Switzerland Point Middle School

· November 20: Full Day Wednesday

· November 21: Character Counts! Chats

· November 22: Raider Store

· November 25-29: Thanksgiving Break

· December 3: Middle School Blitz Part 2 (affecting periods 1 and 2 details TBD)

· December 6: Raider Store

· December 9: Character Chats!

· December 11: 6th ELA FAST

· December 12: 7th ELA FAST

· December 13: 8th ELA FAST

· December 16: 6th Math FAST, Flipped Bell Schedule

· December 17: 7th Math FAST, Flipped Bell Schedule

· December 18: 8th Math FAST, Flipped Bell Schedule

· December 20: End Q 2, Early Release, Raider Buck Bonanza: 8th Grade Periods 1-2, 7th Grade Periods 3-4, 6th Grade Periods 6-7

· January 6: Students Return

· January 7: Behavior Assemblies for 2nd Semester

Click on the flier to order.

Please note that the price of yearbooks will increase after 12/20/24.

Greetings,

During this time of year, we pause to reflect on all of the things we have to be thankful for. We are thankful for our students who come to school every day ready to learn. We have students who are excelling in academics, athletics, the arts, and other endeavors who are supported and loved unconditionally by their parents and guardians. Our students benefit from the way our community consistently pulls together for the good of our school. We are grateful for your support as parents and guardians, and thankful for your trust in us as we work with your students every day. We have faculty, staff, and administrators who work tirelessly to become better educators to uplift our students, as well as to keep our buildings safe and running smoothly. We see dedicated individuals going above and beyond to make sure great things are happening in our building.

I am wishing all of you and your families a healthy, relaxing and Happy Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,

Ms. Carnall

Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) is set up as a progress monitoring model. FAST assessments are computer-adaptive tests taken on a computer. The questions get easier or more difficult depending on how the student responds, and each student will see different questions from a common item bank. Each progress monitoring test attempt (PM1, PM2, and PM3) will present items that will cover the entire test “blueprint,” meaning students will encounter items representative of the standards within the subject or grade level. Students in Algebra or Geometry do not take the FAST Math assessment.

Progress monitoring 2 (PM2) dates have been announced (see below). Students will be told of their testing room by their 1st period teacher. Testing begins promptly at 7:30. Please encourage your child to do their best, bring a pencil, and eat a healthy breakfast.

Testing dates for PM3 are below:

• 6th grade FAST ELA Progress Monitor 2 (PM2): December 11
• 7th grade FAST ELA Progress Monitor 2 (PM2): December 12
• 8th grade FAST ELA Progress Monitor 2 (PM3): December 13
• 6th grade FAST Math Progress Monitor 2 (PM2): December 16 (with flipped bell schedule)
• 7th grade FAST Math Progress Monitor 2 (PM2): December 17 (with flipped bell schedule)
• 8th grade FAST Math Progress Monitor 2 (PM2): December 18 (with flipped bell schedule)
• Make up testing will begin after January 6.
• 7th grade students in Advanced Math will take the 8th grade Math FAST assessment for both PM2 and PM3 since this aligns best with the standards taught in the 7th grade advanced course.
• Students will be assessed on standards that will be covered over the entire curriculum, and this progress monitoring tool will be used to guide teacher instruction so that students continue to make progress.

*Students enrolled in classes with an EOC will take the EOC in May but will not take the FAST.

*Students who are enrolled in 7th grade Accelerated Math will take 7th grade FAST in August but then will take the 8th grade FAST in December, as well as in May, since this aligns best with the standards taught in this course.

Results will be available promptly:

• Teachers will have the results almost immediately.
• Families will be able to view results within 2 weeks.

Complete the form on our website to request early check out. It is located on the bottom left (side bar) of the website. The form needs to be completed by 6 AM the day you are requesting early check out. After the 6 AM cut off, please send your child in with a note to the front office like normal. Please do not request early check out more than 2 days in advance.

