SMS Weekly Update

As we turn the calendar over in to a new month it is important for us to look back on the past few weeks worth of celebratory newsletters. In this edition, we celebrate SMS as a whole and all of the amazing events, students and staff, and supporters who make Sherwood Middle School the special place that it is.

Having been in the Sherwood School District for over 30 years I can speak to a long history of working in different school buildings throughout the district, working with and in support of numerous combinations of staff, and working to impact the thousands of students that have come through the Sherwood School District in that time. In all of these years with all of these people I am constantly amazed at the incredible interactions that occur on a daily basis. I am left in awe of the talents of the educators in how they lead the classroom and am equally in awe of the many talents that our students demonstrate in many different fields. At its heart, what makes the Sherwood School District, and even more so Sherwood Middle School, so special are the people that fill its halls every single day.

Thank you for the students, staff, and families of SMS for all that you do on a daily basis. You are the reason that this school is worthy of celebrating, and without you we could not be the school that we are.

Marianne Funderhide, Principal

December 1

• Teacher Workday - NO SCHOOL

December 2

• SMS Choir - Sherwood Tree Lighting Ceremony, 4:00 – 5:00pm, Sherwood Cannery Square

December 4

• First day of Trimester 2

December 6

• Early Release, Dismissal at 2:26 pm

December 13

• Early Release, Dismissal at 2:26 pm
• School Board Meeting, 7:00 pm, SSD Main Offices
• Winter Band Concert, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm, SHS Auditorium

December 18 - January 1

• Winter Break - NO SCHOOL

January 2

• Teacher Work Day - NO SCHOOL

January 3

• First day back from break for students

Additional events may be viewed on the SMS Calendar and the District Calendar.

Front Office Hours: 7:30 am - 3:45pm

Student Hours: 8:45 am - 3:26 pm (Except on scheduled Early Release days)

Doors Open to Students: 8:30 am (Main Entrance and Activities Entrance)

Recently we have noticed a concerning increase in the use of inappropriate or derogatory language among our students, and we are asking for your partnership in reminding your child(ren) about the impact that their words can have on others. All students are entitled to an educational environment free from discrimination and harassment, and to protect this right SMS does not allow harassment, bullying, or inappropriate language, including:

• Discrimination or hate speech based on perceived race, color, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin

• Swearing

• Sexual harassment

We work diligently to manage inappropriate language and behaviors here on campus and assist students in being successful, including being a positive part of the SMS school community, and we appreciate your help in reiterating these expectations with your child(ren) as well. For more information about SMS behavior expectations and potential impacts, please visit our website at the link below.

In order for our school to continue to stay beautiful it is important that we all respect the building. In the last few weeks there has been a noticeable increase in vandalism to restrooms on campus that require lengthy and costly repairs including broken sinks and faucets, intentionally clogged toilets, etc.

As this vandalism takes the time of our custodial staff to clean or repair, often these restrooms need to be shutdown during the day when this vandalism is discovered. When this occurs in multiple restrooms on the same day students are left without facilities closer to their classroom and must walk across campus to use available restrooms. This negatively impacts the amount of time they are in the classroom. Please help us ensure that our students have close access to restrooms by discussing these events with your student(s).

This past week we held our winter Band and Choir concerts. Wednesday night featured our Beginning Band under the direction of Mr. Casey Crane and Mr. Michael McCann. They performed a wonderful selection of music and, once again, proved why our band is consistently recognized for their talent.

On Thursday evening we enjoyed the SMS Winter Choir Concert in the beautiful High School auditorium. Both the SMS and the SHS choirs are directed by Mrs. Kathy Shuckerow, where she does a phenomenal job of leading our students in learning their parts, and creates an atmosphere of support and collaboration for all students. It was a pleasure to watch the students shine!

Enjoy pictures of our students performing below.

Beginning on Monday we will be holding a Giving Back Gift Drive for students and families less fortunate than our own. The goal this year is to have more gifts donated that are of interest to middle school students. Our students recognized that there is a need for gifts that are more appropriate for middle school aged students, rather than the toys that are typically associated with a toy drive. Each day next week will have a different theme for items that we will be collecting. Students will turn these items in to the collection location in the leadership room in the commons. Any student who donates a gift will be automatically entered to win prizes!

Monday - Arts and crafts (colored pencils, markers, sketchbooks, etc.)

Tuesday - Blankets and stuffed animals

Wednesday - Board games and card games

Thursday - Gift card day (hoping for gift cards of $5 or more)

Friday - Any and all gifts!

From Tuesday, November 28 to Sunday, December 31, we are holding Treering's Yearbook Donation Match Event. You have the option to purchase a yearbook to be donated to a student in need when you order your copy, and Treering will match that for the first 5 donated (making 10 yearbooks available to gift to students in need). Remember, yearbooks can be purchased anytime and still be personalized until the print due date near the end of the school year.

We are still accepting interest and applications for our 8th grade Washington DC trip this June. Please email SMSgoeseast@gmail.com for more information.

It's that time of the year again for our annual County required Immunization Review. Monthly reminder letters are now be mailed out to families whose students are missing immunizations. Please see the information below for more details on important dates from the County. If you have any questions please reach out to our Registrar, Allison Kopp, at akopp@sherwood.k12.or.us or 503-825-5520.

2/7/24 Exclusion letters from the state will be mailed to students who are still out of compliance.

2/21/24 Exclusion Day - All students out of compliance are not able to attend school until their required Immunizations are up to date or the exemptions have been completed.

Medical and nonmedical exemptions are also allowed.

• To request a medical exemption from vaccine requirements, submit a signed statement from your child's physician.
• To request a nonmedical exemption from vaccine requirements, you must do one of the following: (1) Talk to your healthcare provider and get a signed Vaccine Education Certificate, fill out the nonmedical exemption section of the Certificate of Immunization Status, and turn in both forms to your child's school; or (2) Watch the Vaccine Education Module for parents at: https://www.oregon.gov/OHA/PH/PreventionWellness/VaccinesImmunization/GettingImmunized/Pages/non-medical-exemption.aspx and print out the Vaccine Education Certificate at the end of the module, fill out the nonmedical exemption section of the Certificate of Immunization Status, and turn in both forms to your child's school.