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.

Please complete course registration for the 25-26 school year only during the specified timeframe that applies to the CURRENT grade level of your child.

Visit the Course Registration 25-26 page under Academics on the Scott Highlands webpage for important information.

If you have questions about the registration process, call Scott Highlands Middle School at 952-423-7581.

Meet in the lunchroom after school for Gingerbread house decorating, a movie, bracelet making, coloring and hanging out with the WEB leaders.

Sign up on EduTrack by January 23.

If you are attending, you can bring your own snacks and transportation home will not be provided.

Eastview Lightning: Boys Volleyball Clinic

Boys grades 6-8

February 9th, 16th, 23rd from 1-3pm

Eastview High School & Valley Middle School

$60 to register.

ce.district196.org

651-423-7920

Congratulations to the SHMS Jr. Math League Team and their coaches, Mrs. Werness and Mrs. Skluzacek! After practicing every Monday morning from 7:15-8:00am since September, and competing in 5 after-school competitions, the SHMS Team won First Place in the 2024-25 Jr. Math League Team Competition!

Awards were also presented to the top 10 individual student placements. SHMS students were awarded 5 out of the 10 individual placements.

Congratulations to all of the SHMS Mathletes on a successful completion to the Jr. Math League Season.

The top scoring SHMS students will now advance to the Math Counts Competition and our 6th Grade students will begin preparing for the Math Masters Competitions! We are proud of you, SHMS Mathletes!

The district is currently in need of clerical substitutes. Please share this information with someone you know who may be interested in working during their holiday break as well as future breaks from school. It is also a great opportunity for anyone who would like to work around a child’s school schedule. We have open jobs every day with varying start times, allowing for a flexible schedule. No previous experience is needed, the requirements for subbing are listed below, the process is very easy. I have a sub orientation this week, they could be ready to work after the holiday break.

Pay Rates for the Clerical Substitute position

• $15.00 Clerk positions (Instructional Clerk, Library/Media Clerk, Technology Support Clerk, etc.).
• $16.50 Paraprofessional and Early Childhood Teaching Assistant positions.
• For those substitutes that work over 31 days in these roles during the 2024-2025 school year, pay increases to an incentive rate of $18.00. They’ll continue to receive the incentive rate for all of next school year as well.

Requirements for Clerical Subbing

· High School Diploma

· Willing to work across the District at all schools of at least two levels (elementary, middle school, or high school)

· Must be able to pass a pre-employment background check (paid for by the applicant)

· Must complete a Personal Care Assistant Certificate of Training (Click here to take the PCA/CFSS training and test)

· Must complete a pre-employment physical (paid for by the district | district will provide Physical Form)

· Must attend a New Hire Orientation

Upcoming Orientation Dates

Please use this form to select an orientation date from the list of upcoming clerical substitute orientations.

· Tuesday, December 17th, 2024: 10:00am – 12:00pm

· Friday, January 3rd, 2025: 10:00am – 12:00pm

· Tuesday, January 14th, 2025: 10:00am – 12:00pm

If you know someone who is interested, please forward this along. I’m happy to answer any questions they may have about this opportunity.

Choirs

Concert

Date & Time

Where

Attire

Bring

Seating

Questions

Eastview Lightning Boys Volleyball Skills and Competition Clinic (boys, grades 6-8)

Sun | Jan 5-Feb 23 | 1:00-3:00 p.m. | 6 sessions | $95 | Eastview High School/Dakota Hills Middle

Archery Adventure Camp (ages 9-17)

Mon | Jan 6-Feb 3 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | 4 sessions | $85 | Pinewood Community School

Conquer Ninja Winter Rec Team (ages 8-13)

Mon | Jan 6-Feb 24 | 7:00-8:00 p.m. | 8 sessions | $199 | Conquer Ninja Gyms, Rosemount

Karate and Mixed Martial Arts – Kick Boxing (ages 6-adult)

Tue & Thu | Jan 7-Feb 13 | 7:00-8:00 p.m. | 10 sessions | $129 | Westview Elementary

Intro to Ninja (ages 17+)

Thu | Jan 9-Feb 27 | 7:15-8:15 p.m. | 8 sessions | $199 | Conquer Ninja Gyms, Rosemount

Youth Equestrian Club (ages 4-17)

Fri | Jan 17-Feb 7 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | 4 sessions | $210 | Cornerstone on the Vermillion

Fewer than 5 spots left!

