Falcon Flash
January 6, 2023
Principal Message
Happy New Year!
This week we were so excited to welcome back all of our students, faculty, and staff from what we hope was a very relaxing, refreshing, and much needed break! Upon our return to school on Tuesday, our administrative team held Town Hall meetings with their respective grade levels to review expectations of school and personal goals for the new year. We sent home a PDF copy of this presentation on Tuesday evening, and hopefully you have had the opportunity to review it with your children at home as well. We truly believe that a strong partnership between home and school allows us to strengthen our school community.
I would like to remind everyone that next Friday, January 13th, is a half day for students due to a teacher professional development day in the afternoon. We are planning a series of service activities that help support our community with our students during this half day morning schedule. These service activities will help support various community members. All students will be dismissed at 11:35. In addition, schools and offices are closed on Monday, January 16th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Just as a friendly reminder our 2nd marking period will officially come to a close on Friday January 20th. Teachers and students have been working closely together as the marking period wraps up to ensure the continued success of our students. Please continue to check Parent Portal (PowerSchool) and Schoology and please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher with any questions or concerns.
Thank you for your support!
Mrs. Puchalla
Principal
Calendar -- Look Ahead and Plan
Monday, January 9th: Day 2 (6th Grade @ 6:30pm and 7th Grade @ 7:00pm Chorus Concerts)
Tuesday, January 10th--Day 3 ***Falcon Period***
Wednesday, January 11th--Day 4
Thursday, January 12th--Day 5 ***Falcon Period***
Friday, January 13th-- Day 6 (Half Day for student, PM In-Service for Teachers)
Monday, January 16th: NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, January 17th--Day 1 ***Falcon Period***
Wednesday, January 18th--Day 2 (8th Grade and Chorale Chorus Concerts @7pm)
Thursday, January 19th--Day 3 ***Falcon Period***
Friday, January 20th-- Day 4 (END OF 2ND MARKING PERIOD)
Athletics Events
Home games this week:
1/9: Wrestling vs. Penns Grove
1/11: Girls Basketball vs. Peirce
1/12: Girls Basketball vs. Garnet Valley
***8th Grade designate to play at 3:15 pm first unless otherwise noted. 7th Grade typically starts around 4:15 pm.***
Student Ineligibility List
It is Stetson’s mission to help all students maintain passing grades, however, if a student is failing two or more academic subjects, or one academic subject, and two unified arts classes, they will be placed on our ineligibility list. Students who are on the ineligibility list are unable to participate in any extracurricular sport/activity. A report is generated every Thursday to determine eligibility status for the following week. Parents will receive an email the Friday before the ineligible week and students will receive a letter in homeroom. Students are encouraged to check their grades frequently on PowerSchool and Schoology.
Yearbook Order for 22-23 School Year
Remember to order your 2022-2023 yearbook! Don't miss out! You can order at jostensyearbooks.com. Please let Miss Verna know if you have any questions at sverna@wcasd.net
Message of Gratitude from FCS Department
Message of Gratitude from FCS Department
Dear Stetson Parents/Guardians,
The outpouring of support we received throughout the past 2 months, with the donation of shelf stable supplies for the Family and Consumer Studies Department, was indescribable. We all feels the pains of inflation, especially at the grocery store, but your contributions will be making an enormous difference in what we are able to provide for the students of Stetson. Through your support, we have flour, sugar, paper towels, detergent and so much more to be able to last us for marking periods to come! We cannot begin to express our thanks for your commitment to help us give our students the best experience possible when they come to their FCS classes. A special shout out to the Stetson PTO, Mrs. Avagliano, and Ms. Lafferty for their help in orchestrating this amazing effort. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank all of those who contributed and helped make this happen! Have a happy and healthy new year Stetson!
Sincerely,
The Stetson FCS Dept.
Mrs. Carlin, Mrs. Fad, and Mrs. Scarantino
Stetson Sixers Community Event
Stetson Sixers Community Night
Stetson Community Event – February 23, 2023
After having such a successful food truck night with our Stetson Community, we have decided to try another event. We’ve set up a deal with the Sixers to go to their game on Thursday, February 23rd. As of right now, the Sixers have blocked off 200 tickets to try and keep many of our Stetson family members in the same section; ticket costs will be somewhere between $40-$50 each. The game starts at 7:30 but we’ll be given early access to watch the shoot-around starting at 6:00.
Below is a link to a Stetson branded website exclusively for members of our school community to order their tickets for the game. The website also contains contact information for the account executive who is coordinating this event for us should you need it. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Purchase Link: https://fevo.me/3EQ6Ykq
Brought to you by your Friendly Stetson Community Crew!
International Pot Luck Dinner
Please contact Madame Strauss for more details at sstrauss@wcasd.net.
Falcon Flyer Holiday Edition
Please enjoy our most recent edition of the Falcon Flyer!
Stetson Clubs and Opportunities
DRAMA Club
Congratulations to all of our students who were named cast and stage crew members in our spring musical, Seussical Jr! We are proud that so many of our student populations eagerly wanted to participate in this opportunity to showcase their talent. We hope to see you in attendance at the performances!
