SMS Monthly-ish Newsletter

Sheldon Middle School student council members meet twice per month. The 5th and 6th grade members meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month, and the 7th and 8th grade members meet the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month. Student council members plan monthly activities such as Homecoming and Winter Spirit week. They are currently planning activities for Kindness Week the week of February 12. In addition, members plan activities for monthly assemblies which incorporate the Leader In Me 7 Habits. The activities involve student as well as staff participation and are led by the council members. We appreciate the willingness of these students to step up and practice leadership skills! The council members are: Ella Meinders, Presley Meyer, Dayra Olivera Martinez, Claire Punt, Kelvany Rodriguez, Amelia Winkel, Lexi Winter, Lexi Cannoy, Kimley Leth, Zoee Perry, Ellodie Reintsma, Mia Van Egdom, Brantleigh Wade, Renesme Bonea, Ben Frahm, Gabe Hughes, Libby Martens, Avery Meinecke, Claire Nilles, Jaxson Ross, Aftyn Dietrick, Liliana Hernandez, Dulcie Mouw, Brielle Sauer, Natilie Schmith, Justina Van Regenmorter.

Middle school students are gearing up for our spring ISASP tests. Each grade will test at different times. Please check these dates over and try to minimize appointments or absences during these weeks to ensure we can finish testing in a timely manner.

• 5th grade: April 2-5 (ELA); April 9-12 (reading and math); April 15-16 (science)
• 6th grade: April 15-19 (math and reading); April 22-25 (ELA)
• 7th and 8th grade: April 2-4 (math); April 9-12 (ELA and reading); April 15-16 (science - 8th grade only)

US Congressman Randy Feenstra will be visiting SMS on Friday, February 9. Congressman Feenstra will take a tour of our building and then meet with a group of students for a question/answer session. We are so excited to be able to share about our school with Mr. Feenstra and to learn a little bit about his role and responsibility as a congressman.

A new student group, the Student Lighthouse Team, was recently selected at the middle school. This group of students in all grade levels will work with the staff lighthouse team in relation to our Leader in Me work. The first task of this group will be to develop an action plan for goals to accomplish yet this school year at SMS. Members of the student lighthouse team include: Rain Beldt, Miah Camarena, RhyLee Davison, Aniston De Groot, Anneke Van Beek, Aylah Sauer, Kenzie McCuddin, Jaxson Ross, Ben Frahm, Andie De Groot, Claire Nilles, Justina Van Regenmorter, Aftyn Dietrick, and Natilie Schmith. We are exciting to see the amazing things this group will do!

The Strong Foundations Honor Band was postponed due to bad weather and has been rescheduled for February 12 for our 6th grade participants.

Congrats to our December Students of the Month selected by the SMS staff! 5th - Chase De Groot; 6th - Jacob Oldenkamp; 7th - Jamiah Hall; 8th - Zeyda Kruger. We are proud of you!

Hearing screenings will be the week of February 26.

Please remember that students should not only text/call/email parents to go home if they are feeling ill. If they are not feeling well, students should also ask to see a school nurse. Based on her check-up, if the nurse feels your child should go home, we will contact you.

Water Bottle Reminder- We encourage students to drink water throughout the day. They may carry a water bottle with them and use our fountains to help stay hydrated.

Please remember to send a coat with your child to wear at recess time. Recess is normally held outside unless the wind chill is below 10. Thank you!

We know it is important for students to start the day with a healthy meal. Eating breakfast provides fuel for students' bodies and minds, helping students to concentrate and perform at their best throughout the day.

For 2nd semester of the 2023-2024 school year, all students in grades K-12 are able to receive FREE breakfast. Middle school serving times are 7:45 - 8:20.

Classes at SMS start at 8:25.

Classes dismiss at 3:25 (2:25 on Wednesdays)

Cell phones are not allowed to be used by students from 8:00 - 3:25. If you need to get a hold of your child at school, please call the office at 324-4346. These limitations are put in place to help your child to focus while at school while also developing verbal speaking skills and face to face interactions. Thank you for your support of this policy!

The Parent Portal is a great tool for looking at your student’s attendance, assignments and grades. This can be accessed on the sheldonschools.com website, clicking on the Parents tab and then Parent Portal. From the Parent tab, existing students can also be registered. If you need assistance accessing your parent portal, please give us a call at 712-324-4346. We can look up your username and reset your password if you’ve forgotten it.

If there is bad weather this winter, announcements will be made on KIWA, KTIV, and the district

website. We will also notify all of you via text and/or voice if you have signed up for our messenger services.

Email: deanna.vanriesen@sheldonschools.com
Website: sheldonschools.com
Location: 310 23rd Avenue, Sheldon, IA, USA
Phone: 712.324.4346
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smsorabs
Twitter: @cindy_barwick

Board Policy – Code No. 102.E1 Students, parents, employees and others doing business with or performing services for the Sheldon Community School District are hereby notified that this school district does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age (except students), religion, national origin, creed, sex/gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or socio-economic status in admission or access to, or treatment in, its programs and activities. The school district does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age (except students), religion, national origin, creed, sex/ gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or socio-economic status in admission or access to, or treatment in, its hiring and employment practices. Any person having inquiries concerning the school district's compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), § 504 or Iowa Code § 280.3 is directed to contact:

Cynthia Barwick, MS Principal Sheldon CSD
310 23rd Avenue Sheldon, Iowa 51201 712-324-4346

Cynthia Barwick, Middle School Principal, has been designated by the school district to coordinate the school district's efforts to comply with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, the ADA, § 504 and Iowa Code § 280.3 (2007).