Falcon Flyer for Families!

October 21-October 25, 2024

Hello Falcons!

Welcome to Red Ribbon Week! This week, we will have a series of "theme days" to honor being drug free! The theme for each day is listed in an image below.

Please remember dress-down guidelines:

1. Shirts and tops must be school-appropriate and not revealing.

2. Jeans are allowed during dress down days. Jeans may be any color or pattern but must not have holes or tears in them of any kind. No leggings, pajama pants, or hoods.

3. Dress down clothing cannot have inappropriate writing on it, it must fit appropriately, and must not interrupt the safety of the learning environment.

In addition to Red Ribbon Week, Kevin Atlas will be at Sullivan on Tuesday to share his "Believe in You," presentation. We look forward to hosting Mr. Atlas and learning about positive self-affirmation!

Other events this week include football, Kona Ice Day, and a field trip for the Culture Club. Don't forget we have tutoring this week, too!

It's going to be a great week, and we look forward to working hard and staying positive as we near the end of October!

Have a great week,

Dr. Persinski

Falcon Challenge Donations

Thank you to all who sponsored, volunteered, and supported Sullivan's PTO in raising funds to support Sullivan's teachers and students! Special thanks goes to Ms. Whisonant and the PE department for hosting! At Tuesday's SIC and PTO meeting, it was revealed that the PTO earned over $28,500! Thank you, all! We can't wait to see what's in store for 2025!

Believe in You--Kevin Atlas Assembly October 22

ABOUT KEVIN ATLAS

At nearly seven feet tall with his left arm discontinued just below his elbow, Kevin faced his fair share of adversity in his early life. After being cut from his school team, a local AAU basketball coach reached out to invite Kevin to join his elite squad and provided the mentorship Kevin needed to believe in his abilities. With that support, Kevin, went on to have his life turned into an Oscar-qualifying documentary titled, “Long Shot: The Kevin Laue Story”. He went on to earn a full athletic scholarship to Manhattan College, becoming the first disabled player in NCAA history to receive a full Division I athletic scholarship in his sport.

After a successful college career, Kevin went on to play professionally in Asia and has since committed to sharing his story with youth, becoming one of the top young professional speakers in the nation. Kevin has since partnered with BSN SPORTS’ parent company, Varsity Brands, on developing inspiring programs and content for America’s schools. Kevin hosts the powerful Varsity Brands Believe In You Series, an episodic video series starring personalities across the country and touching on topics including overcoming obstacles, mental health, overcoming chemical dependency, and more. Additionally, through the Believe in You Speaking Tour, Kevin is on track to visit hundreds of schools with Varsity Brands over the next several years.

Keystone--Red Ribbon

Related Arts Newsletter

Please click HERE to read the Related Arts news!

Kona Ice

Family Night!

Thanks to those who came out for Family Night Thursday. Thank you to Rock Hill School District Mental Health, York County Sheriff's Office, NAMI, York County Library, Mr. WIllins from Primerica, and resources from Oakland Baptist Church!

Thank you, Mr. Espich for leading the way with information on the importance of MAP scores and student growth; Meisha Williams for sharing information about anxiety; Johnathan Gilbert for telling famlies about the dangers of social media; Dr. Cordoba and Ms. Julio for telling us about Going Global; and most importantly, thank you to Mr. Donado for being our translator for the evening!

We hope to have more families attend again January 24. Please save the date!

A list of study resources are HERE.

Pink Out!

Thanks to our Faculty and Staff who "pinked out" for Breast Cancer Awareness!

Softball Interest

Basketball Cheer

Rock Hill High Girls Soccer

Save the Date!

PBIS: Store items needed

Help support our students who have displayed positive behavior! Contribute to our Falcon Store where students can use their hard-earned Falcon dollars for various snacks and other items. The most requested items are:

Walmart Wish list: https://www.walmart.com/lists/shared/WL/9255b584-b4af-4240-ba3f-3b2b4b875d32

Amazon Wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/28KJCRMKVATGL?ref_=wl_share

Home Depot Wish List: https://www.homedepot.com/list/view/details/shared/b1751560-7601-11ef-80f3-f96e8524e63a

Cotton Candy (found at Sam's for 9.98/box) 6 boxes

Yearbooks!

Sullivan Sweatshirts

They are selling fast!

Show your Sullivan pride by purchasing a Sullivan sweatshirt! Only $15!! Pink is almost sold out, so we have ordered more. You can purchase in the front office by check or cash.

Grade level Ts are available, as well, for $10.

Sports and Activities

Volleyball and Football Calendars

Come out and support the Falcons at Volleyball and Football!

This week at HOME: 8th FB vs. Clover @ 5:15 October 23.

Calendars are below!

