What's Happening at SHMS

For more important dates, check our school calendar.

For more information about our Sports & Activities, visit our SHMS Athletics page.

Scott Highlands Middle School Breakfast & Lunch menus

We are in need of Kleenex tissues for SHMS! We are running extremely low and would love some donations.

If you have any to spare, please drop off with the front office at Scott Highlands.

We appreciate you!

Scott Highlands Middle School is actively looking to employ paraprofessionals for the remainder of this school year.

Paraprofessionals provide adult support for students throughout their school day in the areas of academic, behavioral, organizational, and/or functional skills. If you are a caring person who likes work that makes a difference, please consider completing an on-line application.

Questions? Contact sarah.dahl@district196.org or direct office phone line is 952-423-7585. Please don’t hesitate to give my personal information to those people who express a genuine interest in joining our team.

Forward THIS EMAIL TO ANYONE INTERESTED & ENCOURAGE THEM TO APPLY!!!

Due to increased needs for adult support at this time, these are new job opportunities at SHMS. The beginning hourly pay rate is $18.65/hour for the first year and includes the possibility of insurance benefits. Paraprofessionals work all student contact days and the SHMS daily hours are 8:00 AM – 3:15 PM which includes a 30-minute duty free lunch.

• Click here for job vacancies and then under Categories, click on Paraprofessionals. The Scott Highlands positions have specific JobID numbers and are listed here for your ease. Please note that the first is full time and the second is part time. The hours for the part tie position will be determined based on the needs of the students while taking into account the applicant’s availability.

Special Education Paraprofessional - 6.75 hours/day JobID: 18632

Special Education Paraprofessional – 3.25 hours/day JobID: 18719

Attention SHMS students: It’s time to audition for this year’s musical: Into the Woods Jr.!!!

Auditions will take place Thursday, December 7th and Friday, December 8th after school. You only need to attend one of the dates. Sign up for a time slot outside of the choir room.

If you are only interested in applying for Stage Crew you do not have to sign up for an audition time slot.

Scan the QR code to submit your application - this must be done before you audition.

Anyone in grades 6, 7, and 8 are encouraged to try out.

Join the Musical Audition group on Schoology to get the latest information: 489W-7H6F-SP7R3

Feeling generous this holiday season? Looking for ways to spread the holiday cheer to those in need? Look no further! Moms and Neighbors is an organization that has partnered with SHMS for years and has provided numerous resources to families in need.

Every year, Moms and Neighbors support local families with their holiday needs. If you are interested in helping a family in the Eagan, Rosemount, and Apple Valley area this holiday season, click this link.

If you have any questions, please click the contact button on the Moms and Neighbors website to reach out to the program directly.

Thank you for your consideration!

All 6th-8th grade students are invited to participate in the SHMS Speech Team! Speech Team involves writing or choosing a 5-8 minute public speaking piece to practice and perform in front of judges. Here are the important things to know:

• If you are interested, have your student join the new Schoology Group for more detailed information: R72P-F2BR-R556R
• Sign up on MyPaymentsPlus by January 5, 2024
  • Students only need to come to practice one day per week.
  • Practices will be on either Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.
• We will have 4 meets
• Transportation: Students who regularly ride the bus can take the Activity Bus home, OR you can pick up your child at 4:45pm.

There will be a student informational meeting to go over details on Dec. 6 in FACS Kitchen Room 6 from 3:15 - 4:45.

Please contact Coach Walton (kim.walton@district196.org) or Coach Toutge (danell.toutge@district196.org) if you have any questions.

Visit the Speech Team website for more information!

Quick Tip is an anonymous form for students to report potential threats, safety concerns, alcohol and drug abuse, and other issues at schools. School officials receive the reports and are able to respond accordingly. The form is located on the Contact page of all secondary school websites in District 196.

You can also find the form here.

Winter Lacrosse Offensive Skills and Tactics Camp (Boys, grades 5-8)

Mon - Thu | Nov 27-30 | 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. | 4 sessions | $95 | Irish Sports Dome

Youth/Adult Bowling League at Bogarts (adult and child ages 7+)

Sat | Oct 28 - Dec 2 | 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. | 5 sessions | $229 | skip Nov 25 | Bogart's Entertainment Center

ISD 196 Middle Schools DO NOT allow students to use their cell phones during the school day (from 8:05 am – 3:10 pm). Students are asked to leave their phone in their locker or at home.