Here are the performance dates:
Performance Dates
Friday, March 31, 2023 7:00PM
Saturday, April 1, 2023 1:00PM & 7:00PM
Stetson PTO Information
PTO welcomes new Board Members for the 2022-23 school year:
Patty Arabia, Vicki Babylon, Julie Finnegan, Jamie Grant, Dee Hurford, and Lindsey Rauch. We are asking families to consider making a contribution to the PTO, so we can continue to bring enhancements to our children’s education. Our suggested contribution is $25 per family, but whatever you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Cash and checks (made out to Stetson PTO) can be sent to school marked PTO Contribution.
PTO Dine and Donate Opportunity in January
Please save the date to support Stetson PTO at Picas on Wednesday, January 11th. See the flyer below for details.
Stetson P-R-I-D-E
As a school we are always looking to improve upon our building culture. This year we will be promoting positive relationships and growth with our students using the acronym PRIDE. Pride stands for:
P- Purpose (Having our students do things with intent and determination.)
R- Respect (Showing respect to our peers and adults.)
I- Integrity (Doing the right thing even when no one is looking. Strong moral principles.)
D- Diversity (Recognizing that we all come from difference places and experiences and we respect each others differences.)
E- Empathy (the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.)
One our first day of school, Monday, we held a Town Hall meetings with each of our grades to welcome them back and review expectations and PRIDE was the heart of our presentation. We encouraged all students to practice PRIDE every day at Stetson and we encourage parents to talk with their students about what PRIDE is and how they can show it. We wanted to make adults at home aware in case they hear their student mention it at home. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Falcon Period Explanation
Next week we will be starting to run our Falcon Periods on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the morning. Falcon Period runs as an extended HR from 8:15-8:50. The purpose of this additional period is to provide an academic support period during the school day for students to have the opportunity to complete work, receive remediation/enrichment, and participate in our social and emotional activities. Our bell schedule is adjusted to accommodate for the Falcon periods. Tuesday Falcon Period will concentrate on executive functioning support and Thursday will be focused on social and emotional learning. We believe through these opportunities students can make stronger connections with teachers, counselors, administrators, and peers.
Dress Code Policy Reminder
Friendly reminder regarding the WCASD Dress Code Policy:
Students are expected to wear clothing appropriate for school. Unacceptable attire includes, but is not limited to, attire that is unsafe, unhealthy, disruptive, offensive to generally acceptable community standards, or contains obscene language; any clothing that reveals undergarments; torn clothing or clothing with holes in it; and tight fitting outfits that are inappropriate and/or revealing. During the school year and summer school, the following applies to male and female students:
1. Tops
a. Shirts, t-shirts, and sweatshirts shall not have inappropriate slogans, words, pictures, alcohol/smoking advertisements, etc.
b. No tank tops, no tops that show the midriff or cleavage, and no see-through tops shall be permitted.
2. Pants/Shorts/Dresses/Skirts
a. Dresses, shorts, and skirts shall be at an appropriate length, which has been determined to be no shorter than midway between the knee and the top of the leg.
b. No pants/sweatpants/shorts/etc. with writing located in inappropriate places are permitted.
c. Pants shall be appropriately sized and worn at the waist, and no lower than the top of the hips.
d. Undergarments shall not be displayed.
e. Pajamas shall not be permitted.
3. Outerwear
a. Coats, hats, hoods, scarves, and the like shall not be worn in the school building, except for religious reasons.
4. Footwear
a. No bedroom slippers shall be permitted.
b. Laces on shoes shall be secured.
c. Any footwear that poses a safety hazard shall not be permitted.
5. Other
a. No chain link belts.
b. Spike jewelry, chains or any other jewelry that could cause injury or constitute a hazard are not permitted.
Nurses Corner
Nurses Corner
Welcome Back! Below is a step by step breakdown to follow if you are experiencing Covid symptoms. Please pay close attention to the criteria for testing positive and experiencing symptoms as guidance has changed. Also, there are several options available for Covid testing kits and locations that are listed in the letter as well. As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out our school nurse, Mrs. Czerpak at 484-266-2706.
Please remember if your child exhibits symptoms of illness, please keep the home!
Reminder about phones- As a friendly reminder, if a student is not feeling well they should report to the Nurse's office. The office will then contact home with any health concerns or if a student needs to be picked up.
Nurses Corner Monthly Information
Navigating the sick season?
It is the winter and holiday season and sometimes we experience sickness in our households. I wanted to share a good resource for your family from CHOP:
NEW: Field Trip Notice (Medication)
Medication Reminder
Field trip season is upon us! Please see attachment regarding medication requirements, and a blank medication authorization form for physician and parent completion. Thank you.
