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Message from Mrs. Kunze
We had a great first 3 days of school! THANK YOU!!
Our official enrollment on Friday was 1,268 students. We have 4 students returning from vacation on Monday and have 2 students that enrolled Friday starting Monday, so we will be at 1,274. With the developing neighborhoods in our attendance zone, we anticipate this number to grow throughout the school year.
On Friday, we completed our required drills...tornado, intruder, fire and bomb threat. We talked to students about how important it is to take drills seriously, so in case of an emergency everyone knows what to do. We also completed our Quarterly Behavior Expectation Assemblies. The PowerPoint is attached as a PDF file for you to view and discuss with your child. There are some changes regarding dress code that the girls were very excited about. We also spoke to students about being nice to each other and speaking to each other with kindness. In the 6th & 7th grade assemblies we showed the short video (link below) from "Kid President." We ran out of time in the 8th grade assembly, but will send the video link to homeroom teachers for them to show to students.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5yCOSHeYn4
Students also attended a Magazine Assembly Friday for a PTSO Fundraiser. This is PTSO's largest fundraiser, so we ask for your support and participation. Information regarding the fundraiser is below in the PTSO section.
Starting Monday, we will ring the bells and have our normal 5 minutes between classes. We know that many students will be late, but we need them to figure out what they need to change to make it to class in 5 minutes. We will not start keeping track of tardies until we feel students are ready. Which means we will probably start with 7th & 8th graders sometime this week and 6th graders sometime the following week.
Textbooks and lockers were issued yesterday to students who missed our Saturday event. If your child is still in need of a textbook or locker, he/she needs to see Mrs. Jones in the dean's office before school (between 7:30 and 7:40am) or during their lunch.
If you are dropping your child off at school in the mornings. drop-off starts at 7am this year. Students that arrive between 7 and 7:10am can sit in the main entrance hallway or on the benches outside. At 7:10am, the library is open for them. Students are not allowed into the building to access lockers or classrooms until 7:30am, unless a teacher is holding a review session. Students need to be dropped off by 7:30am, so they have 10minutes to access their locker and take care of any business before homeroom starts at 7:40am. The drop-off line gets really busy from 7:20am to 7:30am. To help speed up the line, parents need to pull all the way forward and students need to be ready to exit the vehicle quickly. If your child is on crutches or has sports equipment to unload that will cause them to be slower, please pull past Mrs. Kunze, so the line can continue to flow.
If you are picking up your child in the afternoon, vehicles are not allowed to enter the front loop until 1:55pm. We have special needs students that are picked up in the front loop by buses and parents from 1:45 to 1:55pm. At dismissal, vehicles are not allowed to turn left into the loop. Drivers must go past the school and complete a U-turn to get into the parent pick-up line. At the end of the day, students are released to their locker by sections starting at 2pm - top lockers first on Silver days and bottom lockers first on Black days. We call for the 2nd group to be dismissed at 2:05pm. Dismissing the students in 2 groups is for their safety. We can't have 1,270+ students at their lockers at the same time. Because we dismiss in shifts, this causes a back-up in the parent drop-off line until about 2:10pm when all students are finally outside. To speed up the line, please have your child's name displayed in the window and tell your child to watch for you. Please pull all the way forward and have your child walk quickly to you. Students are not allowed to use their cell phone at dismissal, so please do not text/call them or ask them to text/call you. Phones will be taken. (Read SPMS Behavior Expectations) Students are NOT allowed to walk to your car while you are waiting outside of the loop and parents are not allowed to park and have their child walk through the parking lot. The safety of our students is #1 priority! The parent drop-off line is slow now, while everyone is learning the routine, but it will get faster. Please be patient.
Teachers will start taking attendance in eSchoolPlus on Monday during homeroom between 7:40am and 7:50am. We send the automated call reporting absences in the morning between 8:30 and 9am. If your child is not in homeroom while attendance is taken and submitted, he/she will be marked absent. For this reason, we need everyone to be dropped off by 7:30am, so they can go to locker and get to homeroom by 7:40am. If students are late and enter the building after 7:40am, they MUST sign-in in the main office, so we can correct any attendance errors before we send the automated call between 8:30 and 9am.
