Thank you to everyone who took time out of their busy schedule to attended Open House this year.  We hope that holding the event earlier will allow you to be more informed and better able to support your child throughout the year.

If you were not able to attend the Washington DC Informational meeting the PowerPoint is posted on the home page of the SPMS website.  We are accepting $250 deposits now made payable to Swiss Point MS.  Students can give their check or cash to Mrs. Robbins in room 565.  The cost per student is $890 and per parent is $990.  The dates are Sunday, January 3rd to Friday, January 8th.  We will operate on a first come first serve basis filling the buses. Once we have enough to fill one bus the rest of the students/parents will be held on a "waiting list" for the next bus until there are enough to fill.  Then we will work on a 3rd bus and so on. We can only take buses that are full.  We have filled 2 buses and are working on a "waiting list" for bus 3.  If there is a need for financial assistance, please email Mrs. Kunze at Lisa.Kunze@stjohns.k12.fl.us by Friday, August 28th.  The PTSO provides us with DC Scholarship funds each year, so we try to pay a portion of the trip for all those who request by Friday, August 28th.  

When sending an absent note in for your child, please write the child's legal first and last name, date(s) of absence, reason, and sign and date.  Your child has 48 hours upon returning to school to turn in their note in the guidance office to Mrs. Miller.  Remember that there is a pre-approved absence form on the Swiss Point website for trips.  The form needs to be submitted 2 weeks in advance to Mrs. Miller for Mrs. Kunze to approve.

St. Johns County has experienced extensive growth over the last 10 years.  To generate needed funds for new construction, maintenance of current schools and upgrades to technology, the district is calling for a half-cent sales tax referendum.  We need all parents to be educated on this matter and able to share information with others in our community who do not have children in our schools.  The strength of our school system attracts many residents to St. Johns County and directly affects our property values.  I am asking that you visit the St. Johns County website to learn more about the half-cent sales tax referendum.  The website features a video from Dr. Joyner, a PowerPoint with information, a Fact Sheet, and Important Voting Dates related to this issue.  Aside from the actual voting date, the most important date to take note of is the deadline for registering to vote, which is October 5th.  Please encourage new neighbors to register to vote.

Textbook Update:  We have received and barcoded all of the textbooks we were missing.  We will start distributing these textbooks on Monday.

When students stay after school for a club meeting, intramurals, or extra help, they must be picked up at the designated end time.  Teachers sponsoring these events are responsible for all students until students are picked up, which means teachers can't leave.  Most of the teachers have families of their own with after school committments to attend to and some teachers have part-time jobs.  I have communicated with teachers that 30 minutes after the designated end time if a child has still not been picked up, the teacher can call the parent and place the child in Beyond the Bell. The parent will be charged $15.  The teacher day ends at 2:55pm, so when teachers stay after they are giving up their own time.  Many teachers are very happy to stay after school with students, but would like for parents to be courteous in return by picking up their child on time.  After a teacher has to stay late multiple times waiting with a child, the teacher often stops offering help sessions or sponsoring clubs.  We do not want this to happen, so if picking up your child is an issue with your work schedule, please don't let your child stay for the event or consider purchasing a Beyond the Bell punch card

Yearbooks are on sale now!!!  You can pre-order your yearbook online for only $35.  Yearbooks will ONLY be sold online, so please do not send in cash or check.  Students were given a 1/2 sheet flyer today in homeroom with the directions on how to order.  Just in case the slip doesn't make it to you, the directions are below.

Go to http://yearbookordercenter.com

Search by Order Number 0359

Press continue to confirm you have chosen SPMS.

You will select your order options by filling in the Quantity of the item you would like to purchase.

After you confirm your selections, you will be prompted to insert the student's name and grade level.

You will then be able to insert the Name Stamp you would like to appear on the front of the book and perss Continue.

Once you have confirmed your items, select Checkout.

Complete the billing information and select Review Order.

After reviewing your order, select Submit.