Red Storm Forecast

Hello Stonybrook Middle School Families!

Welcome to March Madness! As we complete quarter three on March 8 and turn the corner for the final grading period it always seems as though this the part of the year that goes into high gear. There are a number of critical milestones for us to achieve yet this school year in the areas of student attendance, academic performance, and CORE conduct.

Please continue to support your child's academic and social/emotional development by enforcing consistent and healthy routines. With the time change that will occur on Sunday, March 10 and then the impending two week spring intersession, it is important for students to return to school on April 1st ready to embrace the final weeks of the school year in a highly productive manner.

This newsletter has some important announcements and reminders to ensure we have an environment that is conducive to learning.

Go Red Storm!

Mr. Nathan Day

Twitter: @Stonybrook_MS

Facebook: www.facebook.com/stonybrookredstorm

Keep Open Lines of Communication with your Children, Teacher, Principal and School Attendance Office:

• Let the school know in advance if your child is going to be absent or if you have concerns about your child’s attendance or school performance.

• Report all absences on the day the student will miss school by calling the attendance office or line.

• Provide doctor’s notes to the attendance clerk when medical verification is available for student’s absences.

• If your child does not want to go to school, find out why and work with your school and child to address concerns. Let our child know he/she must attend school.

• If you notice your child is avoiding a particular class or is having a difficult time in one subject area, discuss this with your child and his/her teacher. Offer extra support at home. This will prevent your child from developing a behavior of avoidance in school when things become difficult.

• Get to know your children’s friends and their families and make connections with other families that value school attendance.

• Contact your child’s school for help if it is needed to support your child or family.

• Ask teachers and staff at your child’s school and other family members for advice on how to keep your child going to school – on time, every day!

Get plenty of rest over Spring Break and enjoy family and friends!

SMS is conducting a survey as part of our Comprehensive Needs Assessment which will inform our School Improvement Plan. As we look to enhance the academic performances of all students, we are taking a specific look at students with special needs. If you have not completed the parent survey yet, please take a moment and do so. Your voice is a critical part of your child's education.

The link to this survey was emailed to you in February and will be emailed to you on March 4th as well. Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Is ILEARN that important? Our response to that question is - absolutely! All of the major assessments we take (classroom, NWEA, and state) serve as critical indicators as to your child's progress in their K-12 and post-secondary journey. Ultimately a student who performs well on these assessments, maintains good attendance, and demonstrates CORE expectations is on their way to a fantastic future. It ALL matters!

With only about six weeks of instruction remaining prior to the start of ILEARN, we want to share a few important pieces of information. First, if you can look at your calendars and see if your child has any appointments Tuesday-Thursday from April 23 through May 17, we would ask you to see if you could get it rescheduled. Our initial testing schedule will try to test on those days and leave Mondays and Fridays as non-testing days.

If you are looking for ways to help your child prepare for this assessment or looking for information in general, please see the following site.

Indiana's ILEARN Site:

- ILEARN for Families

- ILEARN Sample Items and Scoring

ILEARN Repository (See what it is like to take the test!):

- Repository Web Site

Mission Statement: The EXCEL Program is designed to meet the unique academic and affective needs of highly talented students through a cooperative, enriched, and accelerated academic program where each person feels significant and appreciated.

The curriculum in the EXCEL program is differentiated and faster paced. Students will work above grade level.

EXCEL Parent Recommendation Form

The Parent Recommendation form must be completed by March 31, 2019.

NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH

March is National Nutrition Month. As parents, you can do a lot to help your children learn healthy eating habits and maintain healthy weight. Involving them in meal preparation and cooking can motivate them to try new foods--and is a good way to spend time together as a family.

What is a "healthy" diet?

* A healthy eating plan is one that:

* Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or fat-free milk products.

* Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts.

* Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium/salt, and added sugars.

* Stays within your calorie needs.

For more information please visit the following web site:

http://wecan.nhlbi.nih.gov

We need your assistance in reinforcing the expectations regarding cell phones and ear buds/headphones during the school day. Given the easy access students have in their classrooms to Chromebooks or computers, the need for a student to carry a phone throughout the day is not necessary. While it is recommended to either leave the devices at home or locked in a locker throughout the school day, a student who chooses to carry the device ensure that it remains off and out of sight during the day.

Students who choose to not meet this expectation may anticipate their device will be stored for them (under lock and key) in the front office until the end of the school day (2:45 PM). Students who repeat this infraction will have a parent/guardian call go home on the second instance and should a third infraction occur, the parent/guardian will be required to come and pick up the device.