We will start Raider Hour this Thursday, which means we will run the Wednesday bell schedule and at 1pm students will return to homeroom. During Raider Hour students can make-up a test, receive extra help from a teacher, attend a club meeting, or complete their homework. This Thursday, everyone will complete homework. We will have a club fair for students once we establish the clubs for this year.
If you are checking out your child early for an appointment, you MUST be here 30minutes before our dismissal, which is 1:30pm M,T,TH,F and 12:30pm on Wednesdays. We stop early check-outs 30mins prior to dismissal, so we have time to prepare for dismissal with bus changes, important announcements, etc and to avoid additional traffic with pick-up of our special needs students in the front loop from 1:45pm to 1:55pm M,T,TH,F and 12:45pm to 12:55pm on Wednesdays. Thank you in advance for following this procedure.
Mark your calendar with important dates!
Tuesday, August 23rd - Open House for 7th & 8th graders at 6pm. Travel your child's schedule to meet and hear from each teacher.
Tuesday, August 23rd after Open House - Informational meeting for 8th grade Washington DC trip in auditorium (more information below in 8th grade section)
Thursday, August 25th - Open House for 6th graders at 6pm. Travel your child's schedule to meet and hear from each teacher.
Monday, September 5th - Holiday!
Friday, September 9th - PTSO Neon Bash (2-5pm) Tickets will be sold during lunches the week of the event.
Thursday & Friday, September 15th & 16th - Fall pictures
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PTSO Information
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SPMS PTSO is on Instagram!
PTSO Meeting: Monday, August 15th, 10:15, Multi-Purpose Room- all are welcome to attend!
PTSO Spirit Wear: Order your spirit wear online by September 15th! Click on the link to visit the online shop: PTSO Online Shop
PTSO Magazine Fundraiser:
It's time for our PTSO Magazine fundraiser! This is one of the main fundraisers for the PTSO and we receive 40% of every dollar back to our school. The money raised is used to benefit our students. Our success depends on the teamwork of our school community.
Today students received the fundraising packet with catalogs and order forms. Please show the catalogs to family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and businesses. There will be three turn in dates, and prizes will be handed out the following Wednesday during lunch. The first turn in date is Friday, August 19th. Please make checks out to SPMS PTSO, place order forms and payment in the white envelope and have your student hand it in to their homeroom teacher.
You can also shop the online store to order magazines and other great items! Easy tools are provided to send emails to family and friends to ask for their support. Online orders count toward prizes.
GASCHOOLSTORE.COM ONLINE SCHOOL ID: 2529543
Book Fair:
BOOK FAIR STARTS THIS FRIDAY!!
The Fall Book Fair will be held from Friday, August 19th through Friday, August 26th during school as well as at our back to school orientation nights. Volunteers are needed to help with this event.
Please click on the link below to volunteer.
Did you know?? We have an AmazonSmile account!! Click this link to find out more!
Now while you do your regular shopping on Amazon thru AmazonSmile, .5% of your purchase will be donated to SPMS PTSO! It is that EASY! Thank you for your support!
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Cafeteria Information
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The St Johns County School District has release information regarding a parent guide to help answer and questions regarding the Food Service Department.
