Our Vision

SMS will provide a safe community for students and staff to connect, learn, and grow.

Our Mission

SMS students will learn to believe in themselves, work together, and gain skills needed for a positive and successful future.

Our Beliefs

Everyone belongs. All students can learn, improve, and succeed.

What a wonderful and busy September we had! So much positive energy learning expectations, establishing routines, and focusing on school and classroom culture. Thank you for joining us at our Open House on September 17th. It was surely the biggest turnout we have had in some years!

We have also welcomed a new Assistant Principal - Wyndi Anderson. She certainly isn't new to the district or SMS. But, we are blessed to have her in this new role. Check out the photos/bios at the bottom of this newsletter for more information.

Our ELA and math teachers also conducted MAP testing to obtain a baseline for student growth. These results will help teachers create and refine what they teach to ensure that students are achieving proficiency in our essential standards. These past two years, all content area Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) have established shared essentials standards and common formative assessments. PLCS then week on Wednesday mornings to analyze data and plan for next steps based on how students are doing on those assessments. These assessments can be as small as an exit ticket or as big as a project or unit test. Keep in mind that students are allowed, and encourage, to redo assignments, retake assessments, and refine projects and presentations. Learning sometimes takes multiple efforts, and that is okay. If you are concerned about a grade that your student earns, reach out to the teacher to see what your student can do to improve it. There is always a way!

We have Parent/Teacher Conferences coming up at the end of this month! Watch for sign-ups in your email. They'll be posted soon!

Winter Sports will begin with Boys' Basketball, at the end of October. And the end of the Quarter is Nov. 1. If your student needs help, encourage them to talk to their teachers and show up for Homework Club (M-Th 3:15-4:15, bus is available T/Th).

Happy Fall!

Melissa McBride

Principal

360-565-1782

mmcbride@portangelesschools.org

• 7th graders will have Vision & Hearing Screening on October 8.
• The 14th-18th is National School Lunch Week. Let's hear it for our amazing school lunch staff!
• The 23rd-30th is National Red Ribbon Week, but we will be celebrating from October 21-25. There will be daily activities as lunch, spirit/dress up days, and a Friday Spirit Assembly (see schedule below).
• Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held October 29-November 1. We will send out information regarding sign-ups via Skyward...stay tuned!
• The end of quarter 1 is November 1. We do not send home report cards at quarter (only Semester), but we will send home a reminder to check Skyward for end of term grades. It takes a few weeks for end of term grades to process, but we will follow with notification home for those who qualify for Silver (3.0-3.59) and Gold (3.6-4.0) Honor Roll.

We have high expectations for all of our students, and we know that every one of them can be successful with the right support. At SMS, we follow The Stampeder Way. We expect students to have a growth mindset, to be kind, to show respect to themselves and others, to have integrity, to commit their own growth and success, and to be a good citizen. We'll teach these concepts in class, and throughout the year, we'll be looking for students who exhibit these qualities. Students who stand out among the crowd may be awarded a Stampeder Way raffle ticket and they may be nominated for Student of the Month. See photos below of our September raffle winners and September Students of the Month! Great job, Stampeders...we're proud of you! Keep it up!

Get familiar with Our Stevens Stampeders Behavior Expectations. Following these expectations will help make our school a safe and welcoming place for everyone. This form will need to be signed and returned to your student's 4th period teacher. We also follow the District Handbook. Please familiarize yourself and your student with this important document. All students will review the most important parts of this handbook in their 4th period Stampeder Time class. You will also need to confirm that you have reviewed this document when you log into Skyward for the first time.

We use the PBIS Rewards software to track student behavior. This software provides family access through a free app. If you were at registration, you received your student's QR code. We will also send an invite via text and email the first week of school. This app allows you access to your student's major and minor referrals throughout the year. We can resend this information, or even help you set it up on your smartphone. Please set up a meeting so we can assist! Students can access this information on their Clever account, which is accessible on school Chromebooks.

We have monthly celebrations to honor students who have earned zero major referrals for the month. We provide lots of intervention and support to help students stay on the right path. If you are wondering what kinds of support are available, please reach out. We want all of our students to succeed and have a positive experience at Stevens. In order to ensure that this is possible, we expect all students to behave in a manner that is SAFE, CONSIDERATE, and RESPONSIBLE.