Students who do not comply with giving the device to a school staff member will require a parent/guardian to pick it up each time.

Parents/Guardians are also asked to not text/call their child during the school day on cell phones. While it may be a bit more convenient, it results in classroom interruptions. If you need a message to get to your child or speak to your child, please contact the main office and we are happy to assist.

Your support of maintaining a quality learning environment is both anticipated and appreciated.

Did you know that MSD of Warren's Transportation Department is on Twitter? Their Twitter handle is @TransportWarren and they post information related to bus routes that may be running behind or have a sub driver. This assists with keeping informed on last minute changes that may occur.

Healing Hearts

Community Healing Hearts provides bereavement services and grief education throughout the Metropolitan School District of Warren Township. Services are provided at no charge to the family and no insurance is required. Our goal is to provide hope, validation, and present strategies to support ongoing healing for students who have experienced the death of someone close them. Community Healing Hearts focuses specifically on grief related to death; a death that occurred to any person significant to the student at any time, recent or in their past.

Please refer your student to your school counselor, Mrs. Nicholson at your earliest convenience as a new group will be starting soon.

Looking for a Job? Need a Work Permit?

Before Stonybrook Middle School can issue a work permit to a student, the student must first find a job. Once a student has been told by an employer that they would like to hire the student, please bring the INTENTION TO EMPLOY or Intent to Employ card to Stonybrook. We can not issue a work permit without the Intention to Employ form.

Important Due Dates:

March 1 - Deadline for changes to WCHS Course Request form

March 8 - Deadline for 8th grade Course Request worksheet

If you have any question about the topics above - please contact Mrs. Nicholson 317-532-8800 x8811

Students across MSD of Warren Township were provided an opportunity to compete in the Dream Big Challenge hosted by Honda of Indiana and the Indiana Pacers. Five students from the district were selected as winners. SMS' very own Kaneah Cook-Herring's poem was selected. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did! (Short video of pics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjnkGBAnjSM)

Living His Dream

Because of his dream we live in peace

Now all of the racism has decreased.

It’s not perfect but it’s better than it was

Because of his dream there is love.

No one knows how people are living

But I’d rather spend not with hurt but with a heart that’s giving.

His dream was a great dream indeed

Now we all live in peace.

It helped people see what people need

He spoke up he was not in the least bit discrete.

He told us He had as dream now that dream has come true

Now there are dreams that are new

Your dream could be next speak up like MLK did

Just speak up for what’s right no matter if your an adult or kid.

A dream is a dream

But speaking up and kindness makes it everything.

This is a FREE event. We encourage all 5th-8th graders to come out with the whole family including older/younger siblings. This is a wonderful opportunity to see if they would be interested in being involved in the PAC when they get to high school. Children and parents will be available to ask LOTS of questions and actually talk to many current students /teachers involved at the PAC.

Auditions have completed and rehearsals have begun as Stonybrook Middle School proudly presents the hit musical Seussical Jr. Thursday, May 2nd at 7 p.m. and Friday, May 3rd at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the LGI. Cost for this performance will be $3 for adults, $2 for all MSD of Warren students, and children 5 and under are free. There will be opportunities for SMS students to sign up to help on the tech crew (backstage, lights, sets, makeup/hair, costume, props, etc). Sign-up for those positions will be in the choir room (121) during the week prior to Spring Break (March 11 - 15). Any questions/comments should be directed to Mr. Lane, Choir Director.

Congratulations to Mrs. Sarah Price as the Parent Portal Challenge Winner for February! Thanks to all parents who are utilizing this resource as a way to support their child's education!

Did you know that you can have automated communication regarding your child's grades, attendance, and discipline sent to your email? Our Tyler Parent Portal is a great resource for exactly that. Check out our Parent 360 document for additional details.

You can see your child's attendance data, grades, and discipline information as well as contact your child's teachers from this portal. Should you have any questions please ask a teacher or the front office and we are happy to help! Information is updated weekly to ensure you can have any needed conversations with your child, teachers, or other school staff.

We are excited to announce that Warren Township is launching a new app and a new website. Using a mobile device, you can download the app from Google Play or the App Store (search MSD of Warren Township).

As part of our CORE expectations, students have been taught and reminded of the daily dismissal process. Part of this process includes students boarding the buses as they pass by them the first time and to make orderly progress to their bus. This allows for us to ensure our buses are boarded safely and in a timely manner. Please reinforce these expectations with your child.