Please see below for the SHMS staff response to a student should that student have their cell phone out during the academic day.

• 1st Time: Phone is brought to the office – student may pick up phone in the main office at the end of the day.
• 2nd Time: Phone is brought to the office – parent/guardian must pick up phone in the main office.
• 3rd Time: Phone is brought to the office – parent/guardian must pick up phone in the main office. Additional consequences assigned. Parent/Guardian will be notified by SHMS administration.
• 4th Time: Phone is brought to the office – phone should remain at home, or phone is turned in daily to the main office and picked up each day. Parent/Guardian will be notified by SHMS administration.

The main office will take messages from parents and share that with the student should you need to contact your student during the school day.

1. HOW do students manage phones?
• Cell phones are required to be off and put away during the school day. Phones are never allowed in bathrooms or locker rooms. Students may be asked to leave phones in classrooms or lockers before entering these spaces
• Students who have a rare and/or specific reason for may discuss this with their teacher or the main office.

If parents feel they must reach their child during the school day, please call the main office. We will make sure students receive the messages in a timely manner. For all other non-emergency messages, students may check messages after school, as they leave the building.

We thank you for understanding of this district policy. Cell phones have a negative impact on student learning AND often times phones have a negative impact on student well-being. For the best learning environment, we appreciate you supporting this district and SHMS policy.

To report an absence, send an email to shms.attendance@district196.org (preferred) or call the 24 hour attendance voicemail number at 952-423-7587. Please provide the following information:

• Student’s Name (please spell the student’s first and last name)
• Grade
• Name of person reporting absence
• Reason for absence

**The direct line to Colleen Pudwill, school nurse, is 952-423-7583

You can also report an absence by filling out this form: Report an Absence

6th grade: Sarah Blasing

(952)-423-7603

sarah.blasing@district196.org

7th grade: Andrea Larson

(952)-423-7608

andrea.larson@district196.org

8th grade: Jesse Kramer

(952)-423-7602

jesse.kramer@district196.org

Park Nicollet Growing Through Grief is sending a message about Children's Grief Awareness Day (11/16/2023) which is observed every year on the third Thursday in November (the Thursday before the U.S. holiday of Thanksgiving). The purpose of Children's Grief Awareness Day is to call attention to the issue of children's grief. This time of year is a particularly appropriate time to support grieving children because the holiday season is often an especially difficult time after a death.

Childhood Bereavement is a critical issue both a nationally and locally. The death of a parent, sibling, or other important person in a child’s life is one of the most frequently reported disruptive childhood experiences which can place a child at risk of long-term adversity, if not supported. As the numbers below demonstrate, now more than ever, is a time to be aware.

The Current State of Childhood Bereavement Compared to Pre-Pandemic (see attached report)

Nationally – the overall number of children bereaved increased from 4.9 million to 6.0 million

MN – the overall number of children bereaved increased from 64,000 to 84,000

WI – the overall number of children bereaved increased from 79,000 to 96,000

46% increase in childhood bereavement (due to death of a parent) compared to pre- pandemic

Four top reasons for the 46% increase:

COVID (12% of overall childhood bereavement)

Homicide by gunshot violence (48% increase from pre pandemic)

Suicide (3% increase from pre pandemic) The occurrence of parent death by suicide is currently at an all-time high after several years of dropping rates pre pandemic.

Accidental Overdose (60% increase from pre pandemic)

Gratitude and Hope

Growing Through Grief is honored to be your partners in supporting childhood grief. On a note of gratitude, we would like to share a few resources:

The Rabbit Listened Book Reading - https://vimeo.com/788749797/4cfc44bcbb

This book is about how to comfort and heal the people in your life, by taking time to listen carefully, lovingly, and gently. It is a wonderful book for any age and especially good at reminding us that the key to support is having friends, family, and adultswho know the value of listening.

