Welcome to Sheldon Middle School! We are honored and excited to be on this educational journey with you and your family. A special welcome to our new 5th graders and all of our new students. We're so glad you're a part of our SMS family! This year, we begin our 19th year in our “new” building; what a beautiful space it is to learn and work each day! Our focus this year will be on continuing our development of the Leader in Me habits with students and teachers alike; our theme is even one of the Leader in Me paradigms – I can see the leader in me. We will work to provide leadership opportunities of all kinds throughout the year to help every child grow as much as possible. If you have ever any suggestions, ideas, concerns, or questions about SMS, please make sure to reach out and share them with us. Working together we can make this the best year yet for your child, and we can truly be a school that helps each Student Meet Success.

We are happy to welcome several new staff to our building this year. Sidney Baumgartner will be teaching 5/6 language arts. Marci Cabrera will be teaching art and computer science; Peter Carlson is the new 5-8 band director. Anna Davis is our new K-6 music teacher. Kalie Diekevers is teaching 7/8 social studies and 7th grade health. Camille De Zeeuw will be the district librarian. Welcome to the SMS family!

*Breakfast is served from 7:50 - 8:20

*Meal prices are $1.75 for breakfast and $2.75 for lunch.

*Ala carte items may be purchased at an additional expense.

*Check your food service balance on the Infinite Campus portal.

Please remember that students should not text/call/email parents to go home if they are feeling ill. If they are not feeling well, students should 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- Water bottles may be brought to school and used by students throughout the day.

Medication - If your student takes medication, we MUST have a medication form on file for each specific medication. Medication includes aspirin, non-aspirin products and any other over-the-counter medication, as well as prescriptions. You may specify online during registration if you will allow your child to be given Ibuprofen and/or Acetaminophen (Tylenol) during the school day. You may send medication to school, but it must be kept in the office in the original container. A separate form is required for inhalers which are carried by the student and needs to be signed by a physician.

Physicals - Just a reminder that if your child is planning to play any sports at SMS, a physical must be completed by a doctor prior to starting practice. Physical forms are available here.

Practices for all fall sports (volleyball, cross country, football) will begin on August 22 at 4:00 (the day before school starts). There is no need to sign up ahead of time; students can just report to this first practice. Cross country will meet in the commons; volleyball and football will meet in the gym. Schedules will be sent home with students during the first few days of practice. In order to practice or play, all athletes must have a current physical on file. The physical form can be found on the Sheldon Schools website or here.

Classes at SMS start at 8:25.

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

Middle school students are encouraged to either sit with their parents or sit in the south upper corner of the bleachers when attending varsity football games. Students should be in the bleachers unless they are using the restroom or making a trip to the concession stands. Please do not bring any footballs with you or play any games in the grassy areas during varsity games. Thank you!

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!

If you are picking a student up after school, please follow these steps:

1. Use the far north driveway to the building.

2. Park in a parking spot in the north parking lot as far west as possible. (This is the playground area.)

3. Do not park in front of the building as buses will be parked there.

4. Once your student is picked up, exit the parking lot again from the far north driveway.

5. Do not use the middle drive by the rock. This drive is for buses only; cars should not use this middle drive while buses are present.

6. Use extreme caution at all times while driving in, entering, and exiting the parking lot.

If you have an older child (high school age) picking up a student at the middle school, please share this information with him or her. Please also ask him or her to drive very slowly as exiting the lot in order to help keep everyone safe.

Other notes:

• In the morning, cars may use the front driveway in the morning only. Students being dropped off by car will enter the building by the front door
• There is NO PARKING on 23rd Avenue at any time during the school day.
• Bike riders should use the bike trail when possible. Bikes should not travel through the bus or parking lot areas.

All students at the MS will be assigned a Chromebook to use at school and home. Students who do not currently have a device will be able to pick it up at Open House or on the first day of school in their TA or homeroom. Families have the option of purchasing insurance to help with any possible damage to a student’s device and are encouraged to do so.

*Labor Day Parade

*Homecoming - September 26-30

*5th Grade Band Display Night - September 22 - 6:30

*Conferences - November 1 and 3

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.

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).