Electronics Policy - We expect students to be engaged in their academics, and electronics (especially cell phones, ear buds, and smart watches) can get in the way of that. We require that students turn these gadgets off and put them in their back packs for the day. Students keep their backpacks with them at all times, aside from during PE (they are in the locker room) and lunch (they are kept in a classroom). The school is not responsible for lost valuables, so please keep these items at home if you are worried about your student losing them. Students can store their cell phone in the front office if they are worried about losing it during the day. If you need to reach your student during the day, please do not text or call them on their cell phone. This can disrupt class. Call the front office, and we will send a message to your student. Your student can also use the student phone in the office to reach you during the day.

Dress Code -

Allowable Dress

• Students must wear clothing including both a shirt with pants or skirt, or the equivalent and shoes.
• Shirts and dresses must have fabric in the front and on the sides.
• Clothing must cover undergarments, waistbands and bra straps excluded.
• Fabric covering all private parts must not be see through.
• Hats and other headwear must allow the face to be visible and not interfere with the line of sight to any student or staff. Hoodies must allow the student face and ears to be visible to staff.
• Clothing must be suitable for all scheduled classroom activities including physical education, science labs, wood shop, and other activities where unique hazards exist.
• Specialized courses may require specialized attire, such as sports uniforms or safety gear.

Non-Allowable Dress

• Clothing may not depict, advertise or advocate the use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or other controlled substances.
• Clothing may not depict pornography, nudity, or sexual acts.
• Clothing may not use or depict hate speech targeting groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation or any other protected groups.
• Clothing must not threaten the health or safety of any other student or staff.
• If the student’s attire or grooming threatens the health or safety of any other person, then discipline for dress or grooming violations should be consistent with discipline policies for similar violations.

We are currently operating with a string of substitute attendance secretaries. As such, it is, unfortunately, quite likely that there will be some mistakes made with attendance, missed calls, and slower response to truancy. If you receive a robocall about your student's attendance that doesn't seem right, please give our main line a call. Also, if you have questions about anything attendance related, call that same number - 360-452-5590. We apologize for any inconvenience.

In late-September and early-October, Stevens Middle School 8th grade science students all spent a full school day at the Elwha River. The field science data collected at three sites up and down the River will be added to the ongoing long-term ecological monitoring data set that Stevens has collected and worked with since 2006, five years before dam removal began. This year, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and Olympic National Park partnered with our science team to provide cultural history lessons alongside the natural history and data collection. Students will now use the full pre- and post-dam removal data set to make and present scientific posters. The posters will be displayed on classroom walls in our Science Symposium on Friday, October 18th and for the week after that, and all are welcome to come observe and learn from these student scientific investigations.

Check out this article from the American Psychological Association - Keeping Teens Safe on Social Media: What Parents Should Know to Protect Their Kids

We are also thinking of inviting The White Hatter back to our school to give a presentation to students. Check out their content and let us know what you think. They have an amazing free resource for parents called Parenting in an Online World: Internet Safety, Security, Privacy, and Digital Literacy for Parents.

Students can join Sal our Student Assistance Professional for three different wellness events coming in October.

Wellness Club Kick Off 10/9: Wellness Wednesday starts this month! Wellness Club is for students who would like to help plan and organize awareness events to educate and promote a school climate of non-substance use and mental wellness. We will be meeting most Wednesdays during flex period in the library. For more information please contact Sal at 360-565-3721

Unity Day 10/16: October is National Bullying Prevention Month. On Wednesday 10/16 students will have the opportunity to join lunchtime activities for Unity Day. Unity Day promotes the universal message that our society wants to promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion to prevent bullying.

Red Ribbon Week 10/21-10/25: Leadership and the Wellness Club collaborate on activities through out the week to promote substance use prevention. This will be our first Spirit Week! Leadership students have determined the following Spirit dress-up days:

Monday: wear read to represent Red Ribbon Week

Tuesday: put drugs to rest...wear pajamas

Wednesday: "lei" off drugs...wear tropical-themed clothing

Thursday: team up against drugs...wear your favorite sports team gear

Friday: our futures are too bright for drugs...wear neon

Fall is a busy time for school sports. Football, volleyball, and cross-country are in full swing. Student athletes must attend practice, maintain passing grades, follow building expectations, and show up on time for classes. Students who miss practice, are failing a class, earn behavior referrals, or are tardy/absent from school, may not be able to participate or attend games. Remember, student athletes are students first! And they represent our school. We have high expectations for our students and encourage them to be good citizens and role models for others.