An Interview with Corri Doerrfeld - https://vimeo.com/776458056/cff167a343

This is an interview with our own Minnesota author who wrote The Rabbit Listened. She shares about the inspiration for her writing which is amazing to hear.

Flip the Script - https://nacg.org/flipthescript/#practice

Flipping the Script references a shift in perspective or a change in the way a situation is typically handled. When someone “flips the script,” they are taking a different approach, and this November, we want to work together to flip common grief scripts honoring Children’s Grief Awareness Month.

Thank you for your partnership!! May you find the upcoming winter season and holidays a time of peace and fun with family and friends.

Park Nicollet Foundation Growing Through Grief Team

If you have a student who is dealing with the loss of an immediate family member (sibling, parent, grandparent, caregiver) or individual who significantly influenced your student and feel they would benefit from participating in Park Nicollet's Growing Through Grief group, we would like to offer your student this grief group opportunity.

Scott Highlands Middle School will be hosting this group again; this year it will be facilitated by Jenny Simmonds, a licensed grief therapist through Park Nicollet. Group sessions will be held during the school day and will run throughout the school year. Our hope is that this group would begin sometime in October. If you are interested in having your student participate, please email your student's school counselor with the name of your student and they will contact you to provide further information.

The Israel-Gaza war is distressing to all of us. Children and teens may be wondering why this violence occurred and what else will happen in the future. Like adults, they are better able to cope with upsetting news and images when they understand more about the situation. The following suggestions will help adults support children in a constructive and helpful way.

More information.

Read their latest newsletter.

Healthy eating is so important for students. At Scott Highlands Middle School, we work hard to ensure students receive a free healthy breakfast and lunch each day to support their developing brains and bodies. Research shows that students who eat regular, nutritious meals are more likely to attend school and engage in learning.

We are excited to partner with Every Meal again this year and offer a free weekend food program to all our students. You do not need to qualify or meet criteria to qualify for this free weekend food. You simply need to have students at home who would benefit from extra food.

• Free for all families

• No qualifications required for enrollment

• Students enrolled in the program will receive a 4-5 pound bag of nutritious, nonperishable food each week

• Every Meal does not collect information from families; privacy is protected

• Families may enroll in the program anytime throughout the school year

• Families may choose from a variety of different weekend meal bag options

Please complete the enrollment form using the link below and you will receive your free weekend food. The first delivery will be Friday, September 29th

Link to Every Meal enrollment

Minnesota offers essential programs that provide health coverage to people who otherwise may not be able to afford it. This coverage has been continuous for everyone since 2020, so individuals may not know they need to renew coverage.

Now every Minesota member must go through the annual renewal process to find out if they are still eligible to remain covered in the program. Support services include medical care, mental health care, and therapies that are part of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

Be prepared to renew. Your health insurance needs to be renewed periodically. Avoid losing your Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare by being prepared for your renewal https://mn.gov/dhs/renewmycoverage/

Community Resource Guide Dakota County - this guide includes information on health care, dental, women’s health, food, housing, special needs/disability, and other supports for families

FastTracker MN - a behavioral health search tool that allows you to filter services based on your search criteria, which can include free and sliding fee services available.

Virtual Calming Room - designed to assist in identifying different strategies for managing emotions, this webpage includes links to calming tools and other resources for youth and families

Worried about your student’s OR your own mental health?

Dakota County Crisis Response: Call 952-891-7171

National Crisis Text Line: Text SCHOOL to 741741

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988

We are a GREAT School because we are:

Respectful

to all people in the building

Responsible

with ourselves and our belongings

Ready to Learn

by being prepared and present in the learning environment

SAINTS deserve a safe, great learning environment!

Safe

Accepting

Inclusive

Nice

Thoughtful

Success

1. SAINTS will not bully others.

2. SAINTS keep their hands and feet to themselves.

3. SAINTS include others.

4. SAINTS care enough to report hurtful behavior to adults at home or school.

School Hours: 8:20 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.

Website: https://shms.district196.org/
Location: Scott Highlands Middle School, Pilot Knob Road, Apple Valley, MN, USA
Phone: 9524237581
Twitter: @SHMS_Saints