM BEFORE THE FIRST PRACTICE. PLEASE BRING CLEATS, AND SHIN GUARDS. TRY-OUT DATES: STARTS OCTOBER 3 AT 2:00 PM |
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Lunch Menu | |
Traditional lunch is $2.50
Ala carte pricing can be found using the link on the parent page of the SPMS website.
Monday - Chef Boyardee Ravioli with bread OR oven baked chicken with bread, sweet peas, strawberry cup, assorted fresh fruits, fruit juices & milk
Tuesday - grilled cheese sandwich OR chicken & rice with bread, seasoned green beans, sliced apples, assorted fresh fruit, fruit juices and milk
Wednesday - twisted stixs with marinara OR corn dog on a stick, whole kernel corn, fruit crisp, assorted fresh fruits, fruit juices and milk
Thursday - chicken nuggets with bread OR spaghetti with meat sauce and bread, glazed carrots, diced pears, assorted fresh fruits, fruit juices and milk
Friday - macaroni & cheese with bread OR deli sandwich on whole wheat bun with yogurt, steamed broccoli florets, sliced peaches, assorted fresh fruits, fruit juices and milk |
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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.
Homework Assistance/Tutoring
St. Johns Learning would like to offer parents of SPMS a homework assistance option at the lowest possible cost to families. Students may attend any days Monday -Thursday from 2:45 until 5 for an assisted homework session. Tutors will be available to answer questions, provide feedback, check homework for accuracy, and assist students in preparing for tests.
For families with one student, the cost is $250 a month. For families with 2 or more children, the cost is $350 a month for the family.
Students will not receive extensive one-on-one tutoring as they do in our tutorial programs, but tutors will be assisting all students and checking for understanding as well as providing strategies for study skills and test preparation.
Girl Scouts Commemorate 100 years of Girl Scouting -- You are invited!
In 2012 Girl Scouts of the USA will mark 100 years of inspiring girls and young women with the ideals of courage, confidence and character. Girl Scout troops from the Creeks Cove Service Unit will kick off the celebrations on October 22nd, at Alpine Groves Park by the river from 4:00PM to 6:00PM. This event is free and open to the public and patches will be distributed to the first 150 Girl Scouts coming that day. Please bring a canned food item to help our local food pantry. Kids of all ages are encouraged to wear their Halloween Costumes and participate in activities such as face painting, games and a not-so-haunted trail.
First Coast Lacrosse Now Registering!
Building the Game through Quality Instruction and Fun! Now entering its 6th year, First Coast Fall Ball League (FCL) is one of the most established and complete girls lacrosse leagues in the southern U.S. The philosophy of the league is simple: Help players take their games to the next level and provide quality playing experiences with certified officials, college players, college coaches and area high school coaches providing structure! Get PUMPED UP! Lax is right around the corner! This league provides options for female laxers of all ages. There are instructional clinics for elementary-middle school ages as well as regularly scheduled game play for high school ages. The league starts on October 9h and registration closes SOON! SIGN UP TODAY!
For more information, or to register, please visit www.firstcoastlax.com. Questions? Contact Linda Kelly, Linda.kelly@laxmaniax.com or Jeff Greenert, jeffgreenert@gmail.com.
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.
Registration for Ancient City Sports Ladies Flag Football isnow open!
Calling all women 25 andolder, returning teams, and individuals looking for team placement! This is a recreational, no-contact version ofFlag Football, no professional players allowed. Two divisions; upper "SPICE", lower "SUGAR". Jim Ed Williams, SJC Recreation & ParksDirector, will hold a Rules Review and Registration Meeting on Thursday, October 13 @6:30 pm at Veteran's Park in the meeting room above the concession stand. This is a mandatory meeting for all Coaches that will be on the field duringgames. This meeting is also stronglyencouraged for new players and team captains. For more information, please visit the ACS Ladies Flag website athttp://ladiesflagfootball.shutterfly.com or you may also email the Leaguecoordinator, Jamey at flkumps@bellsouth.net or you can call Stacie at (904)588-5831.
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
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