Volleyball Schedule

7th Football Schedule

8th Football Schedule

8th grade DC Trip

Eighth grade will travel to Washington, DC for the grade level field trip in Spring 2025! For more information, click HERE and reach out to Coach E at CEspich@rhmail.org today.

Math Tutors Needed

Sullivan is looking for volunteers to assist with math tutoring in our after school tutoring program Tuesdays through Wednesdays 3:45 - 5:00. If you are interested, please make sure that you have a current volunteer card with Rock Hill Schools and notify Dr. Persinski or another administrator.

Thank you!

SIC/PTO

SIC and PTO Meetings 2024-2025

The next SIC and PTO meeting will be held Tuesday, November 19, at 5:30 and 6:30 in the Media Center!

SIC--If you would like to join our SIC meetings, or if you have any questions, please reach out to Kati McFadden, Parent and Chair. More information can be found HERE.

PTO-If you would like to assist PTO, please reach out to one of the officers.

President: Erica Smith
Vice President: Ashley Lang

Secretary: Melissa Maynard

Treasurer: Amanda Winters

sullivanmspto@gmail.com

Tutoring!

After School Tutoring will begin Tuesday, September 3 for core classes from 3:45 - 5:00.

Oct 1-3; 8-10; 15-16; 18-21; 22-24; 29-30
Nov 6-7; Nov 12-14; Nov 19-21
Dec 3-5

ST-ARTS Auditions

From Kimberly Grant--District Arts and Technology Specialist

The ST-ARTS program is a 3-week summer institute where identified GT artistic middle school students pursue a "major" and "minor" study with world class experts in music, theatre, dance, and art. This program is competitive and does act as our GT identification process for artistic giftedness. It is vital that ALL middle school students are afforded the opportunity to audition. There is an online application that is linked in the flyer. Read HERE.

District Career Fair

Flu/Covid

COVID and flu can cause mild to severe respiratory illness in children and adults. The symptoms include fever, chills, cough, fatigue, body aches, headache, sore throat, congestion/runny nose, nausea, or diarrhea. Children typically experience nasal congestion, sore throat, and headache with COVID. They experience cough, sore throat, and fever with flu.

If you suspect your child is getting sick, please do not send them to school. Students who are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above should complete the following steps:

Stay home from school
Call the school to report your child’s symptoms
Utilize the district COVID/Flu testing sites if you would like your child tested. This testing is free for all students and staff.
Notification of illness and testing will ensure your child’s absences are coded correctly for COVID or flu. High school students will not have to make up seat time related to an absence if they have a positive COVID or flu test. Home tests are not accepted.
Return to School Criteria: Students and staff must be fever free for 24 hours without medication and symptoms significantly improving without medication

Here are a few things parents can do to help our schools reduce the spread of illness:

Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or upper sleeve when you cough or sneeze.
Take time to get a flu and/or COVID vaccine. Vaccination is the best way to prevent the flu and COVID. SC Department of Public Health strongly recommends all South Carolina residents older than 6 months old get the flu vaccine as soon as possible to prevent the flu, unless they have a medical reason not to be vaccinated.
Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food, or unwashed utensils.
Know the signs and symptoms of the flu and COVID.
Please don’t send children to school if they are sick. Any child that comes to school sick will be sent home. Staying home when sick will allow your children to rest and prevents the spread of illness in our school.

Parent Portal & Canvas

Parent Portal

Please register for Parent Portal. This hub includes our Transportation Forms, Technology Agreement forms. surveys, and updated attendance and grades.

Parent Portal access is available on the PowerSchool website: https://rock-hill.powerschool.com/public

For PowerSchool questions, email askpowerschool@rhmail.org

Want to follow your student's Canvas to view assignments? See directions HERE.

Sullivan Administration!

Upcoming Events and Calendar

October 22: Kevin Atlas "Believe in YOU" Presentation to Students (Day event)

October 25: Kona Ice; Culture Club Field Trip

October 28: Rock Hill Symphony Orchestra--Performance for Students (Day event)

October 30: 8th grade Field Trip to ATC

October 31: No Tricks, All Treats for Teachers (PTO)

November 1: Early Release Day--Leader in Me for Teachers/Staff

November 2: Going Global International Festival

November 5: Election Day-No School

November 7: Spirit Night at Penn Station

November 8: Indigenous People/Hispanic Heritage Assembly

November 14: District Career Fair for 7th grade

November 19: SIC/PTO Meeting

November 22: Thankful for You-PTO event for Teachers

November 27-29: Thanksgiving Holidays

Family Academic & Community Nights at SMS 2024-2025

Through the 24-25 school year, SMS will host family academic & community nights. Study tips, IB and World Language information, adolescent social-emotional support, and other safety information will be shared! Save the dates!

January 23

March 27 *Also IB Showcase Night!