If you need support with athletics, need help completing your Final Forms, or need to pay sports fees, we are currently operating on a part-time basis. We should have this position filled soon. We appreciate your patience as we navigate the beginning of our Winter Sports Season.

Coaches will provide their contact info to players and families at the start of the season.

Our PASD Athletic Director, Dwayne Johnson, can be reached at 360-565-1608.

ASB is our student-elected student government. Mr. Edwards is our ASB advisor. Our 7th grade senator elections are being held Oct. 9 during 7th grade Flex classes. All students will fill out a ballot and select their top two candidates. Results of the primary elections will be announced Oct. 10.

Band students who would like to extend their musical experience can join Jazz Band. This is held Tues/Thurs from 3:15-4:15 with Mr. Hansen in the Band Room.

We have had various student-created clubs that take place during lunch, before school, and after school. Students can pick up a club application form from the office. They just need to fill this out, find a few peers who are also interested in joining, and a staff advisor who is willing to provide space, time, and supervision. Students are encouraged to look at the clubs board in the main hall by the office to find out what's available. Take a look at the display:

Honor Society begins in late October/early November. It is open to all 8th graders with qualifying grades (a cumulative 3.0 GPA), and teachers have a sense of behavior. The first event has typically been at the end of October (Harvest Carnival) or November (Teddy Bear Tea). From that point forward there will be one service activity each month. Mrs. Day is the advisor for this club.

Homework Club began September 16th. This is a voluntary program offered in the library Monday-Thursday from 3:15-4:15. Staff is on site to assist with homework. Chromebooks are available. Transportation is available Tuesday and Thursdays. Students must sign up in the front office at the beginning of the day, as we submit a list to the bus driver so they can create a route.

The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe also sponsors an after-school homework club at this same in the library.

Students are expected to be at school. If your student must be absent due to illness or an appointment, be sure to call in to excuse the absence. If a student is absent longer than 5 days, we will require a doctor's note. Accumulated unexcused and excessive excused absences may lead to truancy processing. Communication is key when it comes to attendance. If you are struggling with your student's attendance for any reason, please reach out. We have many resources to provide support.

To contact our Attendance Secretary, call 360-565-1779. (Currently, we are operating with a number of substitute Attendance Secretaries. If you have questions about your student's attendance, call our front office line, 360-452-5590; and thank you for your patience.)

You can access Skyward via our website and through a free app for your phone. This is how you will access your student's grades and attendance records. If you have questions about how to access your Skyward account, please call our front office.

Our Student Services Secretary, LeAnn Mandeville, can be reached at 360-565-1778.

If you have questions about your student's schedule or classes, reach out to our building counselors.

Beth Clifford 360-565-1797

Dana Christensen 360-565-1763

If you need support securing mental health counseling or drug/alcohol counseling, reach out to Sal Michael or our Family Navigator Team. Our Navigators can also help you find additional community resources.

Sal is the Student Assistance Professional at Stevens. One of the goals of their work is substance use prevention. A majority of students at Stevens, and in Washington state, do not vape or use substances. To support that goal, education is an important part of substance use prevention for students and families alike. Here are 3 ways we are providing substance use education this Spring.

Sal Michael 360-565-3721

District Navigator Team 360-565-3719

Our School Nurse, Sarah Pierce, can be reached at 360-565-1777

I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new assistant principal of Stevens Middle School. My name is Wyndi Anderson and I am excited to join this amazing community of learners, educators, and families. I bring with me 20 years of experience in education with the Port Angeles School District, where I have had the privilege of serving in various roles, including teacher, union leader, and most recently, Dean of Students.

On a personal note, I am happily married, and my husband and I are proud parents of two energetic boys who keep us on our toes. I understand the importance of family and community, which is one of the reasons I am so excited to contribute to the strong, supportive environment here at Stevens.

I look forward to collaborating with each of you as we work together to create the best possible learning experience for our students. Thank you for welcoming me into your community, and I am eager to start this new chapter with you all.

Hello! I am a Montana native who has lived in the PNW for the last 15 years. Growing up in MT I have a love for the outdoors and feel that Port Angeles gives me the best of both worlds with mountain and ocean access! My husband Nathan and I have three kiddos, our daughters Harper and Kaysen are 11 and our son Jaxon is 7, we also have a Bernie doodle puppy named Millie. We are in the crazy sports era and keep very busy running them from activity to activity. When I am not at work or attending kiddo events, you'll likely find me making yummy treats for my side baking business! I also volunteer for the Future Riders program as a cheer coordinator and board member.