For the Week of August 15th
Monday- Chicken Quesadilla Max, Max Cheese Sticks, Chicken Nuggets, Baby Carrot Dippers with LF Dressing Dunk Cup, Green Beans, Steamed Broccoli Florets, Marinara Dipping Sauce, Assorted Fruit, Dipping Sauce Dunk Cup, White Wheat Roll, Variety of Milk
Tuesday- Cheese or Pepperoni Calzonettes, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Mini Corn Dogs, Cherry Tomato & Celery Dippers with LF Dressing Dunk Cup, Spinach & Romaine Salad with LF Dressing Dunk Cup, Baked Beans, Marinara Dipping Sauce, Assorted Fruit, Ketchup, Mustard, Variety of Milk
Wednesday- Cheese or Pepperoni Pizza, Chicken Nuggets, Cherry Tomato & Celery Dippers with LF Dressing Dunk Cup, Spinach & Romaine Salad with LF Dressing Dunk Cup, Corn, Fresh Apple Slices, Dipping Sauce Dunk Cup, Variety of Milk
Thursday- Chicken Marinara & Penne, Hot Dog, Chicken Nuggets, Cherry Tomato & Celery Dippers with LF Dressing Dunk Cup, Spinach & Romaine Salad with LF Dressing Dunk Cup, Sweet Potato Puffs, Assorted Fruit, Dipping Sauce Dunk Cup, Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo, Variety of Milk
Friday- BBQ Chicken, Cheeseburger, MiniCorn Dogs, Cherry Tomato & Celery Dippers with LF Dressing Dunk Cup, Spinach & Romaine Salad with LF Dressing Dunk Cup, Crispy Baked Potato Cuts, Choice of 100% Juice, Assorted Fruit, Dipping Sauce Dunk Cup, Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo, Lettuce, Tomato & Pickle, Variety of Milk
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Daily Rotation & Calendar
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For the Week August 15, 2016
Book Fair Starts August 19th
Monday, August 15 - Silver Day
10:15 a.m.- PTSO Meeting, MPR
Tuesday, August 16 - Black Day
2-5pm - Cheer Practice in gym
Wednesday, August 17- Silver Day- 1pm dismissal
1-5:30pm - Winterguard Practice in gym
5:30pm - Winterguard Parent Meeting in MPR
Thursday, August 18- Black Day with Raider Hour
2-5:30pm - Winterguard Practice in gym
Friday, August 19- Silver Day
Book Fair Begins Today!
2-4pm - International Thespian Society (ITS) Meeting in Mr. Segal's classroom
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Volunteer Information
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Volunteer Requirements
Before you can volunteer in any St. Johns County School, you must complete a School Access Form (see the Policy Reminder Section below) Please verify with Mrs. Roberts at 547-1822 that you are approved.
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Guidance News
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Guidance Counselors
Caryn Patterson-6th grade and 7th graders with last names beginning with M-Z.
Shelley Helfenstine- 7th graders, last name ending in A-L and the entire 8th grade.
Cynthia Dean- Testing Coordinator
Holly Cioffi- Guidance Secretary
A Note from Ms. Patterson:
I would like to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Caryn Patterson and I am the school counselor for 6th grade and 7th grade last names M-Z. I have moved within the district from Julington Creek Elementary School here to Swiss Point. I am very excited to get to know your children and will do a few classroom lessons throughout the year as well as some small groups. Please contact me with any concerns you may have as I am always here to help.
A Note from Ms. Helfenstine:
I am looking forward to a new school year at Switzerland Point Middle School. This is my second year in the Guidance Office at Swiss Point. My position responsibilities have changed for the 2016-17 school year. I will be the counselor for all of the 8th graders and 7th graders whose last names end with an A - L. I am especially excited to work with our students to help them prepare for their futures.
Change of Address:
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Media Center News
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Catherine Black, Media Paraprofessional
ATTENTION PARENTS!! The Scholastic Book Fair will be held August 19-26th including the Open House times on August 23rd and 25th. The Book Fair will be held in the Media Center. All Language Arts classes will be scheduled to come to the book fair during the school day and students can buy at that time, or during lunch or before/after school. This is a great way to make money for the Media Center to update book collections and for your students to get some new books to read.
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Band News
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Here is your SPMS Band Parents Association Board for the 2016-2017 school year:
President: Wesley White
Vice President: Jill Williams
Secretary: Carol Higley & Bridget Jeffers
Treasurer: Aloka Wijayawardhana
Co-Treasurer: Becky Bolton
Fundraising: Michelle Bedell
Public Relations: Dawn Evans
Thank you for giving your time to the Band!!!
