Switzerland Point Middle School
Raider Rap -January 22, 2023
From Ms. Carnall
Greetings!
We have a lot of exciting events coming up. Please be sure to keep reading through the end so you don't miss any opportunities for learning or fun!
Sincerely,
Ms. Carnall
UPCOMING DATES
- January 24: Basketball VS FCMS
- January 26: Basketball VS SMS
- January 31: Character Counts! Chats and Drills (Wednesday Bell Schedule), Basketball VS LMS
- February 2: Interim grades post
- February 6: Regular school day (Hurricane make up)
SPMS Donation Link
Parent Drop-off and Pick-Up
Basketball Season Information
- All parking, drop off and pick up will occur in the back. Spectators and players should enter through the cafeteria doors.
- All tickets need to be purchased on school pay. They can be purchased prior to or at the time of arrival, but they need to be purchased on the school pay link.
- Concessions will be for sale. All food needs to be eaten outside of the gym in that lobby area. Concessions are cash only. We ask that you help keep the gym clean by ensuring you remove any trash when you go.
- If your student is attending without an adult, you need to be sure you are in the bus loop at 7:30 to pick them up. Please respect that time as the staff that are working the games have been at school since 6:30 AM.
- Here is the link to purchase tickets for the game on Tuesday, January 24 against FCMS. Hope to see you there!!: https://www.schoolpay.com/link/vsfcmsjan24
Registration Information
Scheduling Season is upon us! Be on the lookout for important information regarding scheduling for the 2023-2024 School Year. Rising 7th and 8th grade students will receive their elective forms to complete on Feb. 16th and these will be due back to their 1st period teacher by Feb 23rd. We will send out another message to help you be on the lookout for these forms. Below are some important reminders for our families leaving SPMS and entering SPMS.
End of Year Reward Trip Behavior Expectations Reminder
Since this is the start of second semester, we are already thinking to review school policies and expectations and the code of conduct. We will also be outlining what the expectations are for earning the chance to attend the reward trip (and 8th grade activities) at the end of the year. In order to attend the trip (and 8th grade activities) students must not earn any one of the following:
·Any level 3 or level 4 discipline referral
· Any level 1 or level 2 referral that results in ISS (This includes ISS given for excessive tardies)
· Any referral that results in OSS
· More than 4 demerits
During the 1st semester we provided the students opportunities for growth and learning by allowing the demerits to restart at the beginning of 2nd quarter, wiping away any demerits previously earned. For 2nd semester all demerits earned will be cumulative for BOTH quarter 3 and quarter 4. Once the reward trip is paid for, we will be unable to give refunds or transfer the reservation to another student’s name.
Please review these expectations with your student if you think that the trip is something they might be interested in working towards.
Testing Update
Way to go Raiders on a successful round of state testing! FAST Progress Monitoring 2 make-ups will continue until January 27th, which is when the testing window closes. Instructions on how to access your child’s Progress Monitoring 2 score information can be found here: https://www-raider.stjohns.k12.fl.us/access-state-score-report/. Accessing-the-Statewide-Assessments-Family-Portal.pdf (stjohns.k12.fl.us)
Please take the time to compare PM1 results with PM2 and celebrate areas of growth!
Please see the attached FAST Math Calculator Policy.
Book Drive Results
Character Counts!
Each month teachers are able to nominate students who display the pillar of character for the month. Those students are invited to have donuts with us at the end of the month and receive their certificates.
In the month of January we celebrate the pillar of Respect. We look for students who:
- Treat others with Respect; follow the Golden Rule
- Be tolerant and accepting of differences
- Use good manners, not bad language
- Be considerate of the feelings of others
- Don't threaten, hit or hurt anyone
- Deal peacefully with anger, insults and disagreements
We will celebrate these students and honor them in the February Raider Rap.