As a safety precaution, students will only be released to the parent/guardian or the Emergency Contact listed in HAC. A current driver’s license must be presented to the front office to check a student out early. The following procedure will be strictly enforced: NO student may be signed out after 1:25 PM each day except Wednesday. The latest early check out on Wednesday is 12:25 PM. Parents must arrive in the office no later than 1:20 PM (or 12:20 PM on Wednesday) in order to sign their child out early. Students who check out during the school day due to illness are not eligible to return to school that evening to participate in activities or to be a member of the audience.

• At the end of the year, students can attend a field trip as a reward for their behavior.
• Students who earn ISS or OSS during 2nd semester, or commit a Level 4 offense during the entire school year, will NOT BE ELIGIBLE to participate in the grade-level reward trip. Please see Section 5, Levels of Discipline, on page 31 in our Student Code of Conduct for examples of Level 4 offenses.
• Students with 15 or more unexcused absences during the school year will NOT BE ELIGIBLE for the trip.
• For 8th grade students, these behavior requirements also apply to the 8th grade formal dance.
• Once a reward trip has been paid for, we will be unable to give refunds or transfer the reservation to another student’s name.

The kindness challenge has started for 2nd quarter. You will notice that the numbers look smaller since we are now calculating this by percentage. This makes it fair to all.

Here is how the grade levels rank as of November 15:

1st place: 6th grade with 124%

2nd place: 7th grade 99%

3rd place: 8th grade 59%

Each month, our staff nominate students who display the pillar of Charcter for that month. Students will be celebrated the first week of the next month with lunch provided by the PTSO.

This month, we look for students who display the pillar of Citizenship.

• Do your share to make your school and community better
• Cooperate
• Get involved in community affairs
• Stay informed; vote
• Be a good neighbor
• Obey laws and rules
• Respect authority
• Protect the environment
• Volunteer

Dear Parents and Families,

This month, we are focusing on the Character Counts Pillar of Citizenship. Our district believes

that every child has the potential to be good citizens, and we will do all that we can to promote

this pillar, but we need your help! Below is a list of ideas to work through with your family!

What can you do at home?

•Minimize waste. Recycle and conserve.

•Reinforce the importance of school rules and that they must be followed.

•Reinforce the importance of sportsmanship.

•Reuse boxes and shopping bags.

•Notice nature around you. Watch a sunrise or sunset. Look for animals. Appreciate the flowers and trees around you.

•Plant a garden with your children. Allow them to help with the yard work and gardening. Grow your own herbs or vegetables.

•Plant a seed or tree and watch it grow.

•Turn the water off while you are brushing your teeth or doing the dishes.

•Participate in a beach clean up day or plan your own for your family for an hour. If not the beach, use your neighborhood park.

•Carpool or walk instead of using a car.

•Encourage your children to watch shows on nature, science, or animals to broaden their knowledge and appreciation.

•As a family, research and select a charity to donate to. Encourage your children to donate a portion of their allowance. Plan to participate as a family to help at the local shelter, senior center, food kitchen, or for an elderly neighbor.

•Have discussions about current events so that your children can become aware of what the important issues are and how politicians or community officials are handling them. Have your children see you reading the newspaper, watching the news, and getting involved in community services.

•Observe and follow traffic rules.

•Show and explain to your children how the election process works and how to utilize resources to stay informed of the issues before you vote.

•Model citizenship behaviors and notice when your children are being good citizens in order to reinforce those desired behaviors.

In partnership with Resiliency Florida, we will explore specific characteristic(s) each month. Attached are the Parent Resources for Citizenship for November. You can find out more information by visiting their website: https://www.buildresiliency.org/ . There is also Family Reading Guide for this month also attached.

Citizenship means helping my neighbor, community and nation.

America250 just launched America’s Field Trip for the 2024–2025 school year! America’s Field Trip is a nationwide scholastic contest that invites students in grades 3–12 to share their perspectives on what America means to them through artwork or essays — with the opportunity to earn an unforgettable field trip experience at some of the nation’s most iconic historical and cultural landmarks.

• 25 first-place awardees from each grade level category and a chaperone will receive airfare and lodging for a 3-day, 2-night trip to a select historical or cultural site.
• Second-place recipients will receive a $500 cash award.
• The teacher associated with the top-scoring student submissions in each grade level category will receive a $1,000 cash award.

Visit America250’s website to learn more about how students can enter, and for contest rules, judging criteria, classroom resources, and more. The deadline for submissions is April 16, 2025!