Students who opt to not meet these expectations may be requested to be picked up by their parent/guardian which will allow us an opportunity to collaborate with the parent/guardian and the student to ensure expectations are met moving forward. Your support in these efforts is both anticipated and appreciated.

Check out our March Athletics Newsletter which our Athletics Director, Mr. Cummings uses to keep you informed of all things athletics happening at Stonybrook. Athletics is a great way for students to get involved and add to their enjoyment of their overall educational experiences.

Great attendance is a key indicator for student academic performance. Students who maintain an attendance rate of 96% or better meet the criteria for being considered a Model Attendee. Each month we have a friendly competition between staff and students as to who has the best attendance. Students who meet this criteria are able to have their picture taken, as you see here, and qualify for the monthly incentive we offer. Congratulations to all students who continue to work at having great attendance!

Perris Green, Kailey Yazzie, Estrella Fernandez, Miracle Wallace, Aunnika Kizer, Destiny Snow, Ranya McIntosh, Si'Asia Allen, Kenton Burnett, Jaishaun Hobson, Kellie Abney, Marlon Henderson, Luca Plata, Aireonna Duerson, Zion Smith, Mishelai Harper, Shaniyah Calhoun, Christie Luma, Korrea Jackson, Keaton Baker, Will Alba-Lopez, Nevaeh Pinner, Tiana Finley, Char'Dea Whitfield, Tyler Teague, Joseph Palomera, Khayla Harvey, Sidney Graham, Anira Sumner, Timario Beech.

These students were recognized for demonstrating CORE expectations in varying capacities! We are proud of you!

Stonybrook wrestling team competed in the MIIC tournament over the weekend. The team had 7 of their 10 wrestlers place with 5 finishing in the Top 5 for the day! Go Red Storm!!

All parents who are interested in enrolling their child(ren) in kindergarten for the 2019-2020 school year should plan to attend the Kindergarten Roundups that are being held in

Warren Township Elementary buildings on Monday, April 8 from 5:30-7:00 P.M. After April 8, kindergarten registration will be held at elementary buildings during school day hours.

While we love to celebrate, please remember there is a "no birthday treats" guideline. To access fun and helpful resources for healthy celebration ideas, please visit: http://www.warren.k12.in.us/wellness #wellnesswarriors #WEaretheKey

Time is running out to order your Yearbook! All orders need to be placed by Friday, March 15. Don't miss out! Order forms can be picked up in the Main Office or the Mediaplex. Online orders can be placed at: ybpay.lifetouch.com ID Code: 12577919

Rose-Hulman’s AskRose Homework Help is excited to announce that earlier hours are now available!

They are offering Tutoring by Appointment from 3:30p.m. – 5:10 p.m., Mondays – Thursdays. Students can sign up for a 20-minute appointment with a tutor by visiting our web site and completing a simple form, including their phone number, so that a tutor can call them. The appointment times will be given out on a “first come, first served” basis.
The direct link is https://askrose.org/appointments/. To navigate, from the top menu click on “Student Resources,” and it will show a dropdown menu that has appointments on it. Students can reserve 1 appointment at a time.

And, of course, students may also still call, chat, or email to get math and science homework help Monday-Thursday, 7p.m. – 10p.m. by contacting 877-AskRose or AskRose.org.

11300 Stonybrook Dr. Indianapolis, IN 46229

PH: 317-532-8800

FAX: 317-532-8899

ATTENDANCE LINE: 317-532-8800 EXT. 1

SCHOOL NURSE: 317-532-8806

SCHOOL HOURS: 7:30 AM - 2:50 PM

TRANSPORTATION: 317-532-2820

DISTRICT OFFICE: 317-869-4300

Principal: Mr. Nathan Day PH: 317-532-8804

Email: nday@warren.k12.in.us

Assistant Principal: Ms. Becky True PH: 317-532-8805

Email: btrue@warren.k12.in.us

Dean: Mrs. Bianca Rivers PH:317-532-8808

Email: brivers@warren.k12.in.us

Counselor: Mrs. Melissa Nicholson PH: 317-532-8800 X8811

Email: mnichol@warren.k12.in.us

Athletic Director: Mr. Jeff Cummings PH: 317-532-8826

Email: jcumming@warren.k12.in.us

Dates to Remember:

March 6th: Late Start Day - 8:30 AM

March 18th - 29th: Spring Break

April 1st: School Reconvenes

April 9th: STEAM Night @ WCHS 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

April 10th: Late Start Day - 8:30 AM

April 22nd: ILEARN State Assessment Begins