A Day Without Violence Calendar Art and Poem Contest
We have attached information about our 2024 “A Day Without Violence” calendar art and poetry project. Poems and artwork should reflect life in a world without violence. Judges will look for art and poems that make a positive statement about a world without violence. Images of diverse kinds of people, places and things that portray a harmonious way of life, a respectful living and working environment as well as children interacting with not only each other, but also animals. Even their favorite cartoon character or images of peaceful and fun activities that can be done alone or in groups are also encouraged. Any drawings or poems depicting firearms, knives or any other violent images will NOT be eligible; violent images with a ban sign through them will not be eligible.
The purpose of these activities is to interrupt what otherwise may become a generational cycle of domestic violence. The entry may only be 8 ½ by 11-size paper with NO computer graphic images, horizontal, and all art must be hand drawn. Drawings on poetry entries will not be eligible, only the poems. Only one entry per student- either poetry or art will be accepted.
Each student MUST have an entry form attached to the back of his or her work with clear tape. Please help ensure that the names and information are written clearly. We would appreciate you distributing these materials to your staff.
All entries should be dropped off by the April 30, 2023, deadline at either
Betty Griffin Center Thrift Shoppe locations:
445 SR 13 N.
Fruit Cove, FL 32259
OR
1961 A1A South
St. Augustine, FL 32080
OR, any of the 6 St. Johns County Libraries will be collecting entries (see addresses attached.)
Len Mattiace Stop the Bullying Contest
St. Johns County School District has partnered with the Len Mattiace Foundation for round 2 of their Stop the Bullying Campaign Contest. His foundation helps our youth in NE Florida with raising awareness about bullying and creating a safe environment for them. Len Mattiace is a former graduate from Nease High School and he is a golfer on the PGA TOUR.
Below are key points for this contest:
- Open to all middle school students
- Contest dates: 1/18 – 4/13/23 by 5:00 PM
- Cash prizes for TWO winners. Winners will be announced by May 15th with a visit from the Prize Patrol.
- Len Mattiace Video for Students.mp4 – Video to share with students
- All submissions need to be emailed to Julie Haden at Julie.Haden@stjohns.k12.fl.us
The below link has all the contest rules for our middle school students:
https://www.lenmattiace.com/st-johns-stop-the-bullying-campaign
Literacy Week
Denim Drive Thank You and Update
Thank you, Raider families, for supporting Cotton’s Blue Jeans Go Green program! The 6th grade Gifted Elective class wanted to do something to help the community and the world. After researching various ideas, the students settled on collecting denim items (cotton, which is a sustainable fiber) that will ultimately be transformed and repurposed into mattresses, insulation, and pet beds. Additionally, this project helped reduce textile waste in our landfills. In planning, the class decided to offer hot chocolate and donuts to the homeroom class with the highest average of items per student. The students advertised the Denim Drive with creative slogans and designs on posters, counted the items, and recorded data on Excel. Finally, they boxed the items and got them ready for shipping. They worked collaboratively and used critical thinking skills in all the planning.
The Denim Drive results were finalized on Tuesday. Four hundred eight pieces of denim were collected. Coming in at second place was Mr. Craig Mancini with an average of 4.21 pieces of denim per student. First place winner is Ms. Davis with an average of 4.25 pieces of denim per student. Congratulations to both classes. There was ONLY 4 hundredths of a point difference so both classes will be getting hot chocolate and donuts in Homeroom on Friday. Thanks to all for participating!
Winterguard UPDATE
The season kicks off January 21st with the FFCC Premier Competition at Deland High School! The team is excited!!
The SPMS Winterguard team invites you to come and see the team perform during the SP Winterguard sponsored Friends & Family Event!
If you are interested in finding out what winterguard is all about or interested in trying out for the 23-24 season, COME AND CHECK IT OUT!
There will be food trucks, baked goods and lots of amazing programs to see!
Upcoming Competitions/Events:
1/21/23 Premier Competition - Deland HS 1:47pm
1/25/23 Community Event - Valley Ridge Academy 6:00pm
2/1/23 SPMS Friends & Family Community Event - SPMS 6:00pm
2/11/23 Oakleaf Competition - Oakleaf HS
2/18/23 Flagler Palm Coast Competition - Flagler Palm Coast HS
3/11/23 Fleming Island Competition - Fleming Island HS
3/22/23 State Competition!