Dispensing of Medications
All medications, even over-the-counter (OTC) medications, must be dispensed by the school nurse. Do not send medications with your child to take during the day. Sending medicines with your child is against school policy and the WCASD Discipline Code. A signed permission note must accompany medications that need to be given during school and a written order from the doctor with type, dosage, and time. A copy of the prescription to the pharmacy is not the same and cannot be accepted. Students are not permitted to bring their medications to school. A parent/guardian must personally deliver the medication to the school nurse, who must secure and dispense the medication. Students are not permitted to dispense medications to themselves. Our Nurse, Mrs. Melissa Czerpak, will be available for early medicine drop-off at various times in August. Please contact her to schedule the medication delivery by calling her at 484-266-2706 or emailing her at mczerpak@wcasd.net.
Stetson Middle School Code of Conduct
All students will be given access to an electronic copy of the WCASD Discipline & Records Policy through the distribution of the 1 to 1 laptops. Additionally, the administration will review the policy manual with each grade level during their town hall meeting the first week of school. It is vitally important to review every page of these documents with your child. Each child will be required to verify through a signature that they have received the policy. Knowing what is expected of each student and what consequences are for various offenses will be important to have a successful experience at Stetson Middle School.
Bus Information
Each student is responsible for knowing their bus number, stop location, and pick-up time. Students should be at their bus stop at least five minutes before the scheduled pick-up time. Per WCASD policy, students are neither permitted to ride a bus to which they are not assigned nor get off at an unassigned bus stop. Bus passes will not be permitted due to continued limited bus capacity. Bus drivers have the right to assign seats on their buses. BUS ARRIVAL TIMES MAY NOT BE EXACT IN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS SO PLEASE BE PATIENT AS WE WORK TO HIT OUR SCHEDULED TIMES.
Laptop Information
Accidental Damage Policy:
Our students will be covered for one incidence of accidental damage coverage for each academic year. Any cost of repair/replacement of damage beyond the one incident per year will become the responsibility of the student or parent/legal guardian. This accidental damage coverage will not cover device loss or intentional damage.
Arrival / Dismissal Procedures
Thank you for your cooperation with the start of this new school year. We have had a very successful start of the school year in regards to drop-off and pick-up. We enjoy seeing our parents smiling faces, waves, and cute dogs!
Student Drop-Off/Pick-up: Safety is the top priority at Stetson. Please use the designated lane to drop off/pick up students. There will be only one lane available for drop-off and pick-up in the morning and afternoon. Prepare for long lines and plan accordingly. Students may be dropped off as early as 7:30 am. Stay in the car line and follow staff members’ instructions. You will find the carline traffic flow map attached below. Please review the map and feel free to reach out with any questions. Students may only enter or exit cars at the designated cones. Student drop-off and pick-up can be challenging with the high volume of cars that enter the campus. We appreciate your efforts in helping keep our students safe during this time.
Due to the start time of the staff workday, students can only enter school after 7:30 am unless directed by a teacher for a pre-determined appointment. Students dropped off before 7:50 am will be directed to wait in the cafeteria (6th grade) or LGI (7th and 8th grade) until dismissed to lockers/homeroom.
Being on Time to School: Homeroom begins at 8:05 am and ends at 8:15 am. Students arriving late to homeroom (after the homeroom bell rings at 8:05 am) must report to the office for a late pass. The administration will handle lateness following the WCASD Attendance Policies and PA State Laws.
Lateness Clarification:
a. All Stetson students who are assigned and ride a bus that arrives late will NOT be marked late due to the bus’s late arrival.
b. A student who is driven to school and dropped off in the car line will be marked late if the student is not in their homeroom when the homeroom bell rings at 8:05 am.
All Things Attendance
Please refer to the document below regarding our attendance policies. We have created a comprehensive document which should provide clarity on things such as early dismissals, late arrivals, absences, vacation requests, etc. If you have any questions, please reach out to our attendance secretary, Mrs. Heather Mazza, at hmazza@wcasd.net.
Attendance Codes UPDATE
Starting this marking period, teachers will now have the ability to use attendance codes when taking attendance during their classes. Teachers will use the code "ACT" or activity for when a student has checked in and is participating in a school sponsored activity. If a student is not present in the classroom and has not previously checked in with their teacher, they will use the code "LAW" meaning they are not present in the classroom. Students must previously have checked in with their teacher in order for the ACT code to be used. We use these codes as a safety and accountability measure for our building.
Items Not Allowed In School
Cell phones and other unauthorized electronic devices are not allowed to be carried on a person during the school day. If a student chooses to bring a device to school, it must be turned off/silenced and stored in the student’s locker for the duration of the school day. Failure to follow this directive will result in the confiscation of the item and possible further disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, the student’s parent/guardian having to pick the item up from school.
Website & Social Media
Please check Stetson's website often to find updates and school information. You may also keep up-to-date on your child's academic progress by accessing our Parent Portal system. Please follow us on Twitter to check out our latest events and announcements @GAStetsonMS.
Rustin Swim Team Meet & Greet Opportunity in February
Attention all 8th grade swimmers.
Interested in learning more about the Rustin Swim team?
Come see us in action and meet the team.
Feb. 3, 2023 7pm at the Airport Rd YMCA
Please RSVP to Stacy Clancy before February 3rd @ sgc1103@gmail.com.