SMS Weekly Update

Thank you all for a wonderful week with our students back in building after our unexpectedly long ice storm. It was so nice to be back with our students after a long week off. Teachers were excited to get going on more learning after a "bonus week of winter break," and we're fairly certain a number of our students were very excited to get back in to their routine!

January is School Board Recognition Month, and as such the members of our School Board were recognized for their efforts and contributions at the January school board meeting. At SMS we appreciate the support that the board provides us in allowing us to create as many wonderful learning opportunities and extensions for our students as we can. Many of the School Board members have had (or currently have) students at Sherwood Middle School and we would like to recognize the positive impacts that they work hard to create for our students.

Thank you to our School Board:

Board Chair / Director, Position 3: Abby Hawkins

Board Vice Chair / Director, Position 2: Krista Thorne

Director, Position 1: Harmony Carson

Director, Position 4: Hans Moller

Director, Position 5: Matt Thornton

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)

January 31

• Early Release - Dismissal at 2:26 pm

February 2

• District 14 Honor Choir (selected auditioned participants)
• Student of the Month Breakfast - 7:45 am - 8:15 am

February 5 - 9

• Staff Appreciation Week

February 7

• Early Release - Dismissal at 2:26 pm

February 10

• West Salem Jazz Festival

February 15

• NAEP Assessment (Select 8th grade students)

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

The lunch menu for February has been updated to reflect the weather makeup day on February 19. To view or print the updated menu, please click the link below.

As we approach a midway point in the school year we want to take the time to remind everyone of the traffic patterns for student drop off and pick up. In order to facilitate a safe drop off and pick up for our students please remember to do the following:

1. Students must enter and exit vehicles on the curb side. Please do not have students come out to the second lane to access vehicles. The second lane should be utilized as a "thru-lane only."

2. Please pull forward as soon as possible in order to help our traffic patterns flow and reduce traffic spillover onto Meinecke.

All Sherwood schools will be participating in our second round of lockdown drills for this school year January 29 - February 9. Lockdown drills are an essential part of our emergency preparedness, and help students and staff to practice specific actions that would occur in an emergency situation. Practice drills such as these are also an opportunity for our administrators and staff to collaborate with the Sherwood Police Department to continue improving our safety plans. You may notice increased police presence if you are on/near our campus during a lockdown drill, as our SROs do participate in checking our building security during the drill.

During drills, 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.

We will hold our annual SMS Battle of the Books on Thursday, February 22nd. Teams will compete during second and third period for a chance to compete in our building championship! The SMS Championships will take place the next afternoon on Friday, February 23rd.

Please see Mrs. Siebers in the Media Center for more information.

Are you interested in learning how to curl? Have you wondered what the sport is all about? In 1998 curling was formally approved as a Winter Olympic sport. Maybe you could be the next Olympian!

Our FLEX club will learn:

• Curling terminology (signals to yell to your teammates)

• How to score each game (the math behind curling)

• How to play (the sheet of curling ice; signals; equipment; strategy)

• The chemistry and physics behind curling (How is friction used in curling? How does the weight of the stone affect its velocity?)

• Opportunity to practice curling on dry land (this includes stretching and warm-ups)

• Field trip to a curling facility to practice on ice in April

Please reach out to Mrs. Strausbaugh (7th grade math) or Mrs. Blythe (6th grade math) for more information if you are interested in joining this new club during Flex.

Sherwood Middle School has been selected to participate in the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Often referred to as the "nation's report card" this assessment is conducted at hundreds of randomly selected schools across the country each school year in order to determine how students are progressing in their education. This assessment will be provided to 50 randomly selected 8th grade students on February 15th.

NAEP staff will determine the students selected. If your 8th grade student is selected you will be notified in early February. Students will complete this assessment during the school day and will be excused from class in order to do so.

Have you been waiting to sign up for the 8th grade trip? We have confirmation from Coach Gribble that the Linfield Football Camp will be held from June 15-June 18, so it will not interfere with this memory-making trip! The deadline to sign-up is Monday, January 29.

If your student is attending the 8th grade East Coast trip, they can pick up our second fundraiser flyer for See's Candy in the front office. The forms and payments are due Monday, February 5th, in room W-6. You will be able to pick up your order in Sherwood on Monday, February 12th.

We continue to get a lot of items in our Lost and Found. It would be helpful if items were labeled with your student's name, as we attempt to return all lost and found items back to their owner if at all possible.

Students may check the lost and found before school, during lunch, after school, and during passing times.

Parents are welcome to come look in the Lost and Found for missing items before school or after school after checking in at the main office.

We are excited to share an update regarding Flex Time. As part of our ongoing commitment to fostering academic success, we will be extending Flex Time opportunities for the remainder of the school year. Beginning in January, students will have the chance to attend Flex Time twice a month on Wednesdays. This expansion provides an even greater opportunity for our students to engage in personalized learning experiences and receive the support they need.

What happens during Flex Time?

Flex Time is a dedicated block of time in our schedule designed for students and teachers to meet for a specific need.

During Flex Time, students can:

1. Get Additional Academic Support:
   Whether they need clarification on a challenging topic or want to reinforce their understanding, Flex Time provides an environment for academic support. Teachers may utilize this time to assign students to a Flex to ensure that they are getting the additional time and targeted support in areas of need.
2. Attend Academic Extensions:
   For those eager to explore subjects in greater depth, Flex TIme offers academic extensions, providing students with the chance to delve into advanced topics and expand their knowledge.
3. Participate in Clubs:
   Flex Time provides a platform for students to engage in extracurricular activities through club participation. These clubs are diverse, catering to a range of interests and provide opportunities for students to connect and share passions.
4. Experience Enrichments:
   Beyond the standard curriculum, Flex Time features enriching activities that encourage creativity, critical thinking, and exploration.

How Can Your Child Make the Most of Flex Time?

• Student autonomy: encourage your child to take an active role in their education by choosing sessions that align with their needs and interests.

• Discuss with your child how they can utilize these opportunities for academic growth and enrichment.

We believe that Flex Time serves as a valuable resource for our students, promoting not only academic success but also fostering a sense of responsibility and independence in their learning journey.

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.

Join us for the next Student Services Parent Partnership meeting on Wednesday, January 31st from 6:30pm- 8:00pm at the District Office! These meetings provide an opportunity to build positive connections and learn more about special education and Section 504. Please RSVP to Angela Thiemann at 503-825-5035 or athiemann@sherwood.k12.or.us.

Our topics this month include:

• Meaningful progress for students with disabilities

• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act definition

• Data collection- how educators track progress

• Ensuring access for students with disabilities

• Accommodations and modifications

Upcoming 2023-2024 Student Services Parent Partnership Dates:

• Wednesday, February 28th 4:30pm-6:00pm
• Friday, March 22nd- 9:00am-10:30am
• Wednesday, April 24th 6:30pm-8:00pm
• Wednesday, May 29th 4:30pm-6:00pm

Child Care ~ Enrichment ~ Preschool options for all Sherwood families with children 0-5 years old. Come explore the many options available in Sherwood tomorrow, January 27th, 9:00-11:00am at the SSD District Office.

The Sherwood High School Staff vs. Students Bowmen Pageant Basketball Game is tomorrow (Saturday Jan. 27), starting at 3pm in the SHS main gym. Tickets are $5 and all proceeds will go to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital! Come check out this fun event and support the fundraising efforts of our amazing Bowmen!