
SMS Weekly Update
February 24, 2023
Dear Archers,
We hope you have had the opportunity to enjoy the snow and that you have a wonderful weekend!
Upcoming Events
February 25
Parenting and Mental Health Event, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm (more details below)
February 26
Outdoor School Open House, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm (more details below)
February 27
Incoming Freshman Information Night, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm, SHS (more details below)
March 1
Early Release, dismissal at 2:20 pm
March 8
Early Release, dismissal at 2:20 pm
March 9
Spring Choir Concert, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Sherwood High School Auditorium
March 10
End of Trimester 2
March 12
Daylight Saving Time Begins
March 13
Teacher Workday - No School
March 14
Middle School Choral Festival, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, Chehalem Cultural Center
McMenamins Band Fundraiser, 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
March 15
Early Release, dismissal at 2:20 pm
March 18
Swingin’ The Green Band Fundraiser, 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm, The Oregon Golf Club
March 21
SMS Spring Band Concert, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm, SMS Gym
March 22
Early Release, dismissal at 2:20 pm
March 24
District Wide Furlough Day - No School
March 24 - 31
Spring Break - No School
Additional events may be viewed on the Sherwood Middle School Calendar and the Revised 2022-2023 District Calendar.
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FREE Mental Health Education Event for Sherwood Parents
Saturday, February 25
Parenting and Mental Health, a morning workshop all about addressing the youth mental health crisis. It will feature presentations from both parents and youth who have dealt with mental health challenges, information on specific mental health challenges kids face, tools parents can use with children and families in their community, and talks from local mental health professionals who know what your kids are going through. The event is taking place at the Sherwood School District Office, in the multipurpose room.
The event is free, and open to parents, caregivers and other adults who interact with youth. It's not limited to parents of children with mental health conditions, because we believe a whole community should be knowledgeable about mental health!
Please view this flier for additional details.
Or click on the following link to register for the event:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/parenting-and-mental-health-tickets-422928629917
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Outdoor School 2023 is HAPPENING!
May 23 - 26 (more details to come)
Open House: February 26, from 4-6 PM, Trickle Creek Outdoor School
You are invited to come get a feel for all the fun outdoor learning that is right around the corner!
Although there will be three different sites for outdoor school this year, the open house for all sites will be held at Trickle Creek Outdoor School.
Please view this flier for more details.
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Incoming Freshman Information Night
Sherwood High School would like to invite the Class of 2027 and their parents/guardians to our annual Incoming Freshman Information Night on Monday, February 27, 2023 from 7pm to 8:30pm. This is an opportunity for students and parents to meet some of our amazing staff members, learn more about Sherwood High School, receive more information regarding Course Selection, and tour our beautiful campus. We look forward to meeting everyone and helping to start on the road to high school success!
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Lockdown Drills at All Schools (February 27-March 10)
All schools in our district will be participating in lockdown drills February 27-March 10. These drills are an essential part of our emergency preparedness, and help students and staff to practice specific protocols that would occur in an emergency situation. This will be the second lockdown drill of the year and will not be announced to students or staff in advance to allow for an accurate observation of any response protocols that need improvement or additional training. Practice drills such as these are also an opportunity for our administrators and staff to collaborate with the Sherwood Police Department. You may notice increased police presence if you are on/near campus during a lockdown drill, as SPD officers do participate in these drills.
During a lockdown drill, staff and students are secured within their individual classrooms/offices, and there is no movement in the building. No one will be allowed to enter or exit the campus until the drill has been completed.
For more information on District emergency response protocols and communication, please visit the SSD website here.
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State Testing
Oregon's Statewide Assessments in science, mathematics, and English language arts will begin in April for students in grades 3-8. Scheduled testing will take place during the school day. For additional information on the State Assessments from the Oregon Department of Education, please review the following link.
While no single test can give a complete picture of your child’s progress, statewide tests provide information to students and families, as well as to educators and administrators about what educational approaches are working and where additional resources are needed. Your child’s participation is important to ensure schools and districts receive the targeted resources they need to help all students succeed. Districts are rated on their participation levels as well as student performance on this exam.
Oregon law (ORS 329.479) permits parents and adult students to annually opt-out of Oregon’s statewide summative tests in English Language Arts and Math by submitting a form to the school the student attends. If you decide to opt your child out of the math and/or ELA state assessments, please submit the following form to your child’s teacher or the front office by April 7, 2023 to best support our school with planning.
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Attendance Notifications
Attendance is one of the most important factors for academic success. Studies have shown that students who regularly attend school are less likely to struggle academically as they move on to high school. At the same time, there are several uncontrollable factors that can make coming to school difficult, from illness to family events to mental health. We understand how these factors can impact a student’s attendance.
The Sherwood School District has been working on helping to inform families of their child’s attendance rates this year via postal letters and electronic communications. These attendance letters are strictly informational and are automatically generated every six weeks for students who have attendance rates lower than 90%. If your family receives an attendance letter, there is no action required on your family’s part.
If you would like help increasing your child’s attendance, we are here to partner with you. Please reach out to our administrative team if you have any questions or concerns:
Associate Principal Emily Anderson: Eanderson@sherwood.k12.or.us, (503) 825-5505
Associate Principal Nick Sidlin: Nsidlin@sherwood.k12.or.us, (503) 825-5506
Dean of Students Kyle Virding: Kvirding@sherwood.k12.or.us, (503) 825-5504
Thank you for your partnership!
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SRO Reminder: Helmets and Bikes
Please remind students that they need to be walking their bikes on the SMS campus. Recently we have noticed that students are riding quickly through crowds creating a safety concern. Remember, it is also the law for students on bikes and skateboards to wear a helmet until they are 16. Thank you for your partnership in keeping all students at SMS safe.