Please see the attached document about Varsity Tutors, a resource that is free to your students!

SPMS National Junior Honor Society is sponsoring an opportunity to send a special birthday or congratulations message to your student via the marquee in the front of the school. Cost is $25. Complete the form here to submit your request (there's a separate link in the form to pay via Schoolpay upon submitting your request). Requests are due the Friday prior to the event and will display the following week (Tuesday through Monday). Example: If you turn in the request on Friday, September 17, then your message will be displayed on Tuesday, September 21.

Yes!! We are looking for some outstanding players to be part of the SPMS Interscholastic basketball teams. The teams will be made up of 6th, 7th and 8th graders. Yes!! 6th graders are allowed to try-out. There will be a boys’ team AND a girls’ team. The boy’s try-outs will be on Monday, December 2, 3, 5 and TBA. The boy’s try-outs will start at 2:00pm and last until 4:00pm. The girl’s try-outs will be on December 2, 3, 5 and TBA. The girl’s try-outs will begin at 4:30pm and last until 6:00pm. Students must provide their own transportation. Parent pick-up will be required promptly after try-outs each day. To try-out, students need to have a try-out waiver signed and returned. Waiver forms may be obtained from Coach Terrance Singleton, the front office, or any PE coach. All students that are trying out for the team must show up the first day but are not guaranteed to stay all three days. If there are any questions, please contact Coach Singleton (terrance.singleton@stjohns.k12.fl.us). RAIDERS #1 BABY!!!

When: Tuesday Dec. 3rd

Time: 4pm

Where: SPMS Auditorium

Information will be provided on the following:

Auditioning process, volunteer opportunities, theatre contract review, musical expectations

Based on the DreamWorks Animation Motion Picture

and the Book by William Steig

Book, Lyrics, and Music by

David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori

Auditions are Monday, Dec. 9th and Tuesday, Dec. 10th with callbacks on Thursday, Dec. 12th in the Auditorium

Performances are April 10th, 11th, and 12th at 7pm with an understudy 2pm matinee on April 12th

Director and Musical Director - Mrs. Kaleda, Technical Director - Miss Etheridge

Shrek the Musical JR. is presented through special
arrangement. All authorized materials are supplied by Music Theatre International, 421 W 54th St. New York, NY 10019

Help National Junior Honor Society by donating new unwrapped toys.

This supports Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots.

Collections will be until December 2nd, 2024.

We are working in conjunction with St. Augustine High School.

At this time, the opening of School Daze and The Redemption of Gertie Green have been postponed due to the air conditioning unit breaking in the Auditorium. As soon as it has been replaced, we will be in touch with new dates. Sorry for any inconvenience, and we hope to see you at the theatre in the Spring!

Battle of the Books is a competition team based around knowledge of the Sunshine State Young Reader Award Books (SSYRA). The goal of the SSYRA program is to promote the love of reading for students. The SSYRA list is composed of 15 books from a wide variety of genres and interests. Students can read the books and take a short quiz on them in the media center to earn prizes.

The team will be composed of 5 members and 2 alternates. Membership is based on scores during try outs. Information on try outs will come out in December. Try outs will be in January. Practice will be once a week after school until the competition in March.

Please email Madison.Gowin@stjohns.k12.fl.us if you have any questions about SSYRA or Battle of the Books!

THANK YOU to all those that came out to the Jacksonville Icemen Game to support your winterguard team! 175 tickets were sold!

Next up, come see the team perform in the St. Augustine Christmas Parade 12/7/24 at 9:00am.

THANK YOU to all those that donated shoes! Over 50 pairs! Each student who donated will receive a free smoothie from Smoothie King!

The PTSO would love your help stocking the Raider Store! The Raider Store is where students can spend their hard earned Raider Bucks. Your student earns Raider Bucks from their teachers and staff for showing good character in the classroom and hallways. They can then spend them in the PTSO-sponsored Raider Store. We are always looking for new and fun things to stock the store with to keep the students coming back. Please put your student's name on the gift, and he/she will be credited Raider Bucks for your donation!

Thank you for your support!

CLICK HERE TO SHOP

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