Healthy Twisted Favorites (adult and child ages 6

Sat | Jan 18 | 1:00-2:30 p.m. | 1 session | $73/pair | Falcon Ridge Middle School

Fewer than 5 spots left!

Breakfast Bites (ages 6-16)

Tue | Jan 28 | 6:00-7:00 p.m. | 1 session | $36 | Falcon Ridge Middle School

Rosemount Irishettes Winter Dance Team Clinic (grades K-8)

Fri | Jan 31 | 4:45-8:00 p.m. | 1 session | $60 | Rosemount High School

Beginner Tae Kwon Do (ages 6+)

Tue | Feb 4-Apr 1 | 6:25-6:55 p.m. | 8 session | $80 | Rosemount Middle School

Families are encouraged to complete an Educational Benefits Application. Your children may qualify! Applications are now open.

While meals are free for all students, all families are highly encouraged to complete an Application for Educational Benefits. Your approved application provides critical funding to our school district. This compensatory aid helps increase funding for teachers, paraprofessionals and social workers to include math and reading support. An approval for educational benefits also allows families to receive discounted Activities/Community Education fees. Learn more about the Educational Benefits Program.

Questions or concerns: ask our Nutrition Services department at Nutrition@district196.org or 651-683-6958.

6th Grade: Brian Buechner

(952)-423-7602

brian.buechner@district196.org

7th Grade: Sarah Blasing

(952)-423-7603

sarah.blasing@district196.org

8th Grade: Ashley Welke

(952)-423-7608

ashley.welke@district196.org

From left to right: Brian Buechner, Sarah Blasing, Ashley Welke

Navigating the Holidays

As the holiday season is upon us, many see this season as a full of hope, cheer, reflection, and togetherness. For some, however, the holiday season may bring reminders of grief and loss, trauma, loneliness, and stress. Here are some tips for your child (and you!) to navigating the holiday when you aren't in a place to feel very festive.

https://secure.smore.com/n/mbecy

Attention 8th Grade Families here are some upcoming dates for High School Registration – Mark your calendars.

25-26 High School Registration

Middle School Dates

Parent Registration Nights

Apple Valley- Wednesday, January 22 - 6-7 PM, Theatre

Eagan - Tuesday, January 21 - 6-7 PM Auditorium

Eastview- Tuesday, January 21 - 6:30-8:30 PM PAC (tentative date)

Rosemount - Thursday, January 16 - 6:30pm-8:30 PM PAC

High School Visits to the Middle Schools

All High Schools will be visiting the middle schools on Thursday, January 23.

Spring Visits - Middle Schools travel to High School

Valley MS – Travel to Apple Valley on May 13 - 10 AM

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

We are excited to partner with Every Meal to offer a free weekend meal program to all our students.

Every Meal is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to fight child hunger through community and school partnerships. They strive to make a difference in children’s lives by focusing on food gaps like weekends, school breaks, and summer when they can’t receive food in school. Here are some important things to know about Every Meal:

• Free for all families
• No qualifications required
• 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 choose to participate in the program anytime throughout the school year
• Families may choose from a variety of different weekend food bag options

If you are interested in receiving food from Every Meal, please fill out this google form: Every Meal Electronic Enrollment

The first bags of food will be delivered in early October. If you have any questions, please reach out to Sarah Blasing, the 7th grade counselor, at sarah.blasing@district196.org.

Versión en español de este mensaje

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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.

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

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 Beth Gissibl, school nurse, is 952-423-7583

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

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

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