We now have an AmazonSmile account!! Please consider choosing the Band Parents Association as your charity of choice when you shop on Amazon.com! Follow this link to learn more! https://smile.amazon.com/ch/04-3706348
We are offering the $20 oil change vouchers again this year! More details coming soon.
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The Middle Years
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The Middle Years, Working Together for School Success is a publication for students and parents which addresses issues specifically for middle school students. Sections of the publication include Short Stops, Questions/Answers, and Parent to Parent. These articles come out once a month with supplemental articles published frequently.
Click the publication date below to view: Articles include Tuned Into Learning, Summer Socializing, Caring Counts and more
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From the Nurse
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Licensed Practical Nurse
547-8628
Information Changes
It is imperative that parents call into school to change home phone numbers, cell numbers, work numbers and email addresses as soon as they are changed. In an emergency situation, it is difficult to contact parents when the information provided is not correct. Please contact Norma Miller at norma.miller@stjohns.k12.fl.us with changes.
Immunization Records
Parents, I wanted you to know that anytime this school year, 2016/2017, that you get your 11 year old student their Tdap shot, you can bring it to the school, fax it or scan it. You don't have to wait till they are just about to enter 7 th grade to get this immunization to us. In fact, many 6th graders who are 11 already have it. This is a 7th grade requirement but to avoid delays, waiting in lines turning them in on Back To School Day, get it to us early!! We would really appreciate it. Our fax number is 547-8635. You can also email it to norma.miller@stjohns.k12.fl.us. The shot record must be on a Florida 680 form.
Florida Immunization Requirements: FAQs
Click here to view valuable information regarding requirements for school age students and their immunizations.
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Athletics
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The Saint Johns Middle School Athletic Association ("SJMSAA") middle school sports program is not operated or sponsored by the St. Johns County School District. SJMSAA is an independent, private non-profit corporation, which uses District middle school names and facilities under a license agreement with the District, and which is solely responsible for the operation of the SJMSAA middle school sports program and its individual teams.
SPMS Volleyball
Volleyball try-outs for boys and girls will be the week of August 29th. More information soon.
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Policy Reminders
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We have been informed by the district that ALL parents that plan on entering the building during the day before or after school ,even if students are not in the building, need to be cleared. We are asking that EVERY parent or guardian that might be on campus for a conference, IEP meeting, 504 meeting or for anything else, PLEASE click on the link below to register for access.
NOTE: Access files are good for 3 years. Please do not apply again but call the school that you wish to have access to and they will help get the file updated. Call the school also to add SPMS to your list of schools you wish to have access to.
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8th Grade Corner
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The 8th grade Washington DC Trip will be January 8th through the 13th this year. The cost is $890 for students and $990 for adults.
There will be an informational meeting at the conclusion of Open House on Tuesday, August 23rd in the auditorium.
A $250 deposit and required forms are required to reserve a seat. We will start accepting deposits or full payments along with required forms on Tuesday, August 23rd.
Payment Installment Dates:
Sep 15th - $220 for students/$250 for adults
Oct 17th - $210 for students/$250 for adults
Nov 15th - $210 for students/$250 for adults
The seats are reserved on a first come first serve basis. We need 48 students to fill bus 1 and have the trip. We need 50 additional students to take a 2nd bus, 50 more for a 3rd bus, etc.
Partial scholarships are available. If you could use financial assistance for student trip only, parents MUST email Mrs. Kunze at Lisa.Kunze@stjohns.k12.fl.us by Friday, September 2nd. Partial scholarships will not be given to students whose parents are attending the trip.
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Beyond the Bell
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We currently have openings in Beyond the Bell. If you are interested, please refer to the Extended Day Tab on the SPMS website for directions to register. All forms and fees must be paid prior to your child attending Beyond the Bell.
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From the District
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Superintendent's Report
Approved District Calendar for 2016-2017
Click here to view the approved 2016-2017 District Master Calendar.
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