4/6/23 SPMS Night of Arts
Want more info??? Email Dawn Evans @ spmsguardteam@gmail.com
Special Message on the Marquee
SPMS National Junior Honor Society is sponsoring an opportunity to send a special birthday or congratulations message to your student via the marquee in the front of the school. Cost is $25. Complete the form here to submit your request (there's a separate link in the form to pay via Schoolpay upon submitting your request). Requests are due the Friday prior to the event and will display the following week (Tuesday through Monday). Example: if you turn in the request on Friday, September 17 then your message will be displayed on Tuesday, September 21.
SPMS PTSO UPDATES
PTSO Meeting Info:
- Next meeting: 1/23/2023 @ 10:00am @ SP in the MPR
Join your PTSO board as planning for the year continues! Please check in at the front desk and you will be directed to the meeting room. You will need to be a cleared SJCSD volunteer to be on campus.
Sunshine Cart
Thank you to all those who have donated! Check out the PTSO FB page for fun picture updates!
The PTSO has a Sunshine Cart that is taken around the school to bring special goodies to the hard-working staff!
Please consider donating a few items to help the PTSO bring lots of fun stuff to them!
Thank you for ALL of your support! 🌟The PTSO will reward those students whose family donates with Raider Bucks!🌟YOUR help is desperately needed to keep the Raider Store open! Volunteers are needed for upcoming dates, especially January 13, 2023! Please check out the volunteer link and sign up today!
🌟The PTSO will reward those students whose family donates with Raider Bucks!🌟
Check out the Raider Store wish list! Your donation is greatly appreciated!
Want to volunteer in the Raider Store? It is loads of fun! All of the store dates are on the sign up, be sure to scroll through!
JOIN PTSO
The SPMS PTSO is a non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance the learning and work experience of the students and staff at SPMS.
Our membership includes teachers, administrators, parents and students.
What do we do?
Student Initiatives:
- Neon Bash-Fall Dance for students
- Raider Store-Rewards for students who earn Raider Bucks for academic and behavioral performance
- Field studies sponsorships
- Character Counts! Rewards
- 8th grade Formal Dance and 8th Grade Awards Funding assistance
Staff Initiatives:
- Classroom grants-teacher members are eligible for up to $100 in a classroom grant to purchase items to enhance their classroom
- Staff luncheons and breakfast
- Teacher Appreciation
- Annual Donation to the school for technology and other needs
How do we pay for these initiatives?
- MEMBERSHIP-this is our biggest fundraiser. By simply joining PTSO, families help us reach our goals
- Spirit Wear-PTSO sells spirit wear each fall
- Fall/Spring Fundraisers-examples include Nothing Bundt Cakes and Poppin' Box
- Business Partners-our area business help SPMS through our Partners in Education program
- Corporate Donation Matches, Amazon Smile, Box Tops and private donations
How do you join?
- A family membership is $20 for the school year. The membership includes parents and any sibling at SPMS.
- Membership form can be found at https://switzerland-point-middle-school-ptso.square.site/
We have the best volunteers at Swiss. We are excited about a wonderful and busy year 2022-23 school year making a difference at Swiss.
If you are interested in finding out how you can help contact Dawn Evans at dawnevanswebpto@gmail.com
OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT PTSO
AmazonSmile - Shop through the PTSO link AmazonSmile! https://smile.amazon.com/ch/59-3741022
While you do your regular shopping on Amazon thru AmazonSmile, .5% of your purchase will be donated to SPMS.
SPMS has earned $ 92.15 so far this year.
Box Tops – Download the Box Tops app and scan your receipts for SMPS PTSO to get Box Top credits.
Keep an eye on the PTSO website, Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on what is coming up throughout the year!
Questions/concerns?? spmsptso@hotmail.com
For up to date happenings LIKE us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/SwissPointPTSO/
SPMS PTSO is on INSTAGRAM! Follow us at https://www.instagram.com/spmsptso/
Check the PTSO website for all the latest news! http://www.